At school aged 14-15 sent off a letter to Stoke, Port Vale, Crewe, Walsall & Shrewsbury asking if they had any upcoming trials i could attend. stoke & port vale never even bothered replying. walsall replied with a real nice letter explaining under there current financial state at the time ( 1980-81 ) that unfortunately they were not holding any trials. Crewe & Shrewsbury responded with a date that i could attend. First went to shrewsbury, turned up, there was at least 8 football pitches & every pitch had a game going on plus subs. so by my reckoning there were at least 200-220 kids all trying to impress.unfortunately for me i stated in my letter i played centre midfield/striker, where was i picked to play RIGHT BACK, so that was that. Then had a trial at crewe playing centre mid, thought i had a worse game than at shrewsbury ( only thing i remember doing was hitting a 30-35 yard screamer against the bar ). Standing around afterward waiting to hear your name called out (did not expect much ), and lo & behold i was called out. I was then sat down & asked if i played regular football ( saturday/sunday teams) to which i said no, only played for the school team. so they gave me a fitness work out sheet & said work to this schedule & get yourself a weekend team, then contact us again. So what did i discover a few months later, BEER & ***S. God how life could have been different. Anyone else got any regrets
Good thread this I played football for a local team, Milton Rangers quite a few years ago now and some. I also played for our school team and it was my teacher who suggested I go along to Leek Utd for a trial. I did pretty well and with hindsight, I was somewhat fortunate to have one of my better games that day! I was always a good runner more long distance like cross country etc. But, they stuck me out on the right wing. I only played for about 30mins when I was substituted. Like millions before me I sat on this long bench thinking I've blown it. This guy came to me and my schoolmate and said. "Lads, I would like you to come down to Birmingham for a trial next weekend" I thought, my God this is it world fame is beakoning. I was only 14 and I remember going to Birmingham with my Dad, he was more excited than I was. It rained cats and dogs all day long, there were I think at least 5 other pitches in the huge grassed area. I thought that it was going pretty well until this lad around six foot clattered into me and I went down like the sack of preverbial in a heap. This was after about 15/20 mins and I had to go off but this coach said, you did very well son. What I found out later was the Trevor Francis was at those trials and later signed for Birmingham City. I didn't know him then and what a player he was. I think, the youngest or the most expensive transfer for his age at the time? The first million pound transfer, I THINK so anyway? That, is my small claim to fame I guess. My Dad's erm passed over now but, I will always remember the look on his face when I was told basically, I wasn't quite good enough. I'm not sure who too it the worst me or my father. Fond memories and would I have missed out, changed anything no way. I did much the same as yourself Fill in the corners. Although I played for Milton until I was 18/19 I didn't keep up with the fitness side, the training. Got an apprentiship and the nightclubs oh, and the beer too took over from there. Regets, I have few but then again too few too mention. NO I don't if you went through life thinking that way it wouldn't be half the fun would it!
Both great stories Have no regrets, yet, but I am sure I will make some in the future. Enjoyed reading
Fill in,You`ll never believe this but last night it took me about 30 mins to write a little epistle on this thread,it was 1230am when I pressed the post quickl reply space and was told I was not authorised to do this and that I`d have to sign in etc.All my hard work was then deleted.Anyway,briefly,I had a similar experience as your trial did,except it wasn`t me who had the trial( I love lots of sports but am also crap in all the ones I like!!) but a lad who played for a team that me and my mate started up in the early 60`s in Ellesmere Port.He was quick and very tricky,he could also pass a ball.So I wrote to Stoke and asked if they would give him a trial.Anyway they gave us a time and place ,I don`t know the Stoke area, but eventually found where the trial was held and if I remember right there was more than one pitch in action. This lad got to play only one half of the game and if he got more than 3 touches of the ball I`d be exagerrating!!Needless to say I never got a call back.In hindsight Stoke got it right, the lad never progressed especially after discovering ale!! My personal regret would be that after emigrating to Canada in 1967,I returned in 1969 because my Dad was dying of emphysemia (he died in 1970) and that I never returned to live there after that,it`s a great country,and the way this country has gone I wish I had returned!!
Joe Another great story and just a tip for you Joe. If you check the little box when you do login. It say's remember me, or similar. Saves you having to keep signing in each time. Sounds obvious I know but I've done it a few times and it can be a real pain in the ***
joe type quicker mate I suppose for every 200 kids who think they are good enough, perhaps only 1 will make it. Talking of dads (sorry about your loss & every other poster on here). My dad used to enjoy the odd game (70's , very early 80's) when we were last in the top flight, then never went for years. Until my 2 younger sisters really got well into stoke in the mid to late 90's, we as a family, plus my youngest daughter aged about 7 & the time went every autoglass trophy game (was it autoglasss in those days? ) They also went to cardiff for the play off final against brentford, came to stoke & picked my daughter up ( i missed it through work grrrrr). They moved to Devon in 2000, & were season ticket holders for 4 years, never missed a game, until my dad was taken ill. Anyways what happens, me dad only passed away in march 2008, 2 blooody months before we got promoted to the prem. So all i can say is i hope each & every loved one is watching THE MIGHTY POTTERS IN THE PREM from whatever seat in the house they choose.
