The Gaffer gives his first interview for four years with the HRFC Programme, this is what he had to say on Nick Wale, Dave Morren and Gouderak,
OMH: Hi Gaffer, How are You?
GW: Not too bad, thank you.
OMH: Did you have a nice holiday?
GW: Yes, lovely thanks, apart from the flies.
OMH: You haven’t been interviewed for four years now does that feel a bit strange to be grilled by On My Head(stone) now?
GW: Yes, but you’ve had too many other interesting people, to interview rather than me, I’m too busy coaching and globetrotting looking for new and exciting players.
OMH: How did it feel to come back and hear that we had lost our opening two league games?
GW: Disappointed, I must admit although Dave told me that we should have certainly got something out of the first game. John Lewis who refereed the second game felt we deserved to get at least a point in that match.
OMH: You wouldn’t blame Dave’s Management? (Said jokingly)
GW: Certainly not, its down to you players.
OMH: What are your aims and ambitions for the season?
GW: I would like to finish mid-table I think, as the last time that we were in Division One we came straight back down, yeah, I just guess holding our own.
OMH: Have you got a message to the players regarding the size of the squad?
GW: Yes, but this week is not the best example as we are down to the bare 13 or 14, but the size of the squad when Gary is back is 22, and when everybody is around, we are going to have to leave about eight players out every single week. I am just appealing to players to be understanding and realise that we don’t favour anybody or we try not to. We just want people to realise that it’s a difficult job.
OMH: At the 2003 Awards Night you gave Dave Reynolds a special award, can you explain why you did this?
GW: Well Dave has been my assistant since our very first game, and he does a hell of a lot of work behind the scenes that a lot of people don’t know about, i.e. booking training facilities, standing in for me when I’m not around, generally doing the coaching side. It was just a personal thank you from me but it came from the club rather than me.
OMH: What’s your proudest moment as manager, it could be a game, an incident, a tour, whatever takes your fancy?
GW: That’s a difficult one really, being that my memory is not that great (bursts out laughing!!!). Perhaps our performance against Bessborough in the cup. No tell a lie, our 2-1 win against CB Hounslow in January 2000, when we travelled to Isleworth after losing at home 5-0, but we dug deep and played exceptionally well. We competed against them and they are a very strong outfit. They’ve got a Saturday side as well.
OMH: There Saturday team is currently top of the Middlesex County Football League.
GW: That says it all really, they are very strong Sunday’s they have now move back into the Hayes League. But I think that was one of our finest performances. Also last year’s tour, going back to Gouderak for the second time and to be greeted the way we were they were obviously very pleased to have us back there. We must have made a good impression for English Football.
OMH: Nick Wale returning to the club, what extra qualities will he bring to us after a season with Bessborough?
GW: It’s well known what my feelings are on Nick’s ability, he is a left sided player anyway, which when we’ve got Gary back we’ll have four or five natural left sided players. His strongest asset is to run at people especially when he gets fit, he’s carrying a bit too much weight at the moment for my liking. I’ll have to have a word with his parents and see what they’re feeding him. On a serious note he left us as he perhaps wanted to play at a higher level in our league, we never fell out over it. He left his options open and he just wanted to come back, I spoke to Dave about it briefly and we both thought even though it added an extra player to the squad we felt it was the right thing to do.
OMH: The big topic of the week, why did you allow Dave Morren, to take not one, but TWO penalties?
GW: I wasn’t actually involved in that (fair point, it’s not like you’re the manager ED.) being that I was running the line first half and watching for the second half. But I never had any say in it.
OMH: Who would you like to see take the penalties? (pressing for an answer)
GW: I’m trying to think who took them in the past and missed, so I can disregard them.
OMH: Funny you should say that as there is a article on HRFC penalty misses in this weeks programme.
GW: Really? (As he checks his watch, looking bored, waiting for Open All Hours to start). I didn’t watch the first penalty, I had my back to it. Not because it was Dave Morren taking it. Well the second penalty Dave just assumed he was taking it. I haven’t really got a ruling on it I think this decision is best left for those on the field to sort it out.
OMH: So does this mean you are taking Dave Morren off penalties? (begging for an answer)
GW: Well I think its wrong for a player to assume he does everything, I’m not just pointing the finger at Dave. But I think its wrong because they think they’re the best dead ball kicker, long throw or whatever. It’s really down to the situation at the time you don’t always have to throw the ball long. You should pick the ball up quick and get the game going. Paul Jarvis takes a very cool penalty, it’s up really to the captain to sort out.
OMH: Gaffer thanks very much for your team, you are a legend!
GW: Thanks very much for the interview.