Droylsden manager David Pace confounds the critics
IF anyone in non-league football has ever deserved the label controversial it has to be David Pace.
He has constantly been in the headlines, often for reasons he may have preferred to avoid, but in little less than four years as chairman of Droylsden he has never shied from taking difficult decisions if he believes them to be in the best interests of his beloved club.
Sometimes those decisions, such as putting himself in charge of team affairs after parting company with his eighth manager, have led to hoots of derision. But he has always had confidence in his own abilities and his version of the future. Now, with the Bloods riding high in the UniBond first division after ten weeks of the season, it is the Butchers Arms chairman who would appear to be having the last laugh.
With Dave Pace around one thing is certain, there will never be a dull moment. Love him or hate him, consider him a visionary or a madman, there is one fact no one can argue with. Pace is dedicated to Droylsden and, whatever may happen, it’s his avowed intention to make the club a power in the land.
In his comparatively short time at the Butchers Arms he has seen the club go to the very brink of disaster. In 1996 they were relegated from the UniBond premier division. During the following season, a series of criminal attacks left the Bloods without a social club, without floodlights, and even without dressing rooms. It was a series of setbacks that had even Pace wondering if he should call it a day.
However, after much thought, he decided to stay and now, almost literally, a phoenix is rising from the Ashes.
He explained: “It’s because of my dad that I’ve carried on and that’s why I’ve decided to name the new main stand the William Pace stand after him. If it wasn’t for him I would have packed it all in.
“I felt that I couldn’t continue but he convinced me to keep going. Now, I’m looking to bring the Butchers Arms up to Football League standard — something that seemed impossible when I took over.”
Pace’s devotion to the Bloods goes back to the late 1970s when he was a member of the youth side. The manager was Albert Tivey and Droylsden, although members of the Cheshire League, were enjoying a purple patch in the FA Cup.
In 1978 they even reached the second round. Had they managed to beat Altrincham they would have come up against Tottenham Hotspur. It is, perhaps, no surprise the Pace continually uses those glory days as the yardstick against which to measure the success of his own side.
However, the paths to David Pace and Droylsden AFC were soon to diverge. He moved abroad, spending time in the USA and playing football in Greece. After their heady FA Cup heights, the Bloods finished bottom of the Cheshire League second division in 1982. When the North West Counties League was formed the following year they found themselves in division two.
Recovery was a slow process but in 1987, under the management of Mark Fallon and Taffy Jones, they won the title and the following August became founder-members of the NPL first division and won the inaugural first division cup.
Four years later, led by Phil Staley, and despite having seven points deducted for various misdemeanours, they won promotion to the premier division.
There was great expectation among the fans as they prepared to rub shoulders with the big boys but things quickly started to go wrong. Within months Staley was gone and although the Bloods finished in 13th place they were finding the going tough.
Pace returned to the Butchers Arms in 1993, joining as a director before succeeding Dave Sterling as chairman 12 months later. He commented: “When I came back to Britain I had a couple of bob and was looking to get involved in football.
“The only place I was interested in was Droylsden and when I saw they were in a little bit of trouble I rang up and made myself available.”
As ever, Pace had great plans for the club but he could hardly have imagined how difficult — and eventful — the ensuing years would be. He gave Stan Allan a few months but even though the former Altrincham and Witton boss led the Bloods to Manchester Premier Cup success it was not enough to save him.
He was sacked midway through the 1993-94 season and his assistant, Jimmy Coffey, was given charge until the end of the campaign. Droylsden retained their premier division status but only just.
By the following August the late Pete O’Brien was in the hotseat, surprising everyone by leaving Hyde United to accept the job. It proved a turbulent period. In fact, at one point, O’Brien was sacked, replaced by Phil Staley, and reinstated within a matter of hours (I never had to rewrite a back page lead so many times and so quickly!).
Despite O’Brien’s formidable record, the season degenerated into another battle against relegation and he resigned in May, 1995.
The next man to have a try at reviving the Bloods’ fortunes was Roy Soule, but he left by mutual consent. Manchester United defender Arthur Albiston was then given the job but his time in charge was short and ended in an acrimonious sacking.
Pace then took command but it was too late. Even though results picked up there was insufficient time to turn things round and Droylsden were relegated.
On to August, 1996, and former Warrington Town manager Tommy Lawson was in charge. He lasted until November. Then it was Dalton Steele, who had guided Flixton to the NWCL championship and the semi-finals of the FA Vase. He quit just before Christmas.
Under fire from all sides, Pace took part in a memorable interview on BBC Radio Manchester, locking horns with Jack Dearden. Subjected to a volley of piercing questions he refused to give way and continually insisted: “I’m the best there is and I expect the best.” It’s a philosophy to which he still adheres.
With so many managers disposed of in such a short period of time it was becoming apparent that no one was going to come up to Pace’s expectations. The only option was for him to assume the mantle and he finally grasped the nettle in time for the start of the 1997-8 campaign, promising that he would lead the club to promotion that season or resign.
The result, much to the consternation of his critics, has so far been a successful one. On the field, the Bloods asserted themselves as early-season leaders. Off it, Pace continued to transform the Butchers Arms, ploughing in something like £1.5 million of his own money to rebuild the social club, main stand and lights, and to resurface the once-notorious pitch. Other ambitious development plans remain in the pipeline.
Pace said: “Whether we go up or go down at least I can say that I did my best. In 1996 I let my heart rule my head by appointing Arthur Albiston and we were relegated. Now, whatever happens, it will all have been down to me and no one else.
“I know I haven’t won anything yet but if you look at my record in terms of games win it’s not a bad one.
“My heart is in this club and I’m giving it 100 per cent. I’m giving it that and I expect everyone else to do the same. I won’t settle for anything but success.”