[OFF THE POST] When 36-year-old journeyman forward Julian Alsop was signed by Cheltenham on a free transfer in August, Martin Allen, coach of the fourth-tier English club, explained the acquisition to the Irish Times: “I approached loads of players in the summer to play that role, but I couldn’t afford them. If you go shopping at Sainsbury’s and ask for some fillet steak and you don’t have the money, you can’t buy it. We have ended up with a gristly, old, fatty lump of lard up front, but at the moment he is tasting OK.”
Alsop, who has struggled with weight issues, lost more than 20 pounds, and was hailed “man of the match” in a 1-1 tie with Dagenham & Redbridge.