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SUB PLEASEP a g e | 1 REF MAY EDITION 2021

P a g e | 2

WELCOME TO SUB PLEASE REF ISSUE 3 MAY 2021

Welcome to the third edition of ‘Sub Please On this month’s edition of ‘Sub Please Ref’, Ref’. we speak to Hashtag United superfan Alfie and Welsh Futsal International Chris Bright. We hope you are all keeping well at this time. Some of you may have been able to get Alfie is just one of an ever-growing fanbase back into stadiums to watch live football that are continuing to follow the rise of recently, and so we hope you enjoyed that – Hashtag United, a team that may well have you lucky devils! started out on YouTube, but a side that are now well-engrained into the furniture of the Of course, the 2020-21 season is nearing the non-league pyramid. Alfie has done virtually conclusion, with the league seasons having every job imaginable with The Tags, and he come to a close, and all that is left is for the talks to us about how his love affair with final promotion spots to be sorted at the Hashtag United started, ambitions for the home of football; with Brentford facing football club and looking ahead to next year. Swansea City bidding for a spot in the , looking to extend We also spoke to Welsh Futsal International their impressive play-off record as they face Chris Bright. Chris is one of the many Lincoln City in the League One final, and two fantastic advocates in raising awareness of defeated sides from yesteryear looking to go Diabetes within football, and we spoke to one better this time around as Morecambe him about the work that he has done to face Newport County. continue raising the awareness of Diabetes, how he aims to continue his efforts going While the season may have drawn to a close, forward, and also provides us with a unique there is no let up to the drama and the action, insight into how having Diabetes has affected and we are as busy as ever at Off The Line his career. HQ. We also bring you a feature looking at the Over the last week or so, we have brought career of four legends of the EFL, all of which you our round-ups of the long list of free have decided to bring to an end to their agents from throughout the EFL, and careers. speculate as to where they may end up. On top of this, we look back at the EFL Signings are also starting to be made, and so season, reviewing each league and look over the next few weeks we will begin to ahead to the EFL Play-Off Finals that take bring you our reaction to these signings and place this weekend. assess whether we think they are good additions. We also look ahead to the final weekend of action in the National League, and the play- We will also bring to a close our review of offs that will take place over the course of the the 2020-21 season by assessing each sides next month. performance this term, comparing this to our predictions made at the start of the season, Contents highlighting which sides have superseded Pages 3-8 – Hashtag Super Fan Alfie our expectations and those which have failed Interview to hit the mark and underachieved. Pages 11-12 – Chris Bright Interview P a g e | 3

HASHTAG UNITED SUPERFAN ALFIE ON HIS LOVE AFFAIR WITH THE TAGS

“It has always been part of Spencer’s big plan to be sustainable. I don’t mind where we are in five years, but I just want us to still be here in 50 years – that has always been his motto.” Q: How did you get involved in but genuinely everyone that I have come Hashtag United? across at Hashtag United is a really nice person. For all of its global reach, it is A: I think it is the same sort of way that still a non-league club, and you can feel you get into the YouTube side of things, that when you get to the gates. in starting to follow Spencer through his Fifa Player days, and then as that All the players are still as engaging as transitioned into Spencer FC and then you see on screen, and all the staff are so Hashtag United – all of this on the relaxed. You definitely get the non- Spencer channel. Then, the team league atmosphere, despite it being migrated over to the Hashtag United broadcast on a global stage. channel and I followed over and Q: The fact that Hashtag United have continued watching on that. started out at its conception as a

YouTube side and then have So, I have been watching them online transitioned into non-league with ever since they started, but the first time perhaps more backing than most, do that I saw them live was their first non- you think it has shown Hashtag United league game. in the wrong light perhaps? A: I think that some of the stuff that comes along with the big backing is unfair. There is this presumption that there is a lot of money being splashed around the club, but that is not true. There is more money coming in, but also more money going out.

All of the money that comes in from Figure 1 All Hashtag United games are recorded and videos and sponsors almost all goes uploaded onto their YouTube channel [Photo Credit: back out on making the videos and Hashtag United] investing in the content. We have two Q: What was the transition like in full-time camera crew, and so there a lot watching them on YouTube to then of staff running the back end. So, it does travelling to games and seeing them run as a non-league club first and in the flesh? foremost.

Q: At the time of recording, we have A: There is always the logic of don’t meet just had one of the Esports your heroes, and I wasn’t sure how they competitions and had a Hashtag would translate from on-screen United representative. How special personality to meeting them in person, and unique is that as a non-league P a g e | 4 club to have an Esports set-up as scratch, and that was a deliberate thing. impressive as Hashtag United do? He could have gone and founded his own women’s and youth set-ups, but in A: It is definitely different. On one side both cases, there was no reason to. With you have the team playing at Step 5 or the youth team, for example, Forest so, and then you have the Esports side Glade has been an established side that are operating right at the top of the playing football for a long time, with game. Yesterday, you had Tom great coaches and a great set-up. representing Tottenham Hotspur, and he is one of, if not the best Esports players It was the same with the women’s side there is. too. However, both were in need of a little extra funding. That meant that we The world of Esports is tough, and I have weren’t starting from scratch, but instead followed it right from the beginning, in were supporting somebody already fact before I started really following established and just in need of that little football. Things such as the game extra backing and support, and so it academy and Harry Hesketh. It is really made perfect sense to take those over. interesting, and it has come on leaps and bounds. Hashtag United are looking to I think it is a critical step, but importantly diversify out into other Esports, such as for the fans. I haven’t been able to go Gfinity and Call of Duty. and watch as many of the women’s games as I would have hoped to, and I I do feel for the Esports a bit, as they are think that is great that whatever part of judged on that really big stage all the the sport you go to, there will be a time, and Fifa can be so unrelenting and Hashtag United representative in there. cruel at times, and so from a club perspective it is very different. No club at our step certainly doesn’t have that. It brings in a new set of fans to support Hashtag United, and that can only be a positive. Q: You had the men’s team and the Esports team, but this summer also took on the women’s team and also a youth set-up as well. How important Figure 2 Hashtag United celebrating in the Wembley Cup was that in order for Hashtag United to [Photo Credit: The FA] function as a viable and inclusive club? Q: Not many sides in non-league get the chance to go to Wembley, but A: I think that it is massive. It has always Hashtag United have been there a been part of Spencer’s big plan to be number of times with the Wembley sustainable. I don’t mind where we are Cup. How special and rewarding is it in five years, but I just want us to still be to follow a club that gets the chance to here in 50 years – that has always been play at Wembley so often? his motto. It is about putting the roots down in not only the men’s and Esports A: Unfortunately, I think that is probably sides, but also then with the women’s the last time that the Wembley Cup takes and youth sides. place and so we will have to get to Wembley by official means in the future The women’s and youth sides were going forward! different in that they weren’t started from P a g e | 5

They have only played their once when whatever I am required to do when I am they were a non-league side, but have required to do it. been there before in different guises. I have lots of roles at the club, and I am The onus now for the club is more on lucky to be able to do them, because at being able to go and earn our way to the end of the day I enjoy doing them. Wembley, and to get to the FA Vase final Q: You were named Hashtag United or even the FA Trophy final if we get supporter of the year. Having followed promoted. Hopefully, the next time we the club for so long, how special was it get to watch us at Wembley we have to be given that award? been through a number of rounds before hand and we can say we deserve it. A: Yes, it was really cool. It was for our first proper season in non-league. It was Q: You yourself have done virtually a really good evening, being held in every role for the club. Just tell us a , they had a load of different little bit about the roles you have done speakers and there were different for Hashtag United. awards handed out. They didn’t tell us A: I am not sure whether this has been they were doing an award, but a couple told before, but the first game I went to of us were invited along. was in Harwich, and I decided to do a They then announced that they were live commentary on a radio app. There doing the award and it was really nice to were about 60/70 people listening as be the recipient. They have given it out there was some real interest in that at the on another occasion too – to a guy called time. Tony, who does some fantastic work with To cut a long story short, about 65 the fanzine – and it is a lovely gesture. minutes into the game, the heat Q: Do you think one of the biggest overcame me – as it was a sweltering challenges has been getting people afternoon – and I awoke surrounded by that watch online to go and then attend Hashtag United medical camp. What a game? meant was that the only way I was able to get back to where I lived was for the A: I think that is where the big divide is operations director Neil Smythe – in terms of being a YouTube team and another brilliant man who has held being a non-league side. There are fans almost every role – to give me a lift from every state in America and every back. country in the world watching online, but that doesn’t translate instantly to people That time whilst I was being taken back attending on the day. by Neil allowed me to pick the brains of someone right at the heart of the clubs, It also doesn’t help as we have moved a and meant that all the games I went to couple of times, and so it is difficult to after that I had this sort of bond. have that localised support that some other teams do. I know that the long- The first real role I did was PA term vision is to set up shop at Bowers announcing. There was a guy that there and Pitsea or move once more. If we do was at the ground that did it for a while, move, it will be a permanent one. but one day he didn’t turn up and so was given the opportunity by Neil to be the Q: We saw them start out on YouTube, PA announcer for that game. I still do to but more recently we have also seen the day, but everything beyond that I do them play on the actual TV with the television coverage of the early P a g e | 6 rounds of the FA Cup. How special Q: The league was null and voided, was that to see a side that originated and despite it ending early, it looked on YouTube make an appearance like as if promotion was on the cards once that on mainstream media? again. How frustrating is that having won the league and then having two A: The BBC day was really cool, and we chances of promotion taken away have also had BT Sport down on occasion from you? too. It was pretty special to see the tower been built, and if it wasn’t for the A: It was so frustrating. I have to be pandemic, we would have had the careful as I work for the FA. I have commentators on-site too. It added absolutely no say in the decisions at all. I intrigue in the game too, and a lot more can’t really complain at it being null and people turned up than usual. voided this term really, but how they came to the decision to null and void the We couldn’t have done it better really! A league last year I will never know. late equaliser to take it to penalties, and then we won on penalties. Hopefully, the The classic example is Jersey Bulls. They BBC like us and they want us to come have won something like 40 games on back on again soon. the trot, but have gone nowhere with null and voiding the seasons. If they had Q: You had a penalty shootout victory postponed it slightly, they could have in that game, but also then had a allowed us to play those games and penalty shootout defeat against complete the season. Fingers crossed, Braintree Town. Braintree Town were we can rid of this season and have a a National League side and now play season of football next year with fans in the . If you back in! had gone on to win, do you think that would have laid down a really big statement that Hashtag United are a top non-league side and not just a YouTube side? A: I think the fact that we took them to penalties in the first-place made that statement anyway in all honesty. Because of the pandemic, it wasn’t the Braintree Town side that it could have been, but it was still a very strong side Braintree Town side with a lot of first- Figure 3 Hashtag United skipper Jack Harrison lifts the team players in it. trophy after they crowned champions [Photo credit: Hashtag United] It was good to get to that stage, and the Q: Next year, if you were to go up, nature of penalty shootouts is that you then it would be back-to-back are going to eventually lose one. The promotions. You won the league in Braintree Town game was a weird one, your first season in non-league. To as we scored and thought we had won it, take to non-league so quickly and win and then they equalised and went on to the league, how surprised were you? beat us on penalties. It was disappointing, but the fact we got that far A: It was amazing. We didn’t actually made a point that we were a good side. start that well, and that pleased all of the Hashtag United haters. If you ask any player or staff member what the best day P a g e | 7 in their Hashtag United journey is, then it their early days on YouTube who you would be that night. now had to say to them they had to forget all of these players and take to a We had the bump at the start, but once new set of players better-suited and we overcame that bump, we responded qualified to be playing in non-league. well. I think it was important we had that bump, as it woke everyone up that we There was that element of fazing out. It needed to play better. What was key is didn’t bother me as much, as having that if we had come in and absolutely gone to watch the teams play live and walked it, it perhaps harder to sell the slowly seeing that the players thar argument that we are just a non-league started out would not be good enough to side. make that transition into non-league, we slowly, but surely faded out the players So, it was good that we had that bump from Chapter 1. and we had to come back from it, as it showed that we were a side like any There were a lot of comments from other and that we still had to earn the people saying that all of these players right to win, rather than just buying it. that they had come to know weren’t playing anymore. With so many people Q: Going forward, where do you think coming from different areas of the Hashtag United can get to and what is country, logistically it didn’t work. If you the long-term aim for the club? look back on it in years to come, we may A: The long-term aim is to exist, and I see more and more teams that have think that is the battle for a lot of non- originated on YouTube come into the league sides, particularly during these non-league scene. times with the pandemic. Q: We have seen a former Hashtag From an achievement perspective, I United player in Scott Pollock play – think everyone accepts we are too good and score – in the Football League for for the level we are at, but I think we Northampton Town, and is close to want to try and get to around Step 3 and signing a new deal with them. When perhaps getting into the National League people talk about Scott Pollock, how would be a real achievement. To make nice is to for people to take about the that next step into the Football League is fact he came through from Hashtag really difficult and requires a lot of United? investment. A: It is good publicity for the club, as I would be happy with a spot in Step 3, even on his Wikipedia page it credits and if we are able to achieve anything him coming through the Hashtag United higher than that, it would be a real Academy. I wasn’t there at the club in bonus. the Scott Pollock days, but even then, you could tell that he was levels above Q: The fact that it all started out as anyone at the time, and so absolutely just a group of friends, to now being a earned his opportunities in the EFL. very good non-league side, how special is it to see that transformation It is great to see from our perspective that the club has been on? and from the perspective of non-league. Scott Pollock coming through happened A; It has been really enjoyable to see at just the right time, as it allowed us to that transformation, although a difficult say “here is someone that has come transformation too. You had a lot of fans through the academy, played for us and that have started watching the side from gone on to play in the Football League”, P a g e | 8 and so that really helps us sell and with, and not all creators on YouTube are market the club and make it an attractive like that. Spencer is a very good egg, proposition for players. and his whole family follow that. Of course, in the wake of our interview with Alfie, it has now been confirmed that Hashtag United are to receive promotion to the as a result of the FA’s non-league pyramid restructuring. That means that they will compete in the Isthmian League North Division, the same division as and Maldon and Tiptree, two recent FA Cup success stories, and this marks the highest that The Tags have been in their history to date.

Huge congratulations to every involved Figure 4 Hashtag United founder Spencer Owen (centre) with the club for being rightly granted and manager Jay Devereux (right) with Marlon permission having been in and around Harewood (left) as part of the academy series [Photo the promotion places for the last few credit: Hashtag United] seasons, having initially being denied Q: We have to finish by talking about promotion due to the league being null Spencer and his family, as the club is and voided. very much a family-orientated one. Good luck to Hashtag United to the Just tell us a little bit about them and season ahead! what they do.

A: The Carmichael-Brown family is just amazing, and that is what makes it a very much non-league club. Every member of the Carmichael-Brown has – or is – involved. Seb does a lot of the commercial work. Sindy is just great. We see her on matchdays and just does everything. She is the first person you see on a matchday, and the story goes she isn’t really a football fan. However, with an opportunity to get involved with Hashtag United, she couldn’t turn it down. Obviously, you then have Steve (the physio) that has a huge impact on the club and the side too.

I think when you look at Spencer, he is a big YouTube personality, but at the end of the day he is just an honest and down- to-earth person who you can have a chat P a g e | 9

EFL SEASON DRAWS TO A CLOSE

WITH WEMBLEY AT THE READY The EFL seasons are at a conclusion, with The Posh came from 3-0 down on the attentions being turned to next season. final day to secure a 3-3 home draw All that is left for the final promotion against Lincoln City and with it their spots to be finalised at Wembley. promotion to the Championship. In the Championship, Norwich City and In League Two, Cheltenham Town Watford marked their impressive managed to avenge the heartbreak of campaigns with an immediate return to last year’s play-off semi-final defeat to the top-flight after their relegations last Northampton Town by sealing the title year, with The Canaries sealing their with a 4-1 home win over Harrogate second promotion under German boss Town at . Daniel Farke.

Figure 7 Cheltenham Town secured the League Two title Figure 5 Norwich City secured the Championship title as they came from behind to run out comfortable with a 4-1 home victory over Reading [Photo Credit: winners against Harrogate Town [Photo Credit: Sky Norwich City] Sports]

In League One, Hull City marked a Cambridge United also managed to get season of real improvement with an over the line despite failing short against immediate return of the Championship Harrogate Town the week previous, as Grant McCann continues to defy his running out comfortable 3-0 winners at critics at The KCOM Stadium, and The home to already-relegated Grimsby Tigers were joined by Peterborough Town, as Mark Bonner’s side marked United in sealing automatic promotion. their notable improvement with passage to League One. Bolton Wanderers completed the trio of sides to get promoted from League Two via the automatics, as ’s side produced an impressive final day away victory against Crawley Town to seal their immediate return to League One.

With the automatically-promoted sides rubber-stamped, the attention turns to Figure 6 Hull City secured the League One title with a 3-1 win against Wigan Athletic at The KCOM Stadium [Photo Wembley as this bank holiday weekend Credit: Hull City] sees the play-off finals. P a g e | 10

In the Championship, two of last year’s spot in the final, while The Exiles lost 4-3 defeated play-off sides – Brentford and away to Forest Green Rovers, but still Swansea City – look to go one step progressed on aggregate thanks to their further this time around. Brentford 2-0 home victory in the first-leg. worked their way past AFC Bournemouth in the semi-finals with a comeback second-leg victory, while Swansea City edged past Barnsley.

Figure 10 Nicky Maynard scored a third for Newport County in a scintillating second-leg showing as they edged past Forest Green Rovers to make the final [Photo Credit: Newport County] Figure 8 Brentford turned around their first-leg defeat against The Cherries to make it through to their second- The play-off finals are arguably the most straight Championship play-off final [Photo Credit: Sky eagerly-anticipated moment of the EFL Sports] season, with sides competing for the chance to gain promotion in the ultimate In League One, Blackpool look to extend high-stakes affair in the capital. their fine play-off record as they face Lincoln City. The Seasiders impressed as Who do you think will secure promotion they got the better of United by this weekend? virtue of an impressive first-leg victory at The Kassam Stadium, while Lincoln Will Brentford make it second time lucky City’s 2-0 first-leg victory over in the final, or will Swansea City go all Sunderland ensured that they the way under in-demand boss Steve progressed despite losing 2-1 at The Cooper? . Will Blackpool extend their strong play- off record with another final victory, or will ’s young side mark their improvement with a spot in the Championship? Will Morecambe complete the ultimate turnaround in securing promotion to League One, or will The Exiles make up for their final defeat in 2019 against

Tranmere Rovers with a win here? Figure 9 Oxford United put in a strong second-leg showing as they tried to overturn the first-leg deficit, but fell short as The Seasiders booked their spot in the final [Photo Credit: Sky Sports] In League Two, Morecambe and Newport County both look to avenge the heartbreak of past play-off campaigns. Morecambe edged past Tranmere Rovers in the semi-finals to book their P a g e | 11

A CHAT WITH CHRIS BRIGHT ON INCREASING THE AWARENESS OF

DIABETES IN FOOTBALL Q: You are a Welsh Futsal acting sugary drinks and glucose tabs on international. How does having hand, whilst also carrying my insulin Diabetes affect your approach to the pen. This is all so I can make adjustments sport and how does you approach to my glucose levels to find the optimum differ to a non-diabetic player? range to perform at my best. The normal range is between 4-10mmols and I like A: I have to do a lot more preparation to be 7/8mmols to play sport. than others, and have to do a lot more thinking about how my body is feeling To bring my blood glucose levels down and reacting to the sport. All this is while I’ll need to inject insulin into my body or monitoring my glucose levels and maybe do some lower intensity exercise, making adjustments based on what the whilst if I need my levels to go up, I’ll numbers are saying. need to take on some fast-acting glucose in the form of a sugary drink or glucose I spend most of my pre-game prep tab. thinking about how my levels will respond to the game and making sure I’ve got everything I need around me to be able to monitor what’s happening and make adjustments to my glucose levels if needed. Creating a routine is a really important part of my preparation to try and reduce the likelihood of my levels falling into a danger zone of hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose) or hyperglycaemia (high Figure 11 Chris Bright representing the Welsh National blood glucose) which would significantly Futsal Team [Photo Credit: Chris Bright] impact on my ability to perform. So, my preparation concentrates around Q: You started the Diabetes Football these things and this is without Community. What inspired you to set concentrating on the game itself, the that up and what does it do and aim to opposition and how I want to play or achieve going forward? approach it. It’s a challenge that many A: It was really in response to the people in the sport might not know challenges I’d faced growing up with the exists! condition. I’ve faced an awful lot of Q: What extra stuff do you have to put stigma in my life through the into place to ensure that your Diabetes misconceptions that people have about does not have a problem with your the word Diabetes. Instead of stopping play? to listen or ask questions about the condition, people like to sound A: I’ll be carrying my blood glucose knowledgeable and they’ll say what monitoring device, whilst wearing the they’ve heard or read in the media, sensor often on my arm, I’ll have short P a g e | 12 which is often linked to type 2 Diabetes provide an overall approach to not type 1 Diabetes. tackling the stigma? So, in response to the comments and A: I’m very proud to have represented stereotypes I’ve faced, I wanted to try Wales and the FAW in my sport. It’s a and right some of the wrongs I’d seen dream that many people set out with, to and support others with my passion and represent your country in your sport, my condition. and it’s been an honour to do it despite living with a hidden disability. The So, in 2017 I started The Diabetes mantra that the FAW live by is Together Football Community to help inspire, Stronger and it’s something which I think educate and provide participatory applies to so many situations. opportunities for people with Diabetes, which I hope also raises awareness in Creating a world with less stigma is the mainstream audience of what the something we have to do together. condition is really like, to help dispel Inclusivity is at the heart of their work some of the stigma. and if we continue to think like that it’ll spread to the way people talk about Q: You are one of the main advocates those who face challenges like medical for not just tackling the stigma of conditions or disabilities. Diabetes in football, but in sport in general. What more needs to be done in your opinion and is it important that people tackle that stigma? A: Stigma is prejudice and as we’ve seen across the world in the way people have viewed different cultures, races and disabilities in the past, and in 2021, we can see that equality hasn’t been achieved. This is why we tackle stigma, talk about stereotypes and try to raise awareness of the truth so openly, because if we don’t Figure 12 Chris Bright scoring for the Welsh National people will continue to hold an opinion Futsal Team [Photo Credit: Chris Bright] of us based on a stigma or view they hold, which is incorrect. Q: You did a research project as part of your Masters Degree. During the The reason there is a need to talk about completion of that, how much did you these stereotypes and views of the learn about Diabetes that you didn’t condition is because in 2021 we’re still perhaps know before and how has that hiding our condition from society, changed your outlook on Diabetes? because society still makes us feel bad for living with a condition we had no A: I think much of the work I did was control over obtaining. really to provide evidence for what I thought I already knew, and to be honest And if we say nothing, nothing changes. the research did that, and strengthened my knowledge of how society works. Q: How pleased and proud are you with the way that FA Wales have I now see a picture of how disability supported you in tackling this stigma interpretations are formed and why and how what they do be upscaled to identity with disability for people with P a g e | 13

Diabetes is a challenging concept. I take on the responsibility of managing hope that with this greater their condition upon themselves and let understanding, and the work we do in their football do the talking. peer support, will continue to help Having their stories to share with our challenge and overcome societal community as inspiration has been perceptions of what people with the brilliant and just having them share condition are capable of. some of our work, whilst in some cases Q: How proud are you of the work you engage with it too, has been really have done with regards to tackling the helpful in raising awareness. stigma around Diabetes? A: I’m extremely proud of what we’ve achieved so far but I always think to myself why has it taken someone like me to take this on. Why haven’t others with greater positions of power or influence looked at this before? However, this doesn’t stop me, it just encourages me to think that if Chris from the midlands can make a difference, then imagine if we get through to some of the powerful institutions and organisations who govern sport in this country – imagine what we could do! We still have a long way to go but I believe we’re making a difference and Figure 13 Chris Bright with his international cap for the that’s all that matters for now. 2019-20 Futsal Campaign [Photo Credit: Chris Bright]

Q: There are a number of footballers Q: You won Grassroots Project of the in the game with type 1 Diabetes, Year in 2019 for your work with TDFC. including the likes of Craig Stanley, How proud and humbled were you to Jack Muldoon and . How receive this award and for your efforts have they dealt with the challenges to be recognised in this way? surrounding Diabetes, and how have you been able to help them with the A: It’s obviously nice to receive work you do? recognition like this but I didn’t set out on this path to chase down awards, I A: I think they work extremely hard to wanted to achieve meaningful impact. manage their condition day in and day Whilst it’s nice to see awards appear like out, whilst putting in that same hard this because you’re achieving that work on the training pitch. They’re great impact, I’m very conscious that there’s examples of what can be achieved still a long way to go before we’ve really despite living with the condition and found a place where people with they provide inspiration for so many Diabetes in football and sport can be children up and down the country viewed equally without having to fight diagnosed with type 1 Diabetes. with everything they have for acceptance in that environment. I can imagine that during their day to day lives on the football pitch they’re treated like everyone else because they P a g e | 14

AWESOME FOURSOME HANG UP THEIR BOOTS AS THEY DECIDE TO

CALL TIME ON THEIR CAREERS As each EFL season comes to a dramatic McAvoy a permanent position, having close, so does the playing careers of first moved into the role during March some of the names that have graced this year. these underappreciated leagues for Gallagher finishes his playing career longer than some fans have walked this having played over 550 games, and earth. featured in every game in the 2014-15 Each May, local servants with storied season as he played an integral part in careers are waved goodbye with the Preston North End’s promotion to the cheers of their fans ringing in their ears. Championship under . This season, four players in particular who’ve had a huge impact on the clubs they’ve ended their careers with and also many other EFL teams between them, were not afforded that emotional send off. The Coronavirus pandemic has robbed the world of many things and some would say an audience to heap adulation on a handful of old-timers, lacing up Figure 14 Preston North End celebrate promotion to the their boots for a final time is quite a way Championship [Photo Credit: Preston North End] down that list in terms of importance. He also played over 100 times for That may be so, yet to these stalwarts Leicester City over the course of five who’ve offered so much to the game and seasons at The King Power Stadium, the fans that make it all possible, it was a helping them to five consecutive top-half cruel twist of fate that denied them their finishes including a play-off semi-final well-deserved ovations on their defeat in his final season in 2015, as respective football swansongs. Leicester City famously lost to Watford. Paul Gallagher, Jobi McAnuff, James Such was the impact that he has had at Coppinger and Jon Stead all bid their Deepdale during his eight seasons, he final farewell to the EFL after varying was named as Preston North End’s journeys, but all sharing one thing; a Player of the Decade in 2020 by the fans, clear and obvious love for the game and now assumes a coaching role with which help extend most of their career the first-team ahead of next season. into their late thirties. Jobi McAnuff has also called time on his Paul Gallagher has called time on his career, having finished up the season as career having last played for Preston interim boss of Orient after the North End earlier this term, but while departure of Ross Embleton. The one door closes, another door opens as Jamaican midfielder took over as he has made his coaching role under manager until the end of the season, and now permanent Lilywhites boss Frankie departs Brisbane Road having achieved promotion to the Football League with P a g e | 15

Orient in 2019, and in the same season encounter against Hull City in February finish runners-up in the FA Trophy. this year. He finishes having won two titles during Further accolades for his achievements his playing career, with the other being in the game were to follow, with with Reading in 2012 as they won Coppinger being awarded the promotion to the Premier League under prestigious Sir Award at the Brian McDermott. He played just over EFL End-of-Season Awards, recognising 700 times throughout the top flight, the the fact that he became only the 21st EFL and non-league, and also went on to player in the history of the Football represent his country on 32 occasions, League to play 600 games. playing for them in the 2015 Copa America.

Figure 15 Jobi McAnuff in the studio on EFL on Quest [Photo Credit: EFL] Figure 16 James Coppinger picking up the Sir Tom Finney Award [Photo Credit: EFL] He now resumes a role on Sky Sports as one of the lead commentators and studio Of course, Coppinger’s association with pundits for their coverage of the Football the game has not ended there, with the League. former Rovers forward recognising his roots by setting up an organisation Another playing hanging up their boots called Kixx Middlesbrough, a local at the end of this season is James academy for young footballers in Coppinger, who – like McAnuff – finishes Middlesbrough, the club at which he having amassed over 700 career started his youth career as a footballer. appearances at the grand old footballing age of 40. The final stalwart of the EFL to have announced their impending departure This season saw him bring to an end a from the game is Jon Stead. He finished 17-year association with Doncaster his career with Harrogate Town – the Rovers, and leaves having experienced club that he helped win promotion to the three relegations and three promotions, Football League for the first time in their most recently in 2017 when they history last season – and was also returned to the third tier under the instrumental in The Sulphurites winning guidance of . the delayed 2019-20 FA Trophy final In memory of his long association with earlier this month. Rovers, the club announced that James He started out his football career with Coppinger would be involved in the Town, making his debut for creation of a one-off jersey – in support The Terriers in 2002 at the age of just 19, of mental health charity CALM – and this and off the back of good early form as a was worn by Rovers in their League One youngster, he earnt a move to then P a g e | 16

Premier League outfit Blackburn Rovers wake of the news of his retirement in 2004 for a fee in excess of £1 million. announced yesterday, is Tranmere He famously returned to Huddersfield Rovers forward James Vaughan. The Town despite having made permanent former Toffee has been in fine form for his move to Ewood Park, travelling to Rovers this term, and his return to the to celebrate their side was timely in their efforts to try and promotion to the First Division in the progress through the play-offs, but with 2003-04 Second Division play-off final. Rovers falling short, he has announced his decision to cut short his playing He then moved to Sunderland during the career. 2005-06 season, but was part of The Black Cats side that was relegated from the Premier League. He featured only five times for them in the following campaign as he spent time out on loan with Derby County and later sealed a move to Sheffield United who – at the time – were in the Premier League. Subsequent spells throughout the Football League were to follow as he was relegated with The Blades from the top flight, and notably went on to play over

160 times for Notts County across a 4- season spell with The Magpies, scoring 42 goals in the process.

At the back end of his career in the last few campaigns, he has been with northern-based side Harrogate Town, and played a key part in their promotion-winning side that secured a spot in the EFL last term, with Stead beating his former side Notts County in the final. He has scored just the single goal this term, and bows out having played over 700 games and scoring 165 goals. There were also a handful of other players that have announced their retirement from the game. Leicester City Wes Morgan made clear of his intentions to hang up his boots at the end of the season, following a career of over 600 appearances, a promotion from League One with Forest and a Championship title with Leicester City in 2014. Another player that has retired, and someone who has caused quite the stir in P a g e | 17

SUTTON UNITED SECURE HISTORIC PROMOTION AS NATIONAL LEAGUE

PLAY-OFFS AWAIT Sutton United made history as they way, with Dean Keates’ men sitting 6th as secured promotion to the Football it stands and a point ahead of the three League for the first time in their history sides sitting directly below them in the with a 3-0 home win over Hartlepool table. The Welsh side head to in-form United last Sunday. Dagenham and Redbridge on the final day, and know that a win will ensure Matt Gray’s side knew that with Torquay they finish in the top seven. United failing to beat Barnet at , a win for United would secure Chesterfield, Eastleigh and Bromley all the National League title. And, with their find themselves tied on 66 points, with fans back in attendance at Gander Green The Spireites currently sitting in the final Lane, they made no mistake as goals play-off spot as it stands. They face FC from Milsom, John and Olaofe was Halifax Town on the final day of the enough to hand them victory. campaign, with Town themselves in the running for a play-off spot as they sit a That means Sutton United head into the point back from Chesterfield in 10th. final game of the season away to Barnet knowing that they do not need to get a Eastleigh secured a draw in the week to result at The Hive, and will look to add move level on points with Chesterfield, further shine to what has been an and their opponents on the final day of already impressive campaign from the season is an away trip to Damson United. Park to face Solihull Moors, knowing that they will have to better Chesterfield’s However, while Sutton United may have result to seal a play-off spot. made sure of their promotion to the National League, there is still a lot at Bromley are also in the running, and stake on the final day of the season, with they face a tricky tie against Notts two spots in the play-offs still up for County, and so they will have to be at grabs. their best if they are to progress to the end-of-season deciders. Torquay United and Stockport County both drew last time out, with their play- With a lot still to play for, it promises to off spots already assured, and even be a tight and exciting final day, with no though Hartlepool United were well- less than five teams all in with a chance beaten at , they are of getting into the play-offs at this late still confirmed of their spot in the play- stage. offs. Notts County also made sure of their Our Thanks play-off berth as they marked the return of fans at with a We’d like to thank Hashtag Alfie and convincing 3-0 home victory over Chris Bright for giving up their time to Weymouth. get involved with our third edition of ‘Sub Please Ref’. Your time and support That leaves two spots still to be are very much appreciated. confirmed. Wrexham currently lead the