The day the new pavilion opened at Chorleywood Common I played in a match between 2 teams of coaches and team managers, I don’t remember the result but almost 20 years on I do remember the words Graham Taylor spoke.
He started by saying he was a keen runner and often ran up to the Common on match days, he then told us he had an idea to help develop our players and improve results.
Absolute silence reigned as we waited to learn if this was to go 3 at the back or revert to 4-4-2 or bring the lads in for extra fitness training so we could press further up the park.
“Start by looking at yourselves”, he said, “I see so many Dads screaming and shouting, it`s a wonder the lads want to play, relax, don’t over complicate, encourage and let them enjoy their football”
Our last game that season was away at a team who had to win or draw to win the league, as our lads warmed up on the pitch their team made a choreographed entrance in brand new matching white tracksuits, together with matching Dads from their coaching staff.
It seemed the entire village had turned out in support and there was quite an atmosphere at kick off, such an atmosphere that I was already measuring the sprinting distance to the car park.
The game kicked off but didn’t follow the script as Matt Cousins scored, then Will Hayter put us 2 up despite their lads being `encouraged` to sever limbs and die for their village.
Basically it was all down to my new GT inspired management style On the drive home I asked `Well, did you ever think you`d win that one ?` . There was a pause from the back seat ….’Did you ever think we`d let a team of Spice Boys beat us ?`