11 Things About John Sheridan

HERE are 11 random things that you might like to know about John Sheridan.

HIS younger brother Darren – a midfielder with Barnsley, Wigan and Oldham – was Barrow’s player-joint manager when they won the FA Trophy against Stevenage in 2010.

AFTER his debut for Nottingham Forest, manager Brian Clough told him: “Young man, you’ve had a busy week – I’m going to give you a rest.” Clough never picked, or spoke to, him again.

IN his first season as manager at Oldham, the Latics won 12 out of 16 matches from November onwards; the following year, they tasted defeat just once in 14 matches from the beginning of November.

BORN in Manchester, he qualified to play for Ireland as both his parents are from Dublin.

HIS apparent consolation goal for Ireland in a 3-1 defeat by Spain in a qualifying game for the 1994 World Cup finals actually proved vital: had Ireland lost 3-0, they would have been pipped for qualification by Denmark.

HIS biggest management scalp came with Oldham five years ago, when they knocked Everton out of the FA Cup in a third-round tie at Goodison. He rewarded his players with a fish and chip supper.

HE has three times won a manager of the month award: with Chesterfield in Coca-Cola League 2 in October 2009 and February 2010; and with Oldham Athletic in Coca-Cola League 1 in November 2006.

HE scored Ireland’s100th international goal in 1994 against Bolivia at Lansdowne Road.

HE once scored an amazing free-kick for Oldham against Bristol Rovers, officially measured at 44.9 yards.

FOOTBALL management has not always been top of his agenda. “I’m going to see if coaching is for me,” he said, before taking his coaching badges, “and if it isn’t, I’ll buy an ice cream van.”

IN 2003, he registred as an Oldham player almost 12 months since his previous appearance. In his comeback, he netted a penalty at former club Sheffield Wednesday to earn the Latics a draw, and himself a standing ovation from both sets of fans.