Saturday, 30th August 2008

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- Andy Parker – Burton Mail

1st February 1991
Gresley manager Frank Northwood plans to have FA Vase rivals Knowsley thoroughly analysed before taking his side to Merseyside next Saturday.

Northwood has again recruited former Burton Albion supremo Ken Blair as his chief spy and said recently: “I’m hoping Kenny will see them twice for me before we go up there.”

Blair it was who checked out earlier rivals Racing Club Warwick – and his analysis of the Beazer Midlands outfit turned out to be spot on.

Already intelligence reports are filtering through the Moat Ground about the North West Counties League side, said to have a 42-year-old centre half and to feature the son of former Liverpool boss Joe Fagin in midfield.

Certainly, no side could have enjoyed a more favourable series of draws to reach the last 16 of the Vase.

Saturday’s Gresley clash will be Knowsley’s seventh game in this season’s competition – and their seventh at home!

Victims so far have been Flixton (3-1), General Chemicals (3-1), Knypersley (5-0), Eastwood Hanley (5-3), Ossett (4-2) and Spalding (3-0).

But Northwood is undaunted by his rivals’ formidable record, saying: “I believe that if we get among them they will concede goals.”

Knowsley’s run of good fortune has not, however, been reflected at the gate of their 9,000-capacity ground, the former Huyton Rugby League ground.

Attendance for the Spalding game was a meagre 156 – but with two coachloads of fans travelling from South Derbyshire and many more planning to make the trip in cars, the home side could find themselves experiencing quite a different atmosphere on Saturday.

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