Sport

Burnley announce signing of Man City youth star, James Trafford, with one of their best announcement videos yet

Might be a good one to stick in your fantasy team this year.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 21st July 2023

If you managed to catch the UEFA U21s European Championships this year, you’ll know that one of England’s most impressive players throughout the tournament was Manchester City youngster, James Trafford, and if you’re aware of Burnley FC’s social media, you know they never disappoint.

That’s right, the former Man City keeper who was on loan at Bolton Wanderers and took them all the way to League One playoffs last season, has officially signed for Burnley on a reported fee of around £19 million including add-ons, after his market value skyrocketed following an impressive 2022/23 campaign.

As well as being a reliable man between the sticks over in Bolton and starring at the U21 Euros, he was regarded as one of the brightest young talents in City’s academy and clearly gelled well with the likes of his fellow Blue and England U21 captain, Taylor Harwood-Bellis.

Nevertheless, the promising youth player has now got a move to the recently re-promoted Burnley and has taken the no.1 shirt right from the off. With that being said, they only saw fit to give the exciting new arrival another one of their vintage announcement videos.

We would’ve liked a ‘Great shot!’ pun, but you can’t have everything.

Absolutely class, as usual. As you can see, the iconic Back to Future score makes for the perfect soundtrack as they replay his incredible heroics in the U21s final, producing a double-save in the dying embers of added time as England clung on to a tense 1-0 lead.

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But it isn’t just this one standout moment that saw people take notice of the keeper; Trafford didn’t concede a single goal throughout the entire tournament and also managed to keep a clean sheet in the Wanderers’ historic 4-0 EFL Trophy win back in April.

Moreover, during his time at the UniBol (yes, we know it has a silly new name), he managed to keep 33 clean sheets in 77 appearances — 22 of those coming this past season — and was one of the key players in the side that led oh so close to promotion.

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Trafford boasts a solid record and some of the key natural traits you’d hope for in a shot-stopper and has become the 25th most-expensive goalkeeper of all-time at just 20 years old. This kid looks like he could be the real deal.

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Knowing the potential Trafford has, Man City have naturally included not only a 20% sell-on clause but a buy-back option within the four-year deal as well, which is said to be worth around £15m up front as well as a further £4m add-ons.

He is yet to play in the Premier League but with City legend Vincent Kompany‘s Burnley facing off against the champions and treble-winners in their opening game of the season on 11 August, his first match could very well come against his old club.

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What a moment that will be for everyone involved.

You can watch the 2023 U21s Euro final highlights and Trafford’s shining moment down below:

James Trafford, England hero and now Burnley’s no.1

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Featured Image — England/Burnley FC (via Twitter)

Sport

Oldham Athletic owner praised for ‘heartwarming’ Christmas gesture

Danny Jones Danny Jones Oldham Athletic owner shaking away fans hands before Christmas

Amidst all the festive fixture congestion and travel drama, the lovely side of football can often get lost this time of year, but the owner and chairman of Oldham Athletic FC has gone viral for reminding everyone of what’s important this Christmas.

The Latics faced off against Braintree Town in the National League in their last game before Christmas on Saturday, 21 December, walking away with a 2-0 win on the road to send the travelling fans home with an early stocking filler.

However, it wasn’t the result that fans and supporters all over the country have been talking about, it was a small but heartfelt gesture from Oldham boss Frank Rothwell who was in attendance for the pre-Christmas away game that has left people applauding him and the values now instilled around the club.

What a difference a bit of recognition, gratitude and simple kindness can make, eh?

As you can see, the 74-year-old entrepreneur (best known for founding the Manchester Cabins portable buildings company) didn’t just send out a Christmas message via club media or record a quick video as many other teams still struggle to put the effort into, he stayed behind to thank every single supporter.

Shaking hands and offering out hugs, all with a sincere enthusiasm and generally lovely demeanour, the Oldham native – donning his distinctive blue club flat cap – made sure to wish each and every one of them a merry Christmas before the nearly five-hour drive home.

Just downright wholesome stuff this, isn’t it?

Reacting to the video which has been reshared countless times online, one person said: “As a former Oldham resident it’s nice to see someone at the top care about the club, the residents and the town in general. It’s been a long time since that has been the case”; another added, “A nice gesture by the owner… After all, it’s the fans who make the game special.”

A third user wrote, “Oldham is a very lucky club. I had the pleasure of a chat with Frank in the tent at PP. I can honestly say one of the nicest, most genuine people I’ve met.” A subsequent reply underneath the comment read: “Hate these lot but f*** me I’m jealous, what a genuine bloke he seems to be.”

Rothwell completed his takeover of struggling Oldham Athletic back in 2022 after they were relegated from the EFL (English Football League) after 115 years and has been on a mission to get them back on their feet. He’s playing more than his part.

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Spirits were understandably low at Boundary Park back then and things are still far from perfect, but the sentiment around the club now is a much more uplifting one, as Rothwell and his board look to have really ingratiated themselves among the fans and the community.

He’s also a bit of a local legend for other reasons too, having become the oldest person to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean back in 2021 and raising over £373,000 for Alzheimer’s Research UK after beating his record this past February and earning the Prime Minister’s ‘Point of Light’ award. Hero.

Micky Mellon’s side were set to take on York City in their final game of 2024 on Boxing Day but the match was ultimately postponed due to intense foggy conditions which plagued many of Thursday’s games. They will now take on Hartlepool away on New Year’s Day.

You can pretty much guarantee Frank will be along to watch that one too. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all the football club owners keeping the heart of the beautiful game alive.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Oldham Athletic (via X)

Sport

Stockport County fans left ‘absolutely gutted’ after Aston Villa recall star player Louie Barry

Danny Jones Danny Jones Louie Barry recalled from Stockport County loan by Aston Villa

Stockport County fans have been left with an early lump of coal in their Christmas stockings this festive period as loanee and first-team favourite Louie Barry has been recalled by Aston Villa.

After the announcement was delivered this past weekend, Barry is set to return to his parent club in January, leaving him with just three games left before he has to say goodbye to the Hatters.

Having impressed not only in his debut campaign with Stockport but going on to hit even greater heights to emerge as their star player this season, he’s quite literally been the match-winner more times than supporters will care to count as they prepare to bid him a reluctant goodbye.

Breaking the news to the Edgeley Park faithful on Sunday evening, the update may have been inevitable but it still came as a no less painful one that has frustrated many who believe it’s a “poor from Villa” and “unfair” both on the player and the club who desperately rely on him.

Having taken his goal contribution tally from 13 in 20 games throughout 2023/24 to having notched 15 goals and three assists in 22 appearances this season so far, there can be no question that Barry has found a comfortable second home at the League One club.

It’s come as a hard one to take for the fans who are all too aware of his potential. One person joked, “Thanks villa that’s just ruined my Christmas, All the best Louie”; another simply said, “Are you taking the p***?”, while a third dubbed him a “County legend”.

Many merely mustered the old adage, “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened. Thank you”, but to sum up the overall feeling, they’re simply “gutted” to be losing the super talented youngster.

One person even went so far as to write: “An absolute box office footballer and a pleasure to watch live Up there with Anthony Pilkington as the most talented footballer I’ve ever seen in a County shirt Thoroughly enjoyed every moment of watching him, will follow his career with great interest.”

Even fans of other teams have been sharing their sympathy, with more than one echoing the sentiment: “An absolute shame. Been brilliant for you but his talents do lie at a higher level. Presume he will be loaned to a Championship team for the second half of the season.”

In fact, there were plenty of Villa fans to be found in the comments too, all debating whether or not this will prove to be a “mistake”, with several asking “Why upset his rhythm?”.

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With the Birmingham-based side sitting in the European places once again in the top flight this season, the assumption is that Barry will most likely be loaned once again only to a Championship club to see at what level his ability is currently at.

Just as County will now be wishing they had, there’ll be plenty looking to snap the 21-year-old up on a permanent deal should they get the chance, with Leeds, Middlesborough and both Sheffield clubs all said to be interested.

On the other hand, with the Villans still in multiple competitions, they could be looking to bolster their squad with more numbers and given the success of youngsters like high-flying Jhon Durán, Morgan Rogers and Jacob Ramsey, they could be hoping to integrate him into the matchday squad.

However, the worry is that if he does stay at Villa Park and try to fight for first-team minutes, he could end up wasting valuable time sat waiting on the bench rather than continuing to thrive as he was at Stockport County. Regardless, the only saying still rings true: never get attached to a loan player…

Do you think Louie Barry was right to be recalled or is it a misstep from Villa?

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Screenshot via YouTube/Stockport County

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