Episode 5 Late Kick Off Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

Leeds United in crisis, Chesterfield at Wembley, and they say everything

changes! Welcome to Late Kick Off. Walking in a Willcox Wonderland.

Ireland shows steel and staying power.

Unbelievably, football is now not the top participant sport in this

country. Money does not grow on trees but more is needed in the

grassroots of the game. And Chesterfield in the JP T. Which

this time stood for just passing through.

Yes, I've hinted that nothing really changes ` and it doesn't, even down

to our guests. Rest assured you've not gone back in time a week ` John

Hendrie's here again, and Richard Sutcliffe of the Yorkshire Post `

who watched Doncaster win at Leeds on Saturday. What had been done? I

have fractured my thumb. And we'll discuss the latest from off the

field at Elland Road a little later on. There's been lots of Twitter

conversation this week, especially with Leeds fans, and whichever club

you want to talk to us about, @bbclkoyl is how you get in touch.

We start tonight with Scunthorpe United. On Saturday, Russ Wilcox's

men made it 24 games unbeaten since he took charge in November, meaning

that Brian Laws' former assistant has taken to the number one job like

nobody ever has before. There's plenty of other stuff for Scunny

fans to talk about right now too, and Paul Burland has been to catch

up with a club on the move. They have been coming to Glanford

Park since 1988. It was opened by Princess Alexandra, but footballing

royalty were there too, not least their most famous former player. It

is fantastic because the stadium is really the way soccer has got to go.

In fact, it was the first time an English club had moved to a

purpose`built stadium since Southend opened Roots Hall in 1955. It

replaced a tired`looking Old Showground that was in desperate

need of costly upgrades. Now it seems that after just 26 years, time

is up for Blandford Park's breeze blocks and corrugated iron. It was

state`of`the`art. It has lost its way a bit. There has not been enough

investment in facilities in the last four or five years. We want to give

fans a better experience. We cannot do it here. We have not got enough

space. And we want to offer a little bit more.

And this is what the new ground will look like. There are now three

possible but undisclosed sites as the Iron look to move away from

Glandford Park. Where they led, others followed. A retail park has

sprung up, raising the value of land around their current home. Leaving

here won't prove too much of an emotional wrench for fans. I was

more attached to the Old Showground. Saturdays, come down here, then they

move again. I think it will be even better with a new ground. As long as

the supporters get behind the team. It will be nice. It might actually

get some revenue into it and people might actually start coming and

supporting the club. The Glandford Park era has seen four promotions

and as many relegations. On Saturday it witnessed sport history as

manager Wilcox broke a 125`year`old record by going four games unbeaten.

`` 24 games unbeaten since his appointment.

Scunthorpe is so much of your life is promotion as a player and as a

coach. What does it mean to get promotion as a manager? Everything.

It would outweigh everything I have done. Promotion as a player in '99

at Wembley as well was amazing. It was the last game my dad saw me play

as well. '05 Brian in charge, brilliant day at Shrewsbury.

Managing 0`0 to get to third but as a number one, it is all about

yourself. You live and die by your decisions, so I think it would make

it a bit more special. It was a game of few clear`cut

chances. Scunthorpe frustrated by a Wycombe side fighting for League

survival. Gary McSheffrey went close either

side of half`time. Matt Sparrow was denied by Wycombe

keeper Matt Ingram and the offside flag.

It finished goalless, meaning a place in the history books for

Wilcox, and another point towards a move up to League One. The manager

takes all the blame, so it is nice to take a little bit of credit as

well, but it has always been about the group. From day one it is about

as achieving something together as a group. In the front of my mind is

promotion for this football club. I'm trying to finish in the top

three. I know it sounds a bit boring but that is the truth. We have been

working game to game we will continue to do that, hoping at the

end of the season I will sit and have a glass of wine and reflect and

be very proud of what we have achieved. And he will deserve one as

well at the end of the season, come what may. A remarkable run, and it

is a team built in his granite defender image. He was given a job

there, he served his apprenticeship under Brian laws. If you bring a

stranger into a football club and they chop and change the players,

that makes it a wee bit unbalanced. He knows the club inside out and has

done a remarkable job. And yet so often a long`term number to becoming

the top dog does not work. No, there is no guarantee. But he thinks,

tweak it here, tweak it there. Do not meant it if it is not broken.

Can the run last? It has lasted. Yes, but the most important thing is

promotion. If they cannot get permission it will count for

nothing. The move from Glanford Park. We all remember that going

up. It seems five minutes. It does! But football has changed since 1988.

You need to be a 365 day a year business. You want to have business

meetings and Glanford Park does not suit that. So no goals at Glanford

Park, or at Bootham Crescent, as York City's play`off charge slowed

slightly, but didn't go for a Burton by any means. By most accounts,

Burton Albion had the better of things overall, but City did have

good first`half chances. Michael Coulson's efforts here might

have warranted better reward. No joy for the returning loanee Ryan

Brobbel with the follow`up either. And big John McCombe went close from

a Will Hayhurst corner. York now 11 games unbeaten ` and it's six clean

sheets in a row, with just one goal conceded in their last ten matches.

It looks like York are in a four way fight for the last two play`off

places, while Scunthorpe and Chesterfield were not done any harm

by a zero to zero draw against Fleetwood and Rochdale.

From people just having a kickabout to talented kids dreaming of being

the next Messi or Ronaldo, across Britain, around 1.5 million people

play a game of football every week. But those numbers are falling, and

the grassroots game has serious problems, with Sport England having

just announced that it's cutting the amount of funding it gives to the

game. My World Cup commentary colleague and former Hull and

Huddersfield man Kevin Kilbane has been investigating.

Unbelievably, football is no longer the top participant sport in this

country. More people nowadays run, swim or cycle. Player numbers are in

decline and in many places, facilities are shocking. Junior

football still has the ongoing issue of over a aggressive parents and

many questioned the way we culture our kids. The grassroots game is in

big trouble. Enjoy that game? You played well. Kenny Saunders is the

manager of Walton FC, which has 62 junior teams. He has launched a

campaign to save junior football. `` Woolton. Grassroots football is in

danger of folding in the next few years. There are massive problems.

There are many issues at the moment. Although Woolton have addressed the

issue of pushy parents on the touchline, not everyone has. That is

a yellow card! He is an animal! You are an animal! Constantly shouting

instruction is counter`productive. We do want that noise and support,

that is why we want the parents there. A parent would not shout at a

child during a piano lesson, white key, black key. There has always

been a question about the standard of coaching but the FA insist that

is changing. We are providing the right level of coaching for the

right coach in the right environment. Coaching matches, it is

extreme, the money they are charging from grassroots volunteers. We are

being priced out. We need better and more qualified coaches. It is a ten

year journey and we are well on the way to delivering a well class

coaching system and I feel that within ten years we will see an

increase. While the culture of the grassroots game may be changing,

there is still one huge cloud on the horizon, funding. With council

support being cut, amateur clubs need to know who can help them

survive. We have got to get the Government, councils, everyone but

can improve grassroots football. We need them around the table, and we

need it now. There are never enough people in

football like Kenny Saunders. John, is that something you recognise?

Yes, there are loads of issues. Obviously, facilities. There should

be more pitches for the kids. This season `` VCs and should be more in

the summer. January, fabric, all the are cancelled anyway. It is freezing

for the kids and the parents. Extend it is freezing for the kids and the

parents. Extend into beyond May and June. Evening, presumably, to just

for the grassroots game? Yes. The summer is when the kids should be

playing football, out on the local pitches. It is back to front. Have

people gone soft, they don't want to get muddy any more? Yes, and there

are also lots of other things for children to do, computer games and

so on. Progress has been made since I was a kid but other things are

changing as well. It is serious because without people playing at

whatever level they are, adults and children, the interest dips. Yes,

certainly so. It is slightly slanted when they say that is the third most

played sport now and I think that is on the back of the Olympics because

athletics is ahead of Obama. Coming up: No ruptures in blue at

Chesterfield `` for Chesterfield at Wembley. And our great escapologist.

From grassroots to the very top of the game, Wembley Stadium, where

Chesterfield were last only two years ago to win the Johnstone 's

paint Trophy by beating Swindon. We were there with them then and

yesterday for their bit to do it again against Peterborough.

We're here at the famous Wembley Way and it is what most football fans

dream of, to see their team play in the cup final. Chesterfield are here

for the second time in just three seasons but are they good enough to

bring the cup back home? What are your predictions? We will win again!

Four times we have been, we have won twice up to now, this is going to be

number three. There is an expectation we can do better and we

are pushing for the league title. It is a good feeling this time, more

confident. Cup matches mean so much to the players and to the teams and

supporters. I do not know if you have noticed, but this trophy means

so much to the fans and of course, the atmosphere is absolutely

electric. For the other teams that did not make it here, it is easy to

sneer, but they will be missing one hell of a party. Let's go inside. So

while the party atmosphere continued, for Paul Cook it was time

to get down to business. The team were hoping they could emulate their

performance two years ago and bring the cup back to Chesterfield.

Peterborough got a early lead. This by rights should have had a

penalty `` Chesterfield should have got a penalty. Chesterfield have

most of the possession but did not make the most of their opportunities

in front of goal. Roberts put a great cross in and we should have

got an equaliser. Powerfully headed into the far

corner. After the break, crossed in for Doyle who fired on a fantastic

shot. Posh went down to ten men after this

lashing out but even with ten men, they struggled to get an equaliser.

Posh were awarded a penalty late in the game and it was calmly slotted

though the medal to put the game to bed.

The final whistle has blown and they just didn't manage to lift the

trophy this time although they did put up a very good fight, but

unfortunately it will be a long journey home for the fans.

A different outcome compared to two years ago but they give it a go.

They were playing a team from a whole division above them. They are

still in sixth position, the best Ligue one for ten or 12 years. It

came down to missing chances? Chesterfield have bigger fish to

fry. If you had asked Paul Cook which was better, promotion or less

than they would have gone for promotion. The rival teams have not

managed to gain any points on level. Paul Cook was not happy with

the early penalty shout, what do you make of it? On the other side he

would be disappointed to concede it. Maybe he was looking for a bit. I

have seen them given and not given there. It looks a foul but may be

made too much of it. He was looking for it and the initially anticipated

he was looking for it. You said about bigger fish to fry. The

Wembley trip has been coming for a long time so is it good it is out of

the way? Definitely, just one goal and that is getting promotion. The

victory last week was what they wanted, and everybody dropped points

and they have a game in hand. From the originally named Football

League Trophy, back to the Football League itself. Here's Neil Morrow

with all the League One and Championship action, starting at

Elland Road, from where at least one group of Yorkies went home happy.

It's been a week from hell for Leeds United. Humiliation at Bournemouth

was followed by confirmation of their catastrophic financial plight.

But given Doncaster's own league position, Rovers had no inclination

to be generous to their Yorkshire neighbours, and it was Doncaster who

went in front with the game's first real chance. David Cotterill scoring

his third of the season and in the process lighting up what in truth

was a drab game at that point. For Leeds, things went from bad to

worse just before the break. Awful defending by United but very good

play by Billy Sharp. But while Leeds fell apart on

Tuesday, on Saturday the part`time players showed much more pride in

the second half. Who else but Ross McCormack grabbed the goal in the

60th minute. They held on for day when they deserved. Another defeat

for Leeds who now need to avoid administration because currently

they have relegation form. Huddersfield's problems certainly

aren't in their ability to score. Again they went on front on Saturday

at Reading. Sean Morris and misjudged the pass, Nahki Wells did

the rest. Holding onto the lead is an issue for the Terriers. Within

minutes scores were level and the Russian striker Pavel Pogrebnyak put

them away. Stuart Gray had the small matter of

his son's wedding to attend in Dublin and while the cats are away,

the Hornets played. Watford went in front after five minutes. Another

counterattack saw Lewis McGugan double the lead halfway through the

first half. Early in the second half, the visitors scored twice in a

couple of minutes. The first goal had a nonchalant finish and the

second a comedy of errors. The Owls at least grabbed a consolation, a

lovely finish by Benik Afobe, but overall they will hope the family

commitments are over for a while. A 4`1 defeat on Wednesday but quite

the reverse for Barnsley. After a tight first half Chris O'Grady

pounced on a horrible mistake in the 53rd minute. And that lead was

doubled. Liam Lawrence with this terrific strike.

Yeovil made a comeback after Luke Ayling scored midway through the

second half. But when O'Grady beat the offside trap and rounded

Yeovil's keeper, the nerveshad started to settle.

The icing on the cake was Dale Jennings's wonderful solo effort

with 12 minutes to go. Two emphatic away wins in a week for Barnsley

meaning relegation escape may be on again.

Rotherham were almost embarrassing against Bristol city. They took the

lead after just two minutes. Completely against the run of play,

Wade Elliott levelled things just after the break. A great hit but it

took a wicked deflection. Fairness was restored to the scoreline with

their second, another great strike from a dead ball. Automatic

promotion is still a big ask but is no longer impossible.

With Peterborough at Wembley, a win would have brought the Blades to

within four points of Posh but in the first half United were poor. A

deserved lead for Swindon in the 18th minute and the second half was

a different story. On the hour mark, Michael Doyle finds himself

completely unmarked on the hour mark. The Blades thought they'd

grabbed all the points when Conor Coady had the ball in the net only

for the referee to pull it back for being offside. With just seconds

remaining, Swindon pinched the win. Luck just wasn't on the Blades' side

on Saturday. Bradford City have been wobbling

badly in the last few weeks and this didn't seem to be the place to find

their form, but after half an hour they scored the game's only goal.

The second half saw Joe Parkinson sent to the stand for having too

much to say for himself and he will be frustrated by that. This much

needed win will help him get over that.

Wednesday, Leeds and Huddersfield all in a group with the Owls our top

team despite Saturday. Doncaster just tucked in behind and leaving

their worries behind, and could there be another great escape for

Barnsley? What a week it has been for them.

Rotherham now just five points away from automatic promotion and if my

maths is correct, just one more point will guarantee them a place

that has looked theirs for ages. Sheffield United have moved further

into contention. Lo and behold, Bradford have joined those two in

the top half thanks to that win at Leyton Orient which could ultimately

help them. Let's go back to the championship

first because what a week it has been for Barnsley. A brilliant six

points and back`to`back home games now. It has given them a glamour and

hopefully leads can do them a favour against Charlton. They have brought

in Chris Hutchins as coach, number two at Wigan and Bradford, and he

will give them fresh ideas. The players have reacted positively, but

I was down there today watching the under 21 is and I saw a few of the

old faithful who said we are going for it. It is the only way when you

add an border. Barnsley may get out of it again? We will talk about

Leeds any moment, but Saturday was about Rovers. If they had got an

equaliser it would have been an injustice. There was around 30

passes for the second goal, fantastic stuff. Billy Sharp on

target again. Doncaster we do not think we'll be in League One next

season but in League One not far away, another great win for

Rotherham United. This was a fool back on loan scoring both goals, and

it was to fantastic goals. The manager will be delighted with that

and they have surprised everyone. They have, this year and have been

the surprise package. They could make automatic? All the teams have

to play one another and Sheffield United have Brentford badly to the

audience. It is all to play for. I have two ask about Bradford city,

where did that come from? Parkinson was pulling his hero last week. He

has brought John Stead in to help the firepower and that is a

brilliant result. They should be all right. We go to Leeds united to

round up the latest in the weekly said. They appeal today, the

independent QC, was going to rule only success but he has reserved his

judgement. How long do we wait and what happens next? It is a club

beyond parody. The league said there is no timescale but I would imagine

weapons they are the latest we should know which way the decision

is going. Does all this delay Administration? If you does not get

the go`ahead has deal is dead. Leeds will need to be sold very quickly

after that. Last week they paid 50% of the wages which was all they had

left. What I find staggering is that a club like that are 15 minutes away

from April and tickets are not on sale. That is a guaranteed ?6

million and they are usually on sale by the end of February. That would

see them until the summer and that is not ideal, but they have to get

to the summer and that the moment, ten points, fun they are going

down. That is a basic management failure! How has that been allowed

to happen? I just think they have taken their eye off it. We had into

March and it is just a comedy of errors and the club is going from

pillar to post. What is the latest with the together Leeds grip? The

offer has been on the table since November. I think the evaluation of

the lot closer to what Leeds are worth. It rumbles on and it is

clearly affecting the playing side of things. Brian McDermott said that

last week. They cannot afford to let it affect them but if you ask any

manager, give any player an excuse and they will take a mile. They have

made a wage deferral of half. The last two games they have only played

half a game. They have lost those in the first half. Plenty of problems

for Leeds United. So whilst we wait to see what

happens next, the partially paid players have to get on with their

work, with Charlton coming to Elland Road tomorrow night. That of course,

a big game for Barnsley too. And two League One games for us tomorrow too

with Sheffield United getting full Rotherham support for a change

against Brentford, and Bradford fans ` don't forget to set the SatNav for

Northampton rather than Coventry, with the Sky Blues still in exile

from their own city. If a night in Northampton doesn't

stir the blood, there's commentary on Radio Leeds with Radio Sheffield

doing the same from Bramall Lane. And, if your record button didn't

work and you want to watch this programme again, you at least can

appeal successfully via BBC.co.uk/iplayer ` catch us for the

next seven days. My thanks tonight to John and to Richard, because

that's it for another busy week. Just one month of the season left.

Where does the time go to?! See you next Monday.