mediocre at best, played for the school at centre half or right full back, played for yoof sunday sides until I was 17 and launched my pub career as a forward, got kicked shitless every week then got a bit ballsier and did the kicking myself, played everywhere possible including in goal. Took any dead ball that required a right foot. My most prolific season saw me rattle in 5 goals and 8 yellow cards. From the sort of work I used to do I picked up cartilage problems in my knees and had a go at management. Overseeing an absolute shower of a reserve team.
I played against Danny Kedwell and Matthew Jarvis and once got sent off as a kid for wiping out Jim Corbett (got a big move to Blackburn from Gillingham) when he was clean through. i also injured Roland Edge in a five a side mid week game. Complete accident but he told me he jacked in 5's after that!
played for catford boys school ocassionally 5 years with LAC Rovers (Eltham/Woolwich and district leagues) 1 year with Hither Green FC ( kent metropolitan league)
looking back on it i was sh 1t ...was/am better at cricket !
Was always good at tackling, but could do nothing else; couldn't run, pass or shoot straight straight. Managed a couple of seasons in the Southend Sunday League but was even out of my depth at that level.
I've found that playing five a side for twenty years has improved my skill levels, but ironically they only started to get half decent at the time my decrepit old body started falling apart.
I was a half decent goalie in my time School team North Kent District Team (year below AFKA I believe). 3 years with Jamie Stuart as my left back Trials at QPR for a few months 6 months at Charlton youth team alongside Jamie Stuart, Jason Tindall and Lee Bowyer. Got released and then completely fell out of love with the game and started playing out on pitch for a couple of years. At 17 I started playing in goal again and was getting back to my best before I snapped and dislocated my ankle.
That pretty much ended it for me.
I could have been a contender - instead I am sat behind a desk
Not very good but always enthusiastic. Found that the best way to get to play was to manage a team and usually find a place for myself in it somewhere. The years rolled by and finished up playing in goal in fiva-a-side games and actually won the only trophy of a long and undistinguished career.
Played for District and Kent at school, then in Kent League for a while for now defunct team Darenth Heathside. Never ever had a pro club show slightest interest in me, was way too slow, could hit a ball though (a mediocre Grant Basey). Spent a lot of time on the bench for various semi-pro reserve teams and wasted many a weekend travelling for hours to games I didn't feature in. Joined local team with mates and loved it. Older brother was a pro and England Youth international.....lucky git, although injury cut short his career before it took off. Moved abroad at age 22 for work, haven't played since.
Hopeless would be a flattering description. I could always see what I wanted to do but the feet wouldn't co-operate. I could pass pretty well but otherwise my major talent was directing other players to do things I'd failed to do in a sort of Mark Aizlewood pointing style.
Decent as a youngster, was lucky enough to play for teams that won everything from 10 years old up to turning 17, probably could have got a decent non league level if I kept at it, but badly faded as an adult. Kind of fell out if love with playing at about 17.
Did a full pre season and friendlies with Thamesmead Town, got punched off the ball by someone old enough to be my dad and nearly had my leg broken down somewhere like Deal, and thought can't really be bothered with this. By then mates had started going Charlton and getting in pubs before hand and that.sounded more appealing. Kind of regret it now, but.my heart wasn't in playing seriously.
Gradually got worse through my 20s. Run a club in the Kent Surburban for about16 years till last summer. Stopped playing regularly at 27 after a couple of knee ops, and played half a dozen times in the last 8 years. Haven't really enjoyed any of them.
I was topscorer in a local Danish league (back in 1998). However, it was serie 5 (serie 6 is the lowest level in Denmark). My best 90 mins was when we (Tarup Paarup) played against the team I actually support back home (OB Odense). In Denmark, nearly all professional teams have also got amateur sides in all leagues (so a team like Odense might have 30 teams, spread across various levels/leagues). We won 8-2. I scored 6 goals and had 2 assists. Since then it all went downhill...
as a youngster I played for the cubs & then boys brigade until the age of 16 - mainly up-front and did score a hat trick once in Sutcliffe Park. Once I left school & started work I played for various work & pub teams - this time mainly at right back (left back if no-one wanted to play there, but I have a worst left leg than Danny Green). Played for Midland Bank, Dussek Campbell, Horse & Groom, Pink Star Dartford (don't ask) and finally Fox & Hounds. Gave up when I reached 30 and started playing golf instead.
Decent as a youngster, was lucky enough to play for teams that won everything from 10 years old up to turning 17, probably could have got a decent non league level if I kept at it, but badly faded as an adult. Kind of fell out if love with playing at about 17.
Did a full pre season and friendlies with Thamesmead Town, got punched off the ball by someone old enough to be my dad and nearly had my leg broken down somewhere like Deal, and thought can't really be bothered with this. By then mates had started going Charlton and getting in pubs before hand and that.sounded more appealing. Kind of regret it now, but.my heart wasn't in playing seriously.
Gradually got worse through my 20s. Run a club in the Kent Surburban for about16 years till last summer. Stopped playing regularly at 27 after a couple of knee ops, and played half a dozen times in the last 8 years. Haven't really enjoyed any of them.
Retired at 27 !!!!! I'll have to take a look at myself
I was topscorer in a local Danish league (back in 1998). However, it was serie 5 (serie 6 is the lowest level in Denmark). My best 90 mins was when we (Tarup Paarup) played against the team I actually support back home (OB Odense). In Denmark, nearly all professional teams have also got amateur sides in all leagues (so a team like Odense might have 30 teams, spread across various levels/leagues). We won 8-2. I scored 6 goals and had 2 assists. Since then it all went downhill...
I would have thought you would have been a good goalkeeper.
simply amazing player, according to my then 5 and 7 yr old daughters, played central midfield for panasonic uk in wales and beat the daylights out of local rugby playing hoofers, being English and looking back on those days, makes me extremly proud...in reality i was told i was crap and that my kids had no choice but to run around cheering for me, i find this hard to believe.
I was topscorer in a local Danish league (back in 1998). However, it was serie 5 (serie 6 is the lowest level in Denmark). My best 90 mins was when we (Tarup Paarup) played against the team I actually support back home (OB Odense). In Denmark, nearly all professional teams have also got amateur sides in all leagues (so a team like Odense might have 30 teams, spread across various levels/leagues). We won 8-2. I scored 6 goals and had 2 assists. Since then it all went downhill...
I would have thought you would have been a good goalkeeper.
You obviously know me. Sorry, don't recognise your name. Who are you? The keeper spot was already taken, so I started off as left midfield. They moved me up front after a couple of games. (I only played for 1 season - great fun, never drank that much in my life)
I was a rugby player but played a bit of Sunday stuff in the Kent Suburban league as a ringer to help mates out if the team was short and also played in the London Accountants league on a Sunday. The London Accountants league was interesting as the standard varied from Isthmian and Athenian league (Ryman or equivalent in modern terms probably) Saturday players to anybody capable of putting one foot in front of the other to make up an eleven!
I liked playing in goal by preference but as (once upon a time) I was considered to have a bit of pace and stamina I was sometimes employed as a Steve Kindon type winger with a secondary role of putting myself about a bit.
Only saw you once in a pub some years back Danepak and then only very briefly...........we didn't actually speak to each other. You are certainly a very big bloke and I'd have thought you'd have made a really decent keeper with the right training.
Oh right ok. We played them a couple of weeks back and i did the most audacious nutmeg to one of the Albany lads. Just wanted to tell you guys that was me : )
Played at school now a Sunday leager which is my level. I never stop running and create lots of goals haven't scored in competitive 11 aside since school (
I play Sunday League as a Keeper.... apart from that just played 7 and 5-a-side which I'm not half bad at. 11's is good fun when you're winning, but it ruins your Sunday when you lose.... especially if Charlton lose the day before!
Played as long as I have been able to stand up right! Always as a half decent left back or Centre half, where if I had to man mark someone, I would still be standing next to them at half time!!! Started off at Orpington Rovers, played there about 10 years, as well as all school side's. Ravenswood were we got beat in both the Bromley cup and Kent cup final in a week! Had a YTS trial with Welling, didn't get asked back. Signed for Bromley Town youth team where I played for 2 years including half a dozen appearences in the FA youth cup. Then at 18, I began playing for Farnborough old boys, in the Kent county League, South London Alliance and on Sunday's in the Orpington and Bromley league. Winning the whole thing in 2002/3.
Played for them up until I was 30 and buggered off down under. Playing down here for a side called Kingsley where our first team were coached by a bloke called Ray Illott, who was at Leyton Orient before coming to WA to play state football.
He played when Manchester United and Middlesborough and Glasgow Rangers toured down here in mid 70's. Reckoned that no one could get anywhere near Bobby Charlton!!!!!
I was rubbish. Played for the school and a couple of different Sunday teams but wasnt very good. I tried hard but was never really fit enough to enjoy it. Gave up playing on Sundays but continued with 5/6/7-a-side up at Goals until my daughter was born. Havent kicked a ball for over 6 years now and dont miss it one little bit.
Decent as a youngster, was lucky enough to play for teams that won everything from 10 years old up to turning 17, probably could have got a decent non league level if I kept at it, but badly faded as an adult. Kind of fell out if love with playing at about 17.
Did a full pre season and friendlies with Thamesmead Town, got punched off the ball by someone old enough to be my dad and nearly had my leg broken down somewhere like Deal, and thought can't really be bothered with this. By then mates had started going Charlton and getting in pubs before hand and that.sounded more appealing. Kind of regret it now, but.my heart wasn't in playing seriously.
Gradually got worse through my 20s. Run a club in the Kent Surburban for about16 years till last summer. Stopped playing regularly at 27 after a couple of knee ops, and played half a dozen times in the last 8 years. Haven't really enjoyed any of them.
You were by far the best player I've played alongside, AFKA.
Only saw you once in a pub some years back Danepak and then only very briefly...........we didn't actually speak to each other. You are certainly a very big bloke and I'd have thought you'd have made a really decent keeper with the right training.
Comments
I played against Danny Kedwell and Matthew Jarvis and once got sent off as a kid for wiping out Jim Corbett (got a big move to Blackburn from Gillingham) when he was clean through. i also injured Roland Edge in a five a side mid week game. Complete accident but he told me he jacked in 5's after that!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/mar/05/footballer-sues-church-manchester-united
I might sue Marlboro as they put an end to any hopes I had of making it past the Goals Thursday night 5-a-side leagues.
5 years with LAC Rovers (Eltham/Woolwich and district leagues)
1 year with Hither Green FC ( kent metropolitan league)
looking back on it i was sh 1t ...was/am better at cricket !
I've found that playing five a side for twenty years has improved my skill levels, but ironically they only started to get half decent at the time my decrepit old body started falling apart.
School team
North Kent District Team (year below AFKA I believe). 3 years with Jamie Stuart as my left back
Trials at QPR for a few months
6 months at Charlton youth team alongside Jamie Stuart, Jason Tindall and Lee Bowyer.
Got released and then completely fell out of love with the game and started playing out on pitch for a couple of years.
At 17 I started playing in goal again and was getting back to my best before I snapped and dislocated my ankle.
That pretty much ended it for me.
I could have been a contender - instead I am sat behind a desk
Did a full pre season and friendlies with Thamesmead Town, got punched off the ball by someone old enough to be my dad and nearly had my leg broken down somewhere like Deal, and thought can't really be bothered with this. By then mates had started going Charlton and getting in pubs before hand and that.sounded more appealing. Kind of regret it now, but.my heart wasn't in playing seriously.
Gradually got worse through my 20s. Run a club in the Kent Surburban for about16 years till last summer. Stopped playing regularly at 27 after a couple of knee ops, and played half a dozen times in the last 8 years. Haven't really enjoyed any of them.
However, it was serie 5 (serie 6 is the lowest level in Denmark).
My best 90 mins was when we (Tarup Paarup) played against the team I actually support back home (OB Odense).
In Denmark, nearly all professional teams have also got amateur sides in all leagues (so a team like Odense might have 30 teams, spread across various levels/leagues).
We won 8-2. I scored 6 goals and had 2 assists.
Since then it all went downhill...
as a youngster I played for the cubs & then boys brigade until the age of 16 - mainly up-front and did score a hat trick once in Sutcliffe Park. Once I left school & started work I played for various work & pub teams - this time mainly at right back (left back if no-one wanted to play there, but I have a worst left leg than Danny Green). Played for Midland Bank, Dussek Campbell, Horse & Groom, Pink Star Dartford (don't ask) and finally Fox & Hounds. Gave up when I reached 30 and started playing golf instead.
The keeper spot was already taken, so I started off as left midfield.
They moved me up front after a couple of games.
(I only played for 1 season - great fun, never drank that much in my life)
I liked playing in goal by preference but as (once upon a time) I was considered to have a bit of pace and stamina I was sometimes employed as a Steve Kindon type winger with a secondary role of putting myself about a bit.
You are certainly a very big bloke and I'd have thought you'd have made a really decent keeper with the right training.
Started off at Orpington Rovers, played there about 10 years, as well as all school side's. Ravenswood were we got beat in both the Bromley cup and Kent cup final in a week! Had a YTS trial with Welling, didn't get asked back. Signed for Bromley Town youth team where I played for 2 years including half a dozen appearences in the FA youth cup. Then at 18, I began playing for Farnborough old boys, in the Kent county League, South London Alliance and on Sunday's in the Orpington and Bromley league. Winning the whole thing in 2002/3.
Played for them up until I was 30 and buggered off down under. Playing down here for a side called Kingsley where our first team were coached by a bloke called Ray Illott, who was at Leyton Orient before coming to WA to play state football.
He played when Manchester United and Middlesborough and Glasgow Rangers toured down here in mid 70's. Reckoned that no one could get anywhere near Bobby Charlton!!!!!