Roy of the Rovers A New Beginning Trevor Brinsden, the new co-Chairman of Melchester Rovers Community Football Club

b stood, proudly before the assembled ranks of pressmen and television cameras. It was 1st July 2013 and Melchester Rovers had just become the first community-owned football club in top-flight English football. Brinsden, a fan for over thirty years, was flanked by the legendary Roy Race and formerMelchester stalwarts Vernon Eliot and Gerry Holloway. Thank you all for being here! On this historic day, Melchester Rovers CFC begins the journey back to the top, back to where we belong! Brinsden was bubbling with enthusiasm; in his younger days he had allowed that passion to overflow, but in the early 80s that was commonplace among young soccer fans. The people of Melchester had forgiven his past indiscretions and they as a community were not going to let spiteful newspaper articles ruin their big day. For ten years this club has been in terminal decline, but not any longer! As a community-owned club we will operate within a prudent budget. We will spend wisely and never again live beyond our means. Many Premier League clubs are nothing but the toys of super-rich foreigners. We say no more and we will compete! We will win!

Trevor Brinsden was involved in many unsavoury incidents during the early 80s.

Brinsdens heartfelt statement split the room; some reporters stood and applauded, others whispered disparaging remarks to colleagues. John Lucas of the Daily Gazette was the first to question the new co-Chairman, So Mr Brinsden, in this era of mega-bucks football, how will Melchester compete? What is this master plan? I take it you have one! Chuckles punctuated the room. Lucas comments were clearly designed to rile Brinsden, to provoke an inappropriate response. Well to answer that question, let me introduce you to the new management team. Im sure you all know Roy Race, probably the greatest Englishman ever to play the game and probably the greatest English manager. He has a key role to play. Roy Race is the new Director of Football Development. Ill let Racey explain his position. A respectful silence fell over the packed conference room as Roy Race, The King, Englands greatest ever player, English footballs most successful manager, took the microphone. Throughout my years as Melchester player, captain, player-manager and manager, we had one constant; a core of Melchester-raised players; boys who were trained to play the Melchester way. We cannot buy success, so we will develop success. It is my responsibility to ensure that Melchester Rovers again have the most productive youth system in Europe. Currently our academy lags behind the likes of Kelburn, Tynecaster and even Melboro. Top Premier League clubs now scour the globe for young

talent, bringing children over from Africa and South America before they have even finished school. I dont believe that is right. In fact I believe that this process has greatly damaged English football. But more importantly I know that these clubs are ignoring tremendously talented players that are right here, in England, in the Midlands, in Melchester. Lucas had the nerve to interrupt the great man, But thats a long-term plan Roy. Melchester need to compete now, football is played in the short-term these days. Were not in the 70s anymore! While Kelburn and Melboro are spending 40million on proven international talent, Roy Race is still training boys on Melchester Marshes! Its a new ball game! So now let me introduce the men to lead the first-team of Melchester Rovers, the new manager, Vernon Eliot and his assistant Gerry Holloway. Brinsden had had enough of John Lucas mouth so cut him off, giving him a deathly stare. It was no secret that Vernon Eliot was to be the new manager, but still a bit of a shock. Eliot had been a key part of the great Melchester side of the 70s. The Jamaican born winger had played for England and was at the top of his game when he was forced to retire from injury before the 1982/83 season. It was then that he joined the Melchester coaching staff, in charge of the under-18s. But he stayed in the role only two years, finding that he just was not fit enough to coach the youngsters the way he wanted. Vernon believed that young players needed hands-on coaching; they need to be shown, not just told, the right way to do things. So he left and retired to the Caribbean with his wife.

Vernon was hurt in a crush after a charity cricket match. He never played again.

But Eliot missed the thrills of the football world, so began coaching his local side in Jamaica. Before long his raw team were transformed into multiple national champions and in 1994 the Minister for Sport offered Vernon the job as manager of the Reggae Boyz, the national team of Jamaica. His strength of character was severely tested as he used his reputation in England to persuade Football League players of Jamaican heritage, like Melchesters Broz Bamber, to join the Reggae Boyz. Many islanders fiercely resisted the move, but soon, as the side started winning and winning well, football overtook cricket on the back pages of national newspapers. Vernon was leading a revolution in Jamaican sport. In the autumn of 1998, Vernon cemented his reputation as a top coach, when Jamaica qualified for the World Cup in France. But as the nation celebrated, the newly-formed Jamaican Football Board

were plotting greater success. The week before the draw for the World Cup was made in Paris, Vernon Eliot was sacked and replaced by the man who had led Brazil to the World Cup four years earlier in the United States. Eliot had the backing of the players, but who would turn down the once in a lifetime chance to play in the World Cup? Broz Bamber, the captain was a vocal supporter and his protests led to him being stripped of the title. At the World Cup, the Reggae Boyz were crowd favourites, but lost all three matches scoring just one goal (from Bamber) and the Brazilian was fired after the tournament. Vernon had worked as a pundit on English television during the World Cup, proving to be such a popular character that he was offered a permanent position as co-presenter of the flagship show Game of the Week, which he accepted. After a two year spell, Vernon transferred to the satellite show Goals Galore to co-anchor with veteran football presenter Chippy Croker. While the money was very good and the job secure, Eliot still longed for the training ground. Like many TV pundits he was often linked with vacant jobs at Premier League clubs but was never interviewed. There were mumblings in the football world that racism may be playing a part in Vernons continued exile from top-level management, but he himself did not believe it. He thought that his big personality put off top clubs. On television he had to say things that managers would keep private, it made him appear like a troublemaker and many professionals had told him that they had been disappointed by his criticism. But that was his job and that was what made him such a popular figure with viewers. Eventually in 2006 Vernon Eliot became a Football League manager. Redpool, who had been a permanent fixture in the First Division for decades, had plummeted to the third tier of English football. They were a sleeping giant, waiting to be aroused and led back to the glory days before their relegation from the First Division in 1982/83. Eliot had resources, a good transfer budget, thanks to a remarkable average crowd of over twenty thousand, and a strong group of young, hungry players. His first season was a triumph, as Redpool romped to the title and promotion breaking club records left, right and centre. However success was short-lived, and with Redpool winless after six matches of the 2007/08 season, Vernon Eliot was sacked for the second time in his career. This second spell out of work, prompted Eliot to complete his UEFA coaching badges. He worked voluntarily at a number of lower division clubs, before travelling to Vengeren in Belgium for a season to observe leading trainer, Freddie Sepp. Sepp was so impressed with his contribution that he hired him as his assistant when he was appointed manager of London side Kelburn. It was in West London that Vernon Eliot forged a reputation as one of the finest first-team coaches around, capable of transforming journeymen, raising youngsters and bringing the best out of the very best players. Under the guidance of Sepp and Eliot, Kelburn won their first ever league title in 2009 and reached the Champions League Final in 2010. Kelburn are now an established Champions League contender having reached the semi-finals again in 2011 and a constant presence in the top four of the Premier League. Vernon Eliot is probably the most respected coach in all English football. It is about time that he was given the opportunity to manage a top club. We have no doubt that Vernon will have a long and successful spell as manager of Melchester, which is why he has signed a five-year deal, Trevor Brinsden explained, His long association with the Rovers as player and coach, means he fully

understands this unique club. Now, has anyone any questions for our new management team? Well go for ten minutes, if thats okay? David Hughes, The Sport: Vernon, you must be really looking forward to being in charge, but are you worried, many successful number twos have struggled being the main man? Vernon did not have to think hard, he knew this question would be asked, Yeah, man, I dont have any worries, we [myself and Gerry] pride ourselves on preparation. Our side will be ready for all challenges. Come the end of pre-season, I can assure all Rovers fans, we will be ready and I am ready! Sean McGee, Melchester News: Will having the great Roy Race at the club cast a shadow over you? I mean, theres a ready made replacement upstairs if you fail. Vernon stuttered a little, before Roy interrupted, Firstly, Im not upstairs, I will be downstairs, I am below Vernon. My role is in development. I will have no input in first-team affairs, unless Vernon requests my assistance. Secondly, I am too old for management now so theres absolutely no chance of me ever taking over if Vernon moves on, for whatever reason. We are a team, but let me be clear; Vernon Eliot is in sole charge of the Melchester Rovers team. A flurry of simple questions and clichd answers filled the remaining time. Brinsden dismissed the press and the new management team made their way upstairs into the executive lounge area. I dont like these press conferences, man. They try to trap you or make you say something silly! said Vernon to the group, Dont fret about those, chum. Youll get used to them, as they get to know you, youll get to know them. The questions never change, just say as little as possible in response. If you think about whether you should say something or not, its best to say nothing. Roy Races advice will prove priceless in these early days, especially on off-field issues, thought Vernon, but he was even more determined to let his work on the training ground do the talking. His ideas, that he had been working on for five years, his dossier on opponents, his set-piece manual, his scouting network, Gerry Holloways analytical skills, all of these would shine soon. He just could not wait to meet the players, formally at training the next morning. *** The morning of 2nd July 2013 was a typical summers day in Melchester, it was warm and bright, but as the locals knew a sharp shower could come at any point. Vernon Eliot and his assistant, Gerry Holloway, had prepared a short display, highlighting the strengths of the Melchester side. Although the weaknesses far outweighed the current strengths, they believed that a first meeting with the players should be positive. Freddie Sepp was a firm believer in sports psychology and Vernon had followed his lead attending special courses and lectures at Loughborough University. In his experience many Premier League managers still neglected the minds of their players. No matter how prepared physically a player is, it is no good if he is not mentally fit. Vernon had written a paper called PEP (Physical-Energetic-Psychology), which was published in leading academic journals. It summarised how he planned to use physical exercises based in coaching to mentally train professional players through the many challenges of a long football season. It was vital that his players were open to his way of thinking. It would be a new and very different to any pre-season they had experienced before. The first-team squad had gathered in the refurbished media suite of the training ground, many

looking somewhat puzzled at the array of interactive technology displayed on the giant whiteboard. Gerry Holloways package was far more advanced than anything they had seen used on television. Gerry had pieced together footage of the most productive moments of Melchesters 2012/13 season, not just good goals, but obscure forgotten periods where they had kept possession well or closed down an opposition attack. Vernon spoke along with each clip, making sure that the players knew what he liked, what he wanted repeated. He used few words so that no-one would lose concentration, no jargon, no unnecessary spiel. Gerry watched the squad, making notes, noticing those who were paying attention fully, those who were enthused and those who were fidgeting. He was pleased, as the session progressed, more and more players were nodding in agreement, actively appreciating what they were being shown. This was important as tomorrow he would show part one, of five, of the areas that required urgent attention. The ten minute show ended, Go and get a drink boys, well start again in fifteen minutes, Vernon announced. He and Gerry drifted into their office to leave the players alone, giving them the opportunity to express their feelings in confidence. Jake Cheetham, the young midfield terrier, who was voted Supporters Club player of the season, spoke up first, I have to say, honestly, that that was tops. Everything was clear as day. If he keeps this up, we will have to get better! The other younger members of the squad nodded in support, but one or two of the older heads, including Steve Daley, the captain, were less approving, What a load of nonsense! Were professionals we know what we do - right or wrong! Cheetham replied, Then why were we so rubbish last season? If we know what to do then why dont we do it? If we were so professional we wouldnt need a manager! After the fifteen minute break had elapsed, the team returned to their seats. Vernon was going to give a short talk on tactics, how he wanted his players to play this season. Dont think that Im going to come here and force you to play a certain way. We will not be playing like Kelburn or Vengeren. We will be playing the Melchester way. What way is that you may ask? Well its the best way. We will play quick passing football. We will play directly, attacking with pace. Its not complicated football, boys. We will have wingers, I was a winger, remember? Gerry felt a sense of relief in the room. The players seemed pleased that they would not be asked to match Kelburn, probably because they knew that they simply were not good enough to do that. Vernon continued, Every one of you starts their Melchester careers now! Clean slates, fresh starts, whatever you wanna call it, man! No go home! The players rose and made their way out, not in a rush though. As Jake Cheetham made his way to the door, Vernon put his hand on his shoulder, Son, we need to have a chat. I want you to be my new captain. What do you say? Storky Knight Thanks for reading Part 2 of Melchester Rovers A New Beginning will be out next Wednesday and continue until the end of the 2013/14 season. http://royoftheroversstorkyk.blogspot.co.uk/ https://twitter.com/storky_knight