Episode 4 Late Kick Off North West

Snow and frost have plagued football for year, but two of our

teams might have found a solution. Coming up in tonight's programme.

Primed for the Premier League. Rating Blackpool and Burnley's

promotion pedigree. Pitch battled. How can our clubs keep the weather

at bay? We can working hours and at the end of the day the weather can

override any effort you do. what was the question that left

this Crewe two in a flap? Don't miss that later on. With me tonight

former Preston boss Phil Brown and the man in charge at Morecambe Jim

Bentley. Thank you for coming. Both of them have been there before but

what will the chances of Blackpool or Burnley or both being back in

the Premier League next season. They are in the promotion mix but

who is better placed to make a serious move? We have cameras with

both teams at the beecked to have points and two places on the table.

Separated these two teams. But who is better placed for a play off

is better placed for a play off push?. I think we are inconsistent

at the moment. Like today we don't know which Burnley team will turn

up. You come down, particularly at home we have been hit-and-miss.

long as we avoid our January, February slump we will do well.

are not too bad. Whether we make the play-offs who knows. We need to

have a run where we can win the next four or five out of seven, be

in that top six and hopefully try and get that second spot at the end

of the season. Three more points and we avoid relegation, so we will,

which comeing from Blackpool, that is our main priority, to stay in

the division. In the team we want more fight up front. That showed

the other night. Hopefully no injury, and we will be in there

with a shout. But here in the snowy Cardiff what are the professionals

saying about the club's chances? Both clubs have 28 games played,

they have 18 games remaining and before kick off, the bookies put

odds of 7-1 for promotion for Blackpool and 9-1 for Burnley. Not

much in it then. Given the weekend's weather the odds should

have been would any of these games go ahead? But despite the list of

postponements Blackpool and Burnley were given the all clear. Blackpool

came into this game against Cardiff with five wins from their last ten

league games be their lower placing in the table didn't affect their

performance. Despite Cardiff's Joe Mason scoring first against the run

Mason scoring first against the run of play Blackpool remained calm. It

was super sub Kevin Philips who levelled things up with this volley.

And then it was the other Philips who put the Seasiders ahead four

minutes later. And securing the three points and making the

travelling Blackpool fans very happy indeed, Matt Philips drove

home for his second. The away win home for his second. The away win

moves them to fourth in the table. The team is growing in belief and

confidence. It is growing in togetherness, and you know, we are

having a better 2012 than we did 2011. Elsewhere at Turf Moor

Burnley welcomed Peterborough and the Clarets were on a good run of

seven wins from ten. But in the first half Peterborough seemed to

adapt better to conditions after a defensive mix up Taylor put the

defensive mix up Taylor put the visitors ahead. Burnley merged in

the second half a more composed outfit. Sustained pressure paid off

and four minutes from time it was Rodriguez who levelled things up

The home draw drops Burnley from ninth to 11th in the table..

felt we deserved to win the game. With the way we have been playing,

we wanted to continue that form, but unfortunately, it didn't quite

happen today. You know, the main thing was we didn't lose either.

Both Tams capable, I would say, both teams have got big stars in

the making. Matt Philips and Rodriguez. Let us look at the table

to see where they stand. Looking at that what do you say to both teams'

prospects? You are looking at Blackpool, that result against

Cardiff City. Cardiff are having a fabulous season and Blackpool to go

there, and not just win the game but win it comfortably. When the

third goal goes in everybody breathes a sigh of relief. Ian

Holloway believes in his players and his confidence, it grows during

the course of the season. There is a lot of football to be played.

They are not far off automatic, because West Ham and Southampton

keep slipping up I have spoke to Sam on a number of occasion, they

had a fantastic result against Millwall, down to ten men but they

got a win that, would be fantastic and probably West Ham will push on.

But Southampton are catchable and car div are catchable. So it is

automatic for me. Let u us look at Burnley. We have not taken all of

the fixture, here are the key ones. When you look at that it will be a

defining period. That is right. It is in their hands, they have

slipped up at home on Saturday, but looking at the run of fixture, they

have some tough game, but if they get through that, period, with some

good positive result, they will fancy their chances of getting in

themselves. As the fans were alluding to, it is odd with Burnley,

they have drawn five and lost five but won eight on the road. How do

you turn that round? We are similar ourselves at Morecambe. We are

decent away from home, but home, we haven't really got going. Burnley

seem to be suffering as well. Looking at the fixtures there, if

they can beat, come out of that they will fancy their chances.

us look at Blackpool's run in. Where ever they are towards the end

of the season. Four tough games. I know Millwall are fighting off

relegation, that could be a key factor. I think Burnley might get

in the play-offs and I am looking at Blackpool automatic. Both sides

have experienced Premier League football of late, you know, as near

as two or three years ago and both boards of directors, player,

supporters will be desperate to get back there. Only one more of our

teams managed to get their game in because of the weather. That was

transmere away to Wycombe. Like in their last two away games they took

their last two away games they took an early lead but let it slip.

McGuirk's cracker put them ahead. They held the lead for 18 minutes

when Matty Whichelow headed home. Owain Fon Williams made a great

save but it was all in vain. Les Parry's side twice hit the woodwork

but it wasn't to be and it is seven but it wasn't to be and it is seven

league games without a win. There is not too much movement in the

table because most of the games fell foul of the freeze. The rest

of the sides reside in the bottom. Transmere, Preston next Saturday is

an increasingly important game for both teams. Phil, talking of press

torpbgs let us reflect on your time there. You have had tiement to

personally reflect now. How do you look back on the decision?

accept it, of course, where management is concerned. You accept

the fact that they came out with the statistics we won one game in

11 and we are out of all three cup competition. Probably the straw

that broke the camel's back was the defeat in the semifinal in the

Johnston's paint. Were you shocked? I was leading up to it. Mr Ridsdale

had been to Hartlepool and which won that in terrible condition,

wind, rain, snow you name it but the players put their body tons

line and centre halves headed the ball, Neil Mellor sticks the ball

in the back of the net and we won 1-0. You think that has got it back

on track. So when that call came in, what was your reaction? Obviously

one of disappointment. I got the call saying he wanted a catch up.

Obviously I went to a game the night before, I think I went to

Oldham the night before and had a look at one or two players and the

youth cup was the night before, and Brian Horton had been to that game

and he wanted to catch up on one of the youth player, but when he

issued the bad new, it is always going to shock. Talking of the

chairman, he said in the local paper at the weekend, "It became

clear unless we made a change the discipline, fitness and the things

that make you win weren't in place." Do you recognise any of

that from the team you left behind. It saddens me that you get some

kind of remark that reflects badly on the previous manager. If you are

going to move on or get rid of a manager you move on in your mind

and you get sosm some closure, as far as I'm concerned it keeps on

coming back to haunt me. I am not alrowed to defend myself because of

the compromise agreement. At the same time I could produce

statistics that wouldn't astound you, I have Premier League

statistic, and I am bearing back to my days at Bolton with Sam

Allardyce, when we were in the championship we had a body fat

content of 12% N the Premier League we desighed -- decided to get it

down 10 pefrplts at Preston North End our body fat as a group was 10%.

People say what has that got to do with fitness. I think that shows

the players behind the scenes, professionalism comes from behind

the scene, I think behind the scenes we were doing su. We did

exercise, we had people coming in to give the players what they need.

It comes down players and we lost our best three. What about

discipline? I can't understand that. I have Brian Horton who was in

charge of the discipline side of the changing room, and and if

anything was needed to be brought to the manager's attention it would

have been. Must ask you before we leave this section what is

happening for you next? You guys are keeping me in clover at the

moment, I am doing a lot of media work. You are wearing more make up

than tracksuits! It is when it comes round, Leeds United have lost

their manager. That is what you are waiting for a club with a bit of

ambition, a bit of track record and a chance to take itself and you to

the next level. It goes without It wasn't really a big freeze but

it was a bad one over at the weekend. Only one football league

game be be conditions in the north- west. As well as the inconvenience

of having games called off there is a financial price to play. We have

been looking at two clubs' efforts to cope with the climate.

Three of our featured Football League tomorrow -- matches have

been called off due to frozen pitches...

This weekend's pictures have been decimated by the weather...

This time of year, we tend to get bad weather. As we all know, bad

weather ruins everything. A bed of bad weather and everything

is spoiled, from the goals that never were to the matches that

started but never finished, and those that were realistic never

going to take place. -- realistically. If you lose a game

on a Saturday and you have to play it midweek to revenue will go down.

Probably a quarter and a third. If you go on from that, if you get in

a later call on a match-day morning, you have called in to the referee

but have had a team travel, if the game goes off and they have already

travelled you get hit with their hotel costs and coach costs. If you

get Abereiddy late shirt and you have got people in the ground, you

have got staff costs and all associated costs. -- it really laid

shirt. The person most part upon a the groundsman. -- most put upon.

The wearer can override any ever you do and a game can still be

called off. It really does wear you down. Rochdale have spent �50,000

on page maintenance in the last two seasons. Their last �25,000 in

costs through having to postpone matches. They have looked at state-

of-the-art pitch covers but they're too expensive. More affordable at

around �70,000 is this cover, which allows hot air to circulate

underneath. What about getting rid of the grass altogether? All the

more athletic and Preston were among the select group of clubs to

use plastic pitches in the 1980s and 1990s. A hard surface was

blamed for injuries and players did not like playing on it. 20 years on,

things have moved on. New generation pitches like this are

used each week by amateur footballers across the north-west

and many elite sides trained on them. International matches have

been played on similar services and they could be used in the Football

League if clubs like Accrington Stanley get their way. You can't

use it literally seven days a week. You do not have to worry that the

rain will have an undue effect. Accrington's annual turnover is 1.5

million. They spent �120,000 on the pitch in the last two years as well

as 20,000 on maintenance costs. At 100,000 on paying for somewhere to

train. We could have the community using it. We could hire it out in

the evenings. You are bringing money in through red and getting

other people who are coming to the Football Club seven days a week,

using the facilities and they feel involved. It puts us at the heart

of the community. Which is exactly what Super League new boys, Widnes

Vikings, are putting into practice with their recently in stoppage. It

is the first of its kind in the rugby league. Installing it cost

half a million pounds, which the club plans to repay with hemp --

revenue by hiring it out. There is much less of players getting

injured. If there is enough demand in the Football League then it

would go to a vote and we could see them introduced may be in the next

the years. I once scored our Preston page. It was a lucky bounce

off my Leappad! Are you a fan of artificial pitches? I have played

on the pitch is back in those days. They were rock-hard and full of

sand and people got injured. With time, they have moved on. They are

not bad. You can't beat a good grass pitch, for me. You haven't

seen a grass pitch for six weeks in training. It must be appealing to

delight of Morecambe? We are quite lucky, we have got a 3G and eight

4G. We have got a good choice. As the weather comes, we have seen

with the frost over the last couple of weeks and with the rain, we have

been fortunate that we can get on grass. I can understand people

calling for the pictures to be artificial. Yes or no, are you a

fan? For training, yes, but first team pitches should be grass.

trainer could also have a say tomorrow night with a pitch

inspection planned to see whether all them's game away to Stevenage

will go ahead. Nothing like that anticipated at Hillsborough. If big

games go-ahead you will get all of the action and news on your BBC

local radio station. -- if the Games.

I have been looking forward to this. Last week on our football quiz, but

Tranmere pair did their club proud. This week it is my turn of Crewe

Alexandra. Using our aubergine buzzer is a part-time model...

Their quizmaster is, as ever, Gordon Burns.

What is the capital of Germany? Munich. That was me! Frankfurt.

don't know. I've got this... Hamburg. Berlin! Berlin! Berlin!

That was me! What is a 47 minus 22? 25. What is the currency in Ireland.

Euro. What is the name given to a BBC One? -- a baby swan. ABB's 1? -

- a baby so on? I know this, you know. General knowledge is not my

strength. Eight dock. -- add dark. Vegas. -- I do so. I'm just

guessing animals. That is stupid. cigarette. I have never heard that.

Who presents take me out? Paddy McGuinness. What was the name of

the Spice girls from? Spice movie? Spice Up Your Life? Don't know. The

Spice girls on tour. Do you know this? I have never listened to the

Spice girls. You know all of the Spice girls songs. I was close.

That was the best one yet. As the ball farms, you now understands why

it happens. -- as football fans. That is good for morale, for

players to have a bit of a go at each other? Are a bit of a double

act there! They will take some stick tomorrow but there are a few

in every dressing room. It is a good laugh and good humour. Let's

talk about Morecambe. Last time I saw you I had come to more come to

do for you -- to interview. You are in 14th at the table at the minute.

What has changed? At we have had a tough time. We started really well

and got off to a great start. Expectation levels were high but,

basically, we haven't been good enough over the last couple of

weeks. Disappointed over missing a few games recently. We are doing

all right. Lee Feeney have improved as a squat. We are going in the

right direction. -- with the we have improved as a squat. We are in

a position where we are going to have aspirations. Because you have

been at the top everyone brings you should still be up there. There

were some big sides are at their. We played them pre-season and one

of during -- and during the season. The camaraderie and the local

rivalry, everything about the two games was first class. We pushed on

and got second in the lead. It rubbed off on the area, everyone

was playing well. Does my new ground place factor here? Are you

settling in? People are constantly moving to new grounds. It takes

times to get used to them. -- takes time. At home, we have not been

good enough. We have had a couple of good results. You have got to

get you home form if you are going to do well in the season. That has

been our downfall so far. Bristol Rovers next? We have played against

teams this year with new managers and it gives them a boost. It will

be a tough game. At the moment, away from home, we are not too bad.

And that will give you enough to push on. That is the plan. Back in

2010, we took a trip to the north- east with Preston North End youth

team. They were in action at Sunderland and we wanted an insight

into what life was like for the lads. We ended up in an amazing

game and a story we had to go back You will be looking at things like

the movement from the corner. could tell this team were something

special. We first saw them at Sunderland. Their character and

fighting spirit summer when after a penalty shoot-out. Two years on,

six of the starting 11 and 13 of the classic -- the class of 2010

have got on to play in Preston's have got on to play in Preston's

first team. Two of the first to make the grade were right and

Proctor. Usually it is a big step. Where we were concerned, it was the

youth team squad, into the first- team squad, but with quite a few of

the lads from the youth team. all know how each other place so we

played quite well together. You have got to mix with the first-team

lads, but you have got your mates there as well. A did not lift the

Cup in 2010 but they made their mark. -- they did not. The man who

mentored them takes a keen interest in their progress. Every time may

have touched the ball, you would think, do not touch that, and it is

easier now. Clark is the last want to come through. You think, enjoy

it. Proctor has made it was significant contribution. He has

already passed and 30 appearances mark and has been on target three

times this season. The standard is much greater in the first team. You

are still with the large to have been playing with for a number of

years. When you are playing in the reserves you are still with lads

you have been playing wither. the class of 2010 may have spent

high standards, will they vote -- ever be able to produce such a

talented group again? You do not sit back on things. We think, can

we get better, the same or better all the time? We have got players

who are going to be as good, if not better in the future. If they get

the chance, everything worked out, the future looks bright for

That is a big credit to that set up. Is it a needs mastering a Preston,

or are they about good? -- is it eight needs must think? When they

were relegated, all of a sudden my budget was cut by a number of

millions and the development squad, which I had probably about 10 or 12

of the young lads, was becoming the thick end of my squad. They were

already trading with the first team. It is great to see them there. When

I lost my top three players, Proctor was then one of the top

three. Hoyland, from stale, Harrison, they were the three that

were looking after this group. They were like, figures, all three of

them. My kids always went to them. You are hoping to bring one in at