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REVIEW: Peterborough United FC Dan Mason reviews if Peterborough United will gain promotion in May. Q & A with Dave Anderson. Matt Lee interviewed Dave Anderson about his career.
REVIEW: Posh’s Fantastic Five Josh Green reviews Peterborouh United’s January panic buys FAN GUIDE: West Ham United FC The Manchopper talks about his trip to the Boleyn.
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COVER INTERVIEW: Kayleigh Green Matt Lee spoke to Kayleigh Green about career with Cardiff HEADER TITLE HERE TEXT BODY GOES HERE.
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Welcome to TheFootySite’s second edition of the e-magazine. This edition includes interviews with Dave Anderson, whilst our interview with Kayleigh Green is our chosen cover-story. You can see a full list of
people who have kindly written for TheFootySite in this edition below:
Editors
Contributors
Justin Davies (@JustinCDavies)
Manchopper (@ManchopperBlog)
Ashley Calver (@AshleyCalver1)
Josh Green (@joshgreeney98)
Matt Lee (@MattGingerLee) Dan Mason (@danmason_10)
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Dan Mason (@danmason_10) ——————————–
At this point in the season, Peterborough United are in a healthy sixth place in the League One table, having scored the most goals in the division. But after the recent sale of key frontman Conor Washington to Championship club Queens Park Rangers, will Graham Westley's men maintain their charge for a return to the second tier? Here's why they can achieve promotion in May:
Style
Discipline
Although there may not be the guile and tenacity that Washington possessed in the final third, there is still a high entertainment value. With free-flowing football encouraged from the defence, Westley has made the current crop a great spectacle, and if they keep their attacking ways, they'll be a real challenge to play against.
Somewhat an advantage in a 46-game marathon. The Westley era has seen roughly the same players featuring each and every week, so keeping important members of an ever-growing force is vital. With one aim in mind, there should not be any doubt why a team in high spirits would not have a full squad available, apart from the traditional injuries 5
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typical in the second half of From the fee received for a season. Washington's move, January might be a good time Creativity to search for another Making chances has been young and hungry starlet. a major component to the Posh are known to develop Posh goal machine, with strikers plucked from the the innovative and smart lower leagues, so signing minds of the midfield trio of someone with an eye for Chris Forrester, Erhun goal and willing to fit into a Oztumer and Martin Samu- systematic way of playing elsen. Without these, it could be the key to fill a would be a different story, gaping hole. If chairman so the more opportunities Darragh Macanthony can provided, the more hope find a proven finisher, there is for a new forward along with a high potential, to emerge onto the scene the goals may well keep and for end-of-season suc- flying in, raising Posh highcess. er in the League One promotion stakes. Quality 6
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Senior Editor Matt Lee spoke to BBC Five Live’s Non-League Show co-presenter Dave Anderson about his ventures in football and now Sports Journalism.
How did you first get into football? It goes back to where I came from. It always had a big football, we’d play every weekend, all day at school. I ended up in goal one day and it kind of stuck. I always fancied myself as a striker, but every goalkeeper did! I played at school, if we were playing as a class, I’d go in goal then. It progressed from there. I went to Wolves as a kid and then to Sheffield United, from school to youth international. I came back from Sheffield and signed for Glentoran. From there [Bangor] I moved to England. I moved to Manchester and I couldn’t get over my injury.
How much did the youth experience improve you as a youngster? It made you grow up as you moved home. You become independent. I can understand young players getting homesick, I understand that side of the game. It is a big sacrifice when you leave your family, especially when you leave Northern Ireland to go to England. For me I thought it was good upbringing, you get to know where you are in the packing order. I remember at Glentoran going through the youth team into the first team is a real highlight.
Did you have any stand out memories in football? Playing for your country at any level is something you never forget. Playing against Linfield, I’d been to the games as a schoolboy, always supporting Linfield. We got beaten five-nil, to be fear I had a really good game but I got tortured by my mates. That would have to be a highlight. We played Spurs in pre-season at Glentoran, they brought the FA Cup with them. Playing for the first team, no matter what level it is. You’re recognised more by supporters and that all kicks in. 8
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How different was the standard at International level? When we played the Schools International games we played in the International shield. When we got the programme we would always read it and see where their lads were. International football is a different ball game. It’s played at a different pace and it’s got a different ability in it. When you’ve done that, I think I played schools international before Glentoran’s first team. I felt like I could handle it as I’d played in front of a few thousand.
Did you have a back-up plan to fall back on? I still don’t have a back-up plan to be fair, I’ve kind of winged it all my life. I didn’t get a great education because I always thought I was going to be a football. I came down to London for a wedding where I met my wife. It’s just one of those things, when one of your breaks come you have to take it. I always try to take my injury positively, it meant I could take my coaching badges young and get into management young.
What was managing at AFC Wimbledon like? I went to Wimbledon, I got the job when I was on a golf trip. There must have been 600 hundred people at the open day and the biggest crowd I’d had [at Hendon] was 200.
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How did the career at the NonLeague Show come about? I’ve always had a big mouth and an opinion and the two things go together in that industry. The show has only been going for a year and a bit. I’d done phone ins with Caroline. She asked me if I wanted to come into the study. I went into the studio and told her about the breakdown between me and my chairman. She said that was really good Dave come in whenever you want, I’m out of a job so I’ll see you next week. She said you’re joking, I’ll see you next week. But don’t be fool Caroline is the absolute brains behind it all.
How important is NonLeague to you? I think the FC United one was a big one for me, AFC Wimbledon was a completely
different ball game. Wimbledon is a special relationship I’ve got with them. What happened with them was different to FC United. To go to a Premier League game with your son it’s the best part of £100 each time you go. You go to a non-league game you turn up at two, have a pint, watch it at whatever end you want and then have a pint whilst talking to the players and manager. Non-League Day also helps, it brings fans of League Clubs to come and have a look at it. Investment is a must, we knock the FA and the Premier League. With 3G pitches being agreed it will help the standard. I think it will, hopefully, blossom. They call it grass roots, but if you take the roots away from any plant it will die. If you take non-league away from the Premiership it will die. It’s a fantastic level of football.
What advice do you have for those looking to get into Sports Journalism? It is a great life, it’s good fun. I enjoy it more, you’re never wrong. I would say all you have to do is be honest, try and tell the truth. I don’t try and be angry or be happy for the sake of it, I just try to be honest. 10
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Josh Green (@joshgreeney98) —————————————– Five new signing in two days! The departure of star striker Conor Washington (pictured right) has certainly sparked a reaction from Peterborough United Chairman Darragh MacAnthony. Posh reeled in a fee of around £2.5 million for their talismanic frontman from Queens Park Rangers, an astronomical fee for an unproven player at Championship level. Washington netted 15 times in all competitions prior to his departure, the man chosen to
rate loan spells. His record in the Tottenham under21 side reads a completely different story. The ex England u19 international has a ratio of a goal every couple of games, impressive for a man who never found himself succeed the former Newport under the spotlight at White County forward is Shaquille Hart Lane. His pace and power Coulthirst (main image). On the has earned immediate comparface of the frankly average isons to Aaron Mclean, similaristats, the 21-year-old is not the ties he will have three-and-aobvious choice. Coulthirst has half years to justify in the white just eight goals to his name at and blue of Peterborough UnitLeague Two level in four sepa- ed. 12
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The second player I feel could slot into the starting eleven is utility attacker Adil Nabi (above). The Baggies young player of the season from last campaign has found first team football difficult to come by at the Hawthorns, but with tutelage from former Champions League starts Roberto Carlos, Florent Malouda and John Arne Riise during a spell with Dehli Dynamos could give him the impetus to push on and achieve great things with the Posh.
The other is another highly coveted 19 year old Midfielder Callum Chettle from Nuneaton one of best teenagers in Non league & superb talent�. Both may find it difficult to slot into life at London Road with an abundance of attacking talent. With Soulymane Coulibaly experiencing a drastic dip in form, the opportunity to impress could come soon for the former Walsall youth product. Despite Jermaine Anderson suffering a long term injury and Marcus Maddison spending more MacAnthony was raving about the capture of Nunea- time on the bench that on ton pair Aaron Williams and the field, I feel Chettle may have to make do with a Callum Chettle. The Irishman said “So about those 2 place in the developlads from yesterday who didn’t sign last night due to ment side before makfew minor issues. One of ing the leap them is 22 year old Aaron of faith into Williams a gem of a goalscoring striker from Nunea- League One football. ton who has spent time training with us recently. The final
signing of Harry Toffolo (below) could arguably be the most important. South African full-back Kgosi Ntlhe has recently returned from a long standing hiatus on the treatment table, but will take time to regain his fitness. Personally, I believe the injury to Callum Elder could be a turning point in our season. The Leicester loanee added much needed width, needing no invitation to bomb down the left flank. Toffolo will leave a similar imprint of attacking talent, but his reliability at the back could prove costly with Posh clinging on to their play-off hopes.
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Ashley Calver & Matt reckoned with after being unbeaten in their five away Lee (@AshleyCalver1 & @MattGingerLee)
games.
“With the current group of players and management team we have at Cardiff City Ladies, the club can go very far.”
The league is fiercely competed, despite Bright—————————————–- on & Hove Ladies’ early With Cardiff City Ladies lead of nine points, the sitting in fourth place in the four positions following the FA Women’s Premier run-away leaders are sep- we will challenge all the League, we spoke to the arated by just four points. way to the end of the seaBlue Bird’s captain son like we set out at the “Our league is a competiKayleigh Green about Carstart.” tive league with so many diff’s season and her footFor a team like Cardiff, it good teams and as you balling career. can see from the results so would be fantastic for them Cardiff have experienced a far this season there a to become the only team strong start to their 2015- number of teams that are from Wales competing in 16 season, proving them- able to win the league this the Women’s Super selves as a force to be League. However, year including us and so
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Kayleigh sees it as a target and wants to motivate her team to success:
Any footballer’s dream is to be selected for their national team and, luckily for Kayleigh, her dream has already “We are a hardworking come true. Green also team who want to take believes the Welsh Lathe club further and de- dies’ team can compete serve to play at a higher with the recent success of the England Lionesslevel. Plus it would be an achievement for Car- es: diff to be the only Welsh “Nothing can explain the club playing in the feeling when you play Women's Super for your country. Being League.” chosen to represent Similar to many young Wales for the European children, Kayleigh was Qualifiers was an honinvolved with a number our, being selected is always an incredible of sports at a young feeling. age. These included
been involved in our younger age groups helping coach the girls and I've enjoyed it so yes there is a possibility of me one day becoming a coach.
representing Cardiff in “I think Wales Women Athletics (400m), Hock- can emulate the ey and Cross Country! achievements of EngKayleigh portrayed her land women, with a lot of hard work and with calm and relaxed perthe players we have sonality as she explained how she prefers there's no reason why to have team objectives Wales can't achieve big rather than focusing on things.” herself, keeping her as a firm team player, mak- The young, experienced defender has bags of ing her well suited as experience with Cardiff captain. City and could follow in “My personal targets for the season as Captain the footsteps of numerof Cardiff City Ladies is ous footballers, and go to lead the club to suc- down the route of coaching once she has cess. Any targets we have as a club for the hung up her boots. forthcoming season, I “I love being a player make sure I motivate and I want to be able to and drive the girls to play football for many achieve them.” years to come. I have
Finally as we – at TheFootySite – always do with our interviews, we asked Kayleigh if she had anything to say to those who look to become a footballer and have the dreams of reaching the heights, or further, than Green has.
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“I will carry on playing until my body tells me to stop. I work a full time job as well as play football and I would love my full time job to be a football player. If an opportunity came for me to fulfil that whether it be in the UK or abroad then it would be hard to turn down.”
“My advice would be to enjoy playing the game. If football is the path you want to take then challenge yourself, work hard and always give 100% in every game and training session. If you work hard then it will pay off and take every opportunity that comes your way.” 15
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The Manchopper talks us through his visit to WEST HAM A delay in getting this one out there due to unforeseen ‘being half deadness’, but all is well now, so here we go. Our story begins ten days earlier….
Stockport, Macclesfield and Stoke. This made for a good smooth journey, because as soon as Stoke passed to the rear it was plain sailing through to London, where we arrived After pre-planning this pretty much right on time. game almost as soon as it Sadly, I’d undersold myself was drawn out of the hat time-wise on this journey, and acting upon prior ide- but I had given myself time as of heading down to for at least one pre-match West Ham for the third beverage near the ground, round if they got a home so after a five minute walk tie. They did as Wolves over to Euston Square unwere picked as the visitors derground station I should and come the morning of have been in possession the 9th January, I was sit- of a Travelcard quickly. ting in a rather empty Vir- But, oh no… gin Pendolino carriage destined for London The ticket machine here Euston. I was pretty sure I did not want to relinquish should have had a table its tickets and thus I had to both there and back too, chase down the guy on dubut none was forthcoming ty there to help me operate and I can’t complain as my the damn thing. As it only memory isn’t playing ball took coins, I had to pay by on this one. Ah well, at card and only would it accept it, it transpired, once least I had a seat. you had removed your Before long the Virgin was hand from the card, not rolling out of Manchester withstanding the fact you Piccadilly on its way to its had to put your PIN in the Northern-only stops of thing anyway to purchase
it. So, after such a trivial thing had cost me 10 minutes, I was now even more pushed for time. Luckily, some boisterous Wolves fans helped me to figure the right train and I was soon on the way on the Hammersmith & City line over towards East Ham station, where I’d been tipped to use over the ground-neighbouring Upton Park, due to station usage on the day being manic (I was later to get an insight just how true this was!). After a further 35 minute trip over towards the ground, I eventually disembarked at East Ham after most of the train had got off at the prior stop to ensure I knew where exactly I was headed after the game, so I didn’t do my usual party trick and get lost as my return train from Euston was at 6.20, so not too much time to manoeuvre. Upon exiting the station, what struck me was 16
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the, ethnic, feel to the area. It was something akin to a smaller Levenshulme (for those local to me), but it was less so the closer you got to the Boleyn, which popped into view after I’d walked back on myself slightly. After joining the crowds making their way down the main road, the castle-turret façade of the ground loomed into view. After doing a quick couple of exterior shots and buying one of West Ham’s vintage-themed programmes for £3.50(they’re based on prior issues against clubs they are facing), I headed for the Boleyn which had been championed prior. I entered the Boleyn, saw it was packed and quickly exited through the far end, having been buffeted and deafened in equal measure by those already in residence. It was all in good spirits, though and looks a brilliant place to be in pre-match. Obviously, it won’t be an experience to be had for too much longer. On this I have to say that the pre-match crowds make it quite clear why the ground move needs to happen and quick. It’s just not suitable any more, with pedestrians in the open roads etc. As for me, with the Boleyn a no go, it was off to the ground and, more specifically, the East Stand Upper where I’d find my seat. Upon arriving at the turnstile, the security guy was doing two bags and another wasn’t doing much. I awaited them finishing up with the bags and waited with mine ready to be searched. And I waited. And I waited. Then I went in. Good job I didn’t have any “items” in there eh? Ticket scanned, I was into the concourse and I headed straight for the refreshment bar where I picked up a steak pie for the fairly priced £3.50, before I headed up into the stand itself and soaked in the atmosphere of a pre-game Boleyn. The Boleyn itself is certainly a ground with a certain charm to it. It’s new(er) build stands all fit well together (though it probably looks better from my viewpoint in the ’60’s-era stand). The Main Stand towers above the rest of the ground, with the twin “Sir Trevor Brooking” and “Sir Bobby Moore” stands sitting behind both goals respectively. The smaller East Stand sits backing onto residential areas thus, I suspect, stopping it being built upon any further, sort of akin to Manchester United’s railway restricted South Stand. The pitch, of course, looked in pristine condition due to it’s army of 370* groundsmen. As for the history of West Ham United? Well look no further…. (*number may be inflated.) History Lesson: The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks’ factory side, before becoming West Ham United in 1900. After initially competing in the London League (won in 1897), they turned pro in 1888 and competed in the Southern League, being promoted from Division 2 at the first attempt. After moving to the Boleyn in 1904 and joining the Western League, the club won this league in 1907 and then joined the Football League Division 2 in 1919 and were subsequently promoted to Division 1 in 1924. The previous season saw the Hammers compete in the first FA Cup final to be played at Wembley Stadium. After relegation in 1932, 1940 saw West Ham win the inaugural Football League War Cup, before winning the 1964 FA Cup and the 1965 European Cup Winners Cup. The England 1966 World Cup Winning squad had a large influence from the club, with the likes of captain Bobby Moore, Martin Peters and Geoff Hurst coming from the club to play vital roles in the success. The “Champions” statue commemo17
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rating the trio stands across from the Boleyn pub, along with Everton’s Ray Wilson.
1975 saw a second Cup success, but the club lost out in the Cup Winners’ Cup Final in 1976 and were relegated back to Division 2 in 1978, though a third FA Cup arrived in 1980. This is notable as the Hammers became the last side since that tie to win the trophy from outside the top division. Promoted back into Division 1 in 1981, their next top-flight tenure lasted until 1989, when relegation followed once more, but they bounced back two years later. However, their stint lasted a further season before the drop arrived again, but 1993 saw West Ham promoted to the Premiership for the first time. The last silverware for the club came in 1999, in the shape of the Intertoto Cup, the best cup ever competed for. This last statement may be opinion… Relegation in 2003 ended a decade-long stint and after coming close at the end of their first season, losing in the play-off final, the Hammers were promoted again in 2005 via the same method. After losing the 2006 Cup final to Liverpool on penalties, the club avoided relegation the next season after the shenanigans of the Carlos Tevez & Javier Mascherano signings. Tevez, of course, scored on the final day at Old Trafford to keep the Hammers up, before moving to the side he’d just beaten. 2011 saw the Irons relegated once more, but their stay in the second tier was only another brief one as they beat Blackpool in the following year’s play-off final. 2013 saw the club secure a 99-year lease on the Olympic Stadium, which is to be used from the start of the 2016-’17 season, with the club departing the Boleyn at the end of this current season. Last time out, the Hammers recorded a 12th place finish, with Slaven Bilic taking charge for this year onwards. After the bubble machines were powered up and the Hammers fans broke into their famed song, the game got underway and….well….the teams really shouldn’t have bothered with the first half. It was dire, with only Carl Jenkinson’s rasping drive being tipped over by Carl Ikeme being the notable action. As such, I shall explain the pie to you. It was a pukka pie and it had pastry on the outer part and steak filling it. It came in a foil tin and even came in cellophane wrapping! I know, I know, take a breath. Oh, 0-0 at half-time by the way. The second half began and proceeded as the first, with very little happening on the pitch, especially from those in gold, though the Wolves fans kept up a great atmosphere all game and it was a shame they had very little to cheer. After a worrying moment saw Bjorn Sigurdarson (the man who’d replaced AFC Bournemouth-bound Benik Afobe in the Wolves line-up) go down with an innocuous looking injury. My picture taking had appeared to have gained the interest of the lady sitting next to me who enquired if I was Wolves fan. I assured her and any others who may have been thinking the same that I indeed wasn’t and that I was a home-inclined neutral, here for the ground. “Not missing much then!” was the reply to this and it was hard to argue really. As the clock ticked down and time edged away, it looked as though my 0-0 run was ending. After “Mr Moon” had done his usual trick and entered and left the stadium within five minutes, prompting the Wolves fans to chant “Who the f***ing’ hell are you?!”, 18
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with West Ham pushing on hard with the likes of Andy Carroll and especially Dimitri Payet providing a real threat to the visitors defence. Payet showed touches of his class, including one flick in front of me which provided real excitement, but it was Carroll who’d have a big hand in the goal, eventually controlling the ball and feeding Nikica Jelavic to half-volley across Ikeme and send the home fans mad. I’d say it was harsh on Wolves, but they were so negative I can’t bring myself to!
sub Adam Le Fondre came fairly close to levelling, but it wasn’t to be and the Hammers avoided an upset to progress into the fourth round of the cup. I headed up towards Upton Park station to see what the situation was and it turned out the fans were being funnelled down a small service street, right to the far end, then back on themselves on the other side of the barrier to the station. It looked like utter madness and none that I was getting involved with. I had to get a quick jog on to get to East Ham again but The six minutes of injury I got there easily, despite time came and went with- heading to the wrong platout any real alarm, though form initially. Dear me.
So, slightly wet thanks to the captial’s drizzly late Saturday evening weather, I boarded the tube and grabbed one of the remaining seats on the packed train back towards the city centre. Half of the train I was on disembarked at West Ham station having already been warned that there was a large crowd there from the previous train. It appears that West Ham became the centre of the world that Saturday evening! Eventually, I arrived back into Euston Square (about 14 stops from East Ham) and the short walk back over to a largely police 19
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protected Euston was undertaken, with me taking my seat on my train back to Manchester about 15 minutes prior to departure. For what turned out to be a fully dry trip, the day couldn’t have gone much better, though I could have done without the jog through the drizzle! My programme provided a good companion for the first hour of the trip back and definitely helped pass the time, as the United-Sheffield United game wasn’t helping much!
for a connector over to Oxford Road and a train an hour earlier than I was expecting to catch and as such my trip to the Boleyn Ground was done. It’s nice and sad in equal measure to think that its one done that will soon be off the map, especially one that’s played host to some of the biggest names the footballing world (and especially this country) has ever seen. But, it’s forwards for West Ham and the Olympic Stadium is calling.
After arriving back into a very wet, miserable north, I finally got back into Manchester 5 minutes earlier than scheduled, meaning that I was easily in time
RATINGS:
Ground: 8- One I like, maybe its the rose tinted glasses though? Fans: 8- I found them very friendly and showed good support in the second half. Food: 6- Pie was standard issue. Programme: 7- Good read, nice retro look too.
Value For Money: 10Cheaper ticket for a ground soon to be gone means it had to be 10!
Game: 4- Poor game, but at least the quality is good. 20
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