24th August 2000   

Reserves lose at Burnley

INJURED John Sheridan is being earmarked for a return to the Athletic first team by mid-September. The midfield player is recovering from a minor knee operation to remove floating debris, a legacy of wear and tear from a long career. It is hoped Sheridan, who celebrates his 36th birthday in October, will be able to resume light training a week on Monday. Providing there are no setbacks, he could return for the home game against Bristol City on September 16. Athletic fielded two trialists in the reserves who lost 2-1 yesterday in a friendly at Burnley. 

French goalkeeper Yannick Quensel impressed and he is likely to be invited back for further trials. Quensel is represented by former Athletic striker Simon Stainrod who is now a licensed football agent. The other trialist was defender Barry Prenderville who is back over for a second stint. The former Coventry player, who is currently with Irish club St Pat’s, trained with Athletic in pre-season.

RICHARD GRAHAM has been forced to quit professional football at the age of 25. The central defender, who recently left Athletic after nine years following a contractual dispute, has heeded a specialist’s advice to call it a day. Graham, who made 150 league appearances for Athletic, had waged a two-and-a-half year battle to overcome a knee injury. “I have known for some time it didn’t look good, but it is still a shock when you are told the dreaded news,” said Graham. The specialist who examined Graham’s knee told him in no uncertain terms that there was no way he could carry on. Graham said: “The specialist told me playing would make my knee worse. If I continued, there would have come a time when I risked becoming a cripple. Although I love football, there is no way I would be prepared to do that.” It was doubts over Graham’s fitness which prompted Athletic to offer him a new contract based largely on pay-as-you-play as a safeguard. 

Graham rejected the initial six-month deal and a subsequent one-year offer, leaving him as a free agent under the Bosman ruling. Graham trained with Scunthorpe and appeared to have been fixed up at Carlisle when he broke down again. He said: “Things went well at Carlisle and they asked me to sign for them. But the day before I was due to join them permanently my knee went again.” Graham made the first of his 150 league appearances at Queens Park Rangers in December 1992 when Athletic graced the Premiership. Indeed, he played a total of 37 matches in the top division — all while still in his teens — and looked to have a great future ahead of him. Sadly, injuries prevented Graham from fulfilling that potential and, at the age of 25 with a partner and two young children, he has to kick off a new career outside football. Graham says he will spend several weeks taking stock of the situation before deciding what to do. He has asked Athletic to grant him a testimonial and this request will be considered by the board of directors. 

Alan Hardy, Athletic’s chief executive, said: “Richard was a firm favourite here and I am sure the directors will look sympathetically at any request for a testimonial. “Everyone associated with Oldham Athletic will be saddened by the news that Richard has had to give up the game. He has been with the club since he was a boy and grown up with many of the staff here, not only the players. “But for injury he would have enjoyed a successful playing career and we hope he will be able to find another rewarding career, perhaps in the game.”