Tuesday 29 August 2017

The Red Rose Football blog (Number 45)


 


Red Rose Football Blog Edition 45


August 28th 2017



Red Rose Player of the Week

Sadio Mane; Liverpool



The Senegalese forward player, ex of Southampton, is beginning to be the new Anfield talisman. Whenever he played last season, the Reds looked like a well set up machine but African Nations’ Cup duty and a serious injury towards the end of the season meant that his appearances were somewhat restricted. The potential was easy to spot as he scored 13 goals from 27 appearances and this season, he now seems to be blossoming into an outstanding player. Coming in off either wing and always willing to track back, he has pace to spare and his goal against Arsenal, curling the ball around Peter Cech, speaks volumes about his technical ability. With Mane contributing so much, Liverpool could be serious title contenders and following on from Sunday’s performance, the African is a worthy beneficiary of the Red Rose Player of the week.
Sadio Mane


                                                      Performances of the last week

Predictably Liverpool and Everton coasted through to the group stages of the Champions League and the Europa League respectively. A rare Emre Can double set the Reds up nicely for a 4-2 (Aggregate 6-3) win over 1899 Hoffenheim whilst a stunning Gylfi Sigurdsson 50 yard strike was sufficient to earn the Blues a 1-1 draw (aggregate 3-1)  over Hajduk Split.

These are the games that Manchester City must win if they want to be Premier League Champions; a long trip to the south coast and a stubborn Bournemouth side making it difficult for all their possession to count. Closing in on the final seconds of time added on, most teams would have settled for a point but the “Sky Blues” kept pushing ever onwards and were rewarded with a Raheem Sterling winner and 3 vital points of course.  Probably the real talking point post-match was the dismissal of Sterling for his overzealous celebrations after scoring the final goal. Is there a fussier referee than Mike Dean? Just across the city however, the “Reds” are making it clear that they are up for a fight. Leicester City defended resolutely and it took Manchester United 70 minutes to breach the defensive wall, their goals coming from substitutes Marcus Rashford and Marouane Fellaini (pictured). 

The Belgian has a knack of coming on to score important goals and with 9 points from 3 games and a 10-0 goal difference, this has been a strong statement of intent from “United”. The Sunday fixtures were all about London v the Red Rose and in boxing parlance, it was a narrow points defeat for the southerners. Liverpool’s performance against Arsenal was simply stunning. The score line was 4-0 but if it had been 6 or 7, Arsene Wenger could not have complained. Talk about taking the opposition to the cleaners. Even without Philipe Coutinho whose illness seems to be in the head rather than of the body, the sheer pace and ingenuity of the Red’s attacking options were far too much for the lightweight Gunners with Sadio Mane being the star of the show. The goals were shared around; a Mane shot, a Roberto Firmino header, a solo effort from Mohamed Salah and a closing header from Daniel Sturridge. Predictably, Chelsea were too good for Everton, the Toffees, possibly fatigued from a heavy August programme, slumping to a 2-0 defeat, but it was Burnley who tipped the balance in the Northerly direction. Their record signing Chris Wood snatched a late equaliser at Wembley as Tottenham Hotspur continue to struggle at their new home. Another gritty performance from the Clarets!

Preston North End continued their successful start to the season, travelling to Middlesbrough and comfortably seeing out a 0-0 draw to remain close to the Play-Off spots in the Championship. “North End” dominated the stats and even Garry Monk, the opposing manager, said that Alex Neil’s side deserved the victory. August was predicted to be a difficult month for “PNE” when the fixture list was first published but this young side has rode out the potential storm in fine style.

After a disastrous start to the campaign, pre-season League 1 favourites Blackburn Rovers made it two out of two when cruising to a 4-1 win over MK Dons. Defender Charlie Mulgrew helped himself to a couple of goals as the “Rovers” hauled themselves into the top half of the league. The Scottish international flies off on international duty to Lithuania during the week, content in the knowledge that he is the joint leading scorer with 3 goals at Ewood Park, alongside the new striker Dominic Samuel. In one of the two Red Rose County derby games, Blackpool continued to prosper by defeating Oldham Athletic 2-1 at Bloomfield Road. There has much to be pleased about at the seaside. Gary Bowyer has blooded several young hopefuls with Newcastle United loanee Sean Longstaff netting three times in 3 games but the “Latics”, pointless and in 23rd place, are in deep trouble. In the other derby, Rochdale and Bury fought out a tame goalless draw at Spotland, a result that better suited the “Shakers” who had keeper Joe Murphy sent off for an innocuous hand ball outside the area when there was no opposition player in sight. There has certainly been no dream start for these two clubs or for Oldham, all three neighbours in the North East Manchester triangle, and a massive amount of hard work faces managers Lee Clark, Keith Hill and John Sheridan.

There was a heroic Friday evening performance from Accrington Stanley in League 2. They were 2-0 down at Notts County, they then had a man sent off but came back to draw the game 2-2. Mallik Wilks, on loan from Leeds United, equalised in the 95th minute to sustain the “Stanley” promotion push so can the League 2 longest sitting tenant be finally about to exit…… in an upwardly direction?

AFC Fylde collected their first two National League victories within 3 days, winning 2-0 at newly relegated Hartlepool United followed by a close 1-0 home win over Barrow. Danny Rowe (pictured)

scored the second goal on Saturday, making him the “Coasters’” all–time record goal scorer as they moved well away from the relegation places. In the National League North, FC United of Manchester also produced their first 3 pointer, defeating Boston United 2-1 at home. It was a much needed win but they were greatly assisted by 2 Boston second half dismissals.

 It has come as something of a surprise but Ashton United find themselves on top of the Northern Premier League following their 2-0 win at Sutton Coldfield. It is early days but the “Northern Prem” is already looking like an extremely close fought and competitive league indeed. With defeats in their first 2 games and having been on the wrong end of an 8-2 massacre in their FA Cup replay at City of Liverpool in midweek, Prescot Cables regrouped, winning 2-1 at Tadcaster Albion to move into the safer reaches of the Northern Premier League 1 North. West Didsbury & Chorlton won impressively at Congleton, Tom Bailey scoring twice, to remain in the mix at the top end of the North West Counties Premier League, whilst Prestwich Heys stayed on the heels of the leaders with a 5-0 thrashing of Holker Old Boys in the NWC Division 1, Rio Wilson-Heys notching a couple of goals.

Games to look forward to this week

The International Break dominates the football fixtures for the coming weekend. Friday evening sees three of our Home nations in action. All three are away from home and England (in Malta) and Northern Ireland (in San Marino) will be looking to boost their goal difference in what ought to be routine victories. For Scotland, Lithuania will prove a definite threat but this is a must win game for Gordon Strachan’s “Tartan Army”. There is a great deal riding on the two Group D fixtures on Saturday. The Republic of Ireland need a win in Georgia whereas Wales, boosted by the return to fitness of Gareth Bale, simply must defeat Austria in Cardiff.

International call-ups mean a non-Premier League/Championship weekend and have also caused the cancellation of the Blackburn Rovers v Fleetwood Town League 1 fixture.  Bury’s home game against Scunthorpe United however still stands. The “Shakers” in 17th position are precariously close to trouble and Graham Alexander’s “Iron”, who performed so well for most of last season, are so far unbeaten in 6th place. Home advantage may just help Bury to at least a draw. No question as to the top League 2 game. The Globe Arena at Morecambe stages the Lancashire derby and Accrington Stanley, robust and competitive on their travels, will be looking to further cement a Play-Off place at least. The “Shrimps” also have lost just one game and will take heart from a point gained at Cambridge United last Saturday. The Red Rose County’s game of the day could be close.

With life now looking somewhat more blissful in the National League, AFC Fylde will be “up for” a rough old mid-table encounter when they visit AFC Halifax Town. In the National League North, Southport play host to Darlington in a battle of two former League Clubs. The “Sandgrounders” narrowly lost at Salford City on the Bank Holiday but Darlington are stuttering slightly after winning their first three so hopefully the 3 points will remain at Haig Avenue. It is the FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round day and there are several interesting ties with local interest. The improving Marine are at home to Ashton United, briefly table topper’s over the weekend, in an all Northern Premier League clash. Ashton Athletic are one of only 4 North West Counties Football League clubs still standing in the competition and they have a home fixture against Bamber Bridge from the league above. Colne, from the Northern Premier League 1 North have yet to hit last term’s form but they will be difficult opponents in the Lancashire derby for Lancaster City from the Premier League. The winners in this round receive a £3,000 bonus from the Emirates FA Cup prize fund; money, at this level of the game, not to be sniffed at. There are routine North West Counties Premier Division matches and one that catches the eye is at Hanley Town where the Potteries’ side take on surprise leaders Charnock Richard. Hanley shocked Bootle at the weekend, winning by the odd goal in 7 on Merseyside so this could be a close run thing. Finally in Division 1, Bacup Borough, the Lancashire club from way up in the foot hills of the Pennines, play host to Cammel Laird 1907. They have made a much improved start to the season and may have too much for a Wirral side struggling to come to terms with a dismal relegation last term.

 


Unsung Red Rose County Footballing Heroes


Simon Garner, Blackburn Rovers

Every side, at whatever level, has produced players whom the supporters adore, often as much for their reliability and endeavour as their ability. They are probably not quite good enough to be lured away by the top clubs but amongst the club’s fan base, they are idolised and then forever remembered.

Simon Garner was one such example at Blackburn Rovers. The club actually picked him up from Boston United where he was showing promise as a youngster, then in the Northern Premier League. He served his apprenticeship at Ewood Park and on turning professional in 1978, quickly moved into the first team of a struggling “Rovers” side in the process of being relegated to the 3rd Tier. He became an integral part of the team as Howard Kendall masterminded their instant promotion and over the next 13 years, he totted up 478 league appearances, scoring a club record 168 league goals. He was the type of player who caused an adrenalin rush every time he received the ball. He had good technical skills so his team mates could play it into his feet but he was at his best when running with pace on to a through ball. He was quick and strong and his finishing, with either foot, was explosive.  He broke the club’s all-time goal scoring record as he knocked in a hat-trick against Manchester City, simply terrorising the opposing defenders. Had he been playing alongside more talented players, his goal haul would surely have increased considerably.


He never played in the highest division and the end of his career at Blackburn coincided with the beginning of the Jack Walker era when super stars were being parachuted into the club on a weekly basis. He moved to West Brom, scoring goals and helping them back into Division 1 (Tier 2) via the Play-Offs and continued to find the net at Wycombe Wanderers, scoring in a successful Play-Off final, before retiring at the age of 36. His finest goal scoring feat was when he was later sent to Kirkham Open Prison for a month for contempt of court following a messy divorce. Selected to play against a rival prison, he allegedly smashed in 9 goals.

But more seriously, we often wondered why higher ranked clubs never came dangling their cheque books. He played of course in the days when there was a drinking culture at clubs and players were less concerned about health and fitness regimes. He admitted to being a 20 a day smoker; the gossipers also saying he was not averse to a pint or 4 of lager. With more application, his career may have moved upwards but that would have robbed the “Roverites” of many warm memories of their local hero. The goal scorer still has links with his old town, writing a weekly column in the sports pages of the Lancashire Telegraph, also providing quotes and comments on the performance of the “blues” on local radio. The supporters’ chant “there’s only one Simon Garner” was a statement of belief as well as fact.

With the World Cup qualifiers due this weekend and early next week, here are the Red Rose Players selected for the Home Country International Squads. One omission of course is the now “internationally retired” Wayne Rooney.

Club
England
Scotland
Wales
Northern Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Burnley
T Heaton

S Vokes

K Long
S Ward
J Hendrick
R Brady
J Walters
Everton
M Keane
J Pickford

A Williams

J McCarthy
Liverpool
J Henderson
D Sturridge
A Robertson
D Ward
B Woodburn


Manchester City
K Walker
J Stones
R Sterling




Manchester United
P Jones
C Smalling
J Lingard
M Rashford




Preston North End




G Cunningham
A Browne
D Horgan
S Maguire
Blackburn Rovers

C Mulgrew

C Evans

Bury



A Thompson

Oldham Athletic



R McLaughlin





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

1                    There have been 14 permanently appointed England football managers since the position was introduced in 1947. Which of the managers has gained most international caps for England as a player?

2                    There are 16 Red Rose County clubs currently in the top 4 Divisions. Morecambe, Accrington Stanley, Rochdale and which other has never played in Tier 2?

3                    Manchester United have won 5 Football League Cups in total, scoring 10 goals in those Cup Final winning games. Who has scored 3 of them?

4                    Martin Paterson (pictured) was Burnley’s leading goal scorer in their 2008-09 promotion year. For which country has he gained 21 international caps?


5                    Only 3 clubs have been founding members of the Football League in 1888 and the Premier League in 1992, Aston Villa, Everton and which other?
6                    Who played 285 times League games for Liverpool between 2005 and 2013, holding the record for most Premier League appearances by a Spanish player?

7                    Recent Preston North End local hero Joe Garner (pictured) is now playing with which club?


8                    The 1985 UEFA Cup winning Everton side featured three Welshmen in their back five, Neville Southall, Kevin Ratcliffe and which most un-Welsh sounding left back?

9                    Which Manchester City player, with a total of 296, has made the most Premier League appearances for Manchester City?

10                The ex-Blackpool star Charlie Adam was signed by the Seasiders in 2009 from which Scottish Premier League side?

Post Weekend Musings


In something of a shock move, Paul Cox has left his role (by mutual consent) as manager of National League side Barrow. Cox had certainly improved things at Holker Street, but 3 draws, a defeat and a win in the season’s first five games has been insufficient for both  Board and manager, so the ex-Mansfield boss exits after a 21 month stint in the hot seat.

The big football debate away from the pitch in recent weeks has been the length of the “Transfer Window”. There has always been a lack of logic in it continuing beyond the start of the season and 2 months was way too long a period. It seems that a number of top flight managers agree and so hopefully, it will become a one month exercise next summer. This will move it out of line with the rest of Europe so there may be much wrangling at the Nyon headquarters of UEFA, situated close to Geneva, before it can become a reality. The media may also feel aggrieved, having less time to ponder and pontificate on predicted transfers (and it certainly sells papers), but a one month window will please those of us who have become totally switched off by this seemingly never ending soap opera.

Nature surely never intended August to be part of the football season, but now it is; a period of time when hopes are raised or dashed. You never win a title in August and a poor start does not necessarily consign you to a relegation battle, but a good start beats a poor one any year. So where are the biggest smiles and the deepest frowns within the Red Rose football community as September beckons. In the Top 6 Tiers of English football, only 3 clubs can still boast a 100% record, Cardiff City, Peterborough United and of course our own Manchester United. Jose Mourinho, who has never failed to win a title in his second season in charge since his tenure at Porto in 2002, must be ecstatic with the start that the Reds have made, although he is far too experienced to take his foot off the pedal. John Sheridan is currently wearing the deepest frown, his Oldham Athletic side has zero points and other managers in the relegation spots and looking upwards are Phil Parkinson at Bolton Wanderers in the Championship, Keith Hill at Rochdale in League 1 and Matt Jansen in the National League North at Chorley. We all know about “ fat ladies singing” and there is much truth in the cliché, but what the strugglers need is a Board of Directors who will give them time to sort things out, although “patience” is probably a word conspicuous by its absence in the Job Description of Chief Executives, Chairmen and Owners. All Mourinho needs however is an injury-free season; he has enough talent at his disposal to give the rest of the league a run for its money. From Tier 7-10, there are only 3 clubs yet to drop a point, one being little Charnock Richard in the North West Counties Premier League. This shows the competitive nature at the summit of our leagues but down in the basement it is a different story. Radcliffe Borough at Tier 8, Squires Gate and surprisingly Padiham at Tier 9 as well as the Tier 10 club St Helens Town have still to even register a draw. Early days yet, but….?

Quiz Answers:  1 Kevin Keegan, 2 Fleetwood Town, 3 Wayne Rooney, 4 Northern Ireland,  5 Blackburn Rovers, 6 Pepe Reina, 7 Ipswich Town, 8 Pat van den Hauwe, 9 Richard Dunne, 10 Glasgow Rangers.

 


Red Rose Football Blog Edition 45


August 28th 2017



Red Rose Player of the Week

Sadio Mane; Liverpool


The Senegalese forward player, ex of Southampton, is beginning to be the new Anfield talisman. Whenever he played last season, the Reds looked like a well set up machine but African Nations’ Cup duty and a serious injury towards the end of the season meant that his appearances were somewhat restricted. The potential was easy to spot as he scored 13 goals from 27 appearances and this season, he now seems to be blossoming into an outstanding player. Coming in off either wing and always willing to track back, he has pace to spare and his goal against Arsenal, curling the ball around Peter Cech, speaks volumes about his technical ability. With Mane contributing so much, Liverpool could be serious title contenders and following on from Sunday’s performance, the African is a worthy beneficiary of the Red Rose Player of the week.



Performances of the last week


Predictably Liverpool and Everton coasted through to the group stages of the Champions League and the Europa League respectively. A rare Emre Can double set the Reds up nicely for a 4-2 (Aggregate 6-3) win over 1899 Hoffenheim whilst a stunning Gylfi Sigurdsson 50 yard strike was sufficient to earn the Blues a 1-1 draw (aggregate 3-1)  over Hajduk Split.

These are the games that Manchester City must win if they want to be Premier League Champions; a long trip to the south coast and a stubborn Bournemouth side making it difficult for all their possession to count. Closing in on the final seconds of time added on, most teams would have settled for a point but the “Sky Blues” kept pushing ever onwards and were rewarded with a Raheem Sterling winner and 3 vital points of course.  Probably the real talking point post-match was the dismissal of Sterling for his overzealous celebrations after scoring the final goal. Is there a fussier referee than Mike Dean? Just across the city however, the “Reds” are making it clear that they are up for a fight. Leicester City defended resolutely and it took Manchester United 70 minutes to breach the defensive wall, their goals coming from substitutes Marcus Rashford and Marouane Fellaini (pictured).  The Belgian has a knack of coming on to score important goals and with 9 points from 3 games and a 10-0 goal difference, this has been a strong statement of intent from “United”. The Sunday fixtures were all about London v the Red Rose and in boxing parlance, it was a narrow points defeat for the southerners. Liverpool’s performance against Arsenal was simply stunning. The score line was 4-0 but if it had been 6 or 7, Arsene Wenger could not have complained. Talk about taking the opposition to the cleaners. Even without Philipe Coutinho whose illness seems to be in the head rather than of the body, the sheer pace and ingenuity of the Red’s attacking options were far too much for the lightweight Gunners with Sadio Mane being the star of the show. The goals were shared around; a Mane shot, a Roberto Firmino header, a solo effort from Mohamed Salah and a closing header from Daniel Sturridge. Predictably, Chelsea were too good for Everton, the Toffees, possibly fatigued from a heavy August programme, slumping to a 2-0 defeat, but it was Burnley who tipped the balance in the Northerly direction. Their record signing Chris Wood snatched a late equaliser at Wembley as Tottenham Hotspur continue to struggle at their new home. Another gritty performance from the Clarets!

Preston North End continued their successful start to the season, travelling to Middlesbrough and comfortably seeing out a 0-0 draw to remain close to the Play-Off spots in the Championship. “North End” dominated the stats and even Garry Monk, the opposing manager, said that Alex Neil’s side deserved the victory. August was predicted to be a difficult month for “PNE” when the fixture list was first published but this young side has rode out the potential storm in fine style.

After a disastrous start to the campaign, pre-season League 1 favourites Blackburn Rovers made it two out of two when cruising to a 4-1 win over MK Dons. Defender Charlie Mulgrew helped himself to a couple of goals as the “Rovers” hauled themselves into the top half of the league. The Scottish international flies off on international duty to Lithuania during the week, content in the knowledge that he is the joint leading scorer with 3 goals at Ewood Park, alongside the new striker Dominic Samuel. In one of the two Red Rose County derby games, Blackpool continued to prosper by defeating Oldham Athletic 2-1 at Bloomfield Road. There has much to be pleased about at the seaside. Gary Bowyer has blooded several young hopefuls with Newcastle United loanee Sean Longstaff netting three times in 3 games but the “Latics”, pointless and in 23rd place, are in deep trouble. In the other derby, Rochdale and Bury fought out a tame goalless draw at Spotland, a result that better suited the “Shakers” who had keeper Joe Murphy sent off for an innocuous hand ball outside the area when there was no opposition player in sight. There has certainly been no dream start for these two clubs or for Oldham, all three neighbours in the North East Manchester triangle, and a massive amount of hard work faces managers Lee Clark, Keith Hill and John Sheridan.

There was a heroic Friday evening performance from Accrington Stanley in League 2. They were 2-0 down at Notts County, they then had a man sent off but came back to draw the game 2-2. Mallik Wilks, on loan from Leeds United, equalised in the 95th minute to sustain the “Stanley” promotion push so can the League 2 longest sitting tenant be finally about to exit…… in an upwardly direction?

AFC Fylde collected their first two National League victories within 3 days, winning 2-0 at newly relegated Hartlepool United followed by a close 1-0 home win over Barrow. Danny Rowe (pictured) scored the second goal on Saturday, making him the “Coasters’” all–time record goal scorer as they moved well away from the relegation places. In the National League North, FC United of Manchester also produced their first 3 pointer, defeating Boston United 2-1 at home. It was a much needed win but they were greatly assisted by 2 Boston second half dismissals.

 It has come as something of a surprise but Ashton United find themselves on top of the Northern Premier League following their 2-0 win at Sutton Coldfield. It is early days but the “Northern Prem” is already looking like an extremely close fought and competitive league indeed. With defeats in their first 2 games and having been on the wrong end of an 8-2 massacre in their FA Cup replay at City of Liverpool in midweek, Prescot Cables regrouped, winning 2-1 at Tadcaster Albion to move into the safer reaches of the Northern Premier League 1 North. West Didsbury & Chorlton won impressively at Congleton, Tom Bailey scoring twice, to remain in the mix at the top end of the North West Counties Premier League, whilst Prestwich Heys stayed on the heels of the leaders with a 5-0 thrashing of Holker Old Boys in the NWC Division 1, Rio Wilson-Heys notching a couple of goals.

Games to look forward to this week

The International Break dominates the football fixtures for the coming weekend. Friday evening sees three of our Home nations in action. All three are away from home and England (in Malta) and Northern Ireland (in San Marino) will be looking to boost their goal difference in what ought to be routine victories. For Scotland, Lithuania will prove a definite threat but this is a must win game for Gordon Strachan’s “Tartan Army”. There is a great deal riding on the two Group D fixtures on Saturday. The Republic of Ireland need a win in Georgia whereas Wales, boosted by the return to fitness of Gareth Bale, simply must defeat Austria in Cardiff.

International call-ups mean a non-Premier League/Championship weekend and have also caused the cancellation of the Blackburn Rovers v Fleetwood Town League 1 fixture.  Bury’s home game against Scunthorpe United however still stands. The “Shakers” in 17th position are precariously close to trouble and Graham Alexander’s “Iron”, who performed so well for most of last season, are so far unbeaten in 6th place. Home advantage may just help Bury to at least a draw. No question as to the top League 2 game. The Globe Arena at Morecambe stages the Lancashire derby and Accrington Stanley, robust and competitive on their travels, will be looking to further cement a Play-Off place at least. The “Shrimps” also have lost just one game and will take heart from a point gained at Cambridge United last Saturday. The Red Rose County’s game of the day could be close.

With life now looking somewhat more blissful in the National League, AFC Fylde will be “up for” a rough old mid-table encounter when they visit AFC Halifax Town. In the National League North, Southport play host to Darlington in a battle of two former League Clubs. The “Sandgrounders” narrowly lost at Salford City on the Bank Holiday but Darlington are stuttering slightly after winning their first three so hopefully the 3 points will remain at Haig Avenue. It is the FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round day and there are several interesting ties with local interest. The improving Marine are at home to Ashton United, briefly table topper’s over the weekend, in an all Northern Premier League clash. Ashton Athletic are one of only 4 North West Counties Football League clubs still standing in the competition and they have a home fixture against Bamber Bridge from the league above. Colne, from the Northern Premier League 1 North have yet to hit last term’s form but they will be difficult opponents in the Lancashire derby for Lancaster City from the Premier League. The winners in this round receive a £3,000 bonus from the Emirates FA Cup prize fund; money, at this level of the game, not to be sniffed at. There are routine North West Counties Premier Division matches and one that catches the eye is at Hanley Town where the Potteries’ side take on surprise leaders Charnock Richard. Hanley shocked Bootle at the weekend, winning by the odd goal in 7 on Merseyside so this could be a close run thing. Finally in Division 1, Bacup Borough, the Lancashire club from way up in the foot hills of the Pennines, play host to Cammel Laird 1907. They have made a much improved start to the season and may have too much for a Wirral side struggling to come to terms with a dismal relegation last term.

 


Unsung Red Rose County Footballing Heroes


Simon Garner, Blackburn Rovers

Every side, at whatever level, has produced players whom the supporters adore, often as much for their reliability and endeavour as their ability. They are probably not quite good enough to be lured away by the top clubs but amongst the club’s fan base, they are idolised and then forever remembered.

Simon Garner was one such example at Blackburn Rovers. The club actually picked him up from Boston United where he was showing promise as a youngster, then in the Northern Premier League. He served his apprenticeship at Ewood Park and on turning professional in 1978, quickly moved into the first team of a struggling “Rovers” side in the process of being relegated to the 3rd Tier. He became an integral part of the team as Howard Kendall masterminded their instant promotion and over the next 13 years, he totted up 478 league appearances, scoring a club record 168 league goals. He was the type of player who caused an adrenalin rush every time he received the ball. He had good technical skills so his team mates could play it into his feet but he was at his best when running with pace on to a through ball. He was quick and strong and his finishing, with either foot, was explosive.  He broke the club’s all-time goal scoring record as he knocked in a hat-trick against Manchester City, simply terrorising the opposing defenders. Had he been playing alongside more talented players, his goal haul would surely have increased considerably.

He never played in the highest division and the end of his career at Blackburn coincided with the beginning of the Jack Walker era when super stars were being parachuted into the club on a weekly basis. He moved to West Brom, scoring goals and helping them back into Division 1 (Tier 2) via the Play-Offs and continued to find the net at Wycombe Wanderers, scoring in a successful Play-Off final, before retiring at the age of 36. His finest goal scoring feat was when he was later sent to Kirkham Open Prison for a month for contempt of court following a messy divorce. Selected to play against a rival prison, he allegedly smashed in 9 goals.

But more seriously, we often wondered why higher ranked clubs never came dangling their cheque books. He played of course in the days when there was a drinking culture at clubs and players were less concerned about health and fitness regimes. He admitted to being a 20 a day smoker; the gossipers also saying he was not averse to a pint or 4 of lager. With more application, his career may have moved upwards but that would have robbed the “Roverites” of many warm memories of their local hero. The goal scorer still has links with his old town, writing a weekly column in the sports pages of the Lancashire Telegraph, also providing quotes and comments on the performance of the “blues” on local radio. The supporters’ chant “there’s only one Simon Garner” was a statement of belief as well as fact.

With the World Cup qualifiers due this weekend and early next week, here are the Red Rose Players selected for the Home Country International Squads. One omission of course is the now “internationally retired” Wayne Rooney.

Club
England
Scotland
Wales
Northern Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Burnley
T Heaton

S Vokes

K Long
S Ward
J Hendrick
R Brady
J Walters
Everton
M Keane
J Pickford

A Williams

J McCarthy
Liverpool
J Henderson
D Sturridge
A Robertson
D Ward
B Woodburn


Manchester City
K Walker
J Stones
R Sterling




Manchester United
P Jones
C Smalling
J Lingard
M Rashford




Preston North End




G Cunningham
A Browne
D Horgan
S Maguire
Blackburn Rovers

C Mulgrew

C Evans

Bury



A Thompson

Oldham Athletic



R McLaughlin




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

1                    There have been 14 permanently appointed England football managers since the position was introduced in 1947. Which of the managers has gained most international caps for England as a player?

2                    There are 16 Red Rose County clubs currently in the top 4 Divisions. Morecambe, Accrington Stanley, Rochdale and which other has never played in Tier 2?

3                    Manchester United have won 5 Football League Cups in total, scoring 10 goals in those Cup Final winning games. Who has scored 3 of them?

4                    Martin Paterson (pictured) was Burnley’s leading goal scorer in their 2008-09 promotion year. For which country has he gained 21 international caps?

5                    Only 3 clubs have been founding members of the Football League in 1888 and the Premier League in 1992, Aston Villa, Everton and which other?

6                    Who played 285 times League games for Liverpool between 2005 and 2013, holding the record for most Premier League appearances by a Spanish player?

7                    Recent Preston North End local hero Joe Garner (pictured) is now playing with which club?

8                    The 1985 UEFA Cup winning Everton side featured three Welshmen in their back five, Neville Southall, Kevin Ratcliffe and which most un-Welsh sounding left back?

9                    Which Manchester City player, with a total of 296, has made the most Premier League appearances for Manchester City?

10                The ex-Blackpool star Charlie Adam was signed by the Seasiders in 2009 from which Scottish Premier League side?

Post Weekend Musings


In something of a shock move, Paul Cox has left his role (by mutual consent) as manager of National League side Barrow. Cox had certainly improved things at Holker Street, but 3 draws, a defeat and a win in the season’s first five games has been insufficient for both  Board and manager, so the ex-Mansfield boss exits after a 21 month stint in the hot seat.

The big football debate away from the pitch in recent weeks has been the length of the “Transfer Window”. There has always been a lack of logic in it continuing beyond the start of the season and 2 months was way too long a period. It seems that a number of top flight managers agree and so hopefully, it will become a one month exercise next summer. This will move it out of line with the rest of Europe so there may be much wrangling at the Nyon headquarters of UEFA, situated close to Geneva, before it can become a reality. The media may also feel aggrieved, having less time to ponder and pontificate on predicted transfers (and it certainly sells papers), but a one month window will please those of us who have become totally switched off by this seemingly never ending soap opera.

Nature surely never intended August to be part of the football season, but now it is; a period of time when hopes are raised or dashed. You never win a title in August and a poor start does not necessarily consign you to a relegation battle, but a good start beats a poor one any year. So where are the biggest smiles and the deepest frowns within the Red Rose football community as September beckons. In the Top 6 Tiers of English football, only 3 clubs can still boast a 100% record, Cardiff City, Peterborough United and of course our own Manchester United. Jose Mourinho, who has never failed to win a title in his second season in charge since his tenure at Porto in 2002, must be ecstatic with the start that the Reds have made, although he is far too experienced to take his foot off the pedal. John Sheridan is currently wearing the deepest frown, his Oldham Athletic side has zero points and other managers in the relegation spots and looking upwards are Phil Parkinson at Bolton Wanderers in the Championship, Keith Hill at Rochdale in League 1 and Matt Jansen in the National League North at Chorley. We all know about “ fat ladies singing” and there is much truth in the cliché, but what the strugglers need is a Board of Directors who will give them time to sort things out, although “patience” is probably a word conspicuous by its absence in the Job Description of Chief Executives, Chairmen and Owners. All Mourinho needs however is an injury-free season; he has enough talent at his disposal to give the rest of the league a run for its money. From Tier 7-10, there are only 3 clubs yet to drop a point, one being little Charnock Richard in the North West Counties Premier League. This shows the competitive nature at the summit of our leagues but down in the basement it is a different story. Radcliffe Borough at Tier 8, Squires Gate and surprisingly Padiham at Tier 9 as well as the Tier 10 club St Helens Town have still to even register a draw. Early days yet, but….?

Quiz Answers:  1 Kevin Keegan, 2 Fleetwood Town, 3 Wayne Rooney, 4 Northern Ireland,  5 Blackburn Rovers, 6 Pepe Reina, 7 Ipswich Town, 8 Pat van den Hauwe, 9 Richard Dunne, 10 Glasgow Rangers.
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