Kevin Blackwell
Kevin Blackwell - Manager
Kevin Blackwell returned to Gigg Lane as manager on of Bury on September 26, 2012. His previous spell with the Shakers came 13 years ago as assistant to Neil Warnock.
Blackwell has fought adverse circumstances to become an established Football League manager, having taken charge of Sheffield United, Leeds United and Luton Town. Blackwell, who battled financial crises at former clubs Leeds United and Luton Town, led Sheffield United to the play-off final in his first full season at Bramall Lane.
The ex-goalkeeper previously advanced his coaching career with the Blades under long-term mentor Neil Warnock - with whom he had worked at six other clubs. Together, they led United to the semi-finals of both cups and an appearance in the play-off final in 2003.
Blackwell departed the following summer to join Peter Reid at Leeds United. Following a fire sale of players and Reid's departure, Kevin took charge at Elland Road in 2004. He had to assemble almost an entire new squad.
Leeds reached the play-off final, losing to Watford, in 2006 before Blackwell and Leeds parted company just eight games into the following season. He responded positively by touring some of Europe's biggest clubs, including Real Madrid and Inter Milan, in a quest for further knowledge.
Blackwell, who was also an early graduate of the LMA's certificate in applied management at Warwick University, returned to management with hometown Luton in March, 2007. Again he was beset by cash problems he left Kenilworth Road following the club entering administration.
Kevin, who paid some of the younger players at Luton out of his own pocket, was recalled to Bramall Lane as Bryan Robson's managerial replacement in February, 2008. He hoisted a side suffering a relegation hangover from the bottom half of the table to ninth place, just four points adrift of the top six.
Up the end of the following season - when third-placed United were beaten by Burnley in the play-off final at Wembley - Blackwell boasted a 50% win ratio at Bramall Lane with 33 victories and only 15 defeats.
The following season, the Blades finished 8th in the Championship, narrowly missing out on a place in the play-offs. Surprisingly, after only two games into the 2010/11 season, Blackwell and Sheffield United parted company. At the time of his departure, Blackwell was the 20th longest serving manager in English football.
As a keeper, he played in FA Vase and Trophy finals while combining the early part of his career with working as a bricklayer.
The link with Warnock began when he joined Scarborough in 1989. They reunited with Notts County, Torquay, Huddersfield, Plymouth and Bury before moving to Bramall Lane together 10 years after first joining forces.
Profiles for the Shakers Management Team
All you need to know about the Shakers coaching staff
Peter Shirtliff
Assistant Manager
As a player, Peter Shirtliff made more than 500 appearances in the Football League playing as a central defender for Sheffield Wednesday, Charlton Athletic, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Barnsley and Carlisle United.He has managed Mansfield Town, and since June 2009 has been assistant manager of Swindon Town, following the departure of manager Danny Wilson, Peter took over as caretaker manager.
Born in Hoyland, near Barnsley. He began his football career with Sheffield Wednesday, where in two spells with the club he achieved promotion from the Second Division in 1983/84 season. A third-place finish in the First Division in the 1991/92 season and a League Cup-winners' medal in 1991.
He played more than 350 games for the club in all competitions. After his first spell with Wednesday, he joined Charlton Athletic, where his two goals in the last 10 minutes of extra time in the 1986/87 playoff final replay against Leeds kept the club in the First Division. He also played for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Barnsley and Carlisle United.
Shirtliff retired from the game in 1997, after 18 years as a professional footballer. He has since been youth team coach at Barnsley and Leicester City. In 2005, he was appointed assistant manager at Mansfield Town. He became the manager of Mansfield following the dismissal of Carlton Palmer in September 2005, and lasted 15 months in the job before getting sacked in December 2006 following a poor run of results.In 2007, he was appointed assistant manager at Tranmere Rovers, and two years later took up the equivalent post at Swindon Town.
Peter took the position of Assistant Manager on 14 June 2011, and like the manager, has signed a 12 month rolling contract with the club.
Ben Futcher
Development Coach
Ben Futcher is the latest in a line of 'Futcher's' that have played professional football - Son of Paul Futcher, Nephew of Ron Futcher and cousin of Fulham's Danny Murphy. Six foot seven Ben started his career at Oldham Athletic as a trainee but was quickly loaned out of local non league side Stalybridge. That loan soon turned into a full time transfer though he was soon to be off on his travels again when he joined Doncaster Rovers in 2002. The move to Yorkshire only lasted three months though before he signed for Lincoln City where he was to spend the next three years, where he linked up with the late Keith Alexander for the first time. After making over 150 appearances for the Red Imps, he left in June 2005 but stayed in the Lincolnshire area and signed for Boston United.
His stay at York Street was brief though and he moved across the county to Grimsby Town where he was to spend the remainder of the 05/06 season. Upon being appointed manager at Peterborough United, 'Futch' again linked up with Keith Alexander and followed him to London Road, but again it proved to be a short stay with the Posh and he lasted just one season. Keith Alexander, by now director of football at Gigg Lane, made Ben his first signing in June 2007. Now in his fifth season at Bury, he has the unique record of appearing in six play off campaigns - but has yet to be successful in any, despite playing in three play-off finals.
Futch spent part of the Shakers promotion season on loan at Oxford United before returning to Gigg Lane in time to feature in the run-in to getting out of League Two. After several un-successful play off campaigns for several clubs, Futch finally gained his first promotion medal with the Shakers.
Recently graduated with a 2:1 in Sports Science and becoming a first time father - all in the same week. Futch has also spent three months on loan at Mansfield Town plus a spell at AFC Telford and Macclesfield Town last season and did not make any appearances for the Shakers. Ben has recently signed a new contract with the club that will see him combine his playing career with that as development coach, and will take charge of the clubs new development squad.
In total, Futch has made a total of 136 appearances, scoring five goals for the Shakers (upto and including the 2011/12 season)