Only saw you once in a pub some years back Danepak and then only very briefly...........we didn't actually speak to each other. You are certainly a very big bloke and I'd have thought you'd have made a really decent keeper with the right training.
I started playing again at 19 chugged around at centre back Sundays only won 4 promotions then held our own i'n the Rochester div 1 but it was more about playing your mates had the same team for virtually 8 years then it fell apart. Still have a kick around on a Sunday for a team if I get out of bed or am not away
A long career of mediocrity, but lucky enough to play in some good sides. Best year I had was Sundays with Cray Harrier, play centre mid and centre back, scored something like 8 in 24 that season (at least half from headers/corners, only side I've ever played for that actually did corner routines in training). At the end of the season it was off to Leeds with CIFC and we won world net. It's been down hill ever since, and apart from friendly 5-a-side on a Thursday I've hung up my boots. Played for Meopham Reserves the last 2 years on a Saturday, but last season I missed half the year with Achilles problems, body just can't take playing on Thursday and then Saturday any more.
Decent as a youngster, was lucky enough to play for teams that won everything from 10 years old up to turning 17, probably could have got a decent non league level if I kept at it, but badly faded as an adult. Kind of fell out if love with playing at about 17.
Did a full pre season and friendlies with Thamesmead Town, got punched off the ball by someone old enough to be my dad and nearly had my leg broken down somewhere like Deal, and thought can't really be bothered with this. By then mates had started going Charlton and getting in pubs before hand and that.sounded more appealing. Kind of regret it now, but.my heart wasn't in playing seriously.
Gradually got worse through my 20s. Run a club in the Kent Surburban for about16 years till last summer. Stopped playing regularly at 27 after a couple of knee ops, and played half a dozen times in the last 8 years. Haven't really enjoyed any of them.
Was in the same year as AFKA. Two years in a row they beat us in the LYFA cup semi finals quite convincingly. Played for Kent Schools, London Youth FA, Millwall (from 15 to 17), Aberystwyth Town (Welsh Konica League), Welsh Universities, Old Roan (Kent County Premiere). Always was better with my head than my feet and chose 5 A levels over any potential career as simply, never believed I was good enough to make it.
was decent. played for Phoenix Sports & Charlton when i was younger. Then played a bit of reserve football for VCD & Erith & Belvedere, Was then top scorer in Kent Youth U18 for Dartford. Played a few games for their first team under Tommy Sampson including my debut which was a 5-0 hammering away at Histon. Had an American University coach come watch me that game and was offered a Scholarship which i took. Played 3 seasons out in Pittsburgh (Slippery Rock University...yes that is real) at NCAA II level, won the Pennsylvania state championship for only the second time in the schools 72 year history and finished top scorer and went to Nationals but got knocked out by New York Tech. Came back and played for Phoenix in the Kent League but havent played now for 2 seasons as i tore my cruciate ligament. just on way back to fitness now but will play as a right back from now on, which has prob always been my best position. My brother now manages Phoenix 1st team, so he might pick me when fit!
I was rubbish! Last one picked when we played football during PE.
Not easily put off, I played 5-a-side for a few years just for fun, but decided I should stop when a friend picked up an injury and I realised that if that happened to me I'd be in big trouble as I was freelance (no sick pay!). About that time I discovered Badminton which I loved playing but I haven't played that since 2007 - just a lazy old git these days.
I'm embarrassed when other lifers say "if you'd played football at any level you'd know..." coz I didn't, so I don't. Love watching Charlton in my own simple way though. Used to love watching England, but there is only so much you can take.
Rubbish. I'm a girl, but the only people my age in my estate were all boys (brother's mates) so I played with them. Being a girl meant I was usually in goal, which was mental as I was the smallest there and also one of the fastest. Went to football training at Red Lions club in Bermondsey but knocked myself out on the first day and my mum wouldn't allow me back.
Could've been a contender. (Not really, I'm short, even for a woman!)
Pretty good - won London Schools Cup final at Millwall 3-1 with Eaglesfield U14, scored hat-trick, didn't get spotted - went to Gozo (Malta) at age 23 and got paid playing footy for 2 years...loved it - came back and played decent Spartan league level with Old Roan for a good few years
My problem was lack of real pace, but could score a goal
Had trials at Charlton when I was about 11 with a guy called Paul Burt. He made it through into the academy, I didn't. He was in the same youth team and released at the same time as Danny Haynes.
Did you play for an Ashford team at all?
High Halden. Didn't fancy any of the Ashford sides.
I play for Baldons, based in Eltham play left back for them although I'm two footed. Orpington & Bromley District Sunday League. We play in a Millwall kit :I
Played for school team usually stepped up a year, totally left footed so was at an advantage in the respect that there were not too many around! Played for Kidderminster and district boys (with Paul 'Ocker' Davies....prolific for Kidderminster Harriers 307 goals in 656 games), county triallist, Areley Kings Youth and played at University. Had a couple of seasons with Highgate Albion before John Fashanu got involved with them. I pursued a career in pharmacy, Emeka Nwajiobi played professionally for Luton and then did same....he did what I would have loved to have done, hey ho!
I remember writing to Villa and WBA for a trial in the 70s, got a polite rejection in both cases, at least they had the courtesy to reply!
I went to a rugby playing school, albeit the school was in Stepney, and played football on sundays, rugby on saturdays for a long time. I was a decent rugby player, played for Eastern Counties as a schoolboy and Gloucestershire Colts as a 'junior', but, football wise, as Tommy Docherty said of Sir Alex Ferguson .. I had everything a footballer needed .. except talent.
Some days good, most days shocking. In late '70's early '80's played for Erith school first team. Played for Wasps then Kestrels. In 1980 we did a short tour of Belgium and Holland played against Rotterdam Under 18's? Rumour went around that we were Notts Forest youth team, they were the biggest team at the time. Nearly 2,000 people turned up, so I am told. We wern't Forest but we won?? Highlights were the LYFA Cup final we played against a team (?) that had a bloke called Paul Walsh playing for them, I marked him out the game, We lost 2-0 but I got MOM. I have never got tired of telling people this! Walsh presented our end of season trophies a couple of years later. Played down in darkest Kent until snapped ankle 5 years ago, played my final game at the Valley for Charlton in the Football Aid game 3 years ago. The End.
I was very ordinary as a young 'un played for Peacehaven and Saltdean in Sussex football (probably against Granpa who started this thread) then I went to Uni, after which playing football became an afterthought
Then broke my leg and ruptured my achilles - which didnt help at all.
Didnt play at all for 10 years and then founded CIFC with Charlton Charlie, which was a lot of fun while it lasted.
Still play over here, but given that the outdoor season is so short - its mostly indoor stuff which is great but exhausting at my advanced age.....
Played left back for school and district. Sunday team played in Echo premier league. Played regularaly against the likes of Senrabs Lee Bowyer and Ridgeway rovers D.Beckham. Got picked up by Colchester Utd where I stayed for two years.My old man found it hard working long shifts and ferrying me all around the southeast so I had to give it up. Shame really. Now play five a side with some vets and can be seen blowing out my arse after about six minutes!
So good I've been made captain of the club I play with (I'm quite possible the worst candidate ever as a captain) and also named player of the year so far. It's not a great league in all honesty and have no idea how the league i'm in would compare to that over in Engerland. I'd probably do alright in a typical pub league side. Play as fullback, im prettty bad going forward but little gets past me and im as solid as big block of cement and as reliable as a Honda
i was told i was quite good played in a team who got promoted from div 5 to div 2, 2 champions and 1 runner up, in southampton tyro league ( age 12-16 ) then that team folded and went downhill from there playing for crap teams and getting rather large! i had trials for southampton school boys and the all star tyro team to go abroad and play...however my school behaviour let me down for the school boys and the other trial they were all greedy to impress where as i liked to the pass the ball instead...really miss playing to be honest!
Two words, Crap Hilarious: probably those two words the other way round.
Love it when someone idolises Chuck Najobi's career. Not that I'm sniffing at his career, just love the random things you can come across on discussions like this. Quality.
Played for Old Sedcopians stiffs (Old Boys League) from 1973 - 1985 at right back. Loved every minute of it. We used to travel all over the place, Reigate, Dorking, Kenley etc. (mostly pre M25). The laughs we had, the camaraderie. Most seasons our home ground was at Hall Place. After match drinks were at the Black Horse in Albert Road, Bexley or The Bull Chislehurst. Still miss those days. Happy, happy times. Scored once in 12 years (1980) and a mate got me a mention in the local paper!
Played for schools Blackfen & Hurstmere. Played for North Kent ( Steve Avory was my coach at school and NK) Played Sunday morning junior football for local teams, St Thomas More, Camden United and Parkmere. At Camden I played in the same team as future Pro's david Hillier - Arsenal, Paul Kelly - West Ham and Mark Fiore - wimbledon & Plymouth. Turned down trials at Charlton when I was 15 just as well really as I ruptured my ACL playing cricket when I was 16 so had to give up football. I was a decent enough player - righ/centre back or a forward for Parkmere.
was never any good at football. Wasn't the worst at school but was no where near the best either. Always been a water carrier midfielder, creating space and spraying passes around - to this day in a kick around in the park i amaze myself on some of the long cross field passes i make. Don't think I've ever taken the ball round some one.
Seem to remember my ability got better after i started watching charlton more regularly and built my work rate and style on scott parker, lost interest in playing football after he left.
Cricket was more my thing, made the district side and went to the area trials after one particularly good season but by then my form had tailed off and i was obviously out my depth
I still have playing days left in me as I'm only 15 but so far my history is (I'm a keeper or can play anywhere in defense, a bit like Matt Taylor):
Marvels Lane (now folded): I won managers player of the season.
Kids First: We won the league and Bexley cup and went undefeated all season.
Had a trail at Charlton for keeper but Didn't make it in. : (
Lewisham Youth: Decent first season but next season I broke my leg (still played for the full match) and I was out for 6 months. It wasn't helped by the fact our manager kept turning up Hungover for training so next season we finished Bottom and I left.
I play for the School team occasionally but I'm more of a sub/squad player.
I'm currently training with Athenlay Rye so who know's where I may end up.
I would describe myself as an old fashioned type of footballer who loves a tackle and has a decent right foot, the less said about my dribbling/skills the better.
generally useless. traded on my pace down the left side for a few years at primary school. played rugby at secondary school (where I traded on my pace down the left side for a few years).
played a few games at college for one of our many teams. turned out for cifc a few times. Not played anything other than 5-a-side for a few years. pretty good with a free kick (in my head anyway) and absolutely awful in the air.
Comments
I was quite unfit back then. Improved a lot these days.
Still not fast but an improvement on running in tar as I was...
Not easily put off, I played 5-a-side for a few years just for fun, but decided I should stop when a friend picked up an injury and I realised that if that happened to me I'd be in big trouble as I was freelance (no sick pay!). About that time I discovered Badminton which I loved playing but I haven't played that since 2007 - just a lazy old git these days.
I'm embarrassed when other lifers say "if you'd played football at any level you'd know..." coz I didn't, so I don't. Love watching Charlton in my own simple way though. Used to love watching England, but there is only so much you can take.
I'm a girl, but the only people my age in my estate were all boys (brother's mates) so I played with them.
Being a girl meant I was usually in goal, which was mental as I was the smallest there and also one of the fastest.
Went to football training at Red Lions club in Bermondsey but knocked myself out on the first day and my mum wouldn't allow me back.
Could've been a contender.
(Not really, I'm short, even for a woman!)
- won London Schools Cup final at Millwall 3-1 with Eaglesfield U14, scored hat-trick, didn't get spotted
- went to Gozo (Malta) at age 23 and got paid playing footy for 2 years...loved it
- came back and played decent Spartan league level with Old Roan for a good few years
My problem was lack of real pace, but could score a goal
If I'd had any talent that is.
I remember writing to Villa and WBA for a trial in the 70s, got a polite rejection in both cases, at least they had the courtesy to reply!
In late '70's early '80's played for Erith school first team.
Played for Wasps then Kestrels. In 1980 we did a short tour of Belgium and Holland played against Rotterdam Under 18's? Rumour went around that we were Notts Forest youth team, they were the biggest team at the time. Nearly 2,000 people turned up, so I am told. We wern't Forest but we won?? Highlights were the LYFA Cup final we played against a team (?) that had a bloke called Paul Walsh playing for them, I marked him out the game, We lost 2-0 but I got MOM. I have never got tired of telling people this! Walsh presented our end of season trophies a couple of years later.
Played down in darkest Kent until snapped ankle 5 years ago, played my final game at the Valley for Charlton in the Football Aid game 3 years ago. The End.
Then broke my leg and ruptured my achilles - which didnt help at all.
Didnt play at all for 10 years and then founded CIFC with Charlton Charlie, which was a lot of fun while it lasted.
Still play over here, but given that the outdoor season is so short - its mostly indoor stuff which is great but exhausting at my advanced age.....
Love it when someone idolises Chuck Najobi's career. Not that I'm sniffing at his career, just love the random things you can come across on discussions like this. Quality.
Gave up completely after got rejeected by all!
Seem to remember my ability got better after i started watching charlton more regularly and built my work rate and style on scott parker, lost interest in playing football after he left.
Cricket was more my thing, made the district side and went to the area trials after one particularly good season but by then my form had tailed off and i was obviously out my depth
Marvels Lane (now folded): I won managers player of the season.
Kids First: We won the league and Bexley cup and went undefeated all season.
Had a trail at Charlton for keeper but Didn't make it in. : (
Lewisham Youth: Decent first season but next season I broke my leg (still played for the full match) and I was out for 6 months. It wasn't helped by the fact our manager kept turning up Hungover for training so next season we finished Bottom and I left.
I play for the School team occasionally but I'm more of a sub/squad player.
I'm currently training with Athenlay Rye so who know's where I may end up.
I would describe myself as an old fashioned type of footballer who loves a tackle and has a decent right foot, the less said about my dribbling/skills the better.
traded on my pace down the left side for a few years at primary school. played rugby at secondary school (where I traded on my pace down the left side for a few years).
played a few games at college for one of our many teams. turned out for cifc a few times. Not played anything other than 5-a-side for a few years. pretty good with a free kick (in my head anyway) and absolutely awful in the air.