Steve Bleasdale

Steve Bleasdale
Teams managed
Years Team
2006 Peterborough United
2006–2007 Bangor City
2007–2009 Leigh Genesis

Steve Bleasdale is a Liverpool-born football coach. He has managed Bangor City, Leigh Genesis and Football League side Peterborough United and twice been assistant manager at Chester City.

Contents

Early years

Before entering management at Peterborough United, he was assistant manager to Mark Wright at Chester City when they won promotion from the Nationwide Conference in 2003-04. He was brought to the Posh again by Wright when he was appointed manager in the close season of 2005, after a spell as manager of Leigh RMI during the 2004–05 season.

Managerial career

Peterborough United and 'Big Ron Manager'

After an excellent start, winning five of his first seven games in charge, the club suffered a downturn in form with just one win in seven games. He quit just an hour before Posh's game with Macclesfield Town, claiming that others had been interfering with the team, in particular Ron Atkinson who had been brought to the club in a "Football Troubleshooting" capacity by Sky Television who were making a documentary for their channel Sky One called Big Ron Manager. As a manager, Steve favoured the long-ball game and tried to ensure his players would not be afraid to get stuck into the opposition when needs be. As Steve himself famously says "When it's a battle, you fucking battle!"

After resigning, Bleasdale tried to regain his job by withdrawing his resignation but Director Of Football Barry Fry refused to have him back at Peterborough. The two then came to a financial settlement.

Bangor City

He was appointed 'Bangor boss' in November 2006. After leading Bangor to a mid-table finish in the Welsh Premier League in the 2006-07 season he resigned as manager on 30 April 2007, citing the inability to sign English based players and long travelling times from his Liverpool home as his reasons.

Leigh Genesis and Chester

Moving closer to home Steve was appointed as Leigh RMI manager for the second time in October 2007.

Since then the club has changed its name to Leigh Genesis, and begun signing full time players, ahead of the 2008-09 season.

On 14 November 2008 Bleasdale again joined Mark Wright as assistant at Chester City.[1] But on 21 February 2009 it was announced he had left the club due to the lack of funds that club had.[2]

Coaching badges

Bleasdale has obtained both the UEFA A and Pro licences, which makes him one of the highest qualified coaches in the English football pyramid outside of the Premier League.[3]

References

  1. ^ "Chester reappoint Wright as boss". BBC Sport. 2008-11-14. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chester/7730031.stm. Retrieved 2007-11-14. 
  2. ^ Wheelock, Paul (2009-02-21). "Steve Bleasdale sacked by Chester City FC". Chester Chronicle. http://www.chesterchronicle.co.uk/chester-city-fc/chester-city-fc-news/2009/02/21/steve-bleasdale-sacked-by-chester-city-fc-59067-22979686/. Retrieved 2009-02-21. 
  3. ^ Walker, Stan (2007-10-15). "Leigh RMI FC Part Company with Humphreys". Official Leigh R.M.I. website at FootyMad.net. http://www.leighrmi-mad.co.uk/news/loadnews.asp?cid=TMNW&id=358218. Retrieved 2007-10-16. 
Bangor City F.C. – managers
  • Beaumont (1928–??)
  • Davies (1932–1935)
  • Hadley (1935–1936)
  • Pratt (1937)
  • Richardson (1948–1952)
  • Depear (1952–1957)
  • Jones (1957–1967)
  • McGrath (1967–1970)
  • Barnes (1970)
  • Doherty (1970–1972)
  • Smith (1972–1974)
  • Jones (1974–1975)
  • Ashworth (caretaker) (1975)
  • Rees (1975–1976)
  • Dave Elliott (1976–1978)
  • Mason (1978–1979)
  • Storton (1979–1980)
  • Hawkins (1980–1981)
  • Elliott (1981–1984)
  • Mahoney (1984–??)
  • Aspinall (??–??)
  • Mooney (??–??)
  • Owen (??–??)
  • Mahoney (??–1992)
  • Walley (1992)
  • Rowlands (1992–1993)
  • Adkins & Myers (1993–??)
  • Unknown (??–??)
  • Adkins & Myers (??–1996)
  • Griffiths (1996)
  • Langley (1996–1997)
  • Sharp & Hulse (1997–1998)
  • Rowlands (1992–1993)
  • King (1993)
  • Williams (1993–1999)
  • Appleton (1999–2001)
  • Davenport (2001–2005)
  • Jones (caretaker) (2005–2006)
  • Blackmore (2006)
  • Bleasdale (2006–2007)
  • Powell (2007–)