October
/ November 2003
News
News of other stars from the 1970-71
season...
November
Fergie Gum
Sir
Alex Ferguson's habit of chewing gum at the touchline during
a match has inspired Man U to name a chewing gum after
him, according to Dave Goddard at the News of the
World (16 November 2003). The gum is to be called
'Dugout' and is to sell in and around the ground.
It seems the idea came
after visitors on a Stadium tour were spotted picking up
pieces of the old gum Fergie had spat out as souvenirs !
Blech.
John Ward at Cheltenham Town
On 6 November, 2003, John
Ward took over from the sacked Bobby
Gould (Wolves) as the manager of Cheltenham
Town. Further investigation into John's career shows that
he is a Bob 70-71 player. He joined Lincoln City in March
1971 from Adelaide Park, but I have listed him on the Lincoln
City page till
I know more about who the hell Adelaide Park are.(* see
note)
John's assistant will
be Bob Bloomer, who had taken over as caretaker manager
when Gould left. Cheltenham were 19th in Division Three,
when he took over.
This is John's career
breakdown that appears at BBC SPORT Ward handed Cheltenham
reins:
WARD'S MANAGERIAL CAREER
1982-1987 Watford (assistant to Graham Taylor)
1987-1991 Aston Villa (assistant to Taylor)
1991-1993 York
1993-1996 Bristol Rovers
1996-1997 Burnley (assistant to Adrian Heath)
1997-1998 Bristol City
1998-2003 Wolves (assistant to Dave Jones)
As a player John played
for Lincoln City, Workington Town (on loan), Watford,
Grimsby Town, and finally a further non-contract spell at
Lincoln City.
See Bobby Gould
Resigns, October 2003
* Note: Thanks to Geoff
Everitt who informs me that Adelaide Park was a team in
the Lincoln Sunday League, John signed for Lincoln City
as an amateur in July 1969 turning pro in March 1971.
Source: 'Whos's Who of Lincoln City", D. and I.
Nannestad. Thanks for that, Geoff.
Brooking Gets FA Post
Trevor
Brooking has been appointed by the Football Association
as their first ever Director of Football Development. His
role will include aiming to develop football skills at
all levels. Also Trevor will be involved in the process
of trying to identify a future replacement to Sven-Göran
Eriksson when he leaves his post.
The new job with the FA
means he will be leaving his role as non-executive
director at West Ham United. On the FA's Official Website
he says:
"Quite
simply this was an opportunity I could not miss.
Leaving West Ham will be a huge wrench, but everybody
knows my passion for English football as all levels.
It will be a wonderful challenge to share this
passion with the whole football community."
See BBC SPORT Brooking to take FA
role
The Football Association -
Welcome to the F.A.
Gorman Post Confirmed.
John Gorman
(Celtic),
who was sacked at Spurs ealier in the season, then
quickly took over as caretaker manager of Wycombe
Wanderers (see below), was confirmed as the club's
assistant manager on 5 November, 2003. The manager's role
is to be taken by the recently retired ex-Arsenal and
England captain, Tony Adams.
This is Tony Adams'
first role as a manager, so John's experience will be
crucial to help him settle in. On Saturday 8 November,
2003, Wycombe placed bottom of the Second Division, beat
10th placed Swindon Town 4-1 at home, in the first round
of the FA Cup, in Tony's first game in charge.
See BBC SPORT Wanderers Wycombe
appoint Adams
October
Moss Sacked
25 October, 2003 David
Moss (Swindon Town) is sacked by Macclesfield Town
who are struggling in Division Three having taken just 15 points from their first 16 games.
They were in 20th position and level on points with three
of the four teams below them.
A 2-1 defeat to
Southend on 25 October 25 prooved to be the last straw
and he was sacked soon afterwards. David had been at the
club nearly two years.
Brownlie Resigns
John Brownlie
(Hibernian) has now left his post as
manager of Arbroath. John left on 7 October 2003 at which
time the club were 9th (of 10) in the Scottish Second
Division. This ends the Brownlie family connection with
Arbroath, John's son, Paul having left the club in July
2003.
Little Returns
Brian Little
(Aston Villa) has returned to football management as manager
of Tranmere Rovers. Brian took over on 12 October, 2003
at which time Tranmere were 21st in Division Two. The
post was made available when loyal servant and fellow Bob
70-71 Player, Ray Mathias (Tranmere
Rovers) was
sacked. John McMahon had taken temporary
charge.
Brian first became a
manager in August 1986 when he took over at Wolves for a
spell that lasted just 8 matches. He returned in February
1989 as Darlington's manager, and was rarely unemployed
as he managed in turn Leicester City, Aston Villa, Stoke
City, West Brom, and Hull City.
But after Brian's
sacking at Hull on 27 February 2002, he has been out of
the direct involvement with the game. According to
interviews he made at the time of the appointment, Brian
has been working for Sky. (See Commentators)
Rumours have abounded
that Brian was not the club's first choice as manager,
and I was reminded of Leeds United's appointment of
pundit Terry Venables ! However, hopefully Tranmere have
lower debt problems and will soon be returning to their
rightful place as the top team in Merseyside...
See BBC SPORT Football Tranmere
Rovers appoint Little
Brooking Ends Caretaker Role
Trevor
Brooking ended his second spell as the temporary manager
of West Ham United on 19 October, 2003, allowing the
former Reading boss Alan Pardew to take
over as the permanent manager. Trevor leaves the side 5th
in Division Two, following a disappointing 2-2 draw
against Burnley.
Trevor's second spell
saw no less than 7 victories in his 11 games in charge,
and just 1 defeat and 3 draws. In total after two spells
in charge Trevor has lost only the once and won 9 of his
14 games in charge !
Trevor never put
himself forward as the permanent replacement following Glenn
Roeder's sacking. His previous spell was during
Glenn's illness.
See BBC SPORT Brooking steps down
Gorman Returns
John Gorman
(Celtic)
took over at Wycombe Wanderers on 2 October, 2003 in a
temporary role of Caretaker manager following their
sacking of Lawrie Sanchez. John had not
long since been sacked by Spurs along with Glenn
Hoddle, and is hoping to get the full time post,
though this is by no means certain.
Wycombe are struggling
at the foot of Division Two. Placed at 23rd, the bottom
of the same Division has seen managers sacked at
Stockport County and Tranmere Rovers, so the role will
not be an easy one for the successful candidate.
John was last a manager
for Swindon Town ten years ago, since which time he has
acted as Glenn Hoddle's assistant.
See BBC SPORT Gorman handed Wycombe
role
NB Confirmed as Wycombe
Wanderers assistant, see above
Fry Secures Managers Job !
Barry Fry (Bedford Town) hopefully secured his future as manager of
Peterborough United - by purchasing the club. This report
appears at BBC SPORT Fry buys Peterborough
United
Peterborough
United have announced that manager Barry Fry is going
to take overall control of the Second Division club.
A statement on the
club's official website revealed that Fry has secured
the necessary finances to conclude a deal for the
London Road outfit.
"During the
summer, Barry was given an opportunity to purchase
the majority shareholding in the club," said the
statement.
"Barry has, at
great risk, grasped the opportunity to own the
business and deliver his ideas unhindered.
"While the
transaction is intended for completion imminently, we
felt a formal announcement was necessary.
"Barry will
assume control from Wednesday."
Fry has been at the
club since 1996 and previously enjoyed colourful
spells with Barnet, Southend and Birmingham.
This trick has also
been done by fellow Bob 70-71 star, Graham Turner
(Chester City), who holds every post at
Hereford United from Chairman to Chief Bottle Washer.
Barry is the Football
League manage, who has held his post for the fouth
longest behind (in ascending order), Alan
Curbishley at Charlton Athletic, Sir
Alex Ferguson at Manchester United and Dario Garadi
(Sutton United) at Crewe Alexandria.
See LeagueManagers.com Longest
Serving Managers
Quinn's Heroes
The official Liverpool
website has the following interview with former Newcastle
United pie eater, Mickey Quinn. Click to 'Canny' Farm's finest on
Tosh, Kev & Pompey to see the full interview that
includes the following extract...
Mickey, as
a kid growing up in the Liverpool suburb of Cantril
Farm how come you chose to support the Reds and not
the Blues?
My dad supported them and I suppose I just followed
him, although two of my brothers and an uncle
supported Everton. I remember being a Liverpool fan
since I was about three or four.
Did you go the games?
I can't remember the first game I attended but it was
during the Toshack/Keegan era. I
started off in the boys pen then progressed to the
Kop. I think it used to be about 50 pence then to get
in and I'd go with a couple of my mates. It was a bit
minty to be honest and because it was tucked away in
the corner of the Kop the view wasn't that good
either. We were like caged animals wanting to escape
into the actual Kop itself. In them days there was
always a great sense of humour on the Kop, there
really was. They gave a bit of stick out but it was
humorous rather than vindictive.
What is the best memory you have of supporting the
Reds?
The best game I ever saw as a fan was the St Etienne
one in 1977. That stands out for me. It was such an
exciting night but the most vivid memory I have of
that night is the smell of p**s as it ran down the
back of my leg in the Kop! It was so jam-packed and
the Kop was nearly always like that in them days. It
was frightening at times, especially when I was a
kid. When the crowd used to sway forward my bottle
would go in case I got trapped against a barrier.
Who were your idols in the Liverpool team back
then?
John Toshack (Cardiff City) and Kevin Keegan, then later Kenny
Dalglish (Celtic). Tosh and Kev were a great partnership.
John used to hold the ball up, flick it on and Kevin
would run in to score.
Did they inspire you
to become a footballer?
Yes, Kevin did more
than anyone else to be honest. When he was at his
peak for Liverpool I was at that impressionable age
and like a lot of other kids I wanted to be Kevin
Keegan when I was playing football in the street. He
was one of my idols and it's funny how our paths have
crossed later in life, with him being a former
manager of mine and through the horse racing.
What was it like playing
under Keegan at Newcastle?
I'll always have the utmost
respect for Kevin as a player and manager but when he
took over at Newcastle we did not really see eye to
eye. I was injured at first, he rushed me back and
then I was dropped, but if he hadn't have rushed me
back in the first place my form wouldn't have
suffered as it did. I was a bit peeved and although
we later made up he had his own ideas and brought his
own players in. I eventually left Newcastle and it
broke my heart to do so.
Further October / November
2003 news can be found at ...
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