Harsh Reality at Girton

I couldn’t have known what to expect from Junior Football when I began a search for a team during the summer of 2003 aged 12.

I had been enjoying myself at the John Baggley Saturday morning coach sessions, which taught me a lot about enjoyment of the game as well as sportsmanship. Baggley made sure everyone was treated as individuals and everyone got the chance to play regardless of skill level. For me especially that was probably the best way of playing football around the time. I was a crap player but that was the best way to start enjoying football.

I had been going to the coaching for two years since I had first moved to Cambridge back in 2001. By that point, I felt like I wanted to play for a ‘club’ having been told all about life at a team called Cottenham Colts, who my mates, Henry Ludlam and Conor Clay played for.

After Baggley was finally able to get his book of a list of all the teams for my dad, a phone call was made to the Cambridge Junior FA about what teams I could play for at U13 level. Two came up – Histon Hornets and Girton.

It could only have been the latter I chose as it was an ‘E’ league team while Hornets were riding high in the ‘B’ league. I felt it would be a good starting point but I didn’t know what I was letting myself in for.

I had been to Girton before in various summer football camps, run of course by John Baggley. They had been generally good fun but I still didn’t know what to expect from the club. Coming to Girton Colts U13’s felt weird. This was a ‘proper’ team with a proper set up. The manager introduced himself to me. A scary looking man called Lawrence who apparently shouted a lot. That sounded like nothing to me at the time. I was used to that with the legendary, Mr Thornley at Parkside Community College.

I will never forget the first training session. The sweat oozed off my skin with my muscles and legs knackered of all its energy. The fitness was fine but my football wasn’t. Having lost the ball in a practice game, swiftly followed by a toe-poke shot (a habit that I frequently persisted with in those days), the players and coach didn’t seem too impressed.

Those sessions at least indicated to the manager that I wasn’t worth it but he signed me anyway. The team were expected to get promoted and beat all the teams to win the league. That took all the fun out of it as far as I was concerned. Jim White’s book ‘You’ll Never Win Anything with Kids’ suggests that in Junior football, too many managers scream and shout far too much to warrant any enjoyment. The boys were scared of making mistakes. If you made a mistake, you got a barrage of abuse at half time. You didn't get support, like in the future at Pannal. At Girton, back in 2003 as a 12 year old, I was facing the reality of not being very good stuck in a place where the word, 'win' was all that mattered.

At least I was playing competitive regular 11-a side football though. I still got good-natured stick from my mates at school though because I was playing in the ‘E’ league instead of the ‘B’ league which they were playing in. That was nothing though to me because, at least I was one of the few players in the Parkside School team to be playing in a club team on Sundays.

My first match for Girton was against the Under 12’s. We won 5-0. It was a poor debut because I handballed in the box and was lucky the other team didn't get a penalty. Lawrence didn’t see that as he was away. The assistant, Dave McCaig who apparently played for the Scottish Premier professional side, Hearts as a youth, took charge and he was quiet and calm with the lads, the way I wanted it.

My first ‘competitive’ match for the team was a Cambridgeshire and District Colts U13 league match away against Waterbeach. My only other experience of this flat place without either of the two in the name had been as part of the Year 6 Singing team at an Old Folk’s home. Lets get real however because this was football of course. It was October 2003, and I was excited about being part of the squad for a league match. I was on the bench with a guy called Phil Benton (who also went to Baggley’s), who many years later would have trials for Cambridge United with my best mate, Henry Ludlam. He was on the bench though because he had been injured for a short while and Lawrence didn’t want to play him for a full game yet.

We made a good start to the match making it 1-0 thanks to a fine ‘Wozi’ goal. He played left back for the team and seemed like an okay lad. It was then 2-1 to Waterbeach but then we then made it 3-2 with the manager’s step son, Scott Morley scoring one of the goals. I then came on for the first time. Soon they equalised, ‘Wozi’ then became hero turned villain because he scored an own goal past our keeper, Marcel. We had lost 4-3 and to the management, it seemed like the end of the world! The Waterbeach supporters were ecstatic because along with us, they were the main contenders for promotion that season. The manager gave us a right bollocking. Graham Barker at Pannal wouldn’t have done that with our Panthers squad. Then again that team had its limits. There was no under estimation within the Girton camp because pretty much most of the team’s supporters wanted the team to win promotion that season. I could sense the lads were frightened of the coach as he dished out his hairdryer treatment in the dressing room.

The following week was literally, the same story. We were 2-0 at half time in the League Cup away at a team called Spartak 78. We had looked comfortable in the first half but then we self-destructed and lost 6-2. The manager was furious and everyone was criticised, because we had self destructed.

We had to work hard in training for the rest of the season. Trainings were gruelling fitness drills which i have to say, taught me a lot about hard work. I remember however in training, one of the coaches used a stick over the Astroturf shredded stones pointing out what we were supposed to know. For Fuck sake, i thought. I knew very well tactics were important but we were just 12. It didn't seem right but it seemed to work on the players who played though fear because we won most of our games for the rest of the season. Notable highlights included beating Sutton 6-0, Willingham 4-0, Ely City 3-1 and an impressive 8-2 win at Manea Colts. I was however, getting increasingly frustrated at not getting on the pitch. I was restricted to five-minute cameos for most games. I was desperate to get on and do my bit. I was annoyed because the team were doing well; and were enough goals ahead in the matches. I wanted to be part of the team even though I wasn’t good.



Lawrence got so wound up on match days that his wife had to calm him down. He also got so angry with the referees in games for apparent bad decisions. While watching this on the touchline, I started to want Girton to lose, so he could bring me on. I now know that would never be the case because why would he bring a player he didn’t trust to try and change a game?

I remember when Lawrence said to us the Little Downham Eagles team manager was a nice guy after we had played his team off the park. He came into our dressing room to congratulate us on our victory. We had trounced them by about eight or nine goals. What the other players and Lawrence didn’t see was the Downham manager give out an unfair lashing to one of his players right after the game. “Make a mistake like that again and you wont be playing next week, get changed now “ said the furious manager. What the Sports Journalist, Jim White had seen, is what I had seen. It was the completely wrong thing.

I was also very clueless at this point but I didn’t care – I wanted to play football. I wore odd colour socks, shorts, even boots without studs for one muddy cup-tie at Chatteris. I got told off for it all but I started not to care anymore about the manager. For instance, before a home match at Girton, I gave a goalkeeper called Matthew (in the year below at the club), some shooting practice, I felt I was doing alright then the manager came in and told me to ‘bloody’ get changed or something along those lines. I felt like saying, “fuck you, your not playing me so I will go and play football myself’.I wanted to show him I was keen and ready to play.




To be fair I wasn’t good enough. But at U13 level, a manager doesn’t need to get philosophical about winning the league. It is not important. Sure you want to win games, but boys at that age can be lured away from football. The manager’s are actually supposed to be responsible for good development of the players. I felt Lawrence was good at the hard working and firm side of football but not psychological side. To be fair to the guy, he did his best with me but I just thought Junior Football shouldn't have been taken so seriously, particularly that season.

My final straw with the manager who had clearly ‘pissed’ me off by now was in a match against Huntingdon Rowdies ‘C’ in February 2004. I had it in mind, that if this wasn’t going to be a good day, I was going to walk out without a whisper. Keen to get on to the game, I put all the effort in the pre match warm up and played around with a football. With five minutes left, the manager was about to bring me on. He looked at me like I was some sort of idiot. I was wearing the wrong colour of socks. Did he know what I had? He said “You idiot, your colour blind!” he ranted. “Well don’t look at me in a huff!” he added. I felt like saying “Fuck you, I just want to play football but I wont fucking play for you”. I came on with five minutes to go and when the full time whistle blew, knew that would be my last match for Girton. Had I been older, i certainly would have given Lawrence crap but i was too upset at the time.

Who gave a shit about the tactics? I knew very well at 12, that it was wrong to be doing this. I suppose my Dad encouraged me on this down the phone but even at this age, as an obsessed man with football that this was out of proportion. Lawrence said he wanted to see me about the socks at Training the following Tuesday.

I would never see him again. I was in tears without him knowing because I wanted to play.

I should have stayed and got a winners medal but I wanted to play. Girton was out of proportion, the players felt alienated. It is what football shouldn’t be about. Pannal despite its up and downs was fun, fun, fun.

When I left, my old Parkside school friends such as Charlie Parr, Fred Faulkner, Ben Henville and Tom Linstead all joined the team. I suppose I set a sort of legacy there in a way.

Girton was a learning curve, a curve into the insights of junior football. One for the journalistic eye.

Head Boy secures away day joy

“Head boy secures away day joy”
Malton School 1-3 Harrogate Grammar
Thursday 16th October 2008
NYS County Cup First Round

Reporter: Daniel Birch at Malton

A superb double from Head Boy, James Auckland and a neat finish by captain, Tom Joel secured a solid 3-1 victory against Malton to help HGS into the second round of the Senior County Cup.

A squad of thirteen players made the trip that seemed like forever to the small dales town which was a part of Yorkshire, largely unknown to the team.
Only a victory would suffice in this important game. A win could perhaps be something to build upon. After the unlucky defeat against St Cuthbert’s a fortnight earlier, in the English Schools Cup, HGS were desperate to get it right on the park.
Off the park had been a more complex issue. Most of the team had failed to attend the previous days training – a situation that infuriated Manager, Adrian Hodgson. Match day absentees also included key player, Sam Bainbridge, long term injury victim, Sam Reffitt and midfield duo, Alex Collett and Tom Shiel who both stumbled to the demands of Work and driving lessons.

The team were however positive on the way to Malton and were confident they could pick up a victory. The manager made a good showing of team spirit by allowing the players to pick up some pre-match nourishment at the nearby, Jackson’s store in the town.
The players got into their stride almost immediately as the Cup clash began with right back, Dan Smith hitting the crossbar with a fine shot. Keen to build on that early chance, Grammar started to play some lovely on-the-ground football but were thwarted by a reckless Malton side that started to make a nuisance of themselves. Striker, James Auckland had two early penalty appeals turned down and defensive midfielder Tobin Carey Williams also inexplicably was brought down by a Malton player clutching his leg while on the deck!

Grammar eventually got the break with Tom Joel hitting a fine pass through to James Auckland who made no mistake hitting it past the keeper on the one-on-one.
Eventually more chances arrived for Grammar with Tom Joel having a fine chance on a one-on-one before hitting it straight at the keeper. Henry Weemes also found himself in this situation, thought what was a bit more difficult was having had to control the ball with his weaker foot before hitting the ball wide. HGS also made some important challenges at the back in the first half with James Taylor making a crunch tackle on the edge of the box saving the team from conceding a vital chance.

Grammar went into the half time lead, eagerly satisfied and keen to get a few more goals. Sadly, the team had to wait a while as Malton started to push themselves out a bit. Stuart Procter was called on to make an important save at his near post to deny a good goal scoring opportunity. Grammar were however able to make yet another break with good midfield play seeing Weemes slot it to Joel who finished home beautifully.

Malton weren’t done yet though and got another goal back after a cross into the box saw Anderson completely miss kicking the ball allowing the man at the back post behind him to slot it past Procter. To equal the argument, Taylor and Holgate were too far forward at this point.

This put Grammar undeservedly under pressure but they sealed the win thanks to another from Auckland who hit the ball home from a Ben Dyason shot rebounded off the keeper.

HGS are now through to the second round of this competition where they will play either King James’s or Rossett at home.

HGS:
S.Procter, D.Smith, J.Taylor, L.Anderson, E.Holgate, B.Dyason, T.Carey-Williams, S.Cox, T.Joel, J.Auckland, H.Weemes
Substitutes: Max Sharp (for James Auckland), Dan Birch (for Ed Holgate)

Pupils riot stuns staff

An Indian summer coasted over the playing fields of HGS as the scene was set for the battle – Pupils Vs Teachers.

Matches between the deep ends of human life had been scarce of late due to the health and safety regulations surrounding the education system these days. However the lengthy period of time blended in with the resurgence of football at the school at a senior level, meant it was a push too far and therefore the battle could commence.

This match was dubbed as a ‘ Staff Vs Pupils Challenge’ match as this is expected to be the first of a number of matches contested in different sports. The variety of these it is hoped will also raise money for the School’s charity.

A late kick off time at 5:30pm meant the pupils were more than geared up for this match as they were kept waiting for their staff opponents to turn up from their offices. One pupil said, this was the “biggest match of the season”, which hardly anyone could argue with.

Dan Birch took on the role of player-manager for the Senior boys team with a strong 4-4-2 formation selected, thankfully including the big guns who were unavailable for Monday night.

Almost immediately, the Pupils capitalised on the shambolic Staff’s defending from corner kicks. Sam Reffitt hit a corner kick, which went right to James Taylor in the box who beautifully volleyed it home to give the Pupils an early lead. Worse was to come for the Staff when an almost identical ball from Reffitt on a corner kick, went straight to Taylor’s partner in defence, Louis Anderson, who slotted it home.

The pressure continued to be against the Staff with the pupils going through changes in personal to keep the tempo flowing. A third goal soon arrived from right back, Tom Joel who slotted home in the box after bursting forward from his area of the park to link up with the attackers. Already 3-0 up, and three of the back four had all scored!

The Staff tried to get back into the game and almost did from Andy Lee, the maths teacher whose quick shot was saved over the bar by Procter. The Staff were therefore happy to see out the half meaning a 3-0 scoreline at half time.

The start of the second half was almost like the first as the Pupils ripped into the teachers. Henry Weemes hit a good shot from the left to make it 4-0 and people thought this would be the start of something big. Despite the introduction of Roy and Andy Mackay for the staff, the assault from the pupils would not stop with Henry Weemes adding a fifth goal near identical to his first, The proactive change of taking Weemes on and off before putting him on the left side of the park worked wonders, as Weemes completed a deserved hat trick.

With the scoreline a massive 6-0, the Pupils then added insult to despair as Ed Holgate’s long effort somehow squandered under Steve Allan in the HGS goal to add more grief and humilation.

The Staff then produced a mini-comeback courtesy of a few cocky pupils who wanted to score more than what was required. Andy Lee hit a fine hat trick in this period of time
With no defending at the back as certain players wished to take the chance up front.

Comeback teacher turned plumber, Mehdi Bouttier then hit a fourth for the Staff at the near post with blame put on James Taylor who had gone in goal for the pupils. After a assured defensive display, it was hard done for Taylor to concede three goals in a short space of time not helped by his defence.

But an eighth goal for the pupils, courtesy of Dan Smith made it 8-4 and a thrilling game. The highest ever scoreline for many of these pupils at the school. The Staff made it a great game but we all know who was the better team don’t we?!

Under 18’s: Procter, Joel, Taylor, Anderson, Holgate, Smith, Shiel, Bainbridge, Dyason, Auckland, Reffitt
Subs – Collett, Auckland, Birch, Blackstone

Teachers: Bouttier, McKenzie, Horne, Hodgson, Robinson, Allan, Neil, Lee, McDonald, Stevenson, Ash
Subs: R.Mackay, A.Mackay