I was decent, just a lazy ****. Better at 11 a side, easier to step into space to receive the ball. wasn't keen on five a side, most of the pitches I played on didn't have walls so I have to move like **** to find space. I was a lazy mo fo.
Proud to have represented uni at left back (although thought myself a great center-back - more Beckenbauer than Moore). Sometimes I was pretty good in my own mind. One of my proudest football moments was being applauded off by both teams when injured.................... .......Just come to mind that might not have been the compliment I have cherished for 30-odd years.......... x
Love indoor 5 a side, only place in Darlington is too expensive to hold the league matches there, they end up being played on those all weather hockey pitches. Might be a new venue local now like, it's been a while since I played
Played for Sunderland Boys and Ryhope when aged 14, alongside Clive "Choc" Mendonca and Lee Howey. Dad lost his job at Rolls Royce and we were all shipped off to Swindon for his new job !! A guy watched me play and said he could get me trials for Swindon if I liked...... but I turned the offer down lacking in self belief !! Turn back time....... if only !!
Played for the comp and remember scoring a tremendous left footer. From a throw in my mate chipped it over to the edge of the box I dropped my shoulder, dummied someone who's name I forget but he went on to play for Spurs (possibly Hazard) turned and hammered the ball into the top corner. He said do that again and I will have you. Dropped him there and then with a kidney punch and was promptly sent off. A SAFC scout said he was going to ask me to attend a trial until that moment. Said he would view a few more games to check my temperament but heard nowt more.
I was a cracking 5/6/7 a side keeper. Never really played 11-a-side much. Didn't start playing until early 20's, won a few trophies and many MoM awards in a couple of leagues in my mid/late 30's that I'm still very proud of and then had to pack in because of a persistent shoulder injury. 19 Stone hoying itsel' about on hard floors took it's toll and my drumming was more important. I loved penalties aswell, saved more than I conceded and won a couple of semi-final games after penalty shoot-outs.
Played a few games at sherburn sports centre in the early 80 s jimmy monty was there don't know if it's still going now
Never kicked a ball in anger. Where I grew up, it was never played. Now, every park seemingly in every town has soccer (please don't) fields which are all overflowing. The leagues are at capacity and all the park space they can acquire is used. Traveling leagues flourish, don't know how the parents can afford the cost. Outside of the inner city, it's the most popular sport now by a margin. Basketball still rules the urban scene and baseball the farmlands, but soccer everywhere else. American football is rife with head injuries, so American Moms (my English mates line) won't let their kids play....except in Texas, Oklahoma and the Southern states. Footy will be the #1 sport for kids here in no time. It's not that they haven't been playing these last twenty years, it's just how ****ing serious it has become. They want to be footy stars now, not baseball and football (relatively speaking). Traditional sports are in decline as measured by participation, but not attendance and interest. A sea change is coming, and the MLS will be part of it. Big game here Sat night between Seattle Sounders and San Jose Earthquakes, I'll be there. Christening a beautiful new stadium in the area opening this year for the other football game. BTW, baseball was my sport. Was an excellent pitcher, and thought I had a future. Elbow surgery in my teens ended that career, and my news sports became girls and race horses.
I was tall & lanky when I was a teen , I loved playing in goal - I could dive (fly) quite theatrically and make Shilton, Bonetti and Jennings look ungraceful in comparison
i was ****ing great a shot so hard i broke two keepers arms in our league, from outside the box. i'm also very modest
I was aiming for the face, but clearly wasn't good enough from that distance. I preferred to regard it as tactical deployment - destabilize the oppo defense then go on the rampage.
I was at Birmingaham City for a short while as a kid. Gave up football all together at about 14 because I was not good enough and played rugby league. Had a serious shoulder injury when I was 21 and had to give rugby up. Someone persuaded me to play Sunday morning pub football, this then went on to playing Sat football which I got paid for (a very small amount). I played with Ashley Williams (who we recently tried to sign from Swansea) when he was about 17, to be honest there were better player around but he worked the hardest and was the most committed. I still play occasionally in charity matches, I played in one last night and am now walking round like a robot. I have been lucky enough to play on the same pitch as Dion Dublin, Paul Walsh, Darren Huckerby, Matt Murray, Jordan Stewart and Paul Mcveigh. After playing with those guys I realise I would never have made it as a footballer even in my wildest dreams. The touch and control those guys have even though they are past their best is still incredible.
