Non-League Paper Programme: Longevity in the dugout – a rare footballing feat

In a week remembered for sudden managerial dismissals, it’s somewhat refreshing to hear Alan Dowson talk so enthusiastically after celebrating his 1,000th game in the dugout.

First Enzo Maresca at Chelsea, then Ruben Amorim at Manchester United, swiftly followed by Wilifried Nancy after just eight games in charge of Celtic. The shelf-life of a football manager is as perilous as ever.

Dowson, though, has a sell-by-date far longer-reaching.

The amiable Geordie has recently returned for a second spell in charge of Hampton & Richmond Borough, where he enjoyed some of his most successful times in a management career that began at Walton & Hersham and also took in Kingstonian and Woking.

Pressure

Hampton’s 2-0 win over Farnborough on Boxing Day marked Dowson’s 1,000th game in the dug-out – and the 55-year-old told The NLP that he simply can’t get enough of the management madhouse.

“It’s f*****g brilliant – I haven’t slept for two weeks,” he told us in his unmistakable, and unrivalled, jovial spirit.

“I don’t see the missus anymore – or the kids. I went in the other night and I think they thought I was burgling the house!

“It’s great. Four o’clock in the morning and I’m blinking up. I am nervous, I’ve got anxiety again – it’s excellent.

“I love pressure. I love everything about the game. Anxiety, pressure, nerves, happiness.

“On Monday, I was driving two hours to watch Chelmsford against Dagenham. It’s keeping me on the ball all the time.”

Caught the bug

And Dowson is not the only manager to have caught the bug.

Back in November, NLP columnist Tony Incenzo told how Pep Guardiola’s 1,000^th game in management paled into insignificance compared to Ramsbottom United boss Steve Wilkes, for example.

An emphatic 8-0 victory at City of Liverpool in the North West Counties League Premier Division was the Preston-based boss’ 1,300th game in the dugout, having started in August 1997.

Explaining an astonishing story of dedication amidst work and family pressures, Wilkes said: “I’m really proud to hit the 1,300 mark. I’ve done 28 and a half years now and it is quite a milestone.

“I started out as a manager in the summer of 1997. I had been playing for Darwen when I received a phone call stating the boss was leaving and asking if I could fill the vacancy.

“I was only 29 and it didn’t interest me at all. I had never wanted to go into management or coaching. Even so, Darwen asked me to consider it.

“I was friendly with Sam Allardyce from my professional playing days. I had previously been at Preston while he was at Bolton. So I gave Sam a ring for advice.

“He said: ‘Look mate – take the position. Do it for six weeks. If you don’t enjoy it, you can quit.”

Return from retirement

Seven years at Darwen, voluntarily and without a budget, preceded a five-and-a-half year stint with Padiham before Wilkes joined Runcorn Linnets, where he was sacked for the only time in his career after two-and-a-half years.

Twelve months at Ashton Athletic led to him re-joining Padiham in 2012/13, where Wilkes won the North West Counties League title and enjoyed a couple of seasons in the Northern Premier League.

Following another five-year stint, he then left the Storks and moved to Northwich Victoria and after leading the club to the FA Vase semi-final, Wilkes, now a grandfather, decided to retire three years ago. That was until Ramsbottom United got back in touch.

“I spoke about it to my wife of 35 years Alison,” he explained. “Her exact words were: ‘Yes please! I don’t want you under my feet on a Saturday!’ So my retirement didn’t last very long.”

Extraordinary feats

And talking of 1,000 games, it’s not just the managers achieving extraordinary feats.

Back in October, we sat down with 44-year-old Peter Clarke after making his landmark career appearance when turning out for Prescot Cables in their FA Trophy fixture with Lancaster City.

The former Everton youth defender enjoyed a remarkable career, turning out for the likes of Blackpool (two spells), Southend United, Huddersfield Town, Oldham Athletic and Tranmere over 100 times before enjoying a stellar Non-League career with two seasons at Warrington Town and now Cables after joining in the summer.

And only this week, he will be joined on an illustrious 55-man worldwide list – including that of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and littered with top Non-League names such as Paul Bastock, Barry Hayles and Scott McLeish – by veteran winger Kevin Ellison as he too celebrates his 1,000th senior game.

This afternoon, at the age of 46, the Morecambe legend, who also turned out for the likes of Chester City, Rotherham and Tranmere, will reach the milestone playing for Vauxhall Motors against Runcorn Linnets in NPL West.

Special celebration

To mark the occasion, the Motormen are hosting a special celebration, including surprise guests and live entertainment with a big crowd expected.

Players like Clarke and Ellison are a rarity in football as the elite list suggests, but are worth their weight in gold.

More so, managers like Dowson and Wilkes who, as Maresca, Amorim, and Nancy will attest, are the first to carry the can when things don’t quite go to plan.

Let’s raise a New Year glass to them all.

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