Recent articles have highlighted our promotion from the Springbank Midland League to the North West Counties League and how we fared in our first season. Moving on to season 2004/05, at its conclusion, manager Bob Askey decided to stand down as manager after eight years at the helm.

Eagles finished in eleventh position at the end of that season, finishing with 41 points. I have referred back to the Presentation Evening programme from Richard Marsh's Archive and, as usual, Bob had provided a summary of the season. On this occasion, he also made some reflections of his time in the post. He said:

"After eight years as manager, it is time for a change. New enthusiasm and a new voice is needed. Mark Askey and Steve Bradbury are two blokes who know the game inside out. I will be around to assist in any capacity and look forward to a good season in 2005/06. I have enjoyed my eight years. The club has moved forward. We now play in a feeder league, can enter the FA Cup and play on a decent surface with lights. I am proud to have played some part in this progress. Highlights were obviously the two championships, the Staffs FA Vase victory and promotion to the NWCL.

My first game in charge was the 5-0 win in the league on 16. August 1997 against Cheadle Old Boys. The team that day was: Edensor, Woodvine, Brice, Hall, Anthony, Mayer, Kinnersley, Hollins, Stark, Naggington, Birch. Subs: Spruce, Bergin, Kenney.

Dale Kinnersley and Paul Hollins are still with the club and have given great service to the club and me over the last eight years. Paul Cox (now on the club committee) has also been with me during all this time and again is a true clubman.

Games that come easily to the memory are the 5-1 defeat of Stone Dominoes in January 1998 at home - with goals from Russ Dematteo (2), Steve Bergin, Kev Warrillow and Gary Spruce. Manager Andy O'Connor asked me after the game why we were so good, what training methods did we use?

Another great win was 7-0 at home to Stallington who were a top three side then. Martin Devaney scored 4 and was unplayable that day - Mick Stark, Ray Notice and Simon Schwarz scored the others on Saturday 3. November 2001. At that time we were on fire and followed it with wins at Redgate (3-0), 3-0 at home to Stone and 6-1 away to Foley. A great night was when we won the league 1-0 away at Adderley Green with a Craig Holland direct corner on 6. May 2002.

In the NWCL, great games for us include the 1-0 victories this season against Silsden and Cammell Laird (who were both promoted that season. The away win at Silsden was notable because keeper Dave Abel had to go off after 20 minutes and Tim Buckley took over in goal, performing heroics to defend a Russ Dematteo goal in front of a crowd of over 200 - JT). I enjoyed the 2-0 away win to 1st Division Glossop North End in the cup with goals from Mark Docherty and Russ Dematteo on 1. November 2003. The previous week we were excellent when beating Nelson 4-1 away with goals from Danny Stevens, Paul Griffiths (2) and James Byrne. This clinched me the Manager of the Month award for October.

We have had some good players in my time. Best team possibly - please let me know if I have missed someone or you disagree.
Richard Johnson
Dave Woodvine Tim Buckley Ray Walker Nigel Shaw
John Mayer Paul Brice Martin Devaney Tony Dale
Matt Haddrell Russ Dematteo
Subs: Jon Wyse, Carl Wallace, Craig Holland.

Enjoy your evening"

Looking through the programme, it was interesting to note that Bob's last match in charge of the Eagles was away at Darwen on 3. May 2005. We lost 3-1 on the day but the game was notable for the fact that Bob's brother, former Macclesfield Town legend and more recently Port Vale manager John Askey, played up front with Russ Dematteo. Bob commented in his summary notes: "I enjoyed watching John Askey and Russ Dematteo give a masterly display as twin strikers".

Bob's record as manager at the club covered 290 league matches with 152 wins, 72 draws and 66 defeats, whilst in cup matches there were 20 wins and 17 defeats in 37 games. In his playing career whilst at Pershall Park, he played 104 times with 122 sub appearances (most of which were made as player/manager), scoring 48 goals.

Later articles will cover some landmark games from when Mark Askey and Steve Bradbury took the reins as the new Eagles management team.