Number 14                                                                                         January 23 2017

Longevity - Which club has currently stayed put the longest

Arsenal holds the national record, having been in Tier 1 for 90 consecutive seasons but below are the top 20 current Red Rose “remainers”. Other than in the Premier League, it is difficult to work out if staying in the same league for so long is an achievement or not. With 3 or 4 promoted and a similar number relegated, it creates a 25% yearly turn over in most leagues. There is no promotion from the Premier League of course and some Tier 10 leagues often do not have relegation because there can be insufficient teams in Tier 11 with grounds meeting promotion criteria. Thus 70% of the listed clubs are from Tiers 1, 10 and 11.

Pos	Years	Tier	Team	League
1	63	1	Everton	Premier League
2	55	1	Liverpool	Premier League
3	42	1	Manchester United	Premier League
4	39	10	Daisy Hill	North West Counties Division 1
5	38	7	Marine	Northern Premier League
6	31	10	Ashton Town	North West Counties Division 1
7	30	11	Wythenshawe Amateurs	Manchester Premier League
8	20	3	Oldham Athletic	EFL Division 1
9	19	10	Chadderton	North West Counties Division 1
10	18	11	Maghull	West Cheshire League 1
11	16	11	Blackpool Wren Rovers	West Lancashire Premier League
12=	15	1	Manchester City	Premier League
12=	15	9	Squires Gate	North West Counties Premier
12=	15	11	Royton Town	Manchester Premier League
15	14	11	Coppull United	West Lancashire Premier League
16=	13	8	Clitheroe	Northern Premier League Div 1
16=	13	11	Euxton Villa	West Lancashire Premier League
18=	12	7	Ashton United	Northern Premier League
18=	12	8	Bamber Bridge	Northern Premier League Div 1
18=	12	11	Hindsford	Manchester Premier League

Oldham Athletic FC: Their finest hour

The Latics’ finest hour may have been in the 1914-15 season when they came within a single point of winning the Football League, missing out to champions Everton. But in recent memory, there have been other great days. Joe Royle became manager in 1982 and by 1989 they were a well-established Tier 2 side. It was a talented Oldham side with classy defenders Denis Irwin and Earl Barrett, both later sold for huge amounts of money to Manchester United and Aston Villa respectfully. Mark Milligan was sold to Everton for £1million and up front was local legend Andy Ritchie, ex-Manchester United and Leeds United, scorer of 210 career league goals. Alongside him was Roger Palmer, Oldham’s all-time leading goal scorer. The club made excellent early progress in the “Littlewoods” Football League Cup, reaching the semi-final after wins against (amongst others) Leeds United, champions to be Arsenal and then Southampton after a replay. There was now cup fever in the air but the FA Cup was proving to be a rival attraction as Oldham beat Birmingham City (after a replay), Brighton and Hove Albion and then Everton after 2 replays to reach the 6^th Round. The fans were ecstatic as they thrashed West Ham 6-3 on aggregate in the League Cup semi-final to reach Wembley and joy in the town knew no bounds as they cruised past the highflying Aston Villa at Boundary Park in the FA Cup last 8. The draw paired them up with Manchester United. Alex Ferguson’s job was actually on the line in 1990 and he must have suffered palpitations when, after a Maine Road semi-final ding-dong that ended 3-3, United scraped through to Wembley with a very late Mark Robins extra time winner in the replay. The good people of Oldham still had a League Cup final to savour and half the town journeyed down to Wembley to support their heroes. It was however to no avail as in a very close encounter, Nigel Jemson broke away and sealed the game for Clough’s side. His eleven included Des Walker and Stuart Pearce, both stars in England’s crusade to win the World Cup at Italia 90 later that year. Crowned champions of Division 2 the following season, Oldham enjoyed 3 seasons at the top level. There was another FA Cup semi-final replay defeat to United in 1994 followed by relegation the same season. Their Premier League days will be well-remembered but the cup campaigns on 2 fronts in 1989-90 were "their finest hour".

Andy Ritchie; scored goals wherever he played

 Performances of the last week

Stoke City 1 Manchester United 1 (Premier League)

It wasn’t a particularly epic match, nor was it a great result for the reds of Manchester but the game will be remembered for a long time as the answer to the football trivia question namely, “where did Wayne Rooney break Sir Bobby’s record for the most goals scored in a Man U shirt?” He has of course deprived a knight of the realm of both his club and national records, but it was a script written in heaven at the Britannia Stadium. 1-0 down, a few seconds remaining and up steps the hero in waiting to smash home the free kick.

 Barnsley 1 Blackpool 2 (FA Cup Round 3 Replay)

Blackpool upset the odds and moved into the 4^th round of the FA Cup with a Bright Oyasi-Samuel late, late winner at the end of extra time. The 19 year old striker, a product of the Seasiders’ youth system, had come on as a substitute and this was only his second ever first team goal. Kelvin Mellor had put Blackpool in front in the first half and they have now reached Round 4 for the first time since 2012.

Coventry City 0 Fleetwood Town 1 (EFL Division 1)

Pivotal moments in a season do not need to thrill Hollywood style, but late winners always make long journeys home pass that much faster. Coventry may have been bottom of the league but it still needed loads of graft to come away with the 3 points. Fleetwood were able to supply that vital commodity and dominated much of the game but without success. Then Cian Bolger came up for a final minute corner and his header screamed into the net. Fourth in the table is beyond the Cod Army’s wildest dreams, but the club is there on merit.

Curzon Ashton 3 AFC Fylde 2 (National League North)

There was something of an upset at The Tameside Stadium when after an extremely close contest; Ryan Hall scored the winner for Curzon. This has put daylight between them and the relegation zone and although this defeat has enabled chasers such as Kidderminster and Chorley to edge closer, AFC Fylde still have a 6 point lead at the head of proceedings.

The pick of the non-league results

The day’s best performance was at the Giant Axe where visitors Trafford won a 1^st v 2^nd battle 1-0, but Lancaster City still retains its number 1 spot. Two sides from opposite ends of the North West Counties Premier League rattled in 7 goals. Leaders Bootle crushed Cammell Laird 7-1 and lowly Nelson and New Mills shared 11 goals with the Lancashire side coming out on top. In Division 1, Litherland REMYCA swapped 2^nd and 3^rd places with City of Liverpool following a thrilling 4-2 away Merseyside derby victory. Aigburth Peoples Hall won a vital away game 3-2 against Waterloo Dock in the Liverpool County League and in the West Cheshire League, Redgate Rovers from Formby shocked 2^nd place Rainhill Town 4-1.

Games to look forward to this week

Manchester United v Wigan Athletic (FA Cup Round 4) Sunday January 29, 16.00

Warren Joyce will doubtlessly be excited about returning to the club where he was reserve team manager for 7 years. It will be a difficult trip to fortress Old Trafford, even though a recent run of good form has edged the Latics out of the relegation zone. United can still actually achieve a treble of sorts because they are also still competing in the League and Europa Cups, although success in the Premier League (which would make it an unthinkable four timer) now seems beyond the reach of Jose’s men.

Blackburn Rovers v Blackpool (FA Cup Round 4) Saturday January 28, 15.00

Gary Bowyer was a much respected manager at Ewood Park but even he could not survive the financial lethargy which has slowly strangled the club. He was inevitably sacked after three seasons and the Venkys have scarcely spent a rupee since he left. To no-one’s surprise, he has steadied the ship at Blackpool, a club with an even worse, some would say poisonous, owner. The Lancashire derby ought to be a home banker but the Cup is renowned for its shocks. Their last FA Cup encounter was in 1960 when the Rovers won a 4^th Round replay at Bloomfield and motored on to Wembley, losing in the final to the Wolves.

                                                                 Gary Bowyer 

Barrow v Forest Green Rovers (National League). Saturday January 28, 15.00.

An FA Cup run notwithstanding, Lincoln City appears to have one of the 2 promotion spots back into the Football League sewn up. That means that the likes of Barrow and Forest Green will have to scrap for every single point on offer to reach the play-offs. The Gloucestershire club is 2nd, Barrow 6^th with games in hand, so it is all to play for. Win at home; draw away is the maxim so the Cumbrian’s, suddenly struggling for form, know what is required on Saturday.

Trafford v Clitheroe (Northern Premier League, Division 1) Saturday January 28, 15.00

Clitheroe are unbeaten in their last 9 games but the pressure will be on them to achieve a result at Trafford, a club which has now to be taken extremely seriously as title contenders.

Quiz of the Week (Answers at the foot of the Blog)

All of the answers have Red Rose County connections

1                    Manchester City’s new signing Gabriel Jesus was bought from Palmeiras, reigning champions of which country?

2                    Bobby Charlton’s last Manchester United goal was scored past Eric Martin in March 1973. He was in goal for which team?

3                    Craig Madden with 43 goals in the 1981-82 season is which Red Rose County Club’s all-time leading goal scorer?

4                   At which North West stadium was the World Cup semi-final between West Germany and Russia staged in 1966?

5                   Which Burnley player, signed in 2012 from Wolverhampton Wanderers, scored at the final stages of the 2016 European Championships in France?

6                    Liverpool have had all sorts of diplomatic problems this month concerning Joel Matip and which African football federation?

                      Joel Matip; actually born in Germany but with African parentage

7                    Accrington Stanley’s only previous appearance in Round 4 of the FA Cup was in 2010. The opposition was a Southern club managed by Roy Hodgson and Damian Duff scored one of their goals. What was the club?

                  Damian Duff; the final farewell to his Republic of Ireland international career

8                    Which defender is currently captain of Preston North End?

9                    Danny Rowe unbelievably scored his 33^rd National League North goal of the season for    which local club on Saturday?

10                Who later managed Wigan Athletic, having been a substitute in the 2013 Cup Final in spite of being club captain?

Post Weekend Musings

It looks like Auf Wiedersehen Pep, well certainly with regard to the 2017 Premier League. His Manchester City side can dominate games but they cannot finish off quality teams. This, coupled with defensive frailties, gives hope to even the poorest of opposition. The Catalan has shown a stubborn streak to his character, possibly born of arrogance, particularly in the way he has handled the goalkeeping situation.  This leaves Mancunians shaking their heads but Guardiola needs to start afresh. I believe he will ultimately have much to offer English football and City has the time and money to give him space to rebuild over the summer. Hopefully in the meantime, the Sky Blues can muster a run in the forthcoming FA Cup and Champion’s League, starting with a win at Crystal Palace on Saturday against “Big Sam’s” side. He is yet another manager fighting to salvage his reputation

                                      Claudio Brava; probably Guardiola’s biggest mistake

There will be no gate crashers at this year’s Premier League party; no repeat of a Leicester City this season. The top 6 are all established Red Rose County or London clubs. What is depressing however for “us northerners” is that the odds are on a Capital 1-2-3 at season’s end. There is still plenty of time for positions to change but it is upsetting to look at the current table. It is looking increasingly likely that none of our teams can catch Chelsea and as United have been the most consistent in recent weeks; they may be the one to lead the challenge for a Champions’ League place. It is 12 years since London claimed the 1^st and 2^nd spots (Chelsea and Arsenal) and there has never before been an all London top three. You have to go back to 2014 to find a Red Rose top 2 (City and United) and the last all 3 was in 1968 (City, United and Liverpool). There is every chance that for the 2^nd consecutive year, there could be no Red Rose participation in the final top three (Leicester, Arsenal and Spurs in 2016). We therefore need to brace ourselves for the totally unacceptable and also, bearing in mind that the 3 local clubs in the Championship are not threatening the top 2 spots, do we not need to accept that it is one of those years; a bad time to be a North West football supporter? Does it not also beg the question that having “forked out” a fortune for an instant fix on new superstar managers (Guardiola, Klopp, Mourinho and Koeman) over the last 14 months, why are our top four clubs trailing behind their southern rivals?

Three of the 7 remaining FA Cup minnows are from the Red Rose County. Rochdale, although drawn at home, will find it hard to combat the swift passing game of cross-border rivals Huddersfield Town. Accrington Stanley has the toughest task, away to Premier League Middlesbrough, so Blackpool, although second favourites, has the best chance at Blackburn.

Opportunity knocks for joint league leaders Atherton Collieries who fly the flag for the North West Counties Premier League in the last 16 of the FA Vase. North Lincolnshire side Cleethorpes Town provides the opposition; the club that eliminated Bootle earlier in the competition and is running away with the Northern Counties East League. It will be a tough task for the Colls but unbeaten in the league since September, they will surely be up for it.

Tier 10 Club of the Week

Prestwich Heys; journeying upwards in their second coming

A Promotion and Relegation system always holds out the hope for the lowliest in sport to believe that one day they can compete with the best and Prestwich Heys have proved that you can have your bad times without it necessarily being terminal. They play close by the M60 between Bury and Manchester and first entered the Lancashire Combination in 1969. This was also the year of their exciting FA Amateur Cup run during which they defeated Sutton United, a club on everyone’s lips this week. The “Heys” were Lancashire Combination champions in 1972, then subsequently struggled. They did however stay in the North West Counties League until 1986 before ground problems forced them down into the Manchester Premier League. Over a 30 year period they were champions 4 times and were promoted back into the NWCFL last summer, proving that perseverance, having a sound infrastructure and willing volunteers can bring its rewards in non-league football. They have made a steady start, currently sitting in 9^th position. Not too bad at all in this tougher environment.

Quiz Answers

1        Brazil, 2 Southampton, 3 Bury FC, 4 Goodison Park, 5 Sam Vokes, 

6    Cameroons, 7 Fulham, 8 Tom Clarke, 9 AFC Fylde, 10 Gary Caldwell