#dotheflanny
As the name suggests, this blog is pre-occupied with Alloa Athletic greats of the (mostly distant) past. But with a shock announcement this week, a modern day Wasp takes his place beside the Black and Gold legends of yore.
It's easy to forget now that Iain Flannigan was something of a slow burner at Alloa. Back when Paul Hartley first signed him in the summer of 2013, we had been spoiled with one of the finest midfield units in the history of the club. Darren Young, Graeme Holmes, Ryan McCord and Mark Docherty - with the likes of Kevin Cawley dropping back to add to the mix - had inspired the Wasps to the Third Division title in 2011/12. With the addition the following season of Stephen Simmons and latterly Kevin Moon, Alloa had a midfield of a class seen rarely in the lower leagues. It all came together beautifully as 2012/13 reached its climax, promotion effectively clinched in the first leg of the play-off final as Dunfermline were dismantled 3-0. Count the passes for the killer third goal: as current Wasps' boss Peter Grant would say, these boys could play.
Iain Flannigan had been a young player of some considerable promise with Kilmarnock. Having failed to fully establish himself at Rugby Park, Flannigan had gone to Partick before short spells with Morton and Falkirk. Going part-time with Alloa seemed like another step on something of a downward spiral. Reviews from fans of his other clubs suggested he was a good player if he could ever stay fit for more than a few weeks. It was a big if and it was the story of his debut season at Alloa, a season in which he only just made it into double figures of appearances. Still, new boss Barry Smith had seen enough to give Flannigan a new deal.
2014/15 was the season when the Championship to some extent overshadowed the top flight as Hearts, Hibs and Rangers battled it out the second tier. Alloa hadn't seen anything like it since 1922/23. The last time, coincidentally, they had managed to defeat Hibs. The Hibees were the first of the big boys to arrive in Alloa and the Wasps gave a fine account of themselves, Liam Buchanan equalising after Jason Cummings had given Hibs an early lead. With the sides level at 1-1 and five minutes remaining, the elusive Flannigan was sprung from the bench just as Alloa were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box. There were some grumbles at the Clackmannan Road end as he grabbed the ball. Can this guy hit a free-kick? He's been here a year and he's hardly played.
Yeah, he can hit a free-kick. 2-1 for the Wasps and Flannigan had written his first piece of Alloa history, the first Wasp to score a winner against Hibs since Tully Craig almost 100 years previously.
As the season progressed Flanny's class was obvious but injuries remained an issue. A trend was established where he would manage a few appearances and impress before spending a spell on the sidelines. A run of games as Alloa survived through the play-offs really began to win the fans over and the summer of 2015 saw Flannigan again sign a new deal, following Alloa supporter Brian Roach's mission to get #dotheflanny trending on Twitter in tribute to the midfielder's sartorial style.
In the chaos of the first half of 2015/16 under Danny Lennon, Flannigan at least had the consolation of staying largely injury free but it was the arrival of Jack Ross as manager in December that really transformed his career. Ross could see the talent and he knew how to nurture it. Flannigan's influence grew and with the arrival of reinforcements in the summer of 2016 he truly flourished. Greig Spence was the lone striker with a mouth watering three of Flannigan, Kirkpatrick and Cawley just behind. Flannigan could ghost past a man, he could open a defence with a through ball and he could arrive in the box to finish as well. He was at the creative heart of an Alloa side which began the season in all conquering form, knocking Premier League Ross County and ICT out of the League Cup - going toe to toe rather than the traditional backs to the wall lower league cup upset - and holding Celtic for 83 minutes at Parkhead. Flanny maintained his form following the departure of Jack Ross and it was a cruel twist of fate when a rare missed penalty contributed to Alloa losing the play-off final to Brechin.
Jim Goodwin's team took a while to get going the following season but when they did, Flannigan was key to their success. Alloa finished with a flourish, threatening to derail Ayr's title bid with a 2-1 win at the Recs (Flanny with the first and the "f*cking left-back" with the second)...
...before properly ending Raith's title then promotion hopes. Flannigan was on the scoresheet again in the play-off semi-final win against Rovers, finishing beautifully on a perfect Wee County evening after being set up by Cawley.
Promotion was clinched against Dumbarton and the Wasps were back in the second tier. Jim Goodwin now took the decision to pull Flannigan back into a deeper midfield role while also making his life more difficult by reducing the pitch to something resembling a bowling alley. But it didn't phase the maestro. Goodwin was right, Flannigan was perfectly suited to the role of deep-lying playmaker. He was always looking for possession and always able to find space - even on the wee pitch. He could ping a pass nobody else had seen or take the ball when his team was under pressure and slow things down. His masterful set piece deliveries were more frequent than ever with a string of superb goals from free-kicks, the pick, perhaps, two beauties against Dundee United. More than ever, he was a leader at the heart of the team too. Alloa stayed up - just - in the Championship, but there was rarely a better opposition midfield player than Iain Flannigan. Managers of clubs with greater resources and budgets were frequently heard speaking of the need to stop Alloa playing. Flanny had truly found his stage.
Flannigan kept up those standards over the last few months with his ability on the ball central to the passing philosophy that new manager Peter Grant was so keen to maintain. Another memorable night came against Dundee United when Flanny ran the game as the leaders were beaten 1-0 at the Recs. He finished up by skippering the side to a fighting draw against Dundee at Dens in March. Nobody could have guessed that the game would mark Flannigan's final senior appearance.
As another Wasps' stalwart of the present day, Steven Hetherington, rightfully pointed out on twitter this week, Flanny isn't dead! But the loss of such an iconic player - and one we hoped to see for a few more seasons - is a sore blow for the Alloa faithful. Walking home from work dazed after hearing the news, I stopped off to grab some shopping and promptly left half of it on the counter. Turns out 'But Flanny has retired' doesn't wash with two kids who don't have milk for their cereal. Other Alloa fans were heard talking of the grim realisation of the "first day without Flanny". The story of this particular Alloa team isn't over. So many other stalwarts have just signed new contracts that we are sure of more memorable days. But Flanny's retirement leaves a huge hole in the side and a headache for Peter Grant. There is no like for like replacement.
Alloa fans of different eras will all have their favourite creative influences. The history making promotion winners of 1921/22 and their record breaking 'midget centre' Willie Crilley. Jimmy McStay's total football side of 1938/39 and the ball players Fitzsimmons and Gillespie inspiring Alloa back to the top flight. The famous Ghost of White Hart Lane, John White, making his first steps on the road to greatness on Clackmannan Road in the 50's. Future Scotland striker Neil Martin and the much travelled Tommy Hutchinson a decade later. A whole host of fine players came and went as Alloa - after some lean decades - started winning promotion again in the 70's, 80's and 90's. Fans of my own generation would make a case for Willie Irvine. In recent times Kevin Cawley, Graeme Holmes and Ryan McCord have shone in the Wee County. But even in the glory days that Alloa have enjoyed over the previous decade - and we have been spoiled - when was there last such a classy footballer at the Recs as Iain Flannigan? A player so cool and creative on the ball and so capable of moments of sublime skill and deadly set piece deliveries. Throw in the oft stated mention of Flanny's hair never being out of place and we had our very own Clackmannanshire Pirlo. Flannigan was born to better things than Alloa but circumstance brought him to the Wee County and that was where - after a couple of false starts - his talent blossomed. And we loved him for it.
Thanks for the memories, Flanny.
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| Thanks to David Glencross for this picture. |
It's easy to forget now that Iain Flannigan was something of a slow burner at Alloa. Back when Paul Hartley first signed him in the summer of 2013, we had been spoiled with one of the finest midfield units in the history of the club. Darren Young, Graeme Holmes, Ryan McCord and Mark Docherty - with the likes of Kevin Cawley dropping back to add to the mix - had inspired the Wasps to the Third Division title in 2011/12. With the addition the following season of Stephen Simmons and latterly Kevin Moon, Alloa had a midfield of a class seen rarely in the lower leagues. It all came together beautifully as 2012/13 reached its climax, promotion effectively clinched in the first leg of the play-off final as Dunfermline were dismantled 3-0. Count the passes for the killer third goal: as current Wasps' boss Peter Grant would say, these boys could play.
2014/15 was the season when the Championship to some extent overshadowed the top flight as Hearts, Hibs and Rangers battled it out the second tier. Alloa hadn't seen anything like it since 1922/23. The last time, coincidentally, they had managed to defeat Hibs. The Hibees were the first of the big boys to arrive in Alloa and the Wasps gave a fine account of themselves, Liam Buchanan equalising after Jason Cummings had given Hibs an early lead. With the sides level at 1-1 and five minutes remaining, the elusive Flannigan was sprung from the bench just as Alloa were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box. There were some grumbles at the Clackmannan Road end as he grabbed the ball. Can this guy hit a free-kick? He's been here a year and he's hardly played.
As the season progressed Flanny's class was obvious but injuries remained an issue. A trend was established where he would manage a few appearances and impress before spending a spell on the sidelines. A run of games as Alloa survived through the play-offs really began to win the fans over and the summer of 2015 saw Flannigan again sign a new deal, following Alloa supporter Brian Roach's mission to get #dotheflanny trending on Twitter in tribute to the midfielder's sartorial style.
In the chaos of the first half of 2015/16 under Danny Lennon, Flannigan at least had the consolation of staying largely injury free but it was the arrival of Jack Ross as manager in December that really transformed his career. Ross could see the talent and he knew how to nurture it. Flannigan's influence grew and with the arrival of reinforcements in the summer of 2016 he truly flourished. Greig Spence was the lone striker with a mouth watering three of Flannigan, Kirkpatrick and Cawley just behind. Flannigan could ghost past a man, he could open a defence with a through ball and he could arrive in the box to finish as well. He was at the creative heart of an Alloa side which began the season in all conquering form, knocking Premier League Ross County and ICT out of the League Cup - going toe to toe rather than the traditional backs to the wall lower league cup upset - and holding Celtic for 83 minutes at Parkhead. Flanny maintained his form following the departure of Jack Ross and it was a cruel twist of fate when a rare missed penalty contributed to Alloa losing the play-off final to Brechin.
Jim Goodwin's team took a while to get going the following season but when they did, Flannigan was key to their success. Alloa finished with a flourish, threatening to derail Ayr's title bid with a 2-1 win at the Recs (Flanny with the first and the "f*cking left-back" with the second)...
As another Wasps' stalwart of the present day, Steven Hetherington, rightfully pointed out on twitter this week, Flanny isn't dead! But the loss of such an iconic player - and one we hoped to see for a few more seasons - is a sore blow for the Alloa faithful. Walking home from work dazed after hearing the news, I stopped off to grab some shopping and promptly left half of it on the counter. Turns out 'But Flanny has retired' doesn't wash with two kids who don't have milk for their cereal. Other Alloa fans were heard talking of the grim realisation of the "first day without Flanny". The story of this particular Alloa team isn't over. So many other stalwarts have just signed new contracts that we are sure of more memorable days. But Flanny's retirement leaves a huge hole in the side and a headache for Peter Grant. There is no like for like replacement.
Alloa fans of different eras will all have their favourite creative influences. The history making promotion winners of 1921/22 and their record breaking 'midget centre' Willie Crilley. Jimmy McStay's total football side of 1938/39 and the ball players Fitzsimmons and Gillespie inspiring Alloa back to the top flight. The famous Ghost of White Hart Lane, John White, making his first steps on the road to greatness on Clackmannan Road in the 50's. Future Scotland striker Neil Martin and the much travelled Tommy Hutchinson a decade later. A whole host of fine players came and went as Alloa - after some lean decades - started winning promotion again in the 70's, 80's and 90's. Fans of my own generation would make a case for Willie Irvine. In recent times Kevin Cawley, Graeme Holmes and Ryan McCord have shone in the Wee County. But even in the glory days that Alloa have enjoyed over the previous decade - and we have been spoiled - when was there last such a classy footballer at the Recs as Iain Flannigan? A player so cool and creative on the ball and so capable of moments of sublime skill and deadly set piece deliveries. Throw in the oft stated mention of Flanny's hair never being out of place and we had our very own Clackmannanshire Pirlo. Flannigan was born to better things than Alloa but circumstance brought him to the Wee County and that was where - after a couple of false starts - his talent blossomed. And we loved him for it.
Thanks for the memories, Flanny.
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