COMIC Stan Boardman swapped Anfield for Rivacre Park on Saturday to form an unlikely double act with his old pal Ron Atkinson.
Although Boardman had a ticket for Saturday's Premiership clash between Liverpool and Manchester United, he chose to head for Ellesmere Port when he heard that Atkinson's Kettering Town were due to face Vauxhall Motors.
Atkinson took over as director of football at Kettering earlier this season and is working alongside manager Morell Maison to get the Poppies promoted. But the former Manchester United boss sprang a big surprise at the weekend by allowing Boardman to join him in the Rivacre Park dugout for the 1-1 draw against the Motormen!
A Kettering spokesman said: 'Stan was making some gestures to the players but it was a bit of messing around. Morell didn't mind and his nose wasn't put out of joint because he is the manager and was still in control.
'Stan simply decided to go along to see Ron as they are great friends.'
'Big Ron' and Boardman have teamed up once before.
When Atkinson was in charge of Sheffield Wednesday in 1991, he tried to calm his players' nerves on the way to the League Cup final at Wembley by allowing his comedian friend to deliver a pre-match team talk. And the tactic clearly worked as the Owls defeated Manchester United 1-0!
