retired_w0lfpack1

Saturday, 11th December, 2004. Conference North - Game 16, at Stalybridge Celtic

It was a long-ish drive north to the Bower Fold, where we experienced our first match in below-freezing temperatures. I started Jamie Speare, Andy Scott, Martin Clark, Joe McMahon, and Neil Uberschar, my usual defense. Steve Birks would play defensive midfield, with my favorite wingers, Brian Cash and David Mellor right and left respectively. Ryan Ashington would pair with Ryan-Zico Black in the attacking midfield roles, with Michael Yates, our leading scorer, up front.

It was a rough match from the beginning, but Ashington made a good showing, with his shot from a free kick forcing the first save from Hallworth, and his later shot going just wide. The mood on our sideline got ugly when Dave Bathgate injured the youngster with what looked a vicious tackle, but no foul was called. When he also injured Black, I was off the bench screaming at the ref for a caution, and received one - a warning to me to stay civil on the touchline!

It went to the half 0-0, a brutal dogfight of a match. I had to pull Ashington off - he was limping badly by this point - and sent Shane Tolley on in his place. I also told the lads that if the ref wasn't going to call anything, they could tackle as hard as they liked. That brought grim smiles all around, and when they went back out, there was a steely glint in every eye.

Still, it was Stalybridge with the first real chance at 55 minutes, as Hayward launched a curling shot to the top corner - Speare made a great save to keep it scoreless. Michael Yates had a great opportunity at the other end, but launched it high and wide. Stalybridge kept up the pressure, with Hayward heading over the bar on 65 minutes, and then Kevin Parr broke through our defense, on goal. Martin Clark made a great tackle from behind, getting all ball but tumbling Parr to the earth - the veteran midfielder came up screaming for a penalty, but the ref waved play on. It was around that point that I sent in Phil Bartholomew for Yates up front.

At 70 minutes, Hall broke through the defense. Speare came out, one-on-one, and got a hand to it, but Hall charged down, with an open net. Just as he slotted it home, the ref blew the whistle: he had been offside! Parr was visibly upset again, and in the 79th minute, when the ref whistled a foul on his captain Stuart McLean, Parr blew up, arguing the call. The ref warned him, and then showed him a yellow card, but that just enraged him more, and he launched into a profanity-last string of invective which left the ref no choice but to issue the second yellow, the red, and send him off!! What a break: a man advantage in a scoreless draw!

I shouted at the lads to press up in our aggressive formation, and put Mark Platts on the right wing for Cash. The moves drew immediate results. Black launched a long ball down the right side for Platts, who took it to the corner, and then sent the cross into the box. McLean headed it clear, but Steve Birks, trailing the play, held it in the attacking zone, and switched it left for Tolley, who struck it home from 18 yards out. 1-0, Lancaster!

Despite the disadvantage, Stalybridge tried to send everybody forward, a move which created space and chances at both ends, though I had of course reverted to our opening defensive formation. Good defending nullified their opportunities, and when Carl Sheard had to be taken aside for treatment in injury time, we had an eleven-on-nine.

Still, they gamely pushed forward, and when we counterattacked, our attackers vastly outnumbered their defense. It was just a matter of finding the open man, and Mellor fed it to Bartholomew, whose shot beat the keeper but richocheted off the bar. The rebound went directly to Ryan-Zico Black, who put it easily into the open net for a 2-0 advantage!

Seeing that Sheard was not able to continue, and the outcome was no longer in doubt, the ref whistled full time immediately.

Stalybridge 0, Lancaster 2
----; Tolley 82, Black 90
MoM: Black

Ryan-Zico Black had immediately justified his new contract with a Man of the Match performance, setting up the first goal and scoring the second. He's been quite a force this season, and I was pleased to see him earn his due.

retired_w0lfpack1

Sunday, 12th December, 2004.

Stacy showed me the local Lancaster newspaper this morning. I'd normally stopped reading the local Sports section: the commentary was invariably critical during the first month, and I realized that I was better off reading one of the national papers to follow what's happening the the world-at-large. But this story was worth reading!

Somebody on the board had leaked to the paper how pleased the board were with the 2-0 win over Stalybridge, and the columnist went on from there:

That certainly brought a smile to face!

Our 5-game winning streak had made it a run of eight games unbeaten, our 2-0 win was a record league victory for my tenure - and to top it off, we were up to 8th in the Conference North, climbing steadily up the ladder.

In fact, if we hadn't spotted everybody those first six games, we'd be in the hunt for the title and those elusive promotion spots!

retired_rblake

Taken me a couple of weeks but am finally up-to-date.

You don't half leave it late on occasions, 80th+ minute goals.

Best of Luck with Lancaster, although since you've played up until 2013 you don't really need it.

KUTGW

retired_w0lfpack1

You're just saying that cause nine of our 19 goals to date have come in the 80th minute or beyond ..

Guess those extra wind sprints in July are paying dividends!

Thanks for the kind words.. and using italics, very observant!

retired_w0lfpack1

Tuesday, 14th December, 2004.

Amazing!

I met with my coaches for my routine monthly summary of training improvement, and was shocked when they told me that almost every one of my players had made tremendous strides in the past month - many of them exceeding my previous 'best' month of improvement!

I was stunned, and at first thought I might be seeing an effect of the exceptionally high morale at the club boosting their abilities through improved training effectiveness, but that didn't fit the data - we'd had a high-morale run before without a dramatic increase of this nature.

Gary Bauress, who has been reduced to a pure coaching role due to his injury, finally suggested the answer to me.

"Boss? I think it might be that you reduced how many sessions each coach is responsible for. We used to be responsible for 5 or 6 sessions each, and they could be anywhere on the pitch. Now, we're only responsible for 3 at most, and usually its an 'offense versus defense' drill. So we have more time and attention to devote to the individual players."

His theory made sense, and it fit the data - I'd keep it in mind.

Chris Beech dropped by my office in the evening with paperwork in hand. He told me he had signed with Poole Borough, with the transfer due to be completed on January 1st at the next transfer window. If I would just sign the paperwork? I did so, and that completed the slashing of my central midfield: four players out, and fully £50,000 p/a savings against the bottom line.

Knowing how much that would put me beneath the board's suggested wage budget, I couldn't resist bringing in on trial a promising Scottish striker I'd had my eye on. I also made some contract renewal offers to the small group of players whose contracts were due to expire at season's end, but whose contributions I approved of.

Stacy left for California this evening - we're going back for Christmas, though with matches on the 21st and 26th, I can't spare much time for it. She's been really struggling - I think she's been going a bit stir crazy with no work permit, homesick for all of her friends, and distressed at the cold northern weather.

Hopefully a lengthy holiday will lift her spirits - she's not planning on coming home until sometime in January.

retired_w0lfpack1

Saturday, 18th December, 2004. Conference North - Game 17, vs Southport.

The next fixture on the schedule was at home in the Giant Axe against Southport. It was warmer at home, and the sun poked out several times through the match.

I made four changes from the side which had beaten Stalybridge: young Ricky Mercer took over the holding midfield role, Lee Clitheroe came in on the right wing, with Scott Davis on the left, and Phil Bartholomew up front, leaving me with: Jamie Speare in net, a defense of Andy Scott, Martin Clark, Joe McMahon, and Neil Uberschar, with Mercer at defensive midfield. Clitheroe and Davis were the wings, as I said, with Shane Tolley and Ryan-Zico Black supporting Bartholomew in attack.

The announced crowd of 1,984 was our largest to date, and most were in the standing-room-only sections. The side were met with a loud roar of approval as they took to the field, and came out firing early. Shane Tolley's 18-yard blast 3 minutes in forced a fine save from Southport keeper Steve Dickinson, and Tolley was foiled twice more before the 20 minute mark. Southport seemed content to sit back and soak up our pressure, however, not once venturing forward and concentrating on keeping men behind the ball. It was an anaconda-like strategy, and we hadn't figured it out by halftime.

One thing was clear, though: Lee Clitheroe was having an absolute embarassment of a game on the right wing. I let him go back out to start the second half, and in fact didn't make any changes, expecting that we were the better side and would prevail. No such luck: things continued at the same pedestrian pace, until in frustration I pulled off the ineffectual Clitheroe and striker Bartholomew in favor of Mark Platts and Peter Thomson.

Still nothing - not even a shot from either side, and we were starting to hear catcalls from the home supporters. I shifted to our aggressive formation, sending the fullbacks forwards and being more agressive with the DMC and wingers on 75 minutes.

This produced a few chances at both ends - the two Southport shots that resulted were off-target, but on 84 minutes Mercer's shot from the top of the box just skimmed the crosspar. In injury time, Thomson had our best chance from about 8 yards out, but when Dickinson proved equal to the task, it sealed a dreary 0-0 draw.

Did we ever hear it from the crowd, at least those who had stuck throughout the full tedium of the ninety minutes - they were less than pleased, and not shy about expressing it.

Lancaster 0, Southport 0
----; ----
MoM: Dickinson (Southport GK)

Southport keeper Steve Dickinson was a deserved Man of the Match, having made four saves on a day when nobody else on either team did anything of note.

Except Lee Clitheroe, of course, who had the dubious distinction of going 0-for-13 on attempts to make a header: he was thoroughly outplayed by his counterpart, and probably should have earned Man of the Match himself - for Southport.

retired_w0lfpack1

Monday, 20th December, 2004.

"Ian, have you considered applying to other jobs?"

With the house to myself, I'd needed some company, and I'd found myself taking a long walk with player/coach Gary Bauress prior to training Monday evening. One thing led to another, and suddenly I found myself dumping my troubles - firstly concern for my homesick wife, and that lead to our financial situation - on my subordinate, who I'm sure makes less than I do.

Inappropriate, really, but I was discovering I'd really needed a sympathetic ear to talk to.

This was his advice.

"Well, have you?"

"No, not really. Who would want me? I haven't done much."

"Are you kidding me? You've turned this team around. You think you haven't caught some notice from some of the professional clubs?"

"I can't just leave."

"No. If a club wanted you, they'd have to buy out your contract, paying compensation to Lancaster. It happens all the time, just like transferring a player.

"Listen, we both know Lancaster can't afford to give you a raise, and to be honest, the club isn't going anywhere - we'll be lucky to stave off receivership for the next three years. If that story in the paper is true, and the board aren't even willing to renew your contract, you're doing your career a real disservice by not at least considering your options."

"I don't know, Gary. It just doesn't feel right."

"Just, think about it, will you?"

We were coming up on my favourite coffee-shop, and with other ears around, the conversation turned to other things, such as Carl Richardson's report on our next opponents, Bradford Park Avenue. He mentioned that they normally play a defensive 5-3-2 formation, and have an average team. He did warn that Danny Ogunmade is a potent threat in their pacey attacking line, and their midfield is creative.

Over the weekend, three of my players renewed their contract. Young goalkeeper Ryan Yeomans renewed through June of 2007 on the same terms, Phil Bartholomew renewed through next season at a large raise, and aging captain Martin Clark, actually renewed through '06 at a pay cut - though the net owed to him over two years would be more than it had been over the second half of this season.

retired_w0lfpack1

Tuesday, 21st December, 2004. Conference North - Game 18, vs Bradford Park Avenue.

After the big crowd Saturday at the Giant Axe, it was a bit disappointing that only 898 showed up for the next game, especially given the unseasonably warm weather. Understandable, sure, for a Tuesday night following such a boring stinker of a game, but disappointing nonetheless.

At the back, it was Jamie Speare in goal, with Martin Clark, Joe McMahon and Neil Uberscahr in defense. Loanee Alan Morgan came on to spell left back Andy Scott, while the front six were complete change from the previous game: Steve Birks at defensive midfield, Brian Cash on the right wing, David Mellor on the left, Ryan Ashington and Phil Clarkson up front, with Michael Yates returning as the sole striker.

Clarkson started off the game by earning an almost immediate yellow card, a fairly dubious one. Young Ryan Ashington really impressed me with an incredible 40-yard shot which was barely tipped over by Bradford keeper Michael Price. That was nothing compared to his next chance: A mere 10 minutes in Michael Yates sent a cross into the box. It was picked out by Bradford defender Danny Ogunmade, who tried to head it back to Price. The goalkeeper was nowhere near it, and very lucky when it rebounded off the post - but right to a wide-open Ashington. With a clear shot on a half-open goal, he instead opted to pass, not shoot! The ball rolled out of the box untouched by anyone, and the defense had enough time to set up for our next assault, which Neil Uberschar wasted by blasting it over the bar from long range.

We limped to halftime from that point - like Southport, Bradford seemed content to just sit back and defend, and hadn't taken a shot yet. I told the guys to start pressing forward, even if it ruins our defensive shape: we didn't need another 0-0 draw. It appeared that we got a big break at 57 minutes, when Price collided with one of his own players, and had to go off injured, but it turned out that reserve goalkeeper Glenn Johnstone was really their starter, being given the night off! He was immediately in fine form, tipping over Clarkson's header.

Time ticked away, and even our aggressive formation wasn't helping against their tough 5-3-2, so at 74 minutes I made three substitutions, bringing on Thomson for Yates and Black for Ashington. The last was Ricky Mercer, on for Alan Morgan with instructions to shift the back to a 3-man line, and join Birks at DMC. We hadn't practiced this formation, but 3-2-2-2-1 certainly looked like creating more chances.

It paid off after merely six minutes. Clarkson found David Mellor down the left wing, and Mellor faked one of his trademark crosses, sucking all the defenders back to cut off the close-range headers. Instead, he cut it back to Clarkson, who launched a 20-yard blast which curled into the far corner of the net: a more beautiful goal you won't ever see, and it put us ahead 1-0.

Bradford switched to an aggressive 4-4-2 as we fell back to our original defensive 4-5-1, and yet we nearly made it more from the ensuing kickoff. Black stole the ball in midfield, dribbled around the only defender, and launched a fine shot on goal, but Johnstone was up to the challenge and caught it.

For the next six minutes, Bradford continued to push forward, but we had no problem defending their weak challenge until the 86th, when captain Neil Grayston - moved up to midfield after starting in the back five - passed low up the middle for substitute forward Steve Oleksewycz, who had managed to briefly turn around our captain Martin Clark. Speare came out to challenge him, but the 21-year-old coolly dribbled around him, and slotted it home to equalise at 1-1.

Immediately, Bradford switched back to their 5-3-2, content with the draw, and no matter how many men I sent forward in injury time, they nullified the attack with clearance after clearance. The ref blew full time, 1-1, and again our fans went home unimpressed, even if our unbeaten streak had run to ten games.

Lancaster 1, Bradford PA 1
Clarkson 80; Oleksewycz 86
MoM: Johnstone (Bradford PA substitute GK)

I didn't agree with the newspaper's choice of Glenn Johnstone as MoM despite only 33 minutes in goal. He had fewer saves than his teammate Price, had, and personally I felt Clarkson had played a fine game. That creative midfield I'd been warned about? It took only six minutes for them to create an opportunity in the 4-4-2 confuiguration after 80 dreary minutes in the 5-3-2, and I wondered if manager Carl Shutt realizes how little he is getting out of his team.

retired_w0lfpack1

Saturday, 25th December, 2005.

Merry Christmas from sunny San Diego!

I told the lads to take the rest of the holiday season off - no training until Sunday's game on Boxing Day. They laughed when I jokingly told them not to forget it: the side's morale was so much improved that they'd been readily taking some joking from their manager, which I hadn't been comfortable with in the first few months.

I flew back to San Diego, where Stacy and I both have family, to join my wife and make a big production out of Christmas. My closest friends can still hardly believe I was truly managing a 'soccer' team, and I had a hard time explaining the plight of the lower leagues to them: old, decrepit stadiums without sufficient seats and a bunch of fans standing for every match; the bus, which seemed like it was about to break down on every away game, but somehow made it through each time; the players, who all play part-time and have either work or school during the day. They didn't really understand it, and I'm sure they all thought it was a matter of just a few years before I'd be managing in the Premiership. It seems so far away!

The weather here was stunning; it couldn't be a bigger change from northern England and the chill off the Irish Sea: it was sunny and in the high sixties (F) today, though the nights are getting just cold enough to put frost on the windshields of cars. I hadn't realized how much I missed good weather: I'd stood outside in so much fog and rain since taking this job, it had come to seem natural.

I did, of course, take my mobile, and there was some news from the club. Physio David Hughes called me with the bad news that young midfielder Ryan Ashington had played a light pick-up game with his family, which had resulted in a torn groin that would keep him out for two full months at least! I was annoyed - the kid had been showing real promise.

I'd also left orders to sign Scottish striker Robert Tompson off of his trial period, and Kevin Hull called to inform me that that was done, and arrangements were ready for Sunday's game. I gave him my flight information, and asked him to have somebody pick me up from the airport.

Finally, I got Carl Richardson's scouting report: Redditch are a reasonable team, and their pace is something we'll have to watch out for.

He must think we're slow.

retired_w0lfpack1

Sunday, 26th December, 2004. Conference North - Game 19, at Redditch.

The day my football career began its dramatic turnaround started late on Christmas, as I boarded a flight to San Francisco, where I'd change to an intercontinental red-eye. By the time I arrived at Heathrow, it was morning of the 26th, and I was exhausted. That fatigued half-sleep you get on a plane does so litle good when you're undergoing an eight-hour time change, and I was getting all too familiar with that flight. From Heathrow, I caught the connector to Birmingham.

When I got to curbside, I saw that it was raining, and just above freezing: a total shock compared with the fine California weather - the coldest day I'd experienced in San Diego was about the warmest day I'd seen in Lancaster since October. Player/coach Gary Bauress pulled up in a car to pick me up, and we started on the short drive south to Redditch. I took the opprtunity to ask how he was recovering, and he said he could probably play some off the bench this week in an emergency, but that it would be better to wait for January.

Valley Stadium was actually a nice venue, with good changing facilities for a change. I returned to my usual back line: Jamie Speare in goal, with Andy Scott, Martin Clark, Joe McMahon, and Neil Uberschar four abreast. Ricky Mercer would start at defensive midfield, with Lee Clitheroe and Mark Platts on the wings, Ryan-Zico Black and Shane Tolley at attacking midfield, and new signing Robert Thompson making his debut on the pitch before his first day of practice with the squad! Again, I went to start with the defensive formation my players were used to.

It hardly mattered. Just minutes into the match, Redditch forward Luke Prince launched a drive from 20 yards through the rain. Jamie Speare caught it easily. However, his clearance went straight to Sean Flynn, and the tricky winger chested it down to his feet. Joe McMahon charged forward to challenge him, leaving his man Norman Sylla wide open in the box. Flynn played it forward to Sylla, with McMahon stranded between them, and the striker made no mistake, slotting it home for an early 0-1 Redditch lead.

Six minutes later, it was our midfield creating the chance, and Lee Clitheroe in particular who earned some measure redemption for his awful performance against Southport. He played the ball up from the right wing to Shane Tolley, who took two touches to the top of the box, with his defender backing off of him. That left enough space to launch a 25-yard shot across the goalmouth to the far post. Karl Keating leaped up and parried it, but the rebound fell right to the feet of Robert Thompson, who had an easy finish. A dream debut for the new signing, and we were even 1-1!

The rest of the half followed with a flurry of chances, at both ends, too many to list here. For a change, we were playing an attacking side, and both sides had plenty of opportunities, almost taking turns. Black sent a freekick just over the bar; Sylla missed on at the other end. Black sent a wonderful ball through the rain to Thompson, who looked odds on to get a brace, except for a wonderful tackle by Andrew Penny. Black shot wide from 16 yards, then Redditch fullback Matt Clarke's pass put Simon Hollis free on goal - he hit side netting.

And that was all by twenty minutes in! Was it the rain making defending difficult? The match continued in that vein until just before the half, when Tolley headed Black's free kick wide. The half finished 1-1.

Redditch substituted off Simon Hollis, who had taken a knock from Lee Clitheroe, but both sides kept the same formation and tactics, and Black opened the second half with a sitter from 8 yards out, but he slipped in the rain and put the easy chance wide. The pace of the game was slowing down, however - the torrid flurry of chances was too much to sustatin.

Around 69 minutes, at the other end, Speare made a great save from Mark Taylor's header, and then I made changes, bringing on Bartholomew, Clarkson, and Cash up front. Bartholomew had a number of opportunities, but couldn't seem to put one in.

Into injury time it went, and it seemed inconceivable that neither side would find the net. Sylla nearly had his second against us, but like Black slipped and missed badly on what should have been an easy chance.

The final whistle blew - it had to have been the most riveting 1-1 draw in team history!

Redditch 1, Lancaster 1
Sylla 4; Thompson 10
MoM: Keating (Redditch GK)

Karl Keating, the Redditch keeper, was named Man of the Match, though there were any number of worthy candidates on both sides.

Elsewhere, after a dismal showing in a 2-3 loss to Stevenage, their fourth loss in a row, York City manager Chris Brass was fired with the team in 15th place of the Conference National.

Yes.

I applied for the job.

Gary's words from before Christmas were still ringing in my ears, and I've always had a soft spot for the Minstermen, even before I came to England.

If nothing else, the Conference would be a step up the career ladder for me - there's more than one way to earn promotion!