Jeff Spiers has signed a new long-term deal to continue in his role as assistant manager at Crusaders. The former player and reserve team boss has put pen-to-paper on a three-year contract extension at Seaview.
Spiers is set to remain in Stephen Baxter's backroom team until the end of the 2024/25 season at least. Good news for the Shore Road men as they look to next year and beyond.
The 55-year-old commands respect, and if you dare cross him then be prepared for the consequences. Just ask former player Jonny Frazer who was left feeling slightly deflated after pranking the Seaview coach a few years back.
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Spiers was known as a hard-hitting defender during his playing days in the Irish League. And it seems he takes no nonsense on the training pitch.
Johnny Black tells a brilliant story about how Frazer learned the hard way after indulging in some toe-to-toe pranking with iconic figure Spiers.
Speaking on Belfast Live's That's What I Call Football podcast last season, Black joked: "Wee Jonny Frazer obviously doesn't know what Spiersy is like.
"The other day Spiersy said something to Jonny and Jonny ended up throwing water around him. I couldn't believe it.
"I was like 'has he just done that?'. I thought I was seeing things. Big Stephen (Baxter) was looking over and everything.
"I was telling Jonny that five years ago Spiersy would have dropped those footballs and knocked lumps out of him, so he needs to be careful."
And true to form, Spiers didn't let the matter lie there.
Black went on: "Spiersy went on down the changing rooms and I was with Jonny. I didn't think anything of it.
"Spiersy then writes into the WhatsApp group, 'watch that car park lads, there's lots of glass out there and people's tyres are going down'. It turns out Spiersy went out and let every single one of Jonny's tyres down on his Mercedes.
"I said to Jonny not to retaliate because it will get worse and worse'. So I think wee Jonny Frazer has learnt his lesson."
Confirming Spiers' new deal, Crusaders said: "Crusaders are pleased to announce that Assistant Manager Jeff Spiers has signed a new three year deal and will continue to help plot Crusaders success for the a few years yet.
"Jeff joined as a player 20 years ago and went on to become reserve team manager and the assistant manager to the senior team and this was recognised at the Player of The Year Awards Night back in May when he received an engraved watch for his services to the club. The new deal will keep “Spiersy” on the touchline alongside Stephen until the end of the 2024-25 season at least and he is already heavily involved in getting the team ready for the season ahead.
"Great to have you with us for a while yet and the success that will follow."
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