AFC Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe has said a chance meeting with a Kenna League manager inspired his side’s incredible comeback against Liverpool.
Howe (pictured, right) claims he used a surprise visit by the Thieving Magpies manager before the match to deliver a stirring half-time motivational speech. His side recovered from 0-2 down to win 4-3 last weekend.
“I couldn’t believe it when I saw an actual Kenna League manager in our stadium,” Howe said of the encounter with the ‘Pies boss.
“For me, just to be working in football and managing a side in the Premier League is a joy, but to manage a team at the top of the Kenna – the world’s leading London pub-based fantasy football league – that’s the ultimate dream.
“I said to the lads at half time ‘we’re amongst football royalty, there’s a Kenna League manager in the stadium today. Now you get out there and show him why he should consider signing you for more than £0.5m at next August’s auction’. The rest is history,” explained Howe.
The Thieving Magpies manager, who extended his lead at the top of Kenna by 12 points this week, said it was important to support young managerial talent coming through.
“I’m an English manager in the world’s top league which – whether I want it to or not – makes me a role model to guys like Eddie,” the ‘Pies gaffer told reporters outside the Vitality Stadium.
“It’s great to see these young English guys in the game. If he works hard and brings that creativity to bear in every match, in every training session, perhaps one day Eddie will be managing in the Kenna League too. We need to support the English talent pipeline,” said the manager whose policy of signing St George’s Cross players has not always brought success.
Bournemouth midfielder Jack Wilshere once criticised the Kenna League for having too many foreigners.
At the time only four Kenna managers hailed from south of the Watford Gap, thereby qualifying as English under Wilshere’s stringent nationality test.
Kenna table week 15
Roque Santa Claus Christmas Cup
1. (was 3=) Testicureds 120 (FC Testiculadew 60 / Walthamstow Reds 60)
2= (was 3=) Leeds Burqini 111 (Lokomotiv Leeds 43 / Burqini Pool Party 68)
2= (was 5=) So Good They Ate Pies Twice 111 (Thieving Magpies 63 / So Good They Named Him Twice 48)
4. (was 5=) Pikey Network Failure 98 (Pikey Scum 52 / Wandsworth Network Solutions 46)
5. (was 7) Lesbian Panda 94 (Sporting Lesbian 62 / Team Panda 32)
6. (was 10) Vauxhall Chinese Takeaway 93 (Young Boys of Vauxhall 60 / Adam Johnson Fan Club 33)
7. (was 2) Just Piss Poor 92 (Piss Poor 54 / Just Put Carles 38)
8. (was 1) Bala Monkeys 83 (Bala Rinas 48 / Northern Monkeys 35)
9. (was 11) Charlton Towers 79 (Sleptember XI 44 / Dynamo Charlton 35)
10. (was 8) The Peoples’ Front of Cowley 71 (Cowley Casuals 50 / Judean Peoples’ Front 21)
11. (was 9) Two Pegs One Hook 64 (ISIL 44 / Two Goals One Cup 20)
