My Hero, My Inspiration : Giles Metcalfe

Special Thanks to Giles Metcalfe, a follower of this site and of [click here] >>> #noclashofcolour us on twitter. When asked if he'd like to contribute to the series, within a few hours we'd received his feature. One of our finest, totally different in what other people have written features, we'll be asking more of our twitter followers to get involved and write for us about theirs. Ladies and Gentlemen, we bring you .......... 

IN APPRECIATION OF JIMMY HILL

I’ve gone left-field in my choice of ‘My Hero/My Inspiration’... I could have chosen my Dad who took me to my first game at Ayresome Park when I was 4 years old. I could have chosen such legendary players as Bobby Moore, Pele or Nat Lofthouse, or those that I pretended to be when I played football in our back garden, but I haven’t. I very nearly chose my brother Adrian - a massive Archibald Leitch and Simon Inglis fan who loves to spend his time clambering through the undergrowth at the old Bradford Park Avenue ground in Horton in Bradford, taking pictures of the terraces being reclaimed by nature, but he has his own story to tell. Instead, I’ve chosen a cult figure that’s made a massive contribution to the game of football and to popular culture - Jimmy Hill!

If you’re of a certain age, and male, the following response to a whopping porkie will be familiar to you: 

You: “I scored a worldy at five-a-side last night, trapped the ball, did a Cruyff turn, ran the length of the pitch, nutmegging three players as I went, and then beat the ‘keeper at the near post with a rocket!” 

Me: “Chinny reckon! Ooohhh, Jimmy Hill, Jimmy Hill you did!” accompanied by much exaggerated stroking of my imaginary lengthened chin and expressions of disbelief, including lip pouting!

The exact origins of “chinny reckon” and “itchy chin” are lost in the mists of 1970s obscurity, but Jimmy Hill is still very much alive and, as far as I know, well. James William Thomas "Jimmy" Hill OBE (born 22 July 1928) has made a significant and outstanding contribution to popular culture, as evidenced above, and to football, including playing 300 games for Fulham, becoming chairman of the PFA in 1957 and abolishing the maximum wage for players in 1961, managing Coventry City and instigating the "The Sky Blue Revolution" – changing the kit to sky blue, writing the club song, and commissioning two new stands (later making Highfield Road the first all-seater stadium). He also advocated introducing 3 points for a win so that teams had more of an incentive to play for the win rather than settle for a draw (there was only a one-point difference between a draw and a win up until 1981), and suggested using the first panel of football pundits for the 1970 World Cup – all things we now take for granted. 

He also helped to introduce the notion of competing bids to show televised games among TV companies, thereby producing an alternative revenue stream for clubs. As part of the Football Work Permit Review Panel, whose remit involved ruling on which foreign players deserved a permit to play in the English domestic leagues, he ushered in the era of the foreign galacticos who replaced British steel with continental silky skills. For better or worse, Jimmy Hill helped mould football into the game we know today.

His career as a broadcaster is also legendary, acting as technical adviser to the BBC, Head of Sport at LWT from 1968 to 1972; fronting their World Cup 1970 coverage where he put together a legendary hand-picked panel for ITV consisting of Brian Clough, Malcolm Allison and Bob McNab; becoming LWT's Deputy Controller of Programmes; then joining the BBC to present ‘Match of the Day’. Hill racked up 600 appearances on MOTD and became a television icon, instantly recognisable and often caricatured for his long chin and distinctive beard (see above, “itchy chin” etc.). He worked on every major international championship from 1966 to 1998 as a presenter or analyst. He was present at that terrible day at Hillsborough in 1989, covering the game for MOTD. In 1999, Jimmy Hill moved from the BBC to Sky Sports, where he presented ‘Jimmy Hill's Sunday Supplement’ until 2007.

He’s also remembered affectionately for his ability to make ‘Colemanballs’ statements such as: 

“I would undoubtedly pick him in the next England squad if I was the England manager and he wasn't actually Bermudan.”

“We're not used to weather in June in this country.”

“They're still in the game, and they're trying to get back into it.”

"That's a wise substitution by Terry Venables: three fresh men, three fresh legs.”

"If England are going to win this match, they're going to have to score a goal.”

“What makes this game so delightful is that when both teams get the ball they are attacking their opponent’s goal.”

Especially well-loved in Coventry, City unveiled a statue of him at the Ricoh Arena in 2011, with the money to build the statue raised by public donation.  In case anyone thinks I’m a Coventry City fan, I’m not. I’ve chosen Jimmy Hill as my hero because he’s under-valued and under-appreciated but remembered fondly by many. That’s what makes him a cult (but another “c word” to the Scots) hero rather than a hero. 

He also appeared on ‘The Goodies’, ‘Monty Python’, ‘Harry Enfield & Chums’ (“He did not want to let a goal in like that”), ‘Stella Street’ (as impersonated by Phil Cornwall), and in cartoon form in ‘Viz’ comic. Another incident that contributed to his cult status was when he ran the line at Arsenal v Liverpool in 1972, after the original linesman had pulled a muscle, so that the match wouldn’t be abandoned.

For me, he was the face of football during my formative years – more so than Brian Moore or Des Lynam. I associate him with being allowed to stay up late on a Saturday night and watch MOTD with my Dad when I was a kid, and with the coverage of World Cup football from far-flung exotic places like Argentina, Mexico and, erm, Spain (spot the trend there).

I’ll conclude by quoting from ‘When Saturday Comes’, issue 194, April 2003 and their piece on Jimmy Hill:

“What is certain is that Jimmy leaves a unique legacy to a game he has served uniquely – as player, union official, manager, chairman, pundit and even linesman...

“And it’s in this capacity, as a kind of footballing everyman, the hot-dog seller in the background of all of football’s biggest scenes that Jimmy Hill will survive. We are Jimmy; Jimmy is us.”

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Giles Metcalfe is interested in the game and football culture as a whole. A Bolton Wanderers fan for his sins, following in his father’s footsteps, the conflicting emotions of a Yorkshireman following a Lancashire football club are not lost on him!  

Follow him on Twitter – @giles_metcalfe

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My Hero, My Inspiration : Stuart Welsh

It's been a while since we had a feature for our very popular, My Hero, My Inspiration series. So, when we spoke with Stuart Welsh at the Whitby Town v Scarborough Athletic pre-season friendly earlier this season, we asked if he would like to tell us about his. Thankfully it didn't take much persuasion and Stuart happily agreed.  These are Stuart's words, read on and enjoy.

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"My Hero, My Inspiration"

Stuart Welsh

Although I don't remember fully, I've been told that I saw my first Scarborough FC game when I was about three or four years old with my Grandad. My first proper memory of actually watching a game and taking it all in was the 1973 FA Cup Final, Leeds United v Sunderland. I sat and watched it with my Dad, it was magical. 

Bremner, Revie and Leeds United
1973 FA Cup Final

It's my Dad who is my inspiration. He wasn't a Leeds United or Sunderland supporter, he was Glasgow Rangers, through and through, but we sat and watched it for just one man, Billy Bremner. Bremner was my Dad's hero and he wanted me to learn to appreciate good players, no matter who they played for.

As I got older, my Dad would tell me football stories about Rangers players, Sam English, Derek Johnstone and my Dad's cousin, John "Darkie" Cumming, who played over 600 matches for Heart Of Midlothian. He took me to my first "Old Firm" game and my love affair with Glasgow Rangers began. 

John Cumming
Heart Of Midlothian

As a teenager, I began to watch Scarborough FC with my friends and I soon found a serious rival for my love of Rangers. I don't think my  Dad minded, as it was something that made me happy. Soon I was travelling home and away, never missing a game, but I always had one eye on the Rangers result and was always happy to travel up to Glasgow for an "Old Firm" game with him.

It wasn't until my Dad retired that he started to attend 'Boro games with me and I think he then started to understand just why Scarborough FC had such a hold on me. Some of my happiest memories of my Dad are of going for a pint before the match along with my nephew Michael, who has followed in our footsteps and is a die hard Seadog and Rangers supporter, walking down to the McCain Stadium, watching 'Boro and then into the clubhouse afterwards.

Even though my Dad passed away quite a while ago, whenever I watch Rangers on the TV, I still see him out of the corner of my eye, sat on the sofa holding out his glass for another whiskey, whilst I sang "Follow, Follow" for him.

That was my Dad, 

MY football inspiration.

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Links

click here >> twitterfeed : Stuart Welsh

click here >> twitterfeed : No Clash Of Colours

click here >> John Cumming : Obituary

click here >> John Cumming [Heart Of Midlothian]

click here >> John Cumming [The Scotsman]

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My Hero - My Inspiration : Geoff Howard

Geoff Howard – 1st Team Manager : Oldham Hulmeians – 2nd Division - Lancashire Amateur League

Geoff Howard, 38 year old teacher who is currently in his tenth year working at a Special Needs school in Oldham. Holding an FA Coaching badge, Geoff has in the past coached a diversity of sports, cricket, rugby league, fencing and lacrosse. A fanatical Oldham Athletic supporter, he currently lives with a “fantastic partner” who, in his own words describes as, “being totally understanding about his football passion and supports me with the time I spend with Oldham Hulmelans“. Into his third season as first team manager after winning promotion as manager of the reserve team in his first season.  Although his  Influences are documented below, Geoff adds, “it is down to the support, effort and hard work of his mother and father why I am able to be in such a lucky position today - Working with some fantastic adults week in and week out on the football pitch.”

These are Geoff’s words, these are Geoff’s heroes and inspirations …

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OLDHAM HULMEIANS

I am now into my third season as first team manager of the respected Oldham Hulmeians. A club founded in 1926, we still have four adult teams playing in the highly respected Lancashire Amateur League. Still managing the ‘odd game or two’ i've played for our ’B’ team this season, this took me to my twenty-sixth season as a player, since my Dad (also Geoff Howard) first took me to my first football club Royton All Stars as a naive, raw, eleven year old full back. 

As staunch Oldham Athletic supporters, my mother and father were both regulars for years at Boundary Park and gave me my first slice of the ‘real deal’ at the tender age of seven years old – An experience that would shape my passion for a sport that still plays a huge part in my life.

All I Wanted To Do Was Play For Oldham Athletic. 

Mark Robins

As I grew into my teens, playing for illustrious local junior clubs such as Boundary Park Juniors, where I was managed by Gordon Robins, the father of the current Coventry City manager and former Manchester United professional, Mark Robins 

I played for my Town and County, the highlight playing for Oldham Boys against a certain Ryan Wilson – now known throughout the world as ‘Giggs!’  I trained with Bury FC as a schoolboy for twelve months and earned twelve  months as a schoolboy with Stockport County, training under the legendary Danny Bergara – seeing him keeping up a 10p coin from foot to foot, before flicking it into his shirt pocket, a particular memory.

Nothing ever came of my early jaunt into professional football, a fractured bone in my back whilst sledging at the age of sixteen, putting paid to that. After this I then went into non league football at a senior level with Chadderton FC (NWCL), representing them in the FA Youth Cup against a very good Blackburn Rovers side containing David May (Manchester United) and Jason Wilcox (Leeds United and England) and although we lost 4-1, had the distinction of scoring in both ends!

Wise Words

All the while, the wise words of “practice makes perfect – get out there with your ball”, bellowing from my dad's throat, continually encouraging me to use my ‘shed wall’ as a team mate to pass to and receive and an opponent to “block tackle“! Yes I learned to “block tackle” against a wall!! Wherever I played, my old man (though not so old) would come to watch, quietly offering me advice and pointers as I went through the game. Any “bollockings” would be saved for the privacy of the car on the journey home. It was this constructive tone that I try to use today, knowing I always respected it. After three seasons with my local club, I moved onto playing for Hollinwood FC in the South East Lancashire and Manchester Leagues, where I played for a number of seasons under probably my greatest non related influence Peter Bird. 

Peter Bird

He was a man whom had been in the amateur game for what seemed like “donkeys years“, a raw, passionate manager – no heirs or graces, he had a passion and desire to win football matches and to do it with a group of enthusiastic young men. He had a way of earning respect through honesty and trust and he paid back that same respect tenfold for those who had the opportunity to play for him. He trusted you and we certainly trusted him.

I suppose as I really get stuck into this ‘managing lark’ and as an FA Coach, many of the words, actions and traits that both my Dad and Peter have always shown, will be exchanged by me into today’s’ currency. 

The game has changed in the last twenty years and the players certainly have. It seems to be a thankless task, trying to raise a consistent squad available every week, whilst fighting back the lures of Sky TV, the pub, the missus and our newfound love for six-a-side football four times a week.

I am determined to continue to offer my advice, knowledge and experience of many happy years playing to local young guys in an adult environment on the pitch. Hopefully setting the right examples in my expectations of them as players and as men. Some may never have the opportunities that many have had in progressing, but to have the opportunity in being part of a club that can facilitate this continues to fill me with a passionate pride.

Looking at the way we are going this season so far, we seem to have struck the perfect balance. 

Links

Oldham Hulmeians - #twitterfeed

Oldham Hulmeians - Official Website

My Hero - My Inspiration : Manisha Tailor

To those of you who have been following No Clash Of Colours, Manisha Tailor will need no introduction.  Her first feature for us, "Teacher and Football Coach : Different Or The Same" has had now well over 1000 hits, there's a link at the bottom of the article for those who are involved in either or both.

For those who are new, Manisha is a primary school teacher from London. Supports Arsenal with a passion, is involved at a voluntarily level with the London FA and Middlesex FA, The London Playing Fields Foundation and is an Ambassador for the FA's "Football Needs You" campaign.

These are her words, this is her inspiration, her hero.

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MY BIGGEST INFLUENCE IN THE GAME

How I Fell In Love With “The Beautiful Game’

Since the age of 8 years old, my twin brother and I together ate, drank and breathed football – which at times got us into quite some bother at school! Our parents were not always impressed with the lack of attention spent on our school work, as for us, spending time organising lunchtime matches was far more important – primary school was awesome! Joint at the hip, quite literally, until secondary school that is (mum and dad intentionally sent us to separate secondary schools) – our love for the game both playing and watching continued. He however, influenced by my dad, became a Liverpool follower – they never did manage to convert me, I am a Gooner through and through!  My twin – the reason I fell in love with the beautiful game we know as football.

Left With A Broken Heart – Quite Literally

Our joint love for football continued until we were 18 years of age. Unfortunately, as a result of a series of traumatic events, my twin became depressed – and 14 years on, continues to suffer from the taboo word in football ‘mental health’.  So, as some know me as having two jobs (teaching and coaching), the honest truth is I don’t, as I am also a carer accumulating that to three.  The reason for me mentioning it though has significance – as despite on one hand feeling broken, it is this very situation that gives me the strength, motivation and will power to continue as an individual and move forward within the professional game, as it is something special that we once shared.

My twin is the reason I became engaged in football – and, despite the circumstances, continues to be my inspiration in wanting to do well in all aspects of the game be it coaching, playing, mentoring or linking it to education.  The say ‘god gives his battles to his strongest warriors’ and in some respect, without the mental strength, carrying out many roles and responsibilities would be extremely challenging for me. 

Football : A Powerful Tool

My message is that if you can show great strength in character, everything is doable.  Being able to use the power of football as a vehicle to overcome difficult situations is a wonderful thing – something that I have done and continue to do.  I am a huge supporter of the work carried out by Elite Welfare Management (EWM) who are providing a platform of support as well as being pioneers of addressing the taboo within the game.  

For me, my journey and professional development in football will continue, so that on full recovery, my twin can say he is proud of his sister – my greatest influence on who I am today, both in and outside of the game. 

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Link

Manisha Tailor - Teacher & Football Coach

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My Hero - My Inspiration - Dave (Castlecroft Rangers)

Our second in the feature series, "My Hero, My Inspiration" is written by Dave. One of the driving forces behind Castlecroft Rangers, currently playing at the grassroots level of football in the Birmingham AFA Division Six.

"Castlecroft Dave", spent his informative years at The Abbey Stadium, watching Cambridge United's demise and manager at the time, John Beck's meteoric rise.  Now based in the Black Country, via Lancaster City, Moor Green and Gornal Athletic, Dave's drive is to re-find the pure passion and desire behind football and fight the repressive Sky Sports generation. These are his words, this is his inspiration 

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Football is a simple game complicated by committees and bureaucracy. A few years ago I did not realise this. I was happy to go along to the EPL and spend £500 to watch mediocre fair in less than comfortable conditions and then the grassroots revolution spoke to me.

Before long I found myself on the committee of a local non league team that remain close to my heart. However, something was missing- it was part of me but I was not part of them. I ran the twitter feed for the club one, of the few non league clubs at the time to make use of the medium- we were the trail blazers in those days. I had watched with interest the work of Davie and Glasgow’s finest, The Tantallon Victoria, or as they are better known "The Tally Vic".... (@thetallyvic)

Davie spoke with such passion about his role with the club, it totally consumed him and was an essential part of his life and this captivated me. And then I met him and wow did this man live and breathe grassroots football or what! It was from this moment that I realised doing the gate and updating the twitter feed was not enough for me. I wanted to don my boots. I wanted to be the chairman, physio and occasional linesman all at once just like Davie did up in Glasgow.

On Christmas Day 2011 when the opportunity to get involved at Castlecroft Rangers became available I consulted with my good friend Davie who of course advised me to go for it. With his help and the support of his friends and contacts we have become a powerhouse of amateur football on twitter and the very survival of our club relies on this.

My inspiration is simple, without Davie and The Tantallon Victoria FC model there would be no Castlecroft Rangers. We are forever grateful and in the debt – Com’n The Tally Vic!

We are football - We are grassroots : #footballforall  #twitterfc

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Links

Castlecroft Rangers : Official Site

Tantallon Victoria FC : Official Site

Castlecroft Rangers : #twitterfeed

Tantallon Victoria : #twitterfeed

My Hero - My Inspiration : Garry Willis

We asked a number of our followers on our twitter feed to write about their "heroes/insprations", the people that got them involved in football. The first of these features is written by Garry Willis, commercial manager at North East Counties, Premier League club, Glasshoughton Welfare.

Garry, a 38yr old father of two, cites Manchester United and Castleford Tigers as his favourite teams. Born in South Wales, Abergavenny, Garry's job at Glasshoughton Welfare is to attract potential sponsors into the club and hopefully bring in more supporters through the turnstiles. 

"It's very hard to attract sponsors to our club, as we are situated in a small mining village on the edge of Castleford. If you don't know Castleford, it has a Rugby Super League club and rugby is the main game around our village and town so they seem to swallow up all the sponsorship. We have to basically rely on the small companies and shops who are not the big oil barons we all wish we could find . We also try to encourage the players and staff to try to bring in deals through their workplaces. It's hard but we all work together to keep our club going were more like a family than a club and we are trying to make our family bigger. "

His two major inspirations are Alan Pickering, his first open-age team manager, who never played football, only Rugby Union, but brought early football succes into a young players life ... and his late father, who he writes about below.

This is Garry's tribute ....

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"Even though football is the biggest and best loved sport around the globe we still have to be pushed and encouraged to play, watch and support the game with the passion that every child, man and woman does today. 

For myself it was very easy to do as my Father who passed away thirteen years ago aged 78 played for Stoke City, Notts County and Port Vale. From an early age I had a ball with me nearly everyday, even if it was a tennis ball It would be kicked to school with the lads and at playtime and then back home again. Then quickly eat my tea, changed and  then to the Welfare at Glasshoughton to sneak onto the ground for a kick about in the proper nets, no jumpers for goalposts for us, 

On a Sunday it was off to play for Castleford Town Juniors where my Dad would be stood watching and cheering in all weathers. Even when I moved to play for Sherburn White Rose for a season in the Saturday West Yorkshire League, he was still there supporting me, even in freezing cold weather.  When we had our backs to the walls I could look across to the sidelines and see him there, and that sight used to lift me to think, "never give in just lift your game", because if he can stand there to watch us, then he deserves better from me.

All through my footballing life as a player I would always think that.

I finished playing after my dad died but I am still involved with my local Sunday side as manager and i am also Commercial Manager at Glasshoughton Welfare F.C. in the Northern East Counties League. Even now, not just in sport but anything that I do I always try to do it to my best possible abilities and I always tell others the same, if someone can give you there time then you deserve to give them everything you have.

So i say "Thank You" to my inspiration...  MY DAD ..  for keeping my feet on the ground and for being there for me always."

R.I.P.

Thank you for asking me to do this article its brought back some good memories.

Garry.

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Links

Garry Willis - #twitterfeed

Glasshoughton Welfare FC - #twitterfeed

Glasshoughton Welfare FC - Official Website

25 November 2012 - My Hero, My Inspiration

ERIC TAYLOR

Penistone & District 

League Winner

1955 - 56

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Everyone in football, no matter what level, has someone they can say was their major influence in becoming a player, supporter, official, journalist, photographer etc etc ...

This is for our late uncle who passed away just over a decade ago. Today is his birthday, 25 November.

He is the reason why I and my brother, started off in this love affair with "The Beautiful Game".

He took me to my first ever match, encouraged me to become a goalkeeper, although I never played higher than the ranks of Sunday League, I knew he was as proud of me as he was on that first ever visit to Bramall Lane. We travelled with him up and down the football league, mainly down at first, but then up in the late 1980s and early 1990s. We shared the sweet victories, the bitter defeats, the anecdotes with him until his passing away.

It took me a few years to return to Bramall Lane, on my first visit back I made a point of sitting in the seat he had for years as a season ticket holder. Happiness and sadness all in ninety minutes, so much so that I can't recall who the match was against.

We miss his love, his gentle nature and his company.

The trophy he won back in 1956 sits proudly on a shelf at home, he was goalkeeper in the team that won the Penistone & District League in the 1955-56 season. I will be researching this season for a future feature in this blog.

Everyone who reads this, will have someone in their life who is an "Uncle Eric".

This is also dedicated to those people, that special person who influenced you as I was back in the late 70's.

For Uncle Eric ...

For mine, for ours, for yours ...

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