I went to watch Didcot Town against Forest Green Rovers in an FA Trophy 1st round replay last night (my lad plays for Didcot Town's U16s). Didcot are in the Southern League whilst Forest Green are a couple of leagues higher in the Conference Premier. Anyway, I thought I'd mention that playing centre forward for Forest Green was Jon Parkin. Some of you may remember him playing against us for Bolton and Cardiff. He was always a limited, but effective player at Championship level, but at this lower lever he was outstanding. Forest Green won 3-0 with Parkin scoring all three. He looked in a different class to everyone else on the pitch and his first goal was an unbelievable, volleyed lob from over forty yards!! I thought he must be around 40 years old by now but he's actually only 32!! He's always looked old and a bit chubby and nothing has changed. Amazing that he's dropped down to the Conference but I'm glad I saw him play as he was excellent. Apparently he's on 3k a week at Forest Green. They must have a rich backer I'd have thought. I said well played to him as he walked round the ground after being subbed late on. Anyone else seen a reasonably well known player at a lower level?
Many, many years ago (probably very early seventies) I saw Terry Dyson, a winger in Spurs' double winning team of '61, playing for Wealdstone. Bet he wasn't on 3 grand a week though, and I can't remember if he was any good.
Marc Bircham made quite a few appearances for Fisher in the Kent League last season. Best I ever saw myself was Jimmy Greaves with Barnet in their Southern League days in the late 70s, he was head and shoulders above everyone else in what was a bearpit of a league...
I went to watch Yeading once quite some time ago and the oppo had an ex-liverpool player playing up front (Fairclough maybe) It was GM Conference i believe and although this guy would have been mid 30's, he was miles ahead of anyone else on the pitch ALSO..hows this for a claim to fame story.... I went on a football tour to Turin many years ago and we played 2 games in a stadium, 1 Saturday and 1 sunday. In the Sunday game, seeing as i was one of the fittest, I was told to mark thier CM. Now he was an old balding fella and must have been mid 30-'s-40 then. This was prob 15 years ago (or so). Anyway this bloke would jog to the edge of the box, collect the ball and play a nice simple pass and dissapear to somewhere obscure. Obviously i had the dilema of going with him and leaving a gap or holding our shape. I have to say neither worked as the overweight guy just shielded to ball superbly then ran off somewhere he shouldnt have been. I obviously tried to play our style and then suddenly 5-6 passes later the ball was at his feet. i couldnt believe it, so my manager said just stick with him and go where he goes. Once the old boy realised this he ambled off to the side line and stood having a chat and *** with the manager making me look even more stupid as everyone else got on withthe game.... Anyway, as the game wore on i got a bit wiser and had a few more touches but never really got anywhere near this fella. They beat us quite comfortably and we all shook hands and went off. Had a few drinks and then back to the hotel (where Turino were also staying) Anyway as we were having a few beers it turns out that this "fat fella" had played alongside Michelle Platini at Juve (?) and also in the Italian National side at the world cup. I never did remember his name but i remember the lesson he gave me in football THAT MY FRIENDS IS A GOD HONEST STORY If anyone wants to now the date/year it was the day that an English player missed a pen in the last game of SerieB and Torino didnt get promoted because of it. I think he was ex-Chelsea. Poss around 1999 ish. (Tony Dorigo)!
Barry Fry had just taken over at Barnet and persuaded Greaves to play for them that season, my then brother-in-law was playing for Gravesend and he got me tickets for a Cup match, Greaves was playing in midfield but still scored two in an easy win...
Just remembered it was Tony Dorigo...? Met the whole team in the hotel and e was a really nice bloke and rest of the team were fine too Sorry should have put that in orig post under EDIT !
I played in the old west fulham league in the early 70's, and Ron Springett played centre forward for Valley United, he scored 4 times in the 2 league games, one a 4-4 goal fest, also he knew how to win a penalty.
Didn't Jon Parkin score a hat trick against us for Preston one time? On an Xmas piss up right now, or I'd Google it.
When i was living in Hong Kong back in the '90's Neil Webb the ex Man U and England bloke lived in the flat upstairs from me and played for Instant-Dict (yes honestly) in the HK league. I don't recall him being there for long. More bizzarely Gus Caesar lived around the corner from me whilst i was there - cant remember who he played for but i took part in a charity 5 a side tournament and played against him. I was a lot fitter back then but he rang rings around all of us
I saw Rowan Vine playing for Greenock Morton a few times last season, alongside Gary O'Connor - ex Lokomotiv Moscow and Birmingham(what a fat useless lump he was).....not really greats, but definately fallen down a few leagues
