Chief reporter Jack Tolson delves into the Chronicle Archives of August 2003
NOW MARCELLE WALKS OUT ON HIS CLUB
OAKWELL rivals AFC Barnsley have been forced to appoint a new boss after former Reds’ player Clint Marcelle mysteriously walked out.
The new club set up by a group of fans fed up with the saga at Barnsley FC unveiled Clint as their player-manager last month and he was championed as the man to lead the club up the lower leagues.
But yesterday, they admitted that he has gone AWOL and so they have had to make alternative arrangements.
AFC chairman Paul Bestall told the Chronicle: “If you can find out what has happened to Clint I’d love to know.
“He came to the first open trial session and there were no problems everything seemed fine.
“We had sorted the kits and everything out for him.
“But we’ve heard nothing since. At the second session he didn’t turn up.
“We called him and he said his car was broken down and would call back but he didn’t ring and we haven’t heard a thing.
“We couldn’t wait forever and so I was pointed in the direction of someone else.”
CHARLIE EXITS DOGHOUSE
THE naughtiest dog in Barnsley is now so well behaved he’s in the final of the RSPCA Dog of the Year competition.
RSPCA volunteer Michelle Cunningham took in Charlie, a lurcher cross-breed, almost two years ago after he proved too much for any potential adoptive owner.
Now, aged two, he has become much easier to handle.
She entered him in the regional heats of the competition in York and to her surprise he was selected for the national finals in Surrey.
Michelle, of Worsbrough Common, said: “I’ve had him since he was 16 weeks old.
“He was rehomed as a puppy but sent back to the RSPCA because he was a handful.
“It was only supposed to be for a while but it’s become a bit of a permanent thing.
“He really did write the book on naughty dog tricks.
“It has taken a lot of patience but he’s much better.”
ALEX COMES TO THE RESCUE
YOUNG Alex Sykes is a hero to her parents and grandparents.
She quickly called for help when her mum Lindsay collapsed after complaining of a severe headache.
She put a cushion under her mum’s head, raised her feet and went to a neighbours to raise the alarm.
While waiting for the ambulance she found the contact number for her dad and called him.
Alex, ten, even helped her younger brother and sister get dressed in the meantime.
When the paramedics arrived she gave them Lindsay’s handbag with the medication she has for her high blood pressure.
Lindsay said: “Alex is my little hero.
“She saved my life that day and I want to tell her how much I love her.”
