Red Rose Football Blog Edition 50

October 2nd 2017

Red Rose Player of the Week

Eoin Doyle; Oldham Athletic

Several Tabloid back page headline makers such as Kevin de Bruyne and Marouane Fellaini could have won this week’s award, but there are heroes at every level of the game. So when your team is on a one way ticket to relegation as Oldham Athletic have appeared to be recently, a striker who knocks in a double and immediately follows it up with another two goal salvo deserves recognition. Eoin Doyle (pictured) is only at Boundary Park on loan.

Preston North End is his club, but you may remember that he and team mate Jermaine Beckford were dismissed for fighting each other on the field during a game against Sheffield Wednesday last season. The Irishman quickly fell out of favour and he played on loan at Portsmouth until the end of the campaign before being loaned out to the Latics as the recent transfer window closed. He was handed the number 13 shirt, but shrugging off any superstition, he has started 6 games and scored 6 goals in the month of September. It is however his performances in the wins over Peterborough United and Portsmouth, which included his 50^th goal in English football, that make this rugged striker the Red Rose County Player of the Week.

Red Rose County Local Football Heroes

Alan Oakes; Manchester City

The picture somehow tells it all; the slight stoop, the preference for the left foot and a drive and determination that says “this is my ball so you had better get out of my way”. Alan Oakes (pictured)

came to Manchester City as a 16 year old boy and made his first team debut the following year in 1959. From then on, he was a virtual first team regular, playing initially at left half before being regarded as a defensive midfield player. Effort, heart and strength he had in abundance but he was also an extremely skilful player, hard to knock off the ball and with a powerful strike from his left boot. From 1966 onwards, he played in a very talented and successful City side, initially winning the then 2^nd Division title, becoming champions of Division 1, winning the FA Cup, the UEFA Cup-Winners Trophy and two Football League Cups. Oakes was never a headline maker; headlines were reserved for Summerbee, Bell, Lee, Marsh and even Denis Law. He was very much the engine room, the work horse, the man who won the ball and passed it on. I remember watching him regularly on Granada TV’s Sunday afternoon “Big Match”, commentary by Gerald Sinstadt. From memory, the Sky Blues seemed to be on every other week and Maine Road often resembled a mud bath. This had no effect on Alan Oakes; he would plough on regardless whatever the conditions as City regularly contended for honours. He was never selected for England but as the star names rolled up and then eventually moved on, he was there for the duration. He racked up 564 league appearances in his 17 years at the club, still a record before leaving at the age of 33. This however was by no means the end of his career. He became player manager at Chester City, then a useful 3^rd Tier side. He gave Ian Rush his start in the game and he stayed for 6 years, making a further 211 appearances. He then became Reserve Team manager at Port Vale, even turning out for them in a league game at the age of 41. His final total of 776 league games places him 7^th in the all-time list of leading appearance makers in English football. Often ignored by the national press, Alan Oakes was always Mr Reliable to the fans, the ultimate local hero at Manchester City.

The best Performances of the last week

The Mancunian sides fared better than the Liverpudlians in the mid-week European games and it was Manchester United who took the honours in this series of Champions’ League group games. The “Reds” have taken a firm grip of Group A, taking the long flight to the Russian capital in their stride and comprehensively thumping an ageing CSKA Moscow 4-1. No opposition appears capable of stopping Romelu Lukaku from scoring at the moment and he helped himself to two more early goals before an Anthony Martial penalty and a close range effort from Henrikh Mkhitaryan (pictured) sealed the victory.

The 28 year old Armenian international captain has eventually settled well in the North West since his arrival from Borussia Dortmund 15 months ago. Now a virtual first choice in a squad overflowing with talent, he is a perfect example of the modern attacking mid-field player, being fit enough to play from box to box, break up the opposition’s play and make and score goals.

Every game in a league campaign is technically as important as the last one because titles are decided on total number of points gained in the season. Therefore the three collected against the bottom of the league are just as important as the three from a victory over your nearest rival but, there can be no doubt that Manchester City’s 1-0 win in the Premier League on Saturday at Chelsea had far more significance than Manchester United’s 4-0 thrashing of the still goalless Crystal Palace at Old Trafford.  No one in the game has the slightest doubt about “City’s” attacking potential. They are a lethal force going forward; more dangerous than any outside of Spain, but so many have voiced concerns about their ability to defend with strength. However, even without the injured skipper, they have shown a capacity in their last two games (v Shaktar Donetsk and Chelsea) to keep dangerous units at bay, keep a clean sheet and dominate the game. The victory at Stamford Bridge was not achieved by hitting the opposition on the break. “The Sky Blues” ruled the possession and had far more shots at goal, emphatically stating that they are the side that everyone has to beat.   

It was a day for the returnees at Deepdale, Aiden McGeady, on loan there from Everton last term, and of course Sunderland’s new manager Simon Grayson combining to somewhat spoil the party with a 2-2 draw. The Preston North End faithful have had much to thank Grayson for. Arriving in February 2013, he steadied the ship, saw them to promotion from League 1, made them extremely competitive in the Championship and arguably laid the foundation for this campaign’s promotion push under new manager Alex Neil. It is difficult to criticise his resignation and subsequent move to a much better supported club where I assume the “Wearsiders” were offering a huge hike in wages, even though this club has been a poisoned chalice to many managers for as long as I can remember (last top 3 finish in Tier 1 was in the 1949-50 season). So hopefully “PNE” fans, although no doubt  upset that they could not hold on to a 2-1 lead given to them by Josh Harrop and Simon Hugill, will at least feel relieved that a massively under-fire Grayson earned a temporary reprieve from a club renowned for swinging the axe. Alex Neil’s side is still in the Play-Off places and they are unbeaten in eight, so life at Deepdale cannot be that bad.

Performance of the weekend in League 1 was down on the south coast where Oldham Athletic, ended the craziest week imaginable by beating Portsmouth 2-1. And what a week it was. Hammered on Saturday 5-1 at Rotherham United, they sacked manager John Sheridan on Monday, beat promotion contenders Peterborough United 3-2 on Tuesday in spite of having Brian Wilson sent off in the 57^th minute, had to contend with the “fake news” of Clarence Seedorf’s rumoured appointment as manager and then won away at Pompey in front of 17,848. All of this has done the prospects of coach Richie Wellens being considered for the Manager’s post no harm at all, has enabled the “Latics” to scramble out of the relegation places and increased the value of loan striker Eoin Doyle, on loan from Preston, who scored twice in both of last week’s victories.

What looked like being a comfortable three points for Accrington Stanley in League 2 at relegation favourites Forest Green Rovers turned out to be a war of attrition until Seamus Conneely’s thunderbolt secured the points in a 1-0 victory. The Irishman, who was brought to the North West by John Coleman from Sligo Rovers where he had taken a managerial sabbatical from “Stanley” three years ago, has completed over 100 appearances for the “Reds” and now skippers the side. Just 4 points divides the top seven in this most compact of leagues, but the supporters at the Wham Stadium will be excited by their current third place.

AFC Fylde earned a memorable victory at Brisbane Road, home of the recently relegated Leyton Orient in the National League. 

Danny Rowe (pictured) was as potent as ever in front of goal, knocking in a couple which gave his team mates the breathing space to hold on for a well fought 2-1 win. It also enabled the “Coasters” to move 4 points clear of the drop zone. In an FA Cup 3^rd Qualifying Round notably lacking in Red Rose County participants, only Chorley have definitely secured a place in the next round after a surprisingly close 1-0 triumph at Ashton Athletic, a club from three levels below. The 602 spectators broke the attendance record at Brocstedes Park and the “Magpies” had to wait until the 83^rd minute before Nick Haughton broke the deadlock. In the Northern Premier League, Warrington Town kept up their pursuit of league glory by winning 2-1 at the lowly West Midlands’ side Rushall Olympic. The Cheshire side came back from one down with a penalty from Sean Williams and a winner from Shaun Beeley, keeping them on the tail of current leaders Shaw Lane Association in 3^rd position. Bamber Bridge moved into second place in the NPL 1 North with a late James Boyd winner at Ramsbottom United. “Brig” are having their best season since their ultimately failed promotion chases of 2013 to 2015 and are only one point behind South Shields, everyone’s title favourite. The most unexpected result of the day in the North West Counties Premier Division was relegation threatened AFC Darwen’s 5-4 win at West Didsbury & Chorlton. It was a ding-dong affair but the most remarkable feature was a Chappy Massamba 4-timer in what may have been his debut for Darwen. As equally surprising was AFC Blackpool’s comprehensive 4-1 victory at Sandbach United in NWC League 1, a performance which moves the “Mechanics” close to the Play-Off slots.

Games to look forward to this week

Premier League, Championship and some League 1 clubs are able to take a break this weekend but there will be no refreshing of batteries for their star players as they battle it out on the International stage. We are at the sharp end of the World Cup Qualifiers and Group F kicks-off proceedings on Thursday evening with the final games on Sunday. England need 2 points maximum to qualify automatically for Russia and a home game against third placed Slovenia and a routine away trip to Lithuania ought to enable Gareth Southgate’s boys to start dreaming of 66 and all that. Scotland in the same group can qualify for the Play-Offs but they will probably have to beat Slovakia at Hampden and then win in Slovenia. Northern Ireland also play on these two days and although the Germans with a 100% record are virtually certain to win Group C, Michael O’Neill’s side are similarly a shoe in for a Play-Off place irrespective of the results from the home game against Germany and an away visit to Norway. Wales and the Republic of Ireland are left to contest the Play-Off spot in Group D with Chris Coleman’s side away to Georgia on Friday and the Republic hosting Moldova at the same time. The crunch game is in Cardiff on Monday when the sides fight it out to the death. Only an unprecedented loss of form will prevent Serbia topping the group.

Just Fleetwood Town, Rochdale and Wigan Athletic of our seven League 1 sides play on Saturday with the most interesting game being at Scunthorpe United’s Glanford Park. Wigan are the visitors, a team which is showing no sign of relenting in its chase for instant promotion back to the Championship. The Latics have won 8 from 11 so far but the Iron are on the cusp of the Play-Offs and always difficult to beat. Manager Paul Cook has assembled a most efficient side at the DW Stadium, potent going forward and strong defensively, with Northern Ireland international Will Grigg (pictured) re-discovering his shooting boots after a woeful 2016-17 season.

Surprise leaders Shrewsbury Town are 4 points ahead, but Wigan are looking more and more secure in 2^nd spot.

Morecambe and Crawley Town are on level points in 20^th and 21^st position in League 2, although both are 5 points clear of relegation. They clash at the Globe Arena on Saturday and it is an opportunity for the Shrimps to move into safer waters. They were crushed 4-1 at Exeter City last weekend, but they lost keeper Barry Roche to a nasty gash on the knee in just the second minute. The visit of the Harry Kewell side is something of a six-pointer even at this stage of the season and the 3 points are essential for the Jim Bentley managed side.

Having lost at home to AFC Fylde last weekend, Leyton Orient travel north to Barrow for their second helping of North West football within a week. This National League encounter gives new manager Micky Moore and his team the opportunity to win again after collecting just 2 points from their last 5 games. The Bluebirds are sitting just one place above the relegation zone and will be desperate for a home win on Saturday.

If ever there was an opportunity for FC United of Manchester to put vital points on the board, it is this Saturday at North Ferriby. The Humberside village on the outskirts of Hull miraculously reached the National League 2 seasons ago, but came crashing back down at the first time of asking and have made a dreadful start to their time in National League North. They have scored a paltry 4 goals in 12 games and although FC are struggling in 20^th position, they can surely win in East Yorkshire. Manager Karl Marginson (pictured)  has been in post for 12 years, ever since the club was founded.

This is a tribute to both manager and club and they have only known one direction of travel; upwards. They certainly do not want to lose their place in Tier 6 this season.   

The most competitive game in the Northern Premier League could be at Buxton who entertain Marine. The Crosby side has become attuned to relegation battles, their last serious promotion push being in 2007. Buxton have been disappointing so far and now languish in 17^th place, 2 points and 3 places above Marine who sit one above the relegation places. It is the type of game which you have not to lose but 3 points would really boost the “Mariners”. All of the National League North sides are competing in the in the FA Trophy this weekend and there is an interesting local derby at Clitheroe who play host to their visitors Colne from the other side of Pendle Hill. Neither side has found the form of last season when promotion could have been a possibility but a Trophy run would breed confidence over the winter months. Colne has played the fewest games in the league which may give a false perspective to a lowly 19^th position whereas the Ribble Valley side, having played 3 games more, sit more comfortably in 13^th spot. Atherton Collieries made an impressive start to the season but have struggled recently so they should enjoy a change of scenery when visiting Stocksbridge in the heart of the Sheffield steel industry. This is the club where it all began for Jamie Vardy and the Yorkshire side is in the Play-Off positions in the NPL South. It will be a tough one for the Colls but a victory will do them the power of good.

Charnock Richard is a village on the A49 which if you blink, you miss it. No-one is missing the progress of their football team however and with games in hand, are sitting pretty in 3^rd place of the North West Counties Premier Division. Winsford United, their opponents on Saturday are only a point behind, so it should be a cracking game at Mossie Park. Prestwich Heys in 3^rd place have performed well in only their second season in the North West Counties League 1. They travel to 4^th placed Alsager Town in South Cheshire in what is the game of the day in this league.

Post Weekend Musings

I missed the news in June that Warren Joyce had been appointed manager of Melbourne City in Australia’s A League. The Oldham born defender is one of that small nucleus of players whose fathers also had distinguished professional careers in the game. He played most of his 600 plus league games in the North West at Bolton Wanderers, Preston North End and Burnley (pictured),  although he finished his long career as player manager of Hull City.

Post retirement, he started in management at the Belgian League side Royal Antwerp, a satellite club of Manchester United. This was followed by a long and successful stint as Reserve team manager at Old Trafford before a disastrous 4 months at Wigan Athletic earlier this year. What makes his appointment down under fascinating is that Melbourne City are part of the Abu Dhabi based “City Football Group” whose flagship team is Manchester City. Joyce was well thought of at “United” so it is something of a surprise that he has thrown his lot in with the arch-enemy, but there again, nothing surprises any more in football.

And here is more unsurprising news, Southport of the National League North have sacked their manager Alan Lewer. Since Liam Watson resigned from the post in 2013, the Haig Avenue club has appointed 10 different managers with no doubt number 11 waiting in the wings for the call. Mark Wright, the former England centre back who has had the Director of Football role has resigned, possibly in protest at the sacking of Lewer, but it all begs the question as to why they cannot find the right man for the job. Anyone who has been on an interviewing panel knows that it is possible to make a bad appointment, but 10 in 4 years is ridiculous. Are these people the best they can afford or do the conditions imposed on the managers by the Directors, CEO or owner make it difficult to be successful at Southport? Whichever, the club has stumbled from one disaster to another for too long.

I was sad to see that there was no substance to the rumour that the legendary Clarence Seedorf would take over from John Sheridan at Oldham Athletic, because it would have been the quiz question to end all quiz questions. “Who won 3 Champions’ League medals with 3 different clubs and managed Oldham”? Richie Wellens, the ex-Oldham midfield player who made a name for himself at Blackpool at the start of the millennium when making 191 league appearances, is temporarily in charge.

“It is a marathon not a sprint” was one of the many memorable quotes of the legendary Scotsman Bill Shankly. Looking at how Blackburn Rovers have crept into the top 6 in League 1, having been left on the blocks in spite of being pre-season title favourites, you simply have to wonder at the wisdom of the ex-Liverpool boss and how he always got it right.

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

1                    Who is the only Blackburn Rovers player to have scored a hat-trick in the Champions’ League?

2                    Ronnie Simpson (pictured) won a European Cup winners medal with the great Celtic side of 1967, having won English FA Cup winners medals with which club in 1952 and 1955?

3                    Who, with a total of 26, was the Manchester United leading goal scorer in Sir Alex Ferguson’s final season of 2012-2013?

4                    Who was manager of Liverpool when the Heysel Stadium disaster occurred?

5                    Darren Pratley, the Bolton Wanderers captain has been at the club since 2011, having signed from which club for whom he made 171 league appearances?

6                    Bobby Charlton (pictured) has been a Director of Manchester United since 1984, but before that he was a Director at which other North West club where he was also briefly caretaker manager until Harry McNally took over?

7                    This Jamaican international and much-travelled striker scored lots of goals at Leeds United and has had decent spells at Bolton Wanderers and Preston North End before now captaining Bury. Who is he?

8                    When Manchester City won the Football League Championship, their first trophy for 26 years in 2002, who was their captain who would later manage the club?

9                    In the last 25 years, which Red Rose County club has won 5 Play-Off finals and 2 Football League Trophies at either Wembley or the Millennium Stadium?

10                James Beattie was sold by Southampton in 2005 for £6million to which North West side, breaking their transfer record?

Red Rose County Non-league Club of the Week

Barnoldswick Town

The small town of Barnoldswick was part of the White Rose County prior to Local Government re-organisation in 1974 when it was gifted to Lancashire. It is situated in picturesque West Craven amongst the foothills of the Pennine Hills and is at the highest point of the Leeds-Liverpool Canal. The present football club was founded in 1972 as Barnoldswick United and they progressed through various local leagues. They reached the West Lancashire League in 1997, twice quickly being promoted until in 2003, as members of the Premier Division, they amalgamated with two other local clubs. At this stage the name was changed to Barnoldswick Town. By 2009, they were promoted to the North West Counties League 1 and within a season had earned a further promotion to the NWC Premier Division where to date, they have continued to reside. In the subsequent 7 seasons they have yo-yoed between 4^th in 2012 and 19^th in 2015, but are generally accepted as a mid-table club. Their best performance in the FA Vase was in 2012-13 when they lost to AFC Emley after reaching the 3^rd Round whilst the yellow and blue shirted side recorded its best FA Cup run this season when they won their way through to the 1^st Qualifying Round before going down 2-1 to Albion Sports. The compact ground (pictured), currently titled “The Silent Night Stadium” after its chief sponsor, is pleasantly situated in Victory Park.

It has attained a Northern Premier League ground criteria rating, making promotion a certainty if they can win the league. The club has struggled a little at first team level so far this season and they will not be happy with a current 18^th position. Danny Craig, who has come up through the ranks, is the manager and there is a strong committee who have successfully developed the club over the last 45 years from Parks League level to the 9^th Tier of English football; a club that takes part in the FA Cup, the World’s oldest football competition. Being situated in a small rural town, somewhat isolated from Lancashire’s large urban populations and with competition for players from neighbouring clubs such as Colne, Clitheroe, Nelson, Padiham and Silsden, further progression will be difficult, but with continued hard work and dedication from both playing staff and volunteers, the club can continue to make its presence felt at North West Counties level as well as offering the opportunity for youngsters to play the game through its plethora of Junior sides.

Quiz Answers:  1 Mike Newell, 2 Newcastle United, 3 Robin van Persie, 4 Joe Fagan, 5 Swansea City 6 Wigan Athletic, 7 Jermaine Beckford, 8 Stuart Pearce, 9 Blackpool, 10 Everton.