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      I played just one half of football for Tottenham – getting promoted out of League Two was a bigger achievement

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      KEVIN DEARDEN ranks his League Two promotion with Torquay United over his Premier League debut with Tottenham Hotsppur.The goalkeeper came through the ranks at White Hart Lane in the early 1990s.
      Kevin Dearden played one games for Tottenham’s first teamCredit: Getty
      He found himself initially stuck behind his hero Ray Clemence – before Erik “The Viking” Thorstvedt and Bobby Mimms came along.
      Dearden was around the first team squad at Spurs but wasn’t handed an opportunity… until an injury to Thorstvedt during a clash with Nottingham Forest during the 1992-93 season saw his number called.
      Speaking to Planet Football, Dearden recounted: “I’d been there a long time, I was 22, I felt that I was ready – I’d been on loan, I’d played in League One, League Two and the Championship with Hull.
      “I was on the bench, I obviously I didn’t wish anyone any injury, but I felt I was ready if called upon.
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      “Erik dived at the base of the post, he fractured his finger or his thumb, and at half-time I was told I was on.
      “I didn’t have much time to think about it, I just went out and it means I didn’t take in the enormity of it.
      “We were losing 2-1 at half-time and that was the result in the end, so I always tell everyone that I never let a goal in in the Premier League!”
      Despite a promising debut, Dearden would never play for Spurs again.
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      He continued: “The next game I was on the bench against Oldham at home, and they were a bottom four or five team, and I thought if I was to ever start a game for Spurs this was it.
      “But they brought Ian Walker back in and that told me the writing was on the wall. I knew then my time was up and it was just a case then of where to, really.”
      After just one Spurs appearance and nine loans away from White Hart Lane, Dearden finally left permanently.
      He moved to Brentford, where he would get his wish of regular first-team football – playing over 200 times in six years.
      Following two subsequent seasons with Wrexham he moved on to Torquay – where he would enjoy the highlight of his career.
      Dearden added: “The year we got promoted with Torquay from League Two to League One I look back on more fondly. I felt I achieved something with a group of players.
      “The budget was minuscule, we had a skeleton squad, but we had a togetherness and a team ethic which was second-to-none.
      “For Torquay to get promoted that season was unbelievable and we almost stayed up the following year. I look on that more fondly than the Spurs game, as it seems a very, very long time ago now.”
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      Having earned his coaching badges while still a player, Dearden moved seamlessly into his new career after hanging up his boots in 2006.
      Now 53, he works as a goalkeeping coach with hometown club Luton, having also done the same job at Brentford, Millwall and Leyton Orient.
      Dearden’s one Spurs appearance ranks below promotion with Torquay UnitedCredit: PA More

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      EFL star forced to retire aged 26 due to cancer battle as he writes emotional letter to fans

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      BRISTOL ROVERS defender Nick Anderton has been forced to retire at the age of 26 amid his battle with cancer.The ex-Preston, Blackpool and Carlisle man took to social media on Friday to confirm the news in an emotional post.
      Nick Anderton has announced his retirement from footballCredit: Rex
      It comes four months into his chemotherapy treatment for a rare form of bone cancer, osteosarcoma.
      He has been forced to hang up his boots due to an operation on his femur which required a “complete knee replacement”.
      Speaking the day before his 27th birthday, he said: “I’ve had six months to prepare some words for this moment and I still don’t know what to say.
      “It’s been extremely difficult to come to terms with but I’ve decided today is the day to announce at the age of 26 I have to retire from professional football.
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      “This is due to an operation I had in October 2022 to remove a cancerous tumour from my right femur. This resulted in a complete knee replacement, and a further 12cm of my femur replaced.
      “There was optimism that I could return to playing after the initial planned operation/treatment but a scan five days prior revealed it would not be safe if they didn’t replace the full joint, therefore the operation changed.
      “Looking back on the last 10 years, I have nothing but fond memories.
      “To every club I’ve represented, thank you for the opportunity. To every manager and coach I’ve worked under, thank you for the time you’ve invested in me. To every player I’ve shared a dressing room with and every player I’ve competed against on the pitch, thank you. It’s been an absolute pleasure.
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      “I want to say a massive thank you to every single person who sent messages, donated and said a prayer. Your kind words and support for my family throughout this journey has been incredible and we can’t thank you enough.
      “It’s given me even more motivation to continue fighting and to complete every single millilitre of chemotherapy that I need.
      “Thank you, Nick.”
      Anderton was diagnosed with the illness back in July after undergoing a scan on what he believed to be a leg injury.
      He made 245 senior appearances during his nine-year professional career.
      Last season, he played a crucial role in helping Bristol Rovers secure promotion to League One on the final day of the season.
      They did so in the most incredible fashion, beating Scunthorpe 7-0 to go up on goals scored.
      His No16 jersey is hung up in the Rovers dressing room before every match.
      And the club’s fans have been giving a round of applause in the 16th minute of their games.
      The Rovers squad shaved their heads in solidarity with Anderton in January.
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      A fundraiser has also been set up for him which has raised £46,000 to date.
      And Rovers manager Joey Barton completed the Manchester Marathon last weekend following a promise he made to Anderton. More

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      Sheffield United hero Billy Sharp believes FA Cup run has helped put Blades on the brink of Premier League promised land

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      BILLY SHARP believes Sheffield United’s FA Cup run has given them the confidence to return to the Premier League.The Blades take on Manchester City at Wembley in the semi-final on Saturday needing only a maximum of three points from their final four Championship games to seal automatic promotion.
      Billy Sharp believes the FA Cup has helped Sheffield United’s promotion bid
      Despite being the ripe old age of 37, Sharp has still clocked 40 appearances in all competitions this season — and played the whole 90 minutes as United dumped Tottenham from the competition in the last 16.
      They have also overcome Millwall at The Den, Wrexham at home after a replay, which Sharp scored in, and Blackburn in a quarter-final thriller at Bramall Lane.
      Sharp told SunSport: “Cup competitions can be a distraction but, this one, this year, has helped us. 
      “It has also given us belief and momentum because we’ve won games in the cup after we’ve failed to win the previous match in the league. So it’s got us back on track. 
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      “Cup nights under the lights at Bramall Lane are special and ones that’ll be remembered more than some of the league games. 
      “It’s a day out that we’ve got to embrace and enjoy, we’ve got to go there, have belief and give a good account of ourselves, and who knows, cause an upset.”
      Out of the three possible opponents they could have faced, the Blades have clearly drawn the toughest.
      Pep Guardiola’s men are chasing a Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup treble, which no English team has managed since Manchester United 24 years ago.
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      And Sharp knows the only way the Blades are going to cause one of the greatest Wembley shocks is to break the game into stages — and try to be in with a shout late in the game.
      But the wily veteran has been in the game long enough to know anything is possible. Just ask Wigan, who not only beat City in the 2013 FA Cup final but knocked them out again a year later as a Championship team.
      Sharp said: “Everyone dreams of winning the FA Cup but we’ve got to get past Manchester City. It’s going to be like a cup final for us — we’ve got to raise our game, but this is what football is about.
      “Hopefully it’ll be our day and, who knows, if we can get to the final then it would be an unbelievable day.  
      “We’ve got a big task on our hands, so we’re taking one step at a time. 
      Sharp celebrates scoring in injury-time against Wrexham
      “We’ll just try to stay in the game and give ourselves something to play for in the last half an hour. 
      “It’ll be a special day regardless though.”
      He is right. For a Championship team to be on the same table with three Premier League clubs, all currently occupying European spots, is a great achievement.
      And Sharp added: “The FA Cup is the biggest cup competition in England with a lot of history, and rewards that make memories for a lifetime. 
      “We’re massive underdogs but we have belief we can go there, put on a good performance, and hopefully cause a shock.  
      “We’re going to have to be at the top of our game, and City will have to be below par, but it can happen in football. We have to believe and enjoy the day because they don’t come around often.
      “If we can manage the occasion, and give our fans a good day out, then I’m sure the whole club and the supporters will be happy.”
      But there is no doubting that the priority this season has been returning to the Premier League at the second attempt — after the agony of being edged out in a penalty shootout at Bramall Lane by Nottingham Forest in last season’s play-off semi-finals.
      It was a hard one to take for the Blades and Sharp, in particular, who had to sit out the end of the season after getting crocked.
      Sheffield United’s Sharp is still going strong at the ripe age of 37
      There has been no doubt that the Blades have been the second best side in the Championship after Burnley.
      At one stage, they were coasting with the league leaders to automatic promotion but a few slip-ups and the relentless form of Middlesbrough and Luton made it squeaky bum time.
      But they have come up with the answers in the last week by beating Cardiff and Bristol City at Bramall Lane to put them on the brink.
      Sharp said: “That’s down to showing mental strength in games. We’ve got a squad where we can fill two teams, and everyone who comes into the starting eleven has done their bit.  
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      “Even in the cup competitions we’ve managed to change the team around and get through the rounds – we’ve got a great cup tie in the semi-final at Wembley to come – but the main priority is to get promotion into the Premier League, which we’re confident we can do, we just need to keep grinding out the results.” 
       BILLY SHARP was speaking to SunSport courtesy of EFL sponsors Sky Bet, More

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      Man Utd loanee Charlie Savage suffers heartache as Duncan Ferguson’s Forest Green are relegated from League One

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      ROBBIE SAVAGE’S son Charlie has suffered relegation agony out on loan from Manchester United.The midfielder, 19, played the first 58 minutes as Duncan Ferguson’s Forest Green Rovers were sent down to League Two with Saturday’s 5-1 home thrashing by Barnsley.
      Leicester-born Wales Under-21 midfielder Charlie Savage has endured relegation in his first taste of league football, on loan at FGR from Man UtdCredit: Rex
      Ferguson’s men become the first EFL side demoted this season – only 12 months after reaching the third tier for the first time.
      And for Savage Junior it underlines the rollercoaster ride for youngsters attempting to reach the top.
      The Wales Under-21 star made his only appearance for United so far in the Champions League in December 2021.
      He was a last-minute sub in a 1-1 home draw with Switzerland’s Young Boys when Ralf Rangnick was in charge.
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      Then he joined fellow Old Trafford starlets Charlie McNeil and Di’Shon Bernard in making temporary exits in January for the rest of the season.
      Striker McNeil, 19, joined Rovers’ League One rivals Newport and 22-year-old centre-back Bernard went to Portsmouth.
      In the same month, Forest Green appointed ex-Scotland and Newcastle striker Ferguson as boss after sacking Ian Burchnall.
      But they are in exactly the same position as when he arrived – bottom.
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      And although Savage has won praise for his displays, Saturday was a low point for Rovers – in performance, result and confirmation of the drop.
      Just a month ago, Savage senior was seen beaming with pride and celebrating with arms wide open live on BT Sport Score after Charlie notched his first senior goal.
      But even that 12th-minute opener at home to Bristol Rovers came in a 3-1 home defeat.
      Now Savage must wait to see the next twist in his fledgling career. More

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      Morecambe could face points deduction with players fearing not having wages paid on time this month

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      MORECAMBE’S players are worried their wages will not arrive on time this month.The League One strugglers got their money late recently following a cash injection from would-be owner Sarbjot Johal.
      Morecambe’s players are worried their wages will not arrive on time this monthCredit: Rex
      But the Shrimps dressing room has been alerted to a potential snag coming up.
      And that may force the EFL to act and dock the club three points.
      Championship strugglers Wigan were also recently hit with a three-point deduction over the repeated non-payment of salaries.
      The situation got so bad players revolted and refused to train after FOUR missed payments, before calling off their strike action after being paid.
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      But things could soon get worse for Wigan, as just nine senior players will be tied down to contracts this summer.
      Defenders Jason Kerr and Jack Whatmough are on longer deals but the duo have been troubled by injuries.
      Jordan Jones is on loan while Anthony Scully can go.
      And Tom Pearce has been available for purchase for the last two windows.
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      Striker Josh Magennis does not start that often these days either.
      Tom Naylor and Charlie Wyke — both signed on lucrative deals — remain.
      While Callum Lang is under lock and key and in Latics chiefs’ plans.
      Wigan were recently hit with a three-point deductionCredit: PA More

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      Norwich confirm legend Teemu Pukki will LEAVE at end of season after five years as he targets new transfer ‘challenge’

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      NORWICH have revealed fan favourite Teemu Pukki will leave the club at the end of the season.The Canaries forward, 33, has scored 88 goals in 204 games for the Norfolk side, helping them secure two promotions since arriving from Brondby in 2018.
      Teemu Pukki has confirmed he will leave Carrow Road in the summerCredit: PA
      But now the Finland international has confirmed he will depart in the summer in search of a new challenge.
      Speaking to the club website, he said: “This has not been an easy decision because of what Norwich City means and has done for me.
      “I’ve loved my time with this great club, but considering the stage of my career, and I know I have a few more years in me, I’m keen for another new experience.
      “I have some amazing memories from my time here, with so many ups and downs. The two promotions were amazing.
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      “These five years have probably been the best of my career, both from a professional and personal perspective. I don’t think anyone believed it would go as well as it has. This club and city will always have a special place in my heart.
      “This club means so much to me. I think back to when I signed here, it was such an easy club to settle in at. I’ve really enjoyed my time here and I will miss the whole club. The people around the place, players and support staff are amazing.
      “I feel I have a special relationship with Norwich and our supporters. I’ve always had a positive feeling from them. I hope I help give them one final gift with a few goals and a positive end to the season.”
      Norwich are still in the hunt for promotion this season as they seek an immediate return to the Premier League.
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      They sit seventh in the Championship, four points adrift of the play-off places with seven games remaining.
      And Pukki, who was linked with a move to Manchester United back in 2020, is adamant he will put every ounce of energy into trying to secure a third promotion with Norwich.
      He added: “Obviously, there is still a lot riding on these final few games.
      “All my focus is on this season and doing everything we can to achieve success. We know we can still achieve our targets.” More

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      3pm blackout set to STAY as EFL reveal preferred bidder for new TV rights deal

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      SKY SPORTS have seen off the challenge of streaming service DAZN and other broadcast rivals to retain the rights to show live EFL football.EFL bosses are looking to almost double their current £119m per season deal.
      The 3pm blackout looks set to remain in place in EnglandCredit: Getty
      Streaming giant DAZN said it planned to screen all 1656 EFL games each season and seek to end the Saturday 3pm blackout.
      Despite that bid, and other offers understood to have been made by Viaplay and TNT Sports – the new name for BT Sport – Sky is the first choice of the EFL.
      A final deal is yet to be confirmed although it is understood that Sky intends to screen more matches than the 138 games shown in the current five-year deal that runs out at the end of next season.
      In a statement, league chiefs said: “The EFL has now completed a full and comprehensive review of the multiple submissions received as part of its broadcast rights sales process from 2024 onwards.
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      “The League will now enter into an exclusive month-long negotiating period with the preferred bidder, Sky Sports.
      “No further comment will be made on this matter at the current time.”
      The news will be a blow for DAZN, part-owned by Anthony Joshua, which felt it had made a significantly competitive and ground-breaking offer.
      But assuming an agreement is found over the next month, the news will bring a sigh of relief to Sky bosses.
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      It was reported last week that EFL bosses are looking to increase the current package to £200m plus, a huge potential financial lifeline for struggling clubs.
      The blackout was introduced, at the instigation of then-Burnley chairman Bob Lord more than 50 years ago, in the belief that it would prevent TV football damaging attendances at other matches.
      Prem chief executive Richard Masters declared earlier this month that he “didn’t see” the league’s backing for the blackout ending any time soon. More

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      Almost 80,000 fans cram into Wembley for Bolton v Plymouth showing why Premier League must protect our lower divisions

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      WHAT was the world’s biggest football attendance this weekend?Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga clash against Borussia Dortmund? Or maybe it was Real Madrid taking on Valladolid at the Bernabeu. No, it was Plymouth v Bolton in the Papa John’s Trophy.
      Bolton won the Papa John’s Trophy after beating Plymouth 4-0 in the final
      Almost 80,000 fans packed into Wembley for the Papa John’s Trophy final
      A whopping 79,389 poured into Wembley and watched the two League One clubs battle it out for the most junior of all the pieces of silverware in English professional football.
      There’s not another country on the planet that would be able to attract that sort of crowd for a lower-tier match.
      Yet again this brings into focus the importance of preserving our lower divisions.
      Almost every single current England international has either played for an EFL club or cut their teeth in the EFL Trophy.
      The atmosphere in Wembley was as good — if not better — than many cup finals I’ve watched between Premier League sides.
      Teams like Bolton and Plymouth have a rich heritage. 
      Bolton famously won the first FA Cup final to be staged at Wembley 100 years ago when they beat West Ham.
      Back then it was estimated that 300,000 flocked to the stadium.
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      No country has such football heritage and the reason why clubs like Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Co are so huge is precisely because they have been part of that history.
      Clubs in England are at the centre of their communities. Bolton manager Ian Evatt was right after his team’s thrilling 4-0 win over Argyle when he said: “When clubs are successful, their communities thrive.”
      Even in dark times such as the pandemic and now the cost-of-living crisis, football brings a much needed boost to people’s lives.
      Yet Bolton Wanderers — who produced the legendary Nat Lofthouse — almost were wiped off the face of the football map less than four years ago.
      Sharon Brittan and some local businessmen stepped in and saved the club. The job they have done with the Trotters has been miraculous. And Evatt made sure he congratulated her when he walked up to the Royal Box to pick up his winners’ medal.
      Sharon Brittan congratulates Bolton boss Ian Evatt at Wembley
      Bolton owner Sharon Brittan celebrates Bolton’s superb Papa John’s Trophy triumph
      The road has been bumpy at times. They dropped into League Two but since recruiting Evatt it has been mostly uphill. He got them back into League One, they are challenging for a play-off spot this season and just won their first trophy since they won the same competition in 1989.
      Of course, the club in between their trophy triumphs had a glorious Premier League era, which brought them European football, under ex-boss Sam Allardyce, who was at Wembley to watch them on Sunday.
      Bolton are a great example why top-flight clubs should be happy to pour more money into the lower leagues from its vast broadcasting revenue streams. By doing so, they would not just be preserving clubs in the football pyramid but give themselves a security blanket if they were to drop out of the promised land.
      Rick Parry — when he was chief executive of the Premier League in 1996 — offered EFL clubs a 25 per cent share of all future income. 
      Incredibly, back then, EFL clubs insanely voted against that proposal. 
      Kyle Dempsey celebrates scoring for Bolton at Wembley
      But, now as chairman of the EFL, Parry is seeking to secure that 25 per cent funding as part of the New Deal for Football talks between the FA and the two leagues.
      With the huge success of our top division that 25 per cent slice would be a mouth-watering figure that would do so much to strengthen our pyramid — and the top clubs would benefit from that also.
      Now with a football regulator set to be appointed, the Premier League will be forced to share more of their considerable wealth. It is only fair they should do so.
      The reason why the Premier League is massive is because the clubs in it have grown through the rich history of the EFL.
      You can bet your bottom dollar that clubs like Brighton and Brentford will not be in the Premier League forever.
      And those two teams certainly know what it is like to be at the other end of the spectrum.
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      The Seagulls almost dropped into non-league while Brentford were just over a decade ago in League Two.
      Hopefully this can all be sorted and in place for the new season. More