Slack’s back again as 40-year-old returns for another Cleeve spell
KEVIN Slack has rejoined Bishop’s Cleeve nearly two decades after his debut for the Kayte Lane club.
The 40-year-old striker starred for Cleeve throughout Paul Collicutt’s first spell as manager after initially joining from Cheltenham Saracens.
He was named FA Cup player of the round in 2004/05 for a five-goal haul against Highworth Town in a 5-3 first qualifying round triumph.
That achievement earned the Manchester United fan a place in the crowd at the final between the Red Devils and Arsenal, which the Gunners won on penalties at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
Slack was also given a chance to impress Cheltenham Town manager John Ward in October 2004, appearing for 45 minutes in a behind-closeddoors friendly defeat by Crewe Alexandra at Whaddon Road.
He went on to appear in the Southern League for Shortwood United and Evesham United, having helped Cleeve make the step up from the Hellenic League in 2006.
He rejoined Cleeve under previous boss Steve Cleal in October 2019 and has now returned for his latest spell, with Collicutt having no concerns whatsoever about his advancing years.
“I don’t care about his age, but he wants to give it a go and I suppose this could be his swan song,” Collicutt said.
“Slacky is great around the place, a real one-off, and he will certain bring smiles to a few faces, but I know he can still do a job on the pitch most importantly.
“I spoke to his wife (Lisa), who asked me to get him out from underneath her feet and out of the house.
“They have four kids, but really she has five to look after!
“I am pleased to have him onboard because we’ve had a few players missing with injuries and I know he has Cleeve in his heart.”
Slack was invlolved as a solitary Mark Pritchett goal was enough to see Cleeve progress in the FA Vase with a 1-0 win against Hellenic League Division One West side Malmesbury Victoria at Kayte Lane.
As the higher level side Cleeve would have been expected to do well at home and were strong in the first half although even the return of Slack was not enough to see Cleeve go in ahead at half time in a half where the visitors failed to register a single shot on target.
Malmesbury left more space at the back in the second half as they looked to assert themselves and when Sam Blackie lined up a shot from the edge of the box it was Pritchett who stuck out a foot to deflect it past the ‘keeper.
Both sides were reduced to 10 men in stoppage time.
First Cleeve’s Tyrone Ticker-dixon was sent off for raising a hand to the opposition player then in a separate incident, Malmesbury’s Josh Hughes was sent of for kicking Pritchett on the ground whilst attempting to get the ball.
Cleeve now face Shepton Mallet of the Toolstation Western League at home in the first round proper on Saturday, October 31.
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