One of the most hackneyed phrases in football is “they’re on the beach”. Directed at any side with nothing to play for at the end of a season, it’s assumed minds are elsewhere, wishing the bodies were too.
And Good Lord we were the prime example of it the other Sunday at Hillsborough. Supporters wear fancy dress, foreign team kits, everything. Even flippy floppies if they want to risk a bone break in their feet.
I once wore a Real Mallorca top and Darren Huckerby’s shorts (don’t ask) when we played Coventry at home and the entire Barclay mocked the returning Sammy Clingan for large segments of the match. Many others were more outlandish than me in their attire.
Most people think footballers are overpaid, spoiled precocious little creatures. But when you think about it they only get one month off a year and much of that is severely restricted in terms of how they fill their boots on holiday.
Yeah, they might go to Dubai, Mauritius or the Seychelles while I walk half a mile from the “summer residence” to Trimingham beach. I also do that in spring, winter and autumn but that’s by the by.
When we take the dogs to our beautiful but unglamorous local seashore there’s always some food and water for them, but I invariably indulge in a couple of cans of Scrumpy Jack which Mrs P shares and sometimes enjoys a sandwich or whatever she’s cobbled together. We can do what we like because we’re 60 and not professional footballers.
When we get home, we can indulge in the full cholesterol – simulated Tandoori chicken, home-made chow mein, even old fashioned pancakes with sugar and lemon. We eat whatever we choose, because we are not professional footballers, are not overweight and couldn’t give a rubber duck about a calorie count.
But the more responsible of the young NCFC lads cannot do what we do – or if they do there’s a big fat bass drum banging in their head to tell them they’re doing wrong.
While I do not know for sure, I would imagine that family men such as Wes Hoolahan and Russell Martin conduct themselves extremely sensibly simply by virtue of being in their 30s and having children on board. Most of us have been there – you can’t get bladdered when you’ve got kids in tow.
But how about the youngsters, particularly those in the Academy?
You’re 17, 18 or whatever and signed to a football club. Without being in any way sexist, if that isn’t “pulling power” I do not know what is. You will attract a plethora of people of all sexes whether you want to or not.
And you’re going to make the most of it. Late nights, too many drinks and something of whatever takes your fancy. You can’t go wrong unless you upset a local and you might get a slap I suppose – it happens. You’re a pig in that stuff as long as you’re not over-the-top flashy.
Until it’s time to report for pre-season training. I would seriously suggest these guys only actually get four weeks off in a season. Healthy young athletes can easily and quickly offset the effects of overindulgence, but they cannot fool the sports scientists. And the consequences of returning for pre-season in the wrong shape are becoming more serious by the season.
Whatever your job – office, factory, self-employed – you don’t have to worry about the consequences of your summer break.
But as highly paid as these guys are, I have a little sympathy for them.
Getting wrecked on holiday should be a human right.
Hi Martin
Over indulgence was a way of life during my time in the RAF and many ex forces personnel would agree and back then there were bases in exotic parts of the world with great beaches and all you wanted, Gib, Cyprus, Malta, Penang, Singapore, Hong Kong And the Maldives all great places to get bladdered in and the cost was being ready for work on Monday.
We all have the right to enjoy ourselves whether single, married with kids but with that comes the responsibility of maturity knowing when enought is enought and hoping that someone might whisper in your ear when you have reached that point.
Everyone loved Gaz and laughed at all his over indulgent tricks his hangers on took all they could get and when he was done with football and no longer earnings mega bucks done runners and didn’t care how he survived, he is still paying fir his extremes.
Clubs also have a responsibility in educating young footballers how to prolong a short career, invest theur money and most of all how to keep healthy, these young players will not have the nutritional experts working just for them just the clubs own people all experts but thet will be responsible for all at the club.
Reading a book on the great Bill Nicholson and a quote by Jimmy Greaves in it said all first teamers returned for training and without a word took them all on a ten mile road run around Chesthunt and anyone that finished after him was sent out again with the reserves a hard man.
Let the youth enjoy themselves for 3 weeks and then make sure they are fit for the first day back or at least be in reasonable shape.
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Many clubs these days have strict instructions for their players during the close season.
The more progressive ones have tailored plans for each individual, and/or include their Academy players in the scheme. Knowing Daniel Farke & is background, I’d be surprised if it’s not “and” in our case.
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Absolutely.
I’m not really lamenting what Daniel Farke and others like him are advocating – not in the slightest and that approach is for the ultimate good of everybody, whatever their playing role is within their Club..
I just don’t think I could have been that disciplined when I was 18!
And that’s why something tells me one or two of the young lads will suffer from the odd aberration on their hols.
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Hi Alex.
I think that’s the thing – folks of our generation and the one below us have in most cases all done it ourselves so we understand the consequences. Retrospectively:-)
The good thing about the forces is that the officers (and that applied to me to in the Police) actively expect you to go out on the lash, given the opportunity. The drinking culture in the Met in the 1980s was intense – especially amongst us *upper-class* civvies.
But as long as we were present and correct for duty as our shift rota dictated nobody gave a fig
Believe me I still shift enough Henry Westons cider to have shares in that excellent firm but the late nights and other excesses have long gone.
The culture has very much changed in football – Gazza wouldn’t last 10 minutes today with a sports scientist hovering over him!
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I used to bump into an ex school friend on my irregular visits to the Tudor Hall (not much chance of hearing the Clash there!). He was a regular in City’s reserve team in the early 80’s and was first team sub a couple of times, I saw the temptations he had on offer-I’m not sure I would have been as well behaved.
I agree with AlexB about clubs’ responsibilities but we as supporters and society in general must allow young people to learn through mistakes and we have to forgive mistakes-I’m glad my youth wasn’t spent in a high profile position or even with the presence of social media.
As you say, they only get a few weeks off a year. If we expect them to play with zeal and passion on the pitch, we should accept that zeal and passion will be part of their lives off the pitch too.
I’m jealous of your Trimmingham walks; my first home was a caravan on a Trimmingham site.
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Thanks Don.
As far as our NCFC youngsters are concerned It’s a bit like that German word I can never spell and don’t have time to look up that means sweet and sour. Or hot and cold.
Trimingham beach is still good – we go as often as we can, which is about three times a week, every week. There’s hardly ever anybody there so it’s perfect for the dogs. Go down the slope past Sandy Gulls caravan site and turn left rather than walk towards Mundesley. Bliss.
As for the Tudor Hall thingy just about everybody I know claimed to have seen Jimi Hendrix at West Runton Pavilion. I only believe Jonny V as I’ve seen his photos!
He also told me Arthur Brown set the stage curtains alight while performing *Fire*.
Maybe MFW music week (in whatever format Gary chooses to roll it out) will reveal more.
Cheers for the comment.
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I didn’t see Jimmi Hendrix at West Runton, but I did see Honey and the Honeycombs there, as well as Acker Bilk, not to mention a magic night of celebration there the night of England’s World Cup win (though I don’t remember much about it to be honest, apart from doing the conga with a lampshade on my head). I did see Cilla Black as well as the Animals at the Rink in Cromer.
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Ha!
A few mates and I celebrated the World Cup win with fish and chips and a kickabout in the garden. We were only eight or nine – and we all pretended we were Geoff Hurst!
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Schadenfreude?
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Yes of course:-)
Now I’ve seen it in print again I’m glad I didn’t take a chance – I would have spelled it wrong!
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I was born in West Runton maternity home.
As far as the Pavillion is concerned, I didn’t see Hendrix (I was 6 when he died) but I did see Motorhead, which was lively.
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Saw possibly Motorhead’s first London gig at the Marquee in London in 1975 – no Philthy or Fast Eddie – just Lemmy with Larry Wallis and one Lucas Fox who Lemmy booted out asap as he “couldn’t keep up”!
Lively was indeed the word.
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I hear they’re doing double sessions!
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Hi Martin here is some Lemmy history for you
The Rockin’ Vickers were an English rock and roll band from Blackpool active from 1963 to 1967. They toured the UK and continental Europe and released a few singles during their existence, but are best-remembered for launching the career of Ian “Lemmy” Kilmister, then known as Ian Willis, who later was a member of Hawkwind and more famously founded Motörhead.
The Rockin’ VickersAlso known as as Rev Black and the Rockin’ Vicars Originaly from Blackpool, Lancashire, England Genres Rock, rhythm and blues, beat Years active 1963–1967 Labels Decca, CBS, RPMMembers(See members below)
They were originally called Rev Black and the Rockin’ Vicars, then abbreviated to the Rockin’ Vicars, but in order to have a chance to get more gigs or even a record contract, they changed their name to “Rockin’ Vickers”. Their last single “Dandy”, a cover of the Kinks song, was produced by Shel Talmy.
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I hesitate to say ‘save it’ Alex … but save it 🙂
Starting on Monday, we’ll be running a few pieces highlighting the musical tastes of the MFW team – starting with our Martin!
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Thanks Gary
Just yesterday was looking at a new car and the salesman had Lemmys picture in the showroom and the owner was in his earlier bands in Blackpool.
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