Farewell to the Beast

While it seemed increasingly inevitable, the retirement of Mark Creighton was sad news to hear. The man they called The Beast was, literally and figuratively, a giant amongst men. 

It is rare that a player manages to acquire the status of legend within a club, be part of a tangible period success and yet, at the same time, last barely more than a season. Yet this is exactly what Mark Creighton, who announced his retirement yesterday, did at Oxford.

When Chris Wilder arrived at the Kassam he inherited a mess of a team; it was made up of a ramshackle bunch of journeymen non-leaguers, loanees, plus one or two of Jim Smith's expensive signings seeing out their largely undeserved and interminably long contracts.

Oxford's first choice centre-backs were Luke Foster, Barry Quinn and Chris Willmott, a solid trio - and by the standards of the rest of the squad, one if its strongest parts. But, both Quinn and Willmott were injury prone and Foster had his own demons. By his own admission Wilder threw a team together to get things moving; the club galvanised around a siege mentality brought on by a broken leg to 'his best player'; Sam Deering, the emergence of a genuine hero in James Constable and a league that seemed to be conspiring against us. What followed was a fun, yet doomed, attack on the play-off places.

Wilder, along with Kelvin Thomas, started something - for the first time in a while fans were genuinely bought into to the manager, and with nifty marketing - notably the 12th Man Fund - the club was galvanised around a cause. However, we were long broken and it was easy for complacency to drift back into the club over the summer months. The strategy previously had been to effectively close the club down for a month or so to let the Oxford hierarchy disappear off on holiday. Fans were expected to renew their season tickets in the hope that the signings, if and when they did come, would spark a revival. Season by season, fans became battle weary and less trusting.

The Wilder/Thomas regime, was having none of that; signings would be fast and aggressive. Mark Creighton was the first and a true demonstration of intent. By accident or design, this wasn't just symbolic of the strategy, it was symbolic of the Oxford United we were going to be. We needed a wrecking ball of a defender in the tradition of Elliot, Briggs or Shotton. Technically, it's difficult to compare that hallowed trio with Creighton, but spiritually, he's right up there with them.

There was huge optimism as we approached the season opener against York. The team, on paper at least, had been constructed from the best of the Conference and there was confidence and expectations of success. In Ryan Clarke, Creighton, Adam Murray and Constable, the team had an indomitable spine. Against York, however, what emerged was a familiar ring of the club's deepest failings. We fell behind and then toiled to find an equaliser. Then, with injury-time approaching, Matt Green clipped in a leveller, a point was secured, it was something to work on. Moments later, with the relief of snatching a point swirling around the Kassam we were awarded a corner. The ball pinballed around the penalty box before eventually dropping to the feet of Mark Creighton who slotted home with a grace not in keeping with his size.

This was an iconic moment, captured in an iconic photo. The moment that confirmed we had a team that would refuse to be beaten, either by its opponents or its darker demons. Mark Creighton right at the centre of that belief. Somewhat fittingly, it was his only goal in an Oxford shirt.

We ended the season having conceded just 31 league goals - better than everyone bar champions Stevenage. From the end of August to the late September we maintained a run of six games - 9 hours of football - without conceding. It's quite possible that we would have comfortably been the best defence in the
division if it hadn't been for the necessity to transition from Luke Foster to Jake Wright over Christmas. It was Creighton that proved the consistent performer, dominating strikers throughout the year; many of them giving up before the game started. At home he was only bested twice; against Tamworth - while nursing Jake Wright into form - trying to marshal the bullying Isyseden Christie and against Hayes and Yedding beaten by the guile of Steve Basham.

It would be Wembley, of course, that offered the stage for the greatest moment of that season. By this time, despite a customary wobble, it felt like we were an unstoppable force. But we still needed to deliver and Creighton, along with all the others, turned up big time. After a rocket fuelled start, we were pegged back to 2-1. The second half was nervy; but Creighton, along with Jake Wright simply did what they always did.

It was to be both the peak and effectively the end. Unexpectedly, Chris Wilder decided to break the team up and Creighton, having been one of the first in, was one of the first out. Harry Worley came in, who was both big and pacey; precious attributes of the modern defender. The early days of being back in the Football League were blighted slightly by some naivety, and perhaps Wilder was minded of those games when clever strikers had been able to exploit Creighton's lack of mobility. But was Wilder too quick to break the team up? He's readily admitted that he was wrong to let Dannie Bulman go, and while opposition to the decision was less vocal about Creighton, he had never did anything wrong.

Creighton moved onto Wrexham, where he again acquired cult status. His season was wrecked last year by injury and Wrexham narrowly missed out on promotion to the Football League.

It's sad to see his career end so comparatively early, and sadder still that he never really got a decent go in the Football League. However, while players will always pine for the game after retiring, it is an inevitability that it will end at some point. All any player can hope for is that they left a mark with people. If any evidence is needed that Creighton managed that during his time at Oxford United, it is that he is the subject of the promotion season's two most iconic photos. The aforementioned goal against York, taken at pitch level with the East Stand erupting and the newly formed team wheeling away as one; team and fans unified. The other is the picture of Creighton carrying a jubilant Ryan Clarke on his shoulder at Wembley. I would love to know the story of that picture; was it just just split second moments before Clarke dropped to the floor? History has recorded it differently - he looks like a great warrior, carrying a fellow soldier overcome with the hysterical happiness of a battle fought and won. I guess that's why they call him Beast.

Kassam All Star XI - Centre backs

Gareth Southgate has a lot to answer for. In 1996 he was heralded as representative of a new wave of centre back. No more Tony Adams or Terry Butcher with their noses splattered all over their faces. Southgate was the new intelligent ball-playing centre back who spoke nicely and slowly; he couldn’t be anything but a thinker.

But, I’m a traditionalist. I like my centre backs big, ugly and prepared to put their faces in other people’s boots. Mark Wright’s first move when he arrived at the Kassam was to replace a couple of lightweight Gareth Southgates: Jon Richardson and Darren Patterson with a couple of trusted war horses from his successful spell with Chester. Scott Guyett and Phil Bolland offered a proven combination that he could trust.

But Ian Atkins needed more, and I don’t just mean a third centre back. He brought in a genuine leader in Andy Crosby. In an ever-volatile situation at the Kassam, Crosby kept the players focussed on winning games. He was such a pro, he knew exactly when to step away from the madness and took up residence at Scunthorpe where he did a Ricketts and won a couple of promotions.

Crosby was accompanied by similarly gnarly old pros; Matt Bound and latterly Paul McCarthy. It wasn’t the most handsome of back lines, but it was effective. Jon Ashton was drafted in, offering a Phil Gilchrist to Crosby’s Matt Elliot. While Crosby was the epitome of consistency, Ashton’s form bobbed around in the sea of failure that was the Kassam.

Leo Roget was brought in by Graham Rix to play the Crosby role and nurture the back line. Roget was a notable victim of the ‘Kassam Spiral’ whereby his first season he looked awful, the second, when the rest of the team had descended below his limited abilities, he started to look like a pivotal figure.

In the desperate search for a stabilising influence Brian Talbot brought in Chris Willmott. Willmott was, for a period at least, a reassuring big chunk of British centre-back. The Willmott/Ashton/Roget combination - Talbot chose two from those three almost at random - looked like it should be good enough. But the season quickly turned from disappointment to alarm to crisis to disaster and we were relegated.

Standing around in midfield thinking ‘I could do better than that’ was Barry Quinn. It wasn’t until we reached the Conference that he drifted back into a back-five. At first he covered Willmott who was a long-term injury victim, but eventually the role became permanent. I maintain to this day that he was never a defender despite being a regular fixture until 2008.

Alongside Quinn was a true defender, Phil Gilchrist. Gilchrist was one of the best centre-backs the club has ever had, but by 2006 he was a bag of bones and muscle held together with sellotape. At the start of the season his experience carried him through, eventually, like so many other members of the squad, he was in bits. With Gilchrist and Quinn was Matt Day – perhaps the stupidest footballer in the history of the game. He had a kick like a mule and regularly blasted them in from 25 yards. For a period, we could forgive him. His ability to return for pre-season 4 stone overweight counted against him somewhat.

With one defender falling apart, another having no brain of any note and a third who wasn’t a defender at all (alongside Willmott who was in the treatment room) something had to be done. Luke Foster arrived, apparently, via a letter from his dad. Foster was quick, strong and reliable, but, if rumour is to be believed, his extra-curricular activities were getting the better of him and to the dismay of many, he was shipped out by Chris Wilder.

By that point, Foster’s partner in the back four was Mark Creighton. Before kick off he’d be seen bouncing 5-10 yards outside his own box seething in preparation for the battle ahead. Creighton was significant because he was the first signing of a bewildering close season in 2009. It was an aggressive move (Creighton was captain at Kidderminster) and a signal of intent from Chris Wilder. The momentum Creighton’s signing offered propelled the team to the top of the Conference and eventually back to the league.

Following Foster’s controversial departure, when the team were top with the best defensive record in the division, Jake Wright arrived. Wright’s performances, which improved from a very shaky debut, probably didn’t outstrip Foster’s, but he was a less disruptive influence off the field. Certainly, Wright’s leadership skills were evident when the pressure was on.

Once we returned to the League, a smarter more streetwise style was needed. Creighton’s brief, but significant, stay was over once Harry Worley came in to partner Wright. The partnership, though far from perfect, was more finessed than what had been in the Conference.

For the Kassam All-Star XI, I want two dependable obelisks in the middle. So, therefore, we have two icons of the back line. Andy Crosby and Mark Creighton. Just don’t ever expect them to catch Yemi Odubade in a foot race.

The season in review: the defence

A Chris Wilder squad is like Crash Mountain on Total Wipeout. It continually spins forebodingly. Some make it to the relative calm and stability of the centre, but most end up being thrown in the water.

In such a dynamic environment, it is somewhat ironic then that in a season in which we struggled to keep clean sheets and ended with a negative goal difference that the back five were the most stable component of the first team.

In a sense it’s telling, worrying really, that Ryan Clarke is my player of the season. When goalkeepers are noticeably the best player in team there’s usually something wrong that’s leading to all his champagne moments. But credit where it’s due, the odd flap aside, Clarke’s shot stopping has been of a quality of a much higher level.

Damien Batt’s inclusion in the team is a question of tactical philosophy. He may not be the best defender in the world, but to replace him would sacrifice something going forward. Nobody has his dynamism and impetus. For many years we’ve seen wingers toiling as they try to carve out a cross without any support. Batt’s willingness to get forward is something to be celebrated.

On the other side Anthony Tonkin has perhaps struggled a touch. Neither rock hard defender nor rampant wing back; he’s often caught between those two stools. It’s telling that a lot of goals have been conceded from crosses, and a lot from the left hand side. Tonkin doesn’t impose his game on opponents like Batt does. His place is perhaps most under threat.

For me, Harry Worley ran Clarke close for player of the season. He’s a modern defender in the sense that he mixes both athleticism and ability with the classic willingness to put his head where others won’t. If he’s missing something it’s the ability to organise, which will come with experience. Jake Wright clearly has the respect of his team, but of the two was probably more prone to individual mistakes during the season. If you’re going to tighten up the defence you’d expect to see some focus being put on the centre. Wright’s had a decent season, but may not be as prominent during 2011/12 has he has been.

Wee Stevie Kinniburgh looked a bit out of depth. He may be lacking match sharpness, but Chris Wilder isn’t the kind of man to give that kind of excuse any sympathy. It was not a surprise when it was announced he was free to go. Ben Purkiss is a bit more of a surprise as he is both versatile and dependable. He’s not likely to see an extended run in the team over, say, Batt, but when he was needed he did his job well.

Many other defenders wallowed in the water of Chris Wilder’s Crash Mountain pool - Lee Franks, Ben Futcher and Mark Creighton – joining them will be Eastwood, Hanson and Sangare, who enjoyed an odd but fleeting cult status, but none will be missed come next season.

Yellows 4 Chester City 0

I once worked in a place where a woman who had been fired kept coming into the office. She’d attend meetings, give and opinions, appending her comments with ‘…of course, it doesn’t really matter because I’m leaving’. It was hard to know whether it was an act of cold defiance or she’d gone seriously loopy. Either way, she was dead-woman-working.

It is difficult to make any meaningful judgment following the dismantling of dead-club-walking Chester last night. Has a team looked helplessly towards the bench for guidance and escape more often than them?

What the hey, as my first game of the season, I thought I’d have a look at the new boys.

Ryan Clarke
Clarke did what he had to do; which wasn’t much. He made one decent save and dealt with a couple of defensive wobbles without fuss. Clarke looks like a worthy challenger to Turley, but the real test for him is too come.

Rhys Day
We know that Lanzarote Luke Foster does not summer well. Last year, when he returned in August all tanned up and humming terrace trance anthems, Darren Patterson had to turn to Matt Day, a man who went to a Kit Kat factory for his holidays. This time round its Rhys Day that’s ready to step in while Fozzie sorts his head out. Day looked like a decent ball player, a bit gangly and may be prone to getting himself tied up in knots. But he looked like a worthy first teamer not a make-weight.

Mark Creighton
The way Kidderminster fans eulogised about Crieghton, I had him down as a non-league Matt Elliot – y’know, all good touch for a big man. In truth, Crieghton is a more agricultural centre-back. No bad thing when he’s been paired with Day or Foster. Should be able to sit on all but the most robust strikers this season.

Alfie Potter
Ickle Alfie, as cute as a button. He’s a bit like the kid at school who’d spend all lunch break dribbling, never passing, never shooting. Loads of skill, good on the ball, but a little frustrating in terms of end product; especially when lined up with the goal machines Constable and Green. Eventually someone will get bored of his trickery and kick him to Barton. He’s just lucky that Creighton plays for us.

Danny Bulman
Brilliant. Whenever a linking up or something needed breaking down, Bulman was the man to do it. This allowed Adam Murray to play with more freedom, like he did when Jamie Hand was doing ugly stuff a year ago. Bulman’s work even allowed Clist the opportunity to push forward, which lead to the first goal.

Matt Green
Old Greedy looks like a footballer. He agile, fluid and good on the ball. He stands out a mile against most others at this level. Looking back over the last 10 years, it’s hard to think of the decent strikers we’ve had at the club; now we’ve got 2, 3 even. Do you miss that knotted feeling of frustration and helplessness from the good old days at the Kassam? No? Me neither.

News round-up: Creighton signs

When Adam Murray signed from Macclesfield there was derision amongst the Macclesfield fans. Basically Murray was universally recognized as being rubbish, one person witheringly stated that he’d never seen Murray take a good corner. Ouch.

This has proved to be completely unfair on Murray, but such is the defensive nature of football fans when players abandon them. It’s not so much the impact on the team, but the leaving process that is so difficult for a devout fan-for-life.

The signing of Mark Creighton has brought about an altogether different response from Kidderminster fans. No comment here on Crieghton’s abilities. Aside from the existential comment on what it all means for the Harriers themselves, the other concern surrounds the impact on Creighton’s livelihood. In short, is it wise for him to move to a club whose finances may be equally parlous to their own?

It seems we’ve got a good one, and one that explains the Willmott decision. But it’s a good point; how are we affording even moderate ‘undisclosed fees’? Not so long ago we were apparently battling to stay out of administration, now we’re actually paying fees for players. One can only assume that without the salaries of Hutchinson, Yemi and Willmott suddenly we’re living within our means. If not, then perhaps there’s a mystery benefactor lurking in the shadows… which begs the question – who’s Keyser Soze?