Neil
Grewcock - interviewed
Recently Dave McCluggage and I
took the opportunity to interview former Clarets winger Neil Grewcock. Here’s what he
had to say about his career, that injury and, of course, the Orient Game.
What attracted you to Burnley and how were you
approached?
The stadium and famous Burnley tradition attracted me
to the club. I was approached via a phone call by John Benson, who was assistant manager
at the time.
What do you remember about the signing-on procedure?
I was signed after playing two reserve games and after
undergoing a medical.
What do you feel were the essential influences that
made you take up a career in football? Who was your boyhood hero?
The biggest influence on my career was my father, who
always encouraged me but never pushed me. My boyhood hero was Peter Osgood, the Chelsea
and England centre forward.
What do you feel were the differences between the
clubs you played for, Leicester, Gillingham and Burnley?
I would say that there were no significant differences
between Leicester and Burnley regarding facilities, etc, just standards of football at the
time. Gillingham, however, are a much smaller club in terms of support and facilities, but
I played with some very good players there.
Throughout your time at Turf Moor, which player or
players do you consider to have helped your motivation and style? And who was your closest
friend or colleague during your stay?
Tommy Hutchinson was a great help in my early years at
Burnley. He was a tremendous professional and player. Nobody should have to motivate you.
That should be down to the individual. My closest friend at Burnley was Steve Davis (I).
What do you think of the five managers you played
under (strengths, weaknesses, styles etc)?
John Benson - I enjoyed playing under John. I thought
he was a little unlucky to get relegated, especially with the team we had at the time.
Martin Buchan - Didn’t really stay long enough to
find out about his strengths and weaknesses!
Tommy Cavanagh - Plenty of experience but limited
resources at the time. He was good at getting the best out of average players.
Brian Miller - Again, he had limited resources but he
did well with what he had. Tactically, not the best, but I enjoyed playing for Brian. I
probably played some of my best football for Burnley under Brian Miller.
Frank Casper - He couldn’t handle the pressure. He
was a reasonably good coach, but in my opinion he wasn’t a good man manager, and
never got the best out of players.
Can you remember your Burnley debut?
My Burnley League debut was against Plymouth at Turf
Moor. The result was a 1-1 draw. Alan Taylor scored for Burnley.
Can you remember how you were told of the
club’s decision to release you and by who? What was your immediate reaction?
I was called to see Frank Casper in his office and he
told me that the club were not going to offer me a new contract. I was not overly
surprised by the decision because I had suffered a couple of serious injuries and it was
beginning to tell.
What have you been doing since 1991?
I played half a season for Burnley Bank Hall FC, who
have now folded. They were managed by Ian Britton. From 1992 to 95 I gained a degree in
Lancaster University in Geography and Health Psychology.
How do you keep fit nowadays?
I go to a local gym two to three times a week and cycle
on a regular basis.
Do you keep in touch with any ex-players,
particularly from the Orient Game team, and if so, what are they up to now?
Ian Britton and Ray Deakin from the Orient Game and
Alan Taylor and Barry Powell. Alan has a newsagents and Barry is Community Development
Officer at Coventry. Also Steve Davis (I), who is now at Barnsley.
Do you ever watch Burnley these days?
Yes, but not on a regular basis. Between ten to fifteen
times a season.
Have you ever considered going into management?
No - but you never know!
The Injury
What do you remember of the incident leading to your
injury in the Sherpa Van Trophy game at Halifax?
I remember it as if it was yesterday. I received the
ball from Ray Deakin on the touchline near the away supporters on the Longside, and
remember someone hitting me on the standing leg behind the knee.
Did you realise immediately that it was serious?
Yes, because I heard a cracking or snapping sound. I
tried to get up after I was floored, but my knee just gave way.
How was it treated that night?
It was strapped up after the game. I then went to
hospital the next day for X-rays, but they showed no break. It took the club until July to
seek a second opinion, who then found out the extent of the problem: cruciate, medial
ligament and cartilage damage.
How do feel about the perpetrator (Fleming) then and
now?
At the time I felt it was a totally unnecessary
challenge and I still do. I cannot forgive him for that kind of challenge, because he cost
me possibly two of my best footballing years.
It must have been frustrating sitting out two
seasons. Was it difficult to feel part of the club under those circumstances, and how did
the club respond?
It was very difficult feeling part of the club at that
time. No matter what the club does to make you feel a part of it, it is not the same as
playing. On the whole, the club were fairly good.
Did you travel to Wembley for the Sherpa Van Trophy
Final?
Yes, but not being able to play was very hard to take
at the time. The support we received on the day was fantastic, something I will never
forget.
Can you still turn out these days?
On the odd occasion, probably, yes.
The Orient
Game
What do you remember about the build-up to the game in
the previous week?
Lots of media attention, television camera at Gawthorpe
training ground and at Turf Moor. But most of all the amount of Burnley fans speaking to
us, praying that we would not go out of the league.
Was training any different that week?
I wouldn’t say that the training was any
different. In fact, Brian Miller did a good job in deflecting all the attention and
pressure from the players, and in my opinion handled it very well.
When did you know the team for the game?
Friday before the game, after training.
How and at what time did you arrive at Turf Moor
that day?
I arrived at Turf Moor the usual way, by car and about
one hour before kick off.
What is your usual pre-match superstition, and was
it affected by pressure that day?
My usual pre-match superstition is to put my shorts on
last. This was not affected by pressure on the day.
Can you remember any messages of support and good
luck, perhaps from surprising sources?
There were many messages of support, hundreds of cards
and letters, but not one stands out as being from a surprising source.
Where you aware of the big crowd from the noise even
while you were in the dressing room?
We knew it would be a full house for the game, and the
noise was deafening even from inside the dressing room. The support on the day was
fantastic, but I dread to think of what might have happened if we’d lost.
Can you remember much from the team talk? Did one
thing stick in your mind?
I can remember nothing about the team talk whatsoever.
What were your feelings about the delayed kick off?
It just added more tension to the day. All we wanted
was to get out on the pitch and get the game underway.
Who was the most nervous on the day? And the most
relaxed?
I would say that everyone was nervous, but to the
players’ and management’s credit, nobody displayed the fact to a great degree.
Relaxed? Possibly no one.
Talk us through your goal. When did you decide to
shoot?
If I remember rightly, I collected the ball on my right
hand side and cut in on my left foot. A gap just seemed to open up in front of me and from
about eighteen yards I curled the ball into the bottom corner to the goalkeeper’s
right with my left foot.
What happened at half time in the dressing room?
Were you kept in touch with the important scores?
We were kept informed of the relevant half time scores,
but apart from that I cannot remember much about the half time break.
What do you remember of the second goal?
A free kick on the right hand side in front of the Bob
Lord Stand. I didn’t necessarily mean to pick Ian Britton out, just get the ball into
the box. Fortunately it found Ian’s head and he scored to put us 2-0 ahead.
When did you realise we were safe?
Not really until the final whistle. The relief was
unbelievable.
We would like to thank Neil for taking the time to
respond.
Neil
Grewcock’s Burnley record
|
League |
|
FA Cup |
|
L. Cup |
|
Others |
|
Total |
|
|
games |
goals |
games |
goals |
games |
goals |
games |
goals |
games |
goals |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1984/85 |
44 (2) |
6 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
0 |
55 (2) |
9 |
1985/86 |
36 (2) |
7 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
6 |
3 |
46 (2) |
10 |
1986/87 |
35 (1) |
9 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
42 (1) |
9 |
1878/88 |
28 (4) |
0 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
7 |
2 |
40 (4) |
2 |
1988/89 |
12 (1) |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
12 (1) |
1 |
1989/90 |
4 (3) |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 (1) |
0 |
2 (1) |
0 |
6 (5) |
2 |
1990/91 |
21 (9) |
2 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
30 (9) |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
180
(22) |
27 |
10 |
1 |
12
(1) |
2 |
29
(1) |
5 |
231
(24) |
35 |
Dave
McCluggage and Brent Whittam
December 1995-January 1996
Links - The Orient Game
