retired_sander

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Gricehead:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by John O'Shea:
Torquay in Cornwall thats Blasphemy :p

Its Devon down near to Ted's house in fact <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Anywhere South West of Swindon = West Country = Cornwall as far as I'm concerned. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

grr dont let ted know

retired_eneko5613

5th place Shrewsbury's visit to the Bower Fold sees an unchanged side head out to face them. Fit again Friars has to be content with a place on the bench as Bastow is doing more than enough to keep him out. We're looking for revenge against a team who comprehensively beat us at Gay Meadow back in November, but Shrewsbury are in form, unbeaten in five, and looking to cement at least a playoff place. It's also the occasion on which we celebrate Andrew Cameron's 100th appearance for the club.

Batty earned his wages early on in the game with a couple of good saves as Shrewsbury came out looking for the early goal. Bastow gradually began to take control of the midfield area, allowing Cameron and Harris to start attacking the wings. It was Bastow who started the move that lead to the first goal of the game, with a pass into Leo's path. His first shot hit the bar, but Ommel retrieved it and drove it at the keeper. The poor keeper, who by now was doing well to know where the ball was, managed to get a hand to it, but Leo was on hand to tidy up. He could have had another three or four before half time, as he terrorised the Shrewsbury defence.

It's never nice only being 1-0 up at half time. You know for a fact that a couple of minutes of slack play can cost you dear. There was no such inspirational period of time for the visitors, and we coasted quite comfortably through the second period, to wrap up an important victory. Cameron came off 13 minutes from the end, to an ovation from the home fans, despite having added little to the overall effort. Our defensive performance was again recognised with a Man of the Match award for Cullip.

Division 3 Game 41. 10th April 2004.
Stalybridge 1 Shrewsbury 0 Fortune-West 20

All change at the top as Oldham lose at Southend, and the result is a bit like this, with 5 games to go:
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">********************************************* ************************************************** * English Third Division - Saturday 10th April 2004********************************************** ************************************************** ================================================== ============================================== 2003/4 Table============================================= ================================================== =Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Swansea 41 12 5 3 36 20 12 4 5 42 33 81 2nd STALYBRIDGE 41 14 2 4 44 18 12 0 9 40 34 80 3rd Oldham 41 12 6 2 29 13 12 1 8 30 29 79 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4th Brentford 41 11 3 7 43 34 11 3 6 37 22 72 5th Southend 41 14 2 5 39 27 7 3 10 27 27 68 6th Doncaster 41 11 5 5 35 29 8 6 6 39 38 68 7th Shrewsbury 41 12 2 7 42 30 9 2 9 29 31 67 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------8th Torquay 41 13 1 6 46 31 7 5 9 36 37 66 9th Peterborough 41 7 10 4 30 24 11 1 8 39 32 65 10th Bristol Rovers 41 11 6 3 43 27 7 5 9 23 34 65 </pre>

Traore moved onto 30 league goals for the season, with one during Cambridge's 2-1 win at Lincoln, Leo is on 29 whilst Williams stays on 28 despite Torquay getting a 3-1 win over Mansfield.

retired_eneko5613

We play league leaders Swansea next at the Bower Fold, for the right to be top of the table. It's Easter weekend, so we've got two games in three days, the second being a trip to Rochdale. Both could prove vital to the finishing positions of the top three. There are Scouts from Barnsley and Wrexham at the Bower Fold, apparently to take a look at Danny Cullip. He'll be playing, as it's an unchanged side from that which ran out for the last match.

6261 fans, which I believe is our highest league attendance, see out a close fought 0-0 draw between the top two sides. They won't be that disappointed, though, as they got value for money in terms of goalmouth action. There were close chances at both ends. Leo even had the ball in the net after beating Swansea keeper Freestone to a Ommel cross, but he was ruled just offside. An action replay would have been required to decide whether this was the correct decision or not, and we don't get those at our level. Either side could have won the match in stoppage time, with Bastow, and Ommel going close for Stalybridge and Lund having a shot tipped over the bar for the visitors. Ommel was awarded the man of the match. There's another player who is at the top of his form recently.

Division 3 Game 42. 17th April 2004.
Stalybridge 0 Swansea 0

Oldham couldn't take advantage, nor could Brentford. So it's status quo at the top, the only difference now being the guaranteed playoff places for the top three.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Pl Swansea 42 12 5 3 36 20 12 5 5 42 33 82 +232nd Pl STALYBRIDGE 42 14 3 4 44 18 12 0 9 40 34 81 +323rd Pl Oldham 42 12 7 2 31 15 12 1 8 30 29 80 +17--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4th Brentford 42 11 4 7 44 35 11 3 6 37 22 73 +245th Doncaster 42 11 5 5 35 29 9 6 6 41 38 71 +3</pre>

retired_eneko5613

Thanks. Enjoy the ride!
---
So, on to Rochdale, where a win (combined with some favourable results) could see us promoted. It's a vastly different team that make the short trans-Lancashire trip. Elgert, Toms, Friars and Marsden will start, with Burns, Collins, Harris and Bastow unfit for a second game in three days.

OK, so we expected a tricky game due to the number of changes I had to make. What we didn't expect was to be 2-0 down with only a little over 10 minutes gone. Two crosses from Mick Galloway caused havoc with our defence, and Steve Rimmer and Emeka Ejifor helped themselves to headers. Our players looked like rabbits in car headlights, but eventually they stirred themselves into action, and Cameron got us back into the game in first half injury time, his first goal in what feels like an absolute age. When Leo headed in a Friars chip three minutes into the second half, things were looking decidedly better, but Galloway was to have the last laugh in this match. He got hold of the ball after a triple subsitution by the home side, dribbled past Collins and Friars before shooting low past Batty. After all that hard work, we had to chase the game again. With numbers pushing forward, there was space at the back for Rochdale to exploit, and Ejifor scored from a freekick in the last minute to make the game theirs.

Division 3 Game 43. 19th April 2004.
Rochdale 4 Stalybridge 2 Rimmer 6 Ejifor 11,90 Galloway 66 / Cameron 45 Fortune-West 48

The sides around us, Oldham, Swansea and Brentford, all took advantage of our slip up, and with three games to go our safety margin was reduced to 5 points, and our likelihood of clinching the championship slim.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Pl Swansea 43 13 5 3 40 20 12 5 5 42 33 85 2nd Pl Oldham 43 12 7 2 31 15 13 1 8 33 31 83 3rd Pl Stalybridge 43 14 3 4 44 18 12 0 10 42 38 81 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4th Brentford 43 11 4 7 44 35 12 3 6 38 22 76 5th Doncaster 43 12 5 5 37 29 9 6 6 41 38 74 </pre>

Lee Feeney got Cambridge's only goal in their 1-0 win at Hartlepool, whilst Torquay were stuffed 4-0 at Swansea, so Leo's 30th league goal of the season moves him joint top of that particular table.

retired_eneko5613

After that result, it's absolutely vital that we get something from the home game against 6th placed Peterborough. They're out of the running for automatic promotion, but still have to concentrate on securing that playoff spot. Barnsley were obviously impressed with Cullip, as they contact me with a completely unacceptable £70k offer. Hopefully the rejection won't dent the players confidence too much at this critical stage of the season.

The team that faced Swansea return en-masse for Peterborough's visit. Our form doesn't though. Both sides should have had a couple of goals in the first thirty minutes, but it was the visitors that took the lead when a freekick was met by the head of Finnish centre-half Jani Kauppila. Cameron fought back single-handedly, much like in the previous match, the only difference this time being that the Peterborough keeper managed to turn his shot round the post. The equaliser did come from Cameron though, with just a couple of minutes to go to half time. It was a great move down the left, with Jaszczun and Harris both being involved before Cameron picked up the ball just outside the area and gave the keeper no chance. At least we could go in level at the break. Or not, as Collins brought down Peterborough's star player Leon McKenzie on the edge of the area. Up stepped Gerard McMahon to strike the freekick past Batty and send us into the interval with our tails between our legs.

There was a strong sense of deja-vu about the current predicament, and it got stronger as Collins set Leo up for the equaliser just after the restart. Now we could push on for the win, right? Wrong. With Ommel off injured, and Barker still inexplicably unable to hit the broadside of a barn, we were struggling to find anything resembling a finish. Meanwhile, at the other end Batty failed to deal with another McMahon freekick, and Kauppila was there to tidy up. Collins was lucky to stay on the field a couple of minutes later, as he brought down McKenzie in the area, with the star getting up to convert the spot kick himself. That's where the torture ended against Rochdale, but Peterborough had more in them yet. It was a good cross by Green which set up French for the 5th and we were well and truly stuffed.

Division 3 Game 44. 24th April 2004.
Stalybridge 2 Peterborough 5 Cameron 42 Fortune-West 46 / Kauppila 33,50 McMahon 44 Mckenzie 53(pen) French 82

The board are unhappy with the performance, and I can't say I'm too pleased myself. We seem destined to throw away this promotion opportunity. A win for Oldham sees them promoted, whilst Swansea go up despite losing. They and we are thankful to Brentford for only drawing at Shrewsbury, and keeping our safety margin 4 points with 2 games to go. Traore matched Leo again, with a goal in Cambridge's 2-2 draw with Doncaster. Meanwhile, Sergio Ommel will miss the last two games of the season according to the physio, as his knee is twisted.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st P Oldham 44 13 7 2 33 16 13 1 8 33 31 86 2nd P Swansea 44 13 5 3 40 20 12 5 6 43 35 85 3rd Pl STALYBRIDGE 44 14 3 5 46 23 12 0 10 42 38 81 +27--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4th Pl Brentford 44 11 4 7 44 35 12 4 6 39 23 77 +255th Doncaster 44 12 5 5 37 29 9 7 6 43 40 75 </pre>

retired_eneko5613

Tony Horner, another youth product who has never made it into the third team, escapes the Bower Fold at his second attempt, after his aborted transfer to Gravesend last season. He follows a host of Stalybridge players over the border to Scotland, and signs for East Fife for the princely sum of £6k. Of course, there's still time for that move to break down as well!

One win is all we need, or for Brentford to lose one of course. Now, therefore, is not the best time to be travelling to Hartlepool. Sure, they're down in 14th place, but we've failed to get anything from them in two attempts at home. I don't really have any answer as to how to change things to ensure a result, so it's a week filled with watching videos of player performances, and trying different things in training. There are nights of burning the midnight oil with the coaching staff as we debate the strengths and weaknesses of various ideas. What it all comes down to in the end is this: Friars and McEwen (remember him?) in, Bastow and Ommel out, plus the odd change on the bench. One possible saving grace is that Brentford will be facing league leaders Oldham today. A result worth keeping an eye on!

It's been quite a while since we've opted for a style of play that leans towards the defensive side, but now seems as good a fixture as any. I tell the players that if an opportunity arises, we should try and hit them on the counter. That's exactly what happens after 6 minutes. Friars sends a long ball into the area, which McEwen picks up and shoots hopefully at goal. The keeper palms it away, and Mr Strikers-instict himself is there to bag his 35th goal of the season. Astounding. Now we really do defend for all we're worth, and yet we still have the majority of the play. Hartlepool come close once or twice, but they can't seem to deal with our offside trap. The further into the game we get, the more chances Leo has to add to his opener, and even Barker manages to hit the woodwork when he comes on as a second half substitute. We were still attacking in stoppage time when the referee put the whistle to his lips and signalled Second Division football for Stalybridge Celtic!

Division 3 Game 45. 1st May 2004.
Hartlepool 0 Stalybridge 1 Fortune-West 6

(It turned out that, despite trying their hardest to throw the game away by missing a penalty and conceding a goal against only ten men, Oldham had managed to take a point from Brentford. But that didn't matter anymore!)
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st P Swansea 45 14 5 3 42 21 12 5 6 43 35 88 2nd P Oldham 45 13 7 2 33 16 13 2 8 34 32 87 3rd P STALYBRIDGE 45 14 3 5 46 23 13 0 10 43 38 84 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4th Pl Brentford 45 11 5 7 45 36 12 4 6 39 23 78 </pre>

retired_eneko5613

So, just like last season, our final match of the season would be at home, and would see a celebration of promotion. The visitors would be Doncaster, but that was almost inconsequential. Next season would no doubt bring it's own challenges, but for now it was a time for the players and the fans to enjoy themselves! It turns out to be a week full of good news, as long term injury victim Matt Hocking returns to full fitness. The last game of the season probably comes to early for him, and I'm guessing he'll find it difficult to get back into the team as he will be at least 4th in the pecking order next season.

Hocking may be cheered up by a press report, however, which claims that club captain Danny Cullip is on the verge of signing up for Birmingham City for £1.2million. It cheers me up as well. In fact I'm rolling about laughing as I look at the £500k release clause in his contract. Laughing so much that I can't bring myself to comment on the matter.

Sadly for him, Leo will also miss the last game of the season, as he picks up a groin strain in midweek training. What he was doing training when he should have been partying with the rest of us I don't know! His 32 league goals (one more than Traore at the moment) will have to do!

All of a sudden, Bastow wants to negotiate a new contract. Now that wouldn't have anything to do with us getting promoted, would it? Doncaster don't turn up until Sunday, a fact I'd forgotten about. The fact that they turn up at all is something of a disappointment, as it means I've got to chase the players out of the bar and onto the field. A couple of them ask me who's playing, which is another question that comes as a surprise! Well, Barker will have to start up front because Leo's out, but I don't see any reason to make any other changes.

With a strikeforce of Barker and McEwen, totalling 1 goal between them so far this season, I wasn't expecting much up front. I certainly wasn't expecting Dave McEwen to hit a screaming 20 yard shot that would leave the Doncaster keeper completely clueless, and us 1-0 up after 7 minutes! Once again, our attendance for the last game of the season was disappointing, and only 3677 were there to witness the event. No doubt the other regulars wouldn't believe them! Doncaster came back, but McEwen had a second up his sleeve, finishing a wonderful six man move. That was it for the first half. Doncaster spoiled the party somewhat with an equaliser ten minutes from the end, and we had to settle for a draw.

Division 3 Game 46. 9th May 2004.
Stalybridge 2 Doncaster 2 McEwen 7,37 / Kirby 16 Barnes 80

So, we have to settle for third. But who would have thought it at the beginning of the season?
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">********************************************* ************************************************** * English Third Division - Sunday 9th May 2004********************************************** ************************************************** ================================================== ============================================== 2003/4 Table============================================= ================================================== =Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st C Swansea 46 15 5 3 45 22 12 5 6 43 35 91 2nd P Oldham 46 14 7 2 36 16 13 2 8 34 32 90 3rd P STALYBRIDGE 46 14 4 5 48 25 13 0 10 43 38 85 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4th Pl Peterborough 46 9 10 4 34 25 14 1 8 50 36 80 5th Pl Brentford 46 11 5 7 45 36 12 4 7 39 24 78 6th Pl Doncaster 46 12 6 5 39 31 9 8 6 45 42 77 7th Pl Southend 46 15 2 6 41 29 8 4 11 32 33 75 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------8th Torquay 46 15 2 6 54 34 7 5 11 36 43 73 9th Bristol Rovers 46 12 7 4 49 32 8 5 10 25 37 72 10th Shrewsbury 46 12 3 8 44 33 10 2 11 31 36 71 11th Cambridge Utd 46 11 5 7 51 43 8 5 10 28 32 67 12th Bury 46 10 3 10 40 39 8 8 7 47 40 65 13th Blackpool 46 10 6 7 33 22 7 6 10 21 29 63 14th Plymouth 46 11 4 8 47 36 6 7 10 35 39 62 15th Hartlepool 46 9 5 9 28 30 7 7 9 38 37 60 16th Rochdale 46 14 5 4 39 22 1 10 12 19 39 60 17th Lincoln 46 8 7 8 36 34 7 2 14 23 37 54 18th Bournemouth 46 9 8 6 34 29 4 7 12 24 42 54 19th York 46 11 4 8 35 36 4 4 15 24 53 53 20th Cheltenham 46 9 5 9 32 31 3 9 11 26 44 50 21st Swindon 46 7 4 12 33 42 6 6 11 29 36 49 22nd Leyton Orient 46 6 7 10 34 39 6 5 12 36 48 48 23rd Mansfield 46 5 4 14 30 39 5 3 15 26 45 37 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------24th R Scunthorpe 46 2 3 18 22 55 2 6 15 26 52 21 </pre>

retired_eneko5613

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by MarcoJ:
Well done,
can we expect some spectacular transfers for the start of the Second Division?
KUTGW! <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Transfers? Well, you can't just go splashing the cash you know. The club has to be profitable if at all possible, and there's the wage bill to think of...

retired_eneko5613

Another successful season. Must be time to go on a trip to Statistics-land.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Stalybridge Celtic 2003/04 club statsClub Goalscorers:-----------------1. 35-Leo Fortune-West (1st in Division 3!)2. 12-Sean Friars (43rd in Division 3)3. 11-Sergio Ommel (44th in Division 3)4. 9-Andrew Cameron (52nd in Division 3)5. 8-Dean Harris (71st in Division 3)Club Assists:-------------1. 13-Sergio Ommel (12th in Division 3)2. 11-Dean Harris (19th in Division 3)3. 9-Richie Barker (36th in Division 3)4. 8-Sean Friars5. 7-Tommy JaszczunClub Average Ratings:---------------------1. 8.09-Leo Fortune-West (2nd in Division 3)2. 7.42-Sergio Ommel (18th in Division 3)3. 7.39-Lee Collins (35th in Division 3)4. 7.26-Sean Friars (50th in Division 3)5. 7.20-Danny Cullip (74th in Division 3)</pre>

retired_eneko5613

I receive so many phone calls, complementing us on our rapid ascent up the league, that I'm able to catch up with how all my former players are doing. In the same order as I detailed them last year, here goes:

Goalkeeper David Fish was on the verge of European football with FA Cup winners Derby County at the end of last season, but he was to be disappointed. He didn't make a single appearance in the first 4 months of the season and was sold to Norwich for £140k in December. Here he continues his habit of not making an appearance, with Norwich finishing 12th in Division 1 whilst Derby win promotion. Poor lad isn't having a good career really!

Steve Wood, now 40, continues his Scouting duties at Macclesfield, who narrowly miss out on a Division 2 playoff spot.

James Turley, was finding it hard to adapt to life in Spain when I last heard, but things have started to look up for him, as he has renewed his contract and even made two appearances for Univ. Oviedo.

Andrew Scotthas found his level, as he continues to play for Northampton Spencer. He was their best player this season! God help them!

Locals around town inform me that Steve Pickford, Matt Rose and Dean Byrne have decided to pursue careers outside football. I'm glad they've taken my advice on that one, as they are probably going to make more money that way!

Leigh Bradley managed another full season for Glenavon. At just under 18, he's now made 77 first team appearances. If he can avoid injuries, he must be on for some sort of appearance record there! He's scored two goals though, and made two appearances in Europe in his clubs brief UEFA Cup Qualifying campaign.

Ged Murphy didn't play as regularly for Elgin City Reserves this time around, and is starting to become a little uncomfortable with the idea of rotting away in the Scottish Highlands for ever more.

Kevin Parr remains transfer listed at Southend, and also remains not in the team. Ditto Steve Bushell at Wigan. Gerard Courtney's 7 goals couldn't help Queen of the South avoid relegation to Scottish Division 3.

Chris Perkins missed the end of another season with Gandia through injury, but is reportedly really enjoying life in Spain. Who wouldn't?

Of those who have left since my last roundup, Ryan Cole remains clubless, and looks to be heading for a life outside football, whilst Winfield Steele notched 14 goals for Hucknall Town, making him the club's second top scorer. Go Winfield!

James Roberts got his career at Hounslow Borough off to a fine start, playing a full season at centre half and picking up three man of the match awards along the way. Not bad for an 18 year old!

A whole host of players have left since the season started, four of whom have not found new clubs. The footballing careers of Gary Scarlett, Geoff Collins, Paul Reed and Scott Griffin would appear to be in the balance. At least one of our youth products has proved there is life after Stalybridge, Andy Sampson is persuing his career in Maastricht with MVV, where he has so far made just one appearance.

Dominic Crookes has become star player at Burscough, after becoming their record signing, and has scored twice from defence for the club, whilst Phil Salt will be get another shot at Division 3 football next season, as he contributed 9 goals and 6 assists to Barnet's runaway Conference campaign which saw them win the league by 14 points! Matt Woods would appear to be happy playing for Stranraer in Scottish Division 2, where he is getting the regular first team football he both desired and deserved. Scottish full back Kenny Munro has become the star player at Cradley Town, which isn't difficult. Hopefully he will be able to find a way back to league football, even if it means returning to Scotland. Darren Atkinson has also had 6 months of relative success, helping Conference newcomers Halesowen to a respectable 7th place finish. Finally, Richard Peacock has already notched up 10 games for Abingdon Utd, and I'm pleased to say his form seems to have returned!