Spurious Logic

It always starts with a call.

“Hello?”

A bluff voice booms out of the handset. “Eoin me old mate, I hear you’re doing great things with that local team of yours”

“Um.. Thanks? I’m… I’m sorry, who is this?” (more…)

Two flights, 12 hour in the air, one confused call the the club secretary from the arrivals hall in Athens International Airport and I finally arrive at Croft Park, Northumberland. Bottles of cheap ouzo clink in the airport duty free bags as I shuffle up to the club reception. A small group of staff are gathered with a limp banner emblazoned with “Welcome To Blyth Spartans Eion Murphy”. (more…)

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What inspires a man* to get involved in football? For the players there’s the money, lifestyle and the permission to play a game and call it a career. For successful managers and coaches theres the achievement of managing a squad, the plaudits of your peers and of course, the money from transfer backhanders.

But what about those other guys. The ones who show up week after week, for little to no pay and nothing but constant reminders of their own adequacy. Maybe it’s a love of the game, desire to contribute to the local community and foster a collective spirit. Or maybe they just can’t meet people any other way. I don’t know. (more…)

The dressing room door is a plain brown door decorated by a white sign with black lettering reading “Home”. It’s scuffed and scraped from hundreds of careless passers by brushing against it. It swings loosely and quietly when I push it inwards.

The hubbub inside quietens down as I walk in. (more…)

“ALAN, get in here!”

There’s the rapid squeaking of trainers on a linoleum floor as Alan Davies, my assistant manager, tries to hurry to my office without spilling either mug of tea he’s carrying. (more…)

nerves

Some people are drawn from cool iron. Calmly facing every trial life throws at them. No worrying for them. No night sweats, 03:15 wake ups and staring at the ceiling. No wondering if this plan to clog the centre of the park with blockers and set the fullbacks to sweep forward down the flanks will actually work. No shameful rushes to the toilet because that breakfast was never going to last until the match.

Some people.

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Alan, when were you going to mention him to me? It’s not like he’s not noticeable.  I mean, at 6’7″ why haven’t I spotted him before? Does he spend the whole time I’m around sitting down or something? I nearly had a heart attack when he loped onto the training pitch. You know when I say “I’d really like to get a good tall target man to allow us to vary our play” did you not think to mention him to me? (more…)