Welcome back John Deary

John Deary celebrated his 45^th birthday last week. I was astonished when I noticed that, it doesn't seem that long since he played for us, but it is over eighteen years since Frank Casper brought him from Blackpool and almost thirteen years since he left for Rochdale.

He dropped a division to sign for Casper in the summer of 1989 and we soon started to benefit from his aggressive play in the midfield. He was soon established as a first team regular and played a massive part in both of those promotions.

Deary also had an eye for goal and was the master when it came to one-on-one's with the goalkeeper. Probably his most important goal was the equaliser on that glorious night at Bootham Crescent, when we went to York in our thousands. He got the first that night, but probably is remembered more for sorting out Dean Kiely after the goalkeeper had taken a kick at Robbie Painter.

Mullen discarded him too quickly in my view after the second promotion, and he was sold to Rochdale. It is believed that just over a year later new manager Adrian Heath tried to bring him back in on a short term deal. That didn't happen and he ended his career with Southport.

A Clarets Mad presentation and John Deary at half time, what more could you want?