HockeyBhoy - Comments

Back to School

I'm going back to school in a sense.

Knowing full well that my coaching badges are not up to date, I've managed to convince Gary (Coxall) that I need to personally improve my coaching techniques. So I have started, as of tomorrow, to study for my Continental A licence. It's going to take 12 months but will help me become a better manager and coach as a whole. Gary's backing me with the Club stumping up the course fee, so that's £3,000 of my own money saved and I'm grateful for it.

The club have also decided to fund the course fees for Sam Collins and John Hewitson's Continental Pro licences too which I hope to study for once I have my "A" licence.

Busy times ahead methinks.

Not much to report about Pools’ friendly under new manager Mark Duell today as they laboured to a goalless draw with Isthmian Premier Division side Harlow Town. Chances were at a premium through but when they did fall then they came Pools way, Padraig Amond failed to hit the target with the goal gaping in front of him twice and Billy Paynter saw his shot brilliantly pushed around the post by Harry Reynolds in the home net. Pools biggest scare of the day came in the 27th minute when Nicky Featherstone misdirected a header in front of goal but luckily for all, Trevor Carson managed to scramble across to prevent the own goal.

Line-Up

Hartlepool United [4-1-4-1]: Carson (Fryer 57); Magnay © (Donnelly 57), Harrison (Bates HT), Jones (Pollock 51), Kavanagh (Richards 69); Featherstone; Alessandra (Oates 62), Woods (Walker 51), Deverdics (Hawkins 57), Thomas; Paynter (Amond HT). Unused substitutes: Rodney, Rooney, Orrell.
Man Of The Match: Harry Reynolds (Harlow Town)


“A very disappointing performance it has to be said this afternoon. It felt like a Sunday morning kickabout in Grayfields or Rift House Rec to be honest. Neither side fashioned anything to write home about to be honest; and a draw was probably the best result you could ask for. I asked the players to put something in so we are ready when the season starts but it was just flat. I think Nicky (Featherstone) will be buying Trevor (Carson) a drink though, great reactions from the big guy and that’s why he’s been called up for his country a few times. But we’ll go back to the training ground this week and work on a few bits so we’re ready to go again in our next friendly.”

Well despite knowing where my shortcomings were at the Club, I placed a few adverts out to improve the backroom staff and I’m quite happy with what I got in return. That said I do feel if I need to add a few extra bodies into the off-pitch team then I can do so.
I’ve managed to secure us a recognised goalkeeper coach which takes the strain off the existing members of staff. Joining Pools as our goalkeeper coach is Andy Leaning.


Before hanging his gloves up so to speak, Andy had a 15-year playing career accumulating 223 league appearances with York City, Sheffield United and Bristol City amongst the six professional sides he played for. He has been goalkeeping coach at Leeds United, York and Chesterfield so I am sure that his experience will be of major benefit to Trevor Carson and the young shot stoppers we have here at Hartlepool.

I’ve also eased the workload on Ian “Buster” Gallagher. “Buster” was the head physio for the Club which meant he was dealing with injuries of players from the first team to the Under 18s. So, I have acquired a second physio in the shape of who comes highly recommended and Ian has said to me in confidence how much this was needed and he looks forward to working with him.
We now have a bit of a scouting network in place and will look to enhance this as weeks pass. Whilst the board want the scouting to primarily focus on players here in the UK; I will obviously try and convince Mr Coxall to see if he can let us get a scout who will be tasked to look into the ever-promising Nordic market where some decent players are being produced. But we have made strides and now have a couple of scouts here after all.

Our Chief Scout is the former Republic of Ireland defender Paul Butler.


Paul is 43, and had a career too as a no nonsense central defender. He made a total almost 600 league appearances over a 16 year span, the majority of them being spent at Wolves and Leeds United which he both captained. He also featured for Rochdale, Bury and Sunderland in his career, and was capped by the Republic of Ireland. What struck me about Paul was his enthusiasm for the role and I am pleased we have managed to secure his services here. Under Paul, we have Alan Moore who is a name well known up here in the North East for his time at Middlesbrough, being nicknamed as “The Ryan Giggs of the North-East” after certain displays. 41-year-old Alan was capped eight times for the Republic of Ireland but his playing career was stuttered due to knee injuries.


I’ve also brought in Luke Anthony to the Club to assist Ian “Buster” Gallagher as second physiotherapist. Luke, up to June 2015, was physiotherapist at Reading: a role he held for eight years. He’s had a year out and now feels refreshed to come back into the game here at Victoria Park. I look forward to working with the guys, old and new.

Less than 12 hours later finally settled in life at Ronnie’s; living in the spare room; I was dressed in tracksuit manager mode at Hartlepool United’s training ground. University of Durham, Maiden Castle. I had been there briefly when I saw “Pools” train under Chris Turner’s first spell as an open invitation to all fans but this time the man organising anything out on the pitches was ME. In a royal blue Nike tracksuit and my white boots, I always liked to wear colourful boots as soon as they became a fashion, I stood in the middle of a very large circle of seasoned professionals and enthusiastic youngsters introducing myself and explaining my ambitions for the Club.

I looked at what I had to deal with and what the shortcomings were.

• No left-back apart from Sean Kavanagh and he was on loan from Championship side Fulham. The only one available was a 17-year-old unproven prospect, James Martin.
• No recognised right winger bar young Jack Blackford who is a talent I believe needs nurturing carefully.
• No real cover for Nathan Thomas on the left wing, possibly Blackford but for reasons above.
• No scouting system in place. No Chief Scout, no nothing. (Is it any wonder where are struggling to find players wanting to play for the Club?)
• One physiotherapist to deal with the whole squad from the professionals to the youngsters. Need to ease the workload on the poor guy.

Five major things.

So; I sat down with my assistant Sam Collins and we got thinking as any good managerial duos do, to find out how to resolve those issues. Gary (Coxall) said we had an initial budget of £25,000 to spend on players plus anything else we could recoup. The problem on the playing side was that the wage bill was a bit on the high side. Would it be prudent to look for loanees, as we only had two on the books in the terms of Kavanagh and young Joe Fryer: a goalkeeper we've acquired from near neighbours Middlesbrough to back-up Northern Ireland internationalist Trevor Carson – Carson in my eyes being the best goalkeeper in the entire League Two.

It wasn't going to be easy, but then again things never are made easy. We might have to take a few faces in on trial too and play them in pre-season and hope they impress enough so we can afford to bring them in permanently. So much to do. Now I really know why they call football management: “the hot seat”. It’s that hot and uncomfortable, it feels like my bum is already on fire! Hopefully I will be able to find the extinguisher somewhere and cool it down. Because I am going to need it, and the backing of many a person out there to get me through this.

I've certainly got a challenge and a half in front of me.

I’d watched many football managers do press conferences on the television before. Whether it be a managerial appointment, the unveiling of a new signing or giving a pre-game or post-game interview. Now it was time for me to be part of that myself, I was to be sat at that top table with microphones and dictaphones thrust in my face and the glare of flashing lights coming from photographers clicking away at their target – you. It certainly felt surreal.

Gary took the lead naturally. “Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for attending here late on a Thursday afternoon. As you know Hartlepool United had to part company with Craig Hignett today due to personal reasons which Craig has to deal with away from football and that was a tough decision especially when we thought we had the perfect enthusiastic young manager in place. But we move on, and in his place, we have an equally enthusiastic young manager sat to my left. May I present to you the new manager of Hartlepool United Football Club, Mark Duell.”

The cameras clicked collectively again, and I inched closer to the range of microphones ready for my first question. Predictably enough, it came from a man I considered a close friend too: Nick Loughlin of The Northern Echo:

NL: Mark, how does it feel to be announced as the new manager of Hartlepool United? A club you have supported since you were a boy.
MD: It’s basically a dream come true Nick, it really is. Not many times do these happens but when they do then it gives you that an extra special buzz. It’s your hometown team, a team who you’ve watched experience success and failure over the years and you want to make the town proud of you and the club as a whole. When you’re winning it’s the best feeling in the world ever but go on a losing run, particularly here, then you feel the heat more than ever especially when some of them giving you the hell are people you’ve known for years.” Next up was David Craig of Sky Sports.
DC: What can the Hartlepool fans expect from you?
MD: I want to bring entertainment, and a football team that the town of Hartlepool can smile about. Entertainment comes with playing expansive football, creating chances and scoring goals whilst remaining focused at the back. If you do these simple things, you win football matches and as this is a result based industry then you stay in a job. The board then are enthused that they have made a shrewd appointment, the fans keep coming and tell their friends to come too. You build your reputation up and get noticed. It’s a win-win situation David.
Following on from that, Liam Kennedy of the local paper the Hartlepool Mail had the next question.
LK: You come into the role following on Craig Hignett’s sudden departure this morning. However, you do not have any managerial experience to note of. The fans are obviously going to be concerned about this, does it worry you?
MD: Craig came into the role at a tough time and kept the club alive when it looked bleak. However, he has his own issues to deal with and I’m not going to comment on those as they are none of my business. Yes of course, the fans are going to be thinking: “Oh my, we’ve got another inexperienced manager in.” and that’s understandable. But you know something, I believe in my own abilities and that I can turn that thought from a negative to a positive given time and patience. Gary (Coxall) obviously sees something in me, despite my lack of experience, and has told me that he will give me that time and patience to build something here and that is the ultimate plan.
Loughlin then came back into the fray.
NL: You saw the squad last season; tomorrow morning will be the first time you’ve seen them with the managerial coat on. Is there anything you have already picked upon?
MD: I think that’s too early to say to be honest. We have a good bunch of professionals here at The Vic and each of one them will know they have impress again like as if they have just started out on the journey. Obviously there will be gaps here and there which we need to address as a football club but those gaps will be filled. We only want the best here, and performances of the same standard. Tomorrow will give me a look at what we need, and then the hard work begins. It will be tough but if you can’t deal with it then you might as well pack your bags and go home to stand in the cold and harsh realities of an unemployment office queue waiting for the chance to be employed. Having done that myself, it isn’t a nice place to be in.

Coxall then concluded the conference thanking everyone for their attendance and we went out into the late evening sunshine for a few photographs in the Cyril Knowles Stand before it was time to get back into Ronnie’s car, drive back down to Sheffield for more clothes, and back to his house for a cuppa and a rest up. Tomorrow morning at Maiden Castle, the hard work really began.

Just after 5pm we arrived back in Hartlepool but not to his house, but direct to Victoria Park. I then caught him text something but couldn’t exactly make it out as the mobile was so close to his chest as if it was a top-secret military operation. Then a familiar face came out of the club offices, it was Kate - Ron’s daughter. We got out of the car, and walked through the main entrance to a room behind strangely marked “Manager’s Office”. My eyes swivelled from side to side in more curiosity as both Ronnie and Kate left me in there, alone. I wasn’t alone for long, a matter of minutes when another bloke walked in. I immediately stood up, and the man introduced himself.

“Mark, isn’t it? Hello, I’m Gary Coxall – the chairman of Hartlepool United.” And immediately put his right hand out for a shake.
I shook it. “Yes, it is Gary, pleased to meet you.”

Gary walked around the far end of the table where a whiteboard was on the wall behind him. “Please be seated Mark.” So, I did, still wondering why I was at The Vic on a Thursday teatime in the summer.

“I bet you are sat here wondering what you are doing here.” Gary said.
I chuckled a little. “That’s probably an understatement. Maybe the understatement of the day.”
“Well you’re probably aware that we parted company with Craig (Hignett) this morning. He had a few family issues to deal with and thought it might convenience his job here so we agreed to mutual part company with each other.”
“But why does this concern me?“ I queried.
“Ronnie told me that you’ve always been a football fanatic and a keen student of the game. So, how would you like to be in charge of the club you spent many a season on the terraces? In other words, succeed Craig as manager of Hartlepool United.”
I was for once, lost for words. “Really? Surely there are more qualified candidates out there Gary? I’ve never managed a professional outfit before bar on a computer game. In fact, the only real managerial experience aside that I have is on Sunday mornings in parks and school fields.”
“Mark, you know what they say about dreams coming true? Well I am going to let you live out your dream. You are going to be the main man here at The Vic, the head honcho, THE BOSS. Now follow me, we’ve got a press conference to do.” And with that we both got up, and scurried off to another room where a selection of the Fourth Estate were keenly awaiting our arrival. To me, s**t just kinda got real.

I had never been so nervous in my life, well apart from the day I gave my sister away at her wedding.

It was just a standard June afternoon off work for me, basically lounging around and watching a cricket Test match on the television. Sandwiches made, bottle of Diet Coke at the side, and feet up – just like being there in a sense. Listening to the enthusiastic Lancastrian tones of David “Bumble” Lloyd and the draconian nasal ones of former England captain Nasser Hussain, that was the plan of action for the day ahead. I had got everything planned out, even after the cricket was done with then I’d be tuning into the Poland – Portugal Euro 2016 quarter final in the evening. Perfection you could quite easily say.

Then I got a text off a friend which read: “Looks like Pools are getting rid of Hignett.” – so I quickly flicked the channel to Sky Sports News and there it was. Across the ticker at the bottom of the screen it read, “Sky Sources – Craig Hignett leaves Hartlepool” but nothing else in terms of an article being read out so I left it be and turned back over to the cricket again. Then came another text: “He’s gone. WTF?” So, I flicked the channel back, nothing of the sort and texted back: “You’re having me on, there’s nothing on SSN.” The reply was immediate: “Honest he’s gone, perhaps it hasn’t been released yet.” Therefore, I logged onto the laptop and loaded up Pools website, nothing there so I left it be like a well-pitched up delivery from James Anderson coming in at you at 85 miles per hour past the edge of the bat.

1:00pm, lunch at the cricket and time to chill for 40 minutes before the afternoon session started. I’d had no more texts as regards this so-called story about Hignett which increased my thoughts about it being a total fallacy. Back onto SSN to catch up on the latest other sporting events but there it was on the ticker: “Craig Hignett leaves Hartlepool by mutual consent.” So, the text was right then, back to the laptop and the story was confirmed as true. Hignett had only been in charge like four and a half months and was now being replaced. Then my mobile rang:

“Hello Mark.”
“Oh, hello Ronnie, how are you?” I replied, to Ronnie - my unofficial like second “Dad”
“Not so bad son, what are you doing with yourself today like?”
“Watching the Test match then the football tonight. You?”
“Can I come down to Sheffield and pick you up? Got something important to deal with.”
“OK I’ll text you my address, expect you about 3pm ish?”
“Yeah, see you soon and put your suit on.”

And that was that, so it got me thinking. One, why was Ronnie driving down to see me and even more curiously: why do I have to have my suit on when he arrives. Absolutely mystifying. Time ticked on and dead on 3pm, the intercom buzzed – Ronnie had arrived. I’d got my suit on as instructed earlier though. I locked up and made my way outside to where Ronnie was in his car, he popped his head out of the driver’s window: “Hop in son.” So I did, put the seatbelt on and away we went. Yet Ronnie was being cautious even when I asked him why I was in a car with him and looking suited and booted as if I was going for a job interview or some kind of party or wedding reception. Something strange was happening and I didn’t know what. Even when I queried him about the dismissal of Hignett he was very unusually defensive in his answer: “Oh, he wasn’t the right fit for the Club son.”

As long as I have watched Hartlepool United, the word uncertainty is like common place in the Poolie fan vocabulary whether it be in the years of applying and re-applying for re-election for Football League membership. “Pools” hold the record of 14 times between the years of 1924 and 1984, an unwanted record that nobody could ever want but each time they went up for re-election they got enough “votes” to stay in.

With that came the equal uncertainly of who was going to be manager, seldom did you see someone stick around for more a year in the dark times unless you were Billy Horner (famous for his Datsun car) who actually had two spells at the Club taking in a remarkable 307 games over that time. These days unless you are the unique Sir Alex Ferguson or legends like Sir Matt Busby, Bill Shankly or Bob Paisley that would never happen as owners of clubs are not forgiving when results go a bit on the slide. This is very common when it comes to those clubs who have overseas owners.

Anyway Pools had pulled off “The Great Escape” at the end of the 2014-15 under the remarkable tutelage of former Rotherham United and Tranmere Rovers manager Ronnie Moore. Hopes were high then the following season that Moore would continue with it and Pools would continue their ascent back towards getting into the third tier of English professional football after being just eight minutes away from a remarkable promotion to the second tier in 2004-05 when their hearts were broken by then fallen giants Sheffield Wednesday 4-2 after extra time at the Millennium Stadium in the principality; Cardiff.

Yet Moore’s second campaign was less than successful than his first, which ultimately led to his departure by “mutual consent” on 10 February 2016. Moore’s replacement was former Middlesbrough midfielder Craig Hignett on his first ever full-time role as a boss. Considering he was a rookie, just like former team-mate Colin Cooper, the Pools fans again had that word uncertainty in their minds. Well who wouldn't, especially when you really wanted someone with a bit more experience on their belt. Pools finished 16th after again flirting with danger which contributed to Moore’s departure methinks.

Another thing Pools fans have had to have uncertainty over was the general running of the club. Never the most financially funded club around, Pools have come close on many any occasion to going out of business. The Garry Gibson years where the extravagant and flamboyant chairman almost did just that, only for local businessman Harold Hornsey to step in and save the club when it looked like the doors of “The Vic” would be closed for good. Hornsey was subsequently out bought by Aberdeen based investors Increased Oil Recovery (IOR) in 1997 and Ken Hodcroft (owner of IOR) became chairman. Hodcroft was never the charismatic chairman and one that some fans never liked. Yet as years passed, the relationship between Hodcroft and the supporters became more and more strained despite IOR seeing the clubs ongoing debt rise season after season.

Hodcroft “sold” Pools in December 2014 to a consortium known as THM 2014 yet when stories started to surface that the new owners weren't who they were supposed to be, he pulled the plug on the deal causing again more uncertainty for the long-suffering support at “The Vic”. Eventually Pools found new investors in the shape of lesser known recruitment firm JPNG fronted by Gary Coxall whom Hodcroft wrote off all IOR’s debts to.

However, what was to happen next?

I always wanted to be a football manager, really, I always wanted to oversee my own professional football team.

Ever since I was knee high to a grasshopper, as my father used to say, I have been always been a fan of “the beautiful game”. From trips to watch games all around the country, and kicking a ball in the back garden using jumpers for goalposts – it’s been an addiction that I have found hard to stop. But the chance to test myself tactically was something that I really wanted to live out. Being the guy in that technical area barking out instructions and going apoplectic when a decision didn't go our way, that’s what the dream was.

For me when I wasn't playing, the best way I could achieve it was sitting on my home computer playing such classics as Kevin Toms’ Football Manager, Johnson Scanatron’s The Double or D&H Games’ Football Director. In fact, if there was a new football game out I’d save up all my pocket money and buy it or ask my parents and grandparents to get it me as it was guaranteed to keep me content and happy. The number of hours I spent on that Commodore 64 home computer when I wasn't doing my homework or kicking a ball in the street or park, were literally endless.

Now I sit here living out the dream after knee injuries curtailed my dreams of pulling on the green and white hoops of Dad’s beloved Celtic, the red and white stripes of Mam’s Sunderland or the blue and white of my home town of Hartlepool, by playing advanced versions of those games mentioned above. I’ll often sit there thinking elaborate strategies to try and outwit the best in the business and think I am the number one manager in the world. I'm still going mental when a defensive slip in the last minute either sees my team concede an equaliser and drop two points or it adds another notch into the defeat column. It’s like I am there.

I'm also doing the opposite when we score those crucial winners in “Fergie Time”, and have been known to inflict carpet burns on my poor knees when sliding across the living room in celebration or grinning away like a Cheshire Cat when the team you’re “managing” have just crushed your biggest rivals comprehensively such as Celtic going into Ibrox and defeating Rangers something like 6-0 with a complete master-class of a performance. It’s my release, a release from outside the real world where you just want to immerse yourself in your sporting fantasies.

There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s just a dream and anyway most dreams don’t come true, do they?

Welcome to my brand new FM story. I had to abort the previous one as the laptop I was playing on packed up completely on me.

Now armed with a new piece of kit and with FM in situ, here's my latest career which will continue even when FM18 is on the scene. Comments as always welcomed.

Thanks in advance,

Mark

Spoils shared with Magpies

Monday 28 July 2014

In their final pre-season friendly before the league opener and first Big Two encounter of the new season, Glentoran took on the world's oldest professional club side Notts County on a warm Monday evening in East Belfast. The spoils were shared when Andy Morrow equalised Jordi Hiwula's goal for the Magpies.

Reverting back to their normal 4-4-2 formation, Glentoran looked a great deal more settled but went behind to an 18th minute goal. Jamal Campbell-Ryce's lofted free-kick found its way into the six yard box and Hiwula poached the finish past Conor Devlin. But the Glens didn't let this get to them and levelled matters after 33 minutes. Some good play from Peter Duffin and Ryan O'Neill, the latter being seen in a central midfield role, saw O'Neill find Morrow who skipped away from Magpies captain Dean Leacock and fire home from the edge of the box.

Both sides made a raft of changes in the second half, but neither could find a winner. The Magpies now turn their attention to English League One action whilst Glens fans have the Elliot Morris testimonial before starting the defence of their Danske Bank Premiership 12 days from now.

Manager Mark Duell sounded content:


Team: Devlin (Morris 74); Thompson (Lupton 74), Holland, Smyth ©, Crawford (Carson 64); Duffin (Scullion 64), O'Neill (Clarke 64), Mulgrew (Sharvin 64), Hill (Kane 74); Davidson (McCready 74), Morrow (McMurray 74). Unused substitutes: Birney, McCullough, McEntee.

Squad numbers for 2014-15 campaign

In addition, Elliot Morris will retain the captaincy with Marc Smyth assuming the role of vice-captain.

Bookies odds for 2014-15 season

Friday 25 July 2014

The bookies have spoken, and they are convinced that current Premier Division title holders Glentoran are the team to beat again this season. Paddy Power make Mark Duell's men 1-2 favourites to retain their crown which is short price indeed. A Paddy Power spokesperson had this to say:

"Even with a much changed squad from last season, Glentoran certainly are going to be the team to beat again. They might have a comprehensive exit from Europe but at home they are the team that everyone (including us) must fear and that's why we make them as short 1-2 to win this season's Danske Bank Premiership.

Linfield, Portadown and Cliftonville will chase hard but the Glens are going to be the team again. The newcomers are going to find it tough, best price of the two is 40-1 for Harland and Wolff Welders."

The full odds are as follows:

1-2 Glentoran
5-4 Linfield, Cliftonville
2-1 Portadown
7-2 Crusaders
4-1 Glenavon, Coleraine
13-2 Dungannon
14-1 Ballinamallard
20-1 Ballymena
40-1 Harland and Wolff Welders
100-1 Bangor

When hearing the above, Glentoran manager Mark Duell had this to say:

"So the bookies have us as favourites, we shall see then. Anyone could win this season. Personally I read nothing into them, bookies seldom get everything right. Well they tipped me for the sack last year, proves their so-called "experts" are nothing but deluded fools."

Boss after Champions League exit

Thursday 24 July 2014

24 hours after exiting the Champions League in the second qualifying round to Celtic, manager Mark Duell contemplated on it and what lies ahead for his Glens squad.

"Well we had a tough draw, and not many expected us to progress and that's how it turned out sadly. Getting Celtic was a tough draw, probably one of the hardest ones at such an early stage in the competition. I relished both games but it certainly proved to be a massive learning curve for one and all as a collective group. We will know a lot more about this competition now we have experienced such a tough task.

The game itself was of a similar pattern to the first leg, that with Celtic on the offensive whilst we tried to come away with would be damage limitation or a rare surprise. Anything we planned obviously got thrown out of the proverbial window when Trotter scored after just 12 seconds. It certainly woke a few people up. But we were always chasing it beforehand. Boerrigter got a brace with our defence still in a daze, perhaps the emotion was getting to a few of them I don't know. But then again I am not here to make excuses.

We tried a 4-4-1-1 but it didn't seem to suit us, so that's why I went back to 4-4-2. The fourth goal was a bit harsh on us I felt, Rogic certainly looked to be offside when the ball was played through. I know Calum (Birney) was convinced it was. But the flag stayed down and he had a composed finish.

Now we have to think no more of this, and move on. We have a league and cup to defend this season, that's now the main focus for us all. There's no use crying over split milk as my Nan used to commonly say. And she was seldom wrong that's for sure."

Derk at the double as Bhoys see off Glens

Wednesday 23 July 2014, Champions League: Second Qualifying Round - Second Leg
Venue: Celtic Park. Attendance: 53789

Dutch winger Derk Boerrigter scored twice in the first 33 minutes as Neil Lennon's men cruised into the third qualifying round of this season's Championship League. Liam Trotter and Tom Rogic also netted as the Bhoys completed a 10-1 aggregate win over their opponents from across the sea.

If losing the first leg 6-1 in East Belfast was bad enough, Glentoran endured the worst possible start at Celtic Park. Some good interplay saw the four goal hero Teemu Pukki lay the ball off to Trotter and his shot went into the net aided and abetted by the post. The time on the watch, just 12 seconds gone. So much for Glentoran hoping to settle down and play.

Celtic were always in control and added a second on 17 minutes. An inswinging corner from Charlie Mulgrew was met by a glancing header from Boerrigter and the ball found its way home. The Dutchman added his second and Celtic's third on the 33 minute mark, Pukki's shot was parried by Elliot Morris and Boerrigter picked up the pieces to find the back of the net again.

After that the game really fizzled out, Glentoran's best chance coming when Jamie Mulgrew was clean through but the midfielder put his shot too close to Fraser Forster in the home goal. Would Celtic cap it off with a fourth was the question? They did do though with three minutes left to play, Trotter playing substitute Rogic and the visitors looking for offside, the Australian strode on before rounding Morris and tucking it away into the empty net.

The Teams:

Forster; Lustig, Van Dijk (Ambrose 68), Moisander, Robertson; Biton (Matthews 85), S.Brown ©, C.Mulgrew, Boerrigter; Trotter; Pukki (Rogic 68). Unused substitutes: Zaluska, Burn, Balde, Findlay.


Morris ©; O'Neill, Birney, R.Brown, McCullough; Scullion (Duffin 60), Clarke, Mulgrew (Sharvin 68), Kane; Morrow; McCready (Chisanga 60). Unused substitutes: Devlin, Lupton, Carson, Stewart.
Trotter (1), Boerrigter (17, 33), Rogic (87)
Van Dijk (2), Boerrigter (6), C.Mulgrew (55)
Referee: Mr Carlo Bertolini (Switzerland)
Man of the Match: Derk Boerrigter (Celtic)

Cliftonville rebuffed in loan offer

Tuesday 22 July 2014

A day after bringing Barry Holland to the Club, Glentoran can today confirm they have rebuffed a loan attempt by Holland's previous club Cliftonville for the player.

"Why would I buy a player one day and then farm him out on loan the next?" Mark Duell questioned. "I have no plans to let Barry go back to Cliftonville, he is a very important player to what I want here.

Cliftonville are being dead cheeky here, they must think I was born yesterday."

Holland and Smyth sign for Glentoran

Monday 21 July 2014

Two days before the second leg against Celtic, Glentoran boosted their defensive core when securing deals to bring Barry Holland and Marc Smyth to The Oval.

Holland is a very experienced 30 year old defender, released by Cliftonville at the end of the season. He has signed a two year contract with the Glens and will add to the defensive options open to Mark Duell. He is predominatly a centre half but can fill in either full back position if needed which makes a valuable asset indeed.

Fellow new signing Smyth, 31, was also freed by Cliftonville at the end of the season and like Holland has penned a two year deal here in East Belfast. He possesses extensive experience from his time in his native Scotland, and is capable as well of playing in various positions.

"I am very pleased to bring both Marc and Barry to the Club today." Manager Mark Duell gushed as he unveiled his latest captures. "Both are solid and experienced professionals that will enhance the Club's squad size and give me more and more options. Marc actually turned down a move to England to join us here which speaks volumes about what a character we have bought here. I look forward to both guys buying into the philosophy we are adopting here and helping the team move to much better things.

Our young players can only but learn from these guys. We've got a couple of decent signings here.

Are they the last signings I will make before the window closes? Ah that would be telling..."

Davidson the hero in Dundela win

Saturday 19 July 2014

Jamie Davidson proved to be the match winner at Wilgar Park on a breezy but sunny afternoon. The former Ballymena striker scored what proved to be the game winner goal with seven minutes left for a much changed Glentoran side that featured a lot of lesser known names. It was a good response and one that was needed.

The corresponding friendly last season saw the Glens win 4-2 but this game was hardly a classic. Both sides wasted chances when well placed and at times the football bordered on dour. It took a special goal to opening the scoring, and it was the hosts who did so after just 10 minutes. Some clever skills from striker Mark McClelland saw him outfox the Glens defence before providing a sumptuous chip over Conor Devlin.

Glentoran huffed and puffed and it took a goal seconds before half time to level matters. A lucky ricochet saw the ball land at the feet of Dickson Chisanga and although the Zambian native scuffed his shot, it had enough to beat Kyle Nelson in the home goal. Glentoran thought they had gone in front in the early stages of the second half when Ally Skillen netted after a free-kick was pumped into the box but a flag soon cut those celebrations short.

The winner arrived in the 83rd minute, Ruairi Sharvin headed the ball into Davidson and his cross-cum-shot was helped into the net by some clumsy goalkeeping by Paul Hughes - a replacement for Nelson at half time. Not the most spectacular goal netted by Davidson but one he will take all the same. Glens then had half chances to put the game beyond doubt but their finishing was way off beam and it ended 2-1.

Post-Game Manager Mark Duell thought the team just shaded it:



Team: Devlin (Morris 61); Brown (Chapman 61), Skillen (Lupton 61), McCullough (McEntee 45), Hill (Crawford 45); Stephen Boyd (Sharvin 61), Stewart (Edgar 45), Ferguson (Fitzpatrick 45), Kane © (Burns 45); McCready (Davidson 45), Chisanga (Morrow 61). Unused substitute: Carson.

Boss reflects after Celtic loss

Thursday 17 July 2014

The morning after the 6-1 defeat by Celtic in the Champions League, manager Mark Duell sat back and reflected on the game and what this means for Glentoran with the league opener just a small matter of three and a bit weeks away.

"Well, I've had time to digest last night's game and to be honest we were undone by a better team. The pitch, which had been a talking point beforehand, was the same for us and Celtic and quite simply they played better than us and deserved to go back with a win and huge smiles on their faces.

Pukki was fantastic, a real handful for us. His movement had us in knots all evening and he could have scored more than four make no bones about it. When strikers are on fire like as he was last night, they become unplayable and there is very little you are able to do from the touchline but just admire. Biton was also in great form on the right hand side of midfield for them and Scott Brown just owned the engine room as if it was his own personal kingdom. We got undone by a Celtic team that had quality and unfortunately dished out a beating.

Did I pick the wrong team? Hand on heart, I don't think I did. There were some tough decisions made last night such as preferring Conor (Devlin) to Elliot (Morris) and starting Stephen Carson over Marcus (Kane) on the left wing. With Aaron (Boyd) missing, I thought young Joe McCready would give us the strength up top alongside Andy Morrow. But Celtic just didn't give him, never mind us, time to play. I'm not angry with Jason (Hill) for his red card, he knew he was off as soon the foul was awarded. A good honest professional always knows these things and Jason is no exception. His dismissal just made a hard task much much harder. But it was nice to have a lead, even if it was just four minutes.

So what does this mean for us? Well, we have to regroup and get our focus back. We will sit down collectively and analyse things, look at the game video and try and iron out these little chinks which have appeared in our armour. Celtic was a learning curve for the players and myself, we can't let it get into our heads and bother us. In a shade over three weeks, we start the defence of the title and we know it's going to be hard as we are the ones that everyone wants to bring down to earth. Especially from the south side of the City, they have a new manager and would love to be the partypoopers.

Will I delve into the transfer market before the window closes? Maybe, but we have a new squad this season. We've lost a few but gained a few as well. We will bed down and battle on, our scars might be sore but they will heal. It's all about moving forward and evolving, we are no quitters - we are soldiers ready for whatever battle comes our way. My message to the fans; keep supporting us you can be the 12th player on the pitch for us. Let's make a difference, just like we did last year as a collective and who knows what will happen."

Pukki's four star show inspires Bhoys

Wednesday 16 July 2014, Champions League: Second Qualifying Round - First Leg
Venue: The Oval. Attendance: 5056

On a rainy night in East Belfast, Celtic's Finnish striker Teemu Pukki took centre stage and bagged four of his side's six goals as the visitors recovered from going behind to win the first leg of this qualifier quite convincingly. It was just not Glentoran's night whatsoever and the dismissal of left back Jason Hill for two yellow cards summed up everything.

It was with a bit of surprise that Glentoran took the lead after 24 minutes. Skipper Richard Clarke's cross from the right looked like easy pickings for Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster, however Dutch central defender Virgil Van Dijk got there first and turned the ball past his bemused custodian. The lead lasted just four minutes, when Pukki got his first of the evening. Liam Trotter sent the Finn away and he finished with an air of confidence with a shot from the edge of the area.

Three goals in eight minutes before half time put the game, and the tie conceivably, beyond doubt. In the 37th minute Scott Brown's flighted corner from the right was headed home past Conor Devlin by Finnish central defender Niklas Moisander. Pukki's second of the night came in the 42th minute, Nir Biton's cross being headed home by the Finn although Glentoran's defending left a lot to be desired. Btton made it 4-1 in added on time at the end of the first half, Brown with the through ball and the Israeli ran on to fire a shot across Devlin and into the far corner.

Hill saw red after 52 minutes when he baulked Biton at the edge of the box, the experienced defender knowing his fate and walking off before the referee had his cards out. Pukki thought he had his hat-trick after 62 minutes, but an alert assistant referee's flag halted him on that occasion. However two goals in four minutes saw the Finn claim the match ball and the personal spoils. In the 75th minute substitute Tom Rogic's ball evaded Calum Birney and Pukki notched his hat-trick with a nice finish over the advancing Devlin. He then made it 6-1 and a four goal haul on 79 minutes with a poacher's finish from a perfect Biton cross.

The Teams:

Devlin; O'Neill, Birney, McCullough, Hill; Scullion, Clarke ©, Mulgrew, Carson (Sharvin 69), McCready (McEntee 53), Morrow (Chisanga 69). Unused substitutes: Morris, Kane, Fitzpatrick, Chapman.


Forster; Lustig, Van Dijk (Burn 79), Moisander, Robertson; Biton (Eagles 79), Brown ©, Irvine, Boerrigter; Trotter (Rogic 61); Pukki. Unused substitutes: Zaluska, Ambrose, Balde, Mackay-Steven.