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IN POSH WE TRUST Patron :- Members of Supporters Direct, The Football Supporters’ Federation and Peterborough Council for Voluntary Service. Sponsored by ‘CHARTERS’ and ‘OAKHAM ALES’

NEWSLETTER No 40 March 2014

Minutes of our 11th Annual General Meeting

Assets of Community Value

The Ever Changing Posh Squad

Pete’s ‘Memory’ Lane, Posh v the Forces!

Visit our website: www.theposhtrust.co.uk E-Mail: [email protected] THE POSH SUPPORTERS’ TRUST Registered in England and Wales with the Financial Services Authority as an Industrial & Provident Society. Registration number: 29533R.

Chairman Barry Bennett, Secretary John Henson, Treasurer Geoff Callen

Directors : Ray Cole, Keith Jennings, Walter Moore. John Lawrence. Ken Storey.

Patron Tommy Robson. Consultant Peter Lloyd.

The Posh Supporters’ Trust, is a democratic not-for-profit organisation of supporters, committed to strengthening the voice of supporters in the decision-making process at Peterborough United Football Club. We seek to improve the links between the club and the community it serves, and help the club to grow to the highest level.

Our Mission :  To bring Peterborough United Football Club, Posh fans and the local community closer together.  To help disadvantaged and deserving fans to go to a match for free under the "Smile Ticket" scheme.  To help the football club by increasing the Posh fan base through our "New Posh Fans Initiative."  To support football related activities locally through sponsorship and donations whenever possible.  To have a substantial membership in order to represent the views of fans at meetings with the football club and to promote their interests.  To have a Supporters' Trust representative on the board of the football club representing the interests of all fans.  To build up funds to support our activities and create a reserve to help the club in the longer term in the event of a crisis.

Help Us to Help You!

 Become a member – subscription details on the back pages.  Make a donation to the Trust. (pay-pal facility on website www.theposhtrust.co.uk)  Join the Gold Bond Weekly Draw! And receive your Membership for FREE!  Use your membership card at the local businesses that provide excellent discounts to members  Shop at Westgate Department Stores, AHF Home Furnishing Superstores and Westgate Optical, asking for the dividend to be credited to the Trust’s share number 473432.  Visit and support our Stall on the concourse on match days! Browse our merchandise including various books and magazines. Join or re-new your membership, and take part in the various competitions we will feature.  Offer your services to the Trust, if you have any professional or other skills, e g in fund-raising, accountancy, business management, the law etc.  Make use of our on-line shopping facility, www.spendandraise.com/theposhtrust/

Website: www.theposhtrust.co.uk E-mail: [email protected] We thank all those who continue to support the Trust, however they do it.

Published by The Posh Supporters’ Trust, 193 Oakdale Ave, Stanground, Peterborough. PE2 8TH. Printed by Printing Matters, Unit 12c, Brookside Industrial Estate, Sawtry, Cambs. PE28 5SB

CHAIRMANS MESSAGE, Welcome to our latest newsletter. Well after a good start to the season, grinding out results and accumulating valuable points, the Posh has had a very topsy- turvy year so far. The season started full of optimism from a squad who finished so strongly in the Championship last season. It was evident that some players clearly wanted to move on, as the team appeared to lack the commitment, passion and solidarity of last year’s endeavour.

However following the departure of several ‘want away’ players, and the signing of some very good prospective young talent, there are strong signs that Posh are on their way to regain the ‘Spirit and Camaraderie’ that has made us so successful since Darragh’s arrival.

Since the Trust introduced the concept of Safe Standing to PUFC in 2011, the Safe Standing campaign has moved in a positive direction. Posh C.E.O. Bob Symns rallied other clubs to gain commitment from the Football League to a trial of the ‘Rail Seating’ system. After much research, the Football League surveyed all 72 league clubs with 4 questions : 1. Should The Football League approach the Minister for Sport to request that the ‘all-seater’ stadia requirement for Championship clubs be reviewed with a view to the re-introduction of standing accommodation? 2. Should The Football League approach the Sports Ground Safety Authority to request that Rail Seating products be licensed in Football League grounds? 3. Should clubs be permitted to accommodate supporters standing in Rail seating in The Football League Championship? 4. Should clubs be permitted to revert from seating to standing accommodation in League 1 and 2 following relegation from The Football League Championship?

With 70% of league clubs voting to back safe standing, the leagues Chief Executive Shaun Harvey was given an "overwhelming mandate" to lobby Sports Minister Helen Grant.

Finally, A warm Welcome to all the players who have recently signed for the Posh we have 3 new central defenders and a striker who will bring much needed strength to the squad.  Jack Baldwin, beat the transfer deadline to pen a four and a half year deal at Posh. the highly-rated 20 year old central defender, who made close to 100 appearances for Hartlepool, can also operate at full-back or in midfield.  Portuguese central defender Ricardo Santos has joined Posh on a three-and-half- year deal. The 18-year-old who is 6ft 5ins was previously at Thurrock, and his progress was being watched by several Premier and Football League clubs.  And a third centre back, Ben Nugent has joined on loan from Cardiff. Ben a 6ft 5ins central defender is 20 years old, made 14 appearances for Cardiff who won the Championship last season.  Striker Conor Washington has penned a three-and-a-half year contract at Road. The 21-year-old, signed from Newport County, is an exciting and prolific goal scorer, having scored over 60 goals at St. Ives in as many appearances prior to joining Newport.  At the time of writing Darragh has tweeted that there are more to come ??????

Enjoy the read Up The POSH ! Barry

NEW POSH FANS INITIATIVE The Posh Supporters’ Trust has launched it’s 7th New Posh Fans Initiative

On this occasion, residents from the new housing developments of Hempstead and Cardea in Peterborough, can purchase up to 5 tickets for their family for just £1 each, to watch Posh play either Crewe Alexandra on 8 March or Rotherham United on 22 March.

Once again Trust Secretary John Henson headed up the operational side of the initiative and on Sunday 9 February together with a team of volunteers, delivered leaflets to Cardea and Hempstead. It was a very cold and blustery morning, but warmed by the memory of taking three good points off Leyton Orient the day before, they were all in good spirits.

Many thanks to the following volunteers who again helped us to “Make it Happen”

Ken Storey Adi Mowles Adrian Kisby Graham Palmer Caz Mowles Keith Jennings Paul Froggitt Lucy Mowles Dave Wilson Walter Moore Sophie Mowles Alan Platt Ray Cole Steve Thorpe John Lawrence Karen Cole Jo Thorpe Louise Lawrence Steve Fagioli Geoff Callen Sam Laurence

We look forward to Welcoming 250 New Fans to each of the two chosen games

Come on Boro! Its POSH We Are!

THE POSH SUPPORTERS LIMITED MINUTES OF THE ELEVENTH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Held 7.30pm Thurs 10 October 2013 at The Cherry Tree, Oundle Rd, P’Boro.

Present: Trust Board:- Barry Bennett (BB), Geoff Callen (GC), John Henson (JH), Keith Jennings (KJ), Tony Griffin (TG), Ray Cole (RC), John Lawrence (JL), Paul Froggitt (PF), Ken Storey (KS)

Apologies Received:- Walter Moore, Paul Little, Brian Seaton, Graham Palmer, Adi Mowles.

Welcome Barry Bennett welcomed the members to the meeting and introduced the Board addressing the AGM. Himself as Chairman, John Henson as Secretary, and Geoff Callen as Treasurer. Barry also welcomed guests Tommy Robson, and Peter Lloyd.

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on 29th October 2012 The minutes in respect of the meeting were accepted as a true record and signed by BB.

Chairman’s Report BB addressed the meeting: During the Trust financial year that ended on 30 June, your Board has remained focused on the principles of the Trust Movement, and the aims of The Posh Supporters Trust.

Your Trust has been actively campaigning with Supporters Direct, to improve the Governance of Football in the UK. We have Parliaments agreement that things need to change and whilst clubs have now adopted Supporters Liaison Officers to generate better communications between supporters with their clubs, The dictatorship and protective outlook of the is dragging its heels to make any real changes that will safeguard the future existence of clubs

Along with the full commitment and support of Peterborough United, we have continued to campaign for Safe Standing to be trialled in the UK. Thanks to Bob Symns, the Football League is now committed to join the campaign for a trial. It would be great to see in installed at London Road in the near future.

One of our objectives for last year was to further improve our communications with members. Our Website is now maintained to show the latest information, and we have introduced a new monthly e-Letter, that gives members regular updated information via email. This is also sent to interested non-members who I’m sure will join the Trust when they are more aware of our activities. The e- Letter is in addition to the traditional newsletter that we produce in August and February each year. If anyone is not receiving the new e-Letter, please make contact so we can note your email address and ensure you are added to our list.

We have continued to build our funds and now hold a substantial bank balance, as Geoff will explain later.

We have introduced more retailers offering discounts in our Members Discount Scheme, and I’m sure you are aware of the great savings to be made on production of your up to date membership / discount card.

One again this year, we attended the Beer Festival to ‘Fly the Flag’ for the Supporters Trust and sell some Posh merchandise to help publically promote the Trust and the football club in the community.

We have attended monthly meetings with PUFC, to debate the clubs activities and any issues that affect the match day experience for supporters. We were also kept up to date with the development plans of the football ground.

We have successfully implemented 2 more New Posh Fans Initiatives, entertaining 180 guests from the Orton Waterville on 27 October and another 225 from the same area on 10 November.

We continue to offer Free Tickets to disadvantaged and deserving fans, with our Smile Ticket Scheme, We welcome and encourage your nominations for future games.

So all in all, the Trust has once again had a very busy year. Your Board has achieved this, and I would like to thank each one of them for their efforts.

BB thanked retiring Board Members Paul Little and Paul Froggitt for their hard work and dedication over their years as members of the Trust Board.

Finally, thank you to Oakham Ales at Woodston, and Printing Matters from Sawtry, for their sponsorship of our most recent NPFI leaflet. Thanks also to Charters, for their continued support of the Trust, The Cherry Tree and the Crown at Walton for providing us regular meeting places, our Accountant Tony Millen for once again Auditing our Accounts, Peter Lane for his regular contributions to the Trust Newsletter Magazine, Mick Robinson for the “O too Easy Quiz” and PISA for their solidarity and support throughout the year.

Treasurer’s Report Please see appendix Treasurers Report (Accounts – 30th June 2013)

GC provided a detailed and thorough analysis of the Trust annual accounts.

GC informed the meeting that as at end of September 2013, the excess of income over expenditure stood at £120,317.

GC informed the meeting the Gold Bond Scheme has raised £128,881 for the Trust (66% of total income since commencement) and he thanked Walter Moore for his work in this area. GC appealed to the meeting to join the Gold Bond (via Standing Order) if not already part of the scheme.

GC asked the meeting if there were any questions relating to the accounts – there were none.

Appointment of Auditor Barry Bennett proposed the Members re-appoint Tony Millen as our auditors for next year. By a show of hands, Tony was re-appointed for the year July 1st 2013 to June 30th 2014. Proposed : Peter Lloyd Seconded : Paul Froggitt

Secretary’s Report JH reported that the Trust shareholding in PUFC remained the same as last year, 1410 shares. Leaving the Trust still the second largest shareholder after Darragh MacAnthony. JH reported that 7 Board meetings were held during the year and a Trust representative attended each of the club’s monthly meetings with Bob Symns, PISA and Forever Posh. JH reported that 2 newsletters were sent out to members and distributed from the Trust stall and outside the ground. All local councillors and MPs were also sent copies of each newsletter. JH reported that the Trust membership was 278 plus 62 complimentary memberships. JH reported that Trust Board members attended Regional Trusts meetings and the Supporters Direct joint Fans Summit with the FSF (which included the Supporters Direct AGM). JH closed with a thanks to the Board for the continued support of all trust activities and aims.

Election of Directors

Directors seeking re-election: Barry Bennett, Proposed by Paul Evers Seconded by Peter Lloyd Geoff Callen, Proposed by Mick Robinson Seconded by Tony Griffin Ray Cole, Proposed by John Lawrence Seconded by Keith Jennings As a new Board Member: Ken Storey, Proposed by Keith Jennings Seconded by Geoff Callen As Secretary: John Henson, Proposed by Barry Bennett Seconded by John Lawrence

No objections were received from the floor, so all nominees were duly appointed.

New Trust Board as follows: Barry Bennett Chairman Geoffrey Callen Treasurer Ray Cole Membership Secretary Keith Jennings Membership Discounts Sponsorship Manager John Lawrence Director Walter Moore Gold Bond Manager

John Henson Secretary Peter Lloyd Consultant to Board

Barry Bennett then addressed the meeting as the newly re-elected Chairman. We start this new financial Year with four vacant positions on the Board, and if you the members can influence someone who would like to join us now as a co-opted Board Member then please encourage them to make contact with us as soon as possible. We would encourage and welcome both male and female applicants, to ensure that the ambitions and views of all generations and genders are considered at all times. Looking forward to the next 12 months, I will ensure that we remain focussed on the Trust movement, the principles of community involvement, and remain alert at all times to influence the future direction of our football club. Peter Lloyd, will now address the floor to tell you all about Assets of Community Value, and with your approval the Trust will investigate the possibility of getting the classified as a ACV.

Peter Lloyd then spoke to the meeting regarding ‘Assets of Community Value’. PL outlined the history of ‘Assets of Community Value’ – originating in the 2011 Localism Act – and explained what an ‘ACV’ is – an asset that can have a level of ‘protection’ (explained simply – a first refusal to buy) placed upon it regarding future sales of that asset. PL told the meeting that there is already an ‘ACV’ in Peterborough – the Green Back Yard Field. PL outlined the possibility of researching more into ‘ACV’s and requesting an ‘ACV’ for the London Road Stadium. The Trust Board will look into the possibility of an ‘ACV’ for London Road.

Any other business No further questions raised from the floor.

The AGM Closed at 8-05pm.

Assets of Community Value (ACV’s) Community ‘Right to Bid’

The Posh Supporters Trust has applied to Peterborough City Council for the London Road Stadium to be listed as an Asset of Community Value (ACV)

Only a “Not for Profit” local Community Group (CG) or charities which have a connection with the asset can apply for an ACV. The Posh Trust is a registered not for profit group.

Assets of Community Value have been established through the Localism Act 2011 to give Community Groups the right to know about the proposed sale of important land and buildings. It also gives the community group an option to make a bid for the asset under the “Community Right to Bid” scheme with sufficient time allowed for a bid proposal to be put together. An ACV lasts for 5 years after which a new application is required.

If the City Council approves the listing it will mean that the owner of the stadium, currently Peterborough City Council, would have to notify the Posh Supporters Trust and Peterborough United Football Club of its intention to sell.

Should the Posh Supporter’s Trust then wish to make a bid, an expression of interest (EOI) in buying on behalf of the community would need to be made within six weeks and a further four and a half months is then allowed for an offer to be submitted. During this time the stadium could not be sold to a third party.

If the Trust did not express an interest to bid within the initial 6 week period, then the owner is free to sell the asset. If the Trust did exercise its right to bid, an additional four and a half months would be applied before the asset could be sold. However, there is no obligation for the vendor to sell to the community.

For the fans and the football club and the wider community, the designation of the London Rd stadium as an ACV would give some additional assurance over the longer term future of the stadium and the opportunity to be involved in decisions about its future.

The Posh Supporters’ Trust is dedicated to ensuring the long term survival and success of Peterborough United Football Club and having as much protection for the ground as possible is part of this aim.

In the event of a successful application there would be more transparency of any potential sale, and could be no repeat of the rushed and secret sale of the ground to a third party that took place ten years ago, which has proved so costly to the Community, the Football Club and the City.

The Posh Trust wishes to confirm that it has no interest in opposing the prospective purchase of the stadium, should Darragh MacAnthony be in a position to buy it and reinstate the ownership of the ground with the Football Club.

Our specific objective of gaining an ACV on London Road is to be in a position to make any potential sale more transparent to the community. It is the delay in the sale, the openness of the process and the "Community Right to Bid" which are important, to ensure the stadium remains a treasured asset for the community and all Posh fans in the future.

Who Benefits from ACV’s?  The football supporters know that their club’s ground cannot be sold without their knowledge, and have the opportunity expose prospective asset strippers.  The football club has greater security over its ground and through its support can demonstrate its community credentials.  The whole community can have a different perspective on the club and stadium and have the chance of stadium ownership in the long term.

Who’s Doing It?

 Fifteen Supporters’ Trusts have successfully gained an ‘ACV’ listing on their respective football clubs’ ground / stadium:

 Prescot Cables AFC (Valerie Park)  Blues Trust Birmingham City (St Andrews)  Rovers Trust Blackburn Rovers (Ewood Park)  CAS Trust Charlton Athletic (The Valley)  Dulwich Hamlet Supporters Trust Dulwich Hamlet FC (Champion Hill)  Ipswich Town 1st Ipswich Town (Portman Road)  Foxes Trust Leicester City (King Power Stadium)  Spirit of Shankly Liverpool ()  Halifax Town Supporters’ Trust Halifax Town ()  Manchester United Supporters Trust Manchester United ()  Nuneaton Town Supporters Cooperative Nuneaton Town (Liberty Way)  OxVox Oxford United (Kassam Stadium)  County Supporters Co-operative Stockport County ()  Trust STFC Swindon Town (County Ground)  Rams Trust Derby County (Pride Park)

THE LONDON ROAD STADIUM : Surely AN ASSET OF COMMUNITY VALUE!

No not the comedy series on television during the fifties/sixties, but a special match played at London Road on Thursday 3rd October 1957 with a very early start of 5 p.m. (due to no floodlights) between Peterborough United and The Army. Posh knew they would be in for a 'battle' against this star studied side. Also appearing in the side was a player called Ferguson (I wonder if he was related to our very own Fergie?)

If this match had been played under floodlights there certainly would have been a far larger crowd, but due to the 5 p.m. kick-off many fans could not make it in time from leaving work.

The game was arranged as a trial for the Army Team in readiness for their visit to Portugal against the Portuguese Army at the National Stadium in Lisbon.

The Army were in command straight from the kick-off fielding an extremely strong side, and by half time were leading 5-0. The second half they ‘stood at ease’ a little and Posh inside- left Ray Smith, forced three excellent saves from Barnett in the Army goal. Cliff Jones (Swansea) continued to run right back, Roy Killin, ragged, his speed and skill on the wing was amazing; it was not surprising however to see the Army firing on all cylinders with two more goals to make it 7 with outside-left Jimmy Longworth scoring a consolation for Posh. Final score Posh 1 – Army 7. Teams: Posh: Walls, Killin, Jacobs, Shaw, Chadwick, Cockburn, Hails, Emery, O’Donnell, Smith, Longworth (Jimmy O’Donnell deputised for Donaldson). The Army: Barnett (Portsmouth), McIntosh (Falkirk), Whelan (Blackburn Rovers), Campbell (Liverpool), Ferguson (Corinthian Casuals), Curry (Newcastle Utd), Robinson (Bury), Melia (Liverpool), Hitchens (Cardiff City), Charlton (Manchester Utd), Jones (Swansea Town). Scorers: Army – Hitchens 3; Robinson 2; Charlton 1; Melia 1. Posh – Longworth.

Posh Manager, George Swindin said after the game that the Army side who had played in this game would beat anybody in the Football Lge, only the England Team would beat them! Looking back at that line-up – yes, that was a certain Bobby Charlton (Man.Utd) and Gerry Hitchens who later played for Aston Villa and England. The flying winger, Welsh International Cliff Jones who later joined Spurs. (Liverpool), young England U23 Bill Curry (Newcastle Utd) and Dave Whelan (now millionaire owner of Wigan Athletic). This happened to be Peterborough’s largest defeat by more than seven goals since Bradford Park Avenue Reserves won 10-0 at London Road on 23/10/1948 before a crowd of 6,800. Only 2 days after the Army game it was Posh’s turn to score 7 goals beating Bradford City Reserves 7-0 at London Road in a Midland Lge fixture before a crowd of 8,750.

The Army were however defeated 4-3 by Aston Villa shortly after, but with a depleted side missing four of their main stars.

Ironically on the same day 3/10 but 1942, a match was played between the A.A.Command and Freddie Steele’s XI (Stoke City and England Centre-Forward). The Command Team was made up of International and First Division players, notably Bryn Jones (Arsenal and Wales inside-left). Included in Steele’s XI made up from all First Division players was centre-half Kirton (Stoke City and England) and Terry Woodgate (West Ham Winger), Manager, George Swindin signed Woodgate for Posh in 1954. Entertainment was provided by the Home Guard Band.

Another game featuring the Forces was in the Inter Command Cup Competition Second Round between RAF Bomber Command and RAF Maintenance Command; this game also at London Road was played on Wednesday afternoon, 18 Jan 1950. Maintenance won 2-1 after extra time with Price (Birmingham City) scoring the winner. Bomber’s goal was scored by Applegarth who later appeared for Posh in the Reserves but mainly the A Team.

Two months later on Thursday 23 March, another match between RAF Bomber Command and top amateur team Corinthian Casuals was staged on our ground. Playing inside right for Corinthian’s was none other than the famous England and Essex Cricketer – Doug Insole.

Up The Posh!

‘FREE Membership’ of the TRUST! when you subscribe to the ‘GOLD BOND’ Weekly Draw by Standing Order.

315 Prizes Won Every Week! First Prize £2,000 Call Walter Moore on 01733 313121 Congratulations and Welcome Back Nicky!

Nicky Ajose,

Nicky Won, the Sky Bet League One “Player of the Month” for January. beating off competition from Brentford's Marcelo Trotta, Leyton Orient's Scott Cuthbert and Rotherham's James Tavernier.

Following his loan spell with Swindon Town, Nicky has returned to London Road, full of confidence and has forged a great partnership with Britt Assombalonga. Nicky scored 5 goals in 5 starts after returning to the Posh.

Annual Easter Beer Festival

th st Thursday 17 April – Monday 21 April

35 + Ales & Ciders ------FREE Entry to all - family friendly.

Entertainment :- Thursday - Quiz 8pm Friday - The Gangsters 10:30pm Saturday - Jessie’s Ghost 10:30pm Sunday - Children of the Revolution Unplugged 3pm

Charters Floating Bar is only a short distance from the POSH Stadium, open daily from Midday. Serving award winning real ales, with live entertainment weekly.

Remember : on presentation of your Trust Membership / Discount Card you will receive 30p off the normal price of Bishops Farewell, Citra, JHB or Inferno. Discounts available on Match Days Only 2 hours before and after Kick Off.

Visit our website for full details www.charters-bar.com Charters Bar Town Bridge Peterborough PE1 1FP T: 01733 315700 THE EVER-CHANGING SQUAD By Peter Williams

How often does a football squad change completely?

What is a football club? It is an amalgam of a pitch, goals, stands, terraces, players, management, administrative staff and, of course, supporters. But at 3 o’clock on Saturday afternoon everything focuses on eleven men (plus subs) representing the club on the pitch.

During a season at least 20, and possibly more than 40, players will appear in the first team, playing in numerous different combinations of eleven men. Transfers in, transfers out, tactics, loss of form and injuries all conspire to change the starting eleven for each match. So just how much continuity is there in the squad from one year to the next? I sat down with my copy of The Official History of Peterborough United FC, 1934-2012 by Mick Robinson and Andy Groom to find out how many complete changes there had been to the Posh first-team squad since that very first Football League match against Wrexham on 20 August 1960: Walls, Stafford, Walker, Rayner, Rigby, Norris, Hails, Emery, Bly, Smith, McNamee. The answer is: not many.

By studying the subsequent playing records of the starting eleven on that historic day I found that our first “link man”, Peter McNamee, retained his place in the team longer than anyone else. After helping the club to become an established force in the old Division 3, his last match was on 11 September 1965, when Ian Crawford was playing his fifth league game against his former club, Scunthorpe United. Ian’s Posh career, which was marred by the infamous demotion to Division 4 in 1967/68, lasted until the home match against Doncaster Rovers on 12 April 1969.

By this time ’s signing from the Cobblers, Tommy Robson, had been occupying the No 11 shirt for about five months. The flying winger was almost a permanent fixture in the side throughout the 1970s, helping the club to gain promotion in 1973/74, but he was also part of the squad that was relegated five years later. He made his final start at London Road against Hartlepool on 25 April 1981 (followed by a cameo appearance as a substitute at Hereford United a week later). By now Trevor Slack, a product of the Posh youth set-up, was commanding a regular place in the first team. During his six seasons at the club he played alongside Colin Foster, Billy Rodaway, Neil Firm and finally at the heart of the Posh defence. His last game was at home to Rochdale on the final day of the 1985/86 season in front of 1,592 fans.

Four months previously, and two and a half years since his last appearance for Posh, Steve Collins rejoined the club. Originally a left-back, he played in a number of positions in his second spell with Posh, who were still languishing in Division 4 when he made his final appearance on 13 May 1989. However, among his team mates were three players who were destined to help propel Posh through two consecutive promotions into the new Division 1 – Noel Luke, and Worrell Sterling. Of these three Worrell Sterling stayed the longest, playing his last match at home to Tranmere on 8 May 1993 (although, to be precise, Mick Halsall was a substitute at Watford seven months later). In the team that day was Tony Spearing, always a big favourite with the fans. Unfortunately, during his period at the club, Posh suffered relegation in the first year and then three poor seasons in Division 2, culminating in relegation to Division 3 at the end of 1996/97 (’s first season). Tony’s last appearance was on 31 March, when he played alongside Andy Edwards, who had joined Posh four months previously in the exchange deal that took Martin O’Connor to Birmingham City.

“Eagle” Edwards was a rock at the heart of the Posh defence. After the misery of that 1997 relegation he led the team to victory at Wembley in 2000 and remained a fixture until 2003, when he decamped to nearby Rushden & Diamonds for a somewhat short-lived stay. In his last Posh match, against Port Vale at London Road on 18 January, he played alongside Adam Newton, who had joined the club at the beginning of the season from West Ham United. Though introduced as a right-winger, he was later employed as a wing-back, arguably using his natural speed to even greater effect.

Few Posh players have had a roller-coaster career to match that of Adam Newton. After two narrow escapes, relegation became a reality in 2004/05. In his fourth season, in the newly-named League 2, the play-offs were missed by a whisker. When Barry Fry “moved upstairs” Adam Newton played for four managers in his last two years: Mark Wright, Steve Bleasdale, Keith Alexander and . Though just missing out in 2006/07, the nucleus of a good team was at last being formed and he played his part fully in the promotion-winning side of 2007/08. This of course was the first success tasted by the club’s new owner, Darragh Macanthony, who bankrolled the Ferguson policy of buying hungry young talent from the non-league game. The three principal stars – the “Holy Trinity” – were Aaron McLean, Craig Mackail-Smith and , who was captured from Stevenage Borough in January 2007 at the tender age of 21.

If Adam Newton’s sojourn at London Road was eventful, it was easily trumped by Boyd’s. In his seven seasons he experienced three promotions, two relegations plus a tenth place in League 2 and an 18th in the Championship. Furthermore he played under Darren Ferguson twice and three other managers (Mark Cooper, and Gary Johnson) in between.

The full details of all these players’ first (>>>) and last (<) League games, up to 19 February 2013 (George Boyd’s last game) are shown below, together with the name of the then current team manager:

20.08.1960 11.09.1965 12.04.1969 25.04.1981 Division 4 Division 3 Division 4 Division 4 Wrexham Scunthorpe Utd Doncaster R Hartlepool Utd (h) 3-0 (a) 1-1 (h) 0-1 (h) 1-1 Gordon Clark Peter Morris

Walls Duff Millington Waugh Stafford Johnson Noble Winters Walker Crawford >>> Crawford < Phillips Raynor Crowe Ricketts Gynn Rigby Rankmore Wile Slack >>> Norris Hollow Wright Foster Hails Barnes Price Gallagher Emery Beesley Iley Kellock Bly Fairbrother Hall Cooke Smith Deakin Conmy Hodgson McNamee >>> McNamee < Robson >>> Robson <

07.05.1986 13.05.1989 08.05.1993 31.03.1997 Division 4 Division 4 Division 1 Division 2 Rochdale Doncaster Tranmere Notts County (h) 1-1 Rovers (h) 2-0 Rovers (h) 1-1 (a) 0-0 John Wile Mick Jones Lil Fuccillo Barry Fry

McManus Crichton Bennett Griemink Paris Luke Bradshaw Boothroyd Pike Gunn Spearing >>> Spearing < Collins >>> Collins < Cooper Edwards >>> Slack < McElhinney Howarth Bodley Johnson Andrews Welsh Linton Kowalski Sterling >>> Sterling < Williams Fuccillo Halsall Philliskirk Payne Gallagher Cusack Adcock Carruthers Quow Longhurst Ebdon Otto Cavener Goldsmith Greenman De Souza

18.01.2003 03.05.2008 19.02.2013 Division 2 League 2 Championship Port Vale Darlington Millwall (h) 1-2 (h) 0-2 (a) 5-1 Barry Fry Darren Ferguson Darren Ferguson

Harrison Lewis Olejnik >>> Newton >>> Newton < Little >>> Arber Williams Rowe >>> Edwards < Morgan Zakuani >>> Burton Westwood Bostwick >>> Bullard Hyde Ferdinand >>> Shields Keates Tomlin >>> Whelpdale McCann >>> Farrell Boyd >>> Boyd < Fenn Mackail-Smith Mendez-Lang >>> A Clarke McLean Gayle

So, during the last 53 seasons – from Peter McNamee through Ian Crawford, Tommy Robson, Trevor Slack, Steve Collins, Worrell Sterling, Tony Spearing, Andy Edwards, Adam Newton and George Boyd – Posh have had only ten complete changes of first team squad. This is an extraordinarily low number, considering the fact that, in the same period, there have been 28 changes of manager (excluding caretakers).

Since George Boyd’s final appearance on 19 February 2013 only one of the other players has left the club, Dwight Gayle being the sole exception at the time of writing. So nine of that squad could take up George’s mantle, depending of course on how long they stay at London Road. It could be a few years until the eleventh complete change of first team squad.

Although supporters are used to seeing players flit from club to club, we usually form a real affection for those who stay for four years or more. While the ten players who provide the links between the 1960 and modern-day squads have not necessarily made the highest number of appearances for the club, most have been popular; the collective longevity of their careers has provided a comforting continuity during Posh’s chequered history in the Football League.

By sheer chance some especially long-serving players do not feature as “link men”. For example, Mark Tyler (412 league starts) was a squad member between 1993 and 2009, but did not make his debut until 2004 and only became the first-choice keeper in 1997, by which time Andy Edwards was already established in the team. Mark was effectively replaced by in January 2008, though he remained at the club until 2009. Winger David Farrell (267 league starts) made his debut soon after Andy Edwards and left the club in 2006, midway through Adam Newton’s run in the team. For similar reasons other stalwarts such as Brian Wright (1963-72; 291 league starts), Chris Turner (1969-78; 308), Jack Carmichael (1970-83; 336) and Noel Luke (1986-93; 270) miss out as “link men”, although some appear in one of the eleven games listed above.

This all goes to prove that a football club is a living organism held together by the people who represent it from one season to the next. In approximately 2,500 league and play-off matches (plus many more cup games) between 1960 and 2013, approximately 650 players appeared in the first team. Some who made only fleeting appearances are long-forgotten, others made their mark in various ways, but a few will remain part of our collective memory forever.

Peter Williams

K and T Footware Agricultural and Equestrian Footware

Contact : K F Storey PO Box 7036 Kettering, Northants. NN166AB

Tel 07715 035131 Fax 01536 744712

Web. www.kandtfootware.co.uk E-mail kandtfootware.co.uk

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