Blackpool Victory Puts Leeds United Back in the Play-Offs Picture

Three days ago, Leeds United were calling for his head, but last night Neil Warnock had the fans chanting his name in support.

‘Warnock, give us a wave’ rang out around Elland Road as ninth-placed Leeds closed in on a crucial victory 2-0 win over Blackpool which puts them into the Championship play-offs picture.

His comments at Manchester City indicted that he would soon be leaving and supporters inside Elland Road chose to leave personal views aside and back the team to the hilt.

There was little criticism as an efficient performance and two second half goals moved the Whites within six points of Middlesbrough who occupy the last play-offs spot.

The home crowd urged their team on from the first minute as Leeds were straight at their opponents, hoping for an early goal.

Blackpool, managed for the first time by Paul Ince, were unfortunate not to score during the first half and Leeds had Paddy Kenny to thank for a three top saves.

However, Blackpool’s only threat was Tom Ince and he was well-marshalled by the Leeds defence. Leeds also had control in midfield and that was a key factor.

The teams went in at the break level, but Leeds were looking far more likely to score and on 59 minutes, the deadlock was broken.

David Norris’ sweet volley beat goalkeeper Matthew Gilks and then only minutes later, Leeds’ new number nine Steve Morison opened his account after an horrific mistake from Stephen Crainey.

That was job done.

But the question remains: Can Leeds keep the momentum going and reach the top six. Firstly they have to start winning away from home. Do that and they have a chance. Secondly and stating the obvious, they have to perform like they did against Blackpool in every game.

Glasshoughton Welfare: A Club Looking Forward, But Not Forgetting The Past

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Mention a 52 game run without a win to any Glasshoughton Welfare official or supporter and you will send shivers down their spine.

The success manager Craig Elliott had in the last two seasons is well-documented, but Castleford-based Glasshoughton are fortunate to still be going considering the challenges they have faced towards the end of the decade.  Between February 2008 and September 2009, Glasshoughton failed to win a Northern Counties East League match – finishing bottom of the Premier Division and then Division One in consecutive seasons.

Welfare had nearly folded during 2007 as the committee were tired and fed-up of the perceived lack of support. Liverpool legend Bruce Grobbelaar, who was living locally, made one league appearance to highlight their problems and it kept Welfare afloat. 

But then a record number of games without a win followed – a period that saw four managers come and go until the arrival of Stuart Waddington halted the slide.

 

Elliott was appointed in August 2010 and he led Glasshoughton to promotion back to the Premier Division and chairman Phil Riding, who was manager for some of the 52 matches, admits Welfare came close to folding during the 52 games. 

“It has been a long hard road and many thanks go to Bruce for putting us in the spotlight and probably saving the club – that’s how bad it was,” the 48-year-old said.

“The committee were disillusioned, we needed a fresh breath of air to come through the club and we got one in our director of football at the time Ray Gowan. The hard work from him probably saved the club from extinction.

“But then we had the 52 games and the record is all there to be seen – we had to pull in 16 or 17-year-old players that were in our under 19s and the old adage of getting ‘old-manned’ in senior football was very true.

“Dropping out of the NCEL was a real thought and we had to really sit down and have a good open frank discussion about the committee because first of all we had to get the committee right. We had to get the enthusiasm back into the committee and get that filtering back into the players to give them a bit of belief.”

The arrival of Bradford-based Waddington as manager in September 2009 had an instant effect as he won his first game in charge at Brighouse to end the dreadful run – a result Riding describes as “a platform and it was probably a turning point in Glasshoughton’s future”.

Waddington guided Welfare to 13th in Division One before moving to manage Liversedge. They then turned to local lad and former player Elliott, who made his name playing for Harrogate Town in the Northern Premier League.

Elliott (pictured above) had management experience with West Yorkshire League side Kellingley and the Pontefract Collieries reserve team and Riding admits his knowledge of local football fitted the bill.

He said: “We wanted to bring local talent back to the club and there to be a bit of pride for playing for the badge of Glasshoughton.

“In Craig Elliott he ticked all the boxes.

“He had played in non-league and also managed local Saturday and Sunday sides and although it was a gamble, if you sat down with Craig, he is an ambitious young manager.

“He knew what he wanted to do and this was the right platform for him. He had a network of players and confidence in his own ability and that filtered through to the players and it was an absolutely fantastic rollercoaster of emotions for us as a club and committee.”

Elliott led Welfare on a magical journey that saw them win the Wilkinson Sword Trophy and earn promotion to the Premier Division last April in the space of two years.

His achievements put Glasshoughton back on the map and “probably gave the committee a wake-up call as well the community in them getting behind us and supporting the club” says Riding.

The success attracted attention from clubs higher up the pyramid and Elliott was whisked away to become the new manager at Ossett Town last summer. Former Yorkshire Amateur boss Graham Hodder was named as his successor. However, results did not go Hodder’s way and he was out of the door by November and replaced by ex-Tadcaster Albion assistant manager Rob Hunter.

Hunter is closing in on steering Glasshoughton to safety – an achievement Riding is desperate to see so that Elliott’s work does not go to waste.

“The players and Craig and his management worked extremely hard, up and beyond the call of duty at times,” he said.

“They worked so hard to get promoted that I didn’t want to lose our position in the Premier Division without putting up a fight. Unfortunately we had to make the decision to part with Graham Hodder by mutual consent and that is what we did at an important time in the season.

“Rob Hunter and (assistant) Mark Smitheringale have come in and given a new sense of belief, a new ethic and the players have reacted well to the new manager coming in.”

Once as relegation is averted, Riding (pictured above) insists the aim is to be competitive week-in-week-out and take ‘each season at a time’. And although the dark days might be long ago as Glasshoughton are looking to build a successful future, Riding believes the players of 2008 are owed a debt of gratitude.

“I have to respect them because without them we wouldn’t have had a team and we wouldn’t have been to enjoy the seasons we have had over the last two years,” he said.

“You remember where you have come from and we will keep going and as with any club, you have to keep looking to progress.”

Failure for Paul Ince with Blackpool would Hurt both Parties

He has been to every Blackpool game this season and knows the strengths and weaknesses of the team. That is what gave former England captain Paul Ince the edge in the race for the Championship club’s top job.

His son being one of their best players will have also helped. But Ince’s insight into the team will be vital as the season draws to a close. He has to hit the ground running, starting at Leeds United on Wednesday. Blackpool are closer to the relegation zone than the play-offs – only six points above the drop zone after a disappointing 1-0 at strugglers Ipswich on Saturday.

Ince has to get the Tangerines winning or they will end up back in League One which would be a disaster considering the success Ian Holloway had over the last four years.

But, Ince also has the elephant in the room as he knows failure could mean he will never work in football management again. Ince’s managerial career began so well and he looked like he was going to set the world alight. He kept Macclesfield in the Football League against all odds before guiding MK Dons to the League Two title. That is when it started going wrong.

A move to Premier League Blackburn Rovers ended after six months and three wins later with the team in serious relegation danger. A return to MK Dons ended prematurely before he was sacked at Notts County after a record nine consecutive defeats in April 2011.

No jobs have been forthcoming since, but his knowledge of Blackpool has opened up a route back into football and Ince knows he simply has to succeed to save his management career. And if doesn't get Blackpool instantly firing on all cylinders, they could be staring at the prospect of League One football.

NCEL Premier: Glasshoughton Will Give Their All Ahead of Parkgate

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Manager Rob Hunter insists injury-ravaged Glasshoughton Welfare will display a never-say-die attitude to ensure they stay clear of the NCEL Premier Division relegation zone.

Welfare head to Parkgate on Tuesday night, three days after coming from two goals behind to draw with Liversedge. But without five players out due to injury which has forced Hunter (pictured right) to call upon members of the Reserve Team. Liam Tuck, Tom Woolard, John Hirst, Mark Stirland and Ali Wilson are all missing for Glasshoughton who have only won once since Hunter took charge in mid-December.

The Leeds Road side do have breathing space from the relegation zone with being ten points clear of Arnold, but because of the resources available, Hunter admits his side will have fight their way over finish line.

 “Survival is the name of the game,” he said. “When we (Hunter and assistant Mark Smithergale) came here, we knew it would be a tough place to be to win football matches.

“I think they had lost seven or eight on the bounce when we came here. We managed to win the first game, but we had three draws in the eight games. It has been tough. We can’t compete with anyone in terms of offering players money.

“You’re almost competing against semi-professional footballers with local lads. But all you can do is get yourselves organised and make sure everyone in a Glasshoughton shirt gives everything.

“We proved that on Saturday because we were dead and buried with 20 minutes to go. We hauled ourselves back into the game and got ourselves a point. That is what is going to be like. I’ve told the lads that we have to celebrate every point we get because every point puts us further and further away from the bottom two or three teams. This will give us the opportunity to play Premier Division football next season, which is fantastic for a club like Glasshoughton.”

It took two Greig McGrory goals to secure a draw against Liversedge – a result Hunter admitted on Saturday that his side were lucky to get. And Hunter rued that if his team had performed better they would have picked up three points considering their displays against the top five.

“To be fair we have had a bad run of results, not a bad run of form,” he said.

“It is very difficult when you are trying to put a team together with no money in this league and having five players out injured. But we have played against Tadcaster Albion twice, Brighouse who are second and Bridlington who are near the top and we have put performances together against these sides.

“The disappointing with Saturday’s result was that we got a draw against a team that are sort of the same level as us. If we had put a performance together like we have done in recent matches, we probably would have beaten Liversedge. That is the frustrating thing.”

Leeds United: Blackpool Clash Could Represent Last Chance Saloon for Neil Warnock

The reign of Neil Warnock as manager of Leeds United is coming to an end. He admitted it himself after the FA Cup at Manchester City. It is a matter of when rather than if. If his side fall further away from the play-offs, it could be a matter of days.

Ahead of the visit of Blackpool to Elland Road on Wednesday, the Whites sit eight points from 6^th place Middlesbrough. Anything but a win and any promotion aspirations have gone for 2012-13. It will also be the start of a change in management.

The fans and Warnock himself have had enough. The supporters are unhappy with team selection, tactics and of course results. While Warnock, has been let down over the last 12 months by false promises and the inability to compete with the big-spenders Cardiff, Hull and Leicester who all occupy the top spots. Warnock knows if Leeds want to the Premier League, there needs to be heavy finance and he just hasn’t been given it. So the time is right to make a change when the play-offs are no longer possible.

The owners GFH Capital have said they want a younger manager to replace. How young we don’t know, but whoever they choose, it has to be someone with promotion credentials. Nigel Adkins fits the bill, so does Paulo DiCanio, but he would be too much of a gamble. MK Dons boss Karl Robinson is an outsider, but he has yet to achieve a promotion.

From my point of view, Adkins is the heir to the throne, but he has to be backed or Leeds will be in the exactly same situation in 12 months’ time.

NCEL Premier Division: Glasshoughton Welfare 2-2 Liversedge

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Glasshoughton Welfare 2-2 Liversedge
Match Photos

Glasshoughton Welfare boss Rob Hunter admitted his side were lucky people after super-sub Greig McGrory scored twice to rescue a point for Welfare in the NCEL Premier Division clash with Liversedge.

Liversedge were cruising to a first win in five games and in full control at 2-0, but McGrory (pictured above) struck in the 75th and 88th minute for Glasshoughton to cancel out Chris Hirst’s earlier double strike.

Both sides had chances to win during a frantic finale after the equaliser, but Hunter, who hailed the impact of McGrory, felt a Glasshoughton victory would have not been a fair reflection on the game.

“We did get out of jail and to be fair, it was probably the poorest performance we have put together since I have been here,” he said.

“We played for 70 minutes looking lethargic and we didn’t look like we were in the game and then we got a bit of magic.

“We brought Greig McGrory on and I think on only his second touch, he hit one into the top corner. It gave us the impetus to go on. All of a sudden there is 15 minutes to go and the lads were believing in themselves.

“We could have won it at the end, but so could they. They had two chances and we had two chances…but it would have been a travesty if we had won the game because we didn’t deserve to.”

On a glorious sun-kissed day at Leeds Road, Liversedge controlled the majority of the proceedings. ‘Sedge had one chance cleared off the line before Hirst hit his first goal on 18 minutes. James Rothel’s free kick from the left was knocked down and the impressive Hirst finished from close range to put ‘Sedge ahead.

‘Sedge had further opportunities to double their advantage as at the other end Glasshoughton struggled to break an experienced ‘Sedge defence down. Matthew Howgate’s corner which cannoned back off the crossbar was the closest Welfare came to scoring.

And when Liversedge scored again two minutes into the second half when a defensive mistake allowed Hirst to score, the writing appeared to be on the wall. Especially when Welfare goalkeeper Anthony Wetherell was forced to make a string of excellent saves to keep the score at 2-0.

Needing inspiration Hunter threw McGrory into the fray and the former Pontefract Collieries man immediately inspired a Welfare comeback. Twenty-five yards away from the goal, McGrory unleashed a bullet which flew into the top corner with Liversedge stopper Paul Hagreen helpless.

Liversedge were rocking and their manager Eric Gilchrist was becoming an increasingly agitated figure on the side-lines as experienced frontman Robert Pell caused mayhem for Glasshoughton. And Welfare’s efforts were rewarded when McGrory was put through on goal and the striker kept his composure to apply a smart finish to equalise.

Neither team were finished as the last five minutes saw cavalier attacking as both sides attempted to grab the winner. Welfare have Wetherell to thank as the stopper pulled off two excellent stops in one go. He first denied Rothel and then Brook Newton’s follow-up attempt. Experienced ex-Ossett Albion striker Danny Toronczak then had a goal-bound header booted away from danger.

However, both sides had to settle for a point. Glasshoughton will take it as a point gained, while Liversedge will regret not killing the game off at 2-0 when they were in full control.

Glasshoughton Welfare: A Wetherell, Swales, Nodder, James, Pell, Parkes, Beaston, K Weatherald, Young, Howgate (McGrory 59), Headley. Subs unused: Stirland, Woolard.
Liversedge: Hagreen, Butters, Rothel, Wood, Leach, Riordan, McMahon, Hirst, Bugg, Markham (Newton 56), Jarrett (Toronczak 68). Subs unused: Hall, Bojang.
Referee: Ian Johnston

Ex Leeds United man Robbie Rogers Comes Out as Gay: A Missed Opportunity

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It is has taken 23 years, but British football again finally has an openly gay footballer. Or they did have because former Leeds United winger Robbie Rogers announced his retirement at the same time so the reaction from the terraces and dressing room will never be known.

But the timing from Rogers again exposes the fact that no professional footballer is willing to come out in fear of the repercussions. The culture of the dressing room and the reaction from fans are the major reasons. My background is non-league football and I have never seen homophobia, but I’m sure higher up the football pyramid it is a major problem – certainly in football’s ‘trouble spots’.

It is a real shame that Rogers did not come out while still playing because it would have changed the landscape of English football. The effect would have been positive and more gay footballers would have been persuaded to reveal their sexuality. Swede Anton Hysen is currently the only openly gay professional footballer, but his decision to come out has had no effect in this country. It is going to have to take a big name to come out for there to be a ripple effect.

While at first it would be difficult because human nature says there will be always a few that would be initially uncomfortable with their sexuality – whether that is on the terraces or in the dressing room.

Homosexuality is a huge taboo subject in football, but it needs a gay role-model. If one player comes out, others will follow and homosexuality will no longer be a taboo subject.

It will happen, it is just a matter of time. However, for gay footballers and supporters, Rogers’ decision to retire at the same time is a huge missed opportunity.