M
My Boy Harry
Guest
We are moving house and I was tidying up some old football stuff in the attic. I came across one or two CD's with SAFC stuff on and this appeared. Its an interview with Kevin Ball in advance of his testimonial game way back in 1998. Thought I would post it as it gives some interesting information on him. I only have 2 instalments of it though but here goes. Long read mind...
Most of you will be aware that I was born in Hastings in 1964 and from an early age was a football fanatic. I supported Arsenal as a boy, a legacy from my father, although in 1972 I changed to supporting Leeds when they beat Arsenal in the FA cup Final (so is it true that kids only support winning teams!).
I guess the first question everyone will ask is can I remember 1973? To be honest I can’t, although it is ironic that having changed to the all whites they should be beaten by my current club the very next year.
Anyway, Leeds and Arsenal were the teams we supported in my household when Match of the Day came on. Saturday night was always a special family occasion. I remember my mum and dad giving me money to go to the chip shop for our suppers so we could watch the late night football, and it became a family ritual. When they were flush, I also got a sausage if I was lucky!
Funnily enough as Brighton was just down the road my friend’s dad sometimes took us to the Goldstone Ground, and my first unhappy experience of football hooliganism came in a match against Crystal Palace. Dodging the bricks was a life saving skill that day!
Whilst I have always been a fan, it is the playing side of things that have given me a good life. It’s been hard at times, things haven’t been easy, but I could be a lot worse off.
My first proper team was the Elphinstone Junior School and I also captained South East Sussex District team, and played for them in either a central defensive or midfield role. Looking at my career now, it’s all come full circle.
Funnily enough, round about that time I had a choice to make. Not only was I into football but a boxing career could have unfolded. I was not bad but had basically raw energy. I hadn’t been professionally trained but I was considered good enough for a competitive bout. Boy did I get a shock. My opponent was a lad called Ronnie Finch, whom I still have contacts with today. Supposedly Ronnie had only just starting boxing as well and was as raw as me. Well, he gave me a right good hiding, and I found out afterwards that he had been boxing for years and it obviously showed. So, Ronnie if you are looking in....that black eye took ages to heal! I owe you one!
Hastings Grammar School was my next port of call, football wise, and it soon became known as the William Parker Comprehensive and this led me to play for and captain Sussex County District team U19’s at the ripe old age of 16. I was probably about the youngest player in the team and first to captain them at such a young age.
Winning my place in the team stemmed from a determination to rise to any challenge that was presented. Ironically the current starlet of Aston Villa Gareth Barry also went to William Parker Comprehensive.
I really enjoyed my time at school, especially football wise, and still keep in touch with the school. Hopefully I’ll soon be receiving my full school colours, albeit a little bit late. The reason I didn’t get them at the time was that I was a full-blown skinhead with no hair and captaining Sussex U19’s. The school felt the style wasn’t fitting with the its image and the headmaster at the time George Henshall, who I still keep in touch with and respect (even though he gave me the cane on a couple of occasions), felt the school couldn’t give me them.
My dad even wrote to him to get him to change his mind saying what I looked like did not affect my achievement for the school, but he still didn’t budge! Since then due to the effort of various teachers the school has invited me back to receive them – hopefully George can present them even though he has now retired. Mind you, my hair hasn’t really changed a lot since then so I better not visit the barbers before I go!
This season - Thinking back to my younger days and playing football seems appropriate at the moment since we have so many injuries and young lads being involved with the first team.
On the injury front having so many games in quick succession in the last few weeks has taken its toll on the lads. Niggles turn into more serious knocks and people need time to recover and rest. You have to give credit to those players that have gone in the team and done a tremendous job for the club.
The games against Everton, Sheffield and Luton were important games for the lads and what tremendous results they were. There really is a strong spirit in and around the club and the players can sense this from the terraces when we play.
The fans play a major part in this with their support for the lads, which was evident yet again at Everton and Sheffield with over 5,000 cheering the players right through.
Talking of the match at Everton I couldn’t personally travel due to my injury, which I picked up against Grimsby, but listened to the radio and was in the bath with my walkman on when it went to ET and then penalties. By the time it was over the bath was cold and my wife told me off for shouting at the end and waking up my son Luke to tell him we’d won on penalties. I could hear the cheering from the fans on the radio and it must have been tremendous for the lads. It was also great to see Clarkie back in action and a debut for Michael Proctor who I feel could have a tremendous future ahead of him.
Most of you will be aware that I was born in Hastings in 1964 and from an early age was a football fanatic. I supported Arsenal as a boy, a legacy from my father, although in 1972 I changed to supporting Leeds when they beat Arsenal in the FA cup Final (so is it true that kids only support winning teams!).
I guess the first question everyone will ask is can I remember 1973? To be honest I can’t, although it is ironic that having changed to the all whites they should be beaten by my current club the very next year.
Anyway, Leeds and Arsenal were the teams we supported in my household when Match of the Day came on. Saturday night was always a special family occasion. I remember my mum and dad giving me money to go to the chip shop for our suppers so we could watch the late night football, and it became a family ritual. When they were flush, I also got a sausage if I was lucky!
Funnily enough as Brighton was just down the road my friend’s dad sometimes took us to the Goldstone Ground, and my first unhappy experience of football hooliganism came in a match against Crystal Palace. Dodging the bricks was a life saving skill that day!
Whilst I have always been a fan, it is the playing side of things that have given me a good life. It’s been hard at times, things haven’t been easy, but I could be a lot worse off.
My first proper team was the Elphinstone Junior School and I also captained South East Sussex District team, and played for them in either a central defensive or midfield role. Looking at my career now, it’s all come full circle.
Funnily enough, round about that time I had a choice to make. Not only was I into football but a boxing career could have unfolded. I was not bad but had basically raw energy. I hadn’t been professionally trained but I was considered good enough for a competitive bout. Boy did I get a shock. My opponent was a lad called Ronnie Finch, whom I still have contacts with today. Supposedly Ronnie had only just starting boxing as well and was as raw as me. Well, he gave me a right good hiding, and I found out afterwards that he had been boxing for years and it obviously showed. So, Ronnie if you are looking in....that black eye took ages to heal! I owe you one!
Hastings Grammar School was my next port of call, football wise, and it soon became known as the William Parker Comprehensive and this led me to play for and captain Sussex County District team U19’s at the ripe old age of 16. I was probably about the youngest player in the team and first to captain them at such a young age.
Winning my place in the team stemmed from a determination to rise to any challenge that was presented. Ironically the current starlet of Aston Villa Gareth Barry also went to William Parker Comprehensive.
I really enjoyed my time at school, especially football wise, and still keep in touch with the school. Hopefully I’ll soon be receiving my full school colours, albeit a little bit late. The reason I didn’t get them at the time was that I was a full-blown skinhead with no hair and captaining Sussex U19’s. The school felt the style wasn’t fitting with the its image and the headmaster at the time George Henshall, who I still keep in touch with and respect (even though he gave me the cane on a couple of occasions), felt the school couldn’t give me them.
My dad even wrote to him to get him to change his mind saying what I looked like did not affect my achievement for the school, but he still didn’t budge! Since then due to the effort of various teachers the school has invited me back to receive them – hopefully George can present them even though he has now retired. Mind you, my hair hasn’t really changed a lot since then so I better not visit the barbers before I go!
This season - Thinking back to my younger days and playing football seems appropriate at the moment since we have so many injuries and young lads being involved with the first team.
On the injury front having so many games in quick succession in the last few weeks has taken its toll on the lads. Niggles turn into more serious knocks and people need time to recover and rest. You have to give credit to those players that have gone in the team and done a tremendous job for the club.
The games against Everton, Sheffield and Luton were important games for the lads and what tremendous results they were. There really is a strong spirit in and around the club and the players can sense this from the terraces when we play.
The fans play a major part in this with their support for the lads, which was evident yet again at Everton and Sheffield with over 5,000 cheering the players right through.
Talking of the match at Everton I couldn’t personally travel due to my injury, which I picked up against Grimsby, but listened to the radio and was in the bath with my walkman on when it went to ET and then penalties. By the time it was over the bath was cold and my wife told me off for shouting at the end and waking up my son Luke to tell him we’d won on penalties. I could hear the cheering from the fans on the radio and it must have been tremendous for the lads. It was also great to see Clarkie back in action and a debut for Michael Proctor who I feel could have a tremendous future ahead of him.
