Post by bigfudge on Aug 7, 2014 12:47:59 GMT
As I'm sure you all notice, since Ryan McKnight let me down with an interview at the back end of last season, I've not had any interviews for a while. I'm hoping with a couple more people at the club that I know I'll be able to start getting a few more, however I'm also going to be requesting interviews with the real life blood of the club in the next few weeks, the fans.
First of all, I'd like to thank, our favourite technical admin, Gazza007 for agreeing to be the first interviewee!
Obviously my interviews have always been with players both current and former but I've since decided to branch out to interview the real life blood of the club, the fans and where better to start than our very own wonderful online community. How do you see message boards in regards to a football team, as a help or a hindrance?
There are pros and cons with all message boards, and while there have been some negatives, in the main I think they're a vital platform for fans. There are the odd times when I do think we were better off back in the old days when all we heard was 'terrace talk', because we treated it as such and just got on with supporting County regardless of how badly we were doing on the pitch. The main problem for us is that with the club in the position it's in at the moment rumours are not so easy to dismiss, because we're all so desperate for good news we've been willing to cling on to any old nonsense, I've been guilty of that myself in the past.
Thankfully, this forum is a great platform for County fans from all corners of the globe to come together and share their opinions, hopes, fears and frustrations with other like-minded County fans.
Obviously you're a County fan, so I'll start with the cliche question. What was your first County match and was it your first ever football match?
My first County game was also my first ever football match. The game was on a Friday night against York City in the 1977/78 season, I remember sitting in the old Cheadle End and we won 2-0, but I couldn't tell you much else about the game itself. Being at a game with my Dad under those floodlights, with men smoking and swearing around me was more of a buzz to me than the actual match!
Did you know there and then that you wanted to be a County fan for life or did you go through 'the phase' of supporting a different team as well?
We all say we knew it was for life back then but I was only a kid, and I didn't look beyond the next minute, let alone 'for life'. Before that game my head had been turned by Man City, so I followed them as well as County for a few years as a kid until it finally wore off and I just wanted to go to County. My Dad is a lifelong City fan so I always wanted to go to games with him, but he was too tight to take me, so I have my Dad to thank for getting me into County. Had he started taking me to Maine Road instead who knows what would have happened, but the glow of those Edgeley Park floodlights, the closeness of the pitch to the stands and those swearing grown-ups around me changed all that!
With the advent of televised and streamed football it's getting more and more common for people to have 'second' teams, do you have a 'second' team and what are your thoughts on the concept in general?
I can't rubbish it because as I have already said, I used to follow County and City when I was a kid. Looking back it makes me feel ashamed to be honest, but when I look back at us showing them their ar*es at Maine Road and EP it more than makes up for it! The only real second team of sorts that I have are Hearts north of the border, because my brother was a season ticket holder up there until he moved out of Edinburgh, so I still look out for their results. They've had a bad time of it in recent years, culminating in the club being relegated to the Scottish Championship last season. However, after going into and exiting administration, the 'departure' of Vladimir Romanov and a successful takeover of the club with no small part being played by their fans, the future looks a little brighter for the Jambos.
Whilst of course we don't discuss age on CH, it's been mentioned that you were around for the Danny Bergara years and therefore you've seen some of the greatest ever players to pull on the blue and white shirt. Who would rank up there as the greatest ever player you've seen?
I've seen many, but Kevin Francis is the main man for me, and he is also my favourite footballer of all time too. Some will (rightly) argue Flynny's case for that mantle, and I admit it's a close one, but Danny started that great era, and nobody epitomised it like Kev. I saw him right from beginning to end at County, and the work he put in to improve himself was there for all to see, there can be no better example to young kids coming into the game of the benefits of hard work and dedication. Never mind just football, he's my biggest sporting hero, simple as that.
During the lofty years of Wembley and Division One we also played a high quality of opponents, who is the best player you've ever seen play against County?
Although he wasn't at his peak, Paul Gascoigne. He may have been a shadow of the player he was, but the guy was a genius in his prime, and it was so unreal to see him play at EP! He was also very complimentary about County and the set up we had back then.
Since the 80's County's rivalries have changed with the time, fans of the younger generation may see the likes of Macclesfield as our big rivals, my mid 20s generation of course see Man City in that light etc. who do you see as your most hated team?
I can't stand either Manc club, and I will never forgive Burnley for the way they conned us out of that 1994 Play-off final. Not to mention the racist chanting they subjected Kev to at Turf Moor in the Autoglass Trophy Northern Final first leg in '92. They had John Francis and Roger Eli playing for them that night too, I will never be able to get my head around their multi-level ignorance that night, but Kev shoved it right up 'em when he grabbed the only goal of the game. That was the measure of the man!
If you could pick any County players in their prime to make up a County dream XI (plus Manager!) who would you pick using the standard 4-4-2 formation?
Bloody hell, you said you wouldn't ask me any awkward questions! Ok, here goes, but this will probably change a few hours after I've written it!
Paul Jones (Neil is my favourite ever County 'keeper, but Jonesy went on to play in the top-flight)
Sean Connelly - Mike Flynn - Martin McIntosh - Lee Todd
Jim Gannon - Tom Bennett - Chris Marsden - Kevin Cooper
(A bit unbalanced on the right, but Jim could play there when asked to and I couldn't leave out Jim or Tom)
Kevin Francis - Micky Quinn
Manager: Danny Bergara
Do you see any of the current squad ever being considered a County 'legend' even if it is just relative to our current standings?
I couldn't possibly answer that question right now, ask me in two years' time.
If you could meet a young lad (or lady!) at a crossroads in their life about whether to support their hometown heroes or lend his allegiances to the Mancs. What argument would you make for supporting County?
There isn't one I could use that would convince me, so how could I expect it to convince others? I go because I love the club. I'd simply take them to a night game, if they don't come back after that then County isn't for them, it either grabs you or it doesn't.
Going back to Heaven now, you obviously helped me get the 3rd generation of CH off the ground and you never stopped tinkering with the place since, do you believe you'll ever be truly happy with the place?
Are you trying to tell me something?
Seriously though, no. I'm never totally happy with anything I get involved in, it's what keeps me trying to make it better.
You've also been involved with a number of projects on CH, illustrations for our literature, designs for the site and of course a multitude of general design projects that make us laugh and admire, of all of these which of your achievements are you most proud of?
I appreciate your kind words, but most of my images are just me being daft. More often than not they seemed funnier in my head, and I know some of you will have been left thinking ..
.. but that's ok, I'm the first to admit that I talk a lot of sh*te, most of which is incredibly random!
I enjoy being able to make a contribution though, and if people like what I'm doing then that's obviously a bonus.
Is there anything you've ever done on Heaven that you really wish you could take back, that simply makes you cringe just thinking about it?
All the silly arguments I've had over the years, particularly with Downy. He really is a good bloke, and he's just as frustrated a County fan as the rest of us.
We'll end the interview with a few light-hearted questions now...
You have any 5 Heaveners over for a meal, who do you invite and why?
Only 5? Nah, b*ll*cks to that! I'll hire a marquee that we can all fit in, and the Home Run Pizzas are on me, I'd need help raising the cash to pay for Downy and Jarkko's flights though!
You have to hire one of us to be your body guard, who do you choose and why?
You, because you're built like an old outside toilet and you play Ice Hockey! (Thanks! ...I think! - ed)
You have to trade places with one of us for a whole week, who and why?
Downy, because he lives in Australia, but not because of my own desire to go there. It's because I know he'd really appreciate a week back home to visit his family & friends, see a County game & grab a pint with some of you guys!
Many thanks to Gazza for doing this interview, it gives us a small view into the County fan career (or sentence!) of one of our members, I hope to speak to a few of you over the coming weeks so I will be getting in touch via PM with some of you.
Hope you enjoyed it!
First of all, I'd like to thank, our favourite technical admin, Gazza007 for agreeing to be the first interviewee!
Obviously my interviews have always been with players both current and former but I've since decided to branch out to interview the real life blood of the club, the fans and where better to start than our very own wonderful online community. How do you see message boards in regards to a football team, as a help or a hindrance?
There are pros and cons with all message boards, and while there have been some negatives, in the main I think they're a vital platform for fans. There are the odd times when I do think we were better off back in the old days when all we heard was 'terrace talk', because we treated it as such and just got on with supporting County regardless of how badly we were doing on the pitch. The main problem for us is that with the club in the position it's in at the moment rumours are not so easy to dismiss, because we're all so desperate for good news we've been willing to cling on to any old nonsense, I've been guilty of that myself in the past.
Thankfully, this forum is a great platform for County fans from all corners of the globe to come together and share their opinions, hopes, fears and frustrations with other like-minded County fans.
Obviously you're a County fan, so I'll start with the cliche question. What was your first County match and was it your first ever football match?
My first County game was also my first ever football match. The game was on a Friday night against York City in the 1977/78 season, I remember sitting in the old Cheadle End and we won 2-0, but I couldn't tell you much else about the game itself. Being at a game with my Dad under those floodlights, with men smoking and swearing around me was more of a buzz to me than the actual match!
Did you know there and then that you wanted to be a County fan for life or did you go through 'the phase' of supporting a different team as well?
We all say we knew it was for life back then but I was only a kid, and I didn't look beyond the next minute, let alone 'for life'. Before that game my head had been turned by Man City, so I followed them as well as County for a few years as a kid until it finally wore off and I just wanted to go to County. My Dad is a lifelong City fan so I always wanted to go to games with him, but he was too tight to take me, so I have my Dad to thank for getting me into County. Had he started taking me to Maine Road instead who knows what would have happened, but the glow of those Edgeley Park floodlights, the closeness of the pitch to the stands and those swearing grown-ups around me changed all that!
With the advent of televised and streamed football it's getting more and more common for people to have 'second' teams, do you have a 'second' team and what are your thoughts on the concept in general?
I can't rubbish it because as I have already said, I used to follow County and City when I was a kid. Looking back it makes me feel ashamed to be honest, but when I look back at us showing them their ar*es at Maine Road and EP it more than makes up for it! The only real second team of sorts that I have are Hearts north of the border, because my brother was a season ticket holder up there until he moved out of Edinburgh, so I still look out for their results. They've had a bad time of it in recent years, culminating in the club being relegated to the Scottish Championship last season. However, after going into and exiting administration, the 'departure' of Vladimir Romanov and a successful takeover of the club with no small part being played by their fans, the future looks a little brighter for the Jambos.
Whilst of course we don't discuss age on CH, it's been mentioned that you were around for the Danny Bergara years and therefore you've seen some of the greatest ever players to pull on the blue and white shirt. Who would rank up there as the greatest ever player you've seen?
I've seen many, but Kevin Francis is the main man for me, and he is also my favourite footballer of all time too. Some will (rightly) argue Flynny's case for that mantle, and I admit it's a close one, but Danny started that great era, and nobody epitomised it like Kev. I saw him right from beginning to end at County, and the work he put in to improve himself was there for all to see, there can be no better example to young kids coming into the game of the benefits of hard work and dedication. Never mind just football, he's my biggest sporting hero, simple as that.
During the lofty years of Wembley and Division One we also played a high quality of opponents, who is the best player you've ever seen play against County?
Although he wasn't at his peak, Paul Gascoigne. He may have been a shadow of the player he was, but the guy was a genius in his prime, and it was so unreal to see him play at EP! He was also very complimentary about County and the set up we had back then.
Since the 80's County's rivalries have changed with the time, fans of the younger generation may see the likes of Macclesfield as our big rivals, my mid 20s generation of course see Man City in that light etc. who do you see as your most hated team?
I can't stand either Manc club, and I will never forgive Burnley for the way they conned us out of that 1994 Play-off final. Not to mention the racist chanting they subjected Kev to at Turf Moor in the Autoglass Trophy Northern Final first leg in '92. They had John Francis and Roger Eli playing for them that night too, I will never be able to get my head around their multi-level ignorance that night, but Kev shoved it right up 'em when he grabbed the only goal of the game. That was the measure of the man!
If you could pick any County players in their prime to make up a County dream XI (plus Manager!) who would you pick using the standard 4-4-2 formation?
Bloody hell, you said you wouldn't ask me any awkward questions! Ok, here goes, but this will probably change a few hours after I've written it!
Paul Jones (Neil is my favourite ever County 'keeper, but Jonesy went on to play in the top-flight)
Sean Connelly - Mike Flynn - Martin McIntosh - Lee Todd
Jim Gannon - Tom Bennett - Chris Marsden - Kevin Cooper
(A bit unbalanced on the right, but Jim could play there when asked to and I couldn't leave out Jim or Tom)
Kevin Francis - Micky Quinn
Manager: Danny Bergara
Do you see any of the current squad ever being considered a County 'legend' even if it is just relative to our current standings?
I couldn't possibly answer that question right now, ask me in two years' time.
If you could meet a young lad (or lady!) at a crossroads in their life about whether to support their hometown heroes or lend his allegiances to the Mancs. What argument would you make for supporting County?
There isn't one I could use that would convince me, so how could I expect it to convince others? I go because I love the club. I'd simply take them to a night game, if they don't come back after that then County isn't for them, it either grabs you or it doesn't.
Going back to Heaven now, you obviously helped me get the 3rd generation of CH off the ground and you never stopped tinkering with the place since, do you believe you'll ever be truly happy with the place?
Are you trying to tell me something?
Seriously though, no. I'm never totally happy with anything I get involved in, it's what keeps me trying to make it better.
You've also been involved with a number of projects on CH, illustrations for our literature, designs for the site and of course a multitude of general design projects that make us laugh and admire, of all of these which of your achievements are you most proud of?
I appreciate your kind words, but most of my images are just me being daft. More often than not they seemed funnier in my head, and I know some of you will have been left thinking ..
.. but that's ok, I'm the first to admit that I talk a lot of sh*te, most of which is incredibly random!
I enjoy being able to make a contribution though, and if people like what I'm doing then that's obviously a bonus.
Is there anything you've ever done on Heaven that you really wish you could take back, that simply makes you cringe just thinking about it?
All the silly arguments I've had over the years, particularly with Downy. He really is a good bloke, and he's just as frustrated a County fan as the rest of us.
We'll end the interview with a few light-hearted questions now...
You have any 5 Heaveners over for a meal, who do you invite and why?
Only 5? Nah, b*ll*cks to that! I'll hire a marquee that we can all fit in, and the Home Run Pizzas are on me, I'd need help raising the cash to pay for Downy and Jarkko's flights though!
You have to hire one of us to be your body guard, who do you choose and why?
You, because you're built like an old outside toilet and you play Ice Hockey! (Thanks! ...I think! - ed)
You have to trade places with one of us for a whole week, who and why?
Downy, because he lives in Australia, but not because of my own desire to go there. It's because I know he'd really appreciate a week back home to visit his family & friends, see a County game & grab a pint with some of you guys!
Many thanks to Gazza for doing this interview, it gives us a small view into the County fan career (or sentence!) of one of our members, I hope to speak to a few of you over the coming weeks so I will be getting in touch via PM with some of you.
Hope you enjoyed it!