Turns out this game was a bit more poignant than many for a number of reasons; Towns old management duo of Billy Heath and Mark Carroll coming back, our last pre-season friendly before the Chorley match next week – but it turns out that the game will be remembered more for the tribute to Alan “the ball boy” White who sadly passed away during the week.
There were many tributes to Alan on the Brid forum, I didn’t know him too well, but we would always say hello, and maybe have a few words about the game / club. He was one of the clubs stalwarts who had been and watched the club for more years than most, and even helped out the junior teams by being the lino or ref when required. There was a minutes silence before the game, with Pete Smurthwaite laying a wreath and signed football in the centre circle before the game, and then comforting Alan’s family for the minutes silence. Fantastic tribute by all.
Billy Heath was the manager that took the club to successive promotions a few years ago that took them from Northern Counties to Unibond Premier. He was now in charge at Frickley, who are in the Unibond Prem – whilst we are in the first. Knowing Billy, it wasn’t going to be “just a friendly” and would ensure they were their for a well deserved thrashing of his former team.
But our lads had different ideas, and from the off played superbly well in every position, even Nick Baxter who was playing his first game in goal for a while was very impressive (if only a tad heavier than when we saw him last). If anybody see’s a finer goal than Tom Greaves first effort all season, I would be very surprised – it was sheer class and would adorn any scrapbook. The second was also a finely taken effort, with great work by the team. During the first half, I’d mentioned to a couple of the guys I was stood with the Billy was a bit quiet, and that he must have mellowed in old age…..ha ha ha, oh to have been a fly on the wall in the dressing room after the game, the Frickley boys were getting the “Alex Ferguson hair dryer” treatment from Billy, which could be heard out on the pitch (and probably the bar).
An interesting incident half way through the second half, me and the lad were wandering to the far goal to watch the game and for my lad to chat to the ballboy. anyway their keeper has just been substituted and comes wandering over to the ballboy screaming “Don’t F**king tell me to f**k off you little bastard, you’re a f**king disgrace as a steward and i should be reporting you and getting you the sack, you supposed to represent your club” – now at this point, I thought he was gonna lamp the kid (he was about 6′4″ and built like a proverbial outhouse) and i said to him “there is absolutely no need to talk to the kid like that no matter what he’s done”
“He told me to f**k off and i’m not having it, it’s a f**king disgrace” trudged off and moaned to the guys in the tunnel, Pete Smurthwaite came over and had a chat with the kid, who was visibly and understandably shocked by it.
Turns out the kid had shouted to the Brid lads to keep the ball high coz the keeper was crap with high balls as he always drops them. Thats when the big man in goal bit and told the kid to f**k off, so as he was being substituted the kid turned round (thinking the goalie was out of earshot) and said “f**k off yourself you wan*er”, hence the verbal he got off the goalie (who could give it, but certainly couldn’t take it).
Not overshadowing a great day for the lads and a great tribute to a lad who couldn’t be there in body on the day, but whose spirit will stay with the club forever.
