2018/19 Prediction League; Game 14 v Peterborough United (away)

Div3North · 19-10-2018, 00:18

Peterborough United

V

Accrington Stanley

2018/19 Prediction League; Game 14 v Peterborough Utd (away)

There can’t be very many cities in the UK named after ventriloquists, but – and you may not have known this before - Peterborough wasn’t originally called Peterborough at all; the city – once “Burgh” (motto “Upon this rock” – although which rock was never specified, nor what was upon it) was re-named in March 1960 – just as its soccer team was about to be elected to the Football League – to commemorate the ending of the vary famous Light Programme sitcom called “Educating Archie”, and its ventriloquist “host” Peter Brough ............. Brough was something of a hit on the wireless, mainly because nobody could see him ventriloquisting .............. it was oft-times said of him that “you only saw his lips moving when the dummy was speaking”, and one famous comic, meeting him at Crewe as all the variety acts moved round the country on a Sunday, asked where Brough was playing the next week, to be told “Wolverhampton”; “Oh, you should do well there”, he said; “The lighting’s terrible” ................ And if you think that’s a bizarre wireless programme, what about the Radio Magician known as Sirdani, who had his own show .............. Magic? On the wireless? “Pick a card, any card .......”

The current Peterborough United was formed, it seems, in 1934, to take over the mantle of the previous Town Team (known as Peterborough and Fletton United); Peterborough and Fletton United had originally been plain old Fletton United, but in 1921, when they were hoping to join the Southern League, they decided to add “Peterborough” to the title in the hope of getting backing from local businesses ............ for a while it kept them afloat, but within the decade from joining the SL in 1923 they were bankrupt. They became known as “The Posh”, apparently, because back in 1921 the then manager announced, rather unwisely, that he was “looking for posh players for a posh new team” .................. P&F Utd were also at one time known as “The Brickies”, it seems, in reference to one of the large local businesses (bricks!), but they dropped “the Brickies” when they went bankrupt .............. hopefully not on the Footies ..............

“Our” Posh were elected to Division Four in 1960 (that bit is true – some of the other stuff above might not be entirely accurate ...........) replacing Gateshead, who’d finished 22nd (above both Oldham and Hartlepools Utd) but failed to gain re-election ............ The Posh had won the Midland League for the previous five years, and carried on in the same vein, winning Division Four at the first attempt by two points over Crystal Palace, with Northampton and Bradford Park Avenue four points further back; they beat us 3-0 at London Road that season, but we did them 3-2 at Ours, and in that campaign they won seven of the home games by scoring 5 (twice), 6 (three times) and seven (twice – Aldershot 7-1 and Exeter by the same score) ............. and ten sides who were in League Four that season are now in Non League!

This week’s (easy-peasy) starter for ten, then; who, in 2002, filed a complaint with the UK Patent Office against Peterborough’s use of the nickname “Posh”, claiming – unsuccessfully – that the name had become synonymous with them on a “worldwide basis”?

They finished last season in 9th place, rather neatly, for alliterative purposes, immediately behind ‘ortsmouth and ‘lymouth Argyle in the table (in each case the “P” is silent, as in “swimming”), on 64 points from their 46 games – a position made rather worse by losing 5 of their last 6 games ..... over the summer they shed (shedded?) eleventy-billion players (ok, 19 – or maybe 20), including Aussie CMF Brad Inman to Rochdale, LB Andrew Hughes to PNE, RB Liam Shephard to Vegan Greenpeace, striker Junior Morais to the Cobblers, (strike partner Senior Morais went I know not where), CF Jack Marriott went to Derby, CB Jack Baldwin to Blunderland, Anthony Grant to the Shrews and Leonardo Da Silva Lopes – what a smooth name that is – signed for the very un-smooth Wigan Athletic .........

To replace them (as if you could) they nicked our Goalkeeper, and in addition brought in another 17, which August Body contained, inter alia, LMF Colin Daniel from Blackpool, Siriki Dembele from Grimsby, CF Matt Godden from Stevenage, RB Jason Naismith from Ross County, CB Josh Yorwerth (and you should always know Yorwerth) from Crawley, striker Ivan Toney from NewCassel and lots of others that I’ve never heard of ........... But then, they haven’t heard of me ................ Of Incoming Loans there were but four; MF Adam King from Swansea, LB Tyler Denton from Leeds, CF Jason Cummings (known to his mates as “Goings”) from Notts Forest, and winger Jamie Walker from Wigan

They started brightly in pre-season, putting five past Stamford and nine past Peterborough Sports, losing only to Maritimo (Portugal) by the odd goal in one (I suspect they had some dodgy seafood or something) and at home to Bolton ............. after games 3, 4, 5, 6,7 and 9 they topped League One with a record that, by game 9, read W7 D1 (Donnie, 1-1) L1 (Pompey, 1-2) ....... both the “dropped points” games were at home, away being 100% wins; in their last four they’ve shared Desmonds with Blackpool (home) and Blunderland (away, with an 84th minute equaliser), been stuffed 4-0 at home by Barnsley, and done The Iron on the road 2-0 ............... away, then, P7 W6 D1 L0 GF21 GA8; home, P6 W2 D2 L2 GF9 GA11, and overall P13 W8 D3 L2 GF30 GA19 for 27 points and second place ................... They departed the EFL Cup 2-0 at QPR in Round One (I think that was QPR’s last win!), and in the EFLTroffy they drew 3-3 at MK PretendDons and 2-2 at home to Brighton u12s, losing both games on penalty shootouts ...... Leading scorers are Matt Godden (9), Jason Cummings (6), Mark O’Hara (4) and Siriki Dembele and Ivan Toney, each with 3

Posh’s manager, that Nice Mr Evans, is, is might be fair to say, not the most popular EFL Manager; he recently claimed in an interview that he thinks he knows why he ‘might not be liked by the masses’ (at least he didn’t say “plebs”), which is that

• "People don't like someone that wins promotions”

His career includes six promotions, so it is just conceivable that he’s right, but my personal guess might be that people don’t like him because he was suspended from football for 20 months by the FA, and then sentenced to a 12 month suspended prison term by the criminal courts, having admitted a fraud with a substantial value during his – many people think ‘tainted’ – time at Boston United ............ just ask the good folks of Dagenham and Redbridge ..............it was a long time ago (2002, as I recall), but some things some people don’t forget and forgive easily .................

Since we got back into the League we’ve met four times; in 2006/7 we lost 4-2 away and won 3-2 at home; in 2007/8 we lost 2-0 at home and on a Cold and Best Forgotten Night in January 2008 we (whisper the next bit) lost 8-2 away .................. But we’re a different club and team now, playing out of our skins, and they’re having, maybe, a small wobble at home, so revenge isn’t an impossibility ...............…

Previous managers include Jim Iley (remember that name?), Noel Cantwell (twice), Mick Jones, Mark Lawrenson, John Still, Barry Fry, Keith Alexander, Darren Ferguson and Graham Westlife; famous ex-players include Terry Bly (81 goals in 88 League appearances, including 52 in season 1961/62), Lil Fuccillo, Mick Halsall, Ken Charlery (who was also a witness in the fraud trial), Aaron McLean, Craig Mackail-Smith and Dwight Gayle .................

They reached the QF of the FA Cup in 1964/65, and the semi-finals of the League Cup the year after; they won the 2013/14 Football League Trophy, beating TwistySpires United 3-1 at Wembley; their best-ever finish was 10th in League One in 1992/93 (now the Championship); they’ve only ever had one ground in all their time in the League; and they recognise a bargain when they see one – ProperSigning Brett Assombalonga from Watford in July 13 for £1.25 million (“plus add-ons” – but at least they weren’t Klingons) and selling him 13 months later to Notts Forest for £5.5 million (“rising to £8 milllion” – but no Klingons there either); biggest League victory is 9-1 at Barnet - thank God for that! (see “8-2 above”); heaviest League defeat (so far!) was 7-0 at Tranmere .............

Deadline for entries is, as always, scheduled kick off time, which is 3.00pm on Saturday 20th October (soon be Christmas!) ............ Loved the BBC piece a couple of days back (16th October) by Karen Fazackerley entitled

“Accrington Stanley: What is it like managing one of Football League's smallest clubs?”

which is beautifully written and full of heart; if you’ve missed it, go read it on the BBC website (League One page) ............. these days we know that anything can happen, and – as Jeff Stelling keeps saying – anything does happen; Corporal Jones coined the phrase “They don’t like it up ‘em, they do not like it up ‘em” .............. so who’d like to put it up Mr Evans? And if you want the answer to the Starter for Ten, ask Mr Beckham - he knows!

Good luck to everyone! ............... Keep the Faith! ............ Don’t be a Lidl, be a Waitrose! ..............And thanks for playing!