Friday 4th September, 2009last year, at the start of September
Changes
In September 1959, thanks to parents who bought me boots (and they were boots!) and to teachers who gave up a Saturday morning, I played my first competitive game of football for the under 11s of Harehills Junior School. I can’t remember the opposition or the result but I do remember pulling on a real football jersey – blue and red quarters. I also remember that after the game we were all given concessionary tickets to watch the rather unfashionable professionals in blue and old gold across the other side of the city. Although I didn’t know it then, I was hooked! Football would remain a constant despite all life’s other changes.
Now, in September2009, I am once again eligible for some concessions yet still watching and still playing –albeit friendly 5-a-side – every Sunday morning.
During the intervening years I have experienced ecstatic highs and depressing lows with the two clubs I have supported at different stages of my life. Success at Wembley with both never tempted me to quit whilst ahead, humiliating defeats with both never led me to give up in despair and regular acquaintances with psychotic full backs never made me want to stop playing. I love the game. I have got so much out of it and in some small way put a little bit back.
For many years I, like so many other teachers, was involved in running school football teams at my south Bradford school. Success in hard fought derbies against the likes of Buttershaw, Priestman and Woodroyd was rewarded by “Champions League” knockout stages that involved travel to such exotic locations as Swain House, Belmont and Thornbury. Finals, if you made it, were held at superstadia such as King George fields, Manningham Mills or even….Valley Parade!
But pressures on management are nothing new. School teams were, by their very nature, made up of those in the school. No oil-rich headteachers could attract stars from other schools with the prospect of higher grades and inflated reports. Agents, sorry, parents, did not tout their offspring around to find the team capable of taking their sons “to the next level.” The only hope of strengthening your squad was if someone moved into the area bringing an addition to the school that filled the gap on the left that had always been a problem – which was where I put a young Ian Ormondroyd when he arrived one term!
However the biggest pressure came through the organisation. Because the teams were age-based it meant a new team every year. Whatever success had been achieved the previous year counted for nothing as players were now ineligible for that league as they were a year older. Achievement fluctuated. Highs and lows were experienced. But few managers were sacked because of bad results and the kids were always keen for the next game. Now school football seems to have gone. Maybe better things such as academies, football in the community and local youth teams have replaced them but for those of a certain age school football will be fondly remembered despite all the changes.
So what has all this to do with Bradford City and BfB? Well a glance at the team sheets for September 08 and September 09 have the marked changes in personnel that school teams would show. The change is almost wholesale. Pay packets, personalities and petulance have combined to rid us of much of last September’s team. Luke O’Brian, last year’s youngster, is now the only regular from the last campaign likely to command a regular spot this season. Replacements are like the new school team, mostly inexperienced at this level. Some have played but for “smaller” sides but few have had the set up that Valley Parade has to offer in terms of both facilities and support. And this is the key to how the season might unfold.
For the first time in a while we have the opportunity afforded to few league clubs – the chance to watch a team grow – and what happens…some “fans” are on their backs already. What do they come to City for? What do they come to football for? Does a T.V. diet of Premiership and European leagues raise expectations to an unrealistic level? Is Flynn expected to be Fabregas, Bullock, Ballack or Neillson, Nani? Even superstars make mistakes but rarely face the vitriol poured out by some of our “fourth division fans” who expect perfect passing and first touch control every time.
Recent postings and comments on this site (my own included) have tried to focus on positive support, vocal encouragement and, when necessary, quiet understanding. The boo boys must not hold sway. Personally I am more interested than ever because of the “new” team. There is a sense of excitement, unpredictability and, dare I whisper it so soon, the faint prospect of success – all the things I come to football for.
There is also the challenge of managing a new team. I really can’t believe the criticism levelled at Stuart McCall at the start of this season. Having written in support of him staying just a few months ago I see no reason to change my mind. What I do see is enthusiasm, cooperation on the field and all round effort. Give the manager credit where it is due. The failings of last season in these areas have been addressed quickly this season. Lessons have been learned. Players’ efforts can easily be seen, manager’s efforts are often harder to spot – especially for those blinkered to them in the first place. But for those prepared to look there is a lot of good to see in what has happened this season – and that was just in August!
So, apologies if I am sentimental, excuse the nostalgia if you will ,but please join me in celebrating my 50 years in football by showing pride in those who wear the current City shirt (jersey?) and giving due credit to all involved in making V.P. the place we want to go to enjoy our football. Here’s to the future!
Nice one Ron. I think you’ve hit the nail on the head about watching a team grow. My Dad is in Cornwall these days and his City supporting now only extends to BfB, new BBC highlights and occasional trips to Exeter and the like, but he tells me he’s not been this excited about a City team since 1985, and I know what he means – there is a sense of youthful exuberance about the team which has not been matched for some time. Players such as Williams, Hanson and Neilson seem to have a hunger that has been lacking at VP for a few years and Stuart is to be applauded for looking to the ever improving non league scene for players rather than always looking for scraps from tables higher up the leagues – do we want players on the way up or players on the way down?
Excellent article Ron and suitably articulate too. I agree entirely with your comments on the idiotic levels of vitriol poured forth at our players and Stuart McCall, and the seemingly unrealistic expectations some people have. If I remember rightly my first game at VP was somewhere around 1965 and along with my mother (and for a few years my older brother), I was a fixture in the Bradford end at all the home games and a good number of Wallace Arnold away games. My point is somewhat similar to yours. We have seen the highs and the lows of the team over the last 45-50 years but we have never wavered in our support. We also seem to be more realistic than many contributors to the various boards. I am just wondering if there is any correlation between the length of time people have been watching City and the nature of some of the vicious comments we read. Unfortunately now I am living in the middle of Nowheresville Tennessee and obviously do not get to them play but notwithstanding that, I can’t even begin to imagine coming out with some of the stuff I have heard about. We have now lost Joe Colbeck, a true abuse magnet if ever there was one, my worry is that someone is next in line to be the prime target for the boo boys. I also wonder if Omar will be pilloried on his return as he was before the injury. One thing is for sure, I doubt the cretins responsible for abusing Omar will be able to spot the “coincidence” that happened to be a loss of form for the team and the loss of Omar for the season. We will see, but if we live in a just world, a not insignificant number of City “fans” will hopefully be left eating humble pie when Omar returns, but this will be a mere appetiser for the gargantuan amounts they will need to eat should Stuart McCall lead the team to promotion.
That first sentence immediately invoked the smell of dubbin. To younger readers – ask your Dad.
We are now seeing pride passion and commitment from the newbies in the City squad – that is enough for me to think we are now on the right track to success, youth with a sprinkling of experience through the team.
What a great memory jogger. For me it was school football Saturday am, followed by a swift stand up wash in the school sinks and then the bus into town to the ABC for the Staurday matinee. As I got older the matinee was swapped for my first dip into ‘real’ football playing as an underage player (15) in the County Ams. My love of football has stayed with me from my first competetive game at age 11, through all levels of football, both locally, nationally, and a short international foray, and aslo as a spectator.
And the above mentioned Ian Ormondroyd was one of my rivals whilst playing in the county ams, Manningham Mills I think his team was, now Campion. All through those times of playing I missed many a City match on a Saturday but did get to many evening games even if it meant missing training (I was young, fit and could afford to miss the odd one). As I have grown older my chances to watch City have increased whilst my chances to kick a ball in anger disappeared a few years back, but the love of football, and my 36 year affair with Bradford City continues with the same passion it always has. The new ‘crop’ of players we have now are starting to put a level of excitement and romance into matchdays that has been missing since “Mills & Boon” led our line a few years back. And in young James Hanson we could just have found ourselves a new romantic hero who without being a swashbuckler could still cut a sway through the backline of our oppos this season and for many more to come. Let’s hope the old heads dig in and allow the young guns to get ‘up and at em’ as we coul dhave just started to build our most exciting team yet.
So true about the support issue – we have to be positive this season.
It is so refreshing to see some real POTENTIAL in our side at present, can’t remember when that was last true of our side?!
Memories of watching football for 50 years anchors the start around 1959. My dad took me to both Valley Parade and Elland Road on consecutive saturdays. I don’t remember Leeds being that unfashionable at the time, only underdogs seemingly; names I can still remember Overfield, Cush, Meek, Kerfoot…. even saw Revie play, also Stanley Mathews for Stoke City. I did like the colours of old gold and blue. I remember them getting beaten at home by Preston North End and boldly expleting in the air, Bradford City will beat ya next week (at Deepdale in the F.A. Cup)… John McCole is my all time charismatic City player.
When my dad became less enthusiastic I stopped catching the train to Leeds and was only faithful to City…what happened next is a lifetime’s involvement. The agony of near misses mainly, some wonderful highlight occasions, quite a few fantastic experiences which nail your bonding for ever. It’s part of a natural equilibrium for professional football clubs who have to accept a place in the food chain, now determined by money mainly, corporate business and if you’re not in that league it’s still like the old days.