16th May 2000   

Spirite Reeves a target

ATHLETIC'S quest for a striker could see Chesterfield star David Reeves emerge as their top target of the summer. Reeves (32) is out of contract at his newly-relegated club and looks set to move on under the Bosman ruling. Ritchie has been hunting for more firepower ever since he took over two years ago, recently admitting he was "desperate" for someone who can spearhead a promotion push. He wants a proven scorer — rather than a youngster with potential — and Reeves, with nearly 140 league goals to his credit, would fit the bill perfectly. Other than Steve Whitehall, Athletic's most experienced forward is 22-year-old Mark Allott, whose future could hold the key to their plans. If Allott leaves before next season, Athletic might fund a package for Reeves with the fee they pull in for their top scorer. 

Reeves hit 17 goals last term — almost half of Chesterfield's total and a fine return in a rock-bottom team. He is still in talks at Saltergate, but is thought to favour a move after The Spireites' drop to the Football League basement. The former Sheffield Wednesday, Bolton and Preston player was on the verge of leaving on transfer deadline day, only for the deal to dramatically collapse. His move to Stoke City was finalised, but two players heading in the opposite direction changed their minds with just minutes to go. There was also talk that Reeves, a hard-working six-footer, would be named as assistant manager at Chesterfield tomorrow. The rumours now looks unfounded and, though he is interested in coaching, he could welcome one last pay-day before he embarks on a new career.

ATHLETIC ended the 1999/2000 season with Mark Allott and Steve Whitehall as their 11-goal top scorers. It was the second year in succession that Allott topped the charts, but his final return could well have been higher. The transfer-listed 22-year-old reached his final tally in January and was playing the best football of his career. But he was then struck by a niggling hamstring injury and started only three more games all season. Allott led the way in the league, as well as ending the club’s autumn drought with a consolation goal in the Worthington Cup. In the previous campaign, a modest haul of eight was enough to install Allott as his side’s number-one marksman. Whitehall, who averaged a goal in every three league starts, pushed Allott all the way and would have gone past him but for a late dip in form. The 33-year-old found the net only once in 10 appearances from mid-March onwards, but he did emerge as a supersub earlier in the season. In three successive home matches — against Chelmsford, Wycombe and Millwall — Whitehall climbed off the bench to add a goal in the final six minutes. Altogether, seven of Athletic’s league and cup goals were scored by replacements. Four of them were vital equalisers and two more transformed draws into victories.

ANDREW HOLT was the only man to start every league game in a season which saw Athletic use 29 different players. The left-back, who won the Supporters’ Association player of the year award, is building quite a reputation for reliable service. Holt celebrates his 22nd birthday on Sunday and he has already passed the 100 mark in league appearances alone. The only game he missed last season was the FA Cup tie against Chelmsford, for which he wasn’t risked due to a dead leg. Scott McNiven was also absent for a single league or cup match, this time due to suspension. Gary Kelly missed three when David Miskelly was given a chance, while Lee Duxbury and Paul Rickers were as dependable as ever in midfield. At the start of the season, few could have foreseen Mark Hotte featuring 37 times and, except when banned, becoming ever-present from October onwards. Injuries again forced Richard Graham out of two thirds of the season, while Matthew Tipton came off the bench no fewer than 22 times in all competitions.

ATHLETIC boasted one of the best disciplinary records in the second division — a fact which surely played a part in their on-field revival. Only two players were sent off in 51 matches, with Mark Hotte seeing red for a foul in the FA Cup at Preston and Matthew Tipton being dismissed for violent conduct at Millwall. Hotte was the club’s official bad boy after also receiving seven cautions. Shaun Garnett and Scott McNiven equalled that number as Athletic picked up a respectable total of 55 yellow cards. The suspended players were Matthew Tipton (four games), Hotte (two games), Garnett, McNiven and Lee Duxbury (one game each).

CROWDS went down at Boundary Park, despite a major improvement in the team’s fortunes. The aggregate league attendance was 123,986, giving an average of 5,391. That is a slip of four per cent on the previous season, the equivalent of 237 fans per match. But there is an easy explanation for the fall as, in 1998/ 99, the visit of Manchester City attracted a near-capacity crowd of 12,976. Replace that with the 5,144 who watched Gillingham’s visit in the season just ended — and The Gills almost went up instead of City — and the total actually shows a minor rise. This time, the first three home games also brought the three highest gates thanks to Preston, Burnley and Bury. It must be a source of concern for Athletic — especially the commercial department — that Preston, Burnley and Blackpool have all left the second division, with Wigan possibly going up through the play-offs. There could be a distinct lack of money-spinning derbies next season. The attendance of 3,807 against Wycombe in November was Athletic’s lowest in the league for 14 years.

IN line with all official records, none of the above lists include Athletic’s involvement in the Auto Windscreens Shield.