by Robert Mann
15
Cherry Picking On
The South Coast
Terrance, Steve and Jock had just over forty-eight hours to pick up what was a very dispirited team after the very controversial winning goal against them in the FA Cup before they faced AFC Bournemouth in the live Sky game on Tuesday night in the Area Quarter Finals of The Johnstone's Paint Trophy. The Cherries were having one of their best starts to a season for many years after huge investment into their club at the start of the summer from a Greek multi millionaire and were currently eight points clear at the top of Division One, unbeaten in all competitions. The bookies had Redbourne Rovers as 8-1 outsiders to go through against them. On paper, of the teams remaining in the competition The Countrymen couldn't have had a harder draw!
Come Tuesday early afternoon when "The Beast” set off again from Redbourne, Jock for one could hardly wait for kick off time. He had a really good feeling about the game and was looking forward to showing Bournemouth what they had missed by not signing him several years ago after he had gone to Dean Court on loan with view to a permanent move. As the coach travelled south winding its way from Bristol down towards Salisbury a ray of winter sunshine lit up the afternoon sky the weekend snow and rain finally abating.
Bournemouth had a reputation for playing football the right way and Terrance was looking forward to pitting his wits against a very shrewd and experienced ex England manager. Sven Goran Eriksson had come to the club lured by the Greek’s millions shortly after England had crashed out of the World Cup on penalties in a move that had stunned many in the game! Now they had just signed Arjen Robben from Chelsea in a deal that had astounded the football world further after he had fallen out big time with Jose Mourinho. He had become the best ever paid Cherries player and currently himself and James Hayter up front were terrorising defences in their division. This was now a team that expected to be in The Championship the following season and after that the sky was the limit for their hugely ambitious chairman!
Despite the terrible run of form and luck that Redbourne was having around four hundred Countrymen fans had made the trip down south. As kick off approached a decent sized crowd was building in side Dean Court. Home league games had been a sell out since the arrival of Robben and there were plans to extend the capacity over the close season providing they made it to The Championship. Prior to kick off Terrance was interviewed on Sky about his thoughts on the game and the prospect of his defenders having to come up against a seasoned international like Robben when last year they had been facing Conference attackers. Terrance looked at the interviewer and smiled broadly before replying
"Well Geoff"
he replied
"He is only one man and I have great confidence that our defence can handle him. I have huge respect for Bournemouth and what they are aiming for down here but we can play a bit too. I am looking forward to a good game"
With that, he went off to the away dressing room ready to give his final words to his players before kick off!
The Redbourne fans were situated in the far side of the East Stand at Dean Court, which was all seated like most 1st, Division grounds now. As the teams came out there must have been around eight thousand fans in the stadium and the home end recently renamed in honour of their chairman, The Nikitas Eneas Stand didn't have a spare seat in sight. The far end of the ground was now a building site, the temporary stand that had been there for the two previous seasons was now gone and construction of a new four thousand all seated stand was well under way with a hotel and casino attached to it. With the Cherries also playing in red and black Redbourne being the away team were playing in their second colours of all yellow. Terrance had decided to fight fire with fire considering Bournemouth's scoring record this season in which they already had a goal difference of plus twenty and started with three up front Angelo Mizuel, Dwight Edwards and young Ian Hargreaves. Playing just behind the front three was Terry Pauls in a very attack minded line up.
Straight from the kick off Redbourne were on the attack roared on by their fans Terry Pauls waltzing past Eddie Howe in the Cherries defence like he didn't exist and drawing a good save out of Neil Moss in the Bournemouth goal. A crunching tackle by Jock Mcleish then stopped Robben when it looked like he was clear on goal. Redbourne came straight back on the attack relishing playing on this superb playing surface, the south coast had been spared the terrible weather which had recently afflicted most of the country. A superb move started by Jock Mcleish saw a one two between Edwards and Hargreaves and the shot by Hargreaves coming back off the bar Neil Moss well beaten. He held his head in disappointment not quite believing that he had not scored! Back came Bournemouth with Robben easily outpacing the Redbourne defence, he slipped the ball past Francis into the net with consummate ease and it was 1-0 to The Cherries. Robben kissed the club badge as he saluted the home end before being engulfed by his team-mates. Redbourne heads didn't go down and they were straight back on the attack in this free flowing game that was being devoured by Sky viewers across the country. Just before half time they got their just rewards. A quick break out of defence saw Terry Pauls racing into the Bournemouth half; a diagonal ball put Hargreaves away down the left side with Warren Cummings in hot pursuit. An inch perfect cross saw Angelo Mizuel volley home an exquisite goal at the far post. Both Terrance and Steve were out of the away dugout punching the air with delight as the Redbourne team and fans celebrated the equaliser. With minutes left to half time the noise level in the stadium increased markedly as both teams upped their work rate desperate to get the upper hand in this closely contested match. The four hundred or so Redbourne fans were creating a terrific atmosphere in the stadium as both sets of fans vied for vocal supremacy. In time added on for the first half disaster struck for the Cherries. Robben was clean through on goal again and Dave Francis came charging out to meet him. The two players collided, there was no malice intended but Robben went down as if shot. There was a hushed silence around the stadium as the Bournemouth trainer went racing onto the field. In the home technical area Sven Goran Eriksson looked on impassively. Within minutes Robben was sitting up but it was clear that he was very groggy and he was helped from the field to a very generous round of applause as the whistle for half time went.
The burning question at half time was would Robben reappear for the 2nd half. The pitch side reporter for Sky eventually got a word with the Bournemouth player coach Steve Fletcher minutes before the second half was due to resume.
"How is Arjen"?
Towering over the interviewer Steve a Bournemouth cult figure replied in a broad north-eastern accent, which he had never lost despite all his years on the south coast
“Not good lad I'm afraid, concussion by the looks of things. Looks as if the boss will be putting me on for the second half"
Steve's information was spot on and as the team's re emerged minutes latter the stadium announcer relayed the substitution to the crowd amid groans of disappointment from the home fans!
Robben's injury had definitely taken the wind out of the Cherries as the second half got under way. Gone was the freedom that they had been playing with earlier in the game. Slowly Redbourne began to take control Jock Mcleish and Terry Pauls revelling in the space that was becoming available to them in midfield. The home crowd started for the first time that season to get nervous sensing that the match was in danger of slipping away from them. In the home technical area Sven was shouting instructions to his team clearly unhappy at the way things were going! On the seventy-minute mark it was 2-1 to Redbourne a goal of supreme individual quality by Terry Pauls. Terry picked the ball up in the centre circle and went off on one of his trademark runs. He beat Cooke and then Purches in the Cherries midfield before looking up and seeing Neil Moss just off his line. A sublime chip saw the ball nestling in the Bournemouth net and the away end went absolutely mad! Up in the Bournemouth directors box the Greek multi millionaire turned to Miles Grimley with the words
"That Terry Pauls I want to buy him. Nam
e your price!"
Miles grinned at him broadly before he replied
"I wouldn't let him go for anything under £5 million but you are welcome to make a bid in the January transfer window"
The action really intensified on the field as the Cherries determined not to slip to their first defeat of the season lay siege to the Redbourne goal. Steve Fletcher although he had no real speed anymore was causing panic in the Redbourne defence with his height and sheer presence. A nod down to James Hayter looked as if Bournemouth would equalise on the eighty-minute mark but he fired over the bar from point blank range when it looked easier to score. In the away end nails were being bitten to the bone as somehow Redbourne were still holding on with some desperate defending with even Dwight Edwards coming back and helping out his defence. A shot from Stephen Foley for Bournemouth was lashed in from about twenty yards. The shot swerved in mid air beating Francis who was wrong footed. It came back off the bar the home fans not quite believing that it hadn't gone in! Back in Redbourne Deborah was watching the game down her local pub with Oliver on Sky. The whole pub was gripped by the drama and intensity of the game. Oliver however was silent, he was pondering on coming Redbourne games and when to get The Country Firm back in action. Its members were itching for some action again despite the convictions incurred for two of them from the debacle at Michael Wood Services for carrying banned knives.
Meanwhile back at Dean Court the match was drawing to an enthralling climax. Wave after wave of red and black attacks was kept out by determined and at times last gasp defending by the team in yellow. Both sets of fans were feeling the tension as the 4th official held up the board to show three minutes time added on. On the side of the pitch even Sven Goran Eriksson normally quite an undemonstrative manager was at the edge of his technical area urging his team forward with animated passion. On the pitch Jock Mcleish was psyching his tired team-mates up for once last effort with just adrenaline keeping most of them going. In the last minute of time added on the Cherries won another corner, Steve Fletcher rose unchallenged for the header. His bullet header hit the post and rebounded to safety, Francis again comprehensively beaten! The groan from the home fans could be heard in the nearby housing estate a mile or so away from the ground! Before the goal kick could be taken the final whistle was blown and Redbourne had knocked out the favourites for the competition. The Bournemouth players slumped to the ground in despair as the Redbourne players went absolutely mad. In front of their fans at the far end of the ground they had Terry Pauls on their shoulders saluting their travelling fans. Up in the directors box the Greek multi millionaire sporting to the last offered his hand to Miles, gracious in defeat with the words
"A lucky but determined win. Don't forget my offer about young Terry Pauls come the January transfer window. I hope you win this Cup now"
Redbourne though could look forward to an area semi final early in January. Suddenly playing at the Millennium Stadium in their first season in the football league was starting to look very real for Redbourne Rovers!
16
It All Goes Crackers Down Redbourne Way!
The weather really took another turn for the worse in the days after Redbourne's breathtaking win against AFC Bournemouth. On the Saturday afterwards they had been due to play away against Bury at Gigg Lane. However like many games across the country in The Coca Cola League their game fell foul to the freezing weather conditions that were sweeping the country. A local referee was called in to inspect the Gigg Lane pitch on the Friday lunchtime. It was frozen hard and with no signs of a thaw it was one of the first to be called off on a weekend that saw the sporting programme through out the country decimated by the weather.
With no game for The Countrymen Saturday morning, saw Terrance Fletcher as a guest on Soccer AM for the draw for the area semi finals of The Johnstone's Paint Trophy. The three other teams left in the southern draw with Redbourne were Wycombe Wanderers, Bristol City and Northampton Town. Before the draw was made Helen Chamberlain spoke at some length to Terrance asking about his thoughts on how the season had gone so far. Terrance was quite frank in his reply -
"Well Helen overall if you asked me to mark my team's performance out of ten I would have to say seven and a half. We are just missing that bit of consistency that comes with experience at this level. Some of our performances have been breathtaking, Barnet at home springs to mind, but Macclesfield at home and Chester at home were games where we should have done much better. It’s a steep learning curve for my players and me although we are not far away from where we need to be”
Helen smiled at him before she replied
“How are you enjoying the experience of taking on experienced league managers Terrance?"
Terrance was thoroughly enjoying the experience of being interviewed by such an attractive woman and couldn't help inadvertently flirting with Helen as he replied
"Today's experience is very enjoyable thank you"
The studio audience, which included a few Redbourne fans plus a selection from other teams left in the competition roared with laughter including Helen!
"In all seriousness Helen, as I just said it is a learning experience for me but one that I am enjoying every minute of. I have certainly made a few mistakes myself the games against Mansfield in the Carling Cup away and the league at home spring to mind”
With that closing remark, studio pictures switched to Terry Paul's winning goal against the Cherries earlier that week which had seen them into the draw that was about to take place. The studio audience applauded as the footage finished. Ever the professional Helen moved into the link for the draw.
"So Terrance who do you fancy drawing in the southern area semis then”
she asked
Without hesitation he replied
"Providing we are at home I don't mind!"
The studio audience was then introduced to the two guests who were doing the draw. Drawing the home teams was Chris Kamara and Steve Claridge would draw the away teams. Both men got a generous round of applause.
Redbourne fans in pubs in and around the south Gloucestershire area watched in fascination as Chris Kamara drew the first ball
"Number 4 Bristol City will play”
Steve Claridge a Sky veteran took over
"Number 2 Northampton Town"
The cameras switched back to a smiling Chris Kamara
"Number 1 Redbourne Rovers will play”
Steve Claridge concluded proceedings
"Number 3 Wycombe Wanderers"
A murmur of approval could be heard around the pubs in Redbourne area and from the fans in the studio!
Before they moved on to the northern draw Helen took over again
"Ladies and gentlemen there we have it a home tie for Redbourne Rovers with the ties to be played the week commencing January 8th!"
After the northern draw had been made the cameras panned back to Helen who turned to Terrance again
"Thanks again for coming on this morning. I trust you are pleased with the home draw. Terrance it has been a pleasure having you on the show"
A round of applause followed Terrance as he left the studio. Terrance certainly was and so were the Redbourne fans as the news of the draw percolated out to those who hadn't seen it live. With no match to report on the Monday, The Redbourne Gazette went over the top on the draw for the semi finals running with the front-page headline
"Countrymen favourites to go all the way to the Millennium Stadium"
On the back of the paper a smaller story led with the title
"Terry Pauls To Join The Cherries?"
For once the culprit was not Miles Grimley but the Greek Nikitas Eneas, the Cherries new chairman who had not been slow to register his admiration of the talented youngster in his after match comments to the Evening Echo, Bournemouth’s local paper. The Gazette had picked it upon from this and it sent shockwaves through all Redbourne fans.
Redbourne Rovers called a press conference twenty-four hours latter. They had no real choi
ce with speculation in the Redbourne area flying right out of hand and numerous enquiries from local and national media outlets whether there was any truth in the article, very mischievously published down on the south coast about Terry Pauls. Terrance and Miles were both at the press conference smiling broadly now very different from earlier that day when Terrance had come steaming in to the Chairman's temporary office clutching a copy of the Redbourne Gazette incandescent with rage.
"Is this one of your stunts Miles? Tell me you are not hawking him for sale a month before the transfer window opens?"
had been his opening shot as he threw the offending article onto Miles desk! Terrance’s anger had been swiftly redirected once Miles had explained what exactly had gone on during the second half at Bournemouth. The overriding necessity had been not to unsettle young Terry Pauls who was having such a great first season or the remainder of the team with some huge games coming up.
