Royle returns but can’t do miracles

THEY rolled back the years at Boundary Park on Saturday hoping to catch some Royle Fever. Deputy Editor DAVID WHALEY went along to witness the homecoming.

ROYLE Fever briefly gripped Boundary Park on Saturday for the return of the legend that is Joe Royle.

Followers of the club in its glory days under the amiable giant were enthused to return to see if he could once more weave his magic.

They came from far and wide. Isle of Wight resident Pete Callan left home on the 5am ferry on Saturday morning to make sure he was here to witness the start of the second Joe Royle era.

Born in Middleton, the 50-year-old sales manager said he just could not have been here. “I just hope whatever happens in these nine games he is here next season to start to put together another great Royle team.”

There were reunions going on all around the ground as exiled fans from the likes of Northern Ireland, Weymouth, Reading, Warwick, Chelt-enham, Durham and all points came together in a bumper 7,489 attendance.

Seventy-six year-old Alan Tiffney had even hopped on a plane from Benidorm the previous afternoon — complete with his Littlewoods Cup final hat from 1990.

“I’ve come up a couple of times this season to see my son Paul in Hollinwood, but had no plans to be here — until I heard Joe was back.”

Joe had joked in the week that he had wished someone could have had broken into his office with a tin of paint to decorate it, and he must have felt like he was walking into a time warp — even former chairman Ian Stott was among those gathered.

One thing had changed. The players were playing rap music in the dressing room and Joe came into the lounge shaking hands as he walked.

“I’ve told them to let me know when they come out and I’ll go back in — I’m not listening to that rap rubbish.” It’s an age thing Joe.

So Joe emerged after his team — they played commentary from the ‘good old days’ and he walked out to a standing ovation.

Some were struggling to find seats — not a problem at recent home games — while even security stewards admitted to wiping away a tear.

The new generation of “Joe Royle’s Blue and White Army” sang their hearts out.

But it soon became evident what problems Royle has inherited from John Sheridan and Tranmere took control.

Some laughed in the bar at half-time that Andy Ritchie was among the substitutes and when another old boy, Darron McDonough, did the half-time draw, a wag in the crowd shouted “have you brought your boots?”.

If only.

Ronnie Moore’s men left 45 minutes later with all three points in the bag and the faithful trooped away realising even hero Joe can’t do miracles.

How many will be back when they play their next home game against Peterborough (April 4) remains to be seen.

Two wins on the road at Cheltenham tomorrow and Leyton Orient next Saturday might just keep the dream of a play-off place alive alive but they are now six points adrift.

More activity in the loan-deal market seems certain with a striker who can hold the ball up a likely priority.

Either that or Mike Milligan is 25 again and running the midfield.

Dream on . . . !