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However, instead of last season’s Divisions One and Two, we now have Division One West and Division One East. At the end of this season two teams will again be relegated from the Premier division, being replaced by the champions of the two lower divisions. Presumably, geography won’t be a problem.
Anyway, after the first full week of the season the reserves have maintained the consistency of the youth and first teams in accumulating nul points. Trialist Kevin Gallacher (2) and son-of-Lou Paul Macari sealed a 3-0 home defeat at the hands of an impressive Huddersfield Town in front of 496 fans. The following day the Huddersfield Examiner’s Mel Booth (whose well-known mullet was shockingly prominent in the directors’ box) enthused: "..while Burnley’s young side did not have a League appearance within their ranks, it did not detract from the fluency of a performance which was as good as any in recent years from the McAlpine second string." He added, "Gallacher got a warm reception from the knowledgeable Burnley fans, as did the whole Town team for the enterprise and entertainment shown." Good on yer, Mel!
Tranmere, whose season started last week with a 2-1 (Stuart Barlow, Jamie McGuire) win at Rotherham’s reserve home, the Don Valley Stadium, maintained pole position but were held to a 1-1 draw at Prenton Park by 10-man Sheffield United. Alex Hay scored in the first minute for Rovers, but Chris Kiwomya equalised. Kiwomya, one of the hundreds of unemployed professional footballers pedalling their Tebbit-like bikes around the country, was only training with the Blades, and cycled away the next day for pastures new.
Rotherham shook off the disappointment of that home defeat with an impressive 3-1 win over Barnsley at Oakwell. Richie Barker added to his goal last week, and Andy Monkhouse and Danny Hudson completed the scoring for the Millers. Jeremy Christie replied for the Reds.
Last season’s champions Preston got off to a winning start, 1-0 at home to newcomers Bury. The impressive Kelvin Langmead, scorer on Saturday for the youths against the Clarets, won the game for the Lilywhites. This lad is definitely one to watch. Also in the side was Marlon Broomes who is still to make a first team appearance. Incidentally, the match was played at Deepdale but North End will soon depart for more northerly shores as they once again return to Lancaster’s Giant Axe.
This week’s remaining game saw the Black Country derby between Walsall and Wolves at the Bescot. An incomprehensible crowd of 720 witnessed a 3-0 win for a very experienced Wolves side, which doesn’t bode well for the our youngsters trip to Molineux on Wednesday. George Ndah, Adam Proudlock and Branchy’s cousin Michael all beat former Claret loanee Gavin Ward.
Next week’s fixtures:
Bury v Barnsley
Huddersfield Town v Preston North End
Rotherham United v Oldham Athletic
Sheffield United v Walsall
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Burnley