Thought for the Week

by Rob Fry

I GUESS it’s true - my years as a football manager are behind me now!

When we moved into the area, it meant new schools for our kids, no problem, the schools here were great, perhaps with one missing piece. There was no after school football team. So, as my job allowed, the offer to set one up was duly made and accepted.

The fact that I’d never actually played football never mentioned – of course and thankfully not too much of a hindrance, made up for with enthusiasm, confidence and bluster. Plus the fact that “my team” turned out to be both a fantastic group of individuals and gifted footballers.

Turning up for practice, picking the team, travelling to matches, organising tournaments, watching my guys play; what an honour, I loved every minute.

What a privilege, over the years the team pretty much won every match there was to be played. I’m not sure how popular that made us with other schools? Man U vs Leeds??? I was once asked if I would field a “B” team, what do you think? That seemed to go against the grain, it didn’t happen… I know perhaps I was also a bit of a liability, wanting games to be played – whatever the weather. On match days not answering my phone, making it very difficult for other teams to cancel! “A bit of rain” never hurt!

And then the day came; it was time for “Big School” my team had grown up; it was time to move on… I did stay coaching the next lot for another year or two, but even then, I was ready to pass on the baton. One of my players said that “winning the John O’Donnell Memorial tournament” was their proudest day at school. Which meant great deal - a tear in the eye for so many reasons…

The years roll on again, fast forward ten plus years, I still see those lads, many are bigger than me and look down on me now! One recently said “do you remember when you used to organise whole tournaments, just so that we could go and win them…” There was truth in what he’d said and as we’d laughed together I hoped very much that friendship, teamwork, success, confidence and achievement learned on the sports field would go with him into adult life. That’s my hope, my prayer, my investment and return.