WHAT BETTER way for semi-professional footballer Lee Blackshaw to bow out of the game than with a Wembley appearance.
The last-ever game for the 32-year-old from Top Mossley will be for Glossop in the final of the FA Vase on Saturday, May 9.
“I couldn’t have written the script any better, it amazing and I still cannot get over it. It is what dreams are made of and means everything to me,” explained the winger who is calling time on his 15-year career in non-league football.
Blackshaw played a key role in the Hillmen getting to Wembley scoring a spectacular goal in the 2-1 aggregate semi-final win against Cornish club St Austell.
“It was a cracker from the edge of the box, an angled volley into the top corner which helped give us a 2-0 win in the first leg away from home,” he continued.
Blackshaw, whose non-league career has taken him from Ashton United reserves as a teenager to Glossop for three spells, two at Mossley, Curzon Ashton and Woodley Sports, believes the time is right to finish.
“It takes up a lot of my time and it is hard with work (he is a manager at McDonald’s fast-food outlet at Snipe Retail Park, Ashton) while I also have a child on the way,” he explained.
Blackshaw is one of a sizeable contingent of former Mossley players at Glossop as Ben Richardson, Dave Young and Sam Hind are all former Lilywhites.
Glossop boss Chris Willcock has also managed Mossley to the quarter finals of the same competition.
He said: “I am a Manchester City fan and was at Wembley for the FA Community Shield and never did I imagine I would be going back to the ‘arch’ again this season and leading out a team as Manuel Pellegrini did.
“It is my proudest moment as a manager and on the day I am sure there will be mixed emotions, elation, excitement as well as being nervous about how my players will perform on the greatest stage.
“I want them to go out and enjoy the day as thousands of non-league players, as well as thousands of professionals, never get the chance to play at Wembley.
Willcock, who also reached the Vase semi finals as a player while at Flixton, added it will be a great opportunity for his collection of players, who include a bricklayer, plumber, teacher, sports coach and IT worker, to showcase their talents.
“There is no telling what scouts will be watching and already one of our players, 20-year-old left back Sam Grimshaw, has been invited to train at Manchester United,” he said.
By the time Glossop walk out at Wembley they could already have won two pieces of silverware as they are also vying for the North West Counties League, premier division title and in the finals of the MEN United League Cup.
His brief was to get Glossop back into the Evo Stik League within three years, but could achieve that objective in half that time.
Glossop, who also reached the Vase final in 2009 when they lost to Whitley Bay, are expecting to take over six thousand fans to the game so the town will be deserted on May 9.
Willcock admits his side will be unfancied against North Shield, but that does not faze him.
He said: “We have been underdogs for the last three or four rounds and been party poopers so long may it continue.
“Six of the last seven winners have been from the Northern League so we know it will be tough.”
Willcock is unhappy with the league for failing to extend their season due to their unprecedented success as this week they were playing Saturday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.
He said: “You get Premier League players moaning about two games a week and you look at our schedule and ours are also working class lads.
“They have day jobs and should not be expected to play back-to-back games in the space of 24 hours. The lads don’t deserve such harsh treatment and it doesn’t sit well with everyone at the club.
“We are going for a historic treble which has never been done before and may never be done again. I don’t know why the league won’t support us, but their officials will have a day out at Wembley on the back of our success.”
You must be logged in to post a comment.