Ah Brian Smith

Some would say it's harder to do in the modern game but is it? I'm not sure it is. Brian Smith was a charismatic figurehead who not only did wonders with a poor team but also spearheaded the installation of new floodlights the demolition and replacement of the Threepenny Stand and the revamping of the in ground bar facilities to try to mirror the Leagues Clubs in Australia. However, he arrived with the team having eclipsed the great escape fro relegation the previous season by the skin of our teeth and did it by beating Rovers at caravan park with 6 missing. Under the temporary coaching of Tony Dean and Keith Hepworth who had taken over from Casey with us in a real rut, they over saw an improvement but we had a really poor team that regularly under performed under Casey ands had massive attitude issues under him too. recognise anything?

Enter Brian Smith who just signed four Aussies Colman Moon Boyle and Henry and after he instigated an open trial which attracted 70 players from across Yorkshire we got Ian Marlow signed up from Local RU. That's all we saw coming in of any substance whilst he immediately dropped Pearce (Pearce was over weight and under performing.... recognise anything here too?) Proctor and Tomlinson into the A team and we proceeded to lose our first 4 games. However we ended up as beaten finalists at Old Trafford at the end of the season after some historic performances, (who can forget the 35-20 victory at Wigan that some Wigan fans I know still insist instigated the Wigan walk) along the way. Brian Smith was a real Miracle worker and so miracles do happen. Or they did. Sadly for us not that often these days though!!!

How the bloody hell did you heel a divot in that concrete never mind hold the ball up to kick. West Dock Infants year 1958

Oliver Holmes in any training footage?

The guy who wrote the book on man management was Roy Francis - Smith was not in the same ballpark.

Smith was fairly successful in Aus but was also known as the coach who never won anything in spite of having some great teams (like Parramatta). Had 4 goes at winning GF's and lost all four - hardly a messiah.

Very successful at winning wooden spoons, however, with 3 to his name,