Do you remember...Tommy Mooney

Back in the 2005/06 season I sat rather solemnly at Adams Park on a cold December afternoon, the rain was pouring and we shivered in the stand...we'd just gone down 2-0 down (eventually to finish 3-0 and down to 9 men) not long after half-time thanks to a second goal from a rather overweight and stereotypical lower league footballer. He'd terrorised our back four all game and when he scored his second we started to realise the game was theirs...that player was Tommy Mooney.

Image copyright of bbc.co.uk

In the football world he's probably not what you had in mind when someone talked of a top scorer, but further down the leagues Mooney was a typical striker with the strength, power and presence that every fan wanted in their team, and he was cocky to go with it too, so when we started a chant of "Mooney, score us a goal" and "you fat bastard" after we continued to get battered he enjoyed a bit of banter with us every time he came near the away end. And that's why I always admired him as a footballer.


Tommy Mooney has certainly notched up a fair few clubs in his time, 13 to be precise, and could probably also be a contender for my 'journeyman' series of blog posts. He started his career at Aston Villa, although he never made a first team appearance and headed off to Scarborough in 1990 for 3 years where he first made his mark as a goal scorer. He was sold for a reported £100,000 to Southend, but never made much of an impact and went on loan to Watford before making the move permanent in July 1994.

Mooney's time at Watford was an ever changing one, he struggle at first to find his place in the team and was dropped to the bench and the reserves. The 1998/99 season was when he started to make his mark, although in a more defensive role, which was short lived due to team tactics. His chance came when he was brought on as a sub and set up a goal which lead to him being chosen the following week where he scored the first goal and set up a second...this set in motion a fantastic run in the side which saw Mooney score in every game bar one in the run up to the end of the season. Unfortunately, despite scoring a couple at the start of the season, he succumbed to injury against Chelsea and only went onto make eight appearances in the Premiership. Back to full fitness in the First Division, Mooney found his scoring boots again and ended the season with 20 goals.

With a better offer at Birmingham City, out of contract Mooney chose to leave Watford in June 2001 and spent two years at the club making 29 league starts including the play offs that got the club into the Premier League before being sent out on loan to Stoke City, Sheffield United and Derby County.  Mooney was then key in Swindon Town's play off push in the 2003/04 season, scoring 20 goals...unfortunately, they lost in the semi-final to Brighton after Mooney missed his spot kick in the penalty shootout.


Mooney went on to spend a season with Oxford, once again finding the net plenty of times ad ended the season as their top scorer. Continuing his journey through the lower leagues, in 2005 he signed for Wycombe Wanderers on a two year deal, making an impression straight away in his debuty as a burly forward with all the attributes for a striker in the lower leagues. But injury halted his progress again, limping off the pitch in the play off semi final against Cheltenham. Mooney decided against signing a new contract with Wycombe and opting to sign for new League One side Walsall in July 2007, although after just a year at the club he rejected their offer of an extension at the club and in June 2008 he joined UD Marbella playing in the Segunda Division B league before retiring.


My research suggests that Tommy Mooney stayed put and now lives in Marbella with his family and this fantastic interview by Watfordlegends.com with him is a must read for any football fans.


I love footballers like Mooney, a big beefy player not afraid to get themselves out there, and cocky to go with it as well. One of the best things about being a fan of a lower league club is the banter that players have with the away fans and he certainly always enjoyed that. He was certainly the type of player you hate having on the opposition but would love to have in your team. I do wonder what he's up to now, does anyone know?!

Welcome to League Two

As the 2010/11 season is now well and truly behind us, I decided it was time to start looking forward to next season, so with that in mind I'm taking a look at the newbies into each league and giving my opinion and a fan's view on how I think they'll do in the 2011/12 season, first of all starting with League Two.


Coming down...


Dagenham and Redbridge

The relegation spots in League One came down to the final day so when Dag & Red got battered in their final game 5-0 away at Peterborough (with 4 goals in the last 25 minutes) it was pretty much done and dusted, and they were sent straight back down to League Two after just one season. To be honest (and no disrespect to Dag & Red) I didn't expect them to achieve much in League One, I think they're maybe a team much better suited to League Two. I expect them to do pretty well next season, I'm going for a top half finish, perhaps fighting for one of the last play off spots.

Fan's view: @leewilsonDRFC "Will be another rebuilding job at Daggers. Will lose our better players after relegation but John Still is the man to find the hidden gems and I have little doubt we'll be sniffing around the play off area ready to pounce on any slips."


Bristol Rovers

Rovers pretty much confirmed their relegation to League Two the game before the final day, drawing at home against Sheffield Wednesday with an inferior goal difference. I can see them bouncing straight back though and challenging for automatics in League Two.

Fan's view: @swich1980 "We expect at least a push for the play offs but as long as there is progress on the pitch we will be happy."


Plymouth Argyle

I don't think any other football club had a worse time than Plymouth did last season and their fate was well and truly confirmed after being sent down by Southampton. Back in March they were deducted 10 points for going into administration and players haven't been paid their full wage packet for the seventh month running now. I feel for their fans, it must be so frustrating and I hope their problems don't continue through to next season and disappear into non-league like so many other football clubs in financial difficulties have.

Fan's view: @LloydDavies14 from On The Terraces "The unexpected. Anything. God knows. Hopefully we will be okay and able to consolidate after several years of 'mess' in reality though and all likeliness I wouldn't be surprised if the mess continues. All PAFC fans just want a club. Football means more than business and money no fan should ever forget that."


Swindon Town

The first club to get relegated in League One, Swindon were sent down back in April against Sheffield Wednesday and after winning just eight league games all season, a far cry from their previous season where they reached the League One play off final. Unfortunately, I think Swindon may struggle to bounce back after such a poor season, but you never know, it may also give them the drive to get back to where they once were.

Fan's view: @fatbury "I expect excitement and passion and a roller coaster Di Canio ride. It won't be dull!"

Fan's view: @olliehowitt "Cautious as Di Canio has no experience, but he's got the talk and I believe signing the right players, we will go up. Tough away games await us."




Coming up...


Crawley Town

It would be fair to say that Crawley pretty much ran away with the title in the Conference, finishing the season on 105 points - 15 ahead of AFC Wimbledon in 2nd place and gaining promotion to the Football League at the start of April. They might not be everyone's favourite team with many believing they bought their way out of non-league football. I expect to see them mid-table next season considering they've invested so much in their squad that's already much more than your typical League Two club would spend.

Follower's view: @CarolBates "With four new players signed and more to come, Crawley Town will have strength in depth like last season. I think promotion is achievable, but probably through the play offs."

Fan's view: @LelmerCTFC "I'd settle for play offs, but with the squad we've got I'm hoping for automatic playoffs, especially if we keep Matt Tubbs."

AFC Wimbledon

Probably the fondest of promotions in the entire Football League, AFC Wimbledon are what dreams are made of and I expect most their fans will still be feeling like it's not real. Founded in 2002 by a group of disillusioned then Wimbledon fans angry at the club's move to Milton Keynes, their win in the play off final was their fifth promotion in just eight years. I'd hope that they'd survive and cement a play in the Football League, as probably every other fan does too, and I reckon they've got that drive and passion to succeed.

Mascot's view: @HaydontheWomble "I expect to be mid-season with maybe an outside chance of the play offs, I expect sold out home games and enjoying being back in the league."

Fan's view: @mattlowndes "Not sure what to expect next season to be honest. If you had asked that same question 12 months ago I would never have expected promotion and League Two. Our first season as full time professionals could not have gone any better. Terry Brown will get it right and I predict mid-table mediocre, but boy are us fans going to have some serious fun on the road."


Come back soon to see my same predictions and fans' views for clubs coming into League One and the Championship.

Interview with Neil Wainwright

After the popularity and great response from my interview with Julian Alsop, I thought I'd bring you another one, this time with Neil Wainwright. I first got talking to Neil on Twitter (I originally requested he joined in with Reece from Shirt Off 4 Wolves for a shirtless photo...it didn't happen...well it did, just not shirtless...lol!) and I'm very thankful of him for doing this for me as I hope to have more interviews on my blog.


Most known for his time at Darlington, making 235 appearances for the club and also more recently with Morecambe, Neil has also spent time on loan at various other league clubs after starting as a trainee at Wrexham and makes a great candidate for an interview considering my blog focuses mainly on the lower leagues.


Neil agreed to talk to me about his footballing career and a look into his future, so I hope you enjoy...

You were recently released by Morecambe, did it come as a shock or were you expecting it?

When there was a change of manager I was more optimistic about a new deal but it certainly didn't come as a shock as I've not played anywhere near as much as I've wanted to this season.

Image copyright of Darlofc.co.uk

Does this mean your footballing days now behind you?

Not at all, I'm as fit now as I ever have been and there is quite a few years left in me yet.

You're only 33, could we see you popping up in non-league football any time soon?

Quite possibly, it depends on who is interested in securing my services. I'd like to continue at as high a level as possible but it's hard to tell at this stage what my options will be.

You spent most your career at Darlington, was it hard moving on from there?

I loved it at Darlington and would have probably liked to have finished my career there so it was tough but you have to get on with it and I was lucky to join another fantastic club in Morecambe.

What are your best memories from your playing career?

My move to Sunderland is my highlight and meeting so many fantastic people throughout my playing days thus far and of course scoring the last ever goal at Darlington's old ground Feethams.

And your worst memories?

Any time I've had an injury in my career, those are always the worst times and the most frustrating.

If you could change anything from your career, would you?

I wouldn't change anything about my career, I have no regrets whatsoever and have played for some fantastic football clubs, I've been very lucky in that respect.

What are your plans for the immediate future?

Just basically find myself a new team, complete my UEFA B coaching licence and see where all of that takes me.

And do you have any long-term plans yet?

The ideal long term plan is to become a coach/manager somewhere but long term plans can be adjusted depending on what transpires.

Any words of advice for footballers coming to the end of their playing career?

Work hard to find alternatives to football as it's a scary transition.

I hope you've enjoyed reading this interview and if you want to follow Neil's next steps in his career or have a chat with him, you'll find him on Twitter @wainy11.

Keith Hill - a look back at a Rochdale legend's career

After the whole Keith Hill "will he, won't he" saga finally came to an end this week after he dismissed reports he was taking up the managerial role at Barnsley, while everything was up the air over his future it got me thinking about how much he's achieved at Rochdale and looking back on his management career...so this blog post is dedicated to the man that's made Rochdale the club it is today...Keith Hill.

We have never been and never will be a glamorous club, having spent so long in the basement division and with one promotion to our name, we don't pretend we're something we're not and neither does Keith Hill and that's why I believe he's succeeded at the club in his first management role. We struggle with attendances and we don't have wealthy financial backers.


Keith Hill originally took over the reigns at Rochdale back in December 2006 as caretaker manager after Steve Parkin departed. At the time he was Director of Youth and his position was merely seen as a stop-gap until we appointed someone "better". How wrong we were. We were 22nd in League 2 when he took over, facing the dreaded relegation, but his appointment seemed to turn performances around and in January 2007 his position was made permanent with David Flitcroft by his side...by the end of the season Rochdale finished one place outside the play offs.


The following season Keith Hill and David Flitcroft - aptly named Hillcroft - led Rochdale into the play offs, beating Darlington in a nerve wracking penalty shoot out before we had our time at Wembley for the play off final, unfortunately losing out to Stockport. I actually blogged about this if you'd like a read of my Wembley adventure. Most people thought our performances would suffer, but we bounced straight back to the play offs once again, unfortunately this time we went out in the semi-final stages against Gillingham.


Once again, people talked, had the momentum gone? Had there been too much heartache? Of course there hadn't, we were living the dream flirting in and around the play offs, so when the 09/10 season arrived we really weren't ready for what awaited us...our first promotion since 1969.


We started the season with our "no fear" attitude, something that Hillcroft had implemented in the team, we had no reason to fear anyone in the league and both the players and the fans embraced the culture that Hilly had brought. The 09/10 season will never be forgotten at Rochdale, we took the league by storm, skipping past each and every time, leading the pack ahead of the likes of Notts County. That was until the final leg of the season and, quite rightly, we started to loose that drive as players started to tire. It was a tense end to the season, we threw away so many chances to claim the title including a 5-0 battering away at Torquay but the day finally came against Northampton at home...Rochdale were promoted to League 1. We finished the season in 3rd place behind Notts County and Bournemouth, although I could honestly say most fans saw Rochdale as the true champions of the league.

The celebrations started but it wasn't long before people started to doubt our ability in League 1, many thought Keith Hill's abilities didn't stretch that far, so as I sit here now writing this blog post I smirking at the fact that we've just finished the 10/11 season in the League 1 and we finished just a few places outside the play offs. We battered Southampton home and away and proved we could hold our own against champions Brighton among so many other performances.


But it's not just the results that Rochdale have to thank Keith Hill for, how players have progressed from Rochdale just prove what a hell of a manager he is...Chris O'Grady is the perfect example, he took him from being out of favour at neighbours Oldham to running League 1 defenders ragged all over the pitch. And then there's Craig Dawson, it's almost a fairytale, a local boy playing in non-league football before being given his chance at Rochdale, next season he will play for West Brom.


We might still not be and probably never will be a glamorous club, but we're now a club that footballers want to play for thanks to the Hillcroft regime. They've changed the club from floundering in the lower half of the basement division to contending with a place in the League 1 play offs. And their influence on the pitch has been mirrored behind the scenes, every inch of the club is run professionally right from the centre of excellence through to the first team, yet Hillcroft has maintained a family feeling around Spotland, one where fans are just as important.


And that's where I end this blog post. I don't know what's next for Keith Hill and David Flitcroft, although I know their immediate future is at Rochdale, but we all understand that they're destined for bigger and better things...I just hope that when that day arrives, we bring in someone who can carry on the Hillcroft legacy. And with that I simply finish with, NO FEAR.