A Kick in the Past | Issue 11 | Former Players Association

ISSUE #11

MARCH 21

A KICK IN THE PAST

FLEETWOOD TOWN FOOTBALL CLUB OFFICIAL FORMER PLAYERS ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

THE LATEST NEWS FROM THE FPA

ONWARD TOGETHER A gallery of images from Former Players meetings back in 2018

Keep up to date with everything that is going on in the Fleetwood Town Former Players Association by reading the latest news here Birthdays We have more birthdays coming up : MARCH: Steven Bond (47 on 1st), Tom Scott (76 on 1st), Steve Macauley (52 on 4th), Paul Swift (45 on 5th), Harvey Morley (80th on 6th ), Dean McGinlay (46 on 7th ), Les Fitzgerald (57 on 13th), Mark Scott (68 on 13th), Robbie Boal (46 on 15th), Les Ingham (76 on 17th ), Roy Whitehouse (66 on 18th), Fred Willder (77 on 20th ), Brian Parkinson (83 on 20th), Colin Monks (70 on 24th), Malcom Beech (71 on 26th), Tony Mudie (66 on 27th). APRIL: Phil Thompson (40 on 1st), Ian Lang (53 on 5th), Kevin Byrne (72 on 9th), David Beech (67 on 13th), Brian Wilson (64 on 14th), Frank Bowker (78 on 15th), Dave Barnes (66 on 16th), John Hills (43 on 21st). MAY: Andy Haddock (75 on 5th), Keith Bowey (61 on 9th), Danny Betmead (44 on 10th), Steve Holden (58 on 10th), Steve Hesford (67 on 12th), Brian Newman (75 on 14th), Peter Ollerton (70 on 20th), Gareth Seddon (41 on 23rd), Reg Smallbone (74 on 29th).

Rob Thomas, Fred Willder, Harvey Morley & Frank Bowker (August 2018)

New members We are always keen to recruit new members to the association. If you should know anyone who has played for any of Fleetwood FC, Fleetwood Town or Fleetwood Freeport please do let them know about the FPA. We would be delighted to enrol any player who has played for the club during any season in the club’s history. It is a great opportunity to become re-acquainted with old team mates and learn about players from different eras of the club. A complimentary limited edition FPA member’s lapel badge will be given to each new member upon completing a short application form. The badges are not commercially available and will be restricted to just one per member to maintain their exclusivity. All members will receive a copy of our full colour quarterly newsletter. Membership application forms can be obtained from Stuart Murdoch (FPA Chairman) who may also be contacted for additional information. The association remains free to join.

Alan Tuson, Brian McManus & Steve Brooks (January 2018) Ken & Norman Moran (September 2018)

Resumption of monthly meetings Regrettably it is has now been a year since we were last able to stage a meeting at Poolfoot. We understand the disappointment and frustration that FPA members have due to not being able to meet on a regular basis.

Given the milestone dates within the Government’s current roadmap out of lockdown, combined with the fact that most of our regular meeting attendees should have either received or be due to receive at least the first dose of a corona virus vaccine, our aim is to resume meetings from Thursday 5 August 2021. Naturally this is still tentative and could change depending on changes to Government policy but we are hopeful that this date will be achievable and that we can all finally get together once again.

Malcolm Beech & Tom Willacy (August 2018)

Jim Betmead (February 2018)

Front cover: Jamie Milligan in a Blue Square Premier clash against Wrexham at Highbury in April 2012.

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FLEETWOOD TOWN FORMER PLAYERS ASSOCIATION

FLEETWOOD TOWN FORMER PLAYERS ASSOCIATION

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MAGNIFICENT MILLIGAN Cod Army legend and FPA member Jamie Milligan has shared his Fleetwood Town memories with the club’s long time media man, David Mitchell.

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amie Milligan was my first interview subject at Fleetwood. I was a tad nervous but there was plenty to talk about.

It was after THAT goal against Farsley Celtic in January 2010.

A shot from inside his own half was captured on camera, taking his name and stadium announcer Rod Allsworth’s voice to all corners of the football world.

“That night was mad,” Jamie recalled. “I had said to Pondy (Nathan Pond) a couple of minutes earlier that I’d seen their keeper off his line a few times.

“If I got the chance I decided that I’d give it a go. I know that, ultimately, it didn’t stand as a goal

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(later expunged when Farsley left the league) but I know it went in and so do the fans who watched it.”

The fans’ favourite represented Town in six different leagues and was at the heart of their rise to the promised land of the EFL. “I think Fleetwood got my best years.

“I had opportunities to move higher most seasons but enjoyed it so much and am glad that I’ve played my part in where Fleetwood have got to today.”

We talked about some of the many characters that he played alongside.

“I liked Jamie McGuire because he was a lively lad who always did the business on the pitch.

“He knew that, come three o’clock on a Saturday, there was a job to do and, boy, did he do it.

“Alan Wright was brilliant and such a good professional. He would later make me captain at Southport.

“Shaun Beeley and Junior Brown were really good players who were never away from each other and crazy with it!

“Then there was Richard Brodie! I saw him pre-season at Skelmersdale.

He doesn’t change!

“He got on the lads’ nerves quite a lot but I loved having him around.

What a brilliant character! I’ve not seen many booked when they’re warming up! I was next to him when the ball’s come our way.

Jamie Milligan & Lee Thorpe in the away changing room at Highbury Stadium

Set-piece specialist Milligan taking a corner at Highbury

“Their lads gone to get it and Brodie’s doing kick ups over his head!

There was a time at Braintree when he was causing havoc.

“Pondy flew out into the bar in just his undies because it was all going off.

“For me, Nathan Pond has been Fleetwood’s best player.

“He complemented my game in midfield by doing all the dirty work!

“We blended so well and were roommates. He ran the bath for me and made me a great brew! We still speak regularly today.

“I tried to sign him at Bamber Bridge but he couldn’t accept the pie and peas!”

Milly doesn’t lose the chance to catch up with former team-mates.

“I was speaking to Steve McNulty about those Conference days at Witton Albion just before Christmas.

“Off the pitch it could be chaos and there would be times when Micky Mellon had to reign things in.

“Everyone got on so well and everyone was a character. I think you’ll find that with most teams who win trophies.”

He will forever be remembered for his free kicks and penalties.

“I used to expect to score every time from a penalty and with a free kick I’d at least try to make the keeper work.

“It comes down to practice. No one sees that. These world class players who hit amazing free kicks. It doesn’t just come naturally. It’s down to hard work on the training ground.

“I practised time and again growing up, until it became second nature.”

Two penalties against FC United in September 2007 are up there amongst his fondest memories.

“It was in the FA Cup. I’ll never forget that game because I had my car keyed by their fans afterwards!

“I remember a free kick from near the halfway line at Braintree which went just past the post. I’ve got that on DVD. “Then there was the play-off win on penalties against Droylsden in 2010 and promotion to the Football League in 2012 despite not having a game.

“There are loads of other memories that I will always cherish. I had a great relationship with the fans and that is so important.

“The Chairman has been a brilliant supporter. It’s not just been the money he’s put in but the time as well. He’s a true football fan.”

The arrival of Jamie Vardy in 2011 provided the catalyst to take an already talented group into the Football League.

“We knew of Jamie but no one knew much about him before he came.

“Fair play to him, he’s worked his socks off to get where he has.

“When he first came to Fleetwood Town, he moved into a house round the corner from me in St Annes.

“I got to know him quite well, taking him round and about in the afternoons after training.

“Swimming, jacuzzi, just chilling.

I remember a night at the darts in Blackpool which was quite eventful.

“Vards always had to be doing something.

“Keeping him occupied was key.

He was a real character but if you tried to change that I reckon it could have affected him for the worse on the pitch.

“That’s the way he was. Off the cuff. Every credit to him.”

He has respect for all the managers that he has played under.

“I got on really well with Tony Greenwood and still do.

“Although he did well for Fleetwood the time was right to bring Micky in when we did.

“It’s a shame that Micky didn’t manage me earlier in my career because his approach got the best out of me.

“Graham Alexander also did a good job. Three good managers during my period.

“Joey Barton and I played centre midfield for a friendly game in Scotland. He was a great lad who took his football seriously.”

Milly has paved the way for a busy retirement, active in coaching aspiring footballers on the Fylde Coast as well as currently managing Northern Premier League Premier Division side, Bamber Bridge.

He will always remain a legend at Highbury, not the least to those who were there on that cold January evening in 2010 when Farsley Celtic came to town!

FLEETWOOD TOWN FORMER PLAYERS ASSOCIATION

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MOSELEY’S MEMORABLE MOMENTS Self-effacing Jim recently recalled his playing days at Highbury and his working life which caused him to hang up his boots. WORDS: Paul Collier

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im Moseley began his career at Highbury Stadium at the age of just 18 following his release from Preston North in 1975.

His departure from Deepdale was a bitter blow but he soon found sanctuary at Fleetwood. Whilst 46 years have elapsed Jim recently recalled his disappointment at leaving The Lilywhites and his subsequent memories of his three seasons playing in the Lancashire fishing Town.

Jim began by recalling his exit from Deepdale: “I got released just before I was 18.

“One of the coaches at Preston was Frank Haydock’s brother, Billy Haydock.

“It was Billy who came to my house and recommended me to Frank at Fleetwood.

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“So it was the connection between Billy Haydock and Frank Haydock that actually brought me to Fleetwood.

“It was a horrible feeling being released at Preston. You leave school and while you are at school you just want to be a footballer.

“I had captained Blackpool schoolboys and then went on to sign for Preston. I thought that I was on track to realise my ambition and then I got released.

“It really was a horrible feeling and when it happened. I just didn’t know what I wanted to do at that particular point.

“I had got some reasonable ‘O’ levels at school so thought that I would get a good job and if I could carry on playing semi – pro that’s what I would do.”

Jim’s intended move transpired

and he made his debut in the first match of the 1975/76 season for Fleetwood against Gainsborough Trinity at home.

It proved an unhappy start both for Jim and his new team as they lost 2 – 0 in front of 140 fans.

To make matters worse he got booked. It proved to be a campaign of struggle for Fleetwood which resulted in the side finishing bottom of the league conceding 131 goals in the process.

Much worse was to follow when the club folded as Jim remembered: “The first thing that a lot of us knew about that was when the players and staff all got called to a meeting.

“From memory I think that it was at the Palm Court hotel in Blackpool. I think the owner of the club owned the hotel and we were

Jim Moseley at a Former Players meeting at Poolfoot Farm

Jim Moseley readying a strike in retro black and white

told the club had folded. It was really disappointing because I had come and played semi–pro for a local team and it was a great feeling. I thought that it would carry on and when it folded there were a lot of good players at the club.

“Then the lads had to look for other clubs in order to continue their careers. It was big disappointment not only for myself but for the rest of the staff and the players as well.”

Jim remembered his former team mates with affection from that fateful season: “There were some good players. Roy Whitehouse is still a really good friend of mine.

“Roy and I became friends when I signed and we have remained close friends ever since.

“John Gerrard I was at school with. Tony Harrison, John Brownwood, ‘Tewey’ (Alan Tuson), Gary Hudson, Chris Turner, Franny Gleave, George Grimshaw and Mike Smith.”

After the demise of the club Jim moved on to play the following campaign at Morecambe reserves.

Jim then turned out for the next two seasons for Blackpool Mechanics before being re-united with Fleetwood.

He recalled: “Malcolm Denning approached me about coming back, I think it was September 1979. The club looked like it was on a more solid financial footing. I got the impression that the whole thing was a lot more organised and there was a lot of ambition at the club. It was a no brainer to come back really.”

Jim proceeded to play for two further campaigns at Highbury in the

Cheshire County League Division One before playing his last game in a 0 – 0 home draw against Leek Town.

His Fleetwood career totalled 78 appearances and three goals.

When asked if he had any proud moments representing the team Jim responded: “One of my proudest moments at Fleetwood was being made captain by ‘Tinny’ (Alan Tinsley).

Jim donning tangerine

“That was obviously in my second spell and I think he made me captain just after my third game. That was a particularly proud moment, coming back to the new club and being made captain after such a short time.”

Following his departure from Highbury Stadium Jim then moved on for a short spell with Wren Rovers by which time his day job had become a dominant factor.

He explained: “It was my career in the bank that was probably the main

reason that I stopped playing. I got well into my exams and night school was Tuesdays and Thursdays which were training nights so that made it very difficult (to play). I really wanted to do well in my (work) career and in fairness I did.

“I worked for TSB for just short of 27 years. I did all my exams so I had a fabulous career with them. I took redundancy in 2001 and I then worked for the West Bromwich Building Society based from home until the financial crash in 2008/09.

“The whole team I worked for was made redundant and then I went to work for Wesleyan Insurance. I was again based from home, providing personal financial advice for dentists, so I did that from 2010 until 2015 when I full retired.”

Jim hung up his boots at the young age of just 24 and when asked if he missed the game when he made the decision to quit he responded: “Oh yes but I finished up moving out of town.

“It wasn’t just the job that took me away (from football).

“When I moved to Manchester I went to live just outside Bolton so It was a question of the career taking priority.

“It wouldn’t have been fair really to expect to play when I wasn’t able to attend training because of night school and all that sort of thing.

“I tried to manage my expectations really. I would have loved my playing career to have extended, but certainly coupled with that, still having the same working career as well, but that was never going to be possible.”

FLEETWOOD TOWN FORMER PLAYERS ASSOCIATION

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Front (L to R ) : John Gerrard, Tony Harrison, Alan Tuson, Franny Gleave, John Brownwood.

Fleetwood FC line up 1975/76 : Back (L to R ) : Frank Haydock (manager), Jim Moseley, Mike Smith, Gary Hudson, Chris Turner, George Grimshaw, Roy Whitehouse, Jack Nolan (Trainer).

GETTING TO KNOW STEVE EDWARDS BEST FLEETWOOD TOWN MEMORY? Beating Droylsden 1-0 (April 1988). We had to beat them to win the NPL Division 1 Title.

WORST FLEETWOOD TOWN MEMORY? Losing at Barrow 3-2 (October 1987) in FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round replay. They scored two goals in the last five minutes.

TEAM THAT YOU SUPPORTED AT SCHOOL?

FAVOURITE PLAYER TO WATCH AT THE MOMENT?

BEST CONCERT YOU’VE ATTENDED?

Blackpool (poor answer!)

Cristiano Ronaldo

Pink

FAVOURITE PLAYER GROWING UP?

FAVOURITE PLACE YOU’VE BEEN TO?

FAVOURITE MUSIC GROUP OR SINGER?

Tony Green

Belgium

U2

TEAM YOU LIKE WATCHING NOW?

WHAT IS YOUR GO TO DRINK?

WHAT’S YOUR BEST FILM OF ALL TIME?

Manchester United

Real ale

Saving Private Ryan

MOST FAMOUS PERSON YOU HAVE SHAKEN HANDS WITH? Manchester United’s most successful manager ever, Sir Alex Ferguson.

WHICH PERSON STILL ALIVE WOULD YOU LIKE TO MEET AND WHY? I think I would like to meet former US President, Donald Trump. Just to see whether he’s as stubborn as he makes out to be.

FLEETWOOD TOWN FORMER PLAYERS ASSOCIATION

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A FEW WORDS FROM TONY COLLIER Our Secretary shares his thoughts on how Coronavirus has impinged on football.

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hat a terrible last 12 months this has been for everyone.

Rules and restrictions have altered all our lives over the past year.

It has perhaps made us realise just how much we have taken normal everyday life for granted in the past.

A year on, however, our fortunes are finally changing for the better as the corona virus vaccine continues to be rolled out at pace.

It has been a long road back and yet it is so terribly sad that the journey to recovery has seen many thousands of people succumb to the ravages of the horrendous pandemic.

Those who have lost their lives should never be forgotten.

I am sure that we have all missed watching football in a live setting and yet viewing games on television just hasn’t been the same.

Fake crowd noise has been no substitute for real fans creating a

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proper atmosphere.

Seeing giant flags replacing supporters in stadiums has only highlighted the vast areas of hidden seats.

Rulings towards the end of last year allowed a token number of fans into grounds to watch their team.

Seeing supporters spaced around, whilst necessary, looked unnatural and contrived.

We can only look forward to the days when match goers are admitted to matches once more without a restriction in numbers.

After all, fans are the lifeblood of football.

It has been disappointing that we have not been able to hold a monthly FPA meeting for 12 months now.

Stuart, Phil and I know how much our members enjoy the opportunity to come together on a regular basis to catch up and reminisce. We are most optimistic that the gatherings

will be able to re–commence before too much longer and please be assured you will be notified once we receive the green light.

On a more personal note, I have to announce that after three and a half years as secretary of the FPA I have decided to step down from the role.

I began working for Fleetwood Town in June 2011 and proceeded to work in a variety of roles in the years which followed.

After an association of almost a decade I think that now is the right time to bow out.

I have been lucky over the last ten years to have met some fantastic people.

I was honoured when Stuart and Phil asked me to become secretary of the FPA and it has been highly enjoyable to play a small part in making the set up a huge success.

I have got to know many of you and the support which I have received has been terrific.

I think that it is fair to say too that you have all helped to generate such a warm and friendly atmosphere at the monthly meetings.

I would like to close by offering my special thanks to Jake Parker who has assisted me enormously in putting these newsletters together.

It is my hope that the Former Players Association will continue to grow in strength in the years which lie ahead.

Finally, may I wish good health and good fortune to each and every one of you for the future.

FLEETWOOD TOWN FORMER PLAYERS ASSOCIATION

FPA NOTICEBOARD MEMORABILIA The club is always looking to add to its archive collection and we ask if any FPA members have any items which they would be willing to donate or loan to get in touch. Old photographs, programmes, press cuttings, playing contracts and medals would be gratefully accepted. We feel that the history of Fleetwood Town is an important part of the club and we remain keen that memorabilia is preserved for the future. If you think that you can assist in our search please contact FPA Vice Chairman, Phil Brown, by emailing him phil.brown@ besutilities.co.uk or phone him on 07976 054398.

CONFIDENTIALITY Please note that the personal details FPA members have supplied are held in strictest confidence and not passed on to any third party. Additionally, we will not / cannot pass on the personal details given to us by any of our members to fellow members. If you need to contact a Former Players Association member out with the monthly meetings, please contact Phil Brown (Vice-Chairman) who will happily contact the fellow member on your behalf and ask them to get in touch with you.

FTFC FPA OFFICIALS WHO TO CONTACT AT FLEETWOOD TOWN'S FPA Chairman Stuart Murdoch Email: stuart.murdoch@fleetwoodtownfc.co.uk Phone number: 07921 934775

Vice-chairman / Secretary Phil Brown Email: phil.brown@besutilities.co.uk Phone number: 07976 054398

FLEETWOOD TOWN FORMER PLAYERS ASSOCIATION

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