Roy of the Rovers A New Beginning Week 19 Christmas party season was in full swing as Vernon Eliot and

d his Melchester Rovers side arrived at The Mount Plaza Hotel in West London. Throngs of revellers were drifting, under the influence of alcohol, around the entrance to the hotel, spilling in and out the doors from the bar to the forecourt. In light drizzle, the players collected their bags from the undercarriage of the bus and to the delight of gathering office folk, stopped to sign autographs and pose for photographs before heading up to their rooms. It was Friday night and the players appeared to have a relaxed attitude, but at threeoclock on Saturday Rovers would face the sternest test of their season so far, a match against Kelburn. Vernon Eliot knew Freddy Sepps Kelburn side inside and out, he was assistant manager under Sepp until he was appointed Melchester Rovers manager in the summer. Sepp had only made three additions to the squad that finished as runners-up in 2012/13 so there would be no surprises. Vernon popped his head into the main bar, it was so busy, Gerry, theres no way we can have a quiet drink in there. Come to my room in a little while, I want to discuss last years Kelburn versus Rovers match again. Gerry remembered, Kelburn won four-one, but instead of going through his usual routine of spending ten minutes trying to turn on the television in his room, he fired up his laptop to review the details of the 2012/13 match.

9 February 2013 Chris Wilson The Big Match

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Kelburn put their mid-week troubles aside as they emphatically beat struggling Melchester Rovers to continue to set the Premier League pace.
Terry Johnson and Ainsley Burn were both selected for the home side but they went behind when Olly Morrison drove in a 15-yard shot. Kelburn hit back with a Nando Castillo header and Fred Lightbourne drilled in an 18-yard shot to extend the defending Champions lead. Jaime Estera set up Edwin Peril to slot in a third before Boris Petkovic powered in Kelburn's fourth. The playmaking trio of Estera, Peril and Ramon buzzed around with an incisiveness and invention that Melchester could not handle with the former particularly prominent.

Estera has four goals and five assists in the last five games and the stylish Spaniard was the main orchestrator as his side secured a sixth top-flight win in seven. Melchester were left still searching for a first league victory of the calendar year and manager Mel Stone will be concerned at the leaking of seventeen goals in 2013. The victory for Kelburn will also be a relief for the West London side after the five-nil defeat in Monza. Where the double sending-off of Terry Johnson and Ainsley Burn for fighting with each other late in the first-half with the score at nil-nil, prompted manager Freddy Sepp to promise stern punishments. But both defenders were selected to play but against Melchester, and after Castillo missed an early chance, they failed to stop the visitors taking the lead. Fabrice NDiaye chipped a cross to the far post where Freddy Van Den Broeck nodded the ball down for Morrison to drive in a shot from just inside the area for his eleventh league goal of the season. The lead did not last long as Petkovic crossed for Castillo to head in from eight yards as the Rovers defence stood and watched. Melchester have let in five goals four times this season and, despite playing with a five-man midfield to be more defensively stable, they could not stop Kelburn, playing with vibrancy and verve, surging into a two-goal advantage. An acrobatic Castillo shot was blocked by Miguel Piedra but the effort was only cleared to Lightbourne, who thumped in a shot from the edge of the area. Soon afterwards, the exemplary Estera ran unchallenged for half of the pitch before sliding through a pass which Peril coolly tucked past keeper Nathan Daniels. Melchester were playing on the counter-attack and had they had more of a cutting edge in the final third they might have caused Kelburn more concern. Morrison headed just wide from an NDiaye cross in a promising chance for the visitors. But Kelburn were in no mood to allow any sort of comeback and the manner with which they stroked the ball about with style and panache after their summer clear-out is a credit to the job Sepp is doing. Petkovic completed the victory with a drilled fourth, with Kelburn now holding a four-point lead at the Premier League summit. Kelburn assistant manager Vernon Eliot: "We're pleased that we're going into this international break at the top of the Premier League. We have so many more games to play but we're in a good position and have a lot of confidence. As long as we don't have many injuries, we'll keep chipping away and try to win as many games and points as we can. I still think Melboro - if you look at their squad and Danefield United will be up there." Melchester Rovers boss Mel Stone: "I was probably more annoyed and disappointed at half-time than I was at the end of the game because, after taking the lead, we certainly needed to be in the game for longer. When you come here, particularly with the quality that they have got - the offensive quality they've

got now - you know it's going to be a tough ask. But, when you score so early, you need to stay in the game longer. At the moment, as a team, we're not defending well enough."

That defeat was the last tame performance of Mel Stones reign as manager of Melchester Rovers. The clubs Basranian owners sacked the Scotsman as Rovers dropped into the relegation zone, with the worst defensive record in the division. Roy Race was tipped to return as caretaker manager with the hope of keeping Rovers in the Premier League and he was approached, but the great man refused the offer, preferring the sunshine of his retirement in Crete. Instead Melchester appointed Frenchman Pierre Lorain, coach of French champions Sorbonne on a four year contract. Relegation was avoided but Lorain had no interest in seeing out his contract. His reputation enhanced he was offered the job of France national team manager, he could not refuse, but the Basranians would not release him. A bitter battle ended up in court, where the Middle-Easterns eventually agreed to sell Lorain for four millions pounds. The fight for Lorain lasted over two months, during this time Rovers were without a manager. The Basranians refused to accept that Lorain would leave, leaving the first-team without guidance for the vital pre-season period. As star players De Mol and Morrison left on free transfers, other senior players went public in their condemnation of the clubs owners. Melchesters mighty fanbase stood up, angry and disillusioned; the campaign to take over the club began. It was led by Trevor Brinsden, a legendary super-fan and the shrewd advertising guru, David Roth. As the movement gained momentum, the Basranians, faced with a global merchandising boycott, agreed to sell, taking a substantial lose. But ultimately they would be glad to rid themselves of an increasingly costly failing asset. It was David Roth who approached Vernon Eliot to become the

manager of the new community-owned Melchester Rovers and it was Vernon who insisted that Gerry Holloway be his assistant. That was an awful performance at Kelburn last season, so whats different this year? Vernon asked Gerry, one of his usual half-rhetorical questions, Not much from Kelburn; none of Sepps new signings have established themselves yet. I expect only two changes from the eleven of January; Petkovic is injured, so Aguilera plays in his place, Roberto may well play in midfield as Graham Hay is Johnsons best centre-back partner. Attacking-wise, I think theyll be the same. Vernon agreed, But were much better. On paper, Id say last years side was stronger, De Mol and Morrison are both super players, but neither Stone nor Lorain could find a system to make Rovers even a top-half team. We have and on current form I dont think either of those two would be playing better than Powell or Lyons and Harry Jacobs has been a revelation. Rovers were overrun in midfield, Kelburn were just too inventive for them. That will still be the biggest challenge tomorrow. Im happy with what you and Mozzie worked on this week though. As former playmakers you two really put our midfield through its paces. Do you still agree that we get Cheetham to play a little deeper, with Batty man-marking Estera? Gerry nodded, I cant believe Sepp tried to replace him Estera earlier this season. He soon changed his mind though; what a player. These small Spaniards are really dominating world football now. Maybe we should go and get one! Vernon took another two bottles of lager from his minibar, opened them and handed one to Gerry, Im confident we can get a positive result. Were so evenly matched, our results so similar. But we have the in-form forwards, Lyons, NDiaye and Jacobs are all in the goals, Castillo hasnt been firing at all. If we can just control the movement in the midfield we should win. It will be tight though.

Kelburn had four attacking midfielders who all interchanged positions. It had been fluidity and pace that had troubled Rovers so far this season and Kelburns midfield was certainly mobile, but they did not attack with the pace of Carford or Melboro. If Batty can disrupt the movement of the ball between the attacking midfielders and Castillo, our defence should be sturdy. The problem comes if Lightbourne has one of his good games. Fred Lightbourne was a real Kelburn-great, third in their alltime scorers chart, he and Terry Johnson were the only two players Freddy Sepp had never needed to replace, despite the massive funds available to him. But the central midfielder was nearing the end of his long career and was now more inconsistent than ever. But when he played well, Kelburn really were a different side; so dynamic and so much more likely to score. Vernon liked Lightbourne, Thats it Gerry, if Fred plays well, which he hasnt been doing against the better sides, then we face a very different challenge. Hes a top man, is Fred, but I hope he has an off-day tomorrow. Gerry took a swig from his bottle, I hope we get a good result, its almost Christmas, weve got our staff party tomorrow night and I really want to enjoy our dinner! With Rovers having won seven in a row and Vernon again able to name an unchanged side; Kelburn boasting an array of expensive world-class talent and Freddy Sepp, probably the best manager in Europe, this was sure to be a great match.

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Roy Race was delighted, he had witnessed his two trialists, Kelvin Dickson and Thomas Carruthers outclass pretty much all of his development squad in a practice match and skills session. He had spoken with both of the teenagers at length before training, he was impressed with their interviews. Dickson obviously had major problems in his recent past, but Roy could sense that he would be delighted to move away from them forever. Kelvin had already chosen to leave his East London home and move to Bromsmede, a spill-over suburb of Melchester and live with his elderly aunt. Roy believed this to be a mature decision. Bromsmede was not a nice town, packed with large housing estates, with above average unemployment and crime rates, but it did not have a gang culture, like the mean streets of Hackney where Dickson was raised. He should be able to stay out of trouble living there and the added responsibility of caring for his immobile relative would surely keep him on the straight and narrow. The decision to offer Carruthers a deal was far more straightforward. The eighteen year-old defender was an exceptional talent. He had previously rejected an academy deal with Melboro, choosing to focus on his A-Levels. He was a bright boy and could go to a top university, he had applied to Loughborough to study physiotherapy and was offered an unconditional place, which he had accepted. Even now, Thomas had not completely accepted Roy Races offer, he wanted to discuss it with his parents. But Roy was confident that he would accept, the only thing that nagged him was Carruthers support of Melboro, Rovers great rivals. If he had refused the club he supported would he now join Melchester Rovers? Roy had been very clear with him, insisting that he believed that he could be playing Premier League football next season, if not before. This offer was different, surely he would accept.

The fact that Carruthers posed for photographs with Dickson and Roy was a good sign. Roy would have two new players to work with; young, hungry players with great potential. But what made these signings even more valuable was that it was his own son, Rocky, who had recommended them. If they could break though, following in the footsteps of Roy and Rocky, in playing for Melchester Rovers and England, it would be great for the Race family. Storky Knight NEXT WEEK: ITS THE DERBY ON BOXING DAY!