Ryan has a great deal to celebrate

RYAN BROOKE . . . called up to the senior squad after securing a contract.

ATHLETIC trainee Ryan Brooke had double cause for celebration during a week he will never forget.

Only days after the 17-year-old second-year scholar was handed a professional contract by Athletic, he received his first senior call.

Striker Brooke was named in the squad for the Coca-Cola League One match at Carlisle on Good Friday.

He said: "It was great to be given my first pro contract as that is something I have been striving to achieve for the two years I have been here.

"It was a shock to be called into the first-team squad, though, and I was excited and at the same time nervous.

“I was told I was in the squad the day before the game and I couldn't wait for the match.

"It was a great experience, one I enjoyed and one which I hope to repeat in the remainder of the season.”

Brooke, who comes from Holmes Chapel, was spotted by Athletic's chief youth scout Ronnie Millward and has been at Boundary Park since he was an under-15 player.

Brooke, who played for Cheshire Schools, has scored 20 goals in 28 appearances for the youth team and 23 goals in all competitions.

But he arrived at Boundary Park as a central-midfield player.

He said: "I had a word with Alan Keeling, who managed our under-15s, and asked him if I could play up front.

"I also played as a striker with Gary Lewis, who ran the under-16s, and managed to score goals.”




ATHLETIC crashed to a 5-0 defeat at Tranmere in the North-West Conference of the Puma Youth Alliance.



Fielding a young and inexperienced side, Athletic were unlucky to be 1-0 behind at half time as schoolboy Jack Laird and Phillip McGrath both missed chances to equalise.

They began the second half well before collapsing in the final 25 minutes in which they conceded four goals as their defending from set-pieces became non-existent.



BOUNDARY Blues are taking a coach to the final away game of the season at Walsall on Saturday week.

Tickets, which include coach travel and admission, cost £12.50 for members and £20 for adults, and can be purchased from the Athletic shop.

Members of the Boundary Blues will also be taking on the Junior Saddlers in a match before the League One fixture.




ATHLETIC received a reminder of their glorious past when they headed for Saturday’s Coca-Cola League One match at Brighton.



The fixture coincided with FA Cup semi-final weekend in which BBC Television’s Football Focus and BBC Radio Five Live spotlighted their exploits of 1990 and 1994 when they reached the semi-finals.

Andy Ritchie and Sir Alex Ferguson reminisced about Athletic’s epic 3-3 draw against Manchester United at Maine Road in 1990 and the rematch in 1994 when they held the Reds to a 1-1 draw at Wembley.

In both years, Athletic lost replays at Maine Road.

Joe Royle, who managed Athletic in both those semi-finals, was also able to reflect on a personal triumph at Wembley on Sunday.

The Athletic boss, a television pundit at the FA Cup semi-final between Everton and Manchester United, was Everton manager when they beat the Reds 1-0 in the 1995 final.

Joe was joined at the match by his sons Lee, Darren and Mark.




THE trip to Brighton proved to be a harrowing eight-hour journey following delays caused by accidents on the M6 and M25.



At least a party of Athletic fans on a stag weekend were able to look on the bright side.

In a tribute to former utility player Ian Marshall, they turned up in black wigs and wearing pink shirts bearing his name.