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Roy of the Rovers A New Beginning
Week 15
Jake Cheetham, the twenty-two year-old captain of Melchester Rovers sat perfectly still on a canvas
stool, rod in hand, eyes focused on the bobbing float. Fishing was his passion, being an Essex boy, it
was pretty much all he and his pals had to do growing up; fishing and football. It was all he did now
and a hobby he shared with his housemate and Rovers team-mate Drew Powell. Powell was born in
the South Wales resort town of Barry. His father had run the dodgems for a travelling fair, but had
settled in Barry and had a permanent pitch on the sea front. Drew also grew up fishing, he preferred
the rawness of sea-fishing, but a long pole, a well-stocked lake and his best friend were enough to
keep him entertained on a Tuesday after training.
Steady, Jakey, whispered Drew, as he spotted the bright orange float disappear at an angle, with
that sharp but smooth motion, which only a decent sized fish could produce. Drew propped up his
pole and leant over taking hold of Jakes net. Nah! Its gone, mate. And we should be making a
move soon. Itll be dark soon and we didntbring the lamps, did we? Drew started to pack up his
equipment and his thoughts drifted to the weekend and Melchester Rovers match against
Gatesfield, How annoying is that? All our London fixtures over by the middle of November! No
more decent after-match clubbing this season then. Jake was not really into the clubs scene
anymore, You only say that cos you grew up in the sticks, mate. I dont miss clubbing at all. I
suppose wed done it all by nineteen. Youre still new to it. Drew shook his head, You were into
last season. But no, now youre captain nall, youve got to be responsible. You need to chill out, all
that stress will kill you.
Jake had become a little concerned at the amount of time he spent thinking about football. He
remembered how Steve Daley, the previous captain, had warned him; only being captain of England
was more prestigious than wearing the Rovers armband, people expect more of you on and off thefield. Probably, mate. But I am captain of Melchester Rovers, think of those before me, Steve
Wootten, Terry Spring, Roy Race. I have to live up to them. Theyre some of the best footballers
England has ever produced. People expect me to be that good now; right now!
You are that good though! the young Wales international was used tohigh expectation himself. As
a seventeen year-old at North Vale he was first-choice in central midfield. Wales premier team were
a lower half Championship side then, but Powells performances caught the eye of Geoff Giles, now
Melchester Rovers chief scout. Giles report on Powell made it clear that he thought the gifted ball
player was the most talented young player outside the Premier League, probably one of the best
prospects in Europe. Melchester promptly made a bid of 3 million, with numerous add-ons based
on appearances and honours, which of course was accepted. Rovers agreed to loan the midfielder
back to North Vale for a year and a half, and in the 2010/11 season the Welshman were promoted to
back the Premier League. Drew Powell was player of the season and named in the PFA
Championship Team of the Year. He had a dozen international caps and was already talked about as
Wales future captain.
At this time Jake Cheetham had yet to play a minute of Premier League football. He had signed for
Melchester Rovers as an eleven year-old, but his parents refused to leave their Essex home for the
Midlands. This meant that Jake could only train once a week with the Rovers until he left school,
when he joined the academy full-time, living in the specially built residential centre at the training
ground. He made remarkable progress under the guidance of experienced youth coach Danny Trent,
who had coached Rocky Race as a youngster. Jake had been a right-back through the age-group
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teams, but Trent spotted a talent for running with the ball, directly and quickly, like Mozzie Mostin,
that was wasted at full-back.
After two years in the academy teams, Cheetham joined League Two side Aylbury, on loan for the
second half of the 2008/09 season. He helped them to promotion via the play-offs, playing his first
game at Wembley, scoring in the penalty shoot-out that secured the fourth promotion place. Jakereturned to Melchester but struggled to break into the first team. The manager at the time
considered him a luxury player, midfielders who ran with the ball were not suited to the modern
game, he would say. Jake finally made his debut in a League Cup match against Championship side
Alderchurch in October 2010, he was played on the left of a five man midfield. The manager giving
him instructions that his natural game was not suited to playing in the congested centre of the park.
If he wanted to run with the ball it would be from a wide position, cutting inside the full-back. A
couple of good runs were all he had to show for his Melchester Rovers debut and he was substituted
with fifteen minutes remaining.
So there had been no fanfare with the arrival of Jake Cheetham in the Melchester Rovers squad,
quite the opposite of what Drew Powell had experienced. As the two gifted midfielders climbed intoCheethams Range Rover, Drew looked at his best-friend, Mate, I have a whole country expecting
me to change the entire way we play. Youve got the millions of Rovers fans around the world
supporting you, wanting you to win trophies. Its high pressure, but we get the rewards, look at this
motor, look at our house. We play for the best club in the world, with the most loyal fans. Id rather
be here than at Melboro or Kelburn, thats for sure.
Jake had to agree, the revolutions that placed Melboro and Kelburn as English footballs most
powerful teams had heaped untold pressure on their playing staff, coaches and transformed the
clubs fanbases. Remember our foreign owners. It was nuts, they hadnt a clue about the club, its
history, its fans. It was a nightmare. They used to rock up in the changing room before the match,
just bowl in and start talking. We were only inexperienced pros but Danny Jones looked like he
wanted to knock someone out.
It was under the Basran-based consortium that Jake Cheetham and Drew Powell both made their
Premier League debuts for Rovers. Melchester had been through six managers from the start of the
2010/11 season until Vernon Eliots appointment. A variety of characters had tried and failed in the
hardest job in English domestic soccer. There was Steve Nobby Wootten, brought in to bring some
passion back to the club. It was unwise and he lasted just three months, as he clashed repeatedly
with the owners about interference in team activities. Experienced Scottish manager Mel Stone had
been the most successful and it was the former Glenrath Celtic captain and boss who gave Jake and
Drew their chance.I can remember my
league debut, our debut, like it was yesterday. Mel Park was
packed, as usual. The boss gave us our last instructions and Steve Daley did his shouting!Drew
jumped in, Stone played 4-4-2 and me and you were together in the middle. I think Batty was
injured. I replaced him and you came in because Dean Robins was off-form.
Tommy Olsen; Leonardo, Steve Daley (captain), Danny Jones, Jean-Paul Lamidel; Jerome Osman,
me, you, Robbie March; Freddy Van Den Broeck, Declan McKaffree Drew reeled off the team list,
Er, mate, Freddy wasnt in he was injured too. It was Regis Martin, now at Gatesfield, he was only
seventeen. Drew was surprised, You sure? he thought deeply, closing his eyes, Yeah, youre
right! That Regis was a right you know! What a flash git. What a shame hes turning into a super
player, he could have done that at Mel Park!
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Youknow; some people just cant play for Melchester Rovers. They dont have that Melchester
Magic. And one more thing; weve still got Kelburn away, you can go clubbing after that!
Melchester Rovers got their Premier League campaign emphatically back on
track with a comfortable win over Bradport.
Robbie March headed Rovers in front before Declan McKaffree missed a chance when
clean through and also failed to convert a penalty.
McKaffree atoned for his errors with a far-post header and strikes by Regis Martin and
March put Rovers out of reach.
Danny Legg touched in a Callum Ball shot and Jacques Saint-David drove in an 18-yardstrike as Bradport rallied late on.
But their efforts will be scant consolation for manager Ken Marsh, who might have been
hopeful of giving Melchester a real test following his side's midweek victory at
Tynecaster.
But Rovers turned the boos which rang out at Mel Park after their draw with Oldfield to
cheers as they stayed within striking distance of the top four by playing with a swagger
and style which is such a feature of their game when at their best.
Martin, who has been one of the revelations of the season, was again a key figure for the
home side and the creativity, vision and trickery of debutants Jake Cheetham and Drew
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Powell added another dimension to their attack.
Irish winger March got the ball rolling for the home side when he produced a well-timed
run to meet an Osman corner and steered in a near-post header.
Cheetham was then harshly booked for diving when he went over the outstretched leg ofdefender Legg in the box before McKaffree wasted two glorious opportunities.
The Republic of Ireland international, who can be as infuriating as he is impressive on
other occasions, had only keeper Pete Radunka to beat after a poor backpass by
Bradport defender Dominic Warne, only to shoot high.
A foul by ex-Rovers youth stopper Radunka on Martin then gave McKaffree a chance
from the spot to extend Melchester's lead, but he carelessly sidefooted wide.
However, when Osman sent over a cross to the far post, McKaffree found himself
unmarked and guided a header past the over-worked Radunka
Bradport's best chances came when Graham Weaver produced a lovely turn and shot,
which was beaten away by Tommy Olsen, before Loc Argenter had a strike cleared off
the line by centre-back Danny Jones.
But, when Saint-David dallied after a McKaffree shot was parried to him by Radunka,
Martin robbed him of possession and shot into the roof of the net.
There was a touch of controversy about Melchester's fourth as the ball appeared to strike
Cheetham's arm during the move which led to March scoring from 12 yards.
Thereafter, Bradport were playing for pride and Legg and Saint-David at least gave the
scoreline a margin of respectability.
But Bradport's efforts came too late and Rovers moved to within three points of fourth-
placed Melborowith the win.
Melchester assistant coach Andy
Maclaren:
"Were very pleased with the debuts of
the young lads [Cheetham and Powell].
Theyve been showing flashes in training
and today everything just clicked for
them and for us. Were delighted with
the result although the two late goals
took the gloss of the scoreline a little.
I can see Powell and Cheetham being a
big part of the first-team for some time.
We wont be changing a winning-team
thats for sure.
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Storky Knight
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Next WeekMelchester face a stern test at home to leaders Everpool