The Red Rose Football Blog Number 17

Number 17                                                                                         February 13 2017

Do you only support a winning team? Apparently many do.

I listened to an interview last week with Robert Kraft, owner of New England Patriots, the recent Super Bowl winners. American Football is that most franchised of sports and Kraft was making the point that sport is all about winning and the reason why the public flock to support winning teams is because of the “feel good” factor. He also claimed that prior to the Americanisation of Liverpool FC, he was given the opportunity to buy the club. “I turned it down” he said “because I was uncertain about their ability to dominate The Premier League”. This attitude may well be prevalent in the States and possibly here also, but the old adage of finding a team, preferably from your home town and sticking with them for better or for worse, through good times and bad times hopefully is still in vogue. However I was talking to Bob from Wigan a few weeks ago and he told me that when he was at secondary school in the years just prior to the Latics reaching the Premier League, he was their only supporter in his class at school. Everyone else rooted for a top team. There can be no objection to a Wigan pupil choosing to wear a Chelsea shirt or a Burnley child being a fan of Manchester United; it is their choice and in a democratic society we all have to abide by that. However it is surely character building to learn to take the knocks and the plaudits, to accept the wins and the losses, the ups and the downs from a young age. It makes you stronger and prepares you for the even harder knocks that adult life often brings. This of course was the basis of the “Corinthian Spirit” which emanated from the late Victorians and what Kipling’s much loved poem “If” was all about. Turning up at the ground every week when your team is at the bottom of the league can be difficult and requires a masochistic streak within. I have never even contemplated switching allegiance to the nearby giants of the game in Manchester or Liverpool, even though I would have witnessed far more victories than from the fortnightly trek along Bolton Road to Ewood Park. In the real world there always has to be at least one loser for every winner (actually 21 losers in the Championship) so acceptance of defeat goes with the territory. The concept of supporting a side just because they will win seems part of the “Hello Magazine” celebrity circus, providing little substance, backbone or stability to our society; in particular to our youngsters.

EVERTON: THEIR FINEST HOUR

As the chart shows, Everton have always been one of England’s foremost clubs. Their successes have been well spaced out but the 80s contributed massively to their trophy haul.

Number	Team	League	FA Cup	League Cup	Champions League	Various UEFA Cups *	Total
1	Liverpool	18	7	8	5	3	41
2	Manchester United	20	12	4	3	1	40
3	Arsenal	13	12	2	0	2	29
4	Chelsea	5	7	5	1	3	21
5	Aston Villa	7	7	5	1	0	20
6	Tottenham Hotspur	2	8	4	0	3	17
7	Everton	9	5	0	0	1	15

·         Various UEFA Cups = Fairs Cup, UEFA Cup, Cup Winners Cup, Europa League

In 1981, Howard Kendall left Blackburn after two successful seasons as Player-Manager and returned to Everton where, with Colin Harvey and Alan Ball, he had formed one third of the glittering midfield known as the “Holy Trinity”. In his first three seasons as manager, Kendall settled the side into top ten positions, taking them all the way to Wembley in his third campaign where they defeated Graham Taylor’s Watford in the FA Cup Final. The Everton squad included Welsh internationals Neville Southall in goal and captain Kevin Ratcliffe, Gary Stephens, Trevor Steven and Peter Reid from England, Republic of Ireland winger Kevin Sheedy plus twin Scotland strikers, Andy Gray and Graeme Sharp. Kendall built on this success and the 1984-5 season was truly memorable. They walked the league, finishing 13 points in front of runners up Liverpool. They were in the UEFA Cup Winners Cup draw having won the FA Cup the previous season and they reached the final, having defeated the mighty Bayern Munich in a two-legged semi-final, coming from behind to win 3-1 at Goodison with goals from Sharp, Gray and Steven. In the final at Rotterdam, they were opposed by Rapid Vienna and once more Everton proved too strong, goals from Gray, Steven and Sheedy ensuring a 3-1 victory. They returned to Wembley to contest the FA Cup Final once more but lost 1-0 to Manchester United in a very controversial game. Kevin Moran brought down Peter Reid when the Everton midfielder was clean through. The United centre back was sent off for the professional foul, but the “Toffees” failed to profit from the free kick and Norman Whiteside shattered their dreams of a most unusual treble with his extra time winner. In 1985-86, the Blues returned to Wembley for a third consecutive FA Cup Final and were runners up in the league, taking second place to Dalglish’s double winning Liverpool side in both competitions. The following year they regained their league title, turning the tables on their city neighbours with a nine point winning margin. Kendall subsequently joined the Basque club Athletic Bilbao after six glorious years by the Mersey and Everton has won just one trophy since. But with two major trophies and a runners-up prize, the 1984-85 season was Everton’s finest hour.

Performances of the last week

Liverpool 2 Tottenham Hotspur 0 (Premier League)

Your Talisman returns from distant lands and the world is a different place. This was certainly the case at Anfield where Sadio Mane’s pace, skill and work rate was far too much for the Spurs. After rank mediocrity from the Anfield outfit since New Year’s Eve, this was a complete turn around and the defensive fragility of their opponents, conveniently forgotten by the London media, was exposed by Mane’s physicality. Suddenly the table looks more optimistic for the Reds and is Jürgen Klopp suddenly everyone’s favourite manager again?

Burnley 1 Chelsea 1

It must have been easier to escape from Colditz than it is to sneak away from Turf Moor with 3 points in the bag. The Claret’s fans were celebrating the point against the country’s top team as they left Turf Moor but no more so than all over Manchester, half of Liverpool and two areas of North London. Chelsea has dropped 4 points in their last 3 games and although this does not signal a collapse, it raises optimism levels amongst their rivals. As for Burnley, the best managed team in the land goes from strength to strength ………… at home.

Oldham Athletic 3 Coventry City 2 (EFL Division 1)

They say lightning doesn’t strike twice but can John Sheridan be about to rescue the Latics for the second consecutive season. Bottom of the table when he arrived from the horror show which was Notts County, they have plundered 12 points from 7 games and are now out of the relegation zone. Coventry is a club which is overloaded with problems but Oldham held off their spirited late challenge to collect the vital 3 points. “Shezzerection is the word around Boundary Park as Mr Sheridan orchestrates another great escape.

Carlisle United 1 Blackpool 4 (EFL Division 1)

Fail to score at home against lowly Crawley, travel to 3^rd place Carlisle and smash-in 4. That somehow sums up Blackpool’s topsy-turvy season. If only they can add a touch of consistency to their game, a place in the play-offs is there for the taking. Jordan Flores appears to be a good loan acquisition from Wigan and centre back and captain Tom Aldred has certainly impressed me when I have seen him play. His strong leadership on the field can yet propel Blackpool out of a league which historically, they ought to be nowhere near.

On the non-league scene, over 2400 supporters watched the game of the day at FC United of Manchester where the home side led 3-0 at half time only for Chorley to roar back and snatch a draw in the National League North. Prescot Cables pulled further clear of relegation with a 3-2 win over the fancied Colne and also in the Northern Premier League Division 1 North; Burscough gained a rare victory over Goole Town, cohabitees in the two relegation places. Bootle continued to commit carnage with a 6-1 win over the normally competitive Padiham in the North West Counties Premier Division to stay at the head of the league, Carl Peers grabbing 2 more goals to take his season’s tally to 22.

Games to look forward to this week

Huddersfield Town v Manchester City (FA Cup Round 5) Saturday February 18, 15.00

Some may classify this fixture as David v Goliath but the West Yorkshire side have certainly stored  more than a sling shot in their armoury in recent weeks. David Wagner, who was Klopp’s reserve team manager at Dortmund, has impressed at Huddersfield and City will need guile, pace and trickery to safely reach the last eight. Aguero should start now that de Jesus is on crutches.

Blackburn Rovers v Manchester United (FA Cup Round 5) Sunday February 19, 16.15

Attending this game as a Rovers fan is akin to supporting the Christians against the Lions at Ancient Rome’s Colosseum. Other than with a large slice of luck, I see no scenario where the Rovers can prevail. United will want to win because the mini treble is definitely on the cards, so a strong Mourinho eleven is expected. The Rovers will value an escape from the drop before Cup success, but an insipid performance will further turn off the Ewood faithful.

                           Danny Graham; Rovers centre forward with 18 goals from 41 starts

Wigan Athletic v Preston North End (EFL Championship) Saturday February 18, 15.00

The DW Stadium is separated from Deepdale by 22 miles of M6 tarmac, making this a local derby. It has been a roller coaster ride for Wigan since their shock defeat of Manchester City in 2013 to win the FA Cup. Two relegations then a storming run through League 1 last season could be followed by a 180 degree turn and a drop straight back down. There have been stirring victories since Warren Joyce arrived as manager but PNE need this victory just as much if this season has to produce anything really positive. It is a “tough to pick” game.

Bradford City v Bolton Wanderers (EFL Division 1) Saturday February 18, 15.00

It’s Parkinson’s old boys versus Parkinson’s new boys at Valley Parade in this vital promotion game. After a winless January, the Wanderers have returned to form and they crushed Walsall on Saturday. Bradford is 5^th in the league, 2 places behind Bolton, but Phil Parkinson’s current club has games in hand and a result in West Yorkshire will pile the pressure on Sheffield United and Scunthorpe in the automatic promotion spots.

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

All of the questions have Red Rose County connections

1             Who scored his first goal for Liverpool in September 1985 against his old club Everton?

2             Manchester City beat Stoke City in the final of the 2011 Cup Final. Vincent Kompany did not captain the City side. Who did?

3             Who was Burnley’s top league goal scorer in their promotion year of 2015-16?

4             Jürgen Klopp obviously did not “fancy” Mamadou Sakho, his French centre-back but which club has he joined on loan from January 2016 onwards?

5             Notts County have played more League games than any other club. Which Red Rose County side comes second in the all-time list?

6             Which manager took Everton to their most recent trophy success, the FA Cup in 1996?

7             John Sheridan, current Oldham Athletic manager, scored the only goal of the 1991 League Cup Final for which team that beat Manchester United 1-0?

                                  John Sheridan, current manager of Oldham Athletic

8             Which current Red Rose County manager has been in charge of Burnley, Bolton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic amongst others?

9             From which club did Manchester United sign Daley Blind?

                                  Daley Blind; son of Danny, a Dutch footballing legend

10         Who left Blackpool in 2011 following relegation from the Premier League and signed for Liverpool?

Post Weekend Musings

If you have just been signed from a club two leagues below, you want to make an impression on your full debut. Omar Bogle certainly did that shortly after his move from Grimsby Town, scoring twice for Wigan Athletic against Norwich City. His header and direct free kick were sufficient to earn the Latics a point in their battle to avoid relegation.

Like Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary”, Manchester United keeps on “rolling, rolling”. Unbeaten in the Premier League since October 23, the squad has slowly gelled together without the manager finding a settled eleven. Only de Gea has started all 25 league games, with Pogba and Ibrahimovic on 21. This suggests that Mourinho has struggled to work out his best team, even while putting together this impressive run. They have unfortunately drawn 7 of these 16 games, the reason for them still being a distance behind Chelsea.

In the game of the weekend in the North West Counties League, Atherton Collieries’ Jordan Cover scored the only goal of the match against Bootle. It enabled the clubs to sit side by side at the top of the Premier League, but with the “Colls” having two games in hand. They are now definitely favourites for promotion to the Northern Premier League.

Also on Monday evening, Manchester City comfortably defeated Bournemouth 2-0 down on the south coast to leapfrog three other rivals. They are now leading the chase to catch the leaders but the gap is still 8 points. It is still possible to bridge that chasm but it will mean Chelsea losing at least 3 games and City winning every single one of their remaining 13 Premier League games. Crazier things have happened, witness Newcastle’s amazing capitulation under Keegan in 1996, but Chelsea are odds-on favourites.

                               Gabriel de Jesus; injured early and substituted v Bournemouth

There were only 21 goals scored in 10 Premier League games this weekend but worryingly for Gareth Southgate ahead of his World Cup qualifiers, just 2 of them were scored by Englishmen. Centre back Alfie Mawson scored with a rocket shot for Swansea against Leicester City and Raheem Sterling netted for Manchester City against Bournemouth.

With two/thirds of the season already behind us, which trophies are likely to be resting in Red Rose County Board Rooms come the middle of May? If the season ended now, only AFC Fylde in the National League North, Lancaster City in the Northern Premier League North, Bootle in the North West Counties Premier and Litherland REMYCA in the NWC Division 1 would be celebrating. Wake up professional clubs, you are letting the area down.

Tier 10 Club of the Week

St Helens Town; playing second fiddle to Rugby League

Although football is the nation’s number one sport, there are a few towns and cities dotted around the country where rugby takes precedence. Northampton, Worcester, Gloucester and Bath spring to mind in the 15 a side game while in Rugby League territory, there is Wigan, Salford, Widnes and of course a certain town on Merseyside. On Thursday night, the Super League season kicked off with St Helens and Leeds Rhinos, undoubtedly two of the best teams in the Northern Hemisphere. Close to 13,000 spectators witnessed the game at the Saints’ home ground whereas the average gate this season for St Helens Town is a mere 83. This is unsurprising because the club is currently without a place to call home as they wait for the Local Council to complete the construction of the Ruskin Drive complex. They have recently played at other local clubs in Prescot and Ashton, often on an unfamiliar Thursday night and have managed a mid-table position in Division 1 of the NWC League. They were surprisingly relegated last season after 33 years in the Premier Division but the club is most famous for producing a superstar goalkeeper from a most unexpected source. German prisoner of war Bert Trautmann stayed on in England and played for St Helens Town before joining Manchester City. There he will forever be remembered for bravely playing on in the 1956 FA Cup final in spite of a broken neck sustained during the match.

                                    Bert Trautmann; a split-second before he broke his neck

Quiz Answers

1        Steve McMahon, 2 Carlos Tevez, 3 Andre Gray, 4 Crystal Palace, 5 Preston North End,

6    Joe Royle, 7 Sheffield Wednesday, 8 Owen Coyle, 9 Ajax, 10 Charlie Adam.

Number 16                                                                                         February 6 2017

Considered opinions; not many of these around in football

Everyone who follows football from the press to the ordinary fan quickly jumps to conclusions. It may be harsh criticism or lavish praise but we ought to take stock of the situation before having a rant. The Jürgen Klopp situation at Anfield is the perfect example. We all love him for his larger than life personality. Because of the way he handles the press, the relationship he has built up with his players and his generosity of spirit to spectators and opposition alike, few would object too much if his team lifted the Premier League Trophy. To Liverpool supporters he was their saviour, the man that would deliver their first title since 1990. Newspapers, Radio and TV could not get enough of him. But suddenly questions are being asked; questions about his tactical knowledge in particular. Now Herr Klopp is no longer flavour of the month. Pundits from all areas of the media are telling us that they play too narrow, that he finds it difficult to change tactics mid-match and that there are defensive deficiencies in his side, not least in goal. They say he loses his cool too quickly so speculation about his successor can only be a couple of defeats away. Trying to think rationally, it might be reasonable to conclude that the German is a great motivator and a magnificent man manager but is perhaps limited in technical knowledge. The ex-Dortmund boss has a first and second assistant coach, both of whom joined him from Germany. Is the long-haired Zelijko Buvak the tactician, but does it matter who it is providing “Team Klopp” delivers? They were worryingly inept against Hull, defending like a Sunday League side; an eleven lacking in confidence. Yet the general consensus after the 1-1 midweek draw at Anfield versus Chelsea was that the Reds were probably the better side and his keeper brilliantly saved a Costa penalty. So is Klopp the Messiah or is he the showman imposter living on borrowed time? I don’t really know because I don’t frequent the Melwood Training Ground, but it now seems almost impossible to find a thoughtful, considered opinion in the hot house which is modern English football. But one thing is certain. Should Liverpool win their next 4 games and the strikers start to hit the back of the net, all will be forgotten as the media rush to praise Klopp, the “tactical genius”. As Jimmy Greaves used to say to a former Liverpool striker, “it’s a funny old game Saint.”

PRESTON NORTH END: THEIR FINEST HOUR

The FA Cup began in 1871 and since then, 24 sides from the 2^nd Tier have contested the final. Red Rose County clubs feature on this list 3 times. Bolton Wanderers lost to Manchester City in 1904, Burnley went down to Charlton Athletic in 1947 and Preston reached Wembley in 1964. The Lilywhites, as they used to be known, were one of the strongest sides in English football during the 1950s with 2 runners-up and a 3^rd place finish, but the retirement of Tom Finney in 1960 was the precursor to relegation the following season. PNE have never returned to Tier 1 in the subsequent 56 years, but they came closest in the 1963-64 season under the management of Scotsman Jimmy Milne. They had been amongst the front runners throughout but they lost twice in the final 4 games at Rotherham and Bury to finish 3^rd behind an emerging Leeds United and Sunderland. There was no play-off system in those days. Milne had put together a side with a balance of youth and experience including the Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Alan Kelly (Senior), 2 ex Busby babes in captain Nobby Lawton and powerhouse centre forward Alex Dawson plus England international winger Dougie Holden. He was a veteran of 2 previous Wembley finals with Bolton Wanderers. In the FA Cup, they defeated 2 First Division sides after replays in the 3^rd and 4^th Rounds, Nottingham Forest and Bolton. This was followed by odd goal victories over Carlisle United and Oxford United, both from the 4^th Division. The semi-final draw paired them with Swansea City, also from Division 2. In the tie played at Villa Park, Preston came from behind to scrape a 2-1 victory with goals from Dawson and centre half Singleton. The final was London v Lancashire and 2 future legends of the English game, Bobby Moore and Geoff Hurst lined up in a young and vibrant West Ham side. Milne was not afraid to blood a youngster either and the 17 year old Howard Kendall became the youngest FA Cup finalist since 1879. North End led twice with goals by Holden and Dawson, but the Hammers twice levelled the game through 18 year old Sissons and Hurst. As the 90^th minute approached, Ronnie Boyce became front page news when he headed home and the Hammers serenaded  with “I’m forever blowing bubbles”. Looking back over Preston’s long history, it was not quite their most magical moment but it was their finest hour post Sir Tom’s retirement.

A young Howard Kendall in his North End strip.

Performances of the last week

West Ham United 0 Manchester City 4 (Premier League)

Pep Guardiola compared Gabriel de Jesus to a “water melon”, but it’s more like a “lucky dip” with City. You simply don’t know what you will pick from game to game. They certainly do enjoy going to the 50,000 capacity London Stadium where their January aggregate score from 2 games is 9-0. Interestingly the manager has just made the point that I made in my blog last week; namely this could be his side for the future. Goals from Sterling, de Bruyne, de Jesus and penalty king Yaya Toure closed the gap in the race for second spot.

Everton 6 Bournemouth 3 (Premier League)

Only 1 name was on everyone’s lips at Goodison Park as Romelu Lukaku scored 4 plus 1 assist in this 9 goal thriller. It was the first 4 timer in the league since Georginio Wijnaldum’s quartet for Newcastle 15 months ago and the first for Everton since Louis Saha achieved the same feat in 2011 against Blackpool. The Belgian is now the league’s leading scorer with 16 goals as Everton move a little closer to a possible Europa Cup place.

Blackburn Rovers 1 Queen’s Park Rangers 0 (EFL Championship)

Before the match, the word was that the Rovers had to win their next 2 games to have any chance of staying up. When the 4^th official signalled 3 extra minutes, they had surely blown it. But loan signing Marvin Emnes, who had literally achieved nothing since coming on as a substitute, produced a touch of magic and Sam Gallagher blasted the ball home. Other Saturday results went against the Rovers but the light is still shining at the end of the tunnel.

Chesterfield 0 Oldham Athletic 1 (EFL Division 1)

John Sheridan saved Oldham from relegation last year and he has returned as manager. This win at relegation rivals Chesterfield has lifted them to the fringes of safety, so the longest incumbents of Division 1 may still be around for their 21^st season in Division 1 in August.

On the Non-League Scene, Barrow battled through against Kidderminster Harriers to reach the last 8 of the FA Trophy, the game’s only goal being scored just after half time by Richie Bennett. A sensational Salford City smashed a stumbling AFC Fylde 5-0 at the head of the National League North, Jordan Hulme netting a hat-trick as the Reds go second. The Battle of the Roses in the Northern Premier North Division produced the expected thrills and spills as Lancaster City fought back from 2 down to beat title challengers Farsley Celtic 3-2. In the North West Counties Premier Division Bootle hit a hapless AFC Darwen with an avalanche of goals, their 9-0 victory keeping them top of the league on goal difference. In Division 1, Litherland REMYCA moved into the top slot with an easy 5-1 win over bottom club Ashton Town, aided by newcomers Prestwich Heys producing the performance of the day to dislodge the leaders Whitchurch Alport, winning 3-1 away from home.

                                

Games to look forward to this week

Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur (Premier League) Saturday February 11, 17.30

The scrap for places 2-6 goes on unabated and this is another big game. Liverpool have yet to turn up in 2017 but Spurs are quite capable of dropping points away from home. The African Nations Cup is now out of the way and Coutinho is returning to full fitness. Liverpool at Anfield might just have too much going forward for an injury hit Tottenham back line, but putting your money on the Mersey Reds has often been a coupon buster this season.

Rotherham United v Blackburn Rovers (EFL Championship) Saturday February 11, 15.00

This could be the last train waiting in the station for the Rovers and to quote the old 50s skiffle classic, “If you miss this one, you’ll never get another one”. The Rovers struggled to make any signings of note in January and there is an air of resignation among the fans now who believe that there is no future for the club as long as the Venkys are there. Blackburn battled through against QPR on Saturday but if they cannot beat relegation fodder like Rotherham, who can they beat. It is no fun being a fan at Ewood Park at the moment.

 Fleetwood Town v Rochdale (EFL Division 1) Saturday February 11, 15.00

Three Division 1 sides have never played at a higher level and 2 clash at the Highbury Stadium. Both have had tremendous runs this season but there is a feeling that the magic is beginning to evaporate at Rochdale. Fleetwood however are unbeaten in 13 and with David Ball scoring regularly, must be firm favourites here in this 4th v 7^th fixture. But a win can be just around the corner in football so Keith Hill’s men could upset the apple cart.

David Ball; Fleetwood Town’s leading goalscorer

Atherton Collieries v Bootle (North West Counties Premier League) Monday Feb13, 19.45

The biggest game in the non-league world takes place in Atherton on Monday evening as the “Colls” take on Bootle. The clubs are neck and neck at the top of the league, level on 64 points although the Merseysiders have played 1 game more. It is certainly not a 2 horse race as Cheshire teams 1874 Northwich, Runcorn Town and Runcorn Linnets are hot on their heels. Any positive result would help Atherton’s cause but it is a must win game for Bootle,

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

All of the answers have Red Rose County connections

1                    Everton bought John Stones from which current Championship club in 2013?

John Stones; a prodigious talent but not yet the finished article

2                    Rochdale manager Keith Hill made 96 appearances at centre back for which current Red Rose County club between 1987 and 1992?

3                    Who was the left back who scored the only goal of the 1990 FA Cup Final replay, giving Manchester United their first trophy for 5 years?

4                    Which EFL Division 1 club from the Red Rose County plays on the second highest league ground in the country?

5                    Which Republic of Ireland player was Burnley’s record buy prior to them signing his international colleague Robbie Brady for £13million last week?

6                    Red Rose County non-league clubs South Liverpool, Maghull and Rainhill Town all play in which Tier 11 league?

7                    Which Rangers legend, who has also played for Blackburn and Blackpool, holds the record for most appearances in European competitions by a Scotsman?

8                    Alan Hansen signed for Liverpool from which Glasgow club?

Alan Hansen, playing in Scotland just prior to moving south

9                    Who managed Wigan Athletic from 2001-07 which included promotion to the Premier League, before managing Derby County and Ipswich Town?

10                Which North West ground was initially built for the Commonwealth Games?

Post Weekend Musings

Apologies to “Take That’s” Mark Owen for referring to him as Mark Smith in last week’s article on Chadderton FC. I am reliably informed by Mike Ryan that Mark E Smith was/is the lead singer of the Manchester punk band “The Fall”. However as the last “Manc” band I saw was probably Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders, I plead age and ignorance in mitigation.

There was the last minute torrent of transfers on deadline day. All 4 of our big city sides kept their cash in their pockets but Burnley moved late and spent big, purchasing wide left player Robbie Brady from Norwich and the experienced Villa midfielder Ashley Westwood. “Not panic buys” said Sean Dyche and I believe him. Is the Turf Moor club beginning to see itself as an established Premier League side and not the yo-yo club of recent years? Two surprising moves; Bolton selling the talented Zach Clough to Notts Forest and Wigan off-loading influential winger Yanic Wildschut to Norwich. I hope neither club has regrets at the season’s end. One pleasing move was the signing of Radcliffe Borough’s young striker Raul Correia by Blackpool following a successful week’s trial.

Ashley Westwood; swapping one claret and blue shirt for another

It is all a touch sad down Skelmersdale way where the football club is rock bottom of the Northern Premier League and they have just sacked manager Tommy Lawson. The veteran held the reins for 10 years, a tremendously long shift in football management, having taken the club from Division 1 to the Premier Division before financial constraints bit deep. Steve Burr has also been sacked at Southport. Liam Watson becomes manager for the 3^rd time and he is the 3^rd incumbent this season at Haig Avenue. A most unenviable job!!!

How do you motivate a team in the lower reaches of the league prior to taking on the runaway leaders away from home? Don’t pay them for a couple of months would seem to be the answer, particularly in Morecambe’s case. They travelled to Doncaster, led early and hung on for a well-deserved draw. The club is a shambles off the field as various unscrupulous wannabe owners scramble for the deeds to the club, but manager Jim Bentley and his players have proved that the club’s future is paramount; at least on the pitch.

I suspect that there is genuine sadness around the plight of Leicester City. Last year’s adventure is now a distant memory as the spectre of relegation looms ever larger. They were outclassed by Mourinho’s men on Sunday and the Old Trafford bandwagon continues to roll. Zlatan Ibrahimovic looks increasingly like the Premier League’s best buy of 2016 and full marks to the manager for taking a gamble on a 35 year old with a reputation for self-idolatry. His CV bulges with 13 league titles from Holland, Italy, Spain and France (although 2 at Juventus were revoked because of the Turin side’s corrupt practices) plus 316 league goals and still counting. He is missing a European medal but don’t bet against Manchester United winning the Europa League and if he stays and the Reds make the top 4, the Champions League beckons in 2017-18. Age is just a number for Sweden’s best export since Abba.

Tier 10 Club of the Week

Bacup Borough; when it rains it pours

The Brian Boys West View Stadium, perched up on the Pennine Moors, is the 3^rd highest football ground in the country. This part of the Rossendale Valley certainly receives its share of wind and rain and postponements are regular in winter. But in spite of the demise of several clubs in the area at this level, this traditional football club soldiers on. They have played here since 1889, but have only 2 league trophies to show for their endeavours. They won the Lancashire Combination in 1947 and were North West Counties Division 1 champions in 2003. This achievement was master minded by Brent Peters who became manager in 1997. He is still in charge today, a tremendous feat of loyalty, stamina and determination. They were relegated from the Premier Division in 2015 and are struggling down in 18^th place at the moment although they appear safe from relegation. They attract an average gate of around 50 hardy souls but with almost 140 years of history behind them, the club continues to look forward and provide football for the community.

West View Stadium, Bacup; it’s a scarf, hat and gloves type of ground

Quiz Answers

1        Barnsley, 2 Blackburn Rovers, 3 Lee Martin, 4 Oldham Athletic, 5 Jeff Hendrick, 

6    West Cheshire League, 7 Barry Ferguson, 8 Partick Thistle, 9 Paul Jewell, 10 Etihad,