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In Pursuit of Brownie Points
(musings of the self-appointed
secretary of the 1987 royal back bench committee)
Sad Claret
SC has proffered a few more little gems for our delectation, as he explores the highways and byways of the sports bookshelves in pursuit of the ultimate Claret knowledge. This particular find took place in Waterstones on a wet Tuesday lunchtime when SC examined the index of John Aldridge’s autobiography for the inevitable Claret references. It would appear that after we won the 3rd Division in the early eighties, when a young JA was plying his trade for little money at Newport County, he was approached by Sir Brian of Miller to join the Clarets. All went well until the Clarets offered only half of the £80,000 transfer fee to an impoverished Newport, and never pursued the interest further. Billy Hamilton and JA up front would have been more than interesting! The rest, as they say, is history. The Clarets were relegated and JA went on to become one of the best strikers in Europe.
Where are they now?
Looked like Smiffy had found himself a home at last in Essex of all places after a few games for Colchester’s reserve team, but it was not to be. Still no permanent position for the lad, as it is with all the others that Stan recently let go on a free.
John Gayle has plunged seriously into non-league with Moor Green, which was a surprise as I thought he’d been forcibly retired ages ago. More green ex Clarets of the Forest Conference team variety, in the shape of the Hall of Infamy’s very own tent peg Lee Howey. They must be desperate! Phil Gray is continuing to descend down the ladder from his goal at the Reebok last year to a sending off whilst representing Boston of the Conference. Whoosh!
Read a particularly good book recently called Don’t Give Up the Day Job all about Scottish part time soccer, in which I would not have expected a significant Claret reference, but no. On July 2000 at Raith Rovers' training ground an ex £1 million forward by the name of Gerry Creaney, no less, plied his less than lucrative trade! He did fairly well for the Clarets as I remember, but is now on that slippery slope to retirement. Also in the same book, a Scotty by the name of Kinnaird, on his twenty first club in eighteen seasons, and who apparently was on loan to us at some stage from St Mirren. Don’t remember him at all.
Clarets All Over the World
As always, you can bump into Clarets in some of the most unlikely spots in the world, most recently during visits to Dublin and Cornwall. However, a recent occasion was quite unusual, as it was the Thursday of a cricket county championship match at the Oval, where Surrey were playing Yorkshire in pretty miserable conditions. Whilst piling down the business food and drink in the restaurant (no rest for the wicked), who should wander in but Dover’s very own Nigel Blackburn. Not content with just the two Clarets, Todmorden’s John Kettley the weather man put in a belated appearance. Spooky!
BFC Report and Accounts
Not the most thrilling of reads of course, but an interesting document in so far is it provides one or two facts which tell you just where modern football now is. How lucky we are that the Club is now managed by real business people who just happen to be fanatic Clarets, and you might speculate on where we might be now under the old regime. Despite the fact that turnover has increased significantly from £5.68m to £7.24m the club made an increased loss of £2.1m from £1.6m. Note the word ‘loss’ when speculating on the size of Stan’s transfer war chest. Why the loss, well how about staff costs up from £4.28m to £6.11m! Note that staff costs now account for around 85% of turnover.
Even to a non bean-counter like me this is significant, and one would imagine that this ratio is inversely proportional to our position in this division given our relatively slight financial muscle compared to the big city boys. Without the mega bucks of premier league television money how will we continue to compete even at this level without Bazza and the directors shelling out more of their own cash? Staff costs will inevitably continue to increase as the team seeks to improve. Apart from continuing shrewd managerial decisions (what happens when Stan retires?), and the future prospect of a thriving youth academy (?), it must be a substantive increase in turnover.
For increase in turnover read promotion, a mega cup run or, dare I say it, increased match/sales income. Without the former two options, the last seems inevitable. How about a substantive rise in season ticket prices to continue progress? That’ll be popular!
Roeder to Nowhere
Not only has the Prince of Darkness managed to con his way into a plum premier league managerial position, but he has the front to compare himself with Stan! After the 7-1 thrashing by the b*****ds at Deadwood Park, he made reference to our subsequent recovery after the 6-0 home disaster against Manchester City. A disaster for which he shares responsibility! Apart from the relative strength of squad at each manager’s disposal at the time, how can he compare his CV and abilities with Stan’s? Is there a plank this man can walk as soon as possible please?
Nik the Greek
Not my favourite Claret keeper of all time, as he continues to do his rabbit in the headlights impression too often for my liking. However, to add to his save of the month award at Gillingham last season is another earned at Rotherham following a reaction stop from Mark Robins. Brownie Points to him.
Hego
November 2001
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