Number 39 July 19 2017
Great Red
Rose County Goalkeepers
From the legendary Frank Swift at Manchester City to the current Spanish number 1, David de Gea at Manchester United, the North West has
had its share of great post-war goalkeepers. It is so difficult to compare
players over that period of time, but below is a list of keepers who have
gained an overall total of 10 international caps and made at least 150
appearances whilst at their Red Rose club. There are others who have just
failed to meet the criteria. David James gained just 1 cap when playing over
200 times for Liverpool then gained
12 caps at City, but played less than 100 games. The great Bert Trautmann never
played for Germany for political reasons. Please do not expect a “best ever” or
even a top ten, that is for you to ponder over, but in alphabetical order of
club, the contenders are…….
Blackburn
Rovers: Tim Flowers
(England 11 caps), Brad Friedel (U.S.A. 82 caps).
Blackpool:
George Farm
(Scotland 10 caps).
Bolton
Wanderers: Eddie
Hopkinson (England 14 caps), Jim McDonagh (Republic of Ireland 25 caps), Jussi
Jaaskelainen (Finland 56 caps).
Everton: Jimmy O’Neill (Republic of Ireland
17 caps), Neville Southall (Wales 92 caps), Tim Howard (U.S.A. 115 caps).
Liverpool: Ray Clemence (England 61 caps),
Bruce Grobbelaar (Zimbabwe 33 caps), Pepe Reina (Spain 35 caps),
Manchester City: Frank Swift (England 19 caps), Joe
Hart (England 71 caps).
Manchester United: Harry Gregg (Northern Ireland 25
caps), Peter Schmeichel (Denmark 129 caps), Edwin van der Saar (Holland 130
caps), David de Gea (Spain 21 caps).
Preston North
End: Alan Kelly Senior, (Republic of Ireland 41 caps).
Wigan
Athletic: Roy
Carroll (Northern Ireland 44 caps).
Quiz of the Week (Answers at the foot of the Blog)
Each question has a Red Rose County club connection
1
Going back 90 years,
who holds the record for most goals scored in a season for both Blackburn
Rovers and Preston North End?
2
Which former England
goalkeeper made two appearances for Bolton Wanderers, one being in the 1995 Division 1 Play-Off
semi-final v Wolves aged 45 years and
239 days?
3
We all know the year
of the Hillsborough disaster, but in what year did the Heysel Stadium tragedy,
which also involved Liverpool FC supporters, take place?
4
Which Manchester
City player scored the winning goal in time added on to steal the 2011-12
Premier League title from cross town rivals United on goal difference?
5
Sean Dyche,
approaching 5 years in charge at Burnley, is the club’s longest serving manager
since which man?
6
Which Red Rose club
has a Manager and Assistant Manager who are brothers?
7
From which club did
Manchester United buy Michael Carrick for £14 million in 2006?
Michael Carrick; recently appointed club
captain at Manchester United
8
Which Wigan Borough
club won the North West Counties Premier League last season?
9
The father of which Red Rose county manager twice won European Cup
Winners medals with Nottingham Forest?
10
Oldham Athletic
legend Andy Ritchie, who once scored a Wembley hat-trick for England Schoolboys
against Germany, started his career at which other Red Rose County club?
Andy Ritchie; a century of goals and then
a managerial stint at Oldham Athletic
Red
Rose County Footballing Legends
(Number 10)
Nat Lofthouse Bolton Wanderers
The words Nat Lofthouse and Bolton are synonymous to so many people. He was born in the town, lived in and worked as a miner there during the Second World War and most famously played for the Wanderers for the whole of his 503 game Football League career. That alone would have assured legendary status within the borough but his links with the Wanderers continued up to his death in 2011, 51 years after his retirement. He was coach, chief scout, manager, executive manager and finally president, a man who stood up and represented his club throughout the subsequent good times and bad, undoubtedly Mr Bolton Wanderers. The town supported the erection of a statue outside the Macron Stadium where one of the stands has been named in his honour. His career was stalled by the abandonment of the professional game from 1939 to 1946, only making his debut at the age of 21. He inevitably scored twice and quickly became a centre forward to be reckoned with in the top tier of English football. In an era when goal scoring forwards were ten a penny, it was 1950 before he made his England debut, again notching twice. His reputation as both a strong and skilful number 9 was cemented after an amazing performance in a 1952 international in Austria, then one of the world’s best sides. He withstood every physical challenge imaginable in scoring and leading the Three Lions to a 3-2 victory, hence the famous nick-name of the “Lion of Vienna”. Bolton provided the opposition in the 1953 Matthews Final and he scored yet again to vindicate his footballer of the year award, but Bolton surrendered a 3-1 lead as the Wanderers failed to contain the inspirational Sir Stanley. He was England’s leading scorer at the 1954 World Cup as they lost to Uruguay in the quarter finals and then it was back to Wembley in 1958. Nat scored twice in a 2-0 victory, the second by barging the Manchester United goalkeeper Harry Gregg into the back of the net, a goal which would be disallowed these days. In a career played exclusively at the highest level of the English game, he scored 255 league goals, placed at 7th on the all-time list. Even more spectacularly he scored 30 times in 33 international appearances, the 6th equal Englishman alongside Finney and Shearer; his 0.91 goals per game ratio being better than any other plus 10 goal post war scorer. A Red Rose legend? Absolutely!!
Nat Lofthouse; Two goal FA Cup winning hero in
1958
Women’s Football
Throughout
my schooldays in the 60s, there were a number of girls who were athletically
talented. We spotted them at Sports’ Day and the Swimming Galas, the hockey and
netball results were regularly read out in Assembly but I can honestly say that
I never saw a girl kick a football. There was a definite divide between female
and male sports. They played the above mentioned games plus rounders and
tennis; we played football, cricket and occasionally basketball and table
tennis. Possibly only badminton occasionally threatened to cross the great
divide. As we all know, there is now scarcely a sport which does not open its
doors to both men and women. On physiological grounds, competition still
generally remains within one gender but in terms of skill level, there is
little difference. As can be seen from the debate at Wimbledon every year,
there is still a feeling that it is the male sports which draw the crowds,
hence the prize money differential. Certainly the difference in attendance at a
Manchester City v Chelsea Premier League game and the identical fixture in the
women’s WSL counterpart is massive. Nonetheless let us celebrate that women’s
football is on the march and the quadrennial European Championship kicks-off in
the Netherlands this week. England take centre stage on Wednesday in a local
derby v Scotland, but it is of course Germany, gunning for their 7th
successive title, whom they all have to beat. In England, club football mirrors
the men’s game with Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool the most
wealthy. So who are the Red Rose stars that we need to look out for in the
coming days. Of the 23 strong England squad, 10 represent either Manchester
City or Liverpool, with 7 playing at the Etihad complex. Karen Bardsley the goalkeeper, Lucy Bronze, Steph Houghton and Jill
Scott may not be household names but you may recognise them and Liverpool’s
Casey Stoner has received her share of publicity. Realistically speaking,
anything less than a semi-final berth will be a disappointment, but a win is
not an impossible dream. Historically the Lancashire area is famous for women’s
football. During World War 1, women took over the work of the absentee men who were
fighting for their country at the Somme and other battle grounds. The men that
remained struggled to find sufficient participants for their lunch time
kick-about in the factory yard so women were invited to join in. At Dick Kerr’s
Munitions Factory on the edge of Preston Docks, this became the daily ritual,
so much so that a Women’s factory team was formed to play in Charity games. The
“Munitionettes” actually pulled in a 10,000 crowd at Deepdale on Christmas Day
1917, raising a phenomenal (for those days) £600 for the War Effort and there
were subsequent unofficial fixtures against other Ordnance Factories of the
day. The team continued until 1965, winning 758 and drawing 24 of 828 friendly games.
The building at the end of Strand Road in the city now belongs to Alstom and there
is a commemorative blue plaque on the wall, paying tribute to probably the most
successful women’s football team ever.
Pre-Season
Friendlies; an Indicator of Status in Football
There are lots of indicators as to the relative strength and wealth of
clubs; league position, activity in the transfer market, condition of ground,
average attendance, reputation both worldwide and locally, the effects of
merchandising and of course the number of media references. To that fairly
comprehensive list, pre-season friendlies can be added. There is no doubt that
the financial footballing muscle in the North-West is based in Manchester, a
conclusion rubber stamped with the summer programme of both City and United.
They are both in the United States, playing friendlies with football royalty in
the shape of Barcelona and Real Madrid, albeit in a meaningless International
Champions Tournament. The 2 Manchester giants will actually meet in Houston Texas,
a game which may or may not offer indications as to the prospects of each side
in the forthcoming Premier League season
which kicks off on August 13th. Liverpool
are in Hong Kong for the Asia Trophy, whereas Everton, having returned from a tour in East Africa, play a couple
of friendlies in Holland and Belgium against Europa League level opposition;
intelligent planning considering the Toffees are in competitive action on July
27 in the 2nd qualifying round of the said competition. Burnley, conscious of their budget when
planning a pre-season programme, play away friendlies at Preston
North End and Notts Forest before hosting Tier
1 sides from Europe, Celta Vigo and Hannover 96. PNE complete their preparations with games against Newcastle United and Fleetwood
Town while our other Championship club, Bolton Wanderers, are using opposition from lower leagues to reach match fitness, apart
from a home game v Premier League regular Stoke City. Blackburn
Rovers, still with aspirations above their
current station, were on tour in Austria and came extremely close to holding
Czech Republic giants Sparta Prague. Wigan Athletic’s special event was to welcome Liverpool to the DW Stadium, a real money spinner with Jürgen
Klopp bringing a number of household names; a game which the Latics managed to
draw. Further down the pyramid, Oldham Athletic have an interesting friendly at Boundary Park against Girona, a newly
promoted La Liga side, as preparation for the Football League season which kicks-off on August 5th.
The ambitious Fleetwood Town have also completed a training week in Austria and play host to Bolton
Wanderers this Saturday. Another interesting
fixture sees Rochdale at home to Championship favourites Middlesbrough whilst Bury lost 3-1 at home to Premier League debutants
Huddersfield Town. Accrington Stanley entertained an Everton U/23 side and Preston North End, while Morecambe are busy playing local clubs, the most prominent being
North
End and the Rovers. Blackpool have planned their pre-season games around local non-league opposition
including Southport, Chorley
and Salford and in the National League, AFC Fylde are setting their sights high for their 1st season at this
level with matches against Bolton, Rochdale and Morecambe. Meanwhile to the north, Barrow test themselves against Blackburn Rovers, Motherwell, Crewe and Notts Forest. At the lowest level of the Pyramid
(Tiers 9 and 10), preparations centre around the FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round
on August 5th. Here victory
brings £1500 added prize money, a trifling amount higher up the pyramid but the
equivalent of 300 extra spectators; vital in terms of survival at this level.
Post Weekend
Musings
There
are individuals in the game who spring from nowhere with potential to burn;
youngsters who can really excite and you note their names and follow their
ensuing progress. For some it can be a golden career, for others it can all end
in disappointment. This week, Old Trafford has seen departures from both sides
of this particular coin. Wayne Rooney
has finally returned to Everton and
a pantechnicon was probably required to transport his international caps,
medals and trophies. Around the same time Adnan Januzaj, the 22 year old
Belgian international of Albanian extraction was slinking away to Real Sociedad,
the ex-David Moyes managed club which has its home in the popular Basque
sea-side resort of San Sebastian. He burst on to the scene at Manchester United in the 2013-14
season, lighting up the football horizon like a November 5th sky rocket,
dyeing away almost as quickly as potential never quite materialised into the
finished article. He was a box of tricks with pace over a few yards, lacking only
the decision making skills which seemed certain to arrive with experience. He
became a fringe player at Old Trafford and then was loaned out first to
Borussia Dortmund and then to a down trodden Sunderland, a team devoid of
talent in most areas. He impressed at neither club so it was no surprise that
the United hierarchy wanted rid of a player who simply had not delivered but hopefully
in a less pressurised environment, he will be given a second chance to produce.
It is a familiar story around football. Thankfully there will always be the
“Rooneys” to rock our world, but sadly there are far more “Adnan Januzajs”.
It
is also goodbye to Paul Robinson, one time England goalkeeper who kept 4 clean
sheets out of the 5 2006 World Cup Final games in Germany. The East
Yorkshireman had a glittering career at both Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur
before he became Paul Ince’s first signing at Blackburn Rovers in 2008. A
stalwart of the Sam Allardyce side which regularly retained their place in the
Premier League, he was ultimately a victim of the post Steve
Keane appointment by the Venkys, finally becoming surplus to requirements in
2015. He moved to Burnley as cover
for the immaculate Tom Heaton and memorably played three Premier League games
last season. An old back injury then flared up and, unable to train seriously
in the close season, he has announced his retirement after 424 league
appearances and 41 England caps in 19 seasons.
Paul Robinson; 189 league appearances for the
Ewood Park club
There
has been yet another sparkling performance by an England youth side. The U/19
side has triumphed, winning the European Championships by beating Portugal in
the final at the remote east Georgian city of Gori, interestingly the
birthplace of the infamous Russian dictator Josef Stalin. Once again a Red Rose
County player stole the headlines; Manchester
City’s Lukas Nmecha scoring in both the semi-final and final. The striker
was actually born in Hamburg and City brought him over from Germany as a young
boy. Now having lived here for a number of years, he is eligible to play for
the national team. The only other Red Rose boy who started in the final is also
at City. Isaac Buckley is actually a Manchester boy who has been a prolific
scorer in the club’s youth and Academy teams.
Lukas Nmecha; celebrating yet another goal for
the Manchester City youngsters
The
close season is a time to look forward; a time to sum up the prospects of your
team and bravely make predictions for the forthcoming 9 months. Will it be a
triumphal season, a year to mark time or simply a disaster? These discussions
will be happening throughout the North West at all levels, but the club that
particularly fascinates me is the pride of North East Lancashire, Burnley FC.
From 47 until 71 and then from 73 to 76, they were a First Division club, more
often than not amongst the country’s top ten sides. Then it was all downhill
and it was only when sound financial management arrived that they were
gradually able to tilt at the Premier League. Financially, as probably the
poorest club at that level, life has been difficult and it is something of a
miracle to be playing back to back seasons at Tier 1. They have had to sell
their best player (Michael Keane to Everton) but their shrewd manager has signed
Cork from Swansea and Walters from Stoke, both experienced pros plus the
promising Charlie Taylor from Leeds. With £15 million still available from the Keane
sale, there will probably be other signings. If, as in North American sport,
there was no promotion and relegation, Burnley would never be offered a
franchise. They would be left out in the cold. But the Clarets punch above
their weight and make life difficult for the billionaires who have to visit
Turf Moor. Underdogs are the life blood of sport and long may this continue. After
all, they are one of only four founder members of the Football League playing
at the highest level of English football next season.
Quiz
Answers 1 Ted
Harper, 2 Peter Shilton, 3 1985, 4 Sergio Aguero, 5 Stan Ternent, 6 Everton, 7
Tottenham Hotspur, 8 Atherton Collieries, 9 Gary Bowyer, 10 Manchester United.
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