Stacey West XI – Midfielders Result

 

Your Stacey West XI currently comprises of: Alan Marriott, Neal Eardley, Phil Neale, Gareth McAuley and Trevor Peake. Today, we add two more players to that list.

The two players slotting into our midfield both got 124 votes, polling 32% of the overall vote between them. They existed a generation apart, but both left indelible marks on Lincoln fans that time simply cannot erase.

Firstly, welcome to the central midfield Glenn Cockerill.

 


Glenn was always going to be part of the side, just as Trevor Peake was. He offered a goal scoring threat, he had flair and copious amounts of ability and spent two spells at Lincoln, earning money in the process. He played top flight football with Southampton and was basically hell of a player.

I can’t enthuse too much as I never saw him play, but I know a player when I see my Dad’s eyes light up at the mere mention of their name. When I asked if he wanted to attend the recent dinner featuring Glenn Cockerill, his face went from the usual stern stare to the star-struck eyes of a young man thrilled at the prospect of meeting an idol.

I met him too, as you can see below, as he queued to watch City and Arsenal in the FA Cup last season. He’s a lovely guy, but that isn’t why he’s in this list. He’s here because he scored goals, thrilled fans and had a career that is worth listening to. Just don’t ask the story about the goldfish from the fair.

Nothing gives me greater delight than the next passage, nothing at all. Tying with Glenn on 124 votes, your other central midfielder is none other than Peter Gain.

I don’t know how Peter Gain never played higher. Perhaps the loyalty he showed City early in his career held him back. Maybe the Peterborough circus spoiled his upward trajectory. Maybe he was just too much of an unassuming and nice guy to become a mercenary, climbing the league’s like some do. When I see Jon Nolan being coveted by Leeds United, my heart cries out a little for Gainy, because he was far and away the best central midfielder I’ve ever seen player for City.

Our tactics didn’t suit him, not one bit. He held a two-man midfield when the game plan was to hit the big man, have him nod it back to the attacking third and create from there. When it worked and Gain got on the ball, it was a joy to watch. He conjured up moments of absolute magic and, when he really hit his game, he was absolutely untouchable. Along with Richard Butcher they forged a midfield in a team which played pretty much without one and still looked as slick and organised as any in the division.

I remember a win against Hartlepool at Sincil Bank in 2002/03, I think it was 3-0. Gain was sublime, absolutely unstoppable. When he got on the ball he’d glide past players, his passes were often eight steps ahead of play and in that early Keith team some of the more limited players simply couldn’t keep up with him. Later, when GTF joined and Yeo found his stride, they benefitted from Gain’s vision and ability.

I’m not writing more because it sounds like a gushing love letter, but I’ve always been an admirer of players like Cantona, Gazza and Matt Le Tissier and for me, Peter Gain was as close to that type of unpredictable genius I’ve ever seen in red and white. Nothing will give me greater pleasure in this series than naming him in your SW XI.

Very soon on Twitter I’ll be asking for nominations for wide players, as I will on here. After that, we’re going to a have ‘World Cup’ of strikers, 32 into a pairing to conclude the series. Don’t worry though, we’ve got another Stacey West XI coming up in pre-season, the villains and forgettable players who make us shudder!

In the meantime though, welcome to our Hall of Fame, Glenn Cockerill and Peter Gain.

5 Comments

  1. This result means we shall have to play George Shipley on the right wing, with Dave Smith on the left.

  2. Sigh
    Gainey like Cantona etc.

    Shame you never saw Dave Smith, Gain was great – but Smith when GT made him the play-maker was something else.

    Sorry Sir Gareth, but I agree with Malcolm Johnson – Shipley will have to go right to accommodate Smithy on the left, shirt out, socks down, drifting past another bemused full back with a twirl of his Zapata moustache.And he was even better pulling strings in the centre!

    We’re defined by our ages, aren’t we? You youngsters…..

    • Totally agree, Dave Smith must get in as well as Alan Harding a brilliant passer with great ball control. Together with Dave Smith a devastating duo on the left

  3. Of course if we had Cockerill up front we wouldn’t have these selection problems.

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