Ammies aim for return to top of league with a win
SALFORD City will look to return to the top of the Vanarama National League with a win against Aldershot Town today.
The Ammies return to league action after earning themselves an FA Cup first round replay last weekend with a 1-1 draw against Shrewsbury Town.
Salford sit third in the league, just two points off top-of-thetable Wrexham. Aldershot are 13th and come into their first game at the Peninsula Stadium of the back an FA Cup draw.
FC United take on AFC Telford in the National League North.
Telford are having a strong season and sit in sixth, but Neil Reynolds’ side has picked up some form in recent weeks.
They have won three and drawn two of their last five league games, but are still 18th in the league.
Fellow National League North side Altrincham play York City at home. The Robins sit eighth while the visitors are 12th.
York haven’t won in four league games while Alty are on top form having won five out of their last six league fixtures.
Curzon Ashton make a visit to Croft Park to take on 17th place Blyth Spartans.
John Flanagan’s side come into the tie following a 1-1 draw in their last league game, they are 11th .
Ashton United have arguably the toughest fixture this week, they travel to top-of-the-table Bradford Park Avenue, who are unbeaten in five games, including a 6-0 thrashing of Nuneaton Town.
Ashton, who are 19th, beat Guiseley 1-0 last time out, their first win in five league games. AT Wembley on Thursday night it was time to remember Wayne Rooney the player, to give him the send-off his England career deserved, but for United it’s the next chapter of Rooney’s career that should interest them.
This week the forward spoke of his desire for a career in coaching when his playing days come to an end. Rooney is doing his coaching badges while playing for DC United in the MLS and is confident that when his American adventure is over, he will have them completed to begin a career in a tracksuit when he returns to England.
Given the impact Rooney has had Stateside, dragging DC United from bottom of the Eastern Conference to the play-offs, his playing career might have a few more twists and turns to come.
But when he swaps boots for bibs, the 120-cap England international will have plenty to offer on the training ground. He said in an interview with the United website he was ‘passionate’ about his second career, and given the riches with which modern-day professionals retire only those with a thirst for coaching will take that route.
The temptations for many former professionals, especially those of Rooney’s standing, is to opt for a comfortable life of media work, or to even try to slip quietly into retirement and family life.
But you don’t achieve what Rooney did in the game without a burning ambition and the 33-yearold wants to test himself in coaching or management.
When the time comes, United should be at the front of the queue for Rooney’s services, bringing him back to Carrington and using the knowledge he has gathered in a remarkable playing career.
Rooney has so much to offer, especially in the early days of his coaching career when he could be given a role working with United’s Academy stars, much like Steven Gerrard did at Liverpool with the Under-18s last season.
Who better than Rooney to help bring through the promising strikers currently in United’s age-group teams, to hone their finishing techniques, improve their movement and develop their game understanding?
Who better than Rooney to explain how to make the breakthrough into men’s football when still a boy, to deal with the media spotlight, to avoid the mistakes and the pitfalls that can derail a career if you’re not as mentally strong as Rooney was?
Rooney has been through so much. The highs of bursting onto the scene as a 16-year-old, his goal-scoring records for United and England, shining at Euro 2004, winning countless trophies while at Old Trafford.
But it’s not all been plain sailing. He experienced difficulties on the pitch, the injuries, the loss of the explosiveness that made him such an exciting prospect as a youngster and forced him to refine his game, and he’s been through a lot off the pitch as well, the tabloid scandals, the public flirtations with leaving Old Trafford in 2010 and 2013.
No doubt Rooney has designs on a career as a manager, of taking the ultimate test, but he knows he will need to earn the right to take the first steps as his own man.
A role at United could be perfect for him.
The club has shown a willingness to incorporate players taking their first steps onto the coaching ladder recently, particularly with Michael Carrick’s elevation into Jose Mourinho’s backroom team this summer.
They should do the same with Rooney. Although the Liverpudlian started and ended his career in this country with boyhood club Everton, his bond with United is equally as strong.
In 13 years at the Reds he won 16 major trophies and became the club’s all-time leading goalscorer with 253 goals. You can’t let that sort of experience, that link to the past, go unused.
If Rooney returns to England ready to begin his coaching career, then United have to make sure he does so with them.