How good at playing footy are you/were you?

Just read this story about the lad from Shields, a good story. Bet he's chuffed to bits.

http://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport...-ringer-s-shock-leyton-orient-cameo-1-6752741


Were/are any of you any actually any good, and to what standard?

Do any of you think, that given the right opportunity, that you could have made a career out of the game, maybe not to prem level, but certainly in the lower leagues?

For myself, i'm saying 'certainly not'.

 

I played for my school and district as a boy and I was being watched regularly by scouts from professional clubs. Then at the age of 13 I got an illness which basically crippled me for best part of a year. I did manage to get back to playing for the school and district after that, but never got back to the levels I was at before that. I played local league football and over 40's football until I was 47, and was a pretty prolific goalscorer during that time.

 

I was offered a contract at Carlisle when I was 14 - 3 weeks later broke my leg and 8 weeks after that broke it again. That was the end of that!

 

****, that's a shame...So you were canny good. Good enough to make a career of?

 

I played for Sunderland boys as a kid, first game I played up front with Michael Procor. He was bigger than a few of us then, and everyone didnt know eachother by name, just an odd couple of clicks. Anyway I was played the ball through and all excited thought this is my chance, Proctor came through, took the ball off me and he scored, cant remember who we were playing. I was then invited for a 3 day trial. mother never took me though. Whole mother thing is a different story.

So that was my chance and didnt have an opportunity to take it.

 

Id be perfect for Sunderland

Consistently inconsistent, can be prolific one game and ****e the next!

Crossing/Long ball passing seems to be my area of expertees like

 

I played LM to pub standard, but I won't lie I was never anywhere near even the best players at that level, let alone close to pro, although I was always valued and decent, scored a few and made a lot.

I moved to CB when I was playing in the Costa del Sol league, and realised, at the age of 31, that I would have been a better defender (although still, not a chance of playing at a significant level), it could have been that I was just getting old and couldn't get up and down anymore, but I immensly enjoyed those 2 years, seeing loads of the ball with time on it.

I packed it in altogether this season, I can only manage 7-a-side nowadays, I had 2 bad knee injuries over my life and although they didn't stop me at the time, as I get older it's weaker and it flares up if I play for more than about 40 mins.

 

Theres pills for that mate...

 

Hahaha,

Fortunately in that area eveything still operates like in my teens (except I can control when it goes nowadays, haha).

 

Back then I was - Was quick and good on the ball (24 years ago now). Still got the brain but my feet can't quite keep up any more (and I'm an old unfit overweight fella now!) And my leg is still ****ed as the NHS ballsed up the opeerations I had as well

 

I still play football, nothing serious just in the park etc.

Think I was quite decent for a kid, but didn't join a club or anything so didn't really progress much

 

Higher Poynton reserves players player of the year 1991-1992 still my greatest achievement to date. Always thought it better to be voted by your peers than the fans (i.e. one man and his dog)

 

****e footballer because of temperament and composure with the ball in games, but a very competent centre back. Played and captained at schoolboy level for a second division Belgian side, OHL.

Far too interested in drinking, smoking, drugging and shagging at the time so was never going to get anywhere.

 

I was ****e, I have to say.

 

Sid the hooker,

 

Keeper for Sunderland boys, same year as Martin Smith (who, even at 11, had a cracking left foot on him). Few awards for different competitions, played for Lambton Street 5-a-side, pretty tall too (two inches shy of Pantaloons!). Got massively bored of football and pretty much gave up on it as a kid.

No regrets at all, apart from WC 2010, when I wanted to come out of retirement because of the ****e the England team had at the time.

 

Played at school level and for a couple year after at UNI. Wasnt bad but nee chance playing for a living.

Now i do a bit of coaching 7-11 year olds and play in a knackers 5 a side league with a bunch of Mexicans and Israelis. Eye opening how they play the game compared to how i was taught , you know if in doubt smash it out etc

 

Played for Junior school, secondary school and Sunday league for many years. Miss it.

 

Me too but I wasn't very good.although stated earlier on another thread.i was more than half decent at five a side