Two former Seasiders in the dugout, loan stars, former players and legend Brett Ormerod helping out - the non-league side with a strong Blackpool connection

No, not at Deepdale, but at the stadium named after Preston North End’s most legendary figure, Sir Tom Finney.

I’m referring, of course, to Northern Premier League Premier Division side Bamber Bridge, who are managed by former Seasider Jamie Milligan.

After starting his career as a trainee with Everton, Milligan joined hometown club Blackpool in 2001.

The midfielder remained at Bloomfield Road until the summer of 2003, when he was released by Steve McMahon after missing a large chunk of the previous season with a foot injury.

His career spanned 12 different clubs including Fleetwood Town, where he made over 200 appearances to help them reach the Football League.

Milligan is ably assisted by another former Seasider in the form of John Hills, who enjoyed four different spells on the Fylde coast between 1994 and 2008.

Milligan, 40, left his playing role at AFC Blackpool in December to take over at Brig, winning three of his first five games to help steer the club away from the relegation battle.

A highlight of his reign came midway through February, as his side beat his former employers FC United of Manchester 3-0 at home.

“It’s been going well and I’m enjoying it,” Milligan told The Gazette.

“At one point we were only seven points off the play-offs, but the season was starting to fizzle out a little bit before this virus.

“I’ve known Hillsy since we were seven years old when we played together as kids at Everton and then at Blackpool together as well.

“Bringing him in was a no-brainer really as I knew I had to bring in someone that I could trust and Hillsy, you can definitely trust in him.

“We started off well. I knew a lot of the players anyway from playing with them and I knew what they were like, they just needed a bit of a lift.

“They were down towards the bottom of the table but they’re good players, they just weren’t enjoying their football because they were low on confidence.

"We just needed to go in and lift the spirits a little bit and we did that to be fair and the players were brilliant for us.

“It’s a really good little club. Considering the finances aren’t great here, I’ve had to beg and borrow really getting loans from Blackpool, Fleetwood and AFC Fylde. Those clubs especially have helped me out a lot.”

One of those loans was Blackpool’s promising 19-year-old Nathan Shaw, who joined Brig on a one-month deal back in February.

Despite his brief spell, the winger - who has made two first-team appearances for the Seasiders since signing a professional contract in June 2019 - still managed to make an impact.

He scored on his debut in the win against FC United before netting a hat-trick in Brig’s 9-0 Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy semi-final win over Prestwich Heys.

“I originally signed Nathan when I was working with the Under-15s at Blackpool, he’s a really good lad and he’s got so much ability,” Milligan explained.

“I just think he needs to go and play games now. He’s done well for us. I knew he had ability because I know what he’s like.

“Before this virus happened he was in a good spell of form and he was enjoying his football, so it’s probably come at the worst time for him.

“I’m sure Nathan would love to come back when things settle down a little bit, but I’ll just have to speak to Neil (Critchley) and see if we can sort something out.

“I don’t see why he can’t break into the first-team at Blackpool, because he has got the ability and he is a good player who can play in a few different positions.

“I think the new manager at Blackpool is going to be really big on the youth lads as he’s obviously got a strong background in coaching the youngsters.

“There’s no reason why he can’t be a success at Blackpool, but I just think he needs a good season, or at least half a season, of playing to see where it takes him.”

Rowan Roache, meanwhile, is another with Blackpool connections that enjoyed a loan spell at the Sir Tom Finney Stadium prior to his release in January.

Before the season was halted, the 20-year-old remained with the club and had committed to spending the remainder of the season with Milligan and co.

“I’ve spoken to Rowan recently and I know he’s got a few irons in the fire but I’ll take him if nothing comes of it - I’ve told him that,” the Brig boss added.

“He’s a good lad, he’s still learning but he’s willing to do it.

“It didn’t work out at Blackpool how he would have hoped but I think when you have different managers it can go for you or it can go against you.

“Roache is one of those players that you need to put an arm around and look after, but he’s got so much ability.

“He’s still young and that shouldn’t be forgotten, he’s just got to be patient with it, keep working hard and ensure he influences games a bit more. He knows that because we’ve had a chat about it.

“He’s another player who the door will always be open for if he doesn’t get anything else sorted out.”

The Bloomfield Road connection doesn’t stop there, either.

Macauley Wilson, who came through the youth ranks at Blackpool after joining from Manchester United, signed for Brig on a permanent deal at the start of the 2017/18 season.

Now 22, the defender will be aiming to rebuild his career having only just returned from a serious knee injury.

“That kept him out for a while,” Milligan said.

“The season finishing so soon was a bit frustrating for him because it would have done him good to get some minutes, a couple of games before the end of the season.

“It’s going to be great to have Macca back because he’s another one I signed for Blackpool from Manchester United as a young lad.

“He’s got so much ability and he’s also got that little bit of nastiness to his game, he’s not scared of putting his foot in which makes him a bit different.

“I don’t really want to see him at this level in a year’s time. From a selfish point of view, I’d want to keep him as long as I could but I’d never stand in the way of a young lad.

“He needs to be playing higher, so he just needs to have a good season next year of having consistent games to get his head right.”

Milligan and Hills put their Blackpool connections to good use earlier in the campaign by bringing in Brett Ormerod to help out with coaching.

The 43-year-old, now a columnist for The Gazette, has been a big hit with Brig’s young squad.

Milligan said: “Brett comes in and does a bit of work with the strikers.

“You know what Brett is like, he’s a legend and I’ve never met anyone that has a bad word to say about him because he’s just that likeable.

“You can tell the lads love having him in, he’s funny and he’s a character.

“What he’s done in the game is unbelievable, so I’m glad he accepted the offer to come in and help out because he’s been brilliant.

“Brett has been there and done it and played under all sorts of managers, so it’s massive for our lads because we are a young team. That experience will be great.”