December 19, 2024 • 40 mins
In episode 2 of Steels Talk, host Adam Allcroft talks to Peter Rinkcavage, the manager of Stocksbridge Park Steels between 2003 and 2007, winning a Sheffield Senior Cup in the process. We talk about his time here, giving Jamie Vardy his debut and why he left for Worksop Town just after beating them in the Senior Cup final.
The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Stocksbridge Park Steels or any other entity.
Music by Alex Grohl and licenced by Pixabay.
Edited by Adam Allcroft.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Hello and welcome to Steel's Talk, the official Stocksbridge Park Steels podcast. I'm your
(00:23):
host Adam Alcroft and even though I'll probably say this every time, we have a brilliant episode
for you. Today's guest is arguably one of Stockbridge's greatest ever managers, Peter
Rinkevich. He had a four year spell at the club between 2003 and 2007, he broke several
club records and won the Sheffield Senior Cup in 2007. He also gave a certain Jamie
(00:43):
Vardy his debut, but what he says about that might surprise you, so you're going to have
to listen to the end. We hope you enjoy this episode and hear from someone who brought
some brilliant times to Brackenmore. Hello Peter, well thank you for joining us on Steel's
(01:05):
Talk today. No problem Adam, thank you for inviting me. So we gave you a little introduction
before, the thing I've noticed that you're up to now, you're the assistant manager of
Kivetton Under 10s. Yeah, actually I've left that now, my son's got a bit older, but I've
left it on there. That's all my favourite role it says, isn't it? Yeah it does, so what
(01:27):
is it about that that's really made you fall in love with that side of the game? To be
honest with you, when I came out of management I'd sort of had enough and I was never going
to go back into it at all, but my kids, both my children play, so I sort of got roped into
doing the Kivetton Under 10s assistant manager role which I enjoyed. I'm now the manager
(01:49):
of the Rotherham Girls Under 13s. Fantastic. I've run Rotherham Under 14s and 15s boys
as well a couple of years ago, so I've sort of got pulled back in after thinking I was
retiring to the golf course. Oh so football's just that thing isn't it, it never lets go
does it? It doesn't and you know I was asked by other managers and other parents if I'd
(02:11):
get involved in it. It's hard to say no when you feel like you've got a little bit more
to give back. So I've decided to help with Rotherham and like I've run two sides with
Rotherham now, Rotherham boys and now I'm running Rotherham girls. So I'm really enjoying
it to be honest. It's obviously I've done it because I'm my own kid but I've really
enjoyed it yeah. It does pull you back in and yeah I've always managed all coach teams
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from being 16, 17 year old so it's something I'm more than used to. So you've got to tell
me what's easier to handle teenagers or the Stocksbridge lot in the mid 2000s? I'd have
Stocksbridge in the mid 2000s all day long. Well if you look back at your four year age
you just look at the stats and it's absolutely incredible. So there was four years 2003 to
(02:58):
2007 in that last season you got the most points in club history, still a record today
76 points, you won the Sheffield senior cup, are you really happy when you look back at
some of those things I've seen how much success the club got? Do you know Adam I didn't know
that stat, that is unbelievable. I've got a few stats, I know a few because we broke
(03:20):
a couple of records to be honest but I didn't know that one most points in the club history.
You're not even Gary Marry's promotion side got to 76 points. Wow, wow. I think to be
honest with you I mean Gary did a fantastic job. When I left Stocksbridge, the I only
managed Stocksbridge in the division one and when the summer I left it they come division
(03:41):
one south so I never actually managed in that division one south to be fair we were in the
division one which was a tough league so to get that most points in that league yeah that's
a good achievement I didn't know that to be honest. Before that you were the assistant
at Gainsborough Trinity I believe. Yes I was assistant manager, worked uptown for about
seven years eight years with Paul Mitchell then we moved to Gainsborough yeah just prior
(04:04):
to Stocksbridge. So how did it all come about becoming the manager of Stocksbridge? Like
I said even when I was sort of a young was a young lad at 18, 19 playing football I always
I still run like pro soccer 11s and the 12s then I've always run teams I helped the Sheffield
boys when I was 20 with Paul Badshaw when they won English school. I've always been
(04:25):
in the management coaching side was always my biggest interest so I went into assistant
manager works up really early and then to Gainsborough. I was running at Sunday side
Royal Earl as well we won you know the league in Cups and did really well so it was just
sort of a natural progression really and an old player Ian Askey when the job came up
Ian Askey had a word with Alan Bethell and said I might be you know suitable for the
(04:49):
job let's say so he invited me in for a chat so I met up with with Alan and the committee
and I was off for the job I think the day after. So when you go into you know that Stocksbridge
dressing room for the first time who were the lads that you saw there and what were
you thinking of the squad as a whole? To be honest with you and this is no reflection
on anyone else it was an older squad I think in that time and before it or whatever I say
(05:12):
it's not a person of anyone I think it was sort of a club that a lot of players went
to on the way down being at the bigger clubs in non-league and they're on the way down
and Stocksbridge was sort of the last of our sort of thing so getting the age of the squad
down was a big priority at that time and to get younger, hungrier players you know we
didn't have the ways built to go and get the players who were already at the peak we had
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to sort of shop a bit further down and look for players that might come through and become
good players for the club. It's amazing how similar that is when I talk to Ian Richards
as the manager now. Right yeah well Ian was one of the obviously was one of the players
that I had I think he inherited Ian to be fair I think he was already at the club but
he was a good young player really hard-working lad at times with Ian. Ian was one of them
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where he was a clever boy as well and he was an intelligent lad and if he didn't have said
he was a future manager and you changed him Ian would have been in that top three or what
I thought would have gone on to manage the club as well as play for him. So from those
four years what were your best memories of that time? It's a million dollar question
Adam because we had lots we had some really really good times and we had some difficult
(06:24):
times as well and a lot of things happened that were sort of out of our control that
we had to deal with. I mean the first season we had a lot of injuries for my first season
when we finished 14th which were really disappointing and then the second season we set off we actually
had a slow start to my second season and you know people were a bit concerned but I'd signed
(06:44):
Cole Coller from Barra I signed Danny Anderson and we already had some really good players
at the club Steve Orrs, Andy Smith, Stefan Zoll and lots around him Dave Cockerill, Ian
Richards we had lots of good players already there and I remember talking to Alan the chairman
and he was a bit concerned about results and I remember saying to him if I could just fast
forward you three months you wouldn't be worried at all because this team is ready to go and
(07:09):
I knew we were and just shortly after that I think we won 10 in a row in the league which
I believed at the time might be wrong was a club record 10 straight league wins and it
propelled us right up the league and to be fair from then we just sort of ploughed on
and did really well and at the end of that season people forget this but we played we
(07:30):
had a fixed pile up it had been a hard winter especially up at Stocksbridge and we actually
had 14 games to play in 28 days. I think I might have heard about this before. Was this
when you used to have to go from the east to the west coast? We played Bridlington on
Saturday and drew 1-1 and then on the Sunday we went to the other coast Fleetwood town.
(07:51):
I've heard about this one. It was 14 games in 28 days whilst chasing promotion and playoffs
and playing in the league cup we got to the league cup finals well at the end of that
it all ended in disappointment because we lost in the playoffs on penalties and we lost
to Kendall and we went to you know we went to Kendall I've obviously been thinking in
(08:11):
preparation for speaking to you and we went to Kendall as good as anybody in the league
that season I think without the fixed pile up I think we might have got automatic that
season but we ended up in the playoffs we went to Kendall and we lost to Carl Collie
he got sent off a couple of weeks before and was suspended for that game and we lost Danny
Anson the week before through injury so we went to Kendall in the playoffs semi-final
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without arguably our best two players or as most important two players they were big strong
lads and everyone sort of fed off them and we weren't without them played ever so well
one note with four or five minutes left got to penalties and we lost the penalty shoot
out so that was a real sickness because I think with Carl and Danny there I think we
(08:57):
would have beaten them and possibly won the final as well and then we had the league cup
final as well against Forge of Celtic who were top of the league above and we played
them in the final we were brilliant and we lost 1-0 really really unlucky so the season
ended in disappointment and it had been a cracker you know we'd won us 10 on the trot
we got to play off semi-final we got to league cup final well I think we I think you might
(09:20):
look at this up I think we've got the record away win as well we beat Bridlington 9-1 away
on a Tuesday night yes I believe that might well still be the record I think it still
is still on the website I still think that's the record away win as well so it was sort
of record breaking season without without ending up with anything so that's that's the
biggest regret of so my tenure is that team would have beat anyone you know on its day
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in our league and above we were really really competitive and it was a big shame that we
ended up empty handed there because that team could have sort of been in in legend in Stocksbridge
with a bit more luck on our side and like for the 14 days the 14 games in 28 days and
I'm talking to a friend of mine today who was in football and I was telling him about
(10:04):
the 14 games in 28 days and he said well you must have been playing sort of Saturday Tuesday
all the way in I said no if you do the maths it's every other day it's 14 games in 28
days that's we play one day have a day off then play the next for a month it was absolutely
you know it was so difficult and we come through it really really well but ended up just falling
short and we might not have done had we not had that fixture pile up when you see you
(10:26):
think about that we have 14 games in 28 days do you sometimes look at these Premier League
players who are saying I'm playing too many matches and just think I'll come down to come
down to us and play be traveling from Flemont.
I actually believe it or not I was actually on Radio 5 actually I'm on Radio 5 because
they said it's never been any sort of level that sort of fixture pile up of 14 games in
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28 days and it was so difficult because we also had injuries you know lads are working
we had suspensions and all sorts so we just managed to get through that month and we came
through it really really well to be fair so really really proud of all of them like I
say we were very close to sort of really really stamping his name but we just felt short unfortunately.
(11:09):
I'll tell you one one and you might have heard this as might not that we had Stefan Zoll
who was one of the best players I've ever had the privilege of working with a fantastic
player Steph and we played Marine Stockridge fans remember those that were there we played
Marine in the semi-final of the league cup and Marine were top of the league above and
we were about fourth in our division and we played them at home and Ian's brother Duncan
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who was a lovely lad great good player tenacious managed to get himself sent off after seven
minutes seven eight minutes so we're down to ten men against top of the division above
and back against the wall and just before half time Steph took about four on from the
half way line and slotted the passkeeper to be one nil up to one nil part half time with
ten men against against a really good Marine team and then second half the piling the pile
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pressure on them they got a corner I remember saying to Jason maybe my assistant they left
Steph and Zoll one on one on the half way line I remember saying to Jason if we could
clear this Steph's in we've left him left him one on one and the ball come in and Scott
Low put his big left foot on it put his foot through it to half way line and it went straight
to Steph and he controlled it turned and then everyone stood up and thought here we go and
(12:18):
he took the kid on took it around the keeper and scored and we beat Marine two nil with
ten men so that that was a sort of character and team that we had that season so yeah it
was loads of memories for that season that I've obviously sort of reliving thinking about
this talking to you that's the whole point of it I hope to go down some of those great
stops for each day I'm sure people will remember will remember what I'm saying oh yeah I remember
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that I remember Steph doing that I remember going to Foddy Celtic you know going up to
Kendall it was a you know really really I remember on the 10th winning a row and we
won 10 in a row and we went to South Wales to make it 11 and we drew one one and we took
quite a few fans in that day we're on a real roll and we drew one one kept them beating
them going but it stopped there it stopped the winning run but yeah there lots lots and
(13:03):
lots of great memories I'm sure like to the people were there well hopefully relive obviously
the bit of silverware you can say that you brought back to Brackenmoor was the Sheffield
senior cup the following year what was that run like getting to the final then beating
off the old team and then yeah new team works off this the summer after the playoff defeat
and the the league cup final this is where it was a little bit frustrating because that
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was the time for us to keep on and as everyone knows about Stockby there is restraints financial
restraints which I totally understand I've understood it then I understand it now you've
got to keep a club running you know that's the most important thing about as a manager
you want it to kick on that summer we lost Carl Collie we lost Mick Goddard who came
in and scored loads of goals for us especially on that 10-match run fantastic player for
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us and we lost Danny Anston to Gainsborough so we lost some really good players that summer
although we did really well the season after we actually weren't as good a team as the
season where we actually won nothing so but we went on a good run we were really unlucky
in the league I think we just finished a point outside playoffs on the last day of the season
and then played works off my old team and then new team in the final we were brilliant at
(14:10):
Oldborough and we had Steve Orrs and Neil Redford in centre midfield you know we had
some good players playing for us that night and we won 2-1 and it was a great great victory
for us and it were nice to get some silverware you know on the back of two really really
solid seasons so yeah Neil Redford actually I've noticed because he actually played a
few games it's not like when you see oh the legendary former Stockbridge players and you
(14:31):
go on Wikipedia and it says Chris Waddell who made an appearance yeah Neil Redford actually
stuck around for a bit didn't he? It is I spoke to Neil on the phone and he came in
and he was absolutely brilliant I loved working with him I would like a sponge to him and
sit next to him and look coach and ask him all questions about football and management
and coaching and he was really good really good influence in the changing room I think
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he was 41 at the time and then at Hillsborough you know he played centre midfield on the
big hill of the pitch played really really well against the side worked up with a conference
north side they just got relegated but they were a conference north side and obviously
we were a division one south so there were two divisions between us in essence in during
that season we scored two great goals and deserved to win that night so that was a really
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good win for us it happened to be my last game in charge actually but it was a it certainly
was a nice way to sign off because you've got a few big characters in your dressing
room you mentioned Carl Collie and I've watched that under the Cosh interview he did a few
moves back recently and you could tell he was an absolute character must have been a
bit of a handful for you how do you manage like having the big characters in your dressing
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room because you have plenty I've never really particularly had a problem with big characters
I like big characters in the changing room big characters help build big teams and you
think they want managing a little bit different you know Carl was very headstrong you know
we've got on managing right but Collie had run through brick walls for if you treat him
right and he's in a team environment that he likes he'll run through brick walls for
(16:01):
you absolutely and we had a few then Danny Hanson's big character as well and you know
Stefan Zoll was you know Stefan Zoll were kickboxing in spare time and another big character
really good really good players and then we had we had lots of people around the club
I mean Andy Smith who was my captain at the time I mean what a great player Andy you should
have played higher but funniest funniest man you've ever come across in football Steve
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Oars always cheeky tapping we just had really good characters everywhere in the team and
I didn't find that team hard to manage at all it would just point them in the right
direction get them organised keep them motivated and let them go you know we played we had
a good partner player we had a good shape to us we played some really good football
I remember bumping into somebody who played for another team who'd been an ex-pocarmenter
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his name and he said to me he said I prefer your team out anybody else in the league he
says because you can play football but you can also mix it if it's time to mix it and
that team could who were a big strong team but technically really good as well and could
score good goals so I'm talking about the 2005-06 season you know that that was a really
good team with really big characters in it I mean it started from from the back as well
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we had we had a goalkeeper called Steve Hodgson I mean he was a Man City as a young keeper
and he was just brilliant absolutely great lad fantastic goalkeeper and I used to say
to Jason he's never cost us a goal he never cost us a goal he never dropped one he never
when you know when you see a ball going you think should have done better there should
have saved that or should have kept hold of that he never cost us a goal in all his time
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winners and he pulled off one of the greatest saves I've ever seen at Hillsborough in the
last minute from an header it was an unbelievable save so we started with Steve Hodgson at the
back and we had a good back four we had good good midfield players good strikers and good
wingers you know it's not rocket science if you can put that lot together you've got a
chance oh fantastic so I've heard a little story about you as I've been doing my research
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okay it comes from Jazz Colliver oh yeah yeah I've had Jazz a few times yeah another great
lad so I've heard that no matter what happened after result no matter where you were in the
country you wouldn't allow anyone to leave you weren't allowed to get back on the coach
if there was one until six o'clock so you could have a few so everyone could have a
few drinks together is that true absolutely true yes so what was the thinking behind this
(18:13):
well to be honest with you and we speak to managers today even in the league and they
sort of hoped for those days the idea is that you drink together after a win or a defeat
you get out of the system there and then you get on the coach have a good time on the way
back and then you're ready for the next game so for me it was it was part of the team bonding
with a team if you've gone to travel somewhere away from home on a coach it's not just about
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just getting there playing getting back on the coach and going home it's about spending
time with each other and getting to know each other and I was just saying when you win a
ball after a game and we have the stocks which tracks out on it shouldn't matter which track
to you see well you're not looking for your pal you're not looking for your mate you're
looking for a stock please track so you're going to stand down the drink with them and
that's how you build out to build the team spirit and we did that and stocks please we're
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not and I think I have many arguments at stock please about that with that team I can assure
you so yeah I think I think it's to managers today and they'd love to go back to them days
I remember my last few games at Frickley and we played FC United away and we went in the
ball after I was talking to Carl Marginson FC United manager who's like me same age as
(19:22):
me and there was me Jason my assistant and my captain having a drink all that rest of
my players were on the bus and I remember Carl it was his assistant and his captain
in ball and all these lads had gone home and it was like a bygone era us six three from
each team was still drinking a ball that had gone out of the game by then whether it's
right or wrong that had gone out and by all accounts it's still out that players want
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to get back and get out with their own thing I think that's a shame I think it's a massive
part of non-league is to stick together and have a drink together so we're going to get
onto the thing that I think for this podcast as it goes on we have more things is going
to be our drinking game of when as soon as you hear this person's name take a drink because
it's probably going to happen especially around this area you were the person that gave Jamie
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Vardy's debut yes it's the obvious question that everyone asks of anyone did you really
think he was ever going to do what he did it's a million dollar question that one I
can't take any credit for Jamie Vardy and he wouldn't give me any no I don't want any
Jamie was really young when I was there and I had a really good team that was winning
every week so even though he played a few games he didn't particularly shine he didn't
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particularly do it we had a good team anyway I don't think he particularly settled into
that team I think he's ever all over the place at that age so I can't take any credit for
Jamie nor have I ever tried to what I can take credit for is a tweet you can't delete
a tweet or put one in your hindsight a tweet I think 2012 where I put there's no level
that Jamie Vardy can't play at there's no boundary or ceiling to where he can go and
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at that time I think it was at Alifax what you don't get at that age is when you see
really good plays in non-league and I've seen lots and everyone involved in non-league seen
lots of really really good players and you don't get that break you don't get that chance
and Jamie basically banged everyone's door down you know he got into the Stockbridge
team and was the best player in the league he went to Alifax who was Alifax's best player
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went to Fleetwood best player you know at Fleetwood or in that league and then he went
to Leicester and become their best player he went to England and scored Jamie didn't
wait for for people to sort of give him a chance he just banged everyone's door down
and took so absolutely credit to him but I'd say it's not something I can take any credit
for I wish I could in fact if anything I'm the only man who's ever left him out but he
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was only a young lad and to be honest with you I'll tell you a little story he wasn't
in our team he'd been in and out and played a cup final in Milmo one of the last games
at Milmo and we played a side from Doncaster my old friend who was playing me through with
Dean Barrick played for Wendley rather than Wiley he was playing for the team and I sat
in the stand and watched Ari Durs play and Jamie Fordy was absolutely fantastic fantastic
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and I rung Jason the assistant manager on the way home and said we've got to get Jamie
involved next year so I've just watched him and different level to what he were when we
last saw him four or five months ago fantastic and then we left two weeks later so I did
try to sign for Works Up as well they signed the contract so yeah I mean obviously he's
now but like I said I live by that tweet in 2012 when I said he's got no seal in that
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lad because I didn't think he had a gruelling place.
I think you're the first person who's managed him who hasn't claimed you're the reaser for
all the success.
No I wish I could but I don't and people ask me that all the time you didn't value it but
I always say I did I can't take any credit for it you know I was out the door as I left
as he came to the fore to be honest.
(22:54):
But obviously because he was in the reserves for a while you know playing in the Sheffield
and Halmshire league which is just mad to think everything because I think a lot of
people start the story when he started playing for the first team of Stocksbridge no he was
at step 11 of the entire thing.
Absolutely he was he was and to be honest with you when he played for us he didn't really
pull any trees up he played a FA Cup game away for a long time played once or twice
(23:19):
put him on his sub a few times but nobody at the club was banging the drum either you
know if you've got some like him below in the reserves and what have you or under 18
nobody was really banging the drum about him and then he just sort of from that period
that from that Christmas and just came onto the scene and it just been upwards all the
way for him from then.
Because that was the question I was going to follow this up with you because was no
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one from the reserves or anyone in the club who watched reserves saying you should keep
an eye on this lad you should watch him because he's going to be the next big thing for you
if you.
No I've watched him myself so I'm not blaming anyone else at the club he just at that age
you know it's about where you're at isn't it I didn't really know him personally it's
where you're at in your life isn't it and I think he got to a stage where he sort of
probably found himself at 18 or what have you 17, 18 or a young lad than I have been
(24:05):
sort of found himself found his feet and away he went I mean he got released from Cheshire
Wednesday isn't he I think it was 16.
16 I think it was yeah.
So I mean you'd like to say we're late bloomer but 18, 19 it looked like he could take the
world on so something happened in that couple of years and they got him going and moving
so credit to him.
So you mentioned it's about opportunity for players from non-league to get into the EFL
(24:30):
and become professional either again or at times is there any other people you think
that you manage that you think if they had been given a chance if they had got that trial
that they could have gone on and had a productive professional career.
Yeah a few yeah I think there was a kid I used to play with called John McFadden he
was a fantastic player didn't get his lifestyle right off the pitch and that was his reason
(24:51):
but fantastic player and Gary Townsend which a lot of Stockfish fans will have watched
over the years played for Works Top Town fantastic player six foot two light lightning great
left foot can edit pass it score ball feet fantastic player but Gary would if he were
sat here now he would say yeah we're good but I didn't really want to do anything else
(25:12):
you know he just wanted to play with his mates and play for Works Top and he were happy doing
that but fantastic player.
I think you see it throughout non-league non-league players are good players you know they've
maybe got one thing missing that means that they don't go and play for Sheffield Wenzel
Shekinato or Robbem or whatever but it's only sometimes some of them it's only one only
one thing apart from that they're absolutely terrific so yeah a lot of good players in
(25:34):
non-league and then they would not disgrace themselves would they give that step.
I remember Scouts watching Jamie Vardy and I'm not the name one but I sat and stand with
him and he went he can't keep his left foot gone he can't go after what more you're looking
for you know this is where I've started that's how it works and what more you're looking
for the kids got everything I think there's a bit of snobbery in football to give non-league
(25:54):
players a chance it's always I'll be better than what we've got rather than actually saying
well let's give them the opportunity to be better than what we've got and I think that's
held a few back but I'm a big believer in you play at the level that you're good enough
for you know if you have a full career in non-league you're good enough to be a non-league
player and if you have a full career in division two you're a division two player Jamie Vardy
(26:16):
would have to be a Premier League and international so that's where he's played I don't particularly
buy hiding behind whether you have a chance or not I don't think there's a bit a little
bit of snobbery in league football for non-league players.
Do you think that that might have changed a bit now because quite a few players from
Stocksbridge itself have gone on to be professionals and I think a few from New York some days
did as well.
Yeah there's always some isn't there you always hear some players who will sort of
(26:40):
make that make that move so yeah maybe maybe they do I don't know I've just seen a lot
of players we think you know maybe he would deserve to can't there's always some reason
why they don't.
So I'm going to go let's go back to 2007 and obviously that winning that Sheffield Senior
Cup final it's not long afterwards it might have been more on the day I'm not too sure
of the timing so it's announced that you're switching sides and you're heading over to
(27:02):
the team you've beaten that final what was the thinking about that was why that was the
time to leave and why that was the time to take the workshop job.
That's a good question I think as a manager like as a player is certainly the manager
you want to compete so when you've sort of built a good team you want that team you want
the chairman to be able to say to you we can back you now and push on.
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What we've got at Stocksbridge is obviously we had a really good team we were just losing
players we were losing players to work tops and games brits and all that you don't want
to do that you don't want to bring good players in and then just lose them you want to be
the manager buying their best players.
Reason wise I never wanted to leave Stocksbridge I loved it loved every minute of it I loved
working for Allen you know I love people around the club it's a fantastic club it was just
(27:47):
time to move on it an opportunity came along at work at workshop town which is a big non-league
club with better ways built means you can go and compete so it was sort of now or never
I'd played for workshop I'd been assistant manager there or me in loads of from workshop
you know I spent a lot of time in there over the years and it was an opportunity I couldn't
turn down having said that the day that I went to workshop was the first sort of nailing
(28:14):
the managerial coffin because it was in hindsight a totally wrong move for me at that time it
was the right club wrong time you might be aware that you know first season we just took
a relegated club I don't get into talking to work so I'm aware it's a stock speech you
know.
Oh you could talk about work I'm sure I'm sure workshop fans might notice it and go
oh we'll be listening and see if we're mentioning just scanning across waiting to hear workshop
(28:38):
mentioned.
Yeah well workshop had just got relegated and I'd been used to stock speech when we
did a pre-season stock speech where we had the first team we used to train on the field
side and we'd be the first team training then the reserves shut in have the reserves a bit
further down and then there'd be under eight teams down there maybe a couple junior teams
you might be eight sixty eighty players on that pitch on a Tuesday Thursday night pre-season
(29:00):
and the whole club's getting ready for the season and the first training session at workshop
was on the ground that we sort of just went on we didn't have one to train on we just
sort of said we'll go on that field there and there was eight we had eight players and
I took three of them so we had five players there there was no structure to the club there
was no reserves no under nine teams there was absolutely nothing and then we lost the
(29:23):
ground after a year as well I was Raymond decided to take the ground back so I was again
record books I had four full seasons at four seasons at workshop and had four different
home grounds so I played at Sandur Lane then Oakville then Oakiston and then Redford so
I played at Sandur Lane once for one season and we finished in eighth in the Premier
(29:44):
and you know did all right ready to build and then Waysville got pulled and ground got
pulled and it was just it was a nightmare to be fair in the end and it was sort of a
dream turning to an nightmare so that so leaving Stockbury for workshop it seemed like a great
moment in time and if I had the time again you'd probably still do it because it's a
good opportunity but it wasn't the opportunity that we hoped no fault of workshop towns no
(30:08):
criticism of them at all you know it was the ground got took away from us simple as that
and then the financial implication of that was you know horrific.
We know that workshop are back on the feet doing really well you know at the top end
of the Northern Premier League Premier Division fighting out with Macclesfield at the moment
are you quite pleased to see how well they've absolutely delighted for them delighted for
(30:30):
them I like the chairman like people around the club absolutely delighted for them you
know it was for me it was just wrong right club wrong time and couldn't really show them
you know what I could do it was just a defensive four years of trying to keep the club afloat
and trying to get to the week the next week rather than trying to build something we kept
getting ways built and then getting that slack and the way back and we've got exciting players
(30:54):
going off the Eastern team losing it doing the whole team and then trying to build another
one it was just a firefight for four years and supporters you know the spectrum that
supporters aren't bothered what's going on behind the scenes you want to see a winning
football team we couldn't produce one off the field was disaster zone so really difficult
and being you know off from work something self you know a lot of family there were really
(31:14):
difficult time just to try and keep his head above the water and I sort of carried it you
know you carry them problems as manager on your shoulders and with little help at that
time so overall if we look back on your managerial and coaching career you know stocksbury it
works off frickely as well are you proud of all the years that you put into non-league
football yeah I think I think there's some regrets there you know a good job I was ready
(31:39):
for that I thought I did a really you know a good job a good solid job we were we were
very close to sort of greatness if you like I was ready for the workshop job and then
that sort of went pear-shaped so not particularly I'm not saying nothing with my fault but no
particular fault of my own and I would I would beat after that and he sort of beat me up
I went to frickely straight after the workshop and I shouldn't have gone that was a mistake
(32:01):
and they cut my wage bill within a few months and I would be I'd had enough and I'd just
come out of it and I think if would have if worked up within the right job would have
stayed at stockton gone somewhere else I think my career would have been a lot better you
know I think it was I think I were better than what I ended up being without you know
without sounding big headed I think what I did at stockton I could have done somewhere
(32:22):
else with a better wage bill given the opportunity that didn't really didn't really have it and
I'm a friend of mine who I'm not I'm not naming I'm not embarrassing but he bought a non-league
club he's only a friend of mine who used to be a director on a club set and managed that
and he bought a non-league club and he met me on the motorway at service station and
he said I want you to come and to come and manage my club and I just said to him I said
(32:47):
how much money you putting in and he said I'm putting in about 80,000 pound in my own
money this year hopefully a bit less next year bloody well I want to do this we're doing
this we're building this and I said to him I said look I said if you're putting 80,000
pound in on the other side of this table you need a you need a really hungry manager a
really hungry manager who can absolutely live at 24 7 and do a good job for you I said
(33:08):
I'm not that person anymore you know five years ago ten years ago I'd have absolutely
snapped your hand off I said but I'd be sort of nicking your money because I'm done and
I were mentally finished to be fair and I come out and I've spent 20 years in non-league
and I've barely been to a non-league ground since I left and we are in real regret and
an opportunity not naming times and what I did to go back to Stockbridge and it was over
(33:33):
for me to be honest works up beat me up and then quickly as well and I just thought I
don't need this we don't get paid enough for the for the pressure that we're under you
know you need to be able to have a chance so I've had enough really and I've come out
and I have no regrets on what's happened and me time at Stockbridge like I've enjoyed reliving
it because it was a fantastic team and I enjoyed the time it works up to a certain extent you
(33:54):
know you just got to get stuck in but I'm glad to be out and never look you know never
never wanted to go back in people think when you're out of work football manager that you're
looking for jobs well nobody can accuse me of that I've never I've never been to non-league
ground since it was it was over for me and I've been really enjoyed the junior stuff
you know I've enjoyed managing me me me rather than team won the Cup at Ilseborough a couple
of years ago which were nice my son playing rather than under four teams Cup fight York's
(34:19):
Cup final at Ilseborough we won that that were nice we won the Yorkshire League the
year after so I've had a bit of success you know in junior football which I've really
enjoyed and me rather than the girls couldn't be top of Yorkshire League under 14 so we're
not we're not quite done yet and it does that does seem to have just reinvigorated your
love for the sport and the love of management it sounds actually yeah I've really I've really
(34:39):
enjoyed it it's something I've never thought I've ever you know coach or manager game and
it's only it's only for fun you know I still you still put pressure on yourself because
you've got you know you've got standards that you want to keep but I've really enjoyed it
and good fun the girls side's really good love love managing them girls football I mean
we don't play as a Sheffield Art Academy at a good level and the girls football is just
(35:01):
if you're not watching it you don't understand what's going off in girls football because
it's absolutely amazing the standards of the elite girls not they ain't got the depth yet
but actually I watched Sheffield Art play Aston Villa and Manchester City and Aston Villa
and Manchester I mean the players on show are absolutely fantastic and the next generation
(35:23):
of girls is going to be something else so that's been really good to learn about girls
football and watch more girls football than you know enjoy really enjoy it it's fantastic
that's fantastic well we do have this other little feature that we like to like finish
our everything off with it's called we haven't got a catchy name for it yet because we're
still relatively new to this so right now it's just called free people we're just going
(35:44):
to name three people you've worked with play with what it'll depend on whoever we're talking
to and just a chance to talk to them we actually have mentioned quite a few of these people
already so the first one will be the person that you did you worked under as a manager
Paul Mitchell Paul I mean Paul's a friend as well long time friend great manager unbelievable
character laughs a minute but really took his football serious we've done really really
(36:08):
well at Sheffield United as head of recruitment still something took him out to drink with
him a few weeks ago so yeah really really good because you are a big Sheffield Wednesday
fan I am is it irritating knowing that someone you were very close to in football built that
Chris Wilder side that basically made them become the top team in Sheffield again yeah
I do say that to him as well Mitch were Wednesday night as well Paul the Wednesday night so
(36:30):
he sort of went to the dark side as a Wednesday fan myself that hurts can't really forgive
him don't you know he's gonna live with it don't we yeah yeah we'll get our own back
then another we mentioned him already is but someone you have for a ride worked as your
sister as well as played under you Jazz Coliver just just a great lad you know good player
(36:54):
as well he will want to if you had any a bit of pace about it he'd have played a really
good level jazz because he was good in air good ready to tackle well good passer good
crosser really good player good lad really well organized lad he's going to managing
and coaching himself and he'll want to you would have put down to do that yeah good lad
(37:15):
so and finally again it's someone else we've mentioned and because he's the current manager
of Stoxbridge Ian Richards yeah Ian I knew Ian would be a good manager organized fit
ready for it I think clever lad I'm sure he's I know he's doing a good job and but yeah
absolutely you were never in doubt that Ian is going to coaching and management one day
(37:36):
really good player for me as well we took him in on that right hand side of four which
left Dave Pockel to be out more loose left and he did that semi job of wing it from midfield
player and did a lot of miles that people didn't see to keep our machine that we can
we had Andy Smith win outside him at right back and he did a really really really good
(37:56):
job for me in that role that like not not the most coveted but did a really good job
really good lad and pleased I spoke to him I spoke to him for a while but fortunately
first got a job wished him all the best and I know a good job getting good hands I think
a few of his players will be listening to this because they've all got quite excited
at the idea of a podcast is there anything that maybe did he ever get into trouble you
(38:18):
when he was a player no no no I can't I can't get if any players listen I can't give them
much gossip to be fair on Ian like model professional model professional they are going to be gutted
he would he would fit his inch in the room fit as a fiddle at the right stuff yeah he
was ultimate professional I'm sorry I wish I could this today well Peter this has been
(38:43):
absolutely fantastic it's been great to go down memory lane with you remember those times
from God about 20 it's almost 20 years ago now I can't believe the time I know I like
to say when when we're only I sort of did a bit of homework went back through and I've
really enjoyed reliving it think about all them great players that I had and you know
everybody around the club and I'll definitely make an effort to come up and see Ian and
(39:04):
the players and everyone behind the scenes hopefully season sometime yes that's to see
each other in person rather than just little green lines bobbing up and down on a screen
absolutely well thank you very much Peter I think hopefully everyone is at home and
wherever they listening to this I've enjoyed it as well because I certainly enjoyed it
(39:25):
thank you thank you thank you very much Peter thank you
thank you very much to Peter for taking the time out of his day talk to me about his time
(39:47):
with Scott we hope you enjoyed this podcast you want to hear more please subscribe or
follow us on the podcast provider of your choice or the ones right for other beyond
we'll be back for another episode of Steel's Talk in a Fortnite so we'll see you then for
another great chat about Stubbs Bridge history or anything else thank you
Hello and welcome to Steel's Talk, the official Stocksbridge Park Steels podcast. I'm your
(00:23):
host Adam Alcroft and even though I'll probably say this every time, we have a brilliant episode
for you. Today's guest is arguably one of Stockbridge's greatest ever managers, Peter
Rinkevich. He had a four year spell at the club between 2003 and 2007, he broke several
club records and won the Sheffield Senior Cup in 2007. He also gave a certain Jamie
(00:43):
Vardy his debut, but what he says about that might surprise you, so you're going to have
to listen to the end. We hope you enjoy this episode and hear from someone who brought
some brilliant times to Brackenmore. Hello Peter, well thank you for joining us on Steel's
(01:05):
Talk today. No problem Adam, thank you for inviting me. So we gave you a little introduction
before, the thing I've noticed that you're up to now, you're the assistant manager of
Kivetton Under 10s. Yeah, actually I've left that now, my son's got a bit older, but I've
left it on there. That's all my favourite role it says, isn't it? Yeah it does, so what
(01:27):
is it about that that's really made you fall in love with that side of the game? To be
honest with you, when I came out of management I'd sort of had enough and I was never going
to go back into it at all, but my kids, both my children play, so I sort of got roped into
doing the Kivetton Under 10s assistant manager role which I enjoyed. I'm now the manager
(01:49):
of the Rotherham Girls Under 13s. Fantastic. I've run Rotherham Under 14s and 15s boys
as well a couple of years ago, so I've sort of got pulled back in after thinking I was
retiring to the golf course. Oh so football's just that thing isn't it, it never lets go
does it? It doesn't and you know I was asked by other managers and other parents if I'd
(02:11):
get involved in it. It's hard to say no when you feel like you've got a little bit more
to give back. So I've decided to help with Rotherham and like I've run two sides with
Rotherham now, Rotherham boys and now I'm running Rotherham girls. So I'm really enjoying
it to be honest. It's obviously I've done it because I'm my own kid but I've really
enjoyed it yeah. It does pull you back in and yeah I've always managed all coach teams
(02:35):
from being 16, 17 year old so it's something I'm more than used to. So you've got to tell
me what's easier to handle teenagers or the Stocksbridge lot in the mid 2000s? I'd have
Stocksbridge in the mid 2000s all day long. Well if you look back at your four year age
you just look at the stats and it's absolutely incredible. So there was four years 2003 to
(02:58):
2007 in that last season you got the most points in club history, still a record today
76 points, you won the Sheffield senior cup, are you really happy when you look back at
some of those things I've seen how much success the club got? Do you know Adam I didn't know
that stat, that is unbelievable. I've got a few stats, I know a few because we broke
(03:20):
a couple of records to be honest but I didn't know that one most points in the club history.
You're not even Gary Marry's promotion side got to 76 points. Wow, wow. I think to be
honest with you I mean Gary did a fantastic job. When I left Stocksbridge, the I only
managed Stocksbridge in the division one and when the summer I left it they come division
(03:41):
one south so I never actually managed in that division one south to be fair we were in the
division one which was a tough league so to get that most points in that league yeah that's
a good achievement I didn't know that to be honest. Before that you were the assistant
at Gainsborough Trinity I believe. Yes I was assistant manager, worked uptown for about
seven years eight years with Paul Mitchell then we moved to Gainsborough yeah just prior
(04:04):
to Stocksbridge. So how did it all come about becoming the manager of Stocksbridge? Like
I said even when I was sort of a young was a young lad at 18, 19 playing football I always
I still run like pro soccer 11s and the 12s then I've always run teams I helped the Sheffield
boys when I was 20 with Paul Badshaw when they won English school. I've always been
(04:25):
in the management coaching side was always my biggest interest so I went into assistant
manager works up really early and then to Gainsborough. I was running at Sunday side
Royal Earl as well we won you know the league in Cups and did really well so it was just
sort of a natural progression really and an old player Ian Askey when the job came up
Ian Askey had a word with Alan Bethell and said I might be you know suitable for the
(04:49):
job let's say so he invited me in for a chat so I met up with with Alan and the committee
and I was off for the job I think the day after. So when you go into you know that Stocksbridge
dressing room for the first time who were the lads that you saw there and what were
you thinking of the squad as a whole? To be honest with you and this is no reflection
on anyone else it was an older squad I think in that time and before it or whatever I say
(05:12):
it's not a person of anyone I think it was sort of a club that a lot of players went
to on the way down being at the bigger clubs in non-league and they're on the way down
and Stocksbridge was sort of the last of our sort of thing so getting the age of the squad
down was a big priority at that time and to get younger, hungrier players you know we
didn't have the ways built to go and get the players who were already at the peak we had
(05:36):
to sort of shop a bit further down and look for players that might come through and become
good players for the club. It's amazing how similar that is when I talk to Ian Richards
as the manager now. Right yeah well Ian was one of the obviously was one of the players
that I had I think he inherited Ian to be fair I think he was already at the club but
he was a good young player really hard-working lad at times with Ian. Ian was one of them
(05:58):
where he was a clever boy as well and he was an intelligent lad and if he didn't have said
he was a future manager and you changed him Ian would have been in that top three or what
I thought would have gone on to manage the club as well as play for him. So from those
four years what were your best memories of that time? It's a million dollar question
Adam because we had lots we had some really really good times and we had some difficult
(06:24):
times as well and a lot of things happened that were sort of out of our control that
we had to deal with. I mean the first season we had a lot of injuries for my first season
when we finished 14th which were really disappointing and then the second season we set off we actually
had a slow start to my second season and you know people were a bit concerned but I'd signed
(06:44):
Cole Coller from Barra I signed Danny Anderson and we already had some really good players
at the club Steve Orrs, Andy Smith, Stefan Zoll and lots around him Dave Cockerill, Ian
Richards we had lots of good players already there and I remember talking to Alan the chairman
and he was a bit concerned about results and I remember saying to him if I could just fast
forward you three months you wouldn't be worried at all because this team is ready to go and
(07:09):
I knew we were and just shortly after that I think we won 10 in a row in the league which
I believed at the time might be wrong was a club record 10 straight league wins and it
propelled us right up the league and to be fair from then we just sort of ploughed on
and did really well and at the end of that season people forget this but we played we
(07:30):
had a fixed pile up it had been a hard winter especially up at Stocksbridge and we actually
had 14 games to play in 28 days. I think I might have heard about this before. Was this
when you used to have to go from the east to the west coast? We played Bridlington on
Saturday and drew 1-1 and then on the Sunday we went to the other coast Fleetwood town.
(07:51):
I've heard about this one. It was 14 games in 28 days whilst chasing promotion and playoffs
and playing in the league cup we got to the league cup finals well at the end of that
it all ended in disappointment because we lost in the playoffs on penalties and we lost
to Kendall and we went to you know we went to Kendall I've obviously been thinking in
(08:11):
preparation for speaking to you and we went to Kendall as good as anybody in the league
that season I think without the fixed pile up I think we might have got automatic that
season but we ended up in the playoffs we went to Kendall and we lost to Carl Collie
he got sent off a couple of weeks before and was suspended for that game and we lost Danny
Anson the week before through injury so we went to Kendall in the playoffs semi-final
(08:36):
without arguably our best two players or as most important two players they were big strong
lads and everyone sort of fed off them and we weren't without them played ever so well
one note with four or five minutes left got to penalties and we lost the penalty shoot
out so that was a real sickness because I think with Carl and Danny there I think we
(08:57):
would have beaten them and possibly won the final as well and then we had the league cup
final as well against Forge of Celtic who were top of the league above and we played
them in the final we were brilliant and we lost 1-0 really really unlucky so the season
ended in disappointment and it had been a cracker you know we'd won us 10 on the trot
we got to play off semi-final we got to league cup final well I think we I think you might
(09:20):
look at this up I think we've got the record away win as well we beat Bridlington 9-1 away
on a Tuesday night yes I believe that might well still be the record I think it still
is still on the website I still think that's the record away win as well so it was sort
of record breaking season without without ending up with anything so that's that's the
biggest regret of so my tenure is that team would have beat anyone you know on its day
(09:44):
in our league and above we were really really competitive and it was a big shame that we
ended up empty handed there because that team could have sort of been in in legend in Stocksbridge
with a bit more luck on our side and like for the 14 days the 14 games in 28 days and
I'm talking to a friend of mine today who was in football and I was telling him about
(10:04):
the 14 games in 28 days and he said well you must have been playing sort of Saturday Tuesday
all the way in I said no if you do the maths it's every other day it's 14 games in 28
days that's we play one day have a day off then play the next for a month it was absolutely
you know it was so difficult and we come through it really really well but ended up just falling
short and we might not have done had we not had that fixture pile up when you see you
(10:26):
think about that we have 14 games in 28 days do you sometimes look at these Premier League
players who are saying I'm playing too many matches and just think I'll come down to come
down to us and play be traveling from Flemont.
I actually believe it or not I was actually on Radio 5 actually I'm on Radio 5 because
they said it's never been any sort of level that sort of fixture pile up of 14 games in
(10:48):
28 days and it was so difficult because we also had injuries you know lads are working
we had suspensions and all sorts so we just managed to get through that month and we came
through it really really well to be fair so really really proud of all of them like I
say we were very close to sort of really really stamping his name but we just felt short unfortunately.
(11:09):
I'll tell you one one and you might have heard this as might not that we had Stefan Zoll
who was one of the best players I've ever had the privilege of working with a fantastic
player Steph and we played Marine Stockridge fans remember those that were there we played
Marine in the semi-final of the league cup and Marine were top of the league above and
we were about fourth in our division and we played them at home and Ian's brother Duncan
(11:34):
who was a lovely lad great good player tenacious managed to get himself sent off after seven
minutes seven eight minutes so we're down to ten men against top of the division above
and back against the wall and just before half time Steph took about four on from the
half way line and slotted the passkeeper to be one nil up to one nil part half time with
ten men against against a really good Marine team and then second half the piling the pile
(11:57):
pressure on them they got a corner I remember saying to Jason maybe my assistant they left
Steph and Zoll one on one on the half way line I remember saying to Jason if we could
clear this Steph's in we've left him left him one on one and the ball come in and Scott
Low put his big left foot on it put his foot through it to half way line and it went straight
to Steph and he controlled it turned and then everyone stood up and thought here we go and
(12:18):
he took the kid on took it around the keeper and scored and we beat Marine two nil with
ten men so that that was a sort of character and team that we had that season so yeah it
was loads of memories for that season that I've obviously sort of reliving thinking about
this talking to you that's the whole point of it I hope to go down some of those great
stops for each day I'm sure people will remember will remember what I'm saying oh yeah I remember
(12:41):
that I remember Steph doing that I remember going to Foddy Celtic you know going up to
Kendall it was a you know really really I remember on the 10th winning a row and we
won 10 in a row and we went to South Wales to make it 11 and we drew one one and we took
quite a few fans in that day we're on a real roll and we drew one one kept them beating
them going but it stopped there it stopped the winning run but yeah there lots lots and
(13:03):
lots of great memories I'm sure like to the people were there well hopefully relive obviously
the bit of silverware you can say that you brought back to Brackenmoor was the Sheffield
senior cup the following year what was that run like getting to the final then beating
off the old team and then yeah new team works off this the summer after the playoff defeat
and the the league cup final this is where it was a little bit frustrating because that
(13:27):
was the time for us to keep on and as everyone knows about Stockby there is restraints financial
restraints which I totally understand I've understood it then I understand it now you've
got to keep a club running you know that's the most important thing about as a manager
you want it to kick on that summer we lost Carl Collie we lost Mick Goddard who came
in and scored loads of goals for us especially on that 10-match run fantastic player for
(13:49):
us and we lost Danny Anston to Gainsborough so we lost some really good players that summer
although we did really well the season after we actually weren't as good a team as the
season where we actually won nothing so but we went on a good run we were really unlucky
in the league I think we just finished a point outside playoffs on the last day of the season
and then played works off my old team and then new team in the final we were brilliant at
(14:10):
Oldborough and we had Steve Orrs and Neil Redford in centre midfield you know we had
some good players playing for us that night and we won 2-1 and it was a great great victory
for us and it were nice to get some silverware you know on the back of two really really
solid seasons so yeah Neil Redford actually I've noticed because he actually played a
few games it's not like when you see oh the legendary former Stockbridge players and you
(14:31):
go on Wikipedia and it says Chris Waddell who made an appearance yeah Neil Redford actually
stuck around for a bit didn't he? It is I spoke to Neil on the phone and he came in
and he was absolutely brilliant I loved working with him I would like a sponge to him and
sit next to him and look coach and ask him all questions about football and management
and coaching and he was really good really good influence in the changing room I think
(14:54):
he was 41 at the time and then at Hillsborough you know he played centre midfield on the
big hill of the pitch played really really well against the side worked up with a conference
north side they just got relegated but they were a conference north side and obviously
we were a division one south so there were two divisions between us in essence in during
that season we scored two great goals and deserved to win that night so that was a really
(15:18):
good win for us it happened to be my last game in charge actually but it was a it certainly
was a nice way to sign off because you've got a few big characters in your dressing
room you mentioned Carl Collie and I've watched that under the Cosh interview he did a few
moves back recently and you could tell he was an absolute character must have been a
bit of a handful for you how do you manage like having the big characters in your dressing
(15:39):
room because you have plenty I've never really particularly had a problem with big characters
I like big characters in the changing room big characters help build big teams and you
think they want managing a little bit different you know Carl was very headstrong you know
we've got on managing right but Collie had run through brick walls for if you treat him
right and he's in a team environment that he likes he'll run through brick walls for
(16:01):
you absolutely and we had a few then Danny Hanson's big character as well and you know
Stefan Zoll was you know Stefan Zoll were kickboxing in spare time and another big character
really good really good players and then we had we had lots of people around the club
I mean Andy Smith who was my captain at the time I mean what a great player Andy you should
have played higher but funniest funniest man you've ever come across in football Steve
(16:25):
Oars always cheeky tapping we just had really good characters everywhere in the team and
I didn't find that team hard to manage at all it would just point them in the right
direction get them organised keep them motivated and let them go you know we played we had
a good partner player we had a good shape to us we played some really good football
I remember bumping into somebody who played for another team who'd been an ex-pocarmenter
(16:46):
his name and he said to me he said I prefer your team out anybody else in the league he
says because you can play football but you can also mix it if it's time to mix it and
that team could who were a big strong team but technically really good as well and could
score good goals so I'm talking about the 2005-06 season you know that that was a really
good team with really big characters in it I mean it started from from the back as well
(17:08):
we had we had a goalkeeper called Steve Hodgson I mean he was a Man City as a young keeper
and he was just brilliant absolutely great lad fantastic goalkeeper and I used to say
to Jason he's never cost us a goal he never cost us a goal he never dropped one he never
when you know when you see a ball going you think should have done better there should
have saved that or should have kept hold of that he never cost us a goal in all his time
(17:30):
winners and he pulled off one of the greatest saves I've ever seen at Hillsborough in the
last minute from an header it was an unbelievable save so we started with Steve Hodgson at the
back and we had a good back four we had good good midfield players good strikers and good
wingers you know it's not rocket science if you can put that lot together you've got a
chance oh fantastic so I've heard a little story about you as I've been doing my research
(17:51):
okay it comes from Jazz Colliver oh yeah yeah I've had Jazz a few times yeah another great
lad so I've heard that no matter what happened after result no matter where you were in the
country you wouldn't allow anyone to leave you weren't allowed to get back on the coach
if there was one until six o'clock so you could have a few so everyone could have a
few drinks together is that true absolutely true yes so what was the thinking behind this
(18:13):
well to be honest with you and we speak to managers today even in the league and they
sort of hoped for those days the idea is that you drink together after a win or a defeat
you get out of the system there and then you get on the coach have a good time on the way
back and then you're ready for the next game so for me it was it was part of the team bonding
with a team if you've gone to travel somewhere away from home on a coach it's not just about
(18:37):
just getting there playing getting back on the coach and going home it's about spending
time with each other and getting to know each other and I was just saying when you win a
ball after a game and we have the stocks which tracks out on it shouldn't matter which track
to you see well you're not looking for your pal you're not looking for your mate you're
looking for a stock please track so you're going to stand down the drink with them and
that's how you build out to build the team spirit and we did that and stocks please we're
(18:59):
not and I think I have many arguments at stock please about that with that team I can assure
you so yeah I think I think it's to managers today and they'd love to go back to them days
I remember my last few games at Frickley and we played FC United away and we went in the
ball after I was talking to Carl Marginson FC United manager who's like me same age as
(19:22):
me and there was me Jason my assistant and my captain having a drink all that rest of
my players were on the bus and I remember Carl it was his assistant and his captain
in ball and all these lads had gone home and it was like a bygone era us six three from
each team was still drinking a ball that had gone out of the game by then whether it's
right or wrong that had gone out and by all accounts it's still out that players want
(19:46):
to get back and get out with their own thing I think that's a shame I think it's a massive
part of non-league is to stick together and have a drink together so we're going to get
onto the thing that I think for this podcast as it goes on we have more things is going
to be our drinking game of when as soon as you hear this person's name take a drink because
it's probably going to happen especially around this area you were the person that gave Jamie
(20:08):
Vardy's debut yes it's the obvious question that everyone asks of anyone did you really
think he was ever going to do what he did it's a million dollar question that one I
can't take any credit for Jamie Vardy and he wouldn't give me any no I don't want any
Jamie was really young when I was there and I had a really good team that was winning
every week so even though he played a few games he didn't particularly shine he didn't
(20:33):
particularly do it we had a good team anyway I don't think he particularly settled into
that team I think he's ever all over the place at that age so I can't take any credit for
Jamie nor have I ever tried to what I can take credit for is a tweet you can't delete
a tweet or put one in your hindsight a tweet I think 2012 where I put there's no level
that Jamie Vardy can't play at there's no boundary or ceiling to where he can go and
(20:58):
at that time I think it was at Alifax what you don't get at that age is when you see
really good plays in non-league and I've seen lots and everyone involved in non-league seen
lots of really really good players and you don't get that break you don't get that chance
and Jamie basically banged everyone's door down you know he got into the Stockbridge
team and was the best player in the league he went to Alifax who was Alifax's best player
(21:19):
went to Fleetwood best player you know at Fleetwood or in that league and then he went
to Leicester and become their best player he went to England and scored Jamie didn't
wait for for people to sort of give him a chance he just banged everyone's door down
and took so absolutely credit to him but I'd say it's not something I can take any credit
for I wish I could in fact if anything I'm the only man who's ever left him out but he
(21:45):
was only a young lad and to be honest with you I'll tell you a little story he wasn't
in our team he'd been in and out and played a cup final in Milmo one of the last games
at Milmo and we played a side from Doncaster my old friend who was playing me through with
Dean Barrick played for Wendley rather than Wiley he was playing for the team and I sat
in the stand and watched Ari Durs play and Jamie Fordy was absolutely fantastic fantastic
(22:10):
and I rung Jason the assistant manager on the way home and said we've got to get Jamie
involved next year so I've just watched him and different level to what he were when we
last saw him four or five months ago fantastic and then we left two weeks later so I did
try to sign for Works Up as well they signed the contract so yeah I mean obviously he's
now but like I said I live by that tweet in 2012 when I said he's got no seal in that
(22:34):
lad because I didn't think he had a gruelling place.
I think you're the first person who's managed him who hasn't claimed you're the reaser for
all the success.
No I wish I could but I don't and people ask me that all the time you didn't value it but
I always say I did I can't take any credit for it you know I was out the door as I left
as he came to the fore to be honest.
(22:54):
But obviously because he was in the reserves for a while you know playing in the Sheffield
and Halmshire league which is just mad to think everything because I think a lot of
people start the story when he started playing for the first team of Stocksbridge no he was
at step 11 of the entire thing.
Absolutely he was he was and to be honest with you when he played for us he didn't really
pull any trees up he played a FA Cup game away for a long time played once or twice
(23:19):
put him on his sub a few times but nobody at the club was banging the drum either you
know if you've got some like him below in the reserves and what have you or under 18
nobody was really banging the drum about him and then he just sort of from that period
that from that Christmas and just came onto the scene and it just been upwards all the
way for him from then.
Because that was the question I was going to follow this up with you because was no
(23:41):
one from the reserves or anyone in the club who watched reserves saying you should keep
an eye on this lad you should watch him because he's going to be the next big thing for you
if you.
No I've watched him myself so I'm not blaming anyone else at the club he just at that age
you know it's about where you're at isn't it I didn't really know him personally it's
where you're at in your life isn't it and I think he got to a stage where he sort of
probably found himself at 18 or what have you 17, 18 or a young lad than I have been
(24:05):
sort of found himself found his feet and away he went I mean he got released from Cheshire
Wednesday isn't he I think it was 16.
16 I think it was yeah.
So I mean you'd like to say we're late bloomer but 18, 19 it looked like he could take the
world on so something happened in that couple of years and they got him going and moving
so credit to him.
So you mentioned it's about opportunity for players from non-league to get into the EFL
(24:30):
and become professional either again or at times is there any other people you think
that you manage that you think if they had been given a chance if they had got that trial
that they could have gone on and had a productive professional career.
Yeah a few yeah I think there was a kid I used to play with called John McFadden he
was a fantastic player didn't get his lifestyle right off the pitch and that was his reason
(24:51):
but fantastic player and Gary Townsend which a lot of Stockfish fans will have watched
over the years played for Works Top Town fantastic player six foot two light lightning great
left foot can edit pass it score ball feet fantastic player but Gary would if he were
sat here now he would say yeah we're good but I didn't really want to do anything else
(25:12):
you know he just wanted to play with his mates and play for Works Top and he were happy doing
that but fantastic player.
I think you see it throughout non-league non-league players are good players you know they've
maybe got one thing missing that means that they don't go and play for Sheffield Wenzel
Shekinato or Robbem or whatever but it's only sometimes some of them it's only one only
one thing apart from that they're absolutely terrific so yeah a lot of good players in
(25:34):
non-league and then they would not disgrace themselves would they give that step.
I remember Scouts watching Jamie Vardy and I'm not the name one but I sat and stand with
him and he went he can't keep his left foot gone he can't go after what more you're looking
for you know this is where I've started that's how it works and what more you're looking
for the kids got everything I think there's a bit of snobbery in football to give non-league
(25:54):
players a chance it's always I'll be better than what we've got rather than actually saying
well let's give them the opportunity to be better than what we've got and I think that's
held a few back but I'm a big believer in you play at the level that you're good enough
for you know if you have a full career in non-league you're good enough to be a non-league
player and if you have a full career in division two you're a division two player Jamie Vardy
(26:16):
would have to be a Premier League and international so that's where he's played I don't particularly
buy hiding behind whether you have a chance or not I don't think there's a bit a little
bit of snobbery in league football for non-league players.
Do you think that that might have changed a bit now because quite a few players from
Stocksbridge itself have gone on to be professionals and I think a few from New York some days
did as well.
Yeah there's always some isn't there you always hear some players who will sort of
(26:40):
make that make that move so yeah maybe maybe they do I don't know I've just seen a lot
of players we think you know maybe he would deserve to can't there's always some reason
why they don't.
So I'm going to go let's go back to 2007 and obviously that winning that Sheffield Senior
Cup final it's not long afterwards it might have been more on the day I'm not too sure
of the timing so it's announced that you're switching sides and you're heading over to
(27:02):
the team you've beaten that final what was the thinking about that was why that was the
time to leave and why that was the time to take the workshop job.
That's a good question I think as a manager like as a player is certainly the manager
you want to compete so when you've sort of built a good team you want that team you want
the chairman to be able to say to you we can back you now and push on.
(27:25):
What we've got at Stocksbridge is obviously we had a really good team we were just losing
players we were losing players to work tops and games brits and all that you don't want
to do that you don't want to bring good players in and then just lose them you want to be
the manager buying their best players.
Reason wise I never wanted to leave Stocksbridge I loved it loved every minute of it I loved
working for Allen you know I love people around the club it's a fantastic club it was just
(27:47):
time to move on it an opportunity came along at work at workshop town which is a big non-league
club with better ways built means you can go and compete so it was sort of now or never
I'd played for workshop I'd been assistant manager there or me in loads of from workshop
you know I spent a lot of time in there over the years and it was an opportunity I couldn't
turn down having said that the day that I went to workshop was the first sort of nailing
(28:14):
the managerial coffin because it was in hindsight a totally wrong move for me at that time it
was the right club wrong time you might be aware that you know first season we just took
a relegated club I don't get into talking to work so I'm aware it's a stock speech you
know.
Oh you could talk about work I'm sure I'm sure workshop fans might notice it and go
oh we'll be listening and see if we're mentioning just scanning across waiting to hear workshop
(28:38):
mentioned.
Yeah well workshop had just got relegated and I'd been used to stock speech when we
did a pre-season stock speech where we had the first team we used to train on the field
side and we'd be the first team training then the reserves shut in have the reserves a bit
further down and then there'd be under eight teams down there maybe a couple junior teams
you might be eight sixty eighty players on that pitch on a Tuesday Thursday night pre-season
(29:00):
and the whole club's getting ready for the season and the first training session at workshop
was on the ground that we sort of just went on we didn't have one to train on we just
sort of said we'll go on that field there and there was eight we had eight players and
I took three of them so we had five players there there was no structure to the club there
was no reserves no under nine teams there was absolutely nothing and then we lost the
(29:23):
ground after a year as well I was Raymond decided to take the ground back so I was again
record books I had four full seasons at four seasons at workshop and had four different
home grounds so I played at Sandur Lane then Oakville then Oakiston and then Redford so
I played at Sandur Lane once for one season and we finished in eighth in the Premier
(29:44):
and you know did all right ready to build and then Waysville got pulled and ground got
pulled and it was just it was a nightmare to be fair in the end and it was sort of a
dream turning to an nightmare so that so leaving Stockbury for workshop it seemed like a great
moment in time and if I had the time again you'd probably still do it because it's a
good opportunity but it wasn't the opportunity that we hoped no fault of workshop towns no
(30:08):
criticism of them at all you know it was the ground got took away from us simple as that
and then the financial implication of that was you know horrific.
We know that workshop are back on the feet doing really well you know at the top end
of the Northern Premier League Premier Division fighting out with Macclesfield at the moment
are you quite pleased to see how well they've absolutely delighted for them delighted for
(30:30):
them I like the chairman like people around the club absolutely delighted for them you
know it was for me it was just wrong right club wrong time and couldn't really show them
you know what I could do it was just a defensive four years of trying to keep the club afloat
and trying to get to the week the next week rather than trying to build something we kept
getting ways built and then getting that slack and the way back and we've got exciting players
(30:54):
going off the Eastern team losing it doing the whole team and then trying to build another
one it was just a firefight for four years and supporters you know the spectrum that
supporters aren't bothered what's going on behind the scenes you want to see a winning
football team we couldn't produce one off the field was disaster zone so really difficult
and being you know off from work something self you know a lot of family there were really
(31:14):
difficult time just to try and keep his head above the water and I sort of carried it you
know you carry them problems as manager on your shoulders and with little help at that
time so overall if we look back on your managerial and coaching career you know stocksbury it
works off frickely as well are you proud of all the years that you put into non-league
football yeah I think I think there's some regrets there you know a good job I was ready
(31:39):
for that I thought I did a really you know a good job a good solid job we were we were
very close to sort of greatness if you like I was ready for the workshop job and then
that sort of went pear-shaped so not particularly I'm not saying nothing with my fault but no
particular fault of my own and I would I would beat after that and he sort of beat me up
I went to frickely straight after the workshop and I shouldn't have gone that was a mistake
(32:01):
and they cut my wage bill within a few months and I would be I'd had enough and I'd just
come out of it and I think if would have if worked up within the right job would have
stayed at stockton gone somewhere else I think my career would have been a lot better you
know I think it was I think I were better than what I ended up being without you know
without sounding big headed I think what I did at stockton I could have done somewhere
(32:22):
else with a better wage bill given the opportunity that didn't really didn't really have it and
I'm a friend of mine who I'm not I'm not naming I'm not embarrassing but he bought a non-league
club he's only a friend of mine who used to be a director on a club set and managed that
and he bought a non-league club and he met me on the motorway at service station and
he said I want you to come and to come and manage my club and I just said to him I said
(32:47):
how much money you putting in and he said I'm putting in about 80,000 pound in my own
money this year hopefully a bit less next year bloody well I want to do this we're doing
this we're building this and I said to him I said look I said if you're putting 80,000
pound in on the other side of this table you need a you need a really hungry manager a
really hungry manager who can absolutely live at 24 7 and do a good job for you I said
(33:08):
I'm not that person anymore you know five years ago ten years ago I'd have absolutely
snapped your hand off I said but I'd be sort of nicking your money because I'm done and
I were mentally finished to be fair and I come out and I've spent 20 years in non-league
and I've barely been to a non-league ground since I left and we are in real regret and
an opportunity not naming times and what I did to go back to Stockbridge and it was over
(33:33):
for me to be honest works up beat me up and then quickly as well and I just thought I
don't need this we don't get paid enough for the for the pressure that we're under you
know you need to be able to have a chance so I've had enough really and I've come out
and I have no regrets on what's happened and me time at Stockbridge like I've enjoyed reliving
it because it was a fantastic team and I enjoyed the time it works up to a certain extent you
(33:54):
know you just got to get stuck in but I'm glad to be out and never look you know never
never wanted to go back in people think when you're out of work football manager that you're
looking for jobs well nobody can accuse me of that I've never I've never been to non-league
ground since it was it was over for me and I've been really enjoyed the junior stuff
you know I've enjoyed managing me me me rather than team won the Cup at Ilseborough a couple
of years ago which were nice my son playing rather than under four teams Cup fight York's
(34:19):
Cup final at Ilseborough we won that that were nice we won the Yorkshire League the
year after so I've had a bit of success you know in junior football which I've really
enjoyed and me rather than the girls couldn't be top of Yorkshire League under 14 so we're
not we're not quite done yet and it does that does seem to have just reinvigorated your
love for the sport and the love of management it sounds actually yeah I've really I've really
(34:39):
enjoyed it it's something I've never thought I've ever you know coach or manager game and
it's only it's only for fun you know I still you still put pressure on yourself because
you've got you know you've got standards that you want to keep but I've really enjoyed it
and good fun the girls side's really good love love managing them girls football I mean
we don't play as a Sheffield Art Academy at a good level and the girls football is just
(35:01):
if you're not watching it you don't understand what's going off in girls football because
it's absolutely amazing the standards of the elite girls not they ain't got the depth yet
but actually I watched Sheffield Art play Aston Villa and Manchester City and Aston Villa
and Manchester I mean the players on show are absolutely fantastic and the next generation
(35:23):
of girls is going to be something else so that's been really good to learn about girls
football and watch more girls football than you know enjoy really enjoy it it's fantastic
that's fantastic well we do have this other little feature that we like to like finish
our everything off with it's called we haven't got a catchy name for it yet because we're
still relatively new to this so right now it's just called free people we're just going
(35:44):
to name three people you've worked with play with what it'll depend on whoever we're talking
to and just a chance to talk to them we actually have mentioned quite a few of these people
already so the first one will be the person that you did you worked under as a manager
Paul Mitchell Paul I mean Paul's a friend as well long time friend great manager unbelievable
character laughs a minute but really took his football serious we've done really really
(36:08):
well at Sheffield United as head of recruitment still something took him out to drink with
him a few weeks ago so yeah really really good because you are a big Sheffield Wednesday
fan I am is it irritating knowing that someone you were very close to in football built that
Chris Wilder side that basically made them become the top team in Sheffield again yeah
I do say that to him as well Mitch were Wednesday night as well Paul the Wednesday night so
(36:30):
he sort of went to the dark side as a Wednesday fan myself that hurts can't really forgive
him don't you know he's gonna live with it don't we yeah yeah we'll get our own back
then another we mentioned him already is but someone you have for a ride worked as your
sister as well as played under you Jazz Coliver just just a great lad you know good player
(36:54):
as well he will want to if you had any a bit of pace about it he'd have played a really
good level jazz because he was good in air good ready to tackle well good passer good
crosser really good player good lad really well organized lad he's going to managing
and coaching himself and he'll want to you would have put down to do that yeah good lad
(37:15):
so and finally again it's someone else we've mentioned and because he's the current manager
of Stoxbridge Ian Richards yeah Ian I knew Ian would be a good manager organized fit
ready for it I think clever lad I'm sure he's I know he's doing a good job and but yeah
absolutely you were never in doubt that Ian is going to coaching and management one day
(37:36):
really good player for me as well we took him in on that right hand side of four which
left Dave Pockel to be out more loose left and he did that semi job of wing it from midfield
player and did a lot of miles that people didn't see to keep our machine that we can
we had Andy Smith win outside him at right back and he did a really really really good
(37:56):
job for me in that role that like not not the most coveted but did a really good job
really good lad and pleased I spoke to him I spoke to him for a while but fortunately
first got a job wished him all the best and I know a good job getting good hands I think
a few of his players will be listening to this because they've all got quite excited
at the idea of a podcast is there anything that maybe did he ever get into trouble you
(38:18):
when he was a player no no no I can't I can't get if any players listen I can't give them
much gossip to be fair on Ian like model professional model professional they are going to be gutted
he would he would fit his inch in the room fit as a fiddle at the right stuff yeah he
was ultimate professional I'm sorry I wish I could this today well Peter this has been
(38:43):
absolutely fantastic it's been great to go down memory lane with you remember those times
from God about 20 it's almost 20 years ago now I can't believe the time I know I like
to say when when we're only I sort of did a bit of homework went back through and I've
really enjoyed reliving it think about all them great players that I had and you know
everybody around the club and I'll definitely make an effort to come up and see Ian and
(39:04):
the players and everyone behind the scenes hopefully season sometime yes that's to see
each other in person rather than just little green lines bobbing up and down on a screen
absolutely well thank you very much Peter I think hopefully everyone is at home and
wherever they listening to this I've enjoyed it as well because I certainly enjoyed it
(39:25):
thank you thank you thank you very much Peter thank you
thank you very much to Peter for taking the time out of his day talk to me about his time
(39:47):
with Scott we hope you enjoyed this podcast you want to hear more please subscribe or
follow us on the podcast provider of your choice or the ones right for other beyond
we'll be back for another episode of Steel's Talk in a Fortnite so we'll see you then for
another great chat about Stubbs Bridge history or anything else thank you
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