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ISSUE 1
devonte redmond
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we are a football fanzine covering the crosssection between grass roots, amateur and the professional game.
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Editor-in-chief elliott roseweir
design elliott roseweir
art direction elliott roseweir
photography khalil musa
contact: @stanchionmag
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The modern game of football is ever evolving, with new stars emerging year in year out. The stories surrounding the game affect our hearts and minds in individual ways. Some fans experience the fight to survive at the bottom end of tables, sometimes facing despairing moments while on occasion heroes are born amongst the desperation to stay afloat avoiding relegation. Others are enjoying new footballing superpowers with revenue and mass investment now being pumped into their club that just a decade ago were struggling with the aforementioned battles. For many seeing the pinnacle of the game is pure enjoyment. Witnessing the breath taking moments where athletes take each other on in the Premier League at the peak of their powers, or the amazing comebacks of the Champions League unfold over two legs. The support and love for the local club delivers a spectrum of emotions throughout a season in the many tiers of football. Whatever club, whatever league, the support is always there. Watching a young player go through the ranks at your favourite club and shine on match day is a heartfelt moment for any fan. Taking on the reins of players before them and unknowingly shaping history with each successful performance. Stanchion aims to explore the cross section between Grass Roots, Amateur and the Professional game through supporting talented individuals within the sport. Whether it's by highlighting athletes who dream of becoming the next pivotal player to progress into the first team, by making a pathway into the history books amongst the pantheon of world football, or by sharing the stories of incredible Sunday League moments. With the recent success of England’s U17 and U20 development sides lifting the most significant International trophies since 1966, the talented athletes within the game can often be forgotten too quickly. Without doubt due to the media coverage and the Premier League's spotlight. These players become eclipsed by the latest mega stars with huge transfer fee’s. We hope Issue 1 bridges the gap between fans and the next wave of emerging talent, giving you an insight to the players, the clubs and stories attached to the beautiful game.
STANCHION was born through my love of football. It's a culmination of all experiences that the game has given me so far. Whether that be playing Wembley Knock-Out VS my mates across the road as a young kid or being consumed by Konami's football games on the Playstation. To then enjoying every minute playing against an older generation of players on the estate or travelling to play against the different teams' in and beyond the community in organised tournaments. Football has given and still gives me a warm fulfilled attachment with the sport and I’m sure it has infected the lives of many more than just myself. So this is my sentimental thank you to some of those that have made me fall in love with the beautiful game.
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players of all ages partaking in footballing escapism that builds a community. It s in these places that friends are made & new talent starts to emerge. 2000-2006
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Oldham sunday league, my local team ground. playing for these some time ago & watching them now is still an emotional rollercoaster 2006–2008
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Reserve football can be uncertain territory with many players unsure of when they will get their chance to shine in first team. Competition for places in the squad is competitive especially at Premier League level and the chances to rise to the first team squad are few and far between. For many players at reserve level its survival of the fittest. It’s up to the talented individuals to showcase their ability and battle amongst each other to get the recognition for the next step up. The transition to the first team selection can often fall on chance. An example of this is the prominent rise of Marcus Rashford, (pictured) a player who was selected for a European cup fixture against FC Midtjylland due to the injury ravaged squad at the time. Having scored one goal in eight appearances prior to his call up, these opportunities can often evade many players but determination, self-belief and composure when the world is watching is a requirement. 90 minutes can make a player or break a player. Playing in Centre midfield is arguably the most crucial position and a focal point for any team. The middle of the park, where mistakes can be costly. A position where tactical nous is paramount, and the ability to react to the ebb and flow of the game defines many players. The modern game seems to adapt and evolve, gone are many of the box to box midfielders of the 90’s era,
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marauding the length of the pitch under a 4–4–2 system. This responsibility is one of many that falls upon Devonte Redmond, a Central midfielder for Manchester United’s U23 development squad. Having spent some time of loan at Scunthorpe United, Redmond returned to a struggling United side currently bottom of the Premier League 2 Division under Ricky Sbragia. Redmond has gravitated towards central areas due to his composure on the ball and passing ability with either foot. Operating in a midfield two he has great ability to spray balls to the flanks and plays with creative midfield intent, threading through balls to players in advanced positions to progress up the pitch. These attributes are reminiscent of United’s attacking ethos under Sir Alex’s tenure. Redmond is an integral part of the squad at reserve level and was a prominent performer in the title winning side under Warren Joyce. During the 15/16 season playing as part of a dynamic midfield three, Redmond made 19 appearances scoring two goals alongside the likes of Will Keane, Adnan Januzaj, Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Andreas Periera. A significant fixture was a 6–1 win over Leicester scoring two goals from midfield, who’s premiership side took the league by storm. A title winning season has always proved difficult to replicate next time round. The dynamics of a squad constantly change and with the interchange of
personnel the chemistry and the momentum can be disrupted. Redmond delivered a consistency in the midfield with another 21 appearances with the additional three goals from midfield. Alongside a short loan spell to Scunthorpe United under Graham Alexander this season, he has made eight appearances for the reserves scoring a penalty against Derby. Squad numbers give an indication to the responsibilities of a player, having held a variety of numbers such as nine, eight and six, it shows the versatility of a player with a varied skillset. With the majority of the season operating as a six, it is a tell-tale sign of the managers trust in the middle of the park to adjust and understand the defensive side of the game especially under a 4–4–2 set up, bringing some solidity and protection to the back four in a team that has struggled so far under the 17/18 season. At an imposing 6ft1 and 79kg the physical attributes needed for a central midfield role are certainly covered. For a midfielder
in transition for the next level of his career after making over 100 appearances at youth level, honing down a position and finding consistency within a system seems like the next stages of progression. Discipline to adapt to the defensive side of the game has been an improvement under Ricky Sbragia and is something which could transition well under the defensive m ind set of f irst tea m m a n ager Jose Mourinho. Performing as part of a midfield three alongside Pogba and Matic with the ability to cover ground from box to box and beat his opposite number is something United fans can be excited about. The possibility of playing alongside team mates of old such as Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford must be enticing having witnessed their transition from reserve level to first team regulars. The future of developed players looks bright for Manchester United after a period of turbulence due to several managerial changes, but due to that transition it has helped some of the next waves of talented players stake a claim in United’s long running history.
We spent some time with Redmond, visiting a place where he developed his love for football and nurtured his talent.
words by elliott roseweir
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14 Q: What is your first footballing in memory? A: Going to my first Man United game when I was six years old. I went to United VS Middlesbrough with my uncle and watched Ronaldo play, I think it was when he was 18 and first came over. I remember the silver Nike boots. Viduka and Ugo Ehiogu were playing for Middlesbrough and Forlan was at United then. We were sat up in the North Stand and from there I just loved United.
Q: When did you realise you wanted to be a footballer? A: It has a lot to do with my mum, she was always encouraging me to play. She had me kicking balls against the wall telling me to use both feet from four, five years old. After that my best friend’s dad was a football coach at Fletcher Moss and he said to my mum that I should go down and play. From there on I always wanted to play football.
15 Q: How was it at grass roots level and the early stages of football for you growing up? Was there a stand out person who helped you during those earlier years? A: I’ve got to say it was Cameron’s dad, Mark. Mark Borthwick. He encouraged me a lot and knew I enjoyed playing football. I remember when my mum had something going on and she couldn’t get me to training for whatever reason he was there to take me and he wanted me to succeed and get better just as much as Cam. He got us both to United and I probably owe those early years to him. I really appreciate that now and he’s someone I can go to for advice on anything.
Q: What’s it like being back here at Fletcher Moss? A: I haven’t been back here in a long time, it felt much bigger back then. I guess I was much smaller.
Q: So what do you do to escape from the game and get your mind off football? A: Coming away from training I like to relax with my friends and listen to music. Music’s a big thing for me. With any academy player it’s important to have your head on the game and try to think about how you can improve but you do need to have a balance to do the job properly. You need something else that you enjoy, I like to relax with friends, go to the cinema, see family, the normal things really. That’s my way of mentally checking out.
Q: So what are you listening to at the moment, have you got some favourites? A: I’ve got a few. Some mainstream names, Future and I like my Drake as well, but I’m a soul man at heart. That’s from my Mum and Dad playing it in the car on the way to football. It brings back good memories. That type of music reminds me of really good times growing up, I was buzzing everyday on the way to football training.
Q: You mentioned some of the good times growing up, on the flipside are there any development issues for young players at academy level at the minute? A: For the youth players that are trying to break through to Premiership first teams I think there should to be a different pathway for them to come into the game and get experience competing at the top level. In today’s game it’s become a huge business. It’s too easy for a Premier League team to go buy a player that’s 20, 30 million and upwards. I think the way the Spanish teams do it with the second team that play in a lower division like Barcelona B is a great model. That’s a way young players can showcase their ability against men in the league who have had games under their belt. There’s plenty of players in the same age brackets at youth level so it’s a bit of inexperience VS inexperience. Getting more game time against more mature players would be a good challenge and you would be able to use that experience and build confidence of doing it on the main stage.
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17 Q: The football business now seems like it’s a gamble for top clubs to put youth players into teams and a lot of fans get frustrated when the youngsters don’t get played. What is it like from a players perspective in the modern game? A: Looking at the big clubs like United and City. They have the money to buy constantly so it’s a challenge. A lot of players are having to go to the Championship, League One, League Two, to get their performances noticed by fans and clubs at that competitive level. I think that’s something that English players have to learn to deal with now. Foreign players get bought into the league so I think it can be different when a clubs invested in a player.
Q: Being at United you’ve seen many great players develop. How is it watching them go on to do bigger and better things? A: Marcus Rashford is the best example. It's great watching how quickly he was able to show to everybody what he’s got in the locker. We all knew as his team mates that he’s a good player. There were a lot of good players like Jesse Lingard and Timothy FosuMensah. Taking the chance that comes along is the biggest part and then staying fit to be selected. I loved watching Marcus go into the team in the Europa league and play like that against Midtjylland and then follow it up. The rest is history. Experience is something that’s valued when you hear people talking about players and coaches. It would be good to see younger coaches getting a chance with some fresh idea's as well.
Q: You mentioned staying fit, fans often take that side of the game for granted but you really notice the impact on a team when key players get injured. How do players cope with injuries? A: I’ve been quite lucky in the past couple of years, but before that I had some slight knocks. I missed 10 months of a season and that was the most difficult lay off. In those times you need everyone to support you. I think it’s easy to lose confidence at youth level because you need to adjust to those setbacks compared to the experienced pros who may have already dealth with that situation. At that stage you’re thinking about the best way to make your body repair so you can get back as quick as possible. I was always hoping I would grow enough. It's something a lot of academy players thought about in their early teens. Watching McTominay now is crazy. When he was younger he was tiny and now he’s 6ft4. He went through the that process of his body adjusting.
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19 Q: You recently went on loan to Scunthorpe. How was that experience?
Q: Do you have a main inspiration for your career? Someone you model your game off?
A: I learnt a lot from that, seeing how things change in those leagues really humbles you. Loans can be difficult, that’s why the feeder club system can be ideal in some situations. Finding a team where there’s a style of play and you're able to get some consistent games is important. It was tough at Scunthorpe because the club played a different style to what I was used too. At that time I was excited to make the step out from United and go through that experience, it was a challenge I wanted to take on.
A: Zidane! I always used to watch him when I was younger. I always argue he's the best midfielder ever but some of the lads aren’t having it. They throw a lot of midfielders in the mix but for me he could do everything. He was perfect, he was like a poem, everything slowed down to his tempo. He's definitely my favourite midfielder.
Q: Do you have any advice for young players who are trying to make it in the football business?
A: I would like to think in midfield I can do a bit of both now. I was always attacking when I was young. I didn't know how to defend; to get back or to get into my own half. As you learn the game you take more responsibility with everything but I would say I enjoy attacking and being in possession of the ball but you get a great feeling when you win a 50-50 challenge.
A: Never be at a point where you get comfortable in your current situation. So if you’re at a big club now: getting the kit, the meals, the best pitches, the best coaching, all of that. I think you have got to stay hungry. If you’re out there and go to a lower down side, with half as much resources it all changes. Realise that it might not always be there for you so extract every bit of potential from yourself. Your job is to put in the work on the pitch and in training. Be professional in your preparation and recovery then you have given yourself a good chance. For players who aren’t at that level yet just stay consistent and try to improve. Make a choice to take what you do seriously and set your mentality on achieving it.
Q: Zidane was an attacking, creative midfielder is that where you see your game?
Q: You mentioned the strong challenges, do you have any footballing rivalries or any particular player that you’ve got good banter with pre games? A: There’s a few, Kean Bryan is one. We used to have some good battles when we were younger. Jordan Rossiter who’s at Rangers, he is another one. It’s always the strong tackling midfielders that I used to have it out with. They always try to leave one on you. Some of the city lads try and have a go.
Q: There have been some intense derbies over the past decade. How is the rivalry between the red and blue in Manchester? A: People look at it differently in modern football. Looking back there were more English players and they know about the rivalry growing up especially if you’re from Manchester. Now it’s more about talent VS talent and there’s foreign players in the teams. I loved watching Keane and players in that time go in and be physical, there was more pride on the line. Its more about footballing ability at u23 level, the passions still there but it’s not as intense. You dream of playing those big games in the first team.
Q: If you wasn’t a footballer what would you be? A: I would go to University, my Mum would have definitely pushed me to go and get an education. Sports Marketing would be good, I would have tried to do something with football and helping young people in local communities that might be finding some things difficult growing up. Some young players go astray in their teenage years and it’s not because they're not talented or don’t have the ability to go pro, it’s down to the circumstances they’re in and they don't have the right support around them or know where to get it.
Q: So has the game changed since you’ve turned pro? A: Players in the modern game are physically getting the most out of themselves and being trained well from a young age. They are quicker, stronger, fitter and that shows in the premier league. When I was younger there were players that you thought wouldn’t make it and then when you see them a few years on they have developed physically. I think the conditioning has played a big part and people living healthier lifestyles.
Q: As fans we look back at players of different generations and we argue it out questioning the greats and would they be the same in the modern game. You mentioned Zidane earlier being your favourite midfielder, do you think the older generation of players could play in today’s game? A: The greats are called that for a reason and to be world class players in that time they would easily be able to transition to the modern game. There are players in those generations that I think wouldn’t stand out as much, but then if they had the conditioning that
we have now you never really know. Comparing over time is tough but I look at athletes like Usain Bolt and when you look at previous records he smashed them, it’s a natural evolution almost. I think that’s the same in football as well, but you have freaks of the game like Zidane, Ronaldinho, they could play in today’s game no problem. Football is a sport with skill, it’s not pure athletic ability so I think conditioning is a huge part but it’s not all about that. Look at Cristiano Ronaldo he’s the model pro who has the best of both worlds.
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“The focus at the moment is to help the team and get some good results. a personal focus is to play as regularly as I can and to be an important part of the team. I want to finish the season strong and do my part again after coming back off loan.�
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for a new generation