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For much of my football watching life Fleetwood were residents in the lower reaches of the hierarchy. I’d seen them on the local grounds around Tameside but in their previous guise. Having gone bust in 1997 a new incarnation came into being and made their way from the North West Counties through the Northern Premier and into the Conference structure. Their ascent was as deep as County’s descent. The first game between the clubs ended in a 4-2 win for the visitors at Edgeley Park in late September 2011. Seven weeks later it was off to Highbury for the return.

There was much anticipation for a huge County following on a Saturday evening – the game having been moved from the afternoon for coverage by Premier, the fledgling sports broadcaster. It was the 4th time we had featured in the 3 months of the season thus far. It also was the last as the the expectation that we would be pushing at the top had long disappeared. 11 days previously Didi Hamann had stepped aside; Willie McStay had taken charge at Ebbsfleet the previous Saturday but on the Tuesday the long called for return of Jim Gannon had been confirmed. It produced much expectation as we assembled at Highbury. Whilst not having the time to bring players in Gannon certainly rang the changes with those players he had inherited. Only 5 of the starters at Ebbsfleet emerged from the tunnel.

The game remained goalless at the break but 6 minutes into the second half the ball broke loose 25 yards out and Alan Mangan rifled it past on loan keeper Mark Halstead. Form over the recent weeks suggested that a recovery would be difficult but the support from the terraces gave County some energy. A corner floated towards the penalty spot saw Danny O’Donnell impeded and referee Barratt pointed to the spot. Sean McConville, a much vaunted summer signing from Accrington, stepped up and smashed the ball high into the net. Ecstasy erupted in the Percy Ronson Stand behind that goal – we had seen fight in the team, something missing virtually all season.

Sadly within minutes we saw a goal which has been replicated countless times since, and on a far greater stage. A ball played through saw Jamie Vardy latch onto it and finish with ease and gave Fleetwood the win.

Vardy could have been turning out in blue and white. As recounted in the post on 2010 Vardy was on the point of signing from Halifax when new manager Paul Simpson ripped up the list of targets prepared by Alan Lord and Peter Ward, and went and signed Barry Conlon instead. What judgement!! Even more bizarrely in the summer of 2011 the chancer Tony Evans, in his spell of a few weeks as Chairman, put up a Twitter poll asking who we should sign – George Donnelly or Vardy? The answer was neither as both ended up at Highbury… More of that in Beyond Administration: 2011

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Memories of a trip to Highbury

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THE GAMES

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Where the date is in bold click for highlights of the game

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	Date	Venue	Ground	Competition		F	A	Att:
Tue	27/09/11	h	Edgeley Park	Blue Square Bet Premier (Tier 5)	L	2	4	3,023
Sat	19/11/11	a	Highbury	Blue Square Bet Premier (Tier 5)	L	1	2	3,021

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