Feethams memories: Drew Coverdale 1989

By Ray Simpson

Feethams memories:  Drew Coverdale 1989

 In the latest of our extracts from Farewell to Feethams, Drew Coverdale remembers the FA Cup t...

 

Farewell to Feethams book cover

In the latest of our extracts from Farewell to Feethams, Drew Coverdale remembers the FA Cup tie against Halifax Town

Drew was just a raw teenager when he was pushed into first team action by Brian Little for an FA Cup second round tie against Halifax in December 1989.

At that time, Quakers were in the Conference, and had already beaten Runcorn in the fourth qualifying round 4-2, and Northwich Victoria 6-2 to reach the second round stage.

And with Quakers' revival well under way, there was a good crowd of 4,041 inside Feethams that afternoon to see Drew capture the headlines against the Football League club in a 3-0 win by scoring one goal and setting up another.

Drew's display was a journalist's dream, because at the time he was studying for a physiotherapy qualification, and so the headlines and the copy wrote themselves.

"I was in the team because Frank Gray was out injured, and in my spare time I was studying for the FA Diploma of Management of Physiotherapy.

“The goal I scored was from a free kick, but it wasn't much. I didn't really hit it, but the ball took a deflection off the wall and went in past their keeper.

"I think it was the second goal which got everybody going. I ran from the halfway line and beat two or three defenders, and squared the ball for John

Borthwick to score.

"It was a giantkilling act by us, and we were covered on Match of the Day on the evening. I had to do an interview, because it was pretty unique that a physio was called up and then put Halifax out of the Cup."