FROM the disaster at Bury to a dream debut at Aston Villa, it’s been a week of mixed fortunes for the Archer family.
On the same night that former Stourbridge, Tividale and Redditch United hitman Jordan, 25, discovered his troubled club had been expelled from the Football League, his 18-year-old brother Cameron made his debut for Villa.
Cameron, who is also a forward, replaced Keinan Davis in the 82nd minute at Gresty Road as Villa beat Crewe 6-1 in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night.
Despite everything that was happening at Gigg Lane, Jordan and his family made the trip to Crewe in the hope Cameron would be called on by Villains boss Dean Smith.
He explained: “We all went to the game knowing he was on the bench but hoping he would come on. We were all absolutely buzzing when he did.
“We were all in the Villa end and kept watching him warm up on the touchline.
“Everytime someone went down with an injury we were looking over. At one stage it looked like he was coming on and then he put his bib back on again and we were all just waiting and waiting.
“Eventually it was John Terry that called him over and I had goosebumps when he came on. It’s brilliant for him and we are all so proud of him.
“He’s had to wait a long time because he’s been at the club since he was six but he’s a Villa fan and his hard work looks to be paying off now.”
It was only after Jordan got home that he learned the sorry fate of the Shakers.
The club was expelled from the EFL late on Tuesday night after failing to meet a final deadline to prove their financial stability or find a new buyer.
Jordan has been with Bury since July last year following a move from Chester but had been loaned out at both Maidenhead and Southport last season.
He said: “I actually got home the night of the Villa game to find out Bury had been kicked out of the league.
“I haven’t heard from the club at all and found out through Twitter and Sky Sports and it just went from one extreme to the other.
“I was really deflated afterwards but tried not to be too down because I just wanted to be happy for my brother after he’d made his debut.
“The whole situation is terrible. Bury is a massive club with a massive history and you can see what it means to the fans and to people who have been coming for 40 and 50 years with their parents and their grandparents.
“One man has just come in and ruined the club.
“Staff and players have not been paid but we kept hearing it’ll be sorted next week and then the week after and it never was and it’s terrible.”
The striker is now on the lookout for a new club following the news of Bury’s expulsion.
“My agent has spoken to the FA about my options with the contract and I should be able to start looking for a new club very soon now,” added Archer.
“I never really felt settled after my loans out of the club but there was talk of me getting my chance and getting the number 9 shirt but then it all went downhill.
“I just want to start enjoying my football again because it’s been a crazy period.
“Ian Long (Stourbridge boss) has already been speaking to me and trying to see if I’d like to go back to Stourbridge! I have a lot of time for him and for Stourbridge but I want to try and play as high as I can at the moment.
“My time at Stourbridge was probably the best time I’ve had playing football but I just need to look at my options and see what is best for me.”
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