Author Archives: FWA editor

Vanarama National League column – Oct 11

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A weekly column covering the National League in association with FWA partners Vanarama .  This week Glenn Moore on 3G pitches and Sutton United’s rise.

Bruce Elliott, the chairman of Sutton United, stood in the south London club’s decent-sized car park, and said: “You used to be able to come here in the week and – except for matchdays, could always park. Now any evening, and lots of times in the day, there’s nowhere to park.” And he smiled.

There is a reason for the shortage of parking, and it lies on the other side of the main stand. Two acres of state-of-the-art, FIFA Quality Pro standard 3G artificial turf has transformed Sutton’s relationship with the community and contributed significantly to the well-being of a club pushing for promotion to the Football League for the first time in its 119-year history.

“The pitch has had a huge impact,” said Elliott. “I keep telling people this is the best thing this football club has ever done. The two seasons prior to putting the pitch in we went six weeks, and seven weeks, without anything happening on the pitch at all. From a cash-flow and supporter-interest point-of-view, that doesn’t work. No one rings up now to find out if the game is on.”

This is not the case elsewhere. Winter is yet to bite but there has already been one postponement in Sutton’s Vanarama National League, travelling Chester fans left infuriated by the late call-off of their match at Eastleigh last month because of a waterlogged pitch. Fixture security is not, though, the main argument for 3G.

“We can use 3G 40-50 hours a week instead of two hours every two weeks,” added Elliott. “The first team now train on it – we were paying to go somewhere else. We used to pay another club to host our youth team games, we host and train them here. We have two ground shares, Sutton Common Rovers and Wimbledon Ladies. We have ladies sides of our own we have started this season, there is the junior section, three disability sides and now an academy with 80-90 boys based here at the club. They all use the pitch.”

There is, however, a cloud on the horizon. If Sutton go up – and they lie fourth in the Vanarama National League, two points behind leaders Macclesfield – they will have to tear up the pitch to be allowed promotion. However, the Football League almost accepted plastic a couple of seasons ago and it is back on the agenda in next month’s league meeting.

Some opponents feel the pitch confers an unfair advantage but the three Vanarama National League teams with 3G pitches last season – Sutton, Maidstone and Bromley – all finished mid-table having lost, between them, a third of their home games.

While better than many grass pitches at this level the ball does tend to run off quickly on 3G and on Saturday the combination of surface and strong wind troubled both Sutton and visitors Fylde in the first half. However, when the wind dropped there was some decent football played on a surface that – as Arsenal showed in the FA Cup last season last season – rewards technical sides. Sutton’s second goal, inspired by Josh Taylor’s slalom down the left wing, highlighted this.

Despite Lewis Montrose’s subsequent dismissal a late rally from Fylde, still finding their feet in the Vanarama National League after rapid promotions, made for a tense finish. Sutton held on to win 2-1, stay in the promotion frame, and keep the 3G debate simmering.

For more from the Vanarama National League visit: http://www.thenationalleague.org.uk/

For great deals on vehicle leasing from Vanarama visit: http://www.vanarama.co.uk/

Hugh McIlvanney inducted into Hall of Fame

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Hugh McIlvanney, one of the great sportswriters of this or any other generation, has been honoured by the National Football Museum by being inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Hugh, a proud FWA member, became the first football writer to enter the Hall of Fame, which includes some of the greatest names in the history of English football. He was inducted, along with players such as Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, at a gala dinner at the National Football Museum in Manchester on September 21st.

Hugh was unable to attend because of a surgical procedure, but his wife Caroline accepted the award on his behalf from FWA Chairman Paddy Barclay, who said: “In the 1950s and 1960s there were giants all over the world stage. Elvis Presley in music, in politics John F Kennedy and the latter day Winston Churchill. In sport we had Muhammed Ali and Pele, still considered the two greatest sportsmen of all time, and football management’s contribution to this generation of giants was Sir Matt Busby,  It was Sir Matt’s great friend Hugh McIlvanney who was journalism’s contribution. That is the level that he reached, and that is why when the FWA was lucky enough to enter into a partnership with this fantastic institution, our choice as our first journalist to enter the Hall of Fame was an easy one.”

Hugh sent a recorded message of thanks to the event, which was also honouring Bob Wilson, Rachel Yankey, Kelly Smith and Gary Speed among others.  He said:” It is a matter of deep regret to me that the need for some running repairs at the hands of the medical profession is preventing me from being with you tonight.

“I am particularly saddened to find myself denied the chance to convey in person the scale of my appreciation of the honour that comes with being inducted into the National Football Museum’s Hall of Fame. There are two strands to that appreciation; it is of course gratifying to know that enough people associated with the `Hall of Fame took a favourable – or at least tolerant – view of what I have written about the game over the years.

“But far more important than any individual induction is the fact that a basis seems to have been created for the establishment of a journalist category in the Hall of Fame.  Before television ruled football, there was for generations a constantly fraught but mutually beneficial relationship between the sport and the print media, one that was unquestionably vital to the development of the professional game in Britain.

“The influence of newspapers in this, and other, fields may be shrinking fast but is still significant and in any case, the papers’ historical impact on the story of football makes a strong case for recognising in the Hall of Fame the unruly brotherhood of press box scribblers. If I’m seen to be representing them tonight, that makes me very proud.”

You can see a video Paddy’s speech, and Hugh’s acceptance speech, on our YouTuibe channel here: https://youtu.be/zuwultF0z9A

You can find out more about the National Football Museum’s and the Hall of Fame inductions over the years here: http://www.nationalfootballmuseum.com/news/ten-new-stars-added-to-the-hall-of-fame-in-2017

Danny Fullbrook

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DANNY FULLBROOK REMEMBERED AT FULHAM FOOTBALL CLUB

Danny Fullbrook's family receive a signed Fulham shirt in his memory

Danny Fullbrook’s immense contribution to football journalism and Fulham Football Club was recognised prior to Fulham’s home fixture with Hull City last month when the Fulham Supporters’ Trust presented Danny’s family with a signed first-team home shirt bearing his name.

Danny sadly lost his battle with cancer in 2012 but his legacy lives on through the work of the Danny Fullbrook Fearless Foundation. The Fulham Supporters’ Trust wanted to ensure that Danny’s family and friends were aware of just how fondly Danny is thought of by the Fulham fans and the football club. The Trust’s communications officer Dan Crawford, whose own path into sports journalism was inspired by Danny, handed over the signed shirt at Craven Cottage on the evening of the game against Hull.

Dan, pictured with Danny’s parents Jim and Sylvie, sister Jo and son Edward, said: ‘Danny’s infectious enthusiasm for football and Fulham left a lasting impression on everyone he met. He was a massive supporter of the ‘Back to the Cottage’ campaign and the Fulham Supporters’ Trust and encouraged me as a teenager to pursue a journalistic career. We are very keen to support the work of the Fearless Foundation and ensure that Danny’s legacy will offer more opportunities for young people through sport and sports journalism. We would like to thank Carmelo Mifsud, Mark Maunders, Alistair Mackintosh and Slavisa Jokanovic at Fulham Football Club for arranging at such short notice to provide this shirt to Danny’s family, which shows how specially he is still thought of at Craven Cottage’.
The Trust will be working with Danny’s family, friends and colleagues over the forthcoming months on a number of projects dedicated to his memory. If any FWA member would like more information, they are welcome to email info@fulhamsupporterstrust.com

Vanarama National League column – Luke Coulson

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Luke CoulsonVanarama National League column by Luke Coulson of Ebbsfleet FC

The baggy, yellow shirt of Beechwood Juniors hung loosely on my shoulders and was tucked into my oversized, green shorts as I ran around my first football pitch at the age of six. A year later, I shook the hand of Kevin Keegan before walking around Maine Road at half time to the sound of 30,000 fans applauding the new Manchester City academy recruits.

Since that day as a star-struck seven-year-old boy staring up at a sea of blue, my journey in football has been ever changing.

After ten years, a scholarship and appearances in the U19 Champions League, my time at Manchester City came to an end. After a brief spell in America, I signed for Cardiff City where I enjoyed two years of U21 football in the Welsh capital.

At the age of 20 and desperate to prove myself, I went off into the world to find first team football, yet only found rejection and six months of being a free agent. My perseverance prevailed, however, as I joined Oxford City in the Conference North. A year later, I was bought for the first time as Eastleigh negotiated a deal to take me into the Vanarama National League.

Three managers and 12 months on, I was bought for a second time as my career moved forward once more and I signed for Barnet in League Two.

After two managers in only six months and a lack of playing time, however, I returned to the Vanarama National League this summer and now wear the red and white of Ebbsfleet FC.

Fourteen games have passed since the opening day of the season and only eleven points separate the playoffs from the depths of the relegation zone. So it is no surprise that thousands of fans decide to spend their Saturday afternoons watching such an exciting league.

Our campaign began with a nine game unbeaten run which included our first home win of the season against our local rivals, Maidstone United. A recent run of three consecutive wins against Boreham Wood, Halifax and Solihull has propelled us forward and despite lying in 11th position; only five points separate us from Macclesfield at the top of the table.

Having only lost one game, we have proven difficult to beat as our resilience, team spirit and togetherness have shone through. It is credit to our manager, Daryl McMahon, who has created a team with a balance of young, talented individuals and experienced players whom have tasted promotion in their careers before.

With the league so closely fought and the strength of our squad, we are confident that we can make a big statement in the Vanarama National League this year.

Watch out for more stories and reports from the Vanarama National League every Wednesday.

FWA Golf Day, sponsored by Vanarama

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Stoke Park 1Stoke Park 2PAT JENNINGS

 

Report on FWA Golf Day, Monday September 18, by Ralph Ellis.

The magnificent Stoke Park golf course in Buckinghamshire will always be renowned as the venue for the famous feud between James Bond and Goldfinger.

But for the Football Writers Association, it is quietly growing its own history after six years now as the breathtaking venue for the annual FWA Golf Day.

The event is one which brings together those who write and broadcast about the game with those who play and coach at every level, and this year saw a record field of 21 fourball teams competing.

At the FWA we were proud and pleased to welcome Vanarama (www.vanarama.co.uk) as new sponsors for the event to herald what we hope will be an ongoing partnership that will supply benefits to our members through the opportunity to take advantage of the company’s highly competitive vehicle leasing rates.

Vanarama began their partnership by kindly donating a superb Vauxhall car as a prize for anybody lucky enough to score a hole in one at the Seventh, Stoke Park’s most famous par three modelled on the iconic 16th at Augusta.

Several came within a few inches, but nobody was able to drive off with the prize on this occasion.

With everybody playing off ¾ of their normal handicap on a demanding Championship course, scoring was tough.

However first prize was one by a team led by Chesterfield FC’s head of media and communications Nick Johnson, whose side comprising Ken Perkins, Kevin Reynolds and Paul Morton compiled 78 points.

They won on countback from Daily Mail, Sunday Mirror and Daily Star freelance writer Ralph Ellis, whose side including former Liverpool and Wales star Dean Saunders and ex Southend striker Drewe Broughton.

Third and fourth places went to two sides representing Vanarama (www.vanarama.co.uk), one including sales director Gary Lemon and the other drawn from Vanarama National League players and coaches which included Leamington midfielder Joe Clarke, Keith Bertschin (Solihull Moors manager) and Aldershot striker Scott Randell.

The historic Joe Melling Memorial Trophy, competed for in an individual competition for FWA members only, was won by Sunday Post football writer Adam Lanigan who scored 30 points.

Thanks to FWA National Committee member Ralph Ellis for organising the day, and this report.

Vanarama National League – a new column

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Vanarama

Each week the FWA will round up events in the Vanarama National League in association with our sponsor Vanarama. Glenn Moore, former football editor of the Independent and FWA committee member, explains…

It is said the league table cannot be trusted until ten games have been played. Until then it a phoney war, shadow boxing, foreplay – whichever cliche takes your fancy. The Vanarama National League has now played a dozen matches, more than a quarter of the programme. It should have settled down by now with a picture of who will be contending for the title – and with it automatic promotion, and who will be pushing for the play-offs.

Well… that hasn’t quite happened. As of this morning Maidstone United are three points behind Sutton United. The Stones are not exactly on the leaders’ heels – they are back in ninth. Leyton Orient, in 13th, are three points off the play-offs. It is tighter than a Wrexham defence that has conceded six goals in 12 games. The gap from 1st to 18th-place Tranmere Rovers is nine points, easily bridgeable for last season’s runners-up.

The Championship is usually quoted as the most interesting competition. Big clubs like Aston Villa who have fallen on hard times, sleeping giants such as Leeds United waking from their slumber, upstarts Burton Albion, bloodying noses. And plenty of unpredictable results. But, after just nine matches, the leaders are already seven points clear of ninth and 11 ahead of 18th.

The Vanarama National League also has bruised egos – half the competition are ex-Football League clubs with Leyton Orient on the cusp of the Championship three years ago. There are clubs with a long-established non-League pedigree, such as Woking and Sutton. And there are the nouveau riche, keen to hurry through the leagues, like Eastleigh and Fylde.

There is plenty of vibrant life, and vivid backstories, in the regional divisions too. In Vanarama North on Saturday Harrogate Town drew a staggering 2,800 to the Bettys Tea Rooms derby with York City. Town’s win kept them ahead, on goal difference, of Salford City – famous now for their association with former Manchester United players Gary and Phil Neville, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Nicky Butt. York, who once conquered Don Howe’s Arsenal, lie seventh having finally halted a horrible slide. Close behind lie several others trying to clamber back to the full-time game including Stockport County and Darlington.

While there are 11 fallen Football League clubs in Vanarama North none are in Vanarama South. Instead there is a cluster of upwardly mobile ones such as current leaders Truro City, the highest-placed Cornish club in the football pyramid, and East Thurrock United, less than 50 years old, an Essex League club 25 years ago, and in only their second season at this level.

It is a competition full of stories, often only told when the FA Cup juggernaut rolls around and the media descend on the plucky part-timers looking for butchers and bakers. Increasingly they find instead full-time pros, especially in the Vanarama National League, but they still have stories to tell, often of rejection from a Premier League academy, a tumble down the divisions, and a quiet determination to make their way back. Every week this new column will seek to tell the tales of a fascinating competition.

For more about the Vanarama National League visit: http://www.thenationalleague.org.uk/

For more about Vanarama visit  http://www.vanarama.co.uk/

Dave Smith – funeral details

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England press teamDave Smith (centre, with ball) in 1992 at Euro 92 Sweden

The funeral of Dave Smith, former Shoot editor who passed away recently, will be on October 4 in Peterborough.

Dave passed away at the age of 56 after a short illness. His son Joshua said:

“Dad’s funeral will be held at Peterborough Crematorium, PE6 7JE at 1pm on Wednesday 4th October, with the wake at The Harrier, Gunthorpe Rd, Peterborough, PE4 7DS.

‘Flowers may be sent to the chapel of rest, Co-operative Funeral Care, Fitzwilliam Street, Peterborough, PE1 2RX. Donations in lieu if desired may be made at the service for Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice.

“Please feel free to wear colours or football shirts!  All welcome!”

Dave was a hugely popular character during his 30 years or so as a football writer, starting at the Spalding Guardian before going to Match magazine and then Shoot, where he became editor in its heyday of the early 1990s.

After leaving Shoot in 1997, he was as launch editor of Football 365, and then the Premier League’s original website and latterly the PFA’s website, as well as freelancing for the Sunday Mirror.

Dave had an amazing contacts book from his days as editor of the UK’s leading football magazine, and he helped a number of players with their autobiographies.

He was also tremendous fun, as anyone who covered the 1990 and 1994 World Cups and 1992 European Championship can testify. Rob Shepherd said: “While he was a top guy, he was also a bloody good football journalist who had great contacts and knew the game.”

Dave had been on Derby County’s books as a teenager and was regularly man of the match in England’s media games, even when the likes of Sir Bobby Charlton, Trevor Brooking and Jean Tigana were playing. He once spent a week training at Fulham for a feature, and although the players treated him with derision on the first day, by the end of the week he had won them over and they were urging him to turn professional!

Adrian Curtis, who worked with him at both Match and Shoot, said: I only ever had good times with Dave and I cannot recall him ever losing his temper. Our friendship was a solid one and he would do anything for his mates.”

Lawrie Madden the former Millwall and Sheffield Wednesday defender who became a journalist and broadcaster, added: “I met Dave when he was at the PFA and he was always friendly and gave me a great deal of help and advice when I was starting in journalism.”

Dave is survived by his wife Carole and sons Josh and Ben, who have set up a Facebook page for friends and colleagues to post pictures and tributes here: http://bit.ly/2vXWDhQ

Funeral details to follow…

England press team

Football Writers to join Hall of Fame

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Hall of Fame pic

Football’s greatest writers will be honoured alongside the sport’s finest players, managers and teams, thanks to a new partnership between the National Football Museum and the Football Writers’ Association.

The National Football Museum Hall Of Fame will this year see a new Lifetime Achievement award presented to an outstanding sports journalist, thanks to the FWA. The first recipient of the award will be announced at this year’s National Football Museum Hall Of Fame awards at the museum’s Manchester home on Thursday 21 September 2017.

Paddy Barclay, Chairman of the Football Writers’ Association, said: “We are delighted to play a role in preserving and sharing the history of football thanks to this partnership with the National Football Museum Hall Of Fame.

“The first recipient of the award is truly a legend among football writers and it will be an honour to see one of our profession recognised alongside so many greats of the sport.”

National Football Museum Marketing Manager Philippa Duxbury said “We’re delighted to be working with the Football Writers’ Association on our prestigious Hall Of Fame awards.

“The ever-evolving role of journalists and writers in how we, as fans, perceive and enjoy football is key to the popularity of the game.

“We look forward to honouring the first recipient and working with the FWA in the future.”

The National Football Museum Hall Of Fame started in 2002 as the official celebration of the greatest legends of English football.

The original selection panel included Jimmy Hill, Gordon Taylor and the museum’s vice president Sir Trevor Brooking. Inaugural inductees included Sir Bobby Charlton, Bobby Moore, Bill Shankly and pioneering female footballer Lily Parr.

Since then, with the support of The PFA, the awards have gone from strength to strength, with all inductees voting on who joins the Hall Of Fame each year. 123 male and female players, from Tony Adams to Gianfranco Zola, have since been inducted, as well as great managers, iconic teams and, thanks to support from The FA, inspiration figures from the disability game in the Hall’s Football For All category.

This year’s event will see modern-era greats Billy Bonds, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Gary Speed and Bob Wilson honoured. The FA are supporting the induction of Lionesses greats Kelly Smith and Rachel Yankey, and England CP player Alistair Patrick-Heselton. The Hall Of Fame historian panel have also chosen Manchester United’s 1909 FA Cup-winning captain Charlie Roberts for induction.

For more on the National Football Museum, visit this link: http://www.nationalfootballmuseum.com/

Hugh Jamieson RIP

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The FWA send condolences to the family and friends of Hugh Jamieson, former football and tennis writer for The Sun and later the Mirror, Mail and Today. Hugh was also a former FWA Midlands secretary.

Hugh, who succumbed to cancer last week at the age of 76, was widely admired and liked from his earliest days as a reporter on the Sheffield Morning Telegraph, before joining the  Sun.   Below is a tribute, with thanks to the Sports Journalists’ Association website.

 

Morning Telegraph team: Jamieson holding the case in the centre with John Motson looking on

 

Jamieson was very popular with his fellow journalists and was always quick to help out colleagues. John Wragg, former athletics and football reporter for The Express recalled: “I was abroad somewhere doing tennis  and in the hotel restaurant was John McEnroe at a table opposite a group of us.

“This was just after McEnroe’s divorce from Tatum O’Neill so he was bigger news than ever. We were debating how to approach McEnroe when he recognised Hughie and said ‘ you guys want to speak to me don’t you. Bring them over Hugh’. Back pages, spread and news stories were churned out that night. ”

Former Morning Telegraph sports editor Keith Farnsworth remembered: “I was covering Wednesday’s League Cup defeat at Bournemouth for the Sheffield Telegraph in 1969, when they suffered a rather unexpected and even embarrassing defeat, and Hugh was doing it forThe Sun.

“We were staying in the same hotel, and after the match when we went back for a drink. We were discussing what would make the best follow-up tale. He spotted something I had missed, and volunteered a great idea, simply based on what he had witnessed when the team arrived back at the hotel. I got all the credit back in Sheffield.”

Journalist and author Ian Ridley has a similar story: “I was a bit green and covering Wimbledon for The Guardian. It was raining heavily and the paper wanted a piece on something – anything. Hughie introduced me to a British umpire who told me her globe-trotting story for a space-filling feature. It was kind of him.”

Jamieson left The Sun in 1990 and worked as a freelance for the Daily Mail and Mirror Group before joining Today until it folded in 1995. He also had a spell as a football and sports agent and was chairman of the Midlands Football Writers’ Association.

He retired to Guernsey, where he did some radio work, surviving a heart attack in 2010.

More recently he had returned to Bosham, near Chichester, in West Sussex from where his family came from. He was diagnosed with cancer and died at St Wilfrid’s Hospice on September 2.

His funeral will be on September 15 at Our Lady of The Assumption Church, Bosham, at 11.30am and afterwards at the Berkeley Arms.

Northern Managers’ Awards evening – tickets on sale now

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37th Northern Managers Awards Dinner, in conjunction with sponsors William Hill  will be held at the RADISSON BLU EDWARDIAN HOTEL, Free Trade Hall, Peter Street, Manchester M2 5GP . on SUNDAY NOVEMBER 26th 2017

Reception: 6.45pm for 7.30pm Dress Code: Lounge Suit

* TICKETS can be ordered from committee members Paul Hetherington, Dick Bott or Steve Bates, at the same price as last year: £65 FWA Members, £70 Non-members and Guests. Book now for Tables of 10/11, smaller groups or individuals. The discounted room rate at the RADISSON BLU, which is available for a limited time only, is £120 inc. Breakfast & VAT (for SINGLE or TWIN occupancy). Ring 0161 835 9929 and press Option 1 for Reservations and quote 03 12 FWA.

* This year’s award winning managers are: JOSE MOURINHO (Manchester United), RAFA BENITEZ (Newcastle United), DAVID WAGNER (Huddersfield Town), CHRIS WILDER (Sheffield United), PHIL PARKINSON (Bolton Wanderers), DARREN FERGUSON (Doncaster Rovers), GARY BOWYER (Blackpool). Special Award winners: GARY MILLS (York City), GRAHAM FENTON and LEE PICTON (South Shields) , NICK CUSHING (Manchester City Women).

* This year’s designated Children’s Charity is THE SEASHELL TRUST

Menu, wine lists and other details will be forwarded nearer the date.

Richard Bott

(secretary FWA North)