Episode 6 Late Kick Off Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

Evening all, we've got an arresting programme for you tonight. Here's

Late Kick-Off. Cop that - James Coppinger makes it

400 and counting for Doncaster. Barnsley's stopper turned Dutch

copper - it's Arjan de Zeeuw of the Yard.

Only when they got to the airport, he told me it was Barnsley.

And we'll see how our own boys in blue fared at the weekend.

Good evening. And straight on with tonight's identity parade. Dean

Windass has committed a few fashion crimes in his time. In And we had to

have Brian Laws on tonight, didn't we? This isn't just thrown together,

you know! You can start your own line of questioning via Twitter.

We'll leave the police puns now, thank goodness, and get on with the

football. And a footballer who has become part of the furniture at

Doncaster Rovers. James Coppinger joined the club almost ten years

ago. And on Saturday against Birmingham City, he reached the

milestone of 400 Rovers appearances. Paul Burland was there for us.

MUSIC: "MY HERO", FOO FIGHTERS. It's been a long journey, ten years

at a football club. I've enjoyed every minute of it.

Commitment, skill, good team player. He is one of the reasons we moved up

to the League, he's played that well.

Brilliant player, holds the team together, never stops running. 110%

every game. Just a Doncaster legend, really.

Fabulous. Our hero! # There goes my hero, watch him as

he goes #. It's ten years since James Coppinger

joined Dave Penney's Doncaster, newly promoted back to the Football

League. Apart from a loan to Nottingham Forest in 2012, he's been

there throughout. The people are fantastic. I have

grown to love the place and the whole philosophy, the whole team

spirit. The work ethic that we have here hasn't really changed, to be

honest. It's a good place to be and a fantastic club to apply your

training and play football. I've seen a picture of him when he

first signed, and he looks completely different now. For the

better, I should say! He is a legend of the club. He's a great

professional. A very good player and to make 400 appearances for the club

is a massive achievement. Billy Sharp has been the beneficiary

of Coppinger's vision on more than one occasion, including being on the

finishing end of a 28 pass move at Leeds last week. But it was the

victory over their Yorkshire rivals at Wembley in 2008 that tops the

bill for Coppinger. Along with a promotion-clinching win at Brentford

in the dying moments of last season. To play at Wembley and beat Leeds in

the final was up there as one of the most memorable moments in my

footballing career. And to score the winner last season in the last

minute to take us up as champions was fantastic.

Appearance number 400 was duly marked on Saturday. Fittingly, it

was club record holder, Colin Douglas, who did the honours. And on

26 minutes, the Rovers faithful applauded their number 26. Ten

minutes later, they were ahead. Paul Quinn lashing the ball home.

One up at half-time and Coppinger's red letter day seemed to be going to

plan. But Rovers were finding Birmingham keeper, Darren Randolph,

in fine form. Federico Macheda came back to haunt

Rovers, after spending the back end of last year on loan from Manchester

United. And Lee Novak put the visitors ahead. Another defensive

lapse let in Macheda again. I've had some fantastic moments, but

like any footballer, you have moments when you want the ground to

swallow you up. I've had those moments here, but the fans back me

up nine times out of ten and you like to repay them. It's been a

great relationship. Dean, 400 games up, 40 goals. It

makes you feel old. I remember he was a young prospect at Newcastle.

It only seems like five minutes ago. He's been there a long time. The one

thing you get with him is consistency. His football

intelligence is very good. His team-mates rely on him to perform

week in and week out. There is some pressure from him as well, that he

has to perform. The supporters love him. It's not often you get someone

staying that long. Brian, we know that managers never

stay anywhere very long these days. It's the same for players as well.

There is a huge churn. What does it say about his consistency to keep

getting new contracts and to keep performing?

Well, absolutely. The first point is that he is a nice guy. To talk to,

within the football club, everybody likes him, so he has that

likeability. He's played under five managers, which tells you he is

liked and respected by everybody. To be at one club for a long time is

rare. It would normally be a defender, not a striker. He is

moving back. As you get older, you move back

anyway. He's been sensational. What a good

player. Here's to many more James Coppinger

games. Have you noticed as soon as we mention a club doing well, we put

the kibosh on them! Now, the rest of the Championship. We start with

Friday night's flight for the Owls down to the Foxes.

Visiting Leicester was always going to be tough for Wednesday. The owls

took the lead when striker Riyad Mahrez fired across keeper Chris

Kirkland from the edge of the box. Wednesday battled back and in the

37th minute, they grabbed an equaliser. Michail Antonio, back

from injury. His shot beat Leicester keeper, Kasper Schmeichel. But the

owls were beaten when Anthony Knockaert scored a terrific free

kick. Wednesday had chances to claim a point, but it wasn't their night.

It finished 2-1 to Leicester. In the midst of the club's crisis in

the boardroom, it has sometimes been forgotten that Leeds' form on the

pitch is just as worrying. This strike by Wigan's Martin Waghorn was

enough for Latics to take all the points. Leeds were better in the

second half, their best chance this cheeky chip by McCormack. But this

was another lacklustre performance by Brian McDermott's side.

Huddersfield seemed to be heading for their fourth draw in six games

at home to Bolton. Town were the better side for most of the game.

But football can be cruel. In injury time, Joe Mason's volley gave

Wanderers all three points. The end of the season is promising

to be nail-biting for Barnsley. They took a point against Brighton. Danny

Wilson will probably view it as a point gained, particularly as his

side had to play the last 15 minutes with ten men, after Kelvin Etuhu was

sent off. With Charlton losing, there is still real hope for

Barnsley. Congratulations to promoted

Leicester. But I'm afraid still only the bottom half for us to look at.

Wednesday unmoved, Leeds again, and Huddersfield go down a notch. Seven

games without a win for the Terriers now. Doncaster have been leapfrogged

by Birmingham. And Barnsley are in a proper scrap, after away wins for

Millwall and Yeovil. Leeds United lost. But their big

news came off the field at the weekend, with Massimo Cellino clear

to take over, it seems. What happens now? Adam Pope has been down at

Elland Road today, talking to Brian McDermott.

I spoke to Brian McDermott, who seems to be quite calm, not least a

bit relieved. The ownership situation looks to be heading for a

resolution. He hasn't actually spoken to Massimo Cellino, but he

did receive a text from the Italian saying he was in charge of the club.

That was on Saturday. Going forward, does Brian McDermott feel this might

be his last game in charge? He said, if it is, let's hope it's a win. But

he says every time you manage a game you expect it could be your last in

charge. So, he's very philosophical. As for Massimo Cellino, he texted me

today to say he will be at the match at Watford tomorrow night. We expect

that now the Football League have approved him after his appeal was

successful, to make sure his vehicle, his company takes charge of

75% of the club from the current owners. However, there is a caveat.

We are still awaiting the written reasonings of the judge in Italy on

Friday she found him guilty of tax evasion on his yacht. At the

weekend, the QC said that although he was convicted of the crime, it

was not a dishonest one. If the judge finds that it was dishonest,

then the Football League might have a way of challenging Massimo Cellino

again, and reapplying the owners and directors test. And it may be that

next time, he fails. Goodness me, we're not at the end of

it yet! Dean, he sacked another manager at Cagliari at the weekend.

The 36th he has gotten rid of during his time in charge. Brian McDermott,

it's any game now, isn't it? Yeah, like he said, it's every game.

But it doesn't sound convincing for him, at the moment.

Brian, most Leeds fans think, this is good, we can get going again now.

But it is not as clear-cut as that, is it?

Well, it doesn't seem to be. I think everybody wants to put that to bed

and concentrate on what is good about the football club. And move

forward. That's the only way. They have to get some direction now. It's

just a question of which direction to go in. That's what everybody is

waiting for. Brian has been under immense pressure. But reaction has

been fantastic. He has come out of this well,

whatever happens. It's going to be a rocky road.

Coming up: they are not Masterminds, they're Minstermen and they are Man

On. And we cast a forensic eye on man of

mystery Arjan de Zeeuw. And that is where we go next. Former

Barnsley favourite, Arjan de Zeeuw, who left his footprint and

fingerprints all over Oakwell in a four-year stay. Now, via Wigan,

Portsmouth and Coventry, Arie, as he is known, is back in Holland. And he

is a forensic detective. Ian Haslam followed the clues to Alkmaar.

This isn't the opening of the 1970s crime detective series, Van der

Valk. This is former Barnsley centre half Arjan de Zeeuw.

Many footballers retire to a life on the golf course. But this Dutch

former defender has swapped his boots for a gun. He now works as a

detective for the Netherlands police. Arjan invited me to Alkmaar

to get an insight into his life as a detective.

The department that deals with bigger crimes, murders, robberies.

There will be some kind of excitement, but usually by the time

the detectives get to the scene, most of the exciting stuff has

happened. And it is very tedious research. We also work with

forensics to find traces of what you think might have happened. We make

scenarios. Eventually we try to find the culprit and take them to court.

Do you use your footballing pace? It has helped me a little bit. I was

running after somebody who legged it and after a minute, they sort of

gave up because they realised they were not going to get away. He was

completely out of breath. Professional football came late for

de Zeeuw. He was studying to become a doctor. After graduating in

medical science, he was picked up by Dutch club Telstar at the age of 22.

After four years in Holland's second division, an intriguing offer came

along which involved a move to Yorkshire.

I had nearly given up on being a professional footballer. In Holland

I had decided that would be my last year in that lower division. An

agent approached me and said I have a club for you in England. He said

it was in the First Division. It was only when we got to the airport, he

told me it was Barnsley! By that time I still did not have a clue who

Barnsley was. But we went there and I had a chat with Danny Wilson. I

stayed there and tasted the atmosphere and I thought it would be

an adventure. And sort of embarked upon it. Barnsley is a very working

class town and there was a lot of unemployment and poverty. So, it was

a bit of a shock for me to see the big difference between people who

had money and people who didn't. But on the footballing side, things were

very different too. The passion of the fans was so different to what I

was used to at Telstar. It struck a good chord in my heart and I

thought, I want to try this and see how it goes.

De Zeeuw certainly struck the right chord with the Barnsley faithful. In

his first season, he played a key role for the team which won

promotion to the Premier League in 1997.

Actually to get promotion, I didn't expect that. During the season, it

started to creep up on us. We are still celebrating. We are thinking,

we could put maybe play against Dennis Bergkamp. He is a bit of an

idol. To play against Dennis Bergkamp and Eric Cantona and David

Ginola. I was looking at them when I was younger thinking, these are

good. Suddenly, you are playing against them. Renfrew was the main

man at that time, he was scoring a lot of goals from midfield and he

was the skipper. Andy Payton was the most selfish striker I have ever

met, but he was scoring goals, so you accepted it. Darren Sheridan was

a fantastic character in midfield, Steve Davis at the back. He was my

partner in crime at the back. Fantastic lad. And Andy Liddell who

I rejoined at Wigan for a time. I really enjoyed it. Despite their

best efforts, they were relegated a season later and de Zeeuw was set to

leave the club, but manager John Hendrie persuaded him to stay for

one more season. John Hendrie came and he was a character and he was

always the joker in the dressing room. It made it even more hard for

him to actually take on the manager's role. I think it made it

extra hard as everybody looked at him like a joke. He was always doing

jokes. When he was manager himself all of a sudden. It was tough. And

Paul Wilson of course. The man I met who never did a warm up. He jumped

in the bath before the game, and then onto the pitch. It was a new

one to me, as well. This is the year the local station's football team...

I'm not on this one, I have played against these guys a few times. What

is the standard? They are very energetic, put it that way. You have

to be careful with your legs. But I do play with the police national

team. We have qualified for the European Championships in Prague

this summer, which is pretty good. This is where general police people

work. He is enjoying his new career as a detective, but how does it

compare with being a professional footballer? There is nothing that

compares with professional football. It is the best job in the wall. The

excitement, the fans, everything. Being together with the lads in the

dressing room, day in, day out. Such a pleasure. But I still get my

moments of excitement, trying to get somebody related to a crime and

trying to get them prosecuted, it is a team effort, you cannot do it on

your own. That is wonderful. Great story,

great character. You played against him a few times. They say the

ex-footballers are thick! Who says that? Well, I was going to go there,

but I won't. You know what you will get from him. Like he said in the

VT, he wasn't the quickest centrehalf, but very intelligent.

You knew when you played against him that it would be a tough game. Full

credit to him going back to his homeland and doing what he's doing.

Remarkable career change. It is clear that he still has fond

feelings for Barnsley where it all began for him. Talking of Barnsley,

we know what a tough ask it is for them to stay up this season. Can

they do it? If we look at the fixtures. Can you make a case for

them staying up? You look at key games. They have some very key games

coming up. I think next week, they play Charlton. That is going to

probably be the turning point for me. If you beat the teams around

you, that is the job you have to do. No point in beating the top teams,

because the other teams around you could be winning. You have to take

points off the bottom. Just quickly, the fact they have to do it year

after year, will that put them in good stead? I think so. The

supporters are always behind them. They don't have the biggest budget

in the world. Listen, if they stay up, we want them to stay up, because

they are the Yorkshire clubs and we have two local derbies in that

campaign. Let's hope they stay up. We have everything crossed that

Barnsley will be a Championship club next season. Next, they will be

joined by Rotherham United and. Paul Walker starts up his round of League

One with yet another win for the Millers.

Walker starts up his round Rotherham's season just keeps

getting better. As they did last week, they went in front early.

Inside the first 20 seconds, in fact. Kieran Agard tapping them

ahead against Gillingham. After half an hour, the Gills were level.

Former Doncaster striker Ade Akinfenwa with the header. In the

57th minute, Myles Weston to the home side in front. But the Millers

levelled things in the 69th minute. Richie Smallwood with a lovely pass

to Tom Hitchcock, who finished with aplomb. A defensive howler by Kari

Arnason seemed to hand the points to Gillingham, Bradley Dack with a

wonderful chip. But Steve Evans' men are made of sturdy stuff. Within

seconds, level again. This time Adam Barrett failed to clear and

Hitchcock scored his second of the match. A magnificent seventh goal

still to come. Hitchcock completed a priceless hat-trick in injury time.

Rotherham won't give up on trying to claim an automatic promotion place.

Sheffield United's hopes of a late promotion seemed a long shot when

Orient went in front just before the break. Dean Cox with the finish. But

the Blades are nothing if not resilient under Nigel Clough. Jamie

Murphy kept United's promotion hopes alive as well as scoring the 7000th

League goal in the club's history. Bradford returned to their bad old

ways against Oldham. Jonson Clarke-Harris and James Wesolowski

combined to put the Latics in front halfway through the first half. But

the Bantams were back in contention when Adam Reach, on loan from

Middlesbrough, scored ten minutes before the break. But just before

that, Clarke-Harris found room in the box to smash home another and

restore Oldham's advantage. He was again on target near the hour mark

to give Oldham and unassailable lead. With seconds to go, Gary Jones

claimed a consolation for the Bantams, but no time for an

equaliser. It finished 3-2 to Oldham.

A magnificent win for the Millers, who move closer to the top two every

week. Two huge Yorkshire derbys for them this week, at Sheffield United

tomorrow, then Bradford on Friday. Both of those two looking at a

likely finish in the middle. There just seems to be no stopping

Steve Evans' men. He has unearthed another one. Tom Hitchcock on loan

from Queens Park Rangers. However you get them. He gets the right

players. When you look at the turnaround of the last two years, it

has been incredible. To see them in a position where they are now,

having had a great season last year. He has picked up another gem here.

Hitchcock has great ability. There is a variety of goals in him. That's

key for any manager. He can score with his left foot, right foot. He

can chip, he seems to know where the back of the net is. At this stage of

the season, it is perfect timing, as well. A half-hour hat-trick it was.

As Brian said, you go out on loan, they say go and prove what you can

do. What a hat trick. You have to have different types of goals and

you have to have the ability to do that. He has certainly done that. I

want to leave Rotherham behind and go to Sheffield United. I want to

stroke your excitement. Dash-mac/ It is the semifinal, Hull City

against Sheffield United. I know you will be in the Tigers' camp. Can you

make a case for the Blades upsetting the odds? Everybody is saying that

we are the favourites, of course we are. We are a Premier League club.

It is a cup tie, an FA Cup tie, it is at Wembley, Sheffield United will

be up for it. It won't be that easy. If Steve's team don't perform, we

haven't got centre forward the, whichever the players are front has

to go and prove and perform on the day. If not, we will get turned

over. The good news is whatever happens, it will be one Yorkshire

team in the FA Cup final. That was League One. League Two in a moment.

After a quick break for a return of the worst quiz in the world, Man On.

This week, it is York City's Lanre Oyebanjo and Lewis Montrose, and,

lads, to be honest, I would just go out now if I were you.

Prior to 2012, when were York last in the Football League?

I'd say 2003. Which English footballer was the

first European footballer of the year?

Frank Wright? Gazza?

Stanley Matthews. What is the capital of China?

Hong Kong. Tokyo! Tokyo! Tokyo!

Beijing. I had two bites at the cherry there!

What football team does Prince Charles support?

Who was first? You.

Me? Aston Villa. Same colour.

Burnley. Correct.

Yes! Get in there! In the 1995 to 1996 season, York

City recorded a famous League Cup victory.

Against Manchester United? No. He didn't buzz.

I was finishing the question! You've got to buzz! That's the

rules. Man United. I knew that as well!

Thankfully, they are fine footballers. York 's game at

Rochdale kicks off the weekend. York were always going to be up

against it at top of the table Rochdale on Saturday. This goalless

draw was mission accomplished for Nigel Worthington. The extra bonus

for the Minstermen is that the extra point means they climb back to the

play-off spot. With Rochdale dropping points, Scunthorpe had the

chance to go top, if they could beat Torquay by two goals or more. That

looked possible after Sam Winnall scored after half an hour. Torquay

had a chance to level, when Winnall was adjudged to have fouled Krystian

Pearce. But Sam Slocombe dived left to save his eighth penalty of the

season. Scunny remain second. The first-half between Chesterfield and

Newport was not much to write home about. But five minutes into the

second half, Jimmy Ryan had a terrific chip from the edge of the

box. But the Welshmen inflicted a potential blow to the Spireites'

hopes of automatic promotion. Max Porter effectively passed the ball

past Tommy Lee from 20 yards out. It's squeaky bum time in North

Derbyshire. Russ Wilcox's run with Scunthorpe

continues, now 25 unbeaten. Only behind Rochdale at the top by two

goals. That was thanks to York holding the leaders with an

astonishing seven clean sheet in a row. City are back in a play-off

place. As for Chesterfield, they are looking over their shoulders a bit.

Five clean sheets in a row. Largely down to their unbelievable

goalkeeper. The penalty statistic is amazing. Eight saves in the season.

He is a brilliant trainer, brilliant lad and a great athlete. From a

goalkeeper's point of view, you want somebody with confidence. When we

went into the club, he was short of confidence. He conceded 70 odd

goals. He needed to come out and have a rest and re-evaluate. It has

done him the world of good, because he has gone from strength to

strength and is one of the best keepers in the division, if not the

best. Talking of keepers, York have got a good one in Nick Pope. On loan

from Charlton. York conceded one goal in the last 11. Two great

goalkeepers. That's what you need. Brian said, sometimes goalkeepers go

through a bit of a blip. You take out and you rely on your second

choice. That is what has happened. Looking good for both York City and

Scunthorpe. We have a full programme of fixtures in the championship.

Barnsley must upset the odds against Burnley. Doncaster go to Bolton and

the Yorkshire return for Mick McCarthy. Wednesday go to Forest.

All those games on Tuesday. As is the huge South Yorkshire derby in

League One. As ever, live commentary reports and all the rest from those

games will be on your local BBC radio. For a rerun of this

programme, and all the other variations on the different regions,

we will be on the iPlayer for seven days. That's it for tonight. My

thanks to Brian and Dean who will of course be at Wembley on Sunday. And

for Leeds fans going to Watford tomorrow. Italian for marching on

together is