Calum and Jack Come Of Age To Clinch The North Accolades

Our Manager of the Month is younger than many who have won the Player award this year.

To paint a terrifying picture to those who remember it so well, Calum McIntyre was just out of nappies when Michael Owen scored that goal against Argentina at World Cup 1998 in France.

But Chester saw something special in the 28-year-old and made their academy boss their man this summer.

He accepts he wouldn’t have been offered the opportunity if things were as they should be at the club.

But so far he has revelled in the challenge and what a November they had.

By the end of last month, the Seals already had five more away points on the board than they did in the whole of last season.

They went into December losing just once in 16 league games.

They had some tough away days in particular last month but passed all those tests with flying colours – wins at much-improved Spennymoor and Farsley saw them up the heat on the teams at the top.

They also became the first team to win at Scarborough for over a year.

Only three sides have scored more, and their defence is getting tighter with every game they play.

McIntyre was helped of course by the goals of Kurt Willoughby, who just lost out on the Player of the Month accolade after days of panel debate.

It eventually went to Darlington’s up-and-coming Jack Lambert, whose invention and goals have helped his club end the month in second place.

His team eased past AFC Telford, won at Kidderminster, defeated Alfreton twice and were also winners at Hereford in November.

The 23-year-old scored a hat-trick at Telford to get the month well and truly started.

Lambert scored twice against Alfreton in the Trophy and added one against Hereford.

But he went viral in that game when he almost scored from inside his own half, instead clipping the crossbar!

Forming a formidable partnership with Mark Beck, the club have the attacking options they hope can keep them in contention.

Well done to Calum and to Jack!