Episode 14 Late Kick Off London and the South East

end of the game, there's one thing about Sir Alex Ferguson - when he

does lose a game, he went over and shook hands. That's allowed. It is

part and parcel of the game. That was the best part of the game!

Without any punches. What a turnaround. You wrote them off.

turnaround. You wrote them off. Almost? When do you ever see form

like this from Manchester United? They were eight points clear. They

were 40-1 on to win the title and they go to Wigan and were as bad as

you would ever believe. Who wins it now? City will win it now. A tough

game at Newcastle? Yes, you can go there and win the league. Hey, you

go and do it. With the players they have got, they are used to big

games. I haven't got a clue! I have backed the two of them all season-

long. I am sure I will get one of them right! There's been so many

twists and turns. You wouldn't be surprised if you got another one.

Thank you very much. There's plenty more football to

look forward to on the BBC this week.

Late Kick Off follows us here on BBC One with all the stories from

your region after a dramatic weekend in the Football League.

On Saturday, Dan Walker and David James will be looking ahead to the

FA Cup Final between Chelsea and Liverpool on Football Focus at

We have a title race on our hands as United have company at the top.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 89 seconds

crunch time for West Ham... We've delivered not the ultimate prides,

but we've been very close. And for Wycombe. With teams like Sheffield

Wednesday, Sheffield United and Charlton in this league. There's a

Charlton in this league. There's a big difference. Crawley and Barnet

will have to wait until the final day of the season. Whether we're

staying up or going down, it didn't matter. We were going full guns

blazing. And as we approach the anniversary of Justin Fashanu's

death, can football do more to tackle homophobia? The best thing

we can do is create an environment where A, home -- homosexual man

would feel comfortable coming out. Hello, welcome to the penultimate

Late Kick Off of the season - we're almost there! Tonight we're joined

by a man who's played in the Premier League with Watford. He was

even once on Dragons Den! The Brentford goalkeeper Richard Lee is

alongside a man who is always reinventing himself, Mark Bright.

First though Wycombe, where life is anything but dull. In 2009 they

went up. In 2010 they went straight back down. In 2011 they went up.

Anyone see a pattern? Richard Adams spent Saturday seeing if the boys

from Buckinghamshire would once again be trading places. Volatile

markets, unpredictable trends and a life lived by the virtue of what

goes up must come back down. I'm not talking about the state of the

stock market, but rather, the trials and tribulations of Wycombe

It's like being a yo-yo. This is the third time we're staring

relegation in the face in ten years. It's like a long, slow illness. You

start getting a heavy cold around Christmas. You're trying to stave

off pneumonia. Now we're teetering on the edge. To achieve League One

status at the end of this season would be as good as promotion last

year. This division is a big step from League Two. We have Sheffield

Wednesday, Sheffield United, Charlton in this league, players on

thousands of pounds a week. There's a big difference. The next 90

minutes are the most crucial in the season. Defeat will mean almost

certain relegation, but a win will see them take their fate to the

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 89 seconds

With two minutes remaining and leading 3-2, Wycombe had possible

survival within their grasp. But two quick goals meant they were

It sums the season up today. The performance, we played very well

and conceded goals, late on in the game. We've scored at this level,

but conceded far too many. That's why we've been relegated.

Everyone's gutted, you know, it's a real bad one because obviously we

could have kept it alive for next week that. Would have been a heck

of a game. Everyone's disappointed and devastated. I'm sure the fans

are too. You want to be here next season? I see no reason why, but

that up to other individuals. But I don't see you know, I'll be here as

A tough day for all connected at Wycombe, and we'll talk about them

in a moment. But their defeat was good news for Leyton Orient who

went to Hartlepool on Saturday still in danger. They went behind

to an Antony Sweeney goal. They did get themselves back into the game

though. Kevin Lisbie the driving force down the middle, and he laid

it off for Jamal Campbell-Rice for a tidy equaliser. Ryan Noble

condemned Russell Slade's men to defeat. Wycombe's difficulties

though kept the O's up. Sighs of relief all round. You've played in

a Brentford side that has twice beaten Wycombe this year. Why do

you think they've struggled so much in this season? It's a tricky one

to say why. We played them the first time round and they were

fantastic. Though we won, we didn't deserve to. Their manager summed it

up, it's the goals they've conceded. They've conceded a lot. They have

played very good stuff. On the teams that came up last year, they

have the joint best defensive record, they only conceded 50 goals.

They've conceded something like 86 goals this season. Scoring,

fantastic. 65 they've scored. Stevenage who are in the promotion

play-off place, they've scored one more. You're thinking, simple, can

you just not concede as many and they'd have a good chance. I back

them to bounce straight back up. What about Leyton Orient, we had

Russell Slade here in January, and the team going for the play-offs.

Their season has really tailed off. Nose dived, one win in ten games.

They've benefited from teams below them not winning. It's been a poor

season. I think October they kicked in taking 14 points in that month.

They haven't showed any consistency. They've stayed up which is a good

thing. West Ham fans spent the season planning for automatic

promotion and went into the final game with an outside chance. For it

to happen, they needed to beat Hull and hope that Southampton slipped

up against already-relegated Coventry. Nine months of twists and

turns, of highs and lows, it all Southampton have the breakthrough!

News from elsewhere is not good. West Ham still have to do what they

can and hope. The diving header makes it two.

He's found a way through this time. West Ham have got a goal. They're

doing their bit. Two for West Ham.

Oh, and it's in! Southampton again. Oh, yes, it's four. Southampton are

Hull have got a goal back, so West Ham cue the play-offs. In the end

this was academic in what happened at St Mary's.

We're in great form because we've only lost one in 18. Unfortunate

factor in that is between that has cost us the second spot or even the

title by just drawing too many on the trot at home here. But, yeah

it's a great record to go with, only one defeat in 18. So Sam

confident they're going into the play-offs in good form. And in the

play-offs West Ham will be playing Cardiff, who beat your boys Palace

on Saturday. Wilfred Zaha with a fine opener for the Eagles. But

Peter Whittingham and Don Cowie with the goals that ensured the

Bluebirds took the final play-off place. Brighty, how do you rate

West Ham's chances against them? They've been in the play-offs the

last three seasons. Sam's right, the form of the teams, the last six

games West Ham are the form team, with the exception of Millwall. And

going into the play-offs I would fancy their chances. I looked at

the last 19 games and they've got the best record, better than

Cardiff, Birmingham or Blackpool. Cardiff lost five, Birmingham lost

four, Blackpool lost four. West Ham have only lost two. It's

disappointing, but Reading came with a great charge. They deserve

to go up though Southampton. They have to go again. Everyone says the

third place team it's unlucky. They're the rules. I've finished

there. You have to forget what's happened now, look forward and go

again. I think, I really do think they'll get promotion from the

play-offs. You played in play-offs with Watford in 2008, albeit as the

team that snuck in, in sixth. What do you think West Ham's mindset

will be going into these games? Yeah, I think he's spot on. There's

something to it... For once! Yeah. There's something to it in that

West Ham looking for points, ten points ahead of the next place.

There's a mental aspect to it in that a lot of them two, three

months ago would expect to be on their holidays now. Then Blackpool

who have come from nowhere and done what they've done. It will be

interesting. Blackpool with the momentum, I'm probably going

against what you're saying here, the likes the Blackpool could come

through and surprise a few people. The pressure will be on West Ham.

Fans expect them to do it. Ail' be at the game. It should be good.

could make all the difference. Tension plays a big part as well,

handling the pressure. confirmation of the play-offs line-

up. Commentary of both legs on BBC London 94.9 and highlights of the

second leg at Upton Park on Late Kick Off next Monday. Birmingham or

Blackpool await the winners at Wembley. Our other three

Championship teams were playing for little more than pride at the

weekend, here's Nick Godwin to tell Watford have proved so many people

wrong this season. It was fitting they should finish off in style.

Deany did all the hard work before setting up Ewelumo to get the

scoring started. Middlesbrough needed a win to keep

them in contention for a play-off place and drew level with five

minutes to go. Watford are quite used to wrecking carefully made

plans. A late strike from Deany sealing the points. They finish

sealing the points. They finish 11th in the table, another strong

Millwall have spent most of the season looking over their shoulder,

but their strong finish to the campaign augers well. An early lead.

Then it was 1-1. Dicko slid in to put the sea siders in front. Before

Spurs loanee Harry Kane struck an equaliser with seven minutes to go.

Millwall have ended the season unbeaten in seven matches.

Brighton's best league season for 20 years ended with a whimper.

Their first campaign back in the championship has been something to

remember, though, but no-one will be recalling Barn's attempt to

break the deadlock any time soon. Barnsley weren't much better in

front of goal. A drab end to a colourful season for the Seagulls.

Now, this Wednesday marks the anniversary of Justin Fashanu's

death. 14 years after he committed suicide at the age of 37, he

remains Britain's only openly gay professional footballer. So is the

sport doing enough to tackle COMMENTATOR: Oh, what a goal!

That's a magnificent goal. Former footballer Justin Fashanu has been

found dead in a garage in East London. It's a terrible thing when

you consider the only person he could talk to was me. Whoever makes

that first step, it's a massive step because no-one's done it.

Every time I have done an interview about anti-homophobia, without

exception, a comment that I'll get on Twitter or on something is oh,

why don't you just come out then. More than a decade since his death,

the hope for those who knew him is that Justin Fashanu's legacy will

be to inspire change in a sport, which, many believe, has failed to

keep up with changes in society. Justin was a friend of mine. He

just wanted someone to talk to. That's what has to be provided,

more and more where people can go and talk to someone and have the

support of their clubs. If you don't have the support of the clubs,

then the battle's lost. Every professional football club has

signed the Government's sports charter to tackle homophobia but

only 16 agreed to actively support this year's football versus

homophobia campaign. It's all well and good people signing a piece of

paper and saying they want to be a part of something, but how much are

they going to stand on the soapbox and shout about it? How much are

they willing to do and put their club's name to initiatives and

direct action campaigns? One club that has played a key role is

Wycombe. The team wore anti- homphobia T-shirts before a match

this season. But even here, it's felt football does not yet provide

an environment where a footballer would feel confident to be openly

gay. It must be a problem, if not there would be openly gay

footballers. There isn't. You would think that amongst the thousands of

professional footballers that, the stats say there would be

professional footballers that are professional footballers that are

gay. There's a real reluctance for heterosexual men to stand up and

fight the cause for homosexual men for a fear of what? For the fear of

the exact thing we're trying to break down. We are all one and the

same. I will get as much satisfaction and delight from

watching a Middlesex Cup Final as I would going to see Brentford play

or whether I go and watch Chelsea. What you do have, which connects

all the clubs together, is they carry the name of a place. It is

the reputation and the honour of that community whose name they bear

that is at stake in every match. Surely, it's the responsibility of

the clubs involved to really get behind anything that divides a

community. There's no reason why people shouldn't be able to be

themselves and still be able to support football clubs, play

football and participate in any way they see fit. The best thing we can

do is create an environment where we believe a homosexual man would

feel comfortable coming out. You played in the same era as

Justin Fashanu, what was the response in dressing rooms and on

the pitch when he came out? I was playing, yeah. I was at Crystal

Palace at the time. That weekend, we played against Wimbledon. His

brother John was playing for Wimbledon. Obviously, he was sort

of like taubted by the crowd. At the at the end of the day of the

game, we used to share the ground, he came into the Palace dressing

room because he didn't want to go into the players' lounge, he sat in

the dressing room talking to us. It really hurt him, but yeah, it was

quite shocking news at the time because obviously, nobody had come

out before. 14 years on, do you believe

nowadays players would have any problem accepting a team-mate if

they were gay? Yeah, I think time - - times have changed. I don't think

it would be a problem. I don't remember the last time lads were

nice to each other in the changing room. There would be some banter,

that's the life of a footballer. I think more so the terraces. I

suppose it would be like anything, a player gets a celebrity

girlfriend, does something different, they are going to get

stick regardless. That's the way it is. But then it would be similar to

a lot of things in football, it's a great medium for things to change.

When it does happen, I'm sure it will bring more change and positive

steps. It's a subject we shall continue to chat about. On Saturday,

Barnet faced the - for them - unusual prospect of staying up

before the final day of the season. They needed to beat Wimbledon and

hope for favours from elsewhere, including Crawley, who could have

sealed their second straight promotion at home to Hereford.

Chris Slegg spent the afternoon at Underhill. Who neds a Premier

League title decider? League Two is where the drama is really at. A win

for Barnet at Wimbledon and they could stay in the Football League

today and those 40 miles directly south of here at the broad fields

stadium, Crawley are stepping out against Hereford. If they win, not

only will that do Barnet a favour, it could see Crawley promoted to

League One. Scott Davies had Crawley's first chance against

second to bottom Hereford, who weren't expected to put up much

resistance. Back at Underhill, Barnet were up against a Wimbledon

side determined not to let their solid first season in the Football

League fizzle out. Just after the half hour mark, came the Bees

breakthrough. COMMENTATOR: Barnet take the lead!

In West Sussex, Crawley still In West Sussex, Crawley still

couldn't force the opener. Then ten minutes into the second half, a

Hereford goal out of nowhere. Crawley were now out of the top

three. Back at Underhill the nerves were on edge. The mood has changed

here, that goal for haifrt at Crawley, mean if Wimbledon get one,

Barnet will be in the relegation zone on goal difference.

Hereford were to add to Crawley's pain. Barnet were determined to

stay in control of their own destiny. Crawley's collapse was

soon complete - a 3-0 defeat meaning no promotion party for them

today. Events elsewhere at least keeping them in the top three.

Everybody expected maybe that we believed that we were going up

today. But, we didn't perform as we should have done. Hereford's shock

three points meant even the two late goals, which saw Barnet run

out 4-0 winners, wouldn't settle relegation issues today. For the

third year in a row for Barnet, it will go to the final game. You

didn't get any favours from Crawley? We thought that would be a

banker. They had Torquay and Crawley, we thought we'd be safe.

can't wait to get them on the pitch next Saturday, there's enough

characters in there, from what I can see, we can get a victory away

from home. So what it all means is from home. So what it all means is

this Saturday, Barnet have to win at Burton to be sure of staying up.

At the other end, Crawley have to win at Accrington to be sure of

going up. Good luck to both in their respective missions. No such

last day drama for Brentford in League One. Saturday's 2-1 defeat

to Sheffield Wednesday ending any lingering play-off hopes. You

didn't play because of the injury, but talk us through it if you will.

They're a good side. They are. I suppose, all top three deserve to

go up. We're amongst that. It's a shame, though we lost, on the

balance of play, we certainly deserved more than we got. There

was a Big Debate about that penalty. Yes, there was a small debate. I

have to say their keeper was fantastic. On the balance of play

we deserved better. Again, maybe that sums up our extent, in that

we've been very close all season, on the fringes, and we haven't

broken in. Whatever happens this Saturday at Chesterfield, Brentford

will finish 9th. How would you sum up the campaign? We had the boss in

earlier, he was hoping for better things. Does ninth summarise where

you think you deserve to be? think so. We've been close. We've

been close all season. We had this great run of late. Last weekend was

a big game. Had we beat Stevenage it could have been very different.

We haven't quite been good enough. We've shown glimpses. It bodes well

for this season. Question for Brentford fans, but Ok, here's

Caroline Barker to tell us how what happened with our other clubs in

were continuing the title party in the early stages at Deepdale.

Haynes into the area before steering his shot through two sets

of Preston legs. They were hoping to take their season tally to 100

points and when the home side entered in the party spirit, Grey

gifting the ball, they looked on course to do. So the hangover would

soon kick in however. Hunt with a shot through a crowd of bodies and

into the bottom corner before Alexander, playing his 1023 and

final game of his career, signed ended at Northampton. Wilson fired

the home side in front. Their destiny remained in their hands at

halftime. They profited from slack defending in the Northampton ranks

to draw level. It wasn't to be quite enough.

With survival secured, there was little to suggest that the Daggers

could extend their eight game unbeaten run away to a Shrewsbury

side needing three points for promotion. The greater need that

won out ahead of top scorer Collins the difference. The shrews clinched

promotion. promotion.

Now the questions for you Richard. Goal keepers, wasting time, time

wasting in football, you have issues on how to solve it. Yeah,

it's something that, I can plug my book, is that all right?, it's

something I mentioned in my book, was similar to the American method

of doing a stop-watch system. It wouldn't be 90 minutes, but the

ball is in play on average 60 minutes, just clarifying it's a 60

minute game. The clock is restarted when it come in play. We were

taught, I remember years ago, game management is what we were calling

it, it was in effect, when you're 1-0 ten minutes ago, using every

possible advantage to waste time. I think by doing that it would change

that. It would be a revolution in football. Do you like that? A tweet

here, what chance have you got of promotion next year? I think play-

offs will be there next year. We're fortunate and have an owner backing

the club and putting money in. Fantastic manager, great staff and

we have some really good players. I think one or two additions and why

not. Lee says "What has been your highlight of the season, other than

appearing on Late Kick Off?" course! It would have to be the run

we've had prior to last week, going seven games, five or six clean

sheets, won five of the seven. We did great. To get ourselves back in

the picture, a really good feeling around the club. It's unfortunate

it's tailed off the last week or two. It bodes well. Is the shoulder

injury something so you can have a longer summer holiday? Yeah, yeah.

No, I dislocated it last season, so I just felt it again a couple of

weeks ago, which was unfortunate to miss a couple of big games. I'll be

fine. Great to have you on today. Now, before we go, the team that

were formerly Wimbledon and moved to Milton Keynes are MK DONS, the

team that started from scratch with the soul of the old club are AFC

Wimbledon. As penance for your faux paus last week, we'll force Mr

Bright to re-live a day he'd like to forget. The rather one-sided,

nine-goal thriller between Palace and Liverpool in 1989. Goodnight.

My nightmare. Don't worry, you're not in this one, this is a

nightmare result. September 12, 1989, we've gone to Anfield to play

Liverpool. Perhaps the best football club in the world at the

time and Glenn Hussain. That didn't matter. They may have a team of

household names. We have Write and Bright and in goal perery sn

sukling who was to remain immovable nine times in the next 90 minutes.

They scored early. Then again. Play your way out of this one. Then they

scored just for luck. 3-0 at halftime. That's all right. We'll

score early, keep it tight, come score early, keep it tight, come

back, 3-1, heads held high, no worries. Or the other option,

concede again just after halftime, then again. Then give away a

penalty and they bring on a local hero to score with his first touch.

But then we get a penalty and I hear, what I still think is the

most optimistic thing I've ever heard any football fan say "If we

get this Kev, you never know." The pressure was too much for Geoff

Thomas. He blazed it over the bar. The entertainment bar kept going,

they scored again. Then again. The final nail in the coffin in the

last minute 9-0, eight separate scorers. That's a record and a new

joke, what's the time mate? It's nearly ten past suckling. But