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      Eric Gates has gone from UEFA battle to herding cattle – as Ipswich legend reflects on 1981 European glory

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      FORTY YEARS on and Eric Gates is in no doubt  — he would give up the Uefa Cup in a heartbeat.Sir Bobby Robson’s Ipswich side were chasing an unprecedented Treble, so to end up with just the one trophy was a crushing blow.
      Ipswich legend Eric Gates lives the quiet life without email or a mobile on a farm near DurhamCredit: Mark Fletcher | MI News & Sport Ltd
      FA Cup semi-final heartbreak against Manchester City was  followed by four defeats in their last five league games to hand the 1980-81 title to Aston Villa.
      But this was far from a bottle job, rather a season and team remembered as the greatest in the Suffolk club’s history.
      Sir Alf Ramsey won the league in 1962 while Robson lifted the Cup in 1978, so the completion of the holy trinity was far from a shabby  consolation.
      But for Gates, a vital cog in behind forwards Alan Brazil and Paul Mariner, the pain still lingers. He said: “I look back and I’ve still got disappointment but, 40 years later, what an achievement.
      “The one I wanted to win was the FA Cup though.”
      Does it still eat away now?
      Gates snapped back: “Paul Power bending a free-kick in and losing 1-0 to City in the semi, you’re f*****g right it does!
      Over 50,000 jubilant Ipswich fans lined the streets of the Suffolk town to salute their Euro-conquering heroesCredit: Getty
      Gates and Ipswich were left crestfallen after Paul Power’s extra-time goal in the 1981 FA Cup semi-finalCredit: Getty
      “If we were to lose one it would have been the Uefa Cup, without a shadow of  a doubt.
      “But you then win the Uefa Cup so you think: ‘Thank f**k for that’.
      “You’re happy, but I wish I’d won the other two. At the time you don’t think about it, but looking back, so many games caught up with us.
      “Were we the best side in the country? The best team was Villa because they won the league.
      “But we beat them three times, so make your own mind up. We were certainly the most entertaining.”
      Paul Mariner, Gates, Terry Butcher and Mick Mills all played for England during the Tractor Boys’ glory yearsCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Duth maestro Frans Thijssen and skipper Mick Mills get the party going after beating AZ Alkmaar in the final.Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Living back in home town County Durham, Gates, 65, enjoys the quiet life without a mobile or email, but get him talking about Ipswich and he does not stop.
      SunSport tracked him down to a farm just outside Durham and spent two hours reminiscing.
      A core of 12  shouldered the majority of the marathon 66-game season which, in the end, proved too much. To fans of a certain  vintage, the names roll off the tongue — Paul Cooper, George  Burley, Mick Mills, Steve McCall, Terry Butcher, Russell Osman, John Wark, Arnold Muhren, Frans Thijssen, Gates, Brazil, Mariner.
      Back then the Uefa Cup, a knockout competition, was a big deal, with only the champions making it to the European Cup.

      It began against Aris Salonika in a feisty first-round affair that saw Town, who are today facing a third season in League One, take a 5-1 lead to Greece.
      Gates recalled: “I detest flying — the cup run was a nightmare. I was scared stiff on every journey and used to come out in sweats.
      “Going out to Greece for the  second leg, we were passing through passport control and the fella looked at my passport and then gestured with his hand that I was going to get my throat cut.
      “There were 40,000 there and it was hostile to say the least. We went 3-0 down but I made it 3-1.
      “The final whistle went, we were through, and I stuck two fingers up at the crowd and ran down the tunnel.
      Gates and wife Dorothy have Highland Cattle, chickens and Welsh mountain ponies on their farm in County DurhamCredit: Mark Fletcher | MI News & Sport Ltd
      SunSport spent two hours reminiscing on the farm with bubbly Gates about the greatest season in Ipswich’s historyCredit: Mark Fletcher | MI News & Sport Ltd
      “One of the armed guards then tripped me up and stuck his rifle straight into my head.
      “The bus was pelted with bricks, windows were broken and we were just glad to get out of there.
      Antonin Panenka’s Bohemians Prague were seen off in the second round before a third round 5-1 aggregate win over Widzew Lodz.
      After thrashing them 5-0 in the first leg at home, some sub-zero Polish conditions made life difficult.
      Gates explained: “There must have been 2ft of snow on the pitch.
      “They got a digger to take some off before a roller flattened it and they painted the lines red — it was a carpet of snow.
      “It could have been cancelled but, being 5-0 up, Robson thought it best to play.
      “It was stupid . . . Alan Brazil would be throwing snowballs  at me.
      “You’d be taking it seriously  and all of a sudden you’d get a snowball in your face!”
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      Popular talkSPORT presenter Alan Brazil strutting his stuff in the 1981 UEFA Cup final second-leg against AZ AlkmaarCredit: Getty
      Then came arguably that side’s greatest performance, a quarter- final first-leg 4-1 hammering of Saint-Etienne, who went on to land the French title and boasted a prime Michel Platini.
      Gates, Brazil, Paul Cooper and Kevin O’Callaghan found an English pub in the afternoon pre-match for an impromptu session.
      Gates said: “The French locals started coming in and realised who we were when we got louder. They were shouting ‘We’ll beat you tomorrow’ and we were giving it ‘F**k off, we’ll batter your lot’.
      “They must have thought we were world beaters, seeing us pissed the night before and then winning 4-1.
      “We were in there all afternoon but had a team meeting after dinner.  We had a rule, just keep quiet and whatever happens don’t start talking.
      “I’m sure Robson knew but that is where he was so good.
      “If we’d lost they would have been on us like a ton of bricks, and we knew we had to  perform.”
      Sir Bobby Robson landed the England job a year after conquering Europe with the Suffolk clubCredit: PA:Press Association
      Ipswich backed it up with a comfortable 3-1 home win at home  before seeing off Rinus Michels’ FC Cologne 1-0 in the semi-final first leg at Portman Road.
      Defeat against City three days later in the FA Cup was followed by a 2-1 league win at Villa  before costly defeats against Arsenal and Norwich.  
      The second leg came just two days after that Carrow Road loss, leading Robson to think outside the box. Training the day before facing the Germans was binned for a  trip to the local amusement park, with big dippers preferred to set-piece practice.
      And it worked a treat, with Terry Butcher’s towering header making it 1-0 to set up the final against Dutch champions AZ Alkmaar.
      A  3-0 first-leg win was followed by a nervy 4-2 loss in Amsterdam’s Olympic stadium to clinch the Uefa Cup 5-4 on aggregate.
      Ipswich’s greatest ever side, Gates sits on the far right of the bottom rowCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      Ipswich won the FA Cup in 1978 but they were taken to a new level by Dutch midfield duo Frans Thijssen and Arnold MuhrenCredit: Hulton Archive – Getty
      Afterwards, Robson reflected: “The season has been worth it  after all and our football will be remembered.”
      More than 50,000 fans crammed into the town centre to salute their conquering heroes.
      Gates left for Sunderland in 1985 and has been on the farm for 20-odd years with wife Dorothy.
      With a cheeky grin he describes himself as the ‘general manager’.
      He said: “I walk around and feed the animals — we’ve got Highland cattle, chickens and Welsh  mountain ponies.
      “But I’m a footballer, not a  f*****g farmer.
      “For a daft sod from the North East who left for Ipswich at 16, I’m a lucky lad.”
      Ed Sheeran unveiled as new Ipswich Town shirt sponsor More

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      Brentford star Toney vows to repay mum Lisa who skipped meals to make sure he could eat when he was a teenager

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      IVAN TONEY recently discovered his mum skipped meals so he did not go hungry.The Brentford star is now more driven to get promoted to the Premier League and repay the sacrifices she made while he was growing up in Northampton.
      Brentford striker Ivan Toney gives his proud mum Lisa a hug at homeCredit: IVAN TONEY

      Mum Lisa has been a shining light in Toney’s life but the striker never realised how far she went to give him the best upbringing.
      Toney, 25, told SunSport: “My mum has played a massive part in my life.
      “From when I was very young, she’d always worry when I was out playing with my friends and wanted to make sure I got home safe.
      “There were times when she even skipped meals to make sure I was eating.
      “I only found this out a few months back when she mentioned it casually during a family discussion.
      “Hearing that makes you realise you don’t always understand what your parents do for you until you look back and think about it.”
      Mum’s sacrifice was to make sure I was eating correctly, doing good and getting to where I wanted. I can’t thank her enough for what she has done for me.Ivan Toney
      Toney is not someone who emotionally breaks down easily but any son or daughter would be moved by such a discovery about either of their parents.
      And he admitted: “I don’t really cry – but hearing that touches you. The woman you love to bits, saying that.
      “I reacted, ‘That’s crazy’ but when I thought about it over the next few days, I’m thinking, ‘Wowzers, she’s done that for me!
      “Her sacrifice was to make sure I was eating correctly, doing good and getting to where I wanted to.
      “I can’t thank her enough for what she’s done and where she’s put me today. Hopefully I can continue making her proud.
      “There are things I’d love to give or do for her – but she’s not that sort of woman.
      “She just tells me, ‘The way you can repay me is to score a goal and then another goal.’
      “It’s only right I repay her for what she has sacrificed and put into me for all these years by getting into the Premier League.”
      Ivan Toney has been banging the goals in for Brentford and is driven even more to reach the Premier League to repay the sacrifices his mum made for him during his childhood
      Even today Lisa still likes to take good care of her son – making sure he is getting the best out of himself.
      Toney said: “She messages me after games, saying, ‘Don’t let them stress you, don’t let them get into your head’ because she knows how hot-headed I can be sometimes.
      “She always tells me, ‘Be the big strong striker you are and put yourself about and do the right things.’
      “And even if I score or don’t score, she will be messaging me to make sure I’m good.”
      Toney – bombed out by Rafa Benitez at Newcastle after just two top-flight sub appearances – has been the signing of the season.
      Picked up for £5million from Peterborough in the summer, his strike in the 3-1 win over Bristol City last Saturday saw him break the Championship top-scorer record with 31 goals as well as win the SkyBet Golden Boot.
      Ivan Toney proudly shows off the SkyBet Championship Golden Boot after bagging 31 goals
      It prompted immediate congratulations from Glenn Murray, who held the record with his 30 strikes for Crystal Palace in 2012-13.
      But behind the accolades and deserved acclaim, I ask the man of the moment how he would describe “the real Ivan Toney”?
      “I’m confident, a winner, a joker and someone who will help anyone.”
      And since I first met him following his 40-yard ‘worldy’ in the FA Cup for Peterborough against Dover in December 2019, every time we have spoken those qualities shine through.
      His compassionate nature was shown by him setting up the Ivan Toney St Vincent Volcano Relief Fund to help those affected by the La Soufriere eruption last month, near to where his grandparents were born.
      And the striker’s confidence is illustrated nicely by a funny anecdote he shares about his “second favourite goal” this season, the winner against Stoke in February – only beaten by his record-breaking one last Saturday.
      He said: “Their manager Michael O’Neill was giving me stick so I told him, ‘I’m going to score and come over to celebrate right in front of you in a minute!’
      “And that’s exactly what happened. He was angry and looking the other way – but he did later say, ‘Well done!’”
      Ivan Toney fires the winner against Stoke to get his own back on their boss Michael O’Neill
      The Bees scoring machine celebrates breaking the Championship goals record with his 31st
      Toney and boss Thomas Frank joke after the Bees striker is pulled off six minutes after breaking the Championship goals record against Bristol City
      But, as confident as he is, Toney would never attempt doing what his hero Sergio Aguero did last week for Manchester City against Chelsea by attempting a Panenka at such a key moment of the game. The Argentinian had egg on his face as he chipped it straight to Edouard Mendy.
      He said: “I’ll do it at some stage during my career but we’d have to be winning 4-0 and I’d have already scored a hat-trick!
      “It’s funny because me and my mate – who is a goalie – were having a debate the other day and he told me, ‘Next time you get a penalty, chip it down the middle because keepers always gamble.’
      “I don’t know what Aguero was thinking of – a striker like him!
      “Even if Mendy did dive because, he’s like 7ft, he’d probably still save it with his foot dangling in the air!”
      Such is Toney’s lust for improvement he believes he should have scored FORTY goals after analysing every game and chance he has had – admitting: “A top striker like Harry Kane turns half chances into full chances by scoring them.”
      The Brentford striker wants to be at the top of the Premier League tree like Kane.
      I also don’t beat myself up after missing a chance because I know I’m going to get another one.”
      And Toney uses motivational speakers he watches online and quotations for inspiration. One of his favourites, coined by American Eric Thomas, is: “When you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe, then you will be successful.”
      The striker – in his pursuit for greatness – admits the biggest thing he worked on this season was his fitness.
      He said: “At this club, it’s about being on the front foot, pressing and running in behind. The first four games, I was off the pace.
      “There were chances that came my way that I weren’t ready for because I was tired from making the run before. I worked on that and have never felt fitter than I have this season.
      “I also don’t beat myself up after missing a chance because I know I’m going to get another one.”
      Toney’s body is covered by tattoos charting his life and football story – including likenesses of his young son Ivan Jnr and his late grandmother.
      So what next on the Toney canvas?
      He said: “My mum keeps telling me to stop getting tattoos but I’ll get a few more sneaky ones in. I’ll have to get a 31 with a golden boot next to it.”

      Toney revealed he finally got round to performing his initiation song – having threatened to perform a Neil Diamond classic.
      But he said: “My audience wouldn’t have appreciated Neil Diamond so I went safe with So Sick by Ne-Yo. They wanted me to perform again but I was full on my bookings so wasn’t available.”
      It is ironic that Toney’s replacement at Peterborough Jonson Clarke-Harris has bettered his predecessor’s effort last season with 31 goals and led them to promotion.
      While Toney himself has bettered the 25 goals Ollie Watkins scored for Brentford last season.
      The Bees ace laughed: “I’m buzzing for Jonson doing better than me. Maybe I was the problem and why they didn’t get promoted!
      “If we go up, maybe Ollie can say he was the reason why Brentford didn’t get promoted!”
      IVAN TONEY Q&A
      What was going through your mind when it looked like Sergi Canos might get to the ball ahead of what was your record-breaking goal?When the ball broke, it was about composure. Make sure the keeper doesn’t get there first and Sergi doesn’t get there second!In my head it was, ‘tackle Sergi if he takes it off me and we will go from there.’ But he left it for meYou could see what it meant to all the boys because they all came over and celebrated. It meant a lot.What has it been like playing for Thomas Frank?He has kept me focused. He’s always saying to me, “Be confident, be humble” and I feel like I have been like that throughout the season.I know if a chance comes my way, I am going to take it.When I cross the white line, I think, “I am going to score today.”That is the confident part and being humble is not telling anyone or bragging about it. You are thinking it but keeping it to yourself.On a personal note, he is like a friend. He’s always genuinely asking how people are, how their families are? He does genuinely care and it’s good to have a manager like that.Do you have any superstitions?As a Christian, I always pray before the game. My nan has a little prayer that she always said to me before matches – so I do it every game now.I also always put my right boot on first before my left. I don’t know why. I just feel like it’s a must – maybe because I am right footed.Do you study Premier League strikers while watching games?I watch clips from some strikers. When I am watching a game, I watch a striker’s movement. It might be a bit boring for everyone else but it helps my game and I am trying to be a better player all round. These little things help out.Who is the Premier League striker you most admire?It was Sergio Aguero with just the way he is in front of goal. He’s just so clinical – one opportunity, you know 9 times out of 10, it’s in the back of the net.But more recently, it has to be Harry Kane – you see how deadly he is in front of goal.There was a game I saw where he had two chances and he put them into the back of the net.He makes half chances full chances. That is what good strikers do.And Harry’s link-up play – along with his goals and assists – is incredible.He is someone anyone can look up to – not just myself but any striker. If you take some of his game into yours, you are going to be a good striker. More

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      Gary Bowyer agrees two-year Salford deal in U-turn after deciding against Derby return

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      GARY BOWYER has agreed a stunning two-year deal to remain as Salford City boss instead of returning to Derby County.The League Two team have confirmed Bowyer is staying at Moor Lane, just days after he claimed he was rejoining Derby as U23s boss.
      Gary Bowyer has signed a two-year deal to stay at Salford bossCredit: PA
      Gary Bowyer has signed a two-year deal to remain as Manager of Salford City ✍️! #WeAreSalford 🦁🔴— Salford City FC (@SalfordCityFC) May 12, 2021

      Bowyer took charge of Salford in March until the end of the season to save their season following Richie Wellens’ sacking.
      The tactician secured 20 points from 11 games, leaving Salford just two points shy of a play-off place.
      But Bowyer revealed on Sunday he was heading back to Pride Park to resume his duties as U23s chief.
      However, Salford announced in a shock statement on Wednesday that Derby have allowed Bowyer to leave the club permanently.
      And he has now put pen to paper on a two-year contract with Salford in the hope of building on his impressive work, culminating in April’s Manager of the Month award.
      Bowyer beamed: “I’m really excited, it’s all happened very, very quickly and I’m delighted that it has.
      “I have to thank Wayne Rooney and Derby County for their role that they have played in all of this, they’ve been magnificent for me.
      “Now it’s a case of getting to work very quickly, everybody was very accommodating when I was here and made a real impression on me in the short space of time so it was a very easy decision.
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      “We’re really excited now leading into the summer, obviously there is a lot of work to do in terms of organising pre-season games, getting to work on the squad.
      “We’ve got a real good core group here, and we’ll be looking to add the right characters and the right players to hopefully improve the squad further and give us a real opportunity going into next season.”
      Salford captain Ash Eastham added: “The appointment of the Manager on a permanent basis is fantastic news for the Club going forward!
      “His positivity, professional demands and man management skills have been reflected in the team’s performances and results since he joined the club, and we are looking forward to working further with Gary next season.
      “As players we now need to physically and mentally re-charge for what I feel will be a season for our fans to be hugely excited about when the league campaign returns.”
      Man Utd legend Gary Neville wants to move Salford City into Man City’s old training base at cost of £80,000 a year More

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      Bradford want Derek Adams to quit Morecambe and become new manager after League Two play-offs

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      BRADFORD want Derek Adams to quit Morecambe and become their new boss after the play-offs.The Scot has emerged as the first-choice replacement for the Bantams after the sacking of joint-managers Mark Trueman and Conor Sellars.
      Derek Adams is wanted by Bradford to formulate a fresh promotion pushCredit: Getty
      But they will have to wait until he steers his side through the League Two shootout.
      Adams has done a remarkable job at Morecambe after also taking Plymouth to promotion from the fourth-tier.
      Bradford can offer the 45-year-old a far bigger budget and the chance to lead another side to League One – but with a better hope of staying there.
      The Shrimps almost made it into the top-three automatic places with a 2-0 final day win over Adams’ prospective new club on Saturday.
      And they face Tranmere – who have just sacked manager Keith Hill – in the two-legged play-off semis that begin next week.
      Morecambe’s successful campaign was a world away from Bradford’s miserable finish, coming home 15th after a post-Christmas purple patch gave way to a seven-game winless run.
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      Speaking after sacking double act Trueman and Sellars on Monday, chief executive Ryan Sparks detailed the need for ‘experience’ in the dugout.
      He stated: “We feel, at this point, we need more experience to take us forward into the summer and next season which, for us, is a hugely significant one.
      “We have a crucial few months in front of us, and it is important we are in the best-possible position to be able to prepare for them.”
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Watford promoted straight back to the Premier League at first time of asking as Sarr scores in 1-0 win over Millwall More

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      When are Championship playoffs 2021? Brentford, Bournemouth, Swansea, Barnsley dates & times plus EFL League One & Two

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      IT’S the most exciting time of the EFL season as the play-offs return following the promotion of Watford and Norwich to the Premier League.As is the tradition, the campaign will conclude at Wembley, with the play-off semi-finals and finals to be played in front of fans if the government roadmap stays on track.
      Brentford will be looking to reach the Premier League for the first timeCredit: Getty
      Brentford, Swansea, Bournemouth and Barnsley are the teams who will have to fight it out for the final place in the Premier League this season.
      When are the EFL play-offs?
      The EFL play-off dates are as follows:
      Championship
      Semi-finals

      Monday, May 17 – Bournemouth vs Brentford (6pm)
      Monday, May 17 – Barnsley vs Swansea (8.15pm)
      Saturday, May 22 – Brentford vs Bournemouth (12.30pm)
      Saturday, May 22 – Swansea vs Barnsley (5.30pm)

      Final

      Saturday, May 29 (3pm)

      League One
      Semi-finals

      Tuesday, May 18 – Oxford vs Blackpool (6pm)
      Wednesday, May 19 – Lincoln vs Sunderland (6pm)
      Friday, May 21 – Blackpool vs Oxford (7.45pm)
      Saturday, May 22 – Sunderland vs Lincoln (3pm)

      Final

      Sunday, May 30 (3pm)

      League Two
      Semi-finals

      Tuesday, May 18 – Newport vs Forest Green (8.15pm)
      Thursday, May 20 – Tranmere vs Morecambe (6pm)
      Sunday, May 23 – Morecambe vs Tranmere (12.30pm)
      Sunday, May 23 – Forest Green vs Newport (6.30pm)

      What TV channel are EFL play-off matches on and can I live stream them?

      Sky Sports hold exclusive rights to EFL coverage, including the play-off games.
      Matches will be shown live on channels such as Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Main Event.
      Some matches may be shown on the Sky Sports Red Button if they overlap with others.
      To stream EFL play-off matches live, head to your Sky Go account.
      Non-Sky Sports subscribers can still watch all the action with a Now TV Day Pass from £9.99.

      Adebayo Akinfenwa and Wycombe Wanderers were promoted from League One at WembleyCredit: Getty
      Northampton Town were victorious in the League Two play-off finalCredit: Getty
      How many fans will be allowed to attend the EFL play-offs?
      The EFL has announced that the play-offs will be held from Monday, May 17 – the date on which the government will allow fans to return to stadiums according to the current roadmap.
      That means that ALL play-off matches will have fans attending as things stand.
      The roadmap states: “The government will also allow some larger performances and sporting events in indoor venues with a capacity of 1,000 people or half-full (whichever is a lower number), and in outdoor venues with a capacity of 4,000 people or half-full (whichever is a lower number).
      “In the largest outdoor seated venues, where crowds can be spread out, up to 10,000 people will be able to attend (or a quarter-full, whichever is lower).”
      This can be taken to mean that the play-off finals at Wembley will be played in front of 10,000 fans unless otherwise specified.
      However, it has yet to be confirmed whether participating EFL teams’ stadiums qualify as larger or smaller outdoor venues.
      Will the play-offs have away fans?
      Premier League CEO Richard Masters declared his intention for 500 away fans to attend the last two games of the season when fans return to stadiums.
      However, these plans were later scrapped.
      The EFL have not currently suggested that away fans will be allowed to attend the play-off semi-finals. More

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      Bolton are England’s promotion kings – now boss Ian Evatt wants town’s fans wearing Trotters shirts not Man Utd kits

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      BOLTON being promoted looked unlikely all season – but perhaps with their record, it was actually IanEvattable.Wanderers, under boss Ian Evatt, went up for the 14th time, moving level with Birmingham at the top of the charts for most promotions in English league history.
      Bolton are joint-top for most promotions in English football
      Bolton players celebrate outside the ground on SaturdayCredit: Getty
      And now, he wants more kids walking around the town in white shirts, not those of Manchester United.
      Nobody could have predicted this when Bolton were 20th at the start of February.
      In the first half of the campaign, the Trotters were more like the Phoenix club – a bit of a joke and opposition fans were laughing at them.
      Director of Football Tobias Phoenix’s summer signings were a mixed bag but he was eased out in January with Evatt given more control.
      And the recruitment of loan stars including Declan John, Dapo Afolayan and MJ Williams turned the season around.
      They were more like Usain Bolt-on after that, going on a run on 16 wins in the final 22 games to clinch promotion, including Saturday’s 4-1 victory over Crawley.
      Evatt knows Bolton’s fortunes in League One next season could depend on the experienced spine of his side.
      Irish striker Eoin Doyle, 33, skipper Antoni Sarcevic, 29, and veteran goalkeeper Matt Gilks, 38, have been the mainstays of their magnificent finish to the campaign.
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      Bolton players celebrate promotion on the pitch at CrawleyCredit: PA
      Evatt is backing the trio to prove their worth once again.
       He said: “Although recruitment is crucial we know where our core-strengths lie.
      “The club is on firm foundations again and we are determined to go forward.
      “The players have been outstanding and what they’ve done has enabled us to reconnect with the fans,  the community and the town itself.
      “Bolton people identify with us again and that’s great because I have got tired of seeing people walking around there in Manchester United shirts instead of ours.”
      Boss Ian Evatt, hugging Lloyd Isgrove, wants to see more Bolton shirts in the townCredit: PA
      Doyle finished the season with 19 goals for Bolton.
      Former Plymouth star Sarcevic enjoyed promotions at other League Two clubs including the Wembley play-off final winner for Fleetwood in 2014.
      And ex-Blackpool keeper Gilks has become a growing influence since his arrival, combining first-team duties with a coaching role.
      Centre-back Ricardo Santos – nicknamed The Wall by Wanderers fans – played every minute of the season and will be crucial at a higher level.
      Sarcevic set Bolton on their way at Crawley with a thumping drive on nine minutes and Afolayan tapped home from close range in the 26th minute.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

      After home skipper George Francomb’s dismissal for a second yellow card on 34 minutes, Doyle put matters beyond doubt  three minutes after half-time.
      He  said: “It would have been nice to get 20 for the season but on days like this nobody cares who scores.”
      Lloyd Isgrove’s 77th-minute fourth was reward for his ceaseless industry and sub Davide Rodari’s late reply a mere consolation for Crawley.
      Legend Frank Worthington scores a stunning goal for Bolton More

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      Jayden Stockley desperate for permanent Charlton transfer after rediscovering lethal touch in loan spell from Preston

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      JAYDEN STOCKLEY wants to make his loan move to Charlton permanent this summer after rediscovering his lethal scoring touch.The striker, 27, had an incredible one-in-two career goals-to-starts ratio when he left Exeter for Preston North End almost two-and-a-half years ago in a £750,000 deal.
      Jayden Stockley is loving life at The Valley and wants to make his loan switch permanent
      But he found himself unable to get a regular run of starts under Alex Neil although he still scored nine league goals from 21 starts – but he made a total of 44 Championship sub appearances.
      Yet since moving to the Addicks in January he has fired eight goals in 19 starts.
      Today he hopes to shoot Charlton into the play-offs – although they need Portsmouth and Oxford to slip up.
      Stockley said: “That run of games at Preston never came unfortunately.
      “I scored in back-to-back matches against Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest then found myself back on the bench for Brentford.
      “To be fair to Alex Neil, I learned a lot from him tactically. He was very meticulous in his planning of games.
      “I feel for managers – they go out to win a game of football.
      “They don’t go to upset people or do things viciously. They’re under a lot of pressure. I don’t hold a grudge about it.
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      Jayden Stockley believes Charlton are going places and wants to put down roots in London

      “I back my ability and just feel I should’ve played a lot more.
      “But he brought me to the club and gave me the chance to play Championship football. It cuts both ways.”
      Stockley has one year left on his contract in the North West and would like to move to South East London.
      He said: “It’s up in the air at the moment. I don’t know what fees are circling around and they don’t even know who their manager is going to be next season.
      “What I can say is I absolutely am loving my time here.
      “And this hopefully isn’t the end of my time playing for Charlton.
      “If it works for everyone, I would love it. I feel I have so much to give and these are my prime years.”
      Jayden Stockley fires home as Charlton see off Lincoln to give them a play-off chance
      Charlton is his 14th different club – although nine of them were loan spells while he was a young player coming through the ranks at Bournemouth.
      But after moving permanently from the Cherries to Aberdeen to Exeter then to Preston, he wants to put down roots – and South East London is a perfect home for him and his family.
      He said: “I’ve always looked for that club where I could stay and become a real name.
      “I’m getting to that age now where I want to give my peak years to that team.
      “My partner and I have two children – a five-year-old and two-year-old. They’ve spent a lot of time away from grandparents and other family members – it’s been tough.
      “I don’t want them all moving around too much – but in football you often have to understand that the best choice isn’t always the best fit in terms of location.
      “You only get one career so you have to balance a lot of things.”
      But Stockley has been impressed with Charlton under the new ownership of Thomas Sandgaard and management of Nigel Adkins, who took over from Lee Bowyer after he left for Birmingham.
      The Danish owner wants to take the club from League One to the Premier League – a journey that Adkins enjoyed while in charge of Southampton.
      Jayden Stockley had limited chances while playing for Preston in the Championship
      And Stockley said: “It’s not until you’re down here that you realise what a very big club Charlton are.
      “I love the training ground, I love the area. The stadium is incredible too.
      “It’s been disappointing not to experience playing in front of fans – I did as a visiting player. Hopefully the Accrington game won’t be the last time that the fans see me in their shirt.
      “Nigel has come in and the lads have taken to him straight away.
      “On a personal level, he has been great. His demeanour and the way he works is something I’ve been looking at for a long time.
      “His communication skills are great. Some managers have lacked that human touch. I have found that sometimes during my career.
      “It’s nice for a manager to talk to you, be honest with you and tell you what he wants and expects.
      “And give clear instructions of what he wants and I think that brings out the best in individuals, especially me.”
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      Rob Atkinson desperate to help seal promotion for Oxford United as he dreams of facing former club Fulham next season

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      ROB ATKINSON can go Ful circle if he wins promotion with Oxford.The defender today hopes to help the U’s secure a League One play-off spot and is dreaming of playing against former club Fulham in the Championship next season.
      Oxford defender Rob Atkinson (left) is eyeing Championship football and facing ex-club Fulham
      Atkinson, 22, got signed up by Fulham’s academy four years ago after making a name for himself in non-league with Basingstoke.
      But the 6ft 4in ace did not enjoy his two-year spell in West London.
      He said: “I was playing in the Under-23s – I didn’t like it that much.
      “Even though I thought the players were better, the coaching was better and facilities were immense, I missed men’s football.
      “That was my first taste of academy football.
      “My whole childhood people were saying, ‘You can be scouted for this and that’ and it would be the be all and end all.
      “But I was so late to the party. I was 19 when I joined Fulham.
      “It would’ve been different had I gone to an academy if I was younger but I was already engrained in the men’s game and playing youth football was a step back and I started to hate football.
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      Rob Atkinson heads home for Oxford against Shrewsbury in League One

      “I hated playing games but enjoyed the training at Fulham. I’ve benefitted and grown as a player thanks to the training.
      “The games? I didn’t want any part of it. You don’t play well when you don’t enjoy it. I was also on the bench a lot. It was a bad time.
      “So if we do get promoted, it would be nice and mentally good to see myself at the same level as Fulham.”
      Atkinson ended up going to Braintree on loan for the last six months of his Fulham contract to play in the National League.
      And eventually ended up at Eastleigh, which is where Oxford signed him from halfway through last season.
      He said: “I started to enjoy football again at Braintree even though we were bottom of the table.
      “There was no pressure and then we started to win some games against teams that had a lot of money like Fylde. It got my career kicking on again.”
      Oxford must today better whatever Portsmouth do against Accrington AND at least equal whatever Charlton do against champions Hull.
      But Atkinson is pinching himself at how far he has come over the past year.
      Last season he could not get into the Oxford team after his move from Eastleigh.
      But not only he has started in the U’s team 40 times this season, he was named in the EFL’s League One Team of the Season after a string of impressive performances.
      Oxford defender Rob Atkinson (12) celebrates scoring against Shrewsbury Town
      Although he did get off to a bumpy start – getting sent off on his League One debut against Lincoln
      He said: “Karl Robinson’s history – as well as Oxford’s – of developing young players was a big factor in me coming here.
      “After getting sent off on my debut, it would’ve been easy for any manager to bin me off, thinking I’m not ready or good enough for League One.
      “But credit to the gaffer, he stuck by me and I’d like to think I’ve repaid his faith with good performances.
      “I’m happy with it and for being recognised for my work and must keep going.”
      Atkinson has a slightly different football path than most English footballers – as the first club he played for was Cannes in France.
      He explained: “When I was about five, I moved out to the south of France with my mum and lived out there until I was nine or ten.
      “Cannes were the local team in the area and that is how I played for them.
      “I can speak French – which is useful because there are a lot of footballers over here from France.”
      Cannes is of course famous for the Cannes Film Festival.
      And Atkinson would dearly love to star in a successful promotion bid.
      He said: “I sat on the bench when we lost the League One play-off final against Wycombe last season and everyone was devastated.
      “Some were still upset a few months after, which might explain our slow start to the season.
      “But we have some good momentum now. We’ve won five out of six and in good form at the right time.”
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