Alex Revell Tribute – Why ‘Revs’ Cardiff Move Has Left Millers Feeling Blue

It is a couple of weeks now since Rotherham United striker Alex Revell finally completed his transfer to Cardiff City, bringing to a close a four-year spell with the South Yorkshire side. The 31-year-old striker is (or was) the Millers’ top-scorer this season with 4 goals, and moves across the border for a fee in the region of £175,000.

To many it may appear a strange signing. For Cardiff supporters, Revell probably won’t be deemed a big signing, nor is he a big goalscorer (though he is certainly a scorer of big goals).

What he certainly is, however, is a big character, and a huge asset to any side. Revell will be sorely missed by the club that now mentions his name among the likes of Towner, Moore, Lee and Le Fondre.

This article pays tribute to Alex Revell – a man who’d chase the sun ’til it got away – and would still believe he could reach it.

When the striker joined the Millers from Leyton Orient for an undisclosed fee in Summer 2011, Revell was a little-known name among Rotherham folk; now it’s a name the town will never forget.

Revell arrived with big expectations – he had finished as the O’s top-scorer with 16 goals the previous year – in the division above Rotherham. He had also enjoyed prolific spells with Braintree, Brighton, and Wycombe. Despite this, the goals dried up somewhat during Revell’s time with the Millers, although the striker still netted a respectable 34 times in 154 appearances.

Everybody talks about the importance of a goalscorer, yet Revell may have been United’s most valuable asset as they achieved back-to-back promotions. Whilst a small section of supporters voiced their frustrations at Revell’s lack of goals, the majority saw past this, and were able to identify his greater attributes. Let’s not forget why Cardiff came calling. Why would such a big club with ambitions for an immediate Premier League return want an ageing striker who isn’t good enough for the second-tier? They wouldn’t.

The thing with Alex Revell is that you know exactly what you get; and what you get is the ultimate professional. People often talk about football’s arrogance. You only have to look at personalities like Joey Barton or Mario Balotelli to get the gist; lazy, idle, overrated.

Revell is the polar-opposite, and in this sense not just a credit to himself, but to the wider game. Upon joining the club, Revell soon won over supporters with his work-rate, drive, and resilience. He became quickly defined and admired as a man who always gives his all and would do so every week until his departure.

For the three and a half years I have had the pleasure of watching Revs, I have seen him take boot after boot, elbow after elbow, and arm after arm for the good of his teammates. I also cannot recall ever seeing the striker give up on anything as a lost cause.

Admittedly at the age of 21, I probably have plenty more football to see. Thus far, however, I am yet to see any player who works harder than Revell. Nor have I seen such an effective target-man. The striker refers to himself as ‘therevmeister’ on his twitter account, and is affectionately known as ‘Revs’ by supporters – apt names for a man with such an engine – an engine that seems to be entirely fueled by sheer passion.

Revell defines himself on twitter as the ‘the best pram walking work horse in the CHAMPIONSHIP’. This lets on more than you may initially think, and indeed his relationship with Millers supporters stretches beyond the pitch. The striker is, by his own recognition, a family man – a quality which makes him all the more likeable.

Revell’s characteristic cheeky grin has also been at the heart of many a community campaign. Revell’s capitalisation of ‘Championship’ sends out a clear message; ‘we did it’. The journey from the dismal days at Don Valley (R.I.P) in League 2 to recent successes is one the striker has very much shared with supporters, from those cold nights in Torquay to that special day in the Wembley sun last May.

It is therefore reasonable to claim promotion meant as much to Revell as anybody, and it was heartwarming to see the striker passionately singing the lyrics back to the Rotherham faithful as Sinatra’s ‘New York, New York’ rung out of the Wembley PA system.

While those play-offs capped a sensational 2 years for a rejuvenated Rotherham, they also marked the end of a fine season for Revell as an individual.

The striker ended the season with 13 goals – more than double the amount he scored the previous campaign in League 2 – and 3 of which were huge.

Revell started as he meant to go on in the play-offs, with a belter in the semi-final first leg against Preston. The striker flicked on Ben Pringle’s ball down the left touchline before chasing down his own header, covering a good 40 yards in total to slot home.

But the best was yet to come. With Rotherham 2-0 down in the play-off final against Revell’s former club Leyton Orient, Revs netted the most important brace in Rotherham United’s history. With the Millers in desperate need of a response, Revell stabbed home.  It wasn’t pretty, but it was huge.

The second was just breathtaking. The striker picked up Kieran Agard’s knockdown and unleashed “the most perfect dipping volley you are ever going to see”, sending the Rotherham faithful into raptures. And the rest, as they say, is history.

So thank you for all of your efforts ‘Revs’, and good luck. You leave a 6ft 2″ sized hole in Rotherham hearts. After all, your time with the Millers truly has been ambitious…but brilliant.

It’s Not All Doom and Gloom for Graduating English Students

It is a cruel and frustrating time for modern-day graduates up and down the country. While we are led to believe that things are on the up after the economic slump of recent years, it is getting tougher and tougher for graduates to find opportunities to begin their careers. Coming from somebody who is still experiencing this problem first-hand, it can be a frustrating and near soul-destroying process. Having graduated in July, I have sent hundreds of CV’s and job applications off only to hear very little back. Even after the perfect interview, the deal is by no means done in this day and age, and I had one company tell me they ‘really liked me, thought I came across really well, and didn’t put a foot wrong’ before telling me that unfortunately I had come a very close second.

Indeed, in the present day things are perhaps even tougher for the English student than for graduates of other disciplines. While these are hard times for any would-be-workaholic looking for an opportunity to take that all important first step on the career ladder, many courses leave their students prepared to do so, with some even directing them towards a specific job role, while others teacher the necessary vocational skills and experiences to succeed in a particular industry. For the English graduate the career path is not quite so clear, and I have to admit that for the first two-and-a-half years of my degree I endured an internal panic about what post-university life would bring, while my peers appeared to have it all ‘mapped out’. I find it slightly amusing even now, three-and-a-half years after I first enrolled at university, that each time my own experience crops up in conversation, somebody automatically assumes I’m going to be a teacher.

Yet while English graduates are not ‘designed’ with a specific career path in mind, this can be an advantage. Contrary to popular belief, English students may actually be the most employable of all, and in fact my fellow bookworms can be found working in a number of trades, from events management to songwriting. Arctic Monkeys front-man Alex Turner was even planning on studying an English degree before the band first went viral. Perhaps this should not be so surprising, as English degrees equip their students with a number of core and transferable skills that are not only valued by employers, but frequently cited as ‘essential’ on thousands of job specifications. I left university with not only good writing skills, but strong communication (written and verbal), research, analytical, and team-working skills, as well as a much more creative mind – and I didn’t even realise it! Nor did I realise that while I sat at my desk or in the library for all those hours, reading articles, making notes, highlighting entire novels and writing essay after essay, I was actually working in a fast-paced and high pressure environment where I was required to handle multiple projects at a time, and independently. Furthermore, as a member of the ‘online generation’, computers, smartphones, Microsoft Office, and social media are all second nature to me,and again this is an attractive trait to employers. There are even ‘social media’ career opportunities, as companies look to expand their online presence and make every effort to form relationships with their clients and customers (yes, there are people who will pay you to tweet for them!). PR, communications, and digital marketing also present exciting career paths that allow English graduates to show off their communication skills, writing ability, and creative flair. By sourcing the right work experience opportunities, however, English graduates can more than likely work in whatever industry they please.

Regrettably this is opening another can of worms altogether, and it is currently difficult for graduates secure even unpaid opportunities. I myself have been actively seeking work experience opportunities since late October, but despite making countless enquiries throughout the Yorkshire region, very few employers have been open to the idea of a work placement. I have also had one placement postponed by the employer on two occasions.

Taking this into account, ‘networking’ is surely the golden word for current graduates. As the old saying goes: ‘it is who you know not what you know’ – so make yourself known! As a modern-day graduate, you are more than likely a member of the online generation, and a social media guru, so make sure you use this to your advantage. Twitter and LinkedIn in particular are priceless tools for establishing your online presence, and for making you visible to thousands of employers. While LinkedIn allows you to create a professional profile, the magic of twitter means than users can pretty much control who sees their tweets, meaning you can more or less force an employer to read your post.That is not to say you should bombard a potential employer’s inbox on a daily basis, but Twitter remains a useful tool for getting noticed. These sites also allow you to sell yourself before you have even sent off your CV, which is again pivotal in this day and age.

I also recently read an article that described how it is currently easier to find work through the ‘invisible job market’ than by directly applying for advertised vacancies. This makes sense, as many vacancies receive hundreds of applications, making it near impossible to stand out and be remembered even if your CV is the best in the pile. It is often a case of being in the right place (or sending the right email) at the right time. This means maintaining contacts is key. Drop the employer a friendly reminder of your interest every couple of months or so, but without pestering. Even simply sending an indirect tweet citing the type of work and location you are looking for shows you are attempting to fully apply yourself.

While you take these steps, blogging is also a useful means of spending your time in a productive manner. As an English graduate you can probably write about anything! A lifelong football enthusiast and sports addict, I initially wrote a couple of articles last year initially as a CV filler. On my current blog on 90min, a dedicated football site, I have written 12 articles so far, accumulating 11,081 hits, whilst also showing off my writing skills and my ability to write engagingly for an online audience at the same time.  I have also shown a brief knowledge of SEO (search engine optimisation, i.e making people notice you) and enjoyed myself at the same time. In fact the site’s editors have been so impressed with my writing that they have offered me an internship. 90min also have partnerships with the PFA (Professional Footballers Association), LMA (League Managers Association), the Independant, the Guardian, the Huffington Post, the Mirror, ITV, and GQ to name but a few, and that is a huge platform for me. In a nutshell, what I am saying is be productive, but enjoy yourself at the same time, and you never know how many doors you may open.

In summary, it is a tough and competitive world out there, but you will find your opportunity eventually. That employer may be looking for you right now, so make yourself visible, and be sure to complete these steps; 1) Know your worth. 2) Sell yourself. 3) Establish your online presence. 4) Be productive (but enjoy yourself!). 5) Network, network, network!

After all, your perfect role could be right around the corner, you just need to let your employer know..

Rotherham United: What can we expect from the Millers upon their return to the Championship?

By Liam Wheeler

When Tony Stewart took over as Rotherham chairman in May 2008 he promised a spectacular new home and Championship football within five years (Millers fans have forgiven him for needing six). At the time it seemed an idealised and near far-fetched image, but six years on Stewart has delivered, and has been rewarded with the freedom of Rotherham for his efforts. In the eyes of the Millers faithful there really is only one Tony Stewart, and they won’t let you forget it in a hurry. Having now found themselves in the second-tier once again, however, the question on the lips of the Rotherham faithful is ‘what next?’, and just how will the Millers fare in a division that’s offering more and more competition for audiences to the top flight?

Boss Steve Evans has wasted no time in putting together a squad that contains a wealth of experience ahead of the new campaign, and the likes of Paul Green (Leeds), Matt Derbyshire (Nottingham Forest) and Richard Wood (Charlton) could prove to be invaluable coups. Evans has in fact recruited eleven new faces in the two months since United’s fairy-tale day at Wembley. Febian Brandy (Sheffield United), Kirk Broadfoot (Blackpool), Matt Sadler (Crawley), Connor Newton (Newcastle), Jordan Bowery (Aston Villa), Scott Loach (Ipswich), Ryan Hall (MK Dons) and Frazer Richardson (Middlesborough) complete Evans new recruits thus far.

It is fair to say Evans has made some useful additions. Scott Loach had a bright start to his career at Watford, but struggled for opportunities at Ipswich. Yet at the age of 26 he remains an exciting prospect, and has impressed in pre-season. In addition to the experienced heads of Wood, Broadfoot and Richardson in United’s back four, Bowery, Brandy and Newton add hunger and energy to the Millers attack, and will be a real handful for any opposition if Evans can get the trio playing to their full potential. Rotherham in fact broke their transfer record to snap up Bowery for a fee rumoured to be in the region of £250,000. Connor Newton could also have a key role to play alongside Ben Pringle and Lee Frecklington in midfield after fans’ favourite Michael O’Connor’s release and Wembley hero Richard Smallwood’s return to Middlesborough. The Millers have since failed in an attempt to bring Smallwood back to the New York Stadium, however Rotherham’s chances may increase should ‘Boro land Huddersfield star Adam Clayton.

Rotherham’s chances of success will also largely depend on the clubs ability to retain several of their star players, with Sky Sports reporting interest in promotion heroes Alex Revell, Ben Pringle, Lee Frecklington and Kieran Agard. Leeds United in particular have been linked with three of the former, yet Evans insists the quartet are not for sale. Pringle was named in the League One team of the year last season, while Agard notched an impressive 26 goals, including the goal to take the Millers to Wembley, despite starting the majority of games on the wing. In addition to this fitness could prove to be Rotherham’s greatest strength, and under the guidance of fitness guru Paul Warne (the fittest forty-one-year-old you’ll ever meet), the club assembled the fittest squad in League One last term, which led to Rotherham securing more late points than any other side in the division.

Yet the Millers are now rubbing shoulders with the big boys such as Derby County, Cardiff City. Fulham, and Wigan, and it has been questioned as to whether Rotherham have access to the same level of resources and fan-bases as some of these sides. Evans has already missed out on the permanent signatures of James Tavernier who signed for Wigan on a higher wage, and Nouha Dicko (January) who chose to move to Wolves. Rotherham have become the little fish in the big pond, and this could hinder their chances of Championship success.

Then again, United wouldn’t have it any other way. In their eyes the doubters are there to be proved wrong. After all, the club were written off time and time again by experts and fans alike in League One last season, and we all know how that finished. Evans and Stewart have already targeted Premier League football, and while it may sound ambitious, fewer and fewer are daring to mock the mighty Millers. Regardless, little old Rotherham will continue to dare to dream. One things for sure though, come August 9th, the Millers won’t be there to make up the numbers.

 

Rotherham United: the Fall and Rise

By Liam Wheeler

 

Ambitious but brilliant – three words that have been on the lips of every Miller since Rotherham United’s fairy-tale ending to their day in the Wembley sun. And for many supporters such as myself, it’s hard to find three words more apt for describing the club’s transformation over the last two-to-three years. Alex Revell’s stunning Wembley brace inspired the Millers to complete back-to-back promotions for the second time in thirteen years, and put the names of the current crop among the greats such as Tony Towner, Alan Lee, and of course, Ronnie Moore. This time, however, there’s a real sense of belief among Rotherham folk that the club can go even further.

Yet for the Millers faithful the climb has been long and testing. In 2005 the club crashed out of the then Coca-Cola Championship after achieving just twenty-nine points and five wins. Worse was to come, and two years later United were relegated to League Two and fighting the unthinkable prospect of liquidation. Bucket collections took place throughout South Yorkshire in a bid to ‘Save the Millers’ at a time when any future looked bleak. When Stewart took the reigns in June 2008, Rotherham’s future was far from secure.  The following season, after been exiled from their Millmoor home of over a hundred years, United found themselves playing their football in the now demolished Don Valley Stadium –  an athletics stadium in neighbouring city Sheffield. Yet while Don Valley was fit for discovering the likes of Olympic champion Jessica Ennis, for football it was not, and the stadiums lack of atmosphere had a telling effect on attendances as home gates averaged just 3,500. In addition to this, the club were hit by a 17 -point penalty (taking their total points deduction to 37 over three seasons), with the promise to be plying their trade back in Rotherham within four seasons. Despite this, Rotherham enjoyed a degree of success at Don Valley. In their first season the club wiped out a 17-point-deficit in just eight weeks. Without this deduction, the Millers would have gone in to the final game of the season knowing a win would have seen them promoted. They also enjoyed several successful cup runs, and claimed the scalps of higher division sides such as Sheffield Wednesday, Wolves, Leicester City, Southampton, and Leeds United. A year later, led by Ronnie Moore once again, and inspired by high caliber signings such as Adam Le Fondre  (Cardiff) and Nicky Law (Rangers), the club found themselves at Wembley to play Dagenham and Redbridge for a place in League One – a side the Millers had already beaten twice that season. Rotherham lost the game 3-2, and the following March Moore departed after a 5-0 thrashing at rampant rivals Chesterfield. Despite sitting sixth, and just six points off the automatic promotion places,at that time, Rotherham finished ninth. The following season, despite being title favourites and league leaders early on, the Millers finished tenth, and manager Andy Scott was shown the door. It was time for change.

The appointment of Steve Evans in May 2012 made the Scot United’s tenth manager in just seven years, but proved to be the turning point in Rotherham’s fortunes. With the clubs’ £20 million ‘New York Stadium’ nearing completion at the time of Evans’ appointment, Millers fans could finally see a touch of glamour on the horizon. Inspired by the club’s stunning new home, Stewart and Evans wasted no time in forming the perfect working relationship. It’s a relationship in which equality is key, and if you should ask either who deserves the credit for Rotherham’s rise, each will point to the other. In contrast to your Cardiff’s, Hull’s, and Nottingham Forest’s, Rotherham have something that even football’s elite can only dream of: a chairman and manager who work together. Stewart and Evans have thus far delivered indisputable success, and promise to continue doing so. They have a relationship fundamentally built on honesty, determination,ambition, hard work, passion, grit, and resilience. This level of resilience is further reflected on the pitch. After a successful first eight months in their new home, a slight hiccup meant the Millers  needed maximum points in their final five games of the season to guarantee League One football the following season. Goals from Johnny Mullins and Lee Frecklington saw the Millers complete the impossible, and the sun shone on New York as Rotherham returned to League One at the sixth attempt.

Dream team: Tony Stewart and Steve Evans celebrate at Wembley (Source: the Star)

What followed was even more spectacular, and resilience was once again at the core of Rotherham’s success. The Miller’s found themselves 3-1 down at Crewe with just five minutes to play on the opening day of the season, yet stormed back to take a point courtesy of Lee Frecklington’s stoppage time equaliser. In fact Rotherham recovered more points from losing positions that any other side in League One last season, and the Millers even came from behind three times to win at Gillingham. Furthermore, no side managed the double over the Evans’ side. This determination and grit saw the Millers defy the odds to reach the League One play-offs, and had Rotherham fans dreaming of a double-promotion once more. In the play-offs the Millers’ sense of belief grew even stronger. After Joe Garner’s wonder-goal cancelled out Alex Revell’s 40 yard run and finish to ensure level terms going into the second-leg, the Millers fell behind on fifteen minutes after Paul Gallagher’s freak free-kick evaded everybody, including Millers keeper Adam Collin. The response of the home support was overwhelming, and before Preston had finished celebrating, New York had risen to it’s feet in full voice. Spurred on by incredible support, the Millers came back to win 3-1, and secure a place at Wembley against Leyton Orient.

But the best was yet to come. After an uninspired first half performance at Wembley saw Orient lead 2-0 at the interval,courtesy of a Moses Odubajo rocket and a Dean Cox tap in, Millers fans could have been forgiven for feeling it was game over. But if we’ve learnt anything this season it’s to never write this Rotherham side off. In his team Evans has put together not only a side full of self-belief, but a team who work tirelessly for each other until the very last ball is kicked. Within fifteen minutes of the restart, Alex Revell’s brace against his former club had hauled United back into the game.The first came on 55 minutes, a typical poachers finish as Revell stabbed into an empty net following an error from Orient keeper Jamie Jones. The second was breathtaking. Ben Pringle robbed Moses Odubajo of possession and looked down the line towards Kieran Agard, Agard nodded down to Revell who controlled the ball on his knee before unleashing ‘the most perfect dipping volley you are ever going to see’ in the eyes of the Sky Sports commentary team, to beat Jamie Jones from 35 yards. It was such a remarkable finish that Steve Evans even almost lost his trousers.THAT goal took the Millers to extra-time and penalties, and the rest, as they say, is history. The Millers went on to win the shoot-out, again coming from  behind, and send the 18,000 travelling Millers into raptures.

Ambitious but Brilliant: Alex Revell was Rotherham’s hero against Orient. (Source: Sheffield Telegraph)

So what now? Stewart promised the club would be playing championship football within five years when he became the club’s chairman, but he can be forgiven for needing six. Now both he and Steve Evans have their eyes on the Premier League, and the genuine belief that the club can get there. It’s bold, and ambitious, but ambition is what Rotherham United are made of.

As Sinatra sounds out of the Wembley PA system, it’s a time that indeed everybody does want to be a part of. And as the Millers prepare for their second-tier return, Rotherham folk really do believe that they can make it just about anywhere. So start spreading the news, the Millers are back in the Championship, and who knows what will follow? The journey has been ambitious, but brilliant, and it isn’t over yet.

Sky Bet League One preview: Rotherham United V Leyton Orient

By Liam Wheeler

A spring in his step: Orient will have to deal with Millers hot-shot Kieran Agard

New York Stadium provides football fans with what promises to be an enthralling top-of-the-table clash on Saturday afternoon, as play-off hopefuls Rotherham United play host to high-flying Leyton Orient. The Millers have been a surprise package in the promotion race this season, and will be looking to add to their mid-week win over struggling Tranmere in a bid to cement their status in the top six. Orient have lost just one of their last twelve in the league respectively, and know a win could see them leapfrog Wolves to regain top spot.

Rotherham are boosted by the news that on loan Newcastle duo Harris Vuckic and James Tavernier have extended their stays until the end of the season, but captain Craig Morgan remains sidelined after surgery. Millers boss Steve Evans is again expected to prefer Richard Smallwood to fans’ favourite Michael O’Connor in midfield, while Daniel Nardiello is unavailable after making his loan move to Bury permanent this week.

Orient manager Russell Slade has said this week that his side must be ‘relentless’ if they are to gain promotion to the Championship. His side will be without goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic after the on-loan Hull man was recalled as cover for suspended shot-stopper Allan McGregor, however the visitors are not expected to make any further changes to the side that beat Coventry for the third time this season on Tuesday.

The hosts currently sit 5th in the table, three points inside the play-offs and a point behind Preston in 4th, while Orient are two points behind leaders Wolves but with a game in hand.

Sheffield Wednesday V Barnsley – Match Preview

By Liam Wheeler

Action Shot: Wednesday captain Anthony Gardner (right) battles with Scott Wiseman in October’s 1-1 draw at Oakwell.

Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough stadium will host one of the Sky Bet Championship’s most important derbies of the season on Saturday, as the Owls welcome South Yorkshire rivals Barnsley for a crucial crunch-match at the bottom end of the table, with both sides looking to increase the the pressure on their relegation rivals.

Wednesday finally seem to have found consistency in recent weeks under Stuart Gray, and will be confident of making it ten games unbeaten on the bounce at home to a Barnsley side who haven’t beaten the Owls since February 2009, and have lost three of their last five against the hosts.

The Owls will be without striker Connor Wickham after Sunderland recalled the striker from his loan spell ahead of Wednesday’s 1-1 draw at Millwall on Tuesday night. Midfielder Giles Coke also misses out after being sent off late on in the game for violent conduct. Defenders Reda Johnson and Glenn Loovens are both out, but striker Benik Afobe is expected to make his debut after signing on loan from Arsenal on Thursday afternoon.

Ex-Wednesday striker Chris O’Grady has become a regular source of goals for Barnsley since joining the club permanently last season, and he scored another important brace to help his side to a valuable point against Blackburn in mid-week. Full back Jack Hunt is expected to go straight into the squad after signing on a three-month loan deal from Premier League side Crystal Palace, who the youngster has yet to feature for since breaking his ankle last August, while goalkeeper Iain Turner has signed until the end of the season.

Ahead of kick-off Wednesday lie 20th in the table, six points in front of 23rd placed Barnsley, and three points in front of Charlton who occupy the dreaded third relegation spot.

Home supporters wanting to purchase tickets for the clash can do so here:
http://shop.sheffieldwednesday.co.uk/events.aspx