Whilst the eyes of most of the football world were focussed upon the likes of Stamford Bridge
and the Nou Camp last night, an altogether more prosaic battle was playing out at Nene Park in
Irthlingborough. The Blue Square Premier has had something of a flustered look about its lower
reaches all season, with newly-relegated Lincoln City and Stockport County both finding life below
the Football League tougher than they might have expected, but for existence-threatening financial
difficulties, Kettering Town and Darlington beat all others hands down.
Football's Greatest War Heroes - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
With Remembrance Sunday having just occurred a few days ago, we reflect on the men who gave
their lives to their countries as well as giving their all on the football pitch. Their bravery on
the field of play has been superseded by their courage and character on the field of battle even
though some of them had little to no military education.
USA international Stuart Holden will be sidelined for six months after it was discovered that he
has cartilage damage yesterday following a "routine procedure".
The news soon broke after he tweeted:
"Floored, devastated, gutted, just a few words I can think of. I will continue to fight and I'm
ready for another tough journey.
Stockport County entertain Grimsby Town at Edgeley Park in the Blue Square Premier this evening,
in a match which hints at the extent to which the fortunes of clubs can wax and wane over a period
of time. Ten years ago, both clubs were in what we now know as the Championship. They start this
evening as non-league clubs, and not exceptionally successful ones on the basis of their starts to
the season.
Stockport County entertain Grimsby Town at Edgeley Park in the Blue Square Premier this evening,
in a match which hints at the extent to which the fortunes of clubs can wax and wane over a period
of time. Ten years ago, both clubs were in what we now know as the Championship. They start this
evening as non-league clubs, and not exceptionally successful ones on the basis of their starts to
the season.
If you're familar with American left back Euan Holden, younger brother of Bolton star Stuart
Holden, you might have been wondering where the former New Mexico defender was plying his trade
these days.
Holden is playing in England for Conference National side Stockport County, located near Bolton,
and while he has helped his brother through an injury-hit 2011, Euan has continued to keep his
playing career going.
It's starting to become known as The Vaughan Effect, and it's a very modern phenomenon. Whenever
any mention is made of the slightest possibility the involvement of either of the Stephen Vaughans
getting involved in a football club, there is a reflex reaction from the supporters of the club
concerned and from various social media outlets, and this time the club with which this most dread
of names has been associated with is Stockport County.
It's starting to become known as The Vaughan Effect, and it's a very modern phenomenon. Whenever
any mention is made of the slightest possibility the involvement of either of the Stephen Vaughans
getting involved in a football club, there is a reflex reaction from the supporters of the club
concerned and from various social media outlets, and this time the club with which this most dread
of names has been associated with is Stockport County.
Stockport County director Lord Peter Snape declared in March 2009, one month before the club
entered administration, that he wanted "Stockport County Trust to vote to relinquish ownership of
the club," because if it "had been run properly we wouldn't be in this mess." Snape now knows it
wasn't as easy as it looked; and the consequences of 'his' consortium's "mess" are currently
unclear.
Stockport County director Lord Peter Snape declared in March 2009, one month before the club
entered administration, that he wanted "Stockport County Trust to vote to relinquish ownership of
the club," because if it "had been run properly we wouldn't be in this mess." Snape now knows it
wasn't as easy as it looked; and the consequences of 'his' consortium's "mess" are currently
unclear.
One takeover has happened. One is due to happen by the end of the month. One is
on-and-on-going. And one might not now happen at all. But however far down the takeover line
Plymouth Argyle, Stockport County and Port Vale are – and even Rangers, who have nominally
crossed it – none will be able to file their 2011/12 preparations under ‘ideal.
With the club season completed with Swansea City's victory in the Championship Play-Off final,
and only a handful of European Championship qualifiers to go on the continent this evening, the
focus for football over the next few weeks will be off the pitch. And, while the majority of news
may come from the fallout of the FA v FIFA crisis, as well as the comings and goings of the
transfer market, the most important fixtures of the next month will not be anything to do with Sepp
Blatter, nor will they be the European Under 21 Championships or any of the opening games in the
Women's World Cup – in fact, these fixtures may not get any sort of coverage whatsoever, and
certainly will not be televised.
With all the conjecture this week in the newspapers and on the blogs about the Gaffer finally
cleaning house and bringing up a new generation of homegrown players, I thought I'd discuss it with
somebody who definitely knows more than me and is much better connected to what's actually going on
behind the scenes at Old Trafford than most of the so-called ‘experts'.
Sometimes it's not nice to be proved correct, especially when your predictions are of the glass
half-empty variety. Back in July, when my club, Stockport County, appointed Paul Simpson, I feared
that he would turn out to be nothing more than the 'proverbial sacrificial lamb'. Less than six
months on, Simpson has been unceremoniously sacked, despite being on course to achieve his target
for the
