A TRIBUTE TO BEN PRINGLE by The Mowdog...

I was so pleased to see Rotherham achieve success at Wembley and I was especially chuffed for Ben Pringle...

I saw him play for Ilkeston in 2009 and even wrote a poem about his performances, which I have reproduced below.

I have also uploaded only extracts from my match reports from that year: Ilkeston v Eastwood, Kendal and Nantwich, illustrating how influential Ben Pringle was at that time.

I have posted odd images of his successful penalty at Wembley too...

I hope he enjoys the posts.

Congratulations, mate...

Pringle knows he's going to play at St Andrews next season.
Unlucky, Ben...

The relief, the Rotherham victory and an emotional Ben Pringle...

The Evening A Pringle Smiled

The vehicle rattled, exhaustively,

Causing me to look up from the falling shreds

Of chicken salad’s lettuce

Littering a Costa serviette

And I tarried,

Smiling as I recognised the hair.

The midfielder battled, indefatigably,

Forcing me to look up from the scribbled notes

Of increasing goalmouth incidents

Lettering in thinned notebook

And I queried,

Marvelling at the left foot, chillingly rare.

The smile glittered, imperceptibly,

Pressing me to look down at the significant relief

Of victory and successful progress

Loitering near the touchline

And I envied,

Wondering at his pleasure, too desperate to bear…

PeteRay

April 2009

Ben Pringle scores against Nantwich in a play-off final, 2009...

 Ben Pringle, fair-haired Ilkeston player, arrived in a jalopy, worked so hard for the cause and after watching him on previous occasions, I didn’t think he ever smiled! He does though. And Ilson reached the play-off final, in a bid to reach the Conference North, April 2009, v Nantwich.

Friday Good For Attracting Local Constabulary

The car-park attendant was in a total whirl at 6 15pm, even attempted to hand me a letter addressed to him, rather than take my cash. I brought him down to earth and paid my customary pound, which may have sustained somebody’s beer money for an hour or so, for who knows what happens to it? Does anyone really tally the number of unofficial vehicles to the cash collected? Guess not. He was certainly in for one horrendous evening, as the parking-lot overflowed onto a soccer pitch behind the goal at the clock-end of the Ilkeston stadium and then became jammed by police vehicles, due to the need for reinforcements being drafted in on a Good Friday evening to settle ‘differences’ between Ilson and Eastwood ‘followers’.

I sought the fellow who filched another pound from innocent spectators who wanted to sit down and I was handed a slip of paper marked ‘Car Park’. Hmm. Odd that one pays in the car-park to leave one’s vehicle, upon receipt of no ticket at all then pay another pound to sit in a stand, for which one receives a car-parking ticket. I think I understand. I sure like the style. Yet the very people who stood and caused the trouble at the ground, presumably necessitating a considerable payment to the police authorities to quell the rioting, paid the flat-rate. My extra pound helped to fund the plodding stewarding, no doubt. Ah, I felt the word ‘MUG’ lit up across my forehead.

There were Derby and Forest fans near me in the stand and with the eclectic local accent taking over my evening, I felt about as comfortable as a sheep in a Safari Park. However, I did chat to an elderly chap who once played for Ilson, once existing on his ordinary job’s wage of not much more than two pounds per week. Interesting. Supporters watched agog as latecomers abandoned cars wherever there was space near the ground and I was reminded of a car-boot sale, where vehicles are angled like the untidy mosaic tesserae of an inept apprentice in ancient Rome. The police simply looked on and probably admired the patterns from their sightseeing helicopter, which roared above, to increase the volume to old Wembley proportions.

The game was tense. Very tense. Eastwood were shaken by Ilson’s defensive resilience, the lurking danger of speedy winger Duncum and the craft of flaxen-haired Pringle. The Badgers deserved nought and were justly rewarded. Exiting the car-park was surprisingly slick, for little had moved already, although the manoeuvres I was forced to make to extricate my car were reminiscent of Bob Monkhouse’s ‘Golden Shot’: ‘Right a bit, left a bit…’ I threaded a path between the fearful and threatening glances of leaving supporters, the Eastwood fans’ bellowing voices fading into the Easter evening as I headed hastily towards the M1 motorway. 

Miss this and the Millers will certainly lose the play-off final...

Tense Battle Edged By Robins As Badgers Toil Under Helicopter Lights

Ilkeston 1 Eastwood 0

Att: 2288

This was a tough encounter and Ilkeston recovered from a sluggish start to bring Pringle and Duncum into the game, net the winner and look the more adventurous outfit, despite Eastwood’s later aerial bombardment. Police were called in to sort out troublemakers in the impressive crowd of 2288 and the unusual sight of a helicopter hovering overhead only added to the dogged drama of the evening. The visitors failed to utilise the abilities of Meikle and Todd enough on the flanks and resorted to the long-ball tactic to substitute Smith, after the break, who did cause some discomfort to the Robins’ defence, although it has to be documented that Weaver and Murphy stood remarkably firm, with their full-backs Harrison and Hurst, sweeping with real effect. Douglas ran tirelessly in attack for Ilkeston, Pringle was often effective in possession but Church was simply everywhere, snaffling possession on numerous occasions.

The all-important winning goal was scored in the 28^th minute and it stemmed from a fine effort at goal by the speedy Duncum, who found himself a little room, centrally, just outside the Eastwood penalty-box. The winger was astute enough to curl a low shot past Deakin’s dive but the ball struck the right upright and play moved towards the left where Pringle latched onto the loose ball and fired it low across the goalmouth, for the lurking Newsham to turn into the net from close range and wrong-foot Deakin. Duncum’s pace was a problem for Asher and Pringle’s very lively presence was causing Dunning and Foster to defend desperately on occasions. Harrison’s right-wing centre led to Pringle freeing Duncum on the left and this time the winger’s cross-shot was clawed away spectacularly by the leaping Deakin.

A smart pass by Pringle, who was benefiting from Church’s unselfish graft in midfield, found Duncum on the left but as the winger turned inside, probably looking for a shot, his effort was blocked. Hume headed past the right upright from Chapman’s right-wing corner then Morgan-Smith replaced Newsham for Ilkeston and Sleath replaced Istead. A decent piece of offensive play on the ground by Smith, who broke tackles, set up the below-par Knox but Adamson held the near post, 15 yard drive comfortably.

Pringle's left boot does what it does well: strikes a dead-ball...

Pringle Powers Robins Past Rugged, Resilient Kendal

Ilkeston 4 Kendal 3 aet

Att: 653

This hard fought play-off semi-final at the New Manor Ground was often a war of attrition as both sets of midfield players scythed into the action, although rarely was the game dirty. The late sending off of Kendal full-back Byrne may have been harsh, for Morgan-Smith fell rather dramatically as he raced away on the break but overall, Ilson played the better football but were shaken by the effort and abundant commitment of their visitors, who slung several high balls into the home goalmouth in the later stages. No-one could have blamed them, for Murphy and Weaver appeared shaken by Adamson’s rather unconvincing display in goals. Duncum’s pace, Cahill’s guile and motion-man Pringle were immense for the Robins and although Church’s distribution was sometimes inaccurate, his trench warfare was really effective as the match reached its climax. It was fitting that Murphy atoned for an earlier error to send his team into the final but visiting ‘keeper Newnes kept the score down with a really decent performance.

Pringle worked the opening on the left for Duncum to make a penetrating run into the penalty-box but instead of shooting, he played a short, square pass to Sleath, who controlled the ball, maybe 9 yards out and clipped a smart right-footer beyond the helpless Newnes and into the right corner of the Kendal net. It should have been 2-1 to Ilson moments later, when Pringle’s lob sent Cahill clear but Newnes reacted well to turn the striker’s 16 yard rising drive over the crossbar; maybe Cahill could have made more ground but the shot was spectacular!

Half-time, losing 2-1, knowing they should have been ahead, seemed to deflate the Robins but it was they who had provided the better passing and pace, whereas the visitors had displayed resolution, effort, strength and resilience. Kilford and Warbuton were solid in midfield and Hallam and Standley really powerful in defence, in front of their capable goalkeeper. For the hosts, Weaver and Murphy continued to appear uncomfortable but the full-backs were fairly strong; Pringle was wholehearted, if a little wayward with a few passes, Duncum’s pace was again a threat, with Cahill a pain for defenders and Sleath always offered an outlet.

Kendal began the second-half by nearly adding to the score, for Hallam rose to head Byrne’s right-wing corner past the right upright but then Cahill maybe ought to have done better than head Pringle’s deflected left-wing free-kick some way over the bar. Wisdom had a brush with the official and was cautioned for a foul then Newnes did well to cling onto Pringle’s right-wing free-kick.  In the 59^th minute, Ilson regained parity. Duncum slipped inside from the right flank, where he had started the second period but went down under a challenge from Hallam, allowing Cahill to step forward and clip a neat, rising penalty inside the right post. On 61 minutes, Kendal were behind! Sleath fed Duncum on the right, Cahill challenged for the centre, which fell neatly for the unmarked Newsham, who clipped his shot past defenders guarding their goal from 12 yards.

Extra-time saw tired legs and Church breaking Kendal’s moves down often; Cahill and Pringle worked an opening for Duncum but his drive was deflected then Harrison fed Pringle to supply Cahill but the striker’s shot was badly wide of the left upright. A fine run on the right flank by Istead took him to the bye-line but Cahill, just beyond the far post, was unable to keep a difficult header down and the number nine was subsequently replaced by Douglas. Neynes held a low near post cross by Harrison and the steady Hurst made a Telling tackle on Wisdom, who had broken through a gap on the left. The 15 minutes ended and the game had become a slog, yet the Robins grasped the victory in the 108^th minute, just after the influential Hobson had headed Byrne’s centre too high. Pringle took a left-wing corner, Weaver rose at the far corner of the six-yard box and his header down was merely touched in at the left post by a joyous Murphy, with recovering ‘keeper Neynes helpless.

Morgan-Smith broke clear, as Kendal were exposed from pushing forward and Byrne’s tackle from behind saw the replacement fly for several metres before sprawling on penalty-area grass; Byrne was dismissed, the hardy Standley was cautioned and Pringle wasted the free-kick. Istead fed Douglas, whose drive flew across the goalmouth then Douglas was fed by Pringle but this time the substitute drove a right-footer over the crossbar from 16 yards. The striker then missed a great opportunity to settle the affair. Another smart and incisive Istead run took him into the penalty-area, inside-left channel but unselfishly he slipped a pass right to the unmarked Douglas, just two yards from the right upright but the striker missed his kick before planting the second attempt into the side-netting as Neynes threw himself down. Pringle was the enabler, who took time in the corners, Kendal were unable to respond and the Robins were in the play-off final!

The game was a treat, involving heroism, muscle, goals, a

sending-off, some slick football and a barrel of passion. Credit to all the players for making the evening, if not scintillating, certainly absorbing. Duncum was maybe less effective on the right and yet his work created the second and third goals, Pringle was dogged, the kid in class who wants to do everything, be everywhere and basically be ‘in your face’ and I actually saw him smile with three minutes left… His delivery was often tough to defend and I would have handed him the MVP award. The defence had tightened, despite the presence of the powerful Hallam and Adamson was protected well during the extra period.

Jones is well beaten by Pringle's penalty...

Weaver Dabs Nantwich Resistance And Sews Up Promotion

Ilkeston 2 Nantwich 1 aet

Att: 1794

This play-off final was devoid of attacking thrills and spills until extra-time when Morgan-Smith missed chances and left Ilson fans desperate for the final whistle, as Nantwich lumped high balls towards the fearing Adamson, forcing some desperate heading by the previously off-colour Weaver and the dependable Murphy. The skipper had netted the all important winner in the overtime period, to relieve Cahill, whose error had gifted Nantwich an embarrassing equaliser and rewarded Pringle, who emerged from an inaccurate performance to feature as the game’s MVP, rampaging along the left flank on several occasions, in the position one would have expected Duncum to impress and providing the curling centre for Weaver to convert in front of stolid, injured goalie Jones. Ilson had failed to test the immobile ‘keeper, after he was hurt making a mess of Sleath’s speculative drive, which allowed Pringle to snaffle the opening goal. Ilkeston were given a tough time by their visitors, driven on by O’Loughlin at the back and partnered by the criminally unhurried Tinson, who formed a formidable barrier in front of their limping custodian.

Although Pringle’s typical hooked passes were ineffective by the 10^th minute, it was the energetic midfielder who opened the scoring at that point. Duncum’s spade work fed Church inside from the left and the destructive midfielder laid the ball square for Sleath, who made room for a left-foot shot from 18 yards. Jones, the large Nantwich goalie, fell right but made such hard work of the save that he spilled the ball, almost in slow-motion and there was the lurking, into everything Pringle to smuggle a close range rebound over the Nantwich goal-line.

 Pringle stormed into the match and after a powerful left-wing run, his fine centre was simply watched by Morgan-Smith and Duncum and the chance went begging then Jones, really struggling, dropped Duncum’s right-wing centre, under pressure from Newsham, who was harshly penalised for a foul on the solid, if ailing ‘keeper. After a set-piece by the visitors, Church was dismissed for a clash with O’Loughlin, who cannily lay prone as the Ilson midfielder was singled out by the referee. The hosts looked deflated, Nantwich delighted but it was Ilson who threatened next when another rush out on the left by Pringle led to an unlikely glancing header by Duncum, which was collected in the large left glove of Jones, reaching upwards, like he was collecting his clock-card from a rack at work.

The game ought to have been made safe just 6 minutes from the end as Morgan-Smith intercepted the ball and ran for goal; he was fouled in the penalty-area by Tinson, who was booked and the striker snatched the ball, prevented Pringle from taking the spot-kick and despite his earlier wasteful finishing, seemed selfishly determined to be the hero. Not surprisingly, given the situation, the barely able to walk Jones fell right to parry the poor penalty-kick aside. Nantwich made one final effort to retrieve the situation and Whittaker headed Smith’s long ball towards Lennon, who failed to connect and Adamson collected then Tickle’s last gasp centre from the left was headed straight to Adamson by Kinsey and the game ended with Pringle taking the ball into channels to waste time.

Pringle smiled again! A lot! Weaver, despite earlier frailties had won the game with his header but credit to Nantwich, for their serious effort, against an Ilson team which was a pale shadow of its league-form self. Cahill’s indiscretion gave the visitors hope, as did Morgan-Smith’s wild finishing but the right team was promoted and Pringle must take the plaudits, rising from poor form to wrestle the advantage for his Robins and the delight was there for all to see. Jones was fortunate that Ilkeston were formless and Adamson was fortunate that his one fine save was critical, masking some indecision- his one weakness, you know..!

The frowning Ben Pringle's penalty hits the Orient net...

Job done and the Millers are back in the shootout...

2 VIDEO CLIPS HERE