Departed Leeds United manager Neil Warnock deserves credit

By James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson)

He swept into Elland Road in February 2011 to hero’s reception and was promised funds to take Leeds United into the Premier League. But over 12 months on, is it a wasted year?

Admittedly the foundations have been built. Leeds have a decent goalkeeper in Paddy Kenny and solid defenders in Tom Lees and Jason Pearce. He deserves credit for spotting the potential of Sam Byram and using him week-in-week-out. But Warnock was never able to bring the quality that is needed for an attempt to gain promotion.

Previous owner Ken Bates sold Warnock the club on basis that money was there to be spent. The manager then went away and drew up a shopping list. He got Pearce, but when Joel Ward slipped through the net the holes in Leeds’ promotion aspirations began appearing.

Warnock admits he thought about walking away then and only stayed out of loyalty to the fans so he deserves credit for staying put. With a different manager, Leeds may have been in a relegation battle for the whole season. Until the last few weeks, Leeds have been hard to beat and that mentality has ensured a good base of points which Neil Redfearn should be able to build on and secure safety with ease.

The arrival of GFH Capital meant Warnock could bring Jerome Thomas from West Brom. Thomas, a quick winger, added a new dimension and wins over Crystal Palace, Leicester City, Huddersfield Town, Ipswich Town and Middlesbrough were partly because of him. Five wins out of five league games with Thomas shows the difference he made. Had Thomas stayed at Elland Road, could the play-offs have been reached?

While there no is doubt Warnock has been let down by the two boards, at times his tactics have been suspect. Warnock is a big fan of route one football and when Leeds were in a losing position, the appeared to be no plan B. And once as the play-offs began to slip away, it was clear that his interest was fading so the time was right to walk away after the defeat to Derby.

But, for all the negatives, Warnock does deserve credit for a handful of achievements. The League Cup run brought one of the most anticipated fixtures at Elland Road and in the city of Leeds for a long time. The Tottenham Hotspur FA Cup victory was a fabulous achievement so Warnock can leave with his head held high.

The real assessment of Warnock’s reign will be in a year’s time when his successor finishes his first season. If his team is added to with quality, Leeds will be a force to be reckoned with.

But while some will criticise him, Warnock should be applauded for creating a stable team and for providing memories Leeds fans won’t forget. He will feel he has done his best and there is probably no-one out that could have done a better job.

He knew how to take Leeds to take the next step, but he was held back by two boards unwilling to spend. Leeds themselves have missed a chance to reach the Premier League this season by not backing him.

Introduce winter break says Harrogate Railway boss Billy Miller

By James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson)

Harrogate Railway manager Billy Miller (pictured right) has an alternative solution to extending the Evo Stik Northern League season for future years – introduce a winter break.

Former Liversedge boss Miller, who took over at Station View last summer, had five years in Germany and experienced a winter break over there and believes that it works.

His main argument is that pitches should be allowed to recover from the winter weather and claims it will keep the standard of football at a high level.

“I think the league themselves have got such a difficult job, but I think having played in Germany where they have a mid-winter break, I am a big fan of that,” he said.

“I think what it does is gives the pitches time to recover so it means that come March, April, May time, you are playing on really good playing surfaces instead of trying to slog it out on surfaces that are not perhaps the best.

“I think it has a knock effect for the top teams. We look back on playing Skem and Trafford, two phenomenal footballing sides, earlier in the season and what you’re asking them to do now is slog it out.

“But I do feel for the people that organise leagues because I wouldn’t want to do it. I wouldn’t like to sort the fixture mess out. So if they deem that there needs to be an extension then there needs to be.

“I feel they had to do something because of the mess we are in. We’re not too bad because we’re probably not going to have to play Saturday-Tuesday-Thursday and we’re in a good position where we’re relatively safe. It’s a case for us of keeping momentum and trying to get to the 50 point barrier. For the teams who are still in it (at the top and bottom), you have to feel sorry for them.”

In this week’s Non League Paper, play-offs chasing Curzon Ashton manager John Flanagan claimed the extension was unfair on clubs that had worked hard to get their games played over the winter months.

But Miller said: “I sympathise with him and the clubs where 100 volunteers have come to clear the pitch, but not everyone has got that resource,” he said.

“The saving grace for us is the slope, we haven’t had too many games called off. We have had too games called off because the snow has been on it. If we had cleared it, we would have had nowhere to put the snow. You have to look at the big picture and maybe they will sit down and review it at the end of the year.”

Two arguments for next season include starting the season earlier or playing more mid-week games. Miller is more concerned with January and February.

“It’s not so much about when you start, it is about the January-February window,” he said.

“I’ve been on the other end of it doing us a massive favour when I took over at Liversedge, two or three years ago when they were bottom of the league. We went into the Christmas period with some really difficult games and I didn’t quite have the squad in place. We had nine weeks called off and I was able to build a squad and I got them out of trouble.

“I have been on the flipside where it has worked really well when I have had games called off. But other sides when they have had momentum going into that period have then become inconsistent.”

Miller also questioned the number of matches that took place on Boxing Day and in the first two months of the year. He added: “For me January and February are the problems that need dealing with, not so much when the season starts or when it finishes.

“Realistically it will be interesting to know out of how many games that were due to take place in January and February actually did.

“It is alright saying it is tradition to play at that time of year, but that’s great if you have got millions of pounds of under-soil heating. I think this season’s Boxing Day game was the first time in five years that a team I have been involved in have played on Boxing Day.

“We played at Goole and if we had been at our place on Boxing Day, it wouldn’t have been on.”



Leeds United caretaker boss Neil Redfearn has to hit ground running

By James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson)

Neil Warnock was fed up, Leeds United supporters had seen enough so the time was right for the two parties to part company. But while some rejoice in Warnock’s departure, the fact remains that caretaker manager Neil Redfearn needs to hit the ground running.

Leeds are looking over their shoulders. Third-bottom Huddersfield Town are only five points from the Whites and the final six games are far from easy. Relegation is a small possibility.

Now only four or five more points would probably be enough to secure safety so it is not a major panic at this stage. A win at Charlton on Saturday would almost certainly do the job. Redfearn needs the reaction he got from the players when he took caretaker charge at Bristol City last year. Leeds won that game 3-0.

This time around he leads a Leeds team that cannot win away from home so the odds are stacked against him. One bonus is that every single Leeds supporter will back the team. There will be no ‘Warnock time to go’ chants. All the focus is on the United performance.

The players who Warnock brought to the club are grafters and they need to show that and get a win for the manager who has just left.

Warnock leaves with many regrets, but he can look back on some memorable wins. League Cup wins over Everton and Southampton to his greatest triumph of beating Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup.

But he has gone and Redfearn is left to pick up the pieces and he needs the backing of everything – the board, the fans and most importantly the players.

Harrogate Railway boss Billy Miller salutes players for win at Farsley AFC

Farsley AFC 2-3 Harrogate Railway

By James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson)

Match Photos are HERE

Manager Billy Miller saluted his Harrogate Railway players after a deserved Evo Stik Division One North victory over Farsley AFC at Throstle Nest.

Goals from former Leeds United youth team players Nathan Cartman and Joe McCann and then a second half penalty from ex-Farsley Celtic midfielder Paddy McGuire sealed the success.

Farsley had drawn level at 1-1 through Adam Priestley, but fell behind again and skipper Robbie O’Brien’s 90^th minute consolation goal was too little too late for Farsley. But any Farsley equaliser would have been harsh on Harrogate and Miller admitted his side were full value for the victory.

“From today we have to take heart from that we were playing a good Farsley side that are trying to be in the better part of the league,” he said.

“To come to Farsley and get a result at Throstle Nest is a great win for us. I thought we deserved to win it from the first minute to the 90^th minute. We had a game-plan and we stuck to it. We had two holding midfielders in front of the back four.

“We then had the young lad Jesus (Martin-Farina) up top. A young Spanish lad who doesn’t speak any English, but has done really well and held the ball up well today. We had Cartman playing off him and I think from the minute Cartman put us 1-0 up, with one of the coolest finishes I have seen at this level for a long time, I think we always knew we were in with a chance.”

Harrogate had threatened to score before Cartman opened the scoring in the 15^th minute. The nippy striker, who trialled with Farsley in the summer of 2009, broke through on goal and with goalkeeper Tom Morgan approaching he kept his composure to score – lifting the ball over the onrushing Morgan.

Farsley soon hit back with the best goal of the game. Steve Mallory’s corner was headed away to the edge of the ball where leading scorer Priestley was waiting. With power and accuracy the striker volleyed the ball through a crowded box and into the bottom corner past former Glasshoughton Welfare goalkeeper Sam Dobbs.

The scores were level for five minutes when Railway went ahead again on the half-hour mark. Cartman was involved again and he supplied McCann. Against Farsley’s York City loan player Mike Atkinson, McCann won the battle and netted with his left foot.

Apart from one Owen Davies free kick which flew over the crossbar, Farsley failed to mount a comeback. With the atmosphere as flat as a pancake – the crowd of only 100, mainly because of home games for Guiseley, Halifax Town and Leeds United – the game fizzled out and Railway got the decisive goal with 20 minutes left on the clock.

A trip by Rob Etherington on Cartman in the penalty area gave referee Mr Chapman, who has been involved in two controversial Farsley matches in the last 18 months, an easy decision. McGuire was the chosen one and he showed great coolness by sending Morgan the wrong way and give his side the two goal buffer.

Farsley did reply with a Simeon Bambrook’s thunderbolt which Dobbs deserves credit for tipping onto the crossbar late-on before O’Brien struck the consolation goal in the last minute.

Farsley AFC: Morgan, Atkinson, Bambrook, O’Brien, Dempsey (Davies HT), Etherington, Priestley, Walton, Mallory, Grant, Harrison (Tiani 73). Subs unused: James, Higginson, Robinson.

Harrogate Railway: Dobbs, Wood, Hopkins, Thirkell, Maloney, Parkes (Coupland 76), Hull, McGuire, Martin-Farina (Hunter 80), Cartman, McCann (Hallam 51). Sub unused: Ashforth.

Referee: G Chapman

Attendance: 100

Man of the match: Nathan Cartman



Glasshoughton Welfare chairman Phil Riding hails successful NCEL Ground Hop day

By James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson)

Ecstatic Glasshoughton Welfare chairman Phil Riding has hailed the annual Northern Counties East League Easter Ground Hop day as a success after 307 people flocked to Leeds Road to see his club play Nostell Miners Welfare.

Football fans from countries including Denmark, Sweden and Germany saw Glasshoughton win their crucial Premier Division clash 2-0 on Friday morning.

Riding was delighted and paid tribute to the organisers.

“It was fantastic to see so many people and there was a great atmosphere,” he said.

“I think it is what most non-league clubs at our level aspire to, wanting to get gates like that week-in-week-out. It was a great day and I think the ground-hoppers enjoyed their visit to Glasshoughton.

“We as a club will sit down and look back on what we did well and what we can improve on. I had some fantastic feedback from the ground-hoppers and I think from 307 people, myself and the committee did not have one complaint. Hopefully the good PR that comes from it will put a few more on the gate for the next home game.

“It has been a wonderful experience for us as a club and I would like to thank the NCEL officials and the Ground-Hoppers organisation on arranging such a wonderful day for the whole day. It brings national exposure for the league and they should be applauded for their hard work.”

Farsley AFC manager Neil Parsley slams Evo Stik League season extension

By James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson)

Farsley AFC manager Neil Parsley has criticised the Evo Stik Northern League’s decision to extend the Evo Stik Division One North season.

Farsley’s season will now finish on May 4^th when Bamber Bridge will visit Throstle Nest – a game which has been moved from April 9^th.

The Evo Stik claim the recent winter weather has left them no choice with some clubs still having to play 12 games before the original April 27^th deadline.

Parsley, whose side have eight matches to play, believes the Evo Stik didn’t think the decision through and didn’t think of other counter measures to curb the strain on clubs who were struggling to fit their fixtures in.  

“I think it is a poor decision and has a financial implication on sides and it is an easy get-out for the league,” he said.

“They should have made teams play Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday if need be and let teams register more players. If teams are struggling to get their games in and that’s the way it has to be. I think the league have just dived in and made an easy decision.

“It is a strain on the finances of certain clubs because they have to pay an extra week’s wages to the players and a strain to the spectators who may have a long journey fitted in because of fixture re-scheduling.”

As a player, Parsley played in the Football League for Huddersfield Town, West Brom and Exeter City before moving back into non-league football with Witton Albion and then Guiseley.

He has managed Guiseley, North Ferriby United in his management career and has never encountered this scenario before.

Parsley also suggested starting the 2013-14 season earlier than normal to avoid a repeat situation next year. The Evo Stik campaign usually kicks off on the third Saturday of August.  

“This season extension is the first time I have experienced one and I find it unprofessional,” he said.

“I’ve played on a Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and a Saturday. I wouldn’t be happy if I had to do it again, but if that’s the situation you find yourself in then that’s what you’d have to do.

“People struggle at work to meet deadlines and they have to work the overtime so why extend deadlines? Starting next season earlier is an option or play more mid-week games.

“The weather has been dreadful this season and I have full sympathy in that respect for the league. I also don’t want to see teams who have good cup runs get penalised because the league fixtures get forfeited for a cup game.

“I want teams to be successful and good representation for this league in cup competitions, of course I do, but the rules are still there and we have to abide by the rules.”

Gareth Grant strike hands Farsley AFC away win at Ramsbottom United

Ramsbottom United 1-2 Farsley AFC

By James Grayson (Twitter - @jamesAgrayson)

Match Photos are HERE

If Farsley AFC had played like they did against Ramsbottom United all season long, Neil Parsley’s men would have been challenging for the title. It was a vintage away performance against a team that were hot on the heels of leaders Skelmersdale United before the game in second-place in the Evo Stik Division One North table.

Farsley hadn’t won since the 2^nd February so the omens didn’t look good. Farsley did ride their luck and goalkeeper Tom Morgan was their man of the match. Inside the opening 20 minutes Ramsbottom’s Lee Gaskell had a shot cleared off the line before Morgan denied Gary Stopforth and then Phillip Dean rattled the crossbar.

Ramsbottom looked good value, but Farsley dug-in and went a goal ahead just before the break. Ryan Harrison’s floating free kick landed kindly for centre-half Matt Dempsey and he headed home from close range.

Now what I didn’t mention was that there were tensions in the first half, mainly due to a string of poor decisions from all three officials. And as the sides were drifting into the tunnel at half-time, the Ramsbottom joint-manager Anthony Johnson showed himself to be a bit of an idiot. He needlessly squared-up to Farsley management and caused a mini-brawl. He did a similar thing at Throstle Nest last September so it was hardly a surprise when he started behaving like it was a Sunday morning match and shouting “let me at him” as sparks began to fly.

It did provide some entertainment for the 446 strong crowd. Ramsbottom had launched an initiative to try and achieve an attendance of 1000 for the game and did really well to get nearly 500. But as Ramsbottom is a small and tight ground, it was probably a good thing they didn’t. It was rammed with 446 so had they reached 1000, it would have been a game of sardines. It nearly was with 446 people. You simply can’t fit 1000 people in the Riverside Stadium.

No action was taken over the brawl at half-time and Ramsbottom equalised in the 57^th minute when Jon Robinson twisted and turned in the penalty area to score. Minutes later Morgan turned away a Dominic Smalley header as Ramsbottom turned the screw.

But, Farsley weathered the storm and the help of Neil Parsley’s inspirational substitution, they got the winner. Stalwart Gareth Grant replaced Adam Priestley and within eight minutes of coming on, the striker had scored.

Matty James was the provider, the playmaker showing the tricks he has stored in his lock erwith a deft pass which opened the door for Grant. He still had a lot to do, but he made the chance look easy with a curling finish which crashed off the stanchion and into the net.

Farsley had further chances to seal the win, but Grant’s moment of genius was enough ahead of a local derby with Harrogate Railway on Easter Monday.