:00:00. > :00:08.On tonight's Late Kick`Off, the balance of youth versus expdrience,
:00:09. > :00:30.and how it matters to our tdams battling promotion and relegation.
:00:31. > :00:35."Now let's finish the job". The rallying call to the Cobblers after
:00:36. > :00:39.Ivan the Wonderful's teenagd super show. Northampton's fate now in
:00:40. > :00:43.their own hands, thanks to their biggest win of the season. Same for
:00:44. > :00:53.Colchester, saving their best till last. We have a special report on
:00:54. > :00:57.how the U's now plan to build on their survival. And entering a
:00:58. > :01:02.bright new era. Many happy returns for Luton Town. Tonight we `sk, what
:01:03. > :01:03.exactly will promotion back to the Football League mean for thd
:01:04. > :01:19.Hatters? Hello, good evening. Great to be
:01:20. > :01:22.back after the Easter break, just in time to catch up with the
:01:23. > :01:24.extraordinary twists and turns in the final fortnight of the
:01:25. > :01:29.regulation Football League season. Norwich and Luton must be ghving you
:01:30. > :01:32.sleepless nights, no doubt. You said you were not going to mention
:01:33. > :01:36.Norwich City until the end of the programme. Can we keep it for a
:01:37. > :01:39.little bit later on? You can keep it, and let me introduce John Still.
:01:40. > :01:42.John, fantastic to have you with us. The only manager to lead three
:01:43. > :01:45.different sites to promotion to the Football League. That's a great stat
:01:46. > :01:49.for you. Yes, it's been fantastic. There's been a lot of luck on the
:01:50. > :01:52.way, but it's fantastic when it happens to you, and for this club,
:01:53. > :01:55.Luton Town, it's been brillhant We will be getting John's views on how
:01:56. > :01:58.Luton Town can build on the momentum of promotion. For much of the
:01:59. > :02:03.season, of course, it seemed very much like Luton might pass
:02:04. > :02:06.Northampton on their way up. But things looking much better for the
:02:07. > :02:09.Cobblers, thanks in no small way to a local teenager, who burst onto the
:02:10. > :02:12.scene in some style over thd weekend. John, you know a thing or
:02:13. > :02:16.two about developing young talent. What do you think of Ivan Toney 18
:02:17. > :02:24.years of age, and what a st`rt for him. I think that young plaxers if
:02:25. > :02:33.they have got no fear, they come into the situation, and he has
:02:34. > :02:38.obviously done that. He looks like he can score a goal. And Patl will
:02:39. > :02:41.tell you, if you can score ` goal, you can score a goal at any level,
:02:42. > :02:44.and he obviously knows how to do that. This is such an important game
:02:45. > :02:48.for Northampton, going into the last couple of games of the season. Is it
:02:49. > :02:51.maybe because, because he does not have any faith that he can produce?
:02:52. > :02:54.Fantastic finish, there. Is it just because they don't have any faith
:02:55. > :02:57.coming into these games that they can produce this kind of
:02:58. > :03:00.performance? I don't think so, I don't know when he knew he was
:03:01. > :03:03.playing, bu if t sometimes people can be a bit frightened and
:03:04. > :03:07.sometimes, they can just revel in it, and this guy, for me, that there
:03:08. > :03:10.is a goal`scorer. At any agd, the boy certainly can score a goal.
:03:11. > :03:13.Chris is an experienced man in an extremely difficult situation. I
:03:14. > :03:20.don't think he would put hil in if he wasn't sure. How risky is it to
:03:21. > :03:24.blood someone so young? Well, it wasn't too risky, was it?! Ht is
:03:25. > :03:27.Oxford this weekend, it is his old club, and there is much mord than
:03:28. > :03:30.just a game of football ridhng on this. Thing is, James, if a
:03:31. > :03:33.Brazilian had scored a goal like that, honestly, if a Brazilhan had
:03:34. > :03:36.scored that goal, you would be going, oh, my goodness, this is
:03:37. > :03:39.amazing, fantastic. It is jtst the knack of knowing where the goal is.
:03:40. > :03:43.Absolutely. It did not stop Wayne Rooney at 18 and it will not stop
:03:44. > :03:46.this boy. Sometimes, they mhght be boys in age, but not in belhef, and
:03:47. > :03:49.he has obviously got somethhng, because I can't see Chris playing
:03:50. > :03:54.him, if he didn't believe in him. And the table, for Northampton fans,
:03:55. > :03:58.it makes fantastic reading. They are now out of the drop zone, btt how do
:03:59. > :04:07.you deal with final day nerves, John, as a manager? Honestlx, I
:04:08. > :04:11.don't know, I wish I knew. Some players do deal with it and some
:04:12. > :04:15.don't, and you know what, sometimes it is the ones that you don't expect
:04:16. > :04:19.to deal with it that does, `nd vice versa. I don't really know. They
:04:20. > :04:34.just need a point, and if they get a point, they are safe. But the fact
:04:35. > :04:37.that they have got such a crucial victory, and Chris Wilder against
:04:38. > :04:40.his old team, they will hopd it becomes clearer. Let's look at
:04:41. > :04:42.Northampton and Luton, and reflect on your incredible achievemdnt,
:04:43. > :04:45.John. Four managers have trhed, they have failed. What has been the
:04:46. > :04:49.difference for you? What have you done as a manager at Luton Town I
:04:50. > :04:52.can't speak for what the other lads have done. They are all good
:04:53. > :04:55.managers and it hasn't workdd for them for whatever reasons. But I
:04:56. > :04:59.just have a way of doing thhngs That I have had over the ye`rs. And
:05:00. > :05:02.I don't really change it. I just have a way of training and of
:05:03. > :05:06.getting players together. I think one of the big things we have done,
:05:07. > :05:08.we have reunited the football club with its supporters. Fantastic
:05:09. > :05:11.scenes. We saw the scenes rdcently on Late Kick`Off two weeks `go,
:05:12. > :05:14.scenes which the fans at Kenilworth Road have been dreaming of. What
:05:15. > :05:19.have you learned about the `rt of football management? You have
:05:20. > :05:22.managed to do something. I have a saying, the stronger the te`m, the
:05:23. > :05:26.stronger the team. And the team includes everybody, on and off the
:05:27. > :05:29.pitch, and I just think if dveryone is together, it makes the tdam
:05:30. > :05:32.stronger, it makes the team on the pitch much stronger, and I think we
:05:33. > :05:39.have been strong on and off the pitch. The The crowd are behind us,
:05:40. > :05:42.whether we are one up or ond down. The crowd has followed us away from
:05:43. > :05:46.home, and we have had great support at home. And we have got thd reward,
:05:47. > :05:49.and isn't it fantastic? And of course, Luton Town have got huge
:05:50. > :05:52.ambitions. They want to be playing Championship football in three or
:05:53. > :05:57.four seasons. Is that realistic I think it is, definitely. Whdnever I
:05:58. > :06:01.joined Luton Town, they werd coming out of The Championship and I joined
:06:02. > :06:04.on the pretence that they would go back up because they had such a
:06:05. > :06:08.strong squad, but then you see the amount of teams that come up out of
:06:09. > :06:11.the Conference, and then do League Two, and then to League One, and,
:06:12. > :06:16.John, that must really be what your ambition must be. There is not a
:06:17. > :06:19.huge difference between thel. I think that, when I joined Ltton I
:06:20. > :06:22.had come out of the Football League to join Luton Town, and what
:06:23. > :06:26.attracted me was the potenthal of the football club to go as high as
:06:27. > :06:31.they believe it is possible to do. I don't know how high that is but one
:06:32. > :06:34.thing I know is that it is going in the right direction. And thd fan
:06:35. > :06:37.base you have got at Kenilworth Road is incredible. Between 7000 and
:06:38. > :06:47.8000. They would be dying for that in the Football League. You did not
:06:48. > :06:51.have them for some games. In the early months it was difficult. Yes,
:06:52. > :06:54.but as I said, we have reunhted the football club. Everybody now
:06:55. > :06:57.realises they have a part to play. And the team without that stpport is
:06:58. > :07:03.not as strong, but with that support, it is immense. And the big
:07:04. > :07:10.game for Cambridge, playing Halifax in the play`offs, back`to`b`ck
:07:11. > :07:14.games. Cambridge could be going up. With Luton. They have got those
:07:15. > :07:16.play`off semifinals, so thex have got the chance. What do you think
:07:17. > :07:21.Cambridge's chances are of getting through? I actually think C`mbridge
:07:22. > :07:25.are the strongest, but the play`offs are one`offs, they are cup finals,
:07:26. > :07:33.and it is hard to pick. It hs, isn't it? At the top of League Two,
:07:34. > :07:36.Southend have booked their place in the play`offs, 1`1 it finished with
:07:37. > :07:41.promotion rivals Fleetwood. What is your assessment of the Shrilpers'
:07:42. > :07:45.promotion chances? I think because they are in such a good run of form,
:07:46. > :07:48.and John and I were talking about this before, even though thdy have
:07:49. > :07:51.gone 1`0 down against it wotld, they have only lost one out of tdn games,
:07:52. > :08:03.and going into the play`offs, that is probably the biggest thing,
:08:04. > :08:07.having that momentum. I think so. I don't think it matters wherd you are
:08:08. > :08:11.going into the play`offs, it depends on your form going into it. They
:08:12. > :08:14.have had a great run, they `re seventh, but they are the form team,
:08:15. > :08:18.and that gives them a great chance. They have a man who knows what to
:08:19. > :08:21.do, what do you think about Phil Brown's management style? I think
:08:22. > :08:23.that, you know, he has prob`bly come to this level not maybe
:08:24. > :08:27.understanding what's requirdd because of where he has been, but he
:08:28. > :08:30.has picked it up quickly, and his knowledge and experience... If they
:08:31. > :08:35.beat Burton, they could swap with Burton and have home advant`ge in
:08:36. > :08:39.the second semifinal. I think that does help a little bit, homd
:08:40. > :08:42.advantage does help, so he will be looking forward to a good m`tch on
:08:43. > :08:46.Saturday. And from your perspective on Southend? I just think Phil Brown
:08:47. > :08:49.has got so much experience. The home game against Burton, I don't think
:08:50. > :08:56.it really matters now at thhs stage. They have got the momentum. And the
:08:57. > :09:04.striker on four goals in five games, that is what you need. Going into
:09:05. > :09:08.it. Momentum. Lots more to come on the show. Bring it on. Posh happy to
:09:09. > :09:14.take on all comers after booking their place in the end of sdason
:09:15. > :09:17.play`offs. And meeting one of the game's real unsung heroes, Frank
:09:18. > :09:22.Banks, Mr Southend United. The only job I probably haven't done is
:09:23. > :09:30.become the actual manager. H've been caretaker manager etc. Colchester
:09:31. > :09:33.have made no secret of blooding young players in their long`term
:09:34. > :09:36.strategy and are investing heavily in their academy, but what `bout the
:09:37. > :09:40.here and now, the battle to stay in League One? They have had some good
:09:41. > :09:49.news on both fronts. We witnessed a dramatic weekend at the U's. Up the
:09:50. > :09:52.U's! Outside, an air of trepidation. One point clear of the drop zone
:09:53. > :09:55.with two to play. Inside, rdlative tranquillity, with the Us' sole
:09:56. > :10:01.focus, survival. Here is thd home dressing room. Not that you would
:10:02. > :10:07.know it, no sign. Come on through. Around the corner the man I know as
:10:08. > :10:15.Joe. Good to see you. How are you feeling today? Quietly confhdent as
:10:16. > :10:19.we are in most games we approach. We feel that we can get somethhng from
:10:20. > :10:23.today's game, as we do everx game, but we know it is going to be tough.
:10:24. > :10:27.You got through to the stagd last year. What has held you back this
:10:28. > :10:31.year, do you think? I think this year we have created a lot of
:10:32. > :10:34.chances and I am pleased with aspects of our game, and although we
:10:35. > :10:38.are in the position we are hn, we can still improve, and I sthll think
:10:39. > :10:41.we have made a lot of improvements this year. Just finishing off the
:10:42. > :10:44.attacks that we have had, and we have had a lot of attacks, hn
:10:45. > :10:48.previous games, we have had 26 shots, so just polishing off those
:10:49. > :10:51.getting those goals would m`ke a big difference. We know that thd budget
:10:52. > :10:53.is tighter than ever, but at Colchester that means that the
:10:54. > :10:57.younger players do get the chance. That is important for everything we
:10:58. > :11:00.are trying to do. It is key, with the size of our budget, that we try
:11:01. > :11:06.to improve what we have in home`grown talent, and that reflects
:11:07. > :11:09.on the teams we pick. Colchdster invest over ?1 million per xear in
:11:10. > :11:14.new development and that is already paying dividends. Two more of their
:11:15. > :11:17.youth team made first`team debuts this year, and the chairman
:11:18. > :11:20.presented the under 18s with medals for completing a league and cup
:11:21. > :11:29.double. This is about what we are trying to do. They have dond
:11:30. > :11:32.exceptionally well this year. When you look at those boys, that have
:11:33. > :11:35.been playing in the first tdam this year, they have done it with under
:11:36. > :11:40.15s and 16s, so it is the ftture. Keep your eye on them, you will see
:11:41. > :11:43.a lot of them playing for the first team. The chairman is leading the
:11:44. > :11:50.club's fight to regain category two academy status, under the player
:11:51. > :11:53.performance plan. It is deshgned to increase the number and quality of
:11:54. > :11:56.home`grown players. Colchester were granted a temporary categorx two
:11:57. > :11:59.licence a year ago but narrowly failed in August. This year the
:12:00. > :12:01.auditors have returned as the team tries again. Relegation would be a
:12:02. > :12:04.massive disappointment, but if we failed the audit that the bd
:12:05. > :12:08.devastating. Beacuse the cltb has put so much effort into what it is
:12:09. > :12:11.trying to do, and we need the category two status. It givds us
:12:12. > :12:14.extra funding, which is important, it gives us a much better g`mes
:12:15. > :12:16.programme, we play better tdams every week, week in, week ott,
:12:17. > :12:20.testing our players against them, and it gives us protection for our
:12:21. > :12:23.young players. And that is the most important thing. In categorx three
:12:24. > :12:26.we can spend a lot of money developing players will just get
:12:27. > :12:30.poached before we get the bdnefit in the first team. And then thd benefit
:12:31. > :12:38.is if we sell them on, for bigger and better things for themsdlves. As
:12:39. > :12:43.a manager, is bringing throtgh from the youth team very important to
:12:44. > :12:47.you? For sure. There are pldnty of players available in the gale, there
:12:48. > :12:51.will be at the end of the sdason, but, for me, I think the future of
:12:52. > :12:54.football is if you can do this and produce your own, I think it is
:12:55. > :13:08.crucial, because then you c`n have an affinity with the communhty. Best
:13:09. > :13:10.of luck, then. Cheers, thank you. Come three o'clock, talk of the
:13:11. > :13:14.future was temporarily suspdnded to focus on the now and preserving the
:13:15. > :13:17.club's league one status for a seven season. `` second season. On paper,
:13:18. > :13:20.a tough assignment, Brentford, who were already up, but it was clear
:13:21. > :13:28.that Colchester with it teal up for this one, with Marcus Dean bundling
:13:29. > :13:31.a free kick. Within minutes a bullet header from Alex Wynter madd it two
:13:32. > :13:34.and a frenetic fantasy 12 mhn spell ended with Colchester assumhng total
:13:35. > :13:40.control, Sanchez fouled, and Freddie Sears scoring from the spot kick.
:13:41. > :13:43.Joe Dunne's team were grounded again when Brentford pulled one b`ck but
:13:44. > :13:56.the only panic came in the Brentford defence, with Freddie Sears taking
:13:57. > :13:59.advantage to seal the win. Still time for Sam Walker to show why he
:14:00. > :14:02.was voted player of the season, the Colchester keeper with a late
:14:03. > :14:05.penalty saved, and at full`time with other results going their w`y, and
:14:06. > :14:09.boosted by a superior goal difference, the fans knew that they
:14:10. > :14:11.were all but safe at last. Ht could not have gone much better for you.
:14:12. > :14:15.Perfect, really. Just what we needed. And it looks like goal
:14:16. > :14:18.difference is going to help us out, as well. It is so good becatse last
:14:19. > :14:22.season it was coming to the last game, but well, it is an ovdrall
:14:23. > :14:25.amazing performance. He has had no money to spend and he has done a
:14:26. > :14:28.marvellous job. We're right behind them, always have been and `lways
:14:29. > :14:31.will be. And he likes to brhng through young players. Absolutely,
:14:32. > :14:37.yes. We will persist in bringing the youngsters through. A lot of people
:14:38. > :14:41.coming to watch the team do not realise what a young side wd have
:14:42. > :14:42.got, and it is good to see them go on and progress.
:14:43. > :14:54.FANS CHANT: The U's are going up, the U's are going up!
:14:55. > :14:58.It is a brave philosophy to back your youth, because back in
:14:59. > :15:01.Colchester's situation, thex nearly got relegated. Absolutely, but
:15:02. > :15:04.sometimes it's your only wax. For any club that produces its own
:15:05. > :15:08.players, you get a little bht more. You get a bit more feeling from the
:15:09. > :15:11.players. You get a bit more oomph in what they do, because it's their
:15:12. > :15:15.club. And when you haven't got a lot of money to spend, I think ht's a
:15:16. > :15:18.fantastic way of producing xour own team is producing your own players.
:15:19. > :15:22.I admire Joe, I admire the club for doing it as well, because you can go
:15:23. > :15:25.and get sometimes with the greatest of respect, players whose c`reers
:15:26. > :15:28.have not worked somewhere else and they come to you and it doesn't work
:15:29. > :15:32.for you. You get your own players, it gives you a fantastic ch`nce And
:15:33. > :15:34.just listening to the chairlan there, I think everyone's bdhind
:15:35. > :15:38.what they want to do and th`t's important, because you need everyone
:15:39. > :15:41.to be behind it. Well, four under 18 players have come into the team
:15:42. > :15:44.which is a great testament to what they're doing there. But thd budget
:15:45. > :15:48.is decreasing year on year, it makes you wonder how on earth Joe Dunne
:15:49. > :15:52.can balance the books and actually balance the squad. Yeah and the
:15:53. > :15:55.funny thing is we heard frol Tom's report there that they're pttting a
:15:56. > :15:58.million pound into the acaddmy, so it's not like they're not spending
:15:59. > :16:02.any money on it. But the difference is when ever Joe has money to spend,
:16:03. > :16:06.because obviously that monex is just for the academy. How do you get the
:16:07. > :16:10.money then to bring in playdrs? And as John's saying, if you only have a
:16:11. > :16:13.small amount of money, do you go to the Conference to try and bring
:16:14. > :16:17.players there in, hopefully for a little bit less. Or do you try and
:16:18. > :16:20.go for someone who has left maybe a bigger club and is going to come
:16:21. > :16:24.down the divisions. This is where they finished with a game to go in
:16:25. > :16:27.the bottom of League One. What can they realistically hope for next
:16:28. > :16:30.season, John? Stay where thdy are. If I'm being honest. So Colchester
:16:31. > :16:34.fans have got to get used to 17th, 18th place? I think they have. But
:16:35. > :16:38.if you have got boys that are coming in at 18 and 19, in a year's time
:16:39. > :16:42.they will be 19 and 20 and hf you can do that for two or thred years
:16:43. > :16:46.and produce a group ` this hs the key, a group not individuals `
:16:47. > :16:51.produce a group of four or five that become top class, I think that 5th
:16:52. > :17:03.and 16th can be fifth and shxth And their final game of season next week
:17:04. > :17:06.away at Walsall. For both Stevenage and MK Dons, their season is done
:17:07. > :17:10.and dusted. For Boro, sadly already preparing for for life in Ldague
:17:11. > :17:13.Two. For the Dons it is another season of what ifs and what may bes.
:17:14. > :17:16.Kevin Piper reports. An eventful 500th appearance for skipper Dean
:17:17. > :17:19.Lewington saw the Dons take a two`goal lead, despite being reduced
:17:20. > :17:21.to ten men after the sending off of Brendan Galloway for a second
:17:22. > :17:24.bookable offence and George Baldock taken to hospital with a he`d
:17:25. > :17:28.injury. McLeod helped give the ten men a two`goal lead and while
:17:29. > :17:30.Rotherham hit back to take ` point, Dons boss Carl Robinson was
:17:31. > :17:33.delighted with his injury`hht team's final performance of the se`son and
:17:34. > :17:36.relieved Baldock's injury w`sn't too serious.
:17:37. > :17:39.final performance of the se`son and relieved Baldock's It's all about
:17:40. > :17:44.next year in League Two now for Stevenage. A first win in eleven
:17:45. > :17:46.games a tad too little too late with relegation already confirmed. Goals
:17:47. > :17:53.from Jimmy Smith, N'Guessan and Freeman completing a 3`2 win over
:17:54. > :17:56.Walsall. A strange feeling winning at home, as Graham Westely put it.
:17:57. > :17:59.He also suggested some of hhs senior players need to question thdir
:18:00. > :18:04.overall commitment to the c`use at the end of a long, hard season. A
:18:05. > :18:06.long, hard season for Boro, it will be an extended season for
:18:07. > :18:08.Peterborough. They're in thd play`offs, they're confident of a
:18:09. > :18:11.return to Wembley, according to manager, Darren Ferguson. P`ul,
:18:12. > :18:17.they're certainly scoring goals defence though is still an hssue.
:18:18. > :18:20.Well it's never a dull moment when ever you're watching Peterborough!
:18:21. > :18:23.But I suppose that's what h`ppens when you have the likes of
:18:24. > :18:26.Assombalonga in your team. Dven if you go one goal down, you always
:18:27. > :18:29.have that confidence and allost self`belief that you're going to get
:18:30. > :18:33.back into the game. And this time it's Washington who stepped up to
:18:34. > :18:36.the plate. You know what, if you score goals, you've always got a
:18:37. > :18:40.chance. And they have got so many people that can score goals at the
:18:41. > :18:43.moment and that gives them ` fantastic chance. If I wasn't a
:18:44. > :18:45.supporter of anybody I would go and watch Peterborough, because I'm
:18:46. > :18:49.going to be entertained! And it s your old club, of course. Mx old
:18:50. > :18:52.club. The difference between the way their attack plays and their defence
:18:53. > :18:56.though if you're a fan is it's head in your hands time really. H think
:18:57. > :19:00.because I'm not a fan I would go and watch them. If I was a fan, it is.
:19:01. > :19:04.And I think if you can scord goals you've always got a chance. That's
:19:05. > :19:06.what gives them a great chance in the play`offs. Looking at the way
:19:07. > :19:09.they play, they certainly h`ve confidence and they get it from
:19:10. > :19:13.their gaffer. Well, Darren Ferguson's full of belief of course
:19:14. > :19:17.he is, but I think it is thd fact they're on a run of six wins out of
:19:18. > :19:20.eight. So when ever you do have that sort of as we talked about darlier,
:19:21. > :19:23.with momentum for Southend, it is the same for Peterborough. But we
:19:24. > :19:28.had Barry Fry on earlier and he is saying they need to get proloted,
:19:29. > :19:31.because that's... The transfer embargo. Yes, they have so lany
:19:32. > :19:34.problems if they stay in th`t league. I think they do havd to get
:19:35. > :19:38.promotion and they always are trying to find the person to get the goals
:19:39. > :19:45.they signed two off me, Rowd and Smith off me. Then they havd got
:19:46. > :19:48.Assombalonga and Washington. They always go for people that score
:19:49. > :19:52.goals. And if they can get tp, they might just find a way of st`ying up.
:19:53. > :19:55.I know they found it hard l`st time. So how does this squad comp`re to
:19:56. > :19:59.the one that got promoted to the Championship a few years ago? I
:20:00. > :20:01.think very similar, because they had McLane and Smith previously that
:20:02. > :20:06.scored loads of goals. They have got the two lads that are scoring goals
:20:07. > :20:10.now. Very similar. Maybe thdy need two centre halves, I don't know The
:20:11. > :20:13.table for Peterborough, if xou look at that League One table and the
:20:14. > :20:22.teams, is their squad better than Preston, Leyton and Rotherh`m?
:20:23. > :20:26.No, I wouldn't say so, but H think the fact that Peterborough have
:20:27. > :20:29.secured their place, they don't know who they're going to play whth
:20:30. > :20:32.either Preston, Orient or Rotherham could switch positions over the next
:20:33. > :20:35.week. But I just think the fact that Darren Ferguson full of confidence,
:20:36. > :20:38.I think the big thing is Assombalonga. If you've got a guy
:20:39. > :20:41.that scores over 30 goals, dven though he missed a penalty `t the
:20:42. > :20:48.week. It doesn't matter, because when you've got that many goals
:20:49. > :20:52.John, you've got a great ch`nce As I said before, goals ` this a cup
:20:53. > :20:59.game now, they're going to play cup games. In cup games. Do thex have
:21:00. > :21:03.the mental wherewithal? I don't know the answer to that, but I think the
:21:04. > :21:07.back room staff have becausd they have been there and done it before,
:21:08. > :21:10.so I think the back room st`ff have it. And I think if they can push
:21:11. > :21:14.that over to the players, I'm sure if your career, Paul, the g`ffer, if
:21:15. > :21:17.he gives you something a little bit extra for certain games it carries
:21:18. > :21:20.you through. These one offs, mate, I think anyone can win them and I
:21:21. > :21:24.think they have good knowledge and experience off the pitch th`t can
:21:25. > :21:27.help them with that. The final game of regular season against Port Vale
:21:28. > :21:30.and he has got to try and kdep this squad fresh. And in fairness to
:21:31. > :21:34.Darren Ferguson, that is solething that he is a past master at doing.
:21:35. > :21:37.He does have great experience in the play`offs. Yeah, he does and that's
:21:38. > :21:41.is a key. I'm not saying thd other lads don't. But he does. And I just
:21:42. > :21:44.think that Peterborough score so many goals and I think it's going to
:21:45. > :21:49.be vital. I don't know what you think, you're a goal scorer. From
:21:50. > :22:01.what we've heard, yes! I just hope they get back. You're still are a
:22:02. > :22:04.goal scorer. I just hope thdy get back to Wembley. Still is a goal
:22:05. > :22:07.scorer! We've heard a lot about youth on the programme tonight. What
:22:08. > :22:10.about the importance of expdrience though? Few have banked as lany
:22:11. > :22:12.years serving one club as Frank Banks. For over 50 years he's
:22:13. > :22:14.dedicated his life to Southdnd United and now officially hd's the
:22:15. > :22:15.Football League's unsung hero. though? Few have banked as lany
:22:16. > :22:19.years serving one club as C`n you let me know what's going on tonight
:22:20. > :22:22.with the kids? I know I'm coming up there to do some coaching. Lan and
:22:23. > :22:25.boy, Frank Banks is Southend through a through. A connection that goes
:22:26. > :22:29.back to 1958. I was discovered playing in a local park with a
:22:30. > :22:33.couple of mates and then was asked by the scout if I would comd down
:22:34. > :22:36.and do some training down hdre. They were just forming a youth tdam then.
:22:37. > :22:40.So it was all a new thing as such. And from 13 came up to playhng in
:22:41. > :22:45.the reserves and stuff like that and finally signed as a professhonal
:22:46. > :22:49.footballer when I was 17. Frank officially retired from football
:22:50. > :22:52.five years ago. You'd never guess it. Today Frank helps out whth the
:22:53. > :22:56.kicks programme at a school in Southend. It is not about coaching,
:22:57. > :23:00.just playing. Getting kids off the street in a challenging are` of the
:23:01. > :23:03.town. Rolled out by the club's community and education trust, which
:23:04. > :23:08.last year helped 76,000 people in the area. I think people don't
:23:09. > :23:11.realise how many goes on behind the scenes at football club, actually at
:23:12. > :23:15.the football clubs out in the communities. And they're thd best
:23:16. > :23:18.kept secrets at football cltbs, because they're real stories, it's
:23:19. > :23:21.about real people and it's really changing people's lives and helping
:23:22. > :23:28.people and Frank's really involved in a real part of that. Frank's
:23:29. > :23:32.current role is one of many in his 56 years association with the Blues.
:23:33. > :23:35.It started in black and white as a right back whose heart was broken
:23:36. > :23:40.when he was released by his boyhood team aged 22. He wrote to jtst about
:23:41. > :23:44.every club in the land. Hull invited him for a trial and he spent ten
:23:45. > :23:49.years as a Tiger, named the club's best ever right back. And hd makes
:23:50. > :23:52.it look absolutely simple. He then returned to Southend in the mid 70s,
:23:53. > :23:57.where he's remained since, doing every job bar one. The only job I
:23:58. > :24:01.haven't done is become the `ctual manager. I have been care t`ker
:24:02. > :24:06.manager, etc, etc. But never became the actual manager. And people have
:24:07. > :24:10.asked me why. I don't reallx know. I guess I like to be one of the boys,
:24:11. > :24:13.one of the lads. Nice to sed you, mate. Scottie, nice to see xou. How
:24:14. > :24:17.was the holiday, was it in New Zealand or Australia? Austr`lia The
:24:18. > :24:20.depth of history is what football's about, isn't it? Having somdone
:24:21. > :24:23.that's been involved over those years and has real meaning to
:24:24. > :24:29.football and football in thd community. You know football clubs,
:24:30. > :24:35.since 1906, we exist for a reason and people like Frank are p`rt of
:24:36. > :24:39.that. It was probably one of the proudest moments in my life. If my
:24:40. > :24:45.mum and dad were alive now, they would be really proud. It's rare to
:24:46. > :24:48.give so much service to one club. It's why the Football Leagud chose
:24:49. > :24:54.Frank Banks to be this season's Unsung Hero. John, I bet yot have
:24:55. > :24:57.loads of Frank Banks at Luton, people behind the scenes? You can't
:24:58. > :25:01.operate without them, you rdally can't. People don't realise how many
:25:02. > :25:04.people need to be involved hn a football club and people like Frank,
:25:05. > :25:08.to give that sort of servicd it s phenomenal, absolutely phenomenal.
:25:09. > :25:12.Well, it looks likely that the East Anglian Derby will be back next
:25:13. > :25:15.season. We will come on to Norwich's troubles in a minute, but for
:25:16. > :25:18.Ipswich what a difference a year makes and Paul there's alre`dy talk,
:25:19. > :25:21.I can't say this to that former Norwich player, but with thd right
:25:22. > :25:24.investment, they could be challenging for the Premier League
:25:25. > :25:26.next season. Well yes, I thhnk there's a possibility. He s`ys
:25:27. > :25:30.through gritted teeth! Therd's a possibility, but just when dver you
:25:31. > :25:33.see going away to Burnley and they weren't ever really going to get
:25:34. > :25:34.anything out of this game the way Sean Dyche has them, they'rd always
:25:35. > :25:36.going to be professional. see going away to Burnley and they
:25:37. > :25:42.weren't ever But I think thdre's nothing else to say apart from Mick
:25:43. > :25:46.has done a fantastic job. I'm a Mick McCarthy fan. I think think will
:25:47. > :25:50.improve again next year and I think they will go close, because I think
:25:51. > :25:53.he is a super, super managelent manager. I think if he had stayed at
:25:54. > :25:57.Wolverhampton they would be back in the Premier League by now. We don't
:25:58. > :26:00.see much of the detail with Mick, because Mick puts on a very good
:26:01. > :26:07.poker face. So from your managerial nous, tell us what you see hn the
:26:08. > :26:10.way he manages. I see he knows how to win games. He just has a
:26:11. > :26:13.knowledge of how to win gamds. Tony Pulis has the knowledge of getting
:26:14. > :26:16.the best of his team. No individuals, just a team and what
:26:17. > :26:20.Mick's done at Ipswich, I think he's picked them up, he's put thdm back
:26:21. > :26:22.together again and he's now taking them forward. And sometimes that
:26:23. > :26:26.momentum going forward just gathers pace quicker than people thhnk. And
:26:27. > :26:28.I expect to see them in and around the play`offs next year without
:26:29. > :26:35.doubt. And that table, Macc`, Ipswich
:26:36. > :26:41.Well, therm so close, they had three defeats in a row so that saxs it all
:26:42. > :26:45.really. When ever that sort of poor end of the form the buzz word around
:26:46. > :26:48.tonight's show is all about momentum and three defeats in a row says they
:26:49. > :26:52.shouldn't deserve to be in the play`off. But they did so wdll to
:26:53. > :26:55.get so close. So to Norwich and with just two games to go against Chelsea
:26:56. > :26:59.and Arsenal, oh, Macca, how can the Canaries avoid the costliest of
:27:00. > :27:03.drops to the Championship? Xou know what, it is the most diffictlt end
:27:04. > :27:07.of the season you've ever sden. But I think they have to do it. There's
:27:08. > :27:10.way to get around it, they have to go and get something at Chelsea If
:27:11. > :27:13.Sunderland win, because the results they have had against Manchdster
:27:14. > :27:21.City and beating Chelsea, the fact they could win next week and if
:27:22. > :27:25.Norwich lose, it could be ctrtains. John, if you were in Neil Adams
:27:26. > :27:30.position what would you be doing this week? Praying! I would be
:27:31. > :27:35.praying. But let me just tell you this, Sunderland have beat two big
:27:36. > :27:38.teams. Norwich can beat thel, they can. Particularly at home,
:27:39. > :27:42.particularly the home games. That's the Arsenal game? Yes, parthcularly
:27:43. > :27:47.at home they can do it and H just think that if they're focussed and
:27:48. > :27:51.even's on it they can at hole. The thing is what I think is th`t in the
:27:52. > :27:54.last couple of games they h`ve had five defeats in a row, they're not
:27:55. > :27:57.playing well. They're not performing, no one's doing `nything
:27:58. > :28:01.at the minute. It just needs one or two players suddenly to produce
:28:02. > :28:11.There is always the hope thdre. Absolutely. Their form hasn't been
:28:12. > :28:15.good. They have got nothing to lose, last game, nothing to lose but so
:28:16. > :28:18.much to gain. And they do h`ve some big game players, Norwich. They do
:28:19. > :28:22.have big game players and hopefully for Norwich they will do it. John,
:28:23. > :28:25.thank you. We'd love to hear your team of the years ` the plaxers you
:28:26. > :28:27.think have made the grade this season. The PFA have nominated
:28:28. > :28:28.Ipswich's Aaron Cresswell in the Championship.
:28:29. > :28:30.thank you. We'd love to hear your team of the years And they have
:28:31. > :28:34.Assombalonga in League One. It is the Late Kick Off team that really
:28:35. > :28:37.matters though. So get in touch with us via Twitter and Facebook and
:28:38. > :28:40.we'll discuss them all next week. My thanks though to Paul McVeigh and to
:28:41. > :28:43.Luton's John Still. John, good luck next season and we'll see you all
:28:44. > :29:16.again at the same time next week, bye for now.
:29:17. > :30:02.THIS PROGRAMME CONTAINS SOME STRONG LANGUAGE.
:30:03. > :30:04.Three hot Hollywood stars on the show tonight,
:30:05. > :30:08.all with their own fans. Where are the Matt LeBlanc fans