Jim Cassell.......What a great bloke!

[Sheikh Rattle n Roll]

Went to sunny Ramsbottom this morning to have the wife's car MOT tested. Took the wife and our mad Boxer puppy for a coffee at a local cafe bar (yeah Rammy is posh now) and bumped into Jim Cassell and his lovely wife. He is a member on here apparently, so if you are reading this Jim, thanks for your time today chatting.

I first apologised for my wife being a Rag, but it turns our Jim used to be a Rag too, but with his time at City and his wife being a die hard blue, he saw the light. He is a City seaon ticket holder with his good lady and is happy to buy his own ticket.

The term unsung hero is often banded about. I think if it wasn't for the work Jim and his team put in pre-2008, we would not be where we are lucky to be now.

I didn't like to ask why his time came to a complete end with City, but he does not hold any grudges and is now enjoying the ride as a Blue.

Again, if you are reading this Jim, enjoy your time in the Potteries tomorrow with Sir Joey of Barton.

 

[Dirty Harry]

Legendary in the youth game, happy to be corrected but wasn’t there supposed to be a ‘sideways’ move on the cards and Jim politely declined in the end and moved on ?

 

[Corky]

The youth set up did well with the FA Cup win, but his blueprint was the opposite of the current regime so he was never going to last.

 

[i went to rotherham]

I am a member of Ramsbottom City Supporters Branch and Jim is a regular visitor and speaker to meetings. He's a lovely fella and City really didn't do him any favours. Not that he is bitter, it's just my take on his anecdotes.

 

[ballbag]

I wanted him instead of Pearce

 

[Corky]

I wanted him instead of Pearce

He wasn't the manager, Colin Gibson was.

 

[Maly]

Did my Level 2 coaching with his son. Really nice kid who was hoping to get into coaching professionally

 

[TonyM]

Nice to hear his name again. Seems a lifetime ago that he was "Da Man". I used to love reading all about his progress. Delighted to hear that he is happy and well.

 

[Mad Eyed Screamer]

The youth team was great under Cassell.

Won the FA Youth Cup for the 2nd time in 2008 with Ben Mee, Trippier, Boyata, Weiss and Sturridge.

But the biggest disappointment for me was losing the 2006 final thanks to Stuart Pearce.
The first leg was on a Friday night, the day before the final Premier League game for City. A meaningless 0-0 game at West Ham and Pearce picked Micah Richards, captain of the Youth Team, to play at West Ham.
The youth team lost 3-0 at Anfield and in the 2nd leg a Richards inspired City put Liverpool under seige for the game but could only win 2-0.
We'd never have lost by 3 at Anfield with Micah in the side.

That team had Richards, Michael Johnson, Sturridge, Ched Evans, Curtis Obeng, Kelvin Etuhu, Adam Clayton.

Thanks Pearce you toy pony carrying prick.

 

[Keepingthefaithsince1976]

A brilliant line of youth players at that time and since. Swp being sold to Chelsea for £21 million probably kept us afloat for a while. Good man Jim. Whether you were the youth team manager or not doesn't bother me. Any people who are involved in the nurturing of youth deserve the utmost respect.