2024/25 Prediction League Game 20 v Fleetwood (away)

Div3North · 12-12-2024, 22:44

Fleetwood Town

V

Accrington Stanley

2024/25 Prediction League Game 20 v Fleetwood Town (away)

Starter for Ten (and if anyone knows this one, I’ll disrobe in the Strangers’ Gallery in Westminster and offer to take on all comers)

In the mid-1990s the FA had cause to write to a non-League side, inviting them to explain why they had just appointed a former gangster and convicted murderer, at that time still serving a life sentence in HMP Maidstone, as the President of their Football Club ….. So, who was the killer, which club was it, and how did he get the appointment?

I see we’re now playing on Monday evenings (6th December at 8.00pm); doubt it’ll change our fortunes

Fleetwood were GreasyPoled from League One at the end of last season in 22nd place with 43 points from 46 games, three from safety ………………. Formerly owned by Andy Pilley for some 20 years, the club is now owned, effectively, by his son Jamie Pilley, following Dad’s imprisonment for fraud for 13 years in July 2023 …………. The club sold 10 players, including Jayden Stockley to Port Vale, RW Promise Omochere to Brizzle, CMF Harvey Macadam to Morecambe, and RW Maleace Asamoah to Wigan, and another 12 were released/out of contract, including Scottish RB Shaun Rooney to St HelenMirren and CB Ben Henaghan to PV …………… 12 came in, none of them household names save perhaps for Matty Vertue from Blackpool

Currently they’re 16th, with 22 points for 17 games (which puts them 4 places and four points above us, although we’ve scored more than they have …………… and conceded more as well, come to that). Overall, P17 W5 D7 L5 GF23 GA22 ………… home is W2 D5 L2, away it’s W3 D2 L3 …………. Wins against Grimsby, Carlisle, Cheltenham Walsall (6-2 away!) and Bratfud, and losses to the Wombles, Port Vale, Donnie, Crewe and Swindon ……. And they’ve only won once since 1st October (W1 D4 L4) ……….. Head-to-Head has us ahead 8-6 with two draws, but they did give us a larruping in Aril 23, winning 5-2 Chez Nous

The original 1908 Fleetwood club played on a pitch next to the North Euston Hotel, where the police station now stands. Apart from two years after the First World War – when the club played on a ground opposite from the Queen's Hotel on Poulton Road (Queen's Ground) – they remained at the North Euston Ground until moving to the present ground next to the Memorial Park in 1939. Currrent Manager is Charlie Adam. Apart from “The Cod Army” they’re also known as “the Fishermen”, but no sign of any friends ……….

Deadline for entries is scheduled kick-off time (8.00pm on Monday 16th December) …… And the gangster President was the infamous Reggie Kray, and the club involved (now defunct, I think, or maybe propping up a motorway flyover) was Ashfield 95 ….. in 1996 they were top of the Mansfield Bitter League but struggling to pay their bills …..having exhausted the more usual channels for funding (?!!!), the Manager (David Howard) turned to the gangster who was then incarcerated in Maidstone prison. “Reggie was my last chance,” he told the Press. “I know he does good charity work and likes to help old people and youngsters.” (Really?)

Kray had come into some money – around £100,000 – thanks to his friendship with someone who had just won £11 million on the lottery; Reggie – known for his charity work (as well) - duly handed the stricken club £1,000. “I’ve had a soft spot for Notts ever since I spent some time in Nottingham prison,” he told Howard. “After London, Nottingham is my favourite city.” Ashfield made Kray the club president by way of thanks, though others were not so impressed. The FA wrote to the club, as mentioned, for an explanation as to why a convicted murderer had been appointed president. I have no idea what answer they got (maybe a concrete overcoat or two)

The club was still a going concern when Reggie Kray died in October 2000. “Reggie continued to take great interest in the club along with his wife Roberta. Results, fixtures, tables, etc were sent to Reggie via Roberta on a regular basis,” says the club’s defunct website .

“Ashfield 95 will always be grateful for Reggie’s help when it was needed most.”

Mmmmmmm!

Good Luck to everyone! ……….. Keep the Faith! ……….. And thanks for playing!