Ian Porterfield

[DifferentClass]

Still haven't got over us sacking him. He went on to manage Chelsea then some national team in Africa I think.

Also managed Armenia, which stands out to me for some reason.

 

[djbaldken]

Signed my sons jr blades card the morning he was born

Yes he gave us some great memories when we're in division four.

He was of course manager of our neighbours Rotherham Utd before he came to us. At the time I was the resident DJ at the Windmill nightclub in the old Millmoor ground. I also managed a side in the Rotherham Sunday league as it was then.
Towards the end of the season I arranged our club awards presentation night in the Windmill and made sure it was on a night when Rotherham were at home. I wrote to Porterfield and asked him if would would present the awards knowing he would be around that night. He kindly agreed and turned up and presented each player with their awards.
That year I had a new award, Clubman of the Year. It was for the person who had shown willing to do various jobs without fuss or bother. Someone who just got on with it. It went to the goalkeepers brother. Nobby. Nobby wasn't a regular in the team. But he turned up for every game, home and away. He was never guaranteed a game but if ever we were short he just put on a pair of boots, any size, and played. In fact he once played in a pair that had the knife inside it that we used to cut up the half time oranges. He didn't realise it was in there till he took the boots off at the end of the match. I seem to recall he scored a brilliant goal too that game.
Anyway, before I gave it this award I explained what it was about. I mentioned it was going to someone who had been very LOYAL throughout the season. Then Nobby s name was announced and Porterfield shook his hand and presented him the award. There were a couple more awards handed out afterwards and I then thanked Porterfield for attending.
At this point Porterfield asked for the mic and gave a speech himself. He spoke at length about the Clubman award saying how important it was to have people like that in a club. The main thrust of his speech was about LOYALTY. We all reflected afterwards on what a good speech it was.
Two days later he left the Miller's to join us!!!

 

[John Street West Terrace]

Good manager for us at the time he came in as we’d hit rock bottom , with Brearleys backing got us back up the second tier with a couple of memorable promotions . Sadly became a victim of his own success at the end when our season fizzled out in 85/86 .
Had the pleasure of meeting him as a young un playing the juniors at the time & found him to be a lovely bloke . RIP IP

 

[bruce]

Our league position improved every season that he was in charge.

 

[John Street West Terrace]

Our league position improved every season that he was in charge.

Very good point that .. it was downhill after that with Sargent Major McEwan & with Brearley’s business troubles for the next couple seasons … thank god we got Bassett after or we would have really been in the shit