SHAUN GOATER’S arrival as New Mills‘ new assistant manager is already paying off according to boss Andy Fearne – no one’s skipping training!
Goater is a cult legend in English football after a goalscoring career that took in Rotherham, Bristol City and, most famously, Manchester City.
The Bermudan striker also had one of the most memorable chants sung to him.
‘Feed the Goat and he will score’. New Mills are convinced the big man’s magic will rub off on their players as they look to make the most of their Evo-Stik NPL Division One North relegation reprieve.
“The knowledge he’s got and is already expressing to the lads on the training ground is fantastic,” Fearne told The NLP.
“We’ve got some very young, exciting prospects at New Mills and it’s a great opportunity for them to learn a few things.
“You can already smell the expectation around the club. I would love to say it’s Andy Fearne being manager but it’s Shaun.
“In Non-League terms, it’s like if Ronaldo re-signed for Man United. The town of New Mills is buzzing. “And you can see a whole improvement in the lads. No one is throwing in the old, ‘I can’t get to training this week’. It’s great.”
Goater, who scored 84 goals in 184 games for Man City, was in the dug-out for their season opener with Scarborough Athletic yesterday.
A prior commitment in Dubai – where he’ll play a game alongside former team-mate Nicolas Anelka, means he won’t be at the club again until September. But Fearne says having him around on a permanent basis when he returns was the easiest decision he’s ever had to make.
“It’s a fantastic coup,” he said. “While I was at Stalybridge Celtic with Keith Briggs, Shaun actually got in touch with the club because he was doing his UEFA B and he needed some coaching sessions.
“He did quite a few sessions for the academy sides and came to a few of the games.
“Then last Wednesday I was going about my normal business and the phone rang. It was Shaun. He wanted to congratulate me on becoming manager and, after hearing on the grapevine I wanted some assistance, wanted to talk to me.
“I’d have been a nutcase to turn that opportunity down. It’s very hard for former players to get onto the Football League ladder. Shaun is keen to get into any level and start utilising the qualifications he’s got.”
Fearne, who has been part of Chester manager Steve Burr‘s backroom team at Nuneaton, Hucknall, Northwich Victoria, Stalybridge and Kidderminster, didn’t expect to be leading the Millers this season. He originally joined the club as Keith Briggs’ assistant last month.
But after just 23 days, a role for Briggs at Sheffield United’s academy proved too good to refuse, and Fearne stepped up.
“I wish I had another two weeks,” Fearne said. “My wife works in a school so I’m always away for the last week of July. “So I was away when Keith called me to say he was going to Sheffield United, which I totally understood. It’s a great job for him.
“So I was 5,000 miles away in America trying to make sure there were people who could run training while I was away. But we’ve got there and we’re looking forward to the season starting.”
