VICS WERE KEY ON MY GLORY TRAIL!

FROM wiping away tears of despair to managing multi-million pound Championship players, Gareth Ainsworth’s football odyssey was originally shaped by the timely intervention of a welcoming Non-League club

- TONY INCENZO

Back in May 1991, he was released on his 18th birthday by hometown team Blackburn Rovers following two years as an apprentice footballer hugging the right wing.

Nonetheless, resilient Ainsworth picked himself up and produced exhilarating performances turning out for Northwich Victoria in the GM Vauxhall Conference (now the National League). Within weeks, he ascended to the professional ranks.

A fruitful 21-year playing adventure thereby unfolded embracing Preston North End, Cambridge United, Lincoln City, Port Vale, Wimbledon (in the Premier League), Cardiff City, Queens Park Rangers and Wycombe Wanderers. He subsequently managed Wycombe before returning to Loftus Road and taking charge at QPR in February, but certainly won’t disregard his humble Non-League roots.

“My boyhood dream was to sign professionally at Blackburn Rovers and I’d been planning a night on the town to celebrate my 18th birthday,” the 50-year-old said reflecting on that very early rebuff. “The rejection wasn’t nice and came totally out of the blue. I broke down crying in the club car park.

“I quickly considered my options and went on trial in Preston North End’s youth squad where the guy in charge was Walter Joyce. Anyhow, after two months he had nothing to offer me.

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“Fortunately, Walter was friends with former Manchester United and Northern Ireland star Sammy McIlroy, manager of Northwich Victoria at the time. And Walter put a word in recommending me to Sammy.