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NUNEATON SUPPORTERS CHARITY MATCH
Football is more important than life or death, someone once
said. Well, no, quite frankly. And if any evidence to rubbish the afore mentioned
statement were needed then one need only look to the tragic events that followed
Nuneaton Borough’s FA Cup Tie with Bournemouth just before Christmas, in which
3 Nuneaton fans lost their lives in a minibus accident.
In the aftermath of this tragedy, and with shockwaves still
reverberating around the Conference community, a number of Nuneaton fans set up
the Boro’ Fans Memorial Fund with the aim of raising as much money as possible
for the families of those who suffered loss and for those passengers on the bus
itself who have not yet returned to work since the incident.
Plans were made by Kingstonian Supporters to challenge the
Nuneaton Supporters to a football game to raise awareness of the fund, and the
Supporters Club pledged money for the cause. However when the ‘real’ Nuneaton
- K’s game was postponed and moved to a Tuesday, plans for the game were put aside
for the time being. With the subsequent re-arrangement of the game to Saturday
31st March plans were resurrected and both camps were faced with a race against
time to raise a team, and an even more frantic rush by the Nuneaton fans to find
the facilities to stage the game.
And so it was that a ‘team‘, in the loosest sense of the word,
departed Kingsmeadow on the morning of the game having undergone intensive training,
stringent diets and no sex in the previous 48 hours in preparation for their biggest
(only) game of the season. A quick glance around the bus would have told you that
only one of the 3 conditions requested had been vigorously adhered to, and that
choice hadn’t perhaps come into that one too much.
Yellow and green kits, kindly provided by Butch Shakespeare,
made sure we at least looked the part, and as we were busy changing it was realised
that whilst having scraped together enough players for a team, where we were all
going to play had been overlooked.
Kingstonian Supporters Team
Tim Bell
Ali Kazemi - Simon Murray - Richard Exworthy - Ollie Steel
Taimour Lay - Damian Carlin - Gary Ekins - Tony Maric
Mark Slater - Butch Shakespeare
Ash Garrett (sub), Paul Stone (ref)
Once on the pitch, and our formation dilemma sorted by Coach
Deadman and his trusty notepad, K’s kicked off the first half facing a strong
wind. Due to the wind, and absolutely no other reason whatsoever, Nuneaton had
the better of the early exchanges forcing numerous corners and creating many openings
and Tim kept the visitors in the game with a number of fine saves.
The home side were denied more chances by the Arsenal style
offside trap being employed by the visitors. Mainly the defensive line moved forward,
the team lost the ball and when it was played back the defence didn’t have the
energy to move backwards in time, thus catching the Nuneaton forward line in offside
positions. Only once did this ‘tactic’ fail, namely when the defensive line pushed
out just before a long ball was sent over. Seeing at least three attackers clearly
offside, arms were raised in unison and heads turned towards the linesman. Seeing
no flag and just before the protests started we turned to see Ollie, our left
back, some 25 yards behind play faced with three on rushing forwards. Sighs of
relief were almost audible as the resulting shot bobbled just wide.
Hanging on for a goalless score line at half time K’s managed
to snatch the lead. After a precise hoof up the field and a couple of passes Damian
found himself one on one with the keeper. Just as Michael Owen had done for England
just three days earlier Damian converted his first and only chance of the half
with a shot into the top right hand corner of the goal.
Half time brought with it a rousing and tactically astute team
talk from Coach Deadman. ‘The winds with us so get it into the corners.’ So, not
only do we have to punt it as hard as we can, we also have to aim the bloody thing.
This was too much for some people and Tony went off to be replaced by Ash, who
was replacing first half referee Paul, who swapped his ref’s jersey for a yellow
one. Confused? Well not as much as Richard who seemed to forget that when half
time comes it is traditional to swap ends. Playing as a centre back in the first
half he assumed exactly the same position on the pitch in the second half, thus
making himself 80 or so yards out of position every time the ball was played forwards
by Nuneaton.
Nuneaton had changed their formation slightly, pushing numbers
forward looking for an equaliser, but this left space for K’s counter attack game,
and after ten minutes of constant pressure a pinpoint hoof from Taimour found
Mark in space on the left wing. Following a weaving run, his floating cross caught
the wind and ended up nestling in the corner of the net via the back post. Of
course football is all about opinions, and Mark’s may well be something along
the lines of - a perfect looping shot, judging the wind conditions perfectly to
fool the keeper into coming for a cross but the last minute swerve on the ball
eluded him and via the post, merely for dramatic effect, the ball found the net.
So, a fluke goal saw K’s somehow move into a two goal lead.
More pressure on the K’s goal ensued with Nuneaton pressing
forward looking to get back into the game as soon as possible, but good defensive
work from Ali and Gary kept them at bay, and when the defence wasn’t enough, ‘keeper
Tim was able to keep the score line intact. Claims for a penalty were turned down
after a sliding challenge from Simon left a forward grounded, but the referee
was having none of it, and they really weren’t going to argue with Ash, something
Simon may well have been banking on as he took first, the player and then the
ball.
K’s still looked dangerous on the break, Butch firing a shot
over the bar, which was probably just as well, because if it had struck the bar
we may well have been faced with a bill for a replacement goal frame. Mark had
another chance well saved before Damian wrapped things up with his second cool
finish of the day when faced with just the keeper to beat.
The last ten minutes saw the introduction of youth – Alistair
for the visitors and the aptly named Lineker for the home side, whose dad was
among those who lost their lives in the crash. It didn’t take long for an impression
to be made, Lineker living up to his name by thumping the ball past Tim for a
late consolation. And whatever Tim may tell you, he wouldn’t have got near in
a month of Sundays.
So, K’s ran out 3-1 winners the only regret to stem from the
game were, of course, the sad circumstances which had been predominant in the
arrangement. It was then off to the village watering hole for some food laid on
by our hosts and a presentation for all the players who took part, again kindly
provided by Butch, which included a man of the match award for Damian.
A great day, and something both camps are keen to repeat next
season, K’s Conference safety permitting.
Simon M
back up top
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THE GREAT FA CUP RUN OF 2001
This season’s FA Cup run had the most inauspicious of starts
– at home to Devizes Town. A quick flick through the non-league directory confirmed
that they were in the first division of the Western League, whilst a quick look
at the pyramid structure confirmed that progress to the first round proper should
be less than taxing.
But K’s hadn’t been having the best of times at home when this
game rolled around, with just the then-recent win against Southport since the
opening day cheering the faithful. Still, a 5-2 win was achieved, and most people
who saw Final Score would have assumed that the game had been easily tied up.
Of course those who were present know that K’s were in fact hanging on to a 3-2
lead with but ten minutes remaining, only for Geoff Pitcher to ruin the romance
with a late double.
The draw was held just after the game and most of the crowd,
or so it seemed, was in the Kingsmeadow bar to cheer the reward – a trip to Griffin
Park, Brentford. A local derby seemed like a good idea for all concerned, with
supporters able to get a bus (a number 65 in fact) from door to door and hopefully
with the possibility that some of those Wembley visitors would re-emerge for another
trip to a “real” ground.
The away end at Brentford was packed, top and bottom. It was
a joy to see so many people turn out for a K’s game, and the performance produced
was one of the best in recent years. Yet it had all seemed somewhat unlikely in
the first half, with Steve Farrelly – painful neck and all – being called upon
to make save after save in the damp conditions.
Yet the second half provided joy aplenty, with K’s fans now
forever indebted to Scott Marshall’s back, as it was that which handed the lead
to the yellow shirted ones via Geoff Pitcher’s boot (or should that be the other
way around?). Sammy Winston then put right the previous four months with his best
performance in a K’s shirt to date, and with two goals too. That Brentford scored
late on mattered not a jot – Kingstonian had totally outplayed their more illustrious
opponents, and deserved the standing ovation offered at the final whistle.
Whilst the K’s fans hurried to the nearest pub with a TV, the
home fans headed to the main stand where they stood to call for Ron Noades’ head,
but they were more than happy to stop their protestations momentarily to offer
congratulations to their happier neighbours.
The draw was something of a disappointment – not only because
it was a Conference team but also because it was a long way away. There was no
hope of all of the Griffin Park visitors making the long trip to Haig Avenue,
Southport, but the Supporters Club did their best by offering cheap travel to
all.
Still, K’s have a good record against Mark Wright’s side and
hopes were high that more success could be found on this occasion. The signs were
somewhat worrying though, when early-arrivers to the ground saw Ian McDonald teaching
debutant Gavin Kelly how to kick. Yet the borrowed Tottenham youngster proved
that he knew exactly what to do with his hands with a fine display to thwart the
Southport attack. A Mark Harris header and a superb Geoff Pitcher strike were
enough to see K’s through, with just one Dino Maamria goal entering Kelly’s net.
And so thoughts could turn to the third round, with dreams
of Old Trafford, Highbury, Anfield et al filling dreams on the Saturday night.
Yet it was Dagenham who were handed the best draw – Premiership Charlton away.
K’s had to be content with a trip to Roots Hall, Southend. Come on, own up – who
dreamed of that the night before?!
There was, of course, the little matter of Christmas in between
the second and third rounds. Oh, as well as a few league games. But they seemed
to matter less and less as the run went on, with an alarming slide down the table
not looking like stopping any time soon.
But once again K’s managed to produce a display at Southend
which exactly mirrored everything they were producing in league games. Character,
composure, determination, organisation and (whisper it quietly) even some skill
were on show as another league team were swept aside.
Yet this victory wasn’t achieved quite as comprehensively as
the one against Brentford. An early goal was earned thanks to Eddie Akuamoah,
and from then on it was “backs to the wall”. There was the odd break – and one
very odd double sending off – but Gavin Kelly saw far more of the play than did
his opposite number. Yet K’s stood firm, with Southend showing remarkable reluctance
to change their style of play as Allan, Harris and Saunders headed away long ball
after long ball.
The celebrations at the end of the game were joyous and prolonged,
and well they might be. Another league team had been dispatched on their own ground,
and thoughts of those famous grounds could surface once more.
The nation was by now looking on, with Kingstonian and Dagenham
providing the big stories on Match of the Day, and with Derek Allan’s airplane
impression ending the programme. And Sky weren’t about to miss out, as they sent
their cameras to Kingsmeadow to show our reaction to the draw on the Sunday afternoon.
Quite a large number of fans assembled for the cameras in the
posh bar at Kingsmeadow, which seemed as hot as a sauna what with the TV lights,
the people and the tension. Some of the players were present as well, and their
initial reactions seemed the same as everyone else – displeasure at “only” drawing
Bristol City. On reflection it did provide the possibility of huge exposure in
the fifth round, but at some time the big draw we had all been waiting for had
to come along.
But we are, of course, all disciples to the FA’s balls, and
so off we went to Bristol on the last Saturday in January. There was, once again,
a pleasing K’s following – with many occasional supporters making the effort to
Go West. And their efforts were returned by the players, who once again turned
in a superb performance.
Phil Wingfield had the moment his life had been waiting for,
scoring the goal from way out wide which handed K’s an unbelievable lead. And
as time ticked by, it seemed that the draw had indeed been kind to K’s, allowing
them to enter the uncharted territory of the fifth round. Yet Tony Thorpe had
other ideas, and with one late swipe of his right foot we were all sent back to
try again at Kingsmeadow.
It was heartbreaking standing there at the end of the first
game though. The players had done everything that could have been asked of them,
and they had been so close to achieving what would have been a remarkable result.
The following day’s draw pitted the replay winners against Premiership Leicester,
but whether K’s would still be around to enjoy the fruits of their labours was
up for debate.
Sky got involved with the replay, and so finally the club earned
some real money from what must be the least-financially-rewarding cup-run in recent
years. Three-quarters of the ground were packed for the game, and once again the
team produced a performance completely at odds with that which had seen them go
out of the Trophy just days before.
The end of the cup run finally came two minutes from time,
when Scott Murray scored a deflected winner and the Bristol fans showed their
contempt for K’s new main stand by pushing a large chunk of it out of their way.
And so the best ever FA Cup run came to a close within shouting distance of Filbert
Street. K’s were certainly unlucky with the draws, but at the end of the day some
money had been earned, the profile of the club had been raised one more notch
and the rest of the Conference had looked on in admiration.
And so now it just remains for K’s to secure their place amongst
the non-league elite for next season. If they imagine they’re at Griffin Park,
Roots Hall or Ashton Gate they should have no trouble.
Gary
back up top
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SPOTLIGHT ON IAN MCDONALD
It's Thursday 16th November, the evening of our first interview,
and Ian McDonald is conducting the last training session before the FA Cup tie
with Brentford. From a distance a loud, burly Barrow accent can be heard barking
out instructions, encouragement and criticisms at the squad of players. As the
group begins to trudge into the dressing room at 9:30pm, and having ordered the
hapless Ronnie Green to collect the bibs, McDonald volunteers himself to fetch
the balls that Geoff Pitcher and others, seeking to perfect their free-kick technique,
had earlier sent sailing high and wide into the Kingston Road car park.
The unprecedented access Sky were granted to the Kingstonian
dressing room during this season's remarkable FA Cup run offered a tantalising
glimpse of the two men that have shaped the club's success. The reputation of
one, Geoff Chapple, is deservedly unrivalled in non-league football. He began
and followed through the revolution that turned Kingstonian from a mid-table Ryman
league side into an established trophy winning Conference outfit. But the contribution
made by Chapple's influential, though less well known, Assistant Manager, Ian
McDonald, through his coaching, man-management, team talks and much else besides
- 'You've got to be the players' best friend, their mam, their dad, aunty, uncle,
the lot!' - is equally worthy of recognition.
Once settled in the warmth of the opposition changing room,
McDonald is reluctant to assume the mantle of 'unsung hero', 'Geoff is very hands
off He lets me do the coaching, I worry about getting people to watch opposition…
I try to get everything right on the football pitch... Geoff gives me the tools.
Our relationship is excellent.' But does he ever feel unappreciated?' Obviously
I'd like recognition for what I do, and its nice, say after the Trophy final,
when you get fans coming up to you saying 'well done'. After a pause he admits
to a sense of hidden frustration, 'Yes I do wish I got a little bit more recognition
for it… but I've got a good rapport with the players and that keeps me happy…
if recognition comes, it comes.'
McDonald has not always been the man behind the scenes. In
1992 he was thrust into the spotlight as caretaker manager of Aldershot, following
the resignation of Brian Talbot, and just months before the club finally went
bust. The situation was clearly far from ideal, 'We didn't train, we just met
up for games… we didn't get paid but the supporters were very kind with
bucket collections and the like. They were hard times but it was a good grounding
and through that l got my job at Millwall. If they could have lasted another year
when the Sky TV money kicked in then they might have been ok. ' But Aldershot's
problems were exacerbated by mal-administration, 'A lot of non-football people
got involved in Aldershot Football Club, and perhaps saw it as a viable situation
to make a quick killing ... I can't prove that, the Hampshire police were going
to look into it but nothing ever got done about it.'
When asked if he views the long-term financial position of
Kingstonian as precarious, he shrugs his shoulders, 'I don't know the financial
situation here. I understand that there's one thousand people coming in, that's
1,000 tenners.' The groundwork, expected to cost up to £750,000, is certainly
ambitious but is it perhaps a step too far, too early? 'I think its the wrong
thing to do at this moment 'cos I think there's nothing wrong with the ground…
I told Geoff, I think we are a long, long way from being a Football League club,
both on and off the park, but the directors want us to go ahead with it, so fine.
But I think this club has grown very, very quickly in the last three years and
I just think we're trying to run before we can get into that little jog.'
McDonald's footballing career was long and varied, involving
a total of 671 League appearances as a left-sided midfielder. But he confesses
disappointment at not playing at the highest level, particularly after Bill Shankley
took him to Liverpool for £33,000 in 1974 from Workington, 'I signed on
the Thursday, broke my ankle on the Saturday (playing in the reserves) and was
back at home with my leg in plaster on the Monday morning… My dad would
tell you that it was Bob Paisley who never gave me a chance and swear blind that
it was him who ruined my career but I would say I probably wasn't good enough
to be a Liverpool player.' You sense that his misfortune still grates, 'The only
break I ever got was my left ankle.'
Having worked as a professional coach at Millwall, the move
to part-time football has placed real limitations on his ability to improve players
through intensive coaching, 'Unfortunately we don't have a lot of scope…
last year I had Tarkan who was one of those players who wanted to try and improve
but its very, very difficult. You get one and half hours on a Tuesday and Thursday
evening. I don't even always get the luxury of using the pitch (at Kingsmeadow).
We train at Tolworth College and the facilities are very poor, but you have to
get on with you've got.' Four months later, at our second meeting, with the team
still lodged firmly in the relegation zone, McDonald's frustration as a coach
is clear, 'My training methods and ideas have not changed, you just don't get
a chance to do the things you want to do.'
As the K's bad run started to drag into months rather than
weeks, he acknowledged in November that this season would be a hard one, ' We
lost three players and had three out injured. You take them six out of our side,
and that is the heart of our team gone.' He vigorously defended the replacements
that have been brought in, although accepting that some, most notably Sammy Winston,
had been disappointing, 'I'm not saying those players are not good enough but
we've not had a settled side and we're paying for that. Sammy is not the same
player who played against us three times last year but I've not lost faith in
Sammy; his problem is confidence… I told the boys tonight in the meeting
that we have no excuses now. Everybody's fit, now we have to do the business.'
Now in March, he continues to defend the character of his squad,
if not the quality, 'I have never questioned their effort. I'm a great believer
in eight a side games in training. Last year the quality of some of them was really
superb, but that quality has not been there this season.' As ever in football,
confidence seems to have been the key, 'We got off to a very bad start and those
three players (Mustafa, Crossley and Leworthy) still haven't been replaced.' The
injuries and suspensions that have littered the campaign have likewise hindered
progress, 'No club can handle those sorts of things… it has been one nightmare
scenario after another. Look at the goalkeeping situation.' Indeed, once Jimmy
Glass had been sent off against Morecambe (28 February), Colin Luckett amazingly
became the eighth man to stand between the posts for the K's this season.
The eternal conundrum of this eventful season has been how
a team that progressed to an FA Cup 4th round reply has at the same time, and
largely with the same players, become mired in a relegation battle. McDonald confides
that there is some truth in Geoff Chapple's comments in the local press that motivation
and preparation have been important factors. 'Phil Wingfield came up to me a few
weeks back and said 'Macca, you're not the same person before a league game as
you are leading up to a cup game'. I took that to heart and thought about it a
lot. In reality, for a league game we get together on a Saturday at 1:45pm and
don't have the same preparation in terms of tactics, taking about the opposition
and things like that which I think our players enjoy doing.'
For McDonald the FA Cup has hardly been the fairytale it proved
for the fans. 'It has been a total nightmare because if we hadn't done well in
the Cup, Geoff would have changed the team around Christmas time… he stayed
loyal to those players because the cup blinded him a bit.' And when asked to name
his highlight of the season, he quickly passes over the wins at Brentford and
Southend, the dramatic draw at Bristol City and the media circus that surrounded
the replay. Instead he opts for the convincing 5-2 league win at Stevenage (25
November): 'I felt then that we would go from strength to strength but we didn't.
We have really flattered to deceive this year.'
The management team has been criticised in some quarters for
the rigidity of the team selection and formation, particularly at Kingsmeadow,
where the team has collected only a handful of points. McDonald maintains that
they have in fact ventured very often from the favoured 3-5-2, '4-4-3 works a
dream away from home but our home form has been dire because we have to go and
break a team down. We only have one player who can break a side down and since
Bristol City away Geoff Pitcher has been poor… he owes it to the club to
perform.' He also pledges his support to fans favourite Simon Stewart who has
only recently returned from injury, 'Simon is a quality player. A fit Simon Stewart
would be in my starting XI.'
Relegation to the Ryman league, once a distant and slightly
paranoid fear, is now a serious possibility. McDonald has few qualms about the
battle ahead, 'I think we need six wins (as at Nuneaton)… we can't rely
on other teams. We've got eight or nine away games but it's a hell of a challenge
for everyone involved at the club. We could go down… I don't think we will.
We've got too many good players at the club. ' And too dedicated a managerial
team as well one suspects.
Taimour
back up top
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IVOR BOWNTAPIK TELLS IT LIKE IT IS
Desperate to fill space, the editor asked Ivor Bowntapik
for more irrelevant ramblings...
What the hell is going on? I ask you. It’s the end of March
and here we are with about seventy-four games to go and what’s happened? I’ll
tell you what’s happened – absolutely nothing. For two bloody weeks – nothing!!
I ask you. Ok so we were meant to play one game against that Yeovil lot, but that
was in that Nationwide Varsity Cup or whatever the bloody thing’s called this
year. And did that get played? Did it f***.
And did you see their pitch last week on the TV? I did and
I tell you – disgraceful it was. I ask you. There they are showing off the non-league
game to the watching millions, and what do we see? Three crap goals, a load of
sand and a few puddles!! And then they can’t even get their pitch ready for our
game. Even though they got a bunch of farmers onto the pitch the second time around.
Foot and Mouth? Who gives a toss? I ask you. Bloody farmers.
And what the hell’s going on with that other pointless cup?
No not the FA Cup – the Surrey Cup? Croydon withdrawing? I ask you. The biggest
game of their lives and they withdraw. Withdraw? What are they – afraid of commitment
or something? In my day we used an old sock – never withdrew. I ask you.
Sorry, what was I talking about? Oh that’s right – the bloody
farmers. They’re everywhere now. You can’t go anywhere without seeing one of them
crying over their poor cows. But what the hell are they crying for? Weren’t they
gonna kill ‘em anyway? I ask you. What? Football? Oh that’s right – sorry.
Now as I was saying – how the hell are we supposed to get to
all these games? I ask you. Now they expect me to go to Northwich? And Hereford?
And Chester? And Yeovil again? All during the week? What the hell is going on?
I ask you. Some of us have to work you know, but they never think about that do
they?
Course it’s easy for them. Take that Kelly bloke for one. Gets
in at what? About twelve or something. Sits around, reads the papers, picks his
nose, eats it then goes home about two. And if we’ve got a match then he gets
paid to go doesn’t he? Not like us. I got threatened with the sack when we played
all those away games last year, but they couldn’t give a f*** could they? I ask
you.
And what the hell’s the point of going to all these away games
anyway? There we were at Telford – all thirteen of us – and we won!! But then
a few days later against that Rushden lot there were loads of us and we got stuffed!!
I ask you. Boycott – that’s what I say. The fewer people that go the better we
play. Still, it was nice to see that Tarkan bloke dumped in some snow against
that Rushden lot..
Anyway, I’ve got to go and book some time off now. Course the
wife’ll be a bit upset when she finds out she’s gotta go away on her own this
summer but that’s life isn’t it? She doesn’t have to go does she? And we were
only going to Norwich anyway. And you know who lives there don’t you? Bloody farmers
– that’s who. I’d much rather go to Hereford me – no farmers there.
What’s that? Opposite a cattle market? What the f***? I ask
you.
IB
back up top
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THE DREAM IS OVER
Well, there it was gone. Blink and you miss it, just like life.
Here today and gone tomorrow. There we all were at Ashton Gate dreaming of the
next round and, bang, almost all over. Still we did really well and at least got
on the TV. Went further than more illustrious sides like Man Utd, Leeds, Newcastle,
Villa and others. But it was our dream. Filbert Street here we come. But no, dreams
are not reality. You wake up and it has gone but it is great while it lasts.
So now it is over what do you remember? What will Match of
the Day, or the ITV equivalent, show in a few years time? The goals at Brentford,
Geoff’s superb strike at Southport, the invasion of the goal at Southend
or Phil Wingfield’s touch of class at Bristol? Wrong again! What all true
sports people (that is politically correct) will remember is the sight of Eddie
A. in tears at the end of the Bristol game. Who says that players don’t
care? If you cried at ET, the Railway Children, Love Story or any of the thousands
of other weepies, you just had to cry with Eddie. Every mother in the country
adopted him after that.
Our dreams help us to escape the drudgery of life. Whether
your dream is a date with Jennifer Anniston or George Clooney, depending on your
sexual persuasion, that is all it is, a dream. The so-called “American Dream”
is that any person can become the President. If it is good enough for a draft
dodging, perjuring sex maniac, or a “has been” actor, then a dream
is good enough for anybody.
Be warned though, the dividing line between a dream and a nightmare
is very marginal. One person’s dream is another’s nightmare. Ours
(K’s) would be to be relegated. Although the cup has brought great publicity
for the club and not a little financial reward, the league must be the priority.
A nightmare will probably ensue if we are relegated.
I have only ever experienced two real sporting dreams, at least
of those that I can remember. Ironically enough they both involve sports in which
I have little interest; horse racing and motor racing. The first involved dreaming
about the winner of the Grand National. Although the maker of dreams was not kind
enough to tell me the name of the winner, he did inform me that the four-legged
wonder’s name would begin with the letter “F”. That year I placed
a bet on a number of horses and the Fossa, Freddie and Forest Price came in second
third and fourth. Not necessarily in that order. The following year, the race
was won by Foinavon at 100/1. Of course I had not placed a bet that time.
A number of years later I experienced a very vivid dream about
an Englishman winning the World Formula 1 Championship in a yellow and blue car.
A couple of years later that effervescent and ever cheery chappie, Nigel Mansell
won it. Once again, no bet was placed. This week I bet on K’s to win the
replay 2-0, and Geoff Pitcher to score the first goal. A double of 280/1. You
all know what happened to that bet. I must be the bookmaker’s friend.
So finally, sincere thanks to Geoff Chapple for keeping the
dream alive and thanks to Eddie for reminding us all of what sport is really about.
So now it is the Saturday night after the Doncaster game. Incidentally, where
were the hordes of supporters that went to Bristol? The first job is to warm those
parts of the body that were frozen stiff in our glorious Yorkshire weather. I
am then going to have a bottle of red wine and an early night. Perhaps I can then
dream of the 3rd Division in a couple of season’s time. I hope that I do
not picture Hampton or Sutton's ground. Now that really would be a nightmare.
Rory
back up top
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SUPPORTERS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
It's that time of the year again when Kingstonian fans of
all shapes & sizes sit down to work out who is going to pip Geoff Pitcher
to the Supporters Player of the Year award. Mark Murphy has his own opinions on
this subject (and we emphasize, Mark Murphy). He'd like to share them with you.
Whether you'd like him to or not.
Life under Geoff Chapple has never been dull. But, for once,
this is currently a source of regret. What we wouldn't give for a dozen meaningless
games between now & the season's end. When former programme editor John Trevor
(God rest his soul) talked of Ks having a "customarily good April" that
meant four wins & two draws in six games with the chant of "we're going
to finish eleventh" as vocal accompaniment. No such luxuries this year. Which
means that there is scope for someone to make a late run for this year's award.
In fact, it has been such a "different" season that we could yet see
Mr Pitcher win the award he so richly deserves. Not that I've mad up MY mind yet,
or anything…
We've had more goalkeepers than centre-halves this season.
And we've defended so badly at times (Forest Green, Hednesford, Woking at home)
that we could have done with fielding at least two of them at a time. Adrian Blake
& Matthew Murray you can feel sorry for. Adrian was/is only a stopgap. While
Murray's day out at Yeovil was the stuff nightmares are made of, a bad leg injury
after only 20 minutes & then 70 minutes facing Barrington Belgrave in THAT
sort of form. Pat Jennings' one display reminded me of a commentator's remark
about Jordi Cruyff in his Manchester United days, "He's a better player now
than when he first came here. But he's still wise not to use his old man's name."
God, does Barry Daines have a son? (one for old Spurs fans, there). Richard Hurst?
Well, there was Dagenham. But there was also Hednesford. His string of clean sheets
for St Albans can only mean that Ryman League forward lines are crap. Colin Luckett
could scarcely have done worse. And, in fact, he didn't. He even got close to
that penalty against Morecambe. Or so HE says. Jimmy Glass has certainly been
lively. And mostly excellent. As was Steve Farrelly, Hereford aside. We wish him
a full recovery for footballing reasons & more. And then there was Gavin Kelly.
Only 15 games, but what a 15 games. His last performance was the only nervy one,
as he seemed to let the occasion get to him at Hayes (& that's not a sentence
you'll have seen before). Otherwise, magnificent. To be remembered fondly by all
when he becomes a star in the Premiership (five years, tops).
Only since Christmas have we seen the real Mark Beard. For
much of the early months, he was Tarkan Mustafa without the attacking flair. But
from then until back injury, the side's most improved player & something approaching
what we paid for. Poor old Mark Boyce, meanwhile, has floundered. Like a rabbit
in headlights during the Bristol City replay. Colin Luckett could scarcely have
done worse. And, in fact, he hasn't. Yet to reach the heights of last year &
hasn't had a great season. But not a bad one either. I didn't call for his selection
to the England squad last year because I was pissed (although I was, of course).
But I won't be calling for his selection this year, sober or not. Unless he improves
his goalkeeping, of course.
Eddie Saunders. We knew what we were getting, I suppose. Always
brilliant against us for his previous club, although never popular there because
he was either unbeatable or unspeakable. Yet nothing could have prepared us for
someone so GOOD against Southport in the FA Cup (& he WAS man of the match
that day, for all the others' heroics) to be so TERRIBLE against his former club
& Stevenage. Not even Mark Harris's inconsistencies. Harris, still a tower
& a half of strength at the big games of Southend & Bristol City. But
put one of those small, tricky types up against him & you have to cover your
eyes. We've all seen cheese turn quicker, haven't we? Which is partly why Simon
Stewart's return has been so welcomed. The other part being that he is still a
quality defender, if he chooses to be. Quality, whether he likes it or not, is
what Derek Allan has been for much of the campaign. What's the phrase? "He
who keeps his head while all around are losing theirs… hasn't assessed the
situation properly"? Even his confidence suffered a little during later home
games. But even amongst this year's carnage he's found time to be the "prolific
Derek Allan" in front of the opposition goal 'including a superb 20-yarder
at Yeovil when yours truly was waxing lyrical on the radio about K's hard work
to get to half-time at 0-0. Thanks Derek.
The midfield has been over-run on a regular basis, despite
the very, VERY best efforts of its best player, more of whom later. Gary Patterson,
if he comes good this month, will ensure K's survival because he still can be
of the best at his best. But the time he was given man of the match by the Press
Box, the crowd's reaction was a collective snort of laughter. Which seems about
right. Colin Luckett could scarcely have done any worse. And in fact, he didn't.
But I've said that already, haven't I? Eddie Akuamoah has had a dreadfully ordinary
season. When Geoff Chapple was interviewed after the Southend game & said
that he wished Eddie "would do that more often" we all knew what he
meant. Eddie needs two goals to move up to sixth on Ks all-time scorers list.
It could be a long wait. Frustration has been the name of Phil Wingfield's game
too. Again. Although this has been scarcely his fault. K's temporary, & illusory,
return to form during November (look back at the stats, it WAS a good month) was
readily attributed to Phil. And he certainly gave the side a better balance as
well as a few goals. Ks survival will be more likely with him than without him,
that's for dead sure.
Amara Simba's return was, in hindsight, a mistake. lest we
forget, Sammy Winston was one of the few Ks players to have an impressive pre-season.
But the return of Simba unbalanced the side. And Winston has been left with little
or no support for far too long. No wonder his confidence in front of goal has
been, if you pardon the pun, shot to pieces. I'm sure the phrase "better
on the wing" wouldn't have been how Sammy wanted his season summed up. And
I'm sure I'm speaking for the lot of you when I scream "For God's sake, get
up" every 20 minutes of every game as Sammy goes to ground AGAIN. Ian Duerden
is another example of Geoff Chapple's ability to attract quality players to the
club. And yet you can understand why some Doncaster fans were frustrated with
him but at the same time were very sorry see him leave. He is class. He does work
tremendously hard (watch the Bristol City replay, if you don't believe me). But
prolific is not his middle name. And, as one K's fan was heard to remark on hearing
that Duerden is "only" 22 (now 23 - ed), what's going to happen when
he loses his pace? It certainly hasn't been Ronnie Green's year. I'm sure we'd
all hoped he'd make Gavin Holligan-like progress. But circumstances & lack
of opportunities have dictated otherwise. There is hope, though. As the thirteen
of us who actually went to Telford have been testifying ever since. Overall, what
the forward line needs in the run-in is someone like Gavin Holligan. Ah, hang
on…
If you've been concentrating, you'll already know where my
player of the year vote is going. But I'm nearly convinced that even if there
was a "Geoff Pitcher of he Year" award, someone else would get three
more votes than him. Of course, many "best of the millennium" polls
have confirmed that the most recent, freshest memories have the most influence.
And the most recent, freshest memories of Geoff Pitcher are not good. But the
man was worth a quarter of a million pounds at the turn of the year. (It was Geoff
Pitcher 2 Staines Town 2) in the FA Trophy. And when K's were supremely bad before
Christmas, Geoff was supremely good. Just ask Stevenage Borough.
Short, special mentions in despatches to David Bass & Mark
Jones. Thrown in at the deep end, more often than not, Jones playing like he was
walking in the deep end at Telford. Stick around, lads. It will get better than
this.
I've done this sort of article quite a few times before, for
various publications. But I think this is the first time that my overall view
could be described as "harsh." I've always tried to see the good in
everyone, not least because the players are either fitter, bigger or stronger
than me. Or all three in many cases. But this year, I've got to take the risk.
Because the league table ain't lying. For every game that we should have won (Hednesford
away) there's been one that we fluked (Dagenham away). And for every game where
refereeing decisions have denied us (Rushden away), there's been one which the
ref could have been named our man of the mach without an eyebrow being raised
(Southport at home). Ten games to go as you are reading this (twelve at the time
of writing). The players have it in them to keep us up. We can only wait.
Mark
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RIVALS
In the now distant past, our big rivals have been listed as
Hendon and even Wimbledon (interspersed with Sutton and Woking). With our small
rise, and Wimbledon's substantially bigger step up the footballing ladder, we
have lost our two original rivals and find ourselves longing for someone we love
to hate.
My personal favourite is Sutton. This is probably due to the
time I started watching K's, when "We 'ate Sutton..." was the second most sung
chant, after "C'mon you K's....". I will still happily sing "We 'ate Sutton....."
for a whole match, but is the favour returned? Sutton traditionalists couldn't
care less about us. They hate Carshalton and always will. They didn't mind the
banter when we were in the same division (especially last year), but now we've
been separated we're no different to Woking, Walton or Hampton in their eyes.
Hampton are the next option, they hate us apparently, but like us to Sutton, does
anyone at K's care? I think we would if we were all in the same division, but
we're not.
Now Woking's an interesting one. Having not played them for
years (except the odd Surrey Senior Cup games) we are back in the same division
together, K's with their ex-manager, and we are expected to hate each other. This
forced rivalry has worked to an extent, with our clubs playing each other twice
over the Christmas holiday season, but again Woking see their most hated rivals
as 'bigger' clubs than us, namely Stevenage and Aldershot. Our two Trophy wins,
however, have helped our cause, along with continually reminding them of our recent
successes; so by certain sectors at least, the dislike is reciprocated. If we
both stay in the conference, I can see this rivalry gradually growing, especially
if teams such as Aldershot and Sutton stay in the Isthmian League. The aforementioned
three are currently the only three teams that are/could become our real local
rivals, unless there is a drastic change in league status for us, or other local
teams such as Brentford (or maybe even Kingston & Ditton Town?!).
After years of hating Gloucester, Cheltenham now find themselves
three divisions above their local rivals. Only five years ago, they were competing
in one of the most heated derbies in non-league football, but now they are worlds
apart. Living with two Cheltenham fans, they tell me they now hate Kidderminster
Harriers - this is their new big derby game - but how can this new found hostility
ever match the Gloucestershire (Cheltenhamshire to the Robins) derby when these
two teams are 56 miles apart? I'd put this new hatred on a par with that between
us and Woking: they'll wind each other up, but at the end of the day, couldn't
really care too much about the other team's results.
Two of our more unlikely hate targets come in the form of Yeovil
and Kettering. We have been playing Yeovil on and off for a number of years in
a combination of the Isthmian and Conference leagues. Recently we have also been
playing them with surprising regularity in the cups. Since our move to Kingsmeadow,
we have played Yeovil eleven times. Out of these matches we each have an even
record of winning four, drawing three, losing four. What's interesting is that
we both have better records on our opponents' grounds than our own. This may just
be a K's thing (being better away than home), but it has helped to build up the
tensions. I think there will always be something between K's and Yeovil. Their
geographical position allows them not very many 'local' rivals, which could be
a reason for the keen uptake on a forged rivalry with us.
Quite how the whole Kettering thing came about, I don't really
know. It may be a jealousy factor (we have a very bad record against them in the
league), but then in the cups we have an outstanding record. Maybe it was their
arrogance that got under our noses when they came to us in the Trophy whilst top
of the league. Maybe it's just because they're a bunch of diving, cheating wa…..
Sorry, got a bit carried away there. Needless to say, the hatred isn't really
returned, apart from a bit of bitterness about Wembley.
So what can we do? We are still stuck in a position without
a team we can call our real rivals, a team we can hate and be hated by in return.
I think many fans will take on the Woking hatred, much in the same way I started
with Sutton. In my ideal world, Carshalton would go bust (sorry - nothing personal!),
K's would gobble up their assets, whilst keeping the name Kingstonian, Sutton
would get promoted, we could beat them 6-0 twice a season and we'd happily hate
each other for ever after.
Ollie
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