Shels off this week to Troytown | OneFootball

It’s fair to say that the vast majority of Shels supporters descending on Alkmaar this Thursday will be hoping to see that the phenomenal goal scoring feat of Troy Parrott will continue unabated, but they will also be praying that he takes a rest this week. But when this column goes somewhere new like the Netherlands we search for an expert view.  We didn’t have to travel too far.  Our own hero, John Delamere, who played in Holland in the early eighties, keeps a close eye on Dutch soccer, having played for Pec Zwolle.

John played against AZ in the Dutch top division in 1981/82.  He told this column that AZ had just won the League and had brilliant players including Johnny Metgod, Jan Peters and Kees Kist the club’s highest ever goal scorer who was the first ever Dutchman to win the European Golden Boot in 1979.  ‘I loved playing against them, I ran their defenders ragged.’ Along with AZ, John played against a young Rudd Gullit at Haarlem and against Johann Cruyff at Ajax in a friendly.

The ex Shelbourne striker has some advice for Troy Parrott. ‘Troy has hit a purple patch, I would recommend that he stays in Holland or gets a move to Germany or elsewhere on the Continent.  It would be a retrograde move to sign for some of the inferior English clubs currently being mentioned in the papers.’ Delamere also remembers another Portland Row native Wes Hoolahan who left Shels for Scotland.  ‘Wes should never have left to go there, it has always been my view that he was good enough to play on the Continent.’ John’s translation skills came in handy at the Drita game a few weeks ago, when he found himself sitting beside the AZ Alkmaar scout. ‘I was able to provide him with some information, not too much obviously!’

Anyone travelling to Alkmaar will be impressed by its small city charm and the fact that it seems obsessed with its traditional cheese market, a colourful spectacle.  The city centre is very pretty, full of canals, bridges and buildings that are well worth exploring.  The Redsmen and women will miss the tulip fields unless they stay for a couple of months.

If they are thinking of bringing something home, a wheel of cheese might be welcome. We also spotted a quirky surprise with a fascinating Beatles museum.  Langestratat and Laat are the main shopping streets and apart from cheese there are other delicacies.  Also it would not be Holland if you did not have a big windmill.  It can be found flapping away just outside the city centre.

Finally, if you are looking for another remarkable sporting link what about this?  AZ and John Delamere’s Pec Zwolle were both managed by Arne Slott.