Spencer Prior

[Harold Bishop Killer]

Spinner tonights step back into the arena (hopefully) as he is named on the bench for Manly United who play Sydney FC at Macquarie University.

Will give you an update tomorrow of how he did.

 

[SUFC Forever]

Blimey... I thought that the great man had quit so this is somewhat of a surprise to read this news.

I remember before he left meeting him at the club shop before he left and asking if he would play again in Aus and he said definately not and that he wanted to go into coaching.

Good luck to him in whatever he does however as Spinner is a Southend legend for sure.

 

[Ron Manager]

It would appear this is a coaching role. Manly United are playing Sydney FC's youth team and a place on the bench for a friendly doesn't neccesarily suggest a return to his playing career...maybe more a case of being short on players?

From the club's website -

Spencer Prior joins MUFC Coaching Staff Friday, 14 November 2008 MANLY United head coach Phil Moss has appointed former Manchester City English premier league star Spencer Prior as his assistant for the 2009 NSW Premier League campaign.In a major boost to the peninsula club, the former City, Norwich and Southend star will start his new role when pre-season starts on November 19. With long-serving assistants Les Macedo and Steve Berry both stepping down after a successful 2008 with the club, Moss – who has just agreed to another two years at Cromer Park - said it was essential to find the right coaches to fill the breach.
“Les and Steve were brilliant to work with and we had a great working relationship but they decided to step down for family reasons and I respect that,” Moss said.
“I’m delighted to have sorted out my position with the club. It is a great club to work for and they have been very good to me with regards my involvement with the Olyroos over the past two years. It’s an exciting time at the club and I want to continue to play my part.”

Prior will come in as assistant coach while retiring first grade captain Richy Williams will coach the under-20s with another former Manly United player Daniel Lock assisting him. “It’s a fantastic support staff for me and I know the players will respond to them in a very positive way,” Moss said.
“Spencer had an incredible playing career and the experience and knowledge he brings to the table will be invaluable. He and Richy are halfway through their AFC/FFA A-Licence too so they are serious about their coaching which suits me down to the ground.”
Prior played more than 200 EPL games during a glittering career in the UK before moving to Australia last year with his wife Clair and three daughters and settling on the Northern Beaches.
He is a respected panellist on Fox Sports EPL coverage and runs his own football distribution company Love Football.
Moss said Prior’s presence would provide the young players coming through at Manly United with invaluable insight into what it takes to be a professional footballer.
“We pride ourselves on being as professional a club as we can be at a semi-professional level and players must understand that being a professional footballer is not a tag – it’s a right you have to earn every day of your playing career,” the former Northern Spirit defender said.
“Spencer fought for his livelihood as a player in a tough place like England and I think our young players will flock to him for advice like bees to honey.”
The club’s player recruitment drive is going along well with former West Sydney Berries pair Scott Thomas and Josh Sama as well as 2008 Grade 20s Golden Boot winner Brodie Mooy (Marconi) all agreeing terms in the past fortnight.
Mooy will join the club when his National Youth League commitments with the Newcastle Jets are complete early next year.

The club has released Cameron Jones, Caetano Lima, Adam Israel, Keith Shevlin and Dusan Mihajlovic while both Richy and Micky Williams retired at the end of last season.
“We are nearly there with the squad and I’m happy with how the re-building process has gone so far,” Moss said.
“It was time to freshen up in a few areas and I think we’ve done that and there are some very promising local juniors coming through which I’m personally delighted about.“I’m probably looking for an experienced centre half as a priority at this stage.”

The club will assemble next week for the start of pre-season training and will play Sydney FC’s youth team on December 9.

 

[Che's Left Foot]

Manly United, what a great name

 

[Firestorm]

Manly United, what a great name

We have our own Manly United

 

[Shrimper2thecore]

Love that Southend got mentioned in that article, LEGEND!!

 

[Harold Bishop Killer]

Just an update. Spinner did play on Tuesday night against Sydney and even had a assist for a goal. He is now in Manly's plan for the premier league campaign.

From the website

MANLY United FC this week confirmed former Manchester City star Spencer Prior will play in the 2009 TeleChoice NSW Premier League.


In what will be a massive boost to the profile of the progressive club and the league in general the big central defender – who played more than 230 English Premier League games with City, Norwich and Leicester as well as several seasons in the English Championship with hometown club Southend United – has been training the house down with the peninsula club.

Head coach Phil Moss said Prior would combine playing with his assistant coaching duties.

“When I approached ‘Spence’ about coming on board as my assistant, he flagged the idea of having a run as well and we both went away and thought long and hard about it,” Moss said.

“He has nothing left to prove after a fantastic career but his desire to play and win is still as strong as ever. He wanted to play last year but things didn’t work out.

“We have lost a few defenders from last year in Roberto Hamad, Pascal Julliard and Adam Israel so I was looking for a central defender who could bring some experience to the backline and the dressing room.

“I don’t mind saying I feel like we have hit the jackpot with Spencer – he is already having an incredible impact around the place both on and off the field.

“Everything he does is done with intensity and a winning mentality and that is right up my alley. I want the other players to feed off that.

“He will definitely be a drawcard at Cromer Park and around the grounds in the NSWPL and is probably one of the biggest stars to play in the league for a long, long time. He will be the NSW Premier League’s very own marquee player.

“We have kept things a little quiet to see how he got through the first few weeks of pre-season but he has been leading the way in all aspects of our program from fitness to ballwork and I’m extremely confident he will take the field next season.”

Prior, 37, came through his first real test this week during Manly United’s 3-1 victory over the Sydney FC Youth team at Macquarie University.

While young midfielder Jamie Garside and strikers Robbie Cattanach and Craig Midgley grabbed the goals, it was Prior’s performance at the back – including a pinpoint 60m pass that set up the first goal of the game – that was the talking point.

Moss said while Prior will bring plenty of experience to the squad, one of his main objectives was to ensure that all young players learnt from a club-mate who has been to the very top level in club football.

“We are big on youth development at Manly United FC and a massive part of that is learning from senior players who have been there and done that,” the Manly United boss said.

“Our young defenders in particular will learn an incredible amount off someone like Spencer and I’ll be encouraging every player in the club to get to our games and study him on and off the field.

“He is not doing this coaching and playing gig for the money – I can assure you – he is doing it because he loves football and still has the legs, enthusiasm and passion to do it.”

Prior last played in the UK for Southend United in the English Championship in 2007, coached local Manly-Warringah Football Association premier league outfit Mosman in 2008 and has opened his own football gear distribution business – aptly named LoveFootball.

The game against Sydney FC was a chance for Manly United to run out new signings Prior, Scott Thomas and Josh Sama as well as have a look at some trialists including former AIS and Newcastle United NSL product Joel Grenell and ex-Manly United junior Joel Korocz.

Sixteen-year-old Lucas Neill Scholarship winner Joe Gibbs – who attracted interest from Ipswich and Blackburn during a recent trip to the UK - also made his first grade debut for the club during the match as well as playing a spell for the Sydney FC youth side earlier in the game.

“It was a great that (Sydney FC youth coach) Steve O’Connor agreed to the game during what is a busy schedule for them because it gave me a chance to run the eye over a few boys,” Moss said.

“I wanted a meaningful game to do that and Sydney certainly offered us that. Young Joey Gibbs is coming along nicely and I thought all our new players and trialists did well.”

Manly will now hit the beaches for a fortnight of intense soft-sand conditioning before a two-week break for Christmas and New Year starts on December 21.

 

[Ron Manager]

Breaking news over here is that he has signed for Newcastle Jets in the A-League untill the end of the season. Big surprise. Sadly we've already played them at Suncorp Stadium this year so I won't be seeing him in action live.

 

[Uncle Leo]

Breaking news over here is that he has signed for Newcastle Jets in the A-League untill the end of the season. Big surprise. Sadly we've already played them at Suncorp Stadium this year so I won't be seeing him in action live.

Just seen that come through on SSN.

Quite a few Aussie games are streamed live on Ladbrokes.com, hopefully that'll be one of the ones featured this weekend.

 

[Holy Joe]

Newcastle have signed veteran English defender and football analyst Spencer Prior for the rest of the A-League season.

The 37-year-old former Norwich City, Leicester City, Derby County and Manchester City player trained with the team on Tuesday ahead of Sunday's trip to Wellington.

Reigning premiers Newcastle, who are in last place and out of finals contention, have had their playing stocks hit hard this season.

Prior, who works for Fox Sports, joins as a guest player just days after the Jets lost captain Jade North to South Korean side Incheon United.

Prior helped Manchester City gain promotion to the English Premier League in 2000 but only made a handful of appearances in the top flight.

He joined third-tier Cardiff City in 2001 and helped them rise to the Championship before returning to his first club Southend in 2004, where he stayed until coming to Australia last year.

 

[Uncle Leo]

Just checked. For early risers, that game is on at 6am Sunday, free to people who have accounts with Ladbrokes, bet365 or Betfair (there may be other bookmakers offering it too). No need to have a bet, you just need to log in to watch it.

 

[Ron Manager]

Just checked. For early risers, that game is on at 6am Sunday, free to people who have accounts with Ladbrokes, bet365 or Betfair (there may be other bookmakers offering it too). No need to have a bet, you just need to log in to watch it.

But the better game is Friday night here, Friday morning your time (9 o'clock I think) Melbourne Victory vs Queensland Roar (3rd vs 2nd).

No ex-Shrimpers playing, but a very good top of the table clash in prospect (and if you are unlucky enough to be at work that day then stream it to your desk, nothing else will be going on that day).

 

[Uncle Leo]

But the better game is Friday night here, Friday morning your time (9 o'clock I think) Melbourne Victory vs Queensland Roar (3rd vs 2nd).

No ex-Shrimpers playing, but a very good top of the table clash in prospect (and if you are unlucky enough to be at work that day then stream it to your desk, nothing else will be going on that day).

I am at work :(

But watch it I shall. Thanks for the tip!

 

[Ron Manager]

Spinner not in the squad.