Roy of the Rovers Total Football

Part 11

Johnny Twist was sent off for a professional foul on Jamie Marshall - angering Eastoke manager
Danny Nokes

Melchester Rovers see off League One opponents

Cleary scores first Rovers goal
Burgess and Jacobs pick up injuries
Eastoke centre-back Twist sent off

Lucas Cleary struck his first Melchester Rovers goal with a brilliant free-kick to
help secure a League Cup semi-final place with a win at 10-man Eastoke.
Harry Jacobs put the Premier League leaders in front and Cleary made it 2-0. Robert Fabien
gave Eastoke hope, but Johnny Twist was harshly sent off before Jamie Marshall wrapped
up victory.

Melchester centre-back Mike Burgess suffered a head injury and winger Harry Jacobs
hobbled off, but neither was a serious problem, boss Johan Seegrun said.
Eastoke centre-back Twist had a night to forget, having given the ball away before Jacobs
exchanged passes with Drew Powell and drilled a perfectly-placed shot into the corner of the
net for Melchester's 23rd-minute opener. But the defender was unlucky to be sent off seven
minutes after Fabien had pulled them back into the match. Referee James Green ruled that
Twist had committed a professional foul by dragging back Marshall, although there was no
clear appeal from the forward - to the extent that it looked at first as if keeper Leo Forte had
been penalised for handling the ball as he slid outside of his penalty area.
High five?
Melchester Rovers are looking to win the League Cup for a fifth time, having lifted
the trophy in 1974, 1986, 1987 and 2002
The red card destroyed Eastoke's momentum just as they were threatening to drag
themselves back into the match. And any hopes of a revival were ended when Marshall
slammed in the rebound from eight yards after Forte had parried De Loon's shot.
Untied worked hard in the opening 20 minutes to hold off a strong Melchester side, with
Powell retained in a line-up showing six changes to the one that beat Redstoke 2-0 in the
Premier League on Saturday.
Jacobs' opener rocked Danny Nokes League One promotion hopefuls, though, and the
visitors could have gone further in front as Cleary fired an effort straight at Forte and Nick
Thomas blocked a Dickson shot.
The match was held up for several minutes at the end of the first half as Burgess was
knocked to the ground in a collision with his goalkeeper Mark McDermott as Rovers
defended a corner. The Irish defender needed lengthy treatment on the pitch before he was
Kanteied off.

League Cup semi-finalists

Shefton United

Melchester Rovers

Molton United or Everpool

Portdean or Tynecaster

Eastoke showed fight after the break, with Barry Bradley only denied by a combination of
McDermott and Billy Spink after Jude Iyala had set him up. Their task was made harder as
Rovers doubled their lead when left-back Cleary bent a beautiful 25-yard free-kick beyond
Forte.
Jacobs then limped off clutching his ankle and Eastoke pulled one back as Fabien drove
Iyala's square pass in off the post from 20 yards.
Twist's red card was a set-back for Nokes' side and Marshall ended their hopes of an upset.
Eastoke manager Steve Nokes on Johnny Twist's red card: "I really thought it was going
to be a grandstand finish, and we've been robbed. It's a coming together - Marshall fouling
Twist, and Twist coming across Marshall. Marshall's appealing for Leo Forte's handball. We
can't believe it's against Twisty. The linesman gave it, not the referee. How he saw that, I
don't know. I think he got it wrong. We'll think about an appeal."

Harry Jacobs' drive gave Melchester Rovers a 23rd-minute lead - his first goal of the season

Johnny Twist was adjudged to have denied Jamie Marshall a clear goalscoring chance

Jamie Marshall wrapped up victory for Rovers by scoring with eight minutes to go

***
Roy Race and his son, Rocky, were indoors watching the review of the League
Cup quarter-final on Orbital Sports. The rest of the family, Mel and young Roy,
Diana and Declan were in the garden playing in the snow. Rockys house on the
outskirts of Baltimore, off Route 70, was the perfect American suburban dream
home. Set amongst the woodlands, with affluent neighbours, apple pies and
cookies, Rocky and his wife Jeanette loved showing off their lives. Yesterday they

held a street party, despite the snow. Everyone wrapped up warm, Rocky had
hired twenty patio heaters to keep off the minus temperatures and the whole
neighbourhood dined on barbecued steaks and burgers. Rocky and his father
cooked, what an occasion; Roy could fully understand why his son had no desire
to take up offers of management in England.
Jeanette had planned a week of festivities in the lead up to the MLS Cup Final
that Sunday, today, Wednesday, was for family only. In the morning she had
taught her girls and young Roy how to bake traditional Maryland cookies, those
were eaten warm on a walk around the block. Little hands in mittens threw
snowballs at world famous footballers and a team of snowmen guarded the front
yard. The kids dressed the snowmen in blue and white Baltimore Bullets hats and
scarves before another enormous meal was served, this time a roast turkey big
enough to feed an entire football team and still have enough for half-time
sandwiches.
Roy was more than impressed with the hospitality, but as usual his mind was
never far away from football and Melchester Rovers. We made a meal of that,
didnt we, son? he asked, referring to Rovers three-one win over their League
One opponents. I never played a weakened side, but I guess thats the way now.
Even with Wembley, a trophy and European qualification in sight, Seegrun left
out Cheetham, Luik and De Loon. Im not sure it works, all this rotation, if he
played his best side they should have won easily. By playing only half a team, it
made the match twice as difficult; now Drew Powell, Carruthers, Cleary and
Piedra have played a tough match, expelling a lot of energy, before the crucial
game versus Walford on Saturday!
I get what youre saying, Dad! Rocky replied, I think too many managers
expect to use cup matches to try out players. Now theres no reserve football, its
either loan them out and lose control over their progress or leave them in the
Under-21s where the standard is so much lower. No-one throws in youngsters like
you used to, sink or swim, if youre good enough youre old enough. Managers
right through football arent given time; they have to win, get promoted, qualify
for the Champions League or just survive in the Premier League. A good cup run
wont save a manager from the sack nowadays! Even finishing one place higher
in the Premier is worth millions!
So they sacrifice the domestic cups! Roy shouted, Ask a player, any player I
managed whether he would trade a winners medal, fought for at Wembley
Stadium, for finishing seventh rather than sixteenth. I know what the answer
would be!
Declan had just reappeared from the garden as heavy snow began to fall again,
Players think short term now, Roy. People say we arent loyal any more, but
neither are clubs. Look at what happened to me this summer! I gave over ten
years service to Melchester Rovers and Seegrun comes in and withdraws the
offer you made me, without even seeing me train, let alone play. So if finishing

seventh rather than fifteenth gets the club another ten million in prize money
and that money goes on giving me a better contract, Ill miss out on Wembley,
thank you very much!
Not every player could have a career as long and as glittering as the great Roy
Race. Even Rocky, with all his talent, considered his own playing career a failure;
one Premier League title in 2000, two F.A. Cups, in 1995 with Rovers and 1997
with Melboro and the 2002 League Cup. All Rockys trophies were won before his
twenty-fifth birthday, he did not even consider playing successes with the Bullets
as worth comparing to his fathers honours.
Decs right Dad! But some of us would give our medals back just to have
played at the top a bit longer. Imagine what would have happened to me if I
wasnt the son of Roy Race? When I was suffering injury after injury, if Id had to
worry about contracts or being released, Id have probably been finished much
earlier. Id have had to train harder, rush my recoveries. I was lucky, one with
your wealth, Dad, and two that I knew you would never release me from the
Rovers. Pak Soon wasnt so lucky, was he?
Roy never liked being reminded of the Boat Boy from Vietnam, Do we have to
talk about him, son? Were having such a great week, lets not sour it! Rocky
shook his head, Its important, Dad, it will really help me, when I have to make
tough calls like that. So Roy explained to Declan the story of Pak Soon.
Pak arrived as an orphan, a refugee from Vietnam during their crisis. He was an
incredibly gifted footballer and made his first-team debut, more out of necessity
than anything. It was the start of the 1986/87 season, we were short on players,
obviously after the Basran Disaster. Rob Richards and I were the only forwards
left in the squad, Pak was a left-winger, so was in. And what an impact he made,
scoring on his debut against Deans Park, the crowd adored him.
That year we won the League Cup I dont think Pak will be giving his medal
back! Rocky interrupted, No, but thats because hes sold all his medals!
Declan looked puzzled, Please, Roy, Carry on!
Anyway, Pak was one of the first names on my team-sheet. He was quick, skilful,
took a good corner and popped up with crucial goals. But his best asset was his
crossing, he laid on many goals for me in the 1987/88 season when we won the
League and only narrowly missed out on the double. He became even more
effective when I signed Andy MacLaren to play as a target man. In 1989/90, big
Andy headed in many of Paks crosses as I switched to 4-4-2. Roy hesitated. Go
on, Dad, this is the difficult part
In March 1990, during a normal training session, Pak turned Johnny Dexter, as
he sprinted away, his hamstring went. He missed that seasons F.A. Cup Final win
over Weston Villa! Roy got up and walked to the kitchen area, showing his story
was over. Rocky leapt out of his chair, Dad! I dont believe you! Declan, let out

a roar of laughter, Thats the story? A hamstring injury costs a guy with a
League Cup win and a League title an F.A. Cup winners medal! Rocky you crack
me up, brother!
No, thats not the end of the story, it might be to Dad, but it wasnt for Pak
Soon! Rocky finished off the story bluntly, Pak never started another game of
football. Every time he was close, the hamstring snapped again. He developed
associated injuries in his calf and Achilles, the man cant walk anymore! He sold
all his medals and no-ones seen him since the auction! Dad doesnt care though,
hes just another footballer to him!
Jeanette shuffled in from the cold, she had heard Rockys shouting and worried
that his famous temper was getting the better of him. Rocky, darling, have
another beer! She passed him a bottle, top off, You know you and your father
arent to talk soccer, its not good for either of you! She was joking, but so
Rockys relationship with his father had always been strained, Too much
football is what his late mother would say and she was right.

***

L.A. Bullets Win MLS Cup 2012: Carlos

Figueroa, Matt Thatcher Score Goals In
Win Over Sharks
Baltimore, MY. Rocky Race stood on the podium with his three sons, an oversized Union
Jack knotted around his Baltimore Bullets tracksuit. With a practiced lift and a broad smile,
he raised the sparkling silver cup over his head to a raucous ovation amid a confetti blizzard.
Race wrapped up his second MLS title Saturday,
with Carlos Figueroa's tiebreaking goal on a
penalty kick in the 65th minute propelling the
Bullets to a 3-1 victory over the Springfield
Sharks in the MLS Cup.
Chip Sullivan tied it in the 61st minute with a long
header for the Bullets, who defended their title in
pulsating championship game. For the second
straight year, Race raised a trophy that stands as
evidence of the 38-year-old Englishman's indelible impact on American soccer since arrival
in MLS ten years ago.
"It's been a successful few years here, and now that we've won the second one, it's even
more satisfying," Race said. "I just hope people have enjoyed me playing here. It's what I
always hope for when I step on the field."
With a stirring second-half surge capped by Matt Thatcher's goal on another penalty kick in
injury time, Baltimore won its fourth MLS Cup, tying Boston Braves for the league record.
The Bullets also gave an appropriate farewell to Carlos Figueroa, who will play elsewhere in
the new year before eventually returning to MLS as Bullets assistant coach. With rumors
linking him everywhere from Sydney to Paris to the EPL, he hasn't disclosed his immediate
plans beyond a Christmas vacation in Florida.

Baltimore will miss Figueroa, but the Latin American soccer icon is going out at an apex for
MLS' highest-profile franchise.
"Carlos has just been amazing. I just hope our performances have brought a bit of interest to
the game (in America)," Race said. "If that's the single thing we've done, then great. But I
think the foundations are there now in this league. It's a 20-year-old league, and the
foundations are great. It will continue to grow."
After Kevin Kante put Springfield ahead in the 44th minute, Races high-scoring Bullets
systematically broke down the defense of the Sharks.
While Sullivan got the equalizer on a cagey play by MLS' top defender last season, Thatcher
played another stellar attacking game for Baltimore before earning his own penalty kick when
Springfield's Clark Stevens knocked him down in the box.
Figueroa redeemed himself for missing an open net in the 13th minute by burying his penalty
kick after a handball in the box by Springfield's Matt Albany. The Honduaras national team
star, won his record-tying fifth MLS title while scoring his fifth career MLS Cup goal and the
record 22nd goal of his postseason career.
"It's unbelievable," Figueroa said. "In football, to do again and again is really hard to do. ...
For me, this better (than last year). We could enjoy it more!"
After Thatcher's goal clinched it, Figueroa left the game to a raucous standing ovation from
the packed stadium amid chants of "Thank
you, Carlos! Thank you, Rocky!"
Race hugged Figueroa and just about
everybody on the Bullets bench before the
game ended moments later.
Race streamed onto the field with his squad
and waved thanks at the fans before he was
joined by his nephew and two daughters, all
clad in Bullets jerseys.

"Today was always going to be an emotional day for myself, win or lose," said Race, "It was
great to have all the family here, a little emotional, but I enjoyed the win today."
The pregame rain cleared long enough for Races latest trophy. He arrived in Baltimore in
2006 from Melchester Rovers with designs on changing the American perception of the
world's most popular game. The league has grown steadily during his tenure, with most MLS
franchises on sound financial footing and in excellent stadiums, although the sport's
popularity and TV ratings haven't matched the other American pastimes.
Race was wildly cheered by many of the same diehard Bullets supporters who once booed
him during an injury-riddled start to his Bullets career.
Baltimore, of course, started as heavy favourites, on the back of their Invincible year. While
Springfield seemed stuck as a supporting
player in the Bullets' story, despite its rally from
the Eastern Conference's last playoff seed to
the championship match.
"You have to be proud of what we've
accomplished," Springfield captain Brad Davis
said. "It isn't easy to get to this game, and this
is the fourth time in seven years. It's a credit to
this group of guys."
After winning the title last year on a beauty of a goal, Baltimore nearly had another storybook
score in the 13th minute when Sullivan launched a long, high pass to a sprinting Thatcher,
who slipped behind the defense and centered it perfectly for Figueroa.
But he inexplicably pushed his shot inches wide of the post, leaving him with both hands on
his head while the stadium released the usual post-goal confetti anyway.
"When you're in a moment like that, you feel like you let the team down," Race said. "I spoke
with Carlos at halftime. In whats probably his last MLS game, I took a few minutes at
halftime, and told him to forget because you can't change it."

The Sharks improved their pressure late in the first half, and Wes Nett's long pass eventually
set up Kante's impressive near-post goal past Allan Tinn.
Kante leaped the corner flag in celebration of a rare score for the forward, the Sierra
Leonean who joined the Sharks last season and managed just four goals this year.
But with Thatcher and Figueroa leading the second-half charge, the Bullets finally broke
through when Sullivan stuck around the box after a failed setpiece and managed to bounce a
looping header past Stevens. Sullivan's delayed return from injury this season sparked the
Bullets' late-season surge.
"At the beginning of the season, I didn't see myself getting back to this level," said Sullivan,
named the game's MVP.
Albany was then called for a handball in the box in the 65th minute after an extended
defensive scramble by the Sharks. It was another high-profile mistake by the Sharks Captain
and U.S. national team player whose turnover led to Mexico's first goal in the Americans' 2-1
elimination loss at the Gold Cup last summer.
"When the penalty came, I was shaking, not like me," Figueroa said. "I was scared. But you
have to go, and every one of my guys said, Forget about it. Keep going.'"
After Figueroa scored, Springfield frantically pressed for an equalizer in the final minutes, but
Tinn and his defense repeatedly denied the Sharks. After Stevens wrapped his hand around
Thatcher's thigh to stop a chance in the box, Thatcher confidently ended it with his sixth goal
of a spectacular six-game playoff run in what is sure to be the US internationals last MLS
season before a move to Europe.
"Being successful doesn't come easy," Race said. "You have to work at it. I tell my children
every single day that if you want to be successful, it's hard graft. It doesn't come easy, and I
think we proved that this year."

Storky Knight
NEXT Declan faces his old club!