Back in the Nineties, I used to call footballers all the time.
Last night, when I was looking for some rock features on my computer, I found some football stuff and remembered that I was always interested in young England, as well as the senior team.
One night I called Manchester City midfielder Garry Flitcroft at his family home before an Under-21 tour and got his sister. She sounded about 14 and had a heavy Manc accent and asked me to call back in an hour, as Garry had gone round to see his girlfriend.
When I spoke to Garry later that evening, he was really enthusiastic. That’s what I remember: How young-sounding and keen he was.
Tabloid news wizard Hugh Southon shared scores of numbers with me. And I gave him some Arsenal numbers, including Lee Dixon’s.
I’d met Hugh at Highbury when he sat next to me in the press box. Met Ian Grant the same way.
One day when Hugh was very busy he said he didn’t have time to phone Billy Bremner, so he asked me to call Billy. The big news that week was the surprising sale of David Batty from Leeds to Blackburn.
( I don’t think the real story behind that transfer has ever become public domain, come to think of it.)
This was the sort of stuff we used to churn out:
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Tottenham’s Darren Anderton first played with his Portsmouth pal Andy Awford in a schoolboy match when they were both 15.
They are now England Under-21 roommates.
I managed to phone Darren at the squad’s St Albans hotel the night before they flew out to Poland.
My first question was : How hard is it to take 11 almost-strangers and blend them into a team?
“It’s not easy, ” he admitted. ” We get about four days together. This week we’ve been doing a bit of ball work, and a little bit of shape. The Holland game was great, going back down to Portsmouth and winning 3-0. It was really good. Mike Sheron played really well, and scored two really good goals. We haven’t tbeen playing with wide men, so I’ve had to play up front. I don’t mind where I play for England, really.I might be up front with Mike, or Andy Cole, who is a very good player, quick and strong. He’s got a lot of attributes. He’s confident, a typical Londoner , really.”
Darren reckons young England’s noisiest personality is Newcastle playmaker Lee Clark. “The step up to the Premier Division will be no problem for Lee,” he predicts. “Lawrie McMenemy just tells us to go out and remember that you’re playing for England, and the three lions. We’ve talked about Poland, they’re a good side, I think they’ve won five out of five and for us to have a chance of going through we’ve got to win there, and in Norway, which will be very difficult.”
Darren is a friendly, modest guy, a reporter’s dream, and it’s easy to forget he was 21 in March.
Our chat was interrupted by bizarre squealing and clapping sounds in the background. “That’s Awf,” said Darren. “He’s a very loud, very silly youngster.”
It was then that I realised they are just kids, and that we shouldn’t expect too much yet. We should give them time to grow up, have some fun, and learn the game.
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Garry Flitcroft, 20 last November, is not complaining about tired legs after a long season.
“I’m raring to go!” says the ultra-versatile Maine Road marvel. “We’ve got eight matches, haven’t we? I’ll have a bit of a break after that.”
Garry played three games for England schools (under 15s) at Wembley, had a comfortable Under-21 baptism when the lads spanked San Marino 6-0, and naturally anticipated a severe test against the Dutch in April.
“We expected a bit more of Holland, really. That day, we played very well, and “Shev” scored two brilliant goals. We totally outplayed them, really. They had a couple of skilful players, but as a team they didn’t play well Rob Jones is good enough to get his senior place back, definitely. Against Holland he was marking a quality player, but he did brilliantly against him. Rob’s got a lot of pace, and he’s a good passer of the ball. I think he’ll get his full England place back soon.”
What does Lawrie McMenemy emphasise before a game?
“Just about playing as team really, shutting people down, keeping the tempo going.”
Garry played in a different position in each of City’s FA Cup games. “Against QPR, it was me and Vonky at centreback. I think the gaffer was a bit worried cos Curley wasn’t playing, but I thought I fitted in quite well. We played against Ferdinand and Bradley Allen . Ferdinand’s powerful and quick, and good in the air, but Vonky played brilliantly against him. Bradley Allen’s got a great touch as well, but they didn’t get a sniff. Then we beat Barnsley, I played right back then, and then we lost against Tottenham, when I was in centre midfield.”
Garry was on loan at Bury last season, came back, and was put straight into the first team squad in the pre-season.
“I’ve been told to get forward more this season, been given a bit more freedom. Linking up with the attack has brought me into the game a lot more,and I’ve scored a couple of goals. Mostly, the gaffer just leaves me to to it, really, although at the beginning of the season he told me my tackling wasn’t up to scratch. So I’ve worked on that.”
In the PFA Awards, who did you vote for?
“Paul McGrath and Ryan Giggs. It hurts some times to vote for a United player, but Ryan’s played really well this season.”
The biggest joker in the squad is Garry’s roommate Mike Sheron, but he insists that the squad contains a wealth of attacking talent as well as “Shev”.
“I played with Lee Clark for England schoolboys. He’s got a lot of skill, and he’s great going forward. He was a very good player, even then. And I’ve played the last two matches with Darren Anderton, who’s got a lot of pace and strength, and good skill. He likes to get it down and play. I was at Lilleshall with Andy Cole – he’s quite a loud personality. Andy’s got a lot of skill, a lot of pace, a very good striker who holds it up well. He’s a cracking player!”
Garry views the England’s jaunts to Poland , Norway and the Toulon tournament (June 6-15th) as a chance to put City’s disappointing season behind him.
“We’ve been inconsistent, ” he admits. “We’ve lost a few games 1-0 when we shouldn’t. But we’ve got a good side. At the beginning of the season we weren’t letting any goals in, and our back four was fine. Then we started getting a few injuries and suspensions, the side got weakened, and results went against us. But next season if we can keep a settled team, like United have this season, I think we’ll be challenging for something.
“The biggest influence on me at City is Steve McMahon. He just loves football. He was out with a groin injury, but he wanted to play the last two games , so he came back and played. That just shows his attitude.”
Who wins City’s sprints?
“Curley, Whitey, Terry Phelan, Ian Brightwell are the four fastest. But Curley’s quickest.”
Note: Garry was referring to City’s athletic right back Keith Curle, who is now manager of Carlisle.
Only two players ever asked: “Where did you get this number?” Curle and Ginola.