From the YEL to the “ontheroad.blogspot” Travels
Treasured Memories – our Football family (with Malc & Kev)
March 29th 2020 and I’m sat here under lock down due to something I believe we have never witnessed before – the Corona Virus (COVID-19) - that is bringing the world to its knees. This is causing so much disruption globally and sad as it is to write – numerous deaths.
Our Key services are being superb and there are no words to show our gratitude – but let it be known - the appreciation and admiration is there for every one of you. After all – someone’s loved ones are putting themselves at the forefront of something deadly to help fight for the survival of someone they do not always know.
However, where it leads and as worrying as it is, this is not about this virus but an opportunity to reminisce about some of the memories that I have been blessed with throughout my life from our LOCAL football leagues.
My intention is to share items, clippings etc that may have been forgotten. From some of the features I have from the YEL league through to recently – a recap that has bought back (mostly) happy memories.
You may recognise some of the names and pictures – if you do, please spread the word and this story through social media and see if we can get people adding to the story.
This story is limitless but is intended for genuine stories for the GOOD of our wonderful game – so remember that RESPECT has a purposeful meaning so please – NO DISREPECTFUL CONTENT.
Remember these current days because in future, there will be a gap in the history of all Sport – never mind football, because the things that we took so much for granted in our routine life have been – on the whole - take out of our control.
Before I start, take a moment or two to think back about some of your past actions/reactions to things around the game.
Then think about what we have or DO NOT HAVE at this present moment in time – which is NOTHING!!!
My point being, let us take stock of what is realistic and hopefully unite in saying that - if & when we get back to some sort of normality – can we all please – as above – show respect to everyone else in the game, whether it be players, coaches, fellow fans, parents, referees & officials, clubs, leagues, sponsors, chairman, staff........ need I go on?
Sure, life is all about opinions but consider the below before reacting (and before you all respond – yes, agreed it is about winning but it is also about learning to handle losing).
1) Most of you would have played the game but all at various levels of ability.
Consider the abilities of someone when you are shouting or criticising A.N Other.
Especially with kids footy – you can make or break a youngster simply with words.
2) Have you ever coached or been involved in running a club at any level.
Most are volunteers who do it for the love of the game or if they are not up to playing, to help others by being involved.
3) How would you feel if someone was aiming comments or ill-judged opinions at your son/daughter.
Have you even considered they may have an illness that day or even a disability that you are not aware of?
4) Have you ever refereed or run a line at any game – regardless of whether it is played in the correct spirit or a cup final where the pressure and tension is increased.
Quite simply – try it for a several games (not just one or two) and see if your attitude is the same.
After all, the officials in the eyes of each team are only ever 50% correct.
5) Do you invest in football – that is aside from attending matches and paying admission charges?
Even at kid’s level, the coaches will often pay out of their own pocket to help the teams they are with. Obviously the higher the level, the greater the contributions become. Most Chairmen at the level we are talking about here are simply everyday working guys. Sure, some are well off but still have family commitments to cater for. Without them – and regardless of the amount – investment of both time and money, all clubs will struggle to exist.
I hold my hands up to being guilty in the past of some of the above – criticising and having mis-judged opinions.
But I did play for a couple of seasons (albeit not very well) at Notts Sunday Combination level with what was more important at the time – my workmates. This itself created good memories with good people.
I did run a kid’s team for four+ seasons. Whilst three of these were great – I made bad calls last off and ended up leaving the team to new parent/manager. Looking back, I waited too long and probably spoilt some of the good memories that follow this introduction.
And yes, I refereed - though only at level 7 but that was enough. The particular Sunday morning cup tie at Melbourne Park between the Headstocks Pub and opponents who I can’t remember – when, as I found out after, an apparent ‘ringer’ who I had sent off for fighting, duly fetched his car and was driving around the pitch trying to get the player’s he had been fighting with.
Game abandoned & whistle retired!!
So, refereeing not for me but now I have several good friends who are officials and who share some terrific banter. *Though I must heed my own advice and stop venting opinions at games – as without them we have no football.!!*
*Note to oneself*!!
Some 22 years or so – 1998-1999 my good friend and neighbour, Malcolm Storer suggested getting involved with a local youth team.
MALC PHOTO
Malc’ was at the time serving on the Notts YEL committee as Chairman. He too had an older son who had been a prolific goal scorer from a young age.
As this story progresses, you will see how Malc became – not only a neighbour – but a very close friend, with whom I have shared many years of watching footy games across our local counties.
I have asked him to recall his memories from a few years earlier and to tell of how he still gets recognition from his Chairman days and Rep squad players, to his now very well known and covered “ontheroadblog” which he has done for the last 12 years.
His entries will be far better written than mine and will be identified in this font & text colour.
I try and contribute with taking the photo’s for the blog when I can, but with him being now retired, he gets to far more games than anybody I know!!
ontheroad2007-2008.blogspot.com
to
ontheroad2019-2020.blogspot.com
During the early days and as I had a son who was 8 at the time and showing an interest in joining a team, we made contact with Sue & Kev Thompson at Bulwell Rangers and thus from there a new team was born.
We recruited from school friends and local lads to Bulwell and though it is fair to say, we had a team of lads who *were maybe never going to take on the YEL and its all comers, but did bring with them some terrific attitudes and smashing parents who fully supported us. *change to compete with?
Thus, those early days were most enjoyable. Anyone who does not enjoy seeing youngsters running around playing football – without a care in the world – well…..enough said.
We had a pre-season where my good friend and work colleague – the late Roger Turner – joined us in running the team, bringing along with him his ever popular and most likeable son Josh. Regrettably, Roger passed away several years later at a far too early age for someone with such a heart of gold.
ROGER TURNER PHOTO
Our first season in division 4 was a ‘roaring success’ – if my dwindling memory serves me correctly, we only won 1 and drew 1 game but showed strength in holding up the league from next to bottom of the table.
Though the results were tough on the lads and as highlighted in my opening waffle, we had lads of varying abilities but we always joked that if we had asked them to run through a brick wall for us – we reckon they would have done.
With the comment above of making it a ‘roaring success’ and what made it special from my point of view was that we made the right impression on our opponents in our division that season and duly won the YEL South divisions “Sportsman of the Year award”.
This led to our lads being presented with a smashing trophy at the Meadow Club, Notts County’s ground.
To add to our already state of pride in these terrific lads – we were then presented with the overall “Supreme Sportsman of the Year award” – given to the team who ranked most sporting at their particular age group and across all the leagues within that age group.
Team photo with Trophies
Another memory that I cherish is Pegasus Youth manager Paul Cumberpatch presenting me with a silver plate which he had engraved to say thank-you for - in a nutshell - the lads playing in the right spirit. This recognition is reflective of the whole group of players and parents that we had with us during those early days and to whom I am ever grateful for their support.
Subsequent seasons showed us steadily improve and finish 3rd in the leagues which, although trophy-less saw us promoted a couple of times.
At the outset of the 2000-2001 season at U11’s, I took it upon myself to create what can only be described as a diary of the season, and what became a labour of love for me. Once the season had been completed, I presented each of the lads with a copy at the club’s presentation evening as a memory and to say thanks. I would be interested to see if any of them still had their copy – it took some generating let me tell you.
Throughout this next section are extracts from this diary – I hope it reaches some of the lads involved.
DIARY EXTRACTS
Around this time was a publication by another local – Chris Hickling.
Chris published a magazine called “Total Youth Football” and featured players, teams, managers and the likes of all areas of the county.
Again, throughout this section I want to post clips from the magazine and hope that it brings back memories for many and that they can elaborate on their memories of those times.
TYF EXTRACTS
When our involvement with Youth football came to an end, Malc who had become involved with Eastwood Town, suggested I go with him to visit Coronation Park to watch what was to become a very good youth team, with players who went on to league level.
This youth team was under the watchful eyes of Paul Cox and John Ramshaw.
We witnessed some terrific quality played week in week out, so it was no surprise to see the lads’ progression.
PHOTOS
Once the progression saw them make it into the first team, we again saw Eastwood become a very good team with players like Colin Daniel, Lindon Meikle, Ben Hutchinson
PHOTOS
Things turned a little bit sour for Eastwood when popular Chairman Keith Smith passed away.
In time, a young businessman by the name of Rob Yong who owned Dusk till Dawn casino took over and the club made great steps forward, including a cup tie a league club Exeter City, a game which unsurprisingly ended in defeat.
Further turmoil was to follow, and Rob left – taking his financial backing with him, which in turn left the club no choice but to fold as Eastwood Town.
They were eventually reborn under the Eastwood Community FC and are slowly growing another successful club.
By this time, Malc had created a web site “ontheroad.blogspot” which reported on the game that were attended by himself or both of us. Early days I took videos as well as photo’s which at times proved quiet entertaining – especially Eastwood goalkeeper Ian Deakin racing 50 yards out of his goal to shall we say – break up a mass brawl.
Or the time he had been heckled all match by one particular supporter and on the final whistle, bolted off the pitch towards the fan who was rapidly exiting the ground, outside and around the back of the stand to what we can only presume to be a “shake the hand” of the fast disappearing heckler. Malc & myself - on seeing this rapidly evolve into a potential serious event, quickly exited via the opposite side of the ground and reached ‘Deaks’ before he made it to the car park.
Now to this day, those who know ‘Deaks’ will tell you he is a genuinely nice lad but doesn’t take too kindly to that sort of treatment. That said, we often – even to this day – enjoy much banter with him – though obviously at arms length!!
To his credit, he carved out a career that saw him have a spell at Mansfield Town, then Ilkeston Town and is now a goalkeeper coach at Mansfield
To his credit, he carved out a career that saw him have a spell at Mansfield Town, then Ilkeston Town and is now a goalkeeper coach at Mansfield
