"We had a field at the back our house in Bolton"

    

"At the back of our house was a football field. It belonged to Canon Slade School. It was a full size pitch, with proper goal posts . This didn't interest us, we could make our own goal posts, what mattered is that it was great for a game of football . We were all junior school age,different ages,different sizes,different abilities,all boys and all there to play football. Teams were picked by the captains, we knew who they were ,they were the best players . Nobody was jealous, they were the best and that was the way it was .You wanted good guys on your team , it was a team game , we all understood that. The two captains took it in turn to pick. Obviously they went for the best players first, I was never picked first ,or last, but it didn't matter we all understood.Whether you were picked first or last ,whether you were good mediocre or bad you still had a chance of winning, sharing in the glory.The team respected everyone, if a side was on top the poorer players were set up for a goal. If the teams were one sided a swap round would take place.No adults, no referee,no off sides ,we all got it and played for hours . I say no off sides but to be called a titty liner was the ultimate insult . Nobody liked a titty liner . Late tackles were laughed off, shoulder charges were fine ,shirt pulling was allowed,and dead legs or one in the balls got a crowd round as the recipient basked in a masochistic glory. We had half time ,drink breaks and a few injuries, but everyone was back the day after.  Obviously there was no spitting biting or pulling hair, there wasn't even much bad language . I really did believe my Mum would wash my mouth out with soap and water."

"Left footed "

"Things changed at senior school. We had teams and managers and referee's. I always knew my role in the game . I was a defender stocky and well built, using my size and weight to block the more skillful whippet like wingers. I had a job to do and they knew it . Come on my patch at your peril. I hated going past the half way line , and would always pass despite frantic calls for me to keep going. I kept getting picked. I got no coaching and no praise , but I was always picked . It all ended when I got into a conflict. He was the same build as me and about as skillful, certainly not good enough to skip past my late tackles, but he wanted to score goals and I was in his way. He retaliated to one of my over zealous shoulder charges.There was a big fuss!!. He went onto be head boy , I wasn't picked again . Never mind , there were plenty more interests to pursue at 14 . My football career was over."

Richard Mason

"Top Football moments No.1" "Who the f*ck*n hell are you "

" I was very young, I had been to games before but never a night match, and never a game with such a large crowd . I was mesmerized by the flood lights and marveled at how green they made the pitch look . We took our place among the crowds in the Embankment End.  BWFC vs MCFC , it was a cup match . I can't remember the result but I am sure we won. I am only interested in what I can remember , sure I could get the details on the internet but all that information at our finger tips can make things dull . I know there were goals and I also know there was trouble . At one point a big black hole appeared in the Lever End . A no mans land , I could see Police . The chant went up ."Who the f*ck*n hell are you ,who the f*ck*n hell are you , who the fu*k ,who the fu*k  , who the f*ck*n hell are you , who the f*ck*n hell are you, who the fu*k who the fu*k who the f*ck*n hell are you  , hell are you , who the f*ck*n hell are you !" It was deafening , like the whole stadium was singing. Except of course us.I looked up to my Dad , and suddenly a feeling of total joy came over me . Holy sh*t , Holy smoke , Holy everything . His hands were in the air and his mouth was moving . I couldn't hear, it was so noisy , but I could lip read , he was singing "who the f*ck*n hell are you,who the  f*ck*n hell are you". I raised my arms clapping , I didn't sing , how could I ? but my Dad was singing . I was so proud . The chant changed . It was now . " Your going to get your  f*ck*n head kicked in , Your going to get your  f*ck*n head kicked in ,". I glanced up and he had stopped singing , he  looked down and smiled. I was glad he had stopped . It was such a good night !"

Richard Mason

BWFC VS LEEDS UNITED SATURDAY 30TH JANUARY 2016 1-2

"BWFC VS LEEDS UNITED SATURDAY 30TH JANUARY 2016 1-2"
FA CUP 4TH ROUND 

I went to this as I expected a good atmosphere with 6000 Leeds fans and having just beaten MK Dons 3-1 . The atmosphere would have been less one sided if we hadn't conceded 2 easy goals before half time one after 8 minutes and the other just before half time .I have not gone into any detail of wages not being paid , Sunday newspaper scandals but I was starting to hope we had a settled team who could come together with a never say die attitude and turn things around . Things like that happen in football , strikers can suddenly start scoring , luck changes .  This is the same  team that  started for the win against MK Dons .
 

Amos, Vela, Holding, Dervite, Moxey, Trotter, Davies , Feeney, Pratley, Wellington Silva , Madine

A good manager should be able to avoid relegation with this lot , plus those on the bench and players returning from injury . The games left could be the making of Neil Lennon , if he can pull it off. His ability is rightly being called into question , but its not been a job many would relish . I wish him the  best of luck .  Anyway we are out of the FA CUP . The first half performance was embarrassing. 2nd half was better and we could have got a draw as they were hanging on at the end . 

Verdict   

As least it wasn't a league game .

BWFC VS EASTLEIGH FC TUESDAY 19TH JANUARY 2016 3-2

"BWFC VS EASTLEIGH FC TUESDAY 19TH JANUARY 2016 3-2"
FA CUP 3RD ROUND REPLAY

Wow can't believe my last match was August 22nd 2015 . There has been so much pain since then . It always seems worse listening on the radio or following on the internet . I suppose because its lonely. When you go to the game you are not suffering alone , and you can see for yourself where things went wrong . This was a good game to watch . 5 goals and we won . The teams were evenly matched and  I kept wondering what our players must think about earning so much more money than the opposition and not being any better. If ever there was a wake up call this was it . Surely it crossed their minds they could be playing non -league football soon unless they get a grip . The upper tier was shut so the crowd was packed into the lower tiers and I found myself among a group of proper supporters . I am a supporter but not on that level . They use first name's for the players , give encouragement and forgive mistakes . They love the young home grown players . They don't swear or barrack their own players , but laugh off people who do as being part of the atmosphere . They love and  follow football, with all its ups and downs. The rumors, the personalities the gossip . Its a great game . 

                                                                VERDICT 
Good game we were lucky to get past Eastleigh FC , they are a team on the up . So glad it didn't go to extra time . It was a cold cold cold  Tuesday night .   

 

BWFC VS NOTTINGHAM FOREST SATURDAY AUGUST 22ND 1-1

"BWFC VS NOTTINGHAM FOREST SATURDAY AUGUST 22ND 1-1 "

This game was of interest for a number of reasons . First the ticket price . 15.00 quid , how good is that . Then it is the return of Dougie Freedman as the manager of Forest . We were also making history , the longest period without scoring a goal since 18 something . It is not a statistic I  care to look up . As with the Derby game the first half was very tame from both sides . The big screen has disappeared at the Macron so there are no replays and no countdown . I find this annoying as you are never to sure of how long is left. Anyway it was 3 minutes into the 2nd half when we were awarded a penalty . Now this was a big thing as so far we had not scored a goal this season . I don't really put much store by  premonitions , but myself and 16,000 other people simultaneously had one . Hey amazing the premonition was correct . The penalty was saved and we retained our goalless record , and then guess what . They became inspired and scored a unstoppable goal , we were 1-0 down with 10 minutes to go . Disaster looming and no clock to watch I could feel a depression coming on .The sign board came out . 5 minutes extra time . Forest seemed pretty good at running down the clock and the minutes passed . I always check the ref to see when he looks at his watch . Not long now .Then a miracle happened . WE SCORED . Wow , Yes. I am sure that used to happen to us when Dougie was in charge . Seconds later the whistle went .

Verdict.

The late goal was a BWFC highlight . The crowd went crazy and the players , you could feel the relief and joy . Thew, got out of jail this time .   

BWFC VS DERBY COUNTY SATURDAY AUGUST 8TH 2015 0-0

"BWFC VS DERBY COUNTY AUGUST 8TH 2015 0-0"

So here we are the very first game of the new season . A lovely sunny day and a good crowd (17,000). Some new faces , Gary Madine, Lawrie Wilson and Prince-Desir Gouano. It was difficult not to feel gloomy about the season ahead , with the departures of Matt Mills, Adam Bogden , and possibly Tim Ream all suggesting we needed to reduce our wage bill even further it would need a miracle worker and a huge slice of luck if we were to do anything this season . The prospect of youngsters getting a chance and setting the Macron on fire was a rather optimistic view but dreams do come true in football . The first half was rather dull , pretty even but Derby looked the more dangerous and I felt if they got a goal we would collapse . We made it to half time with the score level and what a cracker of a second half . It looked like BWFC of old , underdogs but full of spirit and we made Derby look pretty ordinary . With Heskey (super sub) replacing Clough for the last 20 minutes and having  already hit the cross bar I could see a win . The atmosphere was great . Still 0-0 with 5 minutes to go doubts crept in , surely we won't lose this 1-0 , please don't let us lose. Relief and optimism at the final whistle. Miracles do happen in football . 

Verdict  

A great afternoon out , a lot better than I thought , left happy with the point and looking forward to the next game .

Move forward  2 weeks and this isn't good .