Football Old Style

I met a local footballing hero a few years ago. I am ashamed to say that I am not really sure if he is still alive now.

He had been a player in the English Football League Second Division for our City team in the 1960's and 1970's. They were a team that yo-yo'd up and down the league, promising a lot at the beginning of a season but falling short through running out of steam by Christmas, suffering debilitating injuries to a small squad or from a few refereeing decisions that went against them. Oh, and other teams were just better and leap frogged over our team to reach the heady heights of the old First Division (now the Premier League) to stay there reaping the rewards or dropping back with all of the trauma and stress.Some teams just disappeared into the oblivion of non-league status. Take a look at the Vanarama National League now which features some famous old plodders. Grimsby Town in particular had a good few years in the top flight and are clawing their way back into the main leagues.

Our man, well, as he opened the front door to his modest suburban house I could hear his arthritic joints creak and his welcome to me was rather laboured as he fought for asthmatic breath. His walk, seen in silhouette through the glazed panel of the door had been slow and a bit lop-sided. Although now very much senior in years he did have the physical bearing of a previous athleticism and physical strength. His career had not been in sync with the scientific and medical support as in the modern game and he was as they say in technical terms, well and truly crocked.

There are some grainy black and white and faded colour images of him in action as a prolific goalscorer in his era posted on media sites and as a young kid I did collect and paste his glossy photo card in the album for the 1970-1971 season and still have it, half full, in my trunk of treasures (I am now aged 52).

In retirement following the basic wage realisms of professional football he had gone along one of the common paths for ex-players. This included being landlord of pubs, manager of a club and eventually owner of a drinking and entertainment venue within 3 miles of the pitch on which he had made his name.

One of his team mates did end up in prison after getting drawn in to the operating of a brothel.

A few of the higher flyers in the pro-game who benefitted from transfer deals and steadily increasing incomes were able to invest in property, racehorses and good business propositions although I expect that as many were fleeced of their savings or were exposed to fraud and extortion by disreputable and exploitative types which seem, even today, to hover around the money.

Those ex-players who could not live without some involvement in the game that had provided their livelihood and lifestyle found their way into management, coaching or in the scouting for new talent in the lower UK based leagues and later, on a global basis.

I felt sorry for him on his doorstep but his performances, classic goals, bravery and loyalty to his City meant that even though in pain and some financial hardship he would never go hungry.

At the flash new stadium for the team, still in the second tier although having had a couple of seasons of Premier Status, our man is often found on duty in the hospitality suite at home games. He is in his absolute element amongst an adoring and knowledgeable sporting crowd and not far from a photo collage of him in his prime.

In the hub-bub of pre match excitement in the posh and comfortable lounge and bar you cannot hear the click of worn cartilage or really notice the shortness of breath that are the abiding characteristics of seasoned old Pro's.