BBS Posters Football Careers

Did you play hockey at Barnsley sixth form? I might have known you although I only played for a year - 88-89 after the Olympics gold medal (I think I'm 1-2 years younger than you). Also played rugby (once for 10 minutes) and football (once for 20 minutes) for the 2nd or 3rd teams.

Was never good enough to play for a school team but did play every day on the local park with two lads that got pro contracts (although 1 didn't last long and the other rarely troubled the league).

 

Played Rotherham Boys up till U14s - Matt Hamshaw was the best player, injuries stopped him from fulfilling his true potential but he still had a decent career.

Being **** stopped a decent career for me.

 

Signed on Amateur Forms for Barnsley 1972 (just ask Turvey Tyke) had trials at Bolton, then had a very serious injury, tried again after 12 months played in a few local cup finals but never 1/2 as good so packed it in.

 

Reading that broken finger story made me wince as it was that injury that ended my 11-a-side career. It was a Station match at RAF Innsworth and only about 15 minutes into the first half when I misjudged a high dropping ball and it landed on my finger ends instead of getting caught. My right little finger was broken in two places and that was the worst pain I’ve ever been in!

They took me to Gloucester Royal where the treatment I got was totally inadequate because I still have a bent little finger that hurts in the winter 30 years after the event. The irony is that I was a fearless dive at the forwards feet keeper who never got kicked in the head yet was undone by such an innocuous accident.

 

Sunday league. For jump teams. I was basically crap.
Although I did win young poy at 16/17. (Joint with another lad, and there were only 3 up for it lol) Broke my leg and ankle. (Same football incident) at 23, After that I would play if they were short, which was quite often tbf if weather was crap. (my choice as I was on statutory sick pay during the recuperation, crap money so didnt like to risk it as much)
Then ran the line. The lads used to play hell up with me cos I wouldn't cheat and stick flag up willy nilly. even if opposition linesman did) allus said if you can't win fairly, what's the point.
Managed em for a while. But didnt last long lol. I stood by the players who turned up every week. And not some who were better players, who either slept in or didnt fancy the rain or cold. Fekk em .

 

Played right wing for Ardsley Oaks Juniors. I had pace. I once crossed the ball but it was actually a shot. I've always loved wingers and when I saw Martin Bullock I saw me-that-never-was. Martin and I had a similar build, neither of us had ever stepped inside a gym and both weighed about 4 stone wet through. The only real difference was that Martin could dribble with a ball and cross a ball. I couldn't do either and neither of us could kick a ball.

That was me at my sporting peak although I did play cricket once for Barnsley VIth form (highest score 24*) and twice for for BT.


* Although I did score 24, I was actually out for a duck caught behind - I knew it, the wicketkeeper knew it - but the umpire missed it and my Stuart Broad innocence-stare seemingly fooled everyone else.

 

I had a trial at Barnsley.

3 points on my licence and £150 fine for driving without due care & attention.

 

I played for St Mary's juniors as center forward in 1969(?) and scored 13 goals, unlucky for me, as I could never find the goal again, only the post. Then went to Radley but did not make the school team. Played a few games for the Sea Cadets, mainly at the bottom of Old Mill Lane behind the Toll Gate Inn. I received a good comment from a mates parent whilst he watched me wizzing down the wing, beating a few defenders on the way. "You look very good and should be playing for your school". My biggest accolade was playing for England in the 2007 "World Cup 5 a side" competition I organised in Baghdad whilst serving in the Royal Navy. Unfortunately the USA beat us in the final. They had about 100,000 troops to select from while there was only about 50 British in Camp Victory where the game took place. I also organised an Ashes series against the Aussies on a redundant piece of green plastic golf course for the wicket area, in the same camp. We lost 3-0.

 

Played in goal for a team in Huddersfield satdi leagues but packed it in because I couldn't watch the reds and didn't fancy getting booted about in Sunday leagues.

Played rugby at a higher level. Sheffield eagles and Yorkshire under 18s but went to uni and quit, didn't fancy drinking pi$$ for my uni team initiation

 

If you were a year younger you’d have improved the school team no end!

 

I was limited to football on the playground and at the park. I always played goalie after being stuck in goal by my 5 year older brother’s mates when I wanted to join in one time and then was allowed to stay there when it turned out that I was alright at it. I (and a few other lasses) complained a lot at school about the girls never being allowed to do football in PE and we finally managed to persuade the teachers to let us do have a grand total of one lesson before we had to do sports deemed more suitable for girls.

When I got to uni I could have maybe joined a team but I joined dance instead which I absolutely loved and was awarded club colours in during my second year.

 

Played Saturdays for a bit when I was younger but stopped because I missed going to watch.
I was a pretty decent Sunday League centre back and managed to keep playing to about age 35 when my knee started gave up on me and doctor told me to stop or I would end up with permanent damage, it still got me in the end though!

 

We used to play hockey at school during PE.My claim to fame or infamy was heading the rock hard ball into the net after it had riccocheted off somebodies boot into the air.Didn't fancy laiking much after that.

 

Junior school playground goal-hanger. Played one game on right wing for Keir Street Juniors against Burton Road on the Tollgate ground in 1962. Was wet, muddy and cold. Never played again.

 

I'm 34 and have played a grand total of 4, 11-a-side matches in my life. Not good enough to get in either school football sides. Never played Saturday or Sunday league at any age group. I played in a charity tournament a few years ago, which consisted of 3 group matches and a last place play-off. I was the lino for half of those matches too. I also played at Oakwell the year before last when they had those matches for season ticket holders in the summer. I scored a penalty at the Ponte End and it was the greatest experience of my life. Wayne Goodison congratulated me on my penalty, and I sobbed back, 'it's a dream come true'.

I've had a more prolific 5 & 6 a-side career though. Peaking when West Bank Utd reached the lofty heights of the Championship in Goals Leeds Monday night men's league.

Having bounced around several leagues in Barnsley, Leeds and Sheffield, playing for illustrious names such as Hardly Athletic, Tarn Re-United, Scoregasm, LSD Eindhoven, Deportivo Lack-of-talent, I Need a Pappiss FC, Scouting for Goals and Pass and Love FC, I've settled at Goals Norfork Park's Thursday night late league. Currently I play in goal for Fragomites, the works team of a mate. We're in the bottom division, and just missed out on promotion of the final game of last season; I want to clarify that I missed the last 4 games through injury, and we were 6 points clear at that stage.

 

School Team juniors and seniors. Played in the inaugural season for Kexborough Chiefs/Cosmos who I believe are still going. Stopped due to illness/injury after first year at uni.

 

Highfields CP - 1962/3
Mitchells & Darfield under 13 - 1964/5
Wath GS first 11 - 1969/70
Wombwell SOY - 1970/71
Various Bristol Polytechnic teams 1971-74
Occasional appearance for Lundhill United 1971-74
Elsecar Main (one appearance as sub)1972
Totterdown Hotspur (Bristol) 1972
Berkeley Wanderers (Bristol) 1974/5
AERE (Hanwell)/AEA Hanwell/ Harwell International(different names for the same club) 1983-1996. I made 199 appearances scoring 26 goals.
I managed the Harwell international Reserve team for 3 seasons. I also held the posts of Treasure and Chairman with this club.

 

Played for St Mick's at school. Once played a very good Whitecross team - Dave Wilks et al. We went 1-0 up - lost 10-1. Played for Darfield Rd Rangers alongside Roy Cole (ask yer Dad's/Grandad's). He was a tad 'weighty' but what a player. Tragic I never played alongside 'Slightly Balding' - what a player he was. Played for Doncaster NALGO. Got to the NALGO final one year - played in Hull. Scored both goals in a 2-2 draw and was the only player to miss a penalty; The penalty spot went into the top comer but the ball trickled to the keeper a la Graham Pugh.
Moved North and played for Leyburn Utd in the Wensleydale League. Finished playing at age 54 for Richmond Town Over 40's in the Sunderland & District Over 40's League. A very big deal in the North East. Never a game went by when we weren't playing against at least one ex pro. It was an absolute joy. Played against David Currie - I was quicker! but the best was Peter Beardsley who came on as a half time sub for Wallsend Old Boys and overturned a 2-0 deficit. In my view partly down to the dodgy refereeing of ex Top League Ref - Ken Redfearn (another North Easterner) who must have been about 95 and kept tripping over his white stick and Labrador. Git.