Andy Preece reflects on his time with Blackpool in the 1990s.
Former Blackpool forward Andy Preece states Sam Allardyce was ahead of his time at Bloomfield Road - and believes the perception of him as a manager is unfair.
The Chorley head coach was signed from Crystal Palace by the now-famous football figure back in 1995, with his career on the Fylde Coast lasting three seasons.
Allardyce had been appointed 12 months prior, but was sacked following Preece’s first year after the Seasiders missed out on promotion to the First Division following a heavy home defeat in their play-off semi-final second leg meeting with Bradford City.
Join our new FREE WhatsApp Community today
All the latest news and top stories from across Blackpool and the Fylde coast directly to your phone.
The 71-year-old would go on to enjoy a successful career in the dugout, with a long list of clubs on his CV.
His next job after Blackpool came with Notts County, where he won the Third Division title, before taking over Bolton Wanderers in 1999.
The move to the then-Reebok Stadium was the start of Allardyce’s most fruitful period, with his eight-year spell with the Trotters featuring promotion to the Premier League, a European adventure, and a number of iconic players.
In the years after, the former Millwall and Preston North End defender would coach the likes of Blackburn Rovers, West Ham United and Everton, with a brief spell in charge of England also in the mix - which came to an end after one game due to scandal.
Andy Preece (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)placeholder image
Andy Preece (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Throughout that time, Allardyce was tagged as a ‘long ball manager’ - which leaves his former player Preece baffled, after seeing a different side to the coach who brought him to Bloomfield Road.
“You never knew about where he was going to end up in terms of how he did at Bolton and being England manager, albeit for a short time, but he was well ahead of his time,” he said.
“He was incredible with his attention to detail. He started with other people coming in and doing our warm-ups. You didn’t have sports science, so we weren’t used to that. Sometimes you’d go out to warm-up, and you’d just be banging the ball against the crossbar.
“When I think back, I think he was 10 or 15 years ahead of his time. He gets bad press about long balls, but we weren’t a long ball team; we played some unbelievable football at that time.
“We thought ‘why are we doing this’ with some of the things, but now everyone’s doing it. He was making us better and improving us, especially with the mental side of the game. It shows how bright he was.
“He was unfortunate with the way the circumstances went. We should’ve been promoted, and for me there wasn’t a lot he could’ve done. He got us into the position to get promoted, and we didn’t get over the line. It was more our fault than his fault. I do believe if he had stayed then we would’ve gone up the next season.
“I’m full of respect and admiration - I learnt a lot from Sam, and he went on to have a fantastic career.
“People just get a perception of him, but if you look at the players he had Jay-Jay Okocha and people like that - proper footballers.
“Once you get tarred with a brush, it seems to stick; I don’t get it. He’s unlucky with that.”
Preece shares contrasting relationships with Blackpool managers
Nigel Worthington (Photo by Mike Finn-Kelcey/Getty Images)placeholder image
Nigel Worthington (Photo by Mike Finn-Kelcey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Following Allardyce’s exit, Preece would later be coached by both Gary Megson and Nigel Worthington, with the latter handing him the captain’s armband.
The 59-year-old admits he experienced contrasting relationships with the two managers.
“They were chalk and cheese - Nigel was the one that gave me the captaincy but I didn’t get on with Gary Megson, he didn’t like me from day one,” he added.
“We never hit it off; although I think I had my best goalscoring season under him when he eventually had to put me in the team.
“I wanted to prove him wrong, but you should be like that anyway. You can still have a relationship with a manager and be left out, but he’s the only one I didn’t get on with. You just don’t hit it off with some people.
“If Sam had stayed, I felt we would’ve got promoted, because Gary came in and wanted to change things and do it his own way, but he then went back to Sam’s team.
“I was pleased to see Nigel Worthington come in, and he was great with me. I really enjoyed it. He was a really good coach, and had Mick Hennigan with him who’s a fantastic character. We had a half decent season, but just missed out again on the play-offs.”
Continue Reading