League One

MK Dons have sealed promotion to the Championship with a 5-1 win over Yeovil.

Despite their fate being in Preston’s hands, the Dons went into the final day of the League One season in buoyant mood, and in the knowledge that anything other than a Preston win at Colchester would give them the initiative.

Karl Robinson’s side stormed into the lead thanks to Carl Baker’s effort seven minutes in, before two goals from Dean Lewington and goals from Darren Potter and Will Grigg ensured the Dons had done all they could at their end.

Preston will have gone into their own game with confidence, as they travelled to relegation-threatened Colchester. However, the hosts displayed tremendous fighting spirit, holding Preston for much of the game, before former West Ham man George Moncur hit the winning goal that would keep them in the division—and, in turn, send the Dons up.

For the Dons, the focus must quickly turn to Championship survival. With Dele Alli departing for Tottenham Hotspur this summer, the Dons cannot be complacent as they prepare for their first spell in the Championship since being renamed.

Robinson will be well aware of the need to bolster his squad. That can begin with the permanent signing of forward Grigg, who has been a key player in their promotion bid since signing on-loan from Brentford.

Many predicted that Benik Afobe’s departure for Wolverhampton Wanderers in January would spell the end of the Dons’ battle for automatic promotion. Yet, having survived that hammer blow, the Dons have kept scoring, and they eventually finished the season with 101 goals—more than any other side in the division.

Having suffered play-off heartache so many times in recent years, it was perhaps best for the Dons that they were able to avoid that mental stumbling block. It seems fitting, too, that Robinson was the man to take them up, after investing so much time and effort in this project. Keeping hold of the Football League’s second-youngest manager could be a battle in itself, as it is likely that Robinson will be in high demand in the Championship.

Prior to the Yeovil game, Robinson told BBC Sport that whatever happened, his side had enjoyed an “extraordinary season.” With promotion achieved, the Dons have an exciting—but difficult—task ahead of them in making sure that that is the case next time around.

Oldham Athletic have have landed Ronaldo. 

He's related to Rivaldo and Trezeguet, and the 16-year-old is expected to have a lasting impact on the club. 

But Ronaldo's never won the World Cup and he's not a Portuguese Ballon d'Or winner...he did just get released by Liverpool, though. 

Ronaldo Brown recently signed a contract with the League One side, which turned a few eyebrows because of his first name. 

Unfortunately for Oldham fans, even though his name is associated with a few legendary footballers, his credentials don't quite match his predecessors. 

BBCSport : Q. What do Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Trezeguet have in common? A. Oldham Athletic! … http://t.co/WMHVOJahrP) pic.twitter.com/AE9cZCVpq2

— Mark Martin (@makamatin) May 1, 2015

His football-mad mum, Denise, named him Ronaldo as a result of her infatuation with the Brazilian national team. That's also why his brother's name is Rivaldo. 

Ronaldo's sister, Trezeguet, broke the Brazilian mold as her birth followed the Frenchman's efforts in the 2004 European Championship. 

Denise explained her naming decisions to BBC Sport: 

I'm just a great fan of football—I'm football crazy. 

At the point when they were born in 1998, I was hoping Brazil would win the World Cup so I just thought I'd call them Ronaldo and Rivaldo. 

Sometimes they have a go at each other as Ronaldo is not talked about more than Rivaldo. 

In spite of his namesake, the Manchester United fan was pulling for a Lionel Messi or Andres Iniesta Ballon d'Or win in 2013 over Ronaldo (of the Portuguese variety). 

Iniesta or Messi for the Ballon d'Or..

— •Ronaldo Brown• (@RowdyRon98) January 7, 2013

[BBC]

Updates from Friday, February 13th

It turns out Michael Jackson didn't have to sell his kidney to watch his beloved Preston North End, after all. 

Good on the FA for helping the man who travelled from South Africa for helping him out (and sparing his kidney, potentially). 

When they heard of his story, the Football Association gave Michael and his wife tickets to watch Preston North End battle Manchester United in the FA Cup free of charge. 

"I never thought that anything like this would happen, I feel very honoured and privileged," he told the Lancashire Evening Telegraph (h/t The Mirror). "I am thrilled, I am excited and I am a proud Prestonian. 

"I have fallen in love with Preston all over again." 

Per the same report, an FA spokesperson said that they were excited for Michael and his wife. 

We have a campaign this year which is all about the adventures of the FA Cup. 

When we read the article that said Michael would go on a pilgrimage to get to the game we thought that he was going on quite an adventure and wanted to help. 

Once he is in the UK, we will try and get the tickets to him by courier or get the ground ticket office to print off two more tickets for them to pick up.

Original Text

A massive, massive Preston North End fan has an unhealthy amount of desire to watch his beloved side face Manchester United in the FA Cup. 

No, really, Michael Jackson (the fan) is willing to sacrifice a kidney to make the fixture on February 16. 

The 52-year-old South African is desperate to make the first FA Cup meeting between the sides since 1972. 

He told the Lancashire Evening Post (h/t 101 Great Goals): 

I'd sell a kidney to get a ticket. Someone suggested I should ride a giraffe, I'd do whatever it takes. I'd even swim from Cape Town to the River Ribble. 

It is on TV but I want to be there in person cheering on the Lilywhites. But it is impossible to get a ticket. 

I've put an appeal on Facebook. I have to be at that game—it is a once-in-a-lifetime match and marks a year since Sir Tom Finney died. 

I want to be there and hear the roar from my hometown at Deepdale. If this never happens again in my lifetime and I miss it I will spend years in tears. 

I've followed North End's cup run and I even wrote to the South African newspapers complaining that they don't carry PNE's score in the paper because of the league they are in. I will pay whatever it takes if I have to buy a season ticket I will do. 

Per the same report, Jackson studied at Penwortham Priory Academy and spent his teenage years attending matches. 

[101 Great Goals]

Sheffield United have retracted their decision to allow convicted rapist and former Blades striker Ched Evans to return to train with the club.

Continue for updates.

Friday, Nov. 21

PFA Addresses Sheffield's Decision

Sky Sports provides PFA's response to Sheffield's decision on Evans:

Sheffield Won't Allow Evans to Train With Club

The League One outfit initially decided to let the 25-year-old use the training facilities at the club after he served half of a five-year conviction for the rape of a 19-year-old woman, per Owen Gibson in The Guardian.

Evans was freed from prison last month but no decision was made by United as to whether to re-sign the player. 

Having come under huge amounts of pressure after their decision, the Bramall Lane hierarchy have now retracted the offer, per the club's website:

Following the statement dated 11th November and after ongoing and extensive deliberation, Sheffield United Football Club has decided to retract the opportunity for its former player, Ched Evans, to use the Club's facilities for training purposes, as was previously intended. [...]

The Club initially accepted a request from The PFA for Ched Evans to be able to train. The reaction to this has been at an intensity that could not have been anticipated when first announced.

Indeed, Evans' case has been highly controversial with London 2012 Olympic gold medallist Jessica Ennis-Hill saying she would request her name be removed from a stand named after her by the club if Evans received a new contract, per BBC Sport.

Furthermore, four of the club's patrons resigned their positions because of the issue, per Kunal Dutta in The Independent.

On the other hand, many have supported the Blades' original decision, suggesting Evans has a right to employment having served his sentence, per The Times's Matthew Syed:

United's decision will likely be praised by some and condemned by others but the furore surrounding Evans is far from over.

Sitting just a point above the relegation zone after 16 games, League One side Leyton Orient signed Andrea Dossena to a one-year contract on a free transfer Thursday.    

The club announced the news via a press release on their website:

Orient have today (Thursday) agreed a contract with former Liverpool, Napoli and Sunderland left sided player Andrea Dossena. 

The 33-year-old has been capped by Italy and was a free agent after being released by Sunderland at the end of last season. He is familiar playing at left back or on the left wing and joins the O's on a contract until the end of the season. 

Dossena made just seven appearances for Sunderland last season, failing to score a goal or tally an assist and earning a poor 6.27 average match rating from WhoScored.com. In 2012-13 he split time between Napoli and Palermo, failing to score or add an assist in 18 Serie A appearances. 

His drop in form happened rather quickly, as he had a solid season for Napoli in 2011-12, scoring two goals and adding three assists in 33 appearances while earning a 6.78 average match rating from WhoScored.com.

The 33-year-old is clearly on the downside of his career, but his experience at the top levels will provide Leyton Orient with a serious upgrade down the left. He certainly should help the club stave off relegation, already a concern this season.

Rotherham United came from two goals down to win promotion to the Championship in dramatic circumstances on Sunday, defeating Leyton Orient following a penalty shootout at Wembley.

After the game had finished 2-2 following 120 minutes of tense, attrition-style football, Rotherham goalkeeper Adam Collin saved successive spot-kicks from Mathieu Baudry and Chris Dagnall to see Steve Evans’ side win 4-3 on penalties.

Prior to that, Adam Revell had scored twice to cancel out first-half strikes for Orient from Moses Odubajo and Dean Cox, with Rotherham holding on somewhat over the closing stages as the game headed for a shootout.

There they again fell behind, as Orient keeper Jamie Jones saved from Lee Frecklington, but Collin produced two smart saves at the death to finally decide the contest.

“We were dead and buried at half-time, but these guys rallied,” Evans told Sky Sports. “It’s incredible. We’ve had the belief from the start of the season, and we’ve beaten a magnificent side in Leyton Orient.

“[Collin] has come in the team from nowhere, and he’s been a magnificent, magnificent signing. We believed in Adam.”

It had been a meeting full of twists and turns. Rotherham started the game the brighter, yet it was Leyton Orient who went into the break emboldened, thanks to two goals in the space of five minutes.

Odubajo was the architect of both of them. The winger scored the first, showing brilliant touch and technique on the edge of the box to control the ball before thumping a powerful volley beyond the stationary Adam Collin.

At the time, few would have predicted the game would go on to produce a goal to rival it for ability.

Rotherham appeared understandably rocked by Odubajo’s strike, and soon after, he was left to make another crucial intervention. This time he was the provider, dragging out to the right before delivering an inviting low cross that left Dean Cox with the simplest of tap-ins at the far post.

Suddenly it was Leyton Orient in control, but Rotherham returned for the second half with a renewed conviction and were back on terms thanks to their own quick-fire burst around the hour-mark.

Revell, the former Leyton Orient striker, was the goalscorer on both occasions. His first was relatively straightforward, turning home from inside the box after running onto James Tavernier’s cross.

His second, five minutes later, was breathtaking by comparison; hitting a first-time potshot from 35 yards that soared over Jamie Jones and into the net, restoring parity in a game that seemed to be abiding by no discernible script.

“The important thing was not to concede a third goal when they were in the ascendancy, and we didn’t,” Evans added. “Then we scored a fortuitous goal and we were back in it.”

Unfortunately, but perhaps inevitably, the game could not continue at such a pace, with no further goals over the next 60 minutes. That included extra-time, with Rotherham generally on the back foot, as they seemed content to hold on for the deciding factor of penalties.

Rotherham won the toss and elected to shoot first, a decision that appeared to backfire when Lee Frecklington, one of the club’s best players all season, saw a weak effort palmed away by Jones.

The next four penalties were all scored, leaving the score at 3-3 as defender Baudry stepped up for Orient’s penultimate penalty. The Frenchman looked nervous and Collin guessed correctly, easily stopping the tentative effort low to his right.

Suddenly, the momentum had swung conclusively back to the Millers. Richard Smallwood then thumped home his side’s final kick, putting all the pressure on Dagnall.

Again Collin guessed correctly—this time going to his right to send Rotherham back into the second tier of English football for the first time in 10 years.

“It’s great,” Collin said afterwards. “I did my bit in the shootout, you can’t put it into words. Over the moon.”

Revell added: “Two goals in front of this crowd is unbelievable. We’re in the Championship, what an amazing feeling.”

All quotes taken from Sky Sports' live broadcast.

All Wolverhampton fan Richard Jon Gough wanted was a cut-price Wolves shirt. After an odd mixup and a unique apology, he'll be getting a lot more than that.

It started when his £12 kit arrived with the badge sewn on upside-down.

The next day, Wolves responded to his concern with a delightfully tongue-in-cheek apology.

Not only was the letter printed upside down, it also poked fun at Wolves' dreadful last season that saw them relegated from the Championship.

Perhaps more importantly for Mr. Gough, they offered to more than make it up to him. Instead of just receiving a new shirt, he's getting a ticket to Wolverhampton's next home match and a visit to the dressing room to meet the players. Bit of a steal for £12! 

Here's the full transcription, courtesy of Dirty Tackle:

Dear Richard

I'm very sorry to hear you've received a shirt with an upside down badge on it.

Although we've been riding on the crest of a wave recently, in terms of results, we pride ourselves on the quality of our shirts and we certainly don't get a badge of honour on this occasion.

That said, the world can sometimes look better upside down — last year's league table being just one example.

Please accept our apologies, along with a ticket (printed the right way up) to our home game versus Shrewsbury on the 15th March. We'll also take you into the Dressing Room to meet the players before the match, where you can get both shirts signed.

Thanks, as always, for your support.

Best regards

Matt Grayson

Wolves

League One side Leyton Orient are set to take on the New York Cosmos at their Matchroom Stadium next week in a preseason friendly.

The Cosmos, who boasted the likes of Pele, Franz Beckenbauer and Carlos Alberto in the 1970s, will play Orient and Championship side Watford in the upcoming weeks as they travel to England.

They joined the North American Soccer League this year following a three-decade absence from League football. The club's demise came in 1984 and it disbanded in 1985. The Cosmos were relaunched in 2010 but denied access to MLS.

On 24 July, this legendary American team, which contains a European Champion in Marcos Senna who was part of Spain's 2008 triumph, will travel to Leyton in East London.

The New York Cosmos in their heyday attracted 77,000 fans to the Giants Stadium in New York when the likes of Pele were among the playing staff.

They are currently managed by Giovanni Savarese, who played 30 games for the Venezuela national team as well as playing one game for Championship side Millwall.

Leyton Orient's ground has a capacity of 9,270. The New York Cosmos are used to a slightly bigger stadium, the James M. Shuart Stadium, which holds 15,000 fans.

Leyton Orient chairman Barry Hearn tweeted about the match in June.

Orient were close to reaching the League One playoffs last season, finishing just three points off of Swindon Town in the division. They will be looking to build on the previous season's success.

The fixture will be a chance for both teams to gain a larger international following. The Cosmos are a fallen giant many British fans will remember for their past, which could bring a large crowd to Brisbane Road.

The New York Cosmos are currently on a break from the league and have their first competitive regular league fixture on the third of August against Fort Lauderdale Strikers at their Shuart Stadium.