Chris Mills Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 England football legend Stuart Pearce is set to come out of retirement aged 53 in a bid to transform the fortunes of a struggling non-league side. Nicknamed Psycho, the former Nottingham Forest defender played in a World Cup semi-final in 1990 but has signed for a team dubbed "the worst in the UK". Longford AFC, based in Gloucestershire, have lost all 18 games this season, scoring one goal and letting in 179. Pearce said the grassroots game was "essential" to the sport's lifeblood. "I started out in non-league football playing for Wealdstone before joining Coventry City," he said. "So I'm looking forward to working with manager Nick Dawe, and helping a group of talented young footballers achieve their dreams and, hopefully transforming both the dressing room confidence, as well as the on-the-pitch performance, and seeing how far they can go up the league." Longford AFC's biggest losses 2015-16 season 179 goals conceded 0-17 Loss at home to Bibury 16-0 Loss away to Lydney Town Reserves 0-15 Loss at home to Quedgeley Wanderers 14-0 Loss away to Woolaston Source: The FA Longford AFC are rooted to the bottom of the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League Division Two. With an awful record and a growing interest from the media, the side has been dubbed "the worst team in England". But that could change following the recruitment of their star January signing, who is expected to train with the squad before playing one game with them. 'No special treatment' Nick Dawe, Longford AFC manager, said the opportunity would give the side "the best chance possible to go further than we ever have done before". "A year ago we were playing in front of one man and his dog and now we are set to [attract] hundreds for Stuart Pearce's debut," he added. "Stuart knows that there will be no special treatment, he will still need to pay his £5 a game subs." Pearce, a winner of 78 England caps, was part of Sir Bobby Robson's squad that reached the last four of the World Cup in Italy in 1990, and the Terry Venables-led side that was eliminated at the same stage of Euro '96. He retired from playing six years after that, having enjoyed spells at Newcastle United, Manchester City, West Ham, Coventry and non-league Wealdstone as well as captaining Forest under the management of Brian Clough. Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-35428976?ns_mchannel=social&ns_campaign=bbc_match_of_the_day&ns_source=facebook&ns_linkname=sport Interesting one, that's for sure! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sexydadbod Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 I don't like him but fair play to him. Anyone who helps to promote the grassroots game are doing a good thing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mozza Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 Found his lev .. no , no , that's unfair , proves to me he just loves the game and not just in it for the money , good luck to him , i say , wish him well .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CornwallRam Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 He's used to working for a club run by a well meaning amateur so he'll feel at home straight away. Actually, their chairman is probably better than Fawaz as they've signed Pearce as a player not a manager. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 Worst in the UK? Does that mean he is signing for us? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alph Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 How do you lose 15,16 and 17-0? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Srg Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 18 minutes ago, Alpha said: How do you lose 15,16 and 17-0? I coach a girls team and we managed it against Derby County Ladies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Mills Posted January 28, 2016 Author Share Posted January 28, 2016 31 minutes ago, Srg said: I coach a girls team and we managed it against Derby County Ladies. Hope you don't try tell Clement how to manage us then Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RiddingsRam Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 Publicity stunt ! Can't stand the bloke ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alph Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 39 minutes ago, Srg said: I coach a girls team and we managed it against Derby County Ladies. In a friendly? Surely not in a league system. You can't end up in a league that unbalanced? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jordy Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 28 minutes ago, RiddingsRam said: Publicity stunt ! Can't stand the bloke ! Does that make it a bad thing? Bringing attention to the grass roots game? Boosting their attendances? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RiddingsRam Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 3 minutes ago, Jordy said: Does that make it a bad thing? Bringing attention to the grass roots game? Boosting their attendances? Publicity stunt for him ! Not the club , good on the club ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Srg Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 1 hour ago, Alpha said: In a friendly? Surely not in a league system. You can't end up in a league that unbalanced? The Derbyshire cup. They don't enter til a few rounds in, they then still walk it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highgate Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 2 hours ago, Alpha said: How do you lose 15,16 and 17-0? American Samoa lost 31-0 to Australia in a World Cup qualifier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Scarlet Pimpernel Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 2 hours ago, Srg said: I coach a girls team and we managed it against Derby County Ladies. I'm never again paying any attention to your dcfc critique. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StockholmRam Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 30 minutes ago, The Scarlet Pimpernel said: I'm never again paying any attention to your dcfc critique. Worst coach in history.. Worst coach in history... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cisse Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 I do respect the choice Stuart Pearce has made here. I'd like to see more this kind of behaviour in higher leagues too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uttoxram75 Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 6 hours ago, Chris Mills said: "A year ago we were playing in front of one man and his dog and now we are set to [attract] hundreds for Stuart Pearce's debut," he added. So that's where some of the missing gumps have gone..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddie Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 13 hours ago, Alpha said: How do you lose 15,16 and 17-0? I played in a team that lost 17-1. I scored our goal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
REDCAR Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 12 hours ago, Cisse said: I do respect the choice Stuart Pearce has made here. I'd like to see more this kind of behaviour in higher leagues too. To be fair, its more a sideways step from his last position. Joking aside, its a class effort from the bloke. Not his biggest fan, but being involved myself in grass roots footy, this is really great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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