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NEWS
Ian McGarry Joins AFC Blackpool AFC Blackpool have announced the appointment of Ian McGarry as assistant manager to Stuart Parker. Ian moves into the role vacated by Gary Hargreaves, who left the club a few weeks ago to take up a coaching role at Fleetwood Town. Ian, of course, is well known around the league, having managed Darwen and Great Harwood Town in the past, and more recently was assistant manager to Steve Wilkes at Runcorn Linnets. His voice is equally well known through his appearances on BBC Radio Lancashire's Non-League Hour for many years. Speaking on BBC Radio Lancashire, Ian said: “I'm really looking forward to it. I've known Stuart Parker for a lot of years, and when the position came available we got together and discussed it. “It's a really good club and a really good set up. The ground's nice and tidy, the training facilities are excellent, the players really want to play for Stuart and I'm honoured that they have asked me to come and assist Stuart. I'm really pleased about it.” AFC Blackpool Secretary Billy Singleton said: “We are very pleased to have Ian on board. His experience will be invaluable to us as we have a young side competing in the Premier Division for the first time, and we are all looking forward to working with him.” --------------------------------------------------------------- NORTH WEST COUNTIES AGM At the North West Counties League AGM on Saturday 18th June AFC Blackpool manager Stuart Parker received the 2010-2011 Division 1 manager award.
1000 League games AFC Blackpool, Atherton LR and Oldham Boro were all presented with awards to commemorate them reaching the milestone of 1000 league games in the North West Counties League during season 2010-11.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- May 2, 2011 AFC Blackpool - First Division ChampionsAFC Blackpool enjoyed a double Bank Holiday celebration, with victory over Irlam in the Vodkat League Challenge Cup being followed by the presentation of the First Division Championship trophy after the game. After watching his players lift the trophy and pose for the usual series of celebration pictures, manager Stuart Parker reflected on the season. “My expectations were high at the start of the season, and I was quoted in the local paper before the season began as saying I felt this was the best squad I'd had since Brian Wilson and I got Fleetwood Freeport promoted 10 or 11 years ago. The players have lived up to that comment dramatically, in fact they have collected more points than we collected at Fleetwood, and I considered that side as being a very good one. “It was a massive relief when the final whistle went at Holker last week (when AFC Blackpool clinched the title). We knew what we had to do in the last four games, which was collect five points, and in the end we ended up with ten points from them which was a great finish. “I must give every credit to Runcorn Town, who kept winning and kept putting the pressure on us, and there's no doubt they have been a great credit to the league this season. They are a very competitive team and we respect everything they have done. “As far as we are concerned, I think I'm right in saying we have equalled the record points total for 34 league games in this division, and we have certainly matched New Mills' record from four years ago when they won this division. If you look at the resources they had compared to what we had, to win 28 games out of 34 is unbelievable. “Straight from the off, the chemistry in the group was good. I had brought in Garry Hargreaves, who previously managed Garstang, as my assistant and as well as his knowledge and enthusiasm being a great boost on training pitch, he brought in five or six players. We also had some of the lads who had been here previously, and it gave us a squad of 18-19 players and that meant when the injuries came we were able to cope and it didn't weaken the side. “Whenever we have had any adversity to face, we have reacted really well and generally got a good result. About the only times we didn't was in the two home games against AFC Liverpool, both in the league and in the FA Vase. We took the lead in the first game and let them back into it, and in the FA Vase they took the lead and continued to come at us, and beat us 2-0 fair and square. “This is a very difficult league to get out of, and just as an example we had very tight games in the past week at Atherton Collieries, Holker and AFC Liverpool. But we have been very consistent, we only missed scoring in one league game and had the second best defensive record, and as well as Niall Cummins and Ben Waddington who have scored goals, I've got three midfielders who got into double figures as well. “Looking ahead, I don't think we need to look at adding too many at for next season. In the squad we have 7 who are 21 and under, there's another 7 or 8 who are 24 and under and the experience comes with Andy Speight, Kevan Ford and Paul Carroll. We've played Premier Division teams here in the cup and have been comfortable against them, and if an experienced player became available that could strengthen the team, I'd talk to them. “But we don't have much of a budget, and we've got promoted this season with 40% of the budget I had at Fleetwood 11 years ago. The spirit of the lads is good and the good thing is they want to improve. If you take Ben Waddington as an example, he hasn't just come from nowhere this season, he's been here four years now, and he had a bit to learn. But as he has matured we have seen the benefit this season. “Overall, it's been a great season for us, the lads have been terrific and it's been a pleasure working with Garry and Ian Falkingham our physio. Obviously I've worked with the committee a long time and I'm pleased for them as well, and I hope they have enjoyed the season." Report from Vodkat League web site ------------------------------------------------------------------ Manager of the Month for April
Manager Stuart Parker was awarded the Manager of the month award for a second consecutive month after the Cup quarter final match against Irlam on 2nd May ------------------------------------------------------ Apr 16, 2011 Promotion Party For AFC BlackpoolCongratulations to AFC Blackpool, who clinched promotion to the Premier Division this afternoon with a 2-0 win at Norton United. Two second half goals from Niall Cummins clinched victory for the Seasiders, who can now look forward to hosting Premier Division football at 'The Mechanics' next season. The club have waited a long time for success to come their way, as they have been in the bottom division of the league since season 1986-87, apart from one season in the old Division One in season 1992-93. AFC Blackpool Chairman Tommy Baldwin said: “It's great to get promotion, it's been a long hard slog. You can't take anything away from the players, from day one they've been together as a team and worked hard to get where they are. Every one of them fully deserves it. “We've waited eighteen years to get here and if there was a message I wanted to give out it would be to say to every manager and chairman in the league – take your time and get the club right. Forget about paying players and be held to ransom by players asking for more money. Stick it out, have a bit of nerve and one day the success will come, as we have proved here at this club. “I'm really pleased for our manager Stuart Parker. He's been here for about ten years in all, and has been through some really rough times and been on the wrong end of some really bad results, but he has stuck with us. I've seen a lonely man in that dugout over the years and I'm glad to see a smile on his face now. Stuart and Garry Hargreaves have turned this club around and I will always be thankful to them for that. “It's great to be looking forward to playing in a higher division, but we will miss many of the people around the clubs in the First Division, who over the years have become familiar faces and good friends. “The First Division in this league must be the hardest division to get out of and that is shown when the teams who get promoted usually do very well in the Premier League. We hope that we can live life in the Premier Division with the same enjoyment we have had in the First Division and we wish all the very best of luck to those clubs who we leave behind.” Report from Vodkat League web site ----------------------------------------- Manager Of The Month Award Presentation
AFC Blackpool manager Stuart Parker won the Division One Manager Of The Month Award for March. Stuart's assistant Garry Hargreaves accepted the award on his behalf from League Management Committee representatives Geoff Wilkinson and Billy Singleton, prior to the Seasiders' game at home to Ashton Town on Tuesday night 5th April.
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