A Kick in the Past | Issue 1 | Fleetwood Town Former Players Association

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A KICK IN THE PAST fleetwood towN FORMER PLAYERS ASSOCIATION FLEETWOOD TOWN FOOTBALL CLUB OFFICIAL FORMER PLAYERS ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

the final third a gallery of images from the last three months of meetings

STUART

MURDOCH

GROUP SHOT: The FPA meeting in the Poolfoot Farm beer garden for the June meeting ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia

Fleetwood Town Former Players Association chairman Stuart Murdoch’s thoughts ahead of the September meeting...

Gentlemen, I am delighted to be writing this foreword for the first edition of “ A kick in the past . ” It seems longer than a year ago when we had our first meeting of the association when eight former players were huddled around a table at Poolfoot Farm. Memories were shared, articles were read about how good Rob Thomas was as a player and the odd old programme scrutinised. A group photograph was taken and our association was born.

Since then our numbers have increased steadily, our monthly gatherings have consistently been well attended and copious amounts of tea and coffee have been drunk.

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Thanks to the hard work of Phil Brown and Tony Collier we have grown in strength. Phil has provided archive material and printed off articles and pictures from by-gone times which have reminded us all of eras long forgotten. Tony has embraced his secretarial duties ensuring everybody has been kept informed of times and dates and has collated personal information for our ongoing records.

We now have 86 former players registered. Tony’s remit is to enrol ALL former players into the association, a task which in reality is probably unobtainable!

them to continue to feel part of the Club which they have represented. I hope that we have fulfilled this goal and will continue to do so for as many former players as possible.

MEET THE GAFFER: FPA Chairman Stuart Murdoch going through the schedule of recent events ANNIVERSARY: FPA member Tom White cutting the one year anniversary cake in August

This quarterly update is our next way of keeping everyone informed of matters past, present and future.

I hope that you will find it informative as we continue to look forward to seeing you at our regular Thursday morning meetings at Poolfoot Farm.

I wish each of you good health and much happiness.

The aim of the association was to provide a regular meeting opportunity for our former players and enable

FLEETWOOD TOWN FORMER PLAYERS ASSOCIATION

Stuart WEDDING PRESENTATION: FPA Chairman, Stuart Murdoch with FPA colleagues Tony Collier and Phil Brown receiving commemorative mugs following his wedding in July.

FLEETWOOD TOWN FORMER PLAYERS ASSOCIATION

I THINK I KNOW YOU: FPA members basking in the sun at Poolfoot Farm in July

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THE BEST DAYS OF

YOUR LIFE! WORDS: PAUL COLLIER

We step back in time and looks at the career Steve ‘Docker’ Brooks and how he and his teammates were intergral to the resurrection of Fleetwood Town.

T

he Fleetwood Town fans of today have a debt of gratitude owing to ‘ Docker ’ and his cohorts for their collective effort in resurrecting the club four decades ago.

Without the sheer determination and hard work of a group of loyal locals, the town would probably have never seen its football club rise from the ashes.

In June 1976 the town’s team collapsed for the second time in its history, the Highbury pitch lay overgrown and the main stand damaged by fire. Declining gates and dwindling finances had driven the club to the wall. Fast forwarding 42 years, ‘Docker’ recalls a rescue mission.

“A few of us used to go in the Highbury Sports and Social Club and we used to look out on the Highbury pitch and thought what a waste;

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Fleetwood not having a football side. I am not absolutely certain whose idea it was (to start the club again) but some of the local lads got involved. We wondered if we could do something with the pitch as the grass must have been about four feet tall.

“Barry McLoughlin became involved and he got the pitch into a reasonable state. We had the old stand but kids had been in, wrecked it and burnt out the dressing rooms but we decided to form the club again.”

The efforts of a tenacious work force paid dividends and a newly formed club applied for and was accepted to two local separate leagues; the Blackpool and Fylde Combination, whose matches were played on Saturdays, and the Blackpool and Fylde Sunday Alliance.

Steve remembers “People started to get interested in that we were re-

forming Fleetwood again. We started to get people watching Sunday league football, not so much the Saturday league.

“There was one Sunday league game when we played the Golden Eagle and there were 1,000 people on. When we were winning games people started to come and watch and they found it interesting, even though it was just local football with local lads.”

Success for the new club was immediate as the team won both leagues at the end of the 1977 / 78 campaign.

There was no greater contribution to the cause than Steve himself who played in all 73 games that season. ‘Docker’ further recounts “We decided to apply to go into a higher standard and applied for the Lancashire Combination but we got refused.

FLEETWOOD TOWN FORMER PLAYERS ASSOCIATION

“We then applied to the Cheshire County League and got accepted. It was a bit daunting for a lot of lads who had only ever played Saturday and Sunday league football. We were playing against the likes of Witton Albion and Stalybridge Celtic and they had four or five ex league players playing for them. Our first game was away to New Brighton and we won 4 – 1.

“There were ten Fleetwood lads in the team. The only one who wasn’t was Charlie Gisbourne who was from Bury.

“I don’t know what the others got but I was probably the lowest paid and I used to get £7 a week. I was happy to get that because in those days it wasn’t an orange juice after the game, it was go and have a couple of pints.

That £7 paid for my drinks all week.

We would be out until one o’clock in the morning probably, after a Tuesday night game, not all of us but some of us.”

Steve remembers his exploits on the pitch too “I was playing right back but I ended up as second top

scorer - nine goals, all penalties. I never missed a penalty in that season.

Dave Barnes was top scorer. I think Dave scored ten, I got nine and I think Norman Moran got eight.”

When asked about his inherited moniker Steve replies with apprehension “It is so embarrassing, my nickname. When I was about 11 I used to knock about with lads and girls. One night they were messing around. There was this lad who used to smoke and I was the smallest one in our little group.

“He said to me ‘You are like a little docker you’ and I said ‘what do you mean ?’ He said ‘you are like the end of my cigarette’.

“They started to call me ‘ Docker ’ and it just carried on. The teachers at school used to call me ‘Docker too.’

“I’m sure that a lot of people that I played football against in the Saturday and Sunday league wouldn’t know my name was Steve. As daft as it might seem, my son who is well over six foot is also called ‘Docker’. It has just followed on.”

For Steve, Fleetwood has always been in his blood. He has lived all his life in the town and has always supported his local team.

He explains “I was a supporter before I played for the club and I used to come and watch Freddie Willder, Tony Hallam and Kenny Cooper. I was really proud to play for Fleetwood.

I was always the first one here (to Highbury) on a match day. I used to throw my bag over the wall and climb over.

“I never used to walk around to the entrance. I used to think I love it here, playing here and I played with some very good players.

“Alan Tinsley was outstanding and Alan Tuson is the best defender I ever played with.

Malcolm Beech did a lot of hard work behind the scenes earning money to get the club started again.”

Such magnanimous comments are typical of ‘Docker’ Brooks, a pleasant man whose name is forever woven into the very fabric of his beloved football club.

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fleetwood town former players association august 2018

LATEST NEWS

BACK IN THE DAY

CATCH UP ON THE LATEST FLEETWOOD TOWN FPA UPDATES

a gallery of RETRO IMAGES FROM DECADES GONE BY

Birthdays We have some birthdays in the next few months: SEPTEMBER: Peter Bell (71 on 19th), Lennie Reid (35 on 30th). OCTOBER: Jim Moseley (61 on 6th), Steve Beech (67 on 8th), Malcolm Denning (69 on 12th), Jimmy Strachan (80 on 12th), Mark Roberts (35 on 16th), Warren Beattie (32 on 18th), Andy Lyons (52 on 19th), Malcolm Clegg (82 on 29th), John McNicholas (69 on 30th). NOVEMBER: Jamie McGuire (35 on 13th), Alan Tuson (68 on 17th), Dennis Wann (68 on 17th), Dave Cookson (86 on 21st), Ricky Mercer (35 on 22nd), Steve Flynn (40 on 28th), Roy Dobson (63 on 28th), Frank Haydock (78 on 29th), Paul Legate (71 on 30th)

Home match tickets Throughout the current season, Fleetwood Town has again kindly agreed to offer complimentary tickets for home matches to members of the Former Players Association. This is subject to availability and to a maximum of two tickets per member, one of which should be used by the FPA member (please don’t get them for somebody else to use or to sell in the pub before the game!). The club has also kindly agreed to offer pre-match and half time hospitality to FPA members in the Red & Whites lounge (again subject to availability). Season passes to Red & Whites will be distributed to members shortly and members should also ensure they are wearing their membership lapel badges to gain entry.

JUBILATIONS: Former captain Mark Roberts lifting the Sky Bet League Two play-off final trophy after beating Burton Albion at Wembley in 2014

If any FPA member requires match tickets for any game, please contact Phil Brown ahead of the game by phone/text on 07976 054398 or by email to phil.brown@besutilities.co.uk. It’s great to see so many of our former players enjoying the match day experience at Highbury Stadium.

New members Membership of the Former Players Association is now rapidly approaching three figures and it’s wonderful see around half of the total membership regularly attending the monthly meetings at Poolfoot. We’re keen however to increase our membership still further so if you know anybody who has played for any of Fleetwood FC, Fleetwood Town or Fleetwood Freeport, please spread the word. It’s completely free of charge and apart from the host of benefits that membership brings, it’s mainly just a great opportunity to renew acquaintances with old team mates and to share memories of your playing days. Monthly meetings are held at the club’s Poolfoot Farm training complex on Butts Road, Thornton on the first Thursday of each month at 10.00am. Just turn up, tell us who you are and we’ll do the rest.

Website

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BACK IN BLACK (AND WHITE): Town players pose for a picture back in 1985 during training

COME ON: Gareth Seddon in the Conference

NOTICE BOARD Would any FPA members who may have changed their personal details please notify Tony Collier (Secretary) accordingly.

The Former Players Association has its own area on the club’s official website www.fleetwoodtownfccom.

Just click on the ‘Club’ icon at the top of the home page and then ‘Former Players Association’ from the drop down list to access lots of FPA content including the now famous former players’ interviews!

We are always looking to add to the club archive. If any member has any old photographs, programmes, contracts, badges, medals or anything else relating to the history of the club please would you make contact with us ( details on page 11 ). We would be delighted to receive any donated items or would be pleased to arrange copies if preferred.

FLEETWOOD TOWN FORMER PLAYERS ASSOCIATION

FLEETWOOD TOWN FORMER PLAYERS ASSOCIATION

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FTFC FPA MEMBERS

FLEETWOOD FIXTURES 2018/19 FLEETWOODTOWN TOWN FIXTURES 2018/19

SKY LEAGUE ONEONE SKYBETBET LEAGUE AUGUST 2018 04 11 14 18 22 25

JANUARY 2019

H AUGUST 2018 A.F.C WIMBLEDON 01 A OXFORD UNITED 05 04 A.F.C WIMBLEDON CC1 ALEXANDRA 12 11 CREWE OXFORD UNITED(7:45pm) A H ROCHDALE 14 CC1 CREWE ALEXANDRA (7:45pm)19 SCUNTHORPE UNITED (7:45pm) 26 A 18 ROCHDALE CHARLTON ATHLETIC A 22 SCUNTHORPE UNITED (7:45pm)

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BRADFORD CITY SEPTEMBER 2018 SUNDERLAND 01 BRADFORD CITY ACCRINGTON STANLEY SOUTHEND UTD 08 SUNDERLAND BARNSLEY 15 ACCRINGTON STANLEY

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H A H A H

SOUTHEND UTD

29 2018 BARNSLEY OCTOBER 02 06 13 20 23 27

JANUARY SHREWSBURY TOWN2019 A A H A.F.C WIMBLEDON 01 SHREWSBURY TOWN H A OXFORD 05UNITED A.F.C WIMBLEDON A ROCHDALE 12 OXFORD UNITEDA UNITED H H SCUNTHORPE 19 ROCHDALE A

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SCUNTHORPE UNITED

FEBRUARY 2019 A

CHARLTON ATHLETIC

SEPTEMBER 2018 01 08 15 22 29

A FULL LIST OF MEMBERS OF THE FLEETWOOD TOWN FPA

H 02 CHARLTON ATHLETIC FEBRUARY 2019A 09 BRADFORD CITY H 16 LUTON02TOWNCHARLTON ATHLETIC 09 ALBION BRADFORD CITYA 23 H BURTON

16 LUTON TOWN A 23 BURTON ALBION H MARCH 2019 A H 02 GILLINGHAM A 09 H WALSALL

MARCH 2019

A WYCOMBE WANDERERS (7:45PM) H 12 COVENTRY CITY (7:45PM) 02 GILLINGHAM H A DONCASTER ROVERS 16 PLYMOUTH ARGYLE 09 WALSALL OCTOBER TOWN 2018 H H SHREWSBURY 23 SUNDERLAND 12 COVENTRY 02 WYCOMBE WANDERERS (7:45PM) A PORTSMOUTH 30 H ACCRINGTON STANLEY CITYA(7:45PM) A 06 DONCASTER ROVERS 16 PLYMOUTH ARGYLE (7:45PM) A PETERBOROUGH UNITED H 13 SHREWSBURY TOWN H 23 SUNDERLAND BLACKPOOL APRIL 2019

30 UNITED 20 PORTSMOUTH ACCRINGTON STANLEY 06 A SOUTHEND H 23 PETERBOROUGH UNITED (7:45PM)13 A BARNSLEY A NOVEMBER 2018 19 H PETERBOROUGH UNITED 27 BLACKPOOL APRIL 2019 H A 03 GILLINGHAM 10 17 24 27

EMIRATES FA CUP 1 WALSALL NOVEMBER 2018 PLYMOUTH ARGYLE 03 GILLINGHAM COVENTRY CITY (7:45PM)

H/A H A H

10 EMIRATES FA CUP 1 17 WALSALL DECEMBER 2018 ARGYLE 24 PLYMOUTH 08 LUTON 27 TOWN COVENTRY CITY (7:45PM) A 15 22 26 29

BURTON ALBION BRISTOL ROVERS DONCASTER ROVERS DECEMBER 2018 PORTSMOUTH 08 LUTON TOWN

15 22 26 29

H A H H

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BLACKPOOL A 06ROVERS SOUTHEND UNITED BRISTOL H

13 BARNSLEY 19 PETERBOROUGH UNITED MAYA 201922 BLACKPOOL 04 H/A WYCOMBE WANDERERS A 27 BRISTOL ROVERS

H A H

MAY 2019 04

WYCOMBE WANDERERS

A A H A H

H A H A

H A A H H A

Bennie Andrew Roy Atherton Dave Barnes Geoff Barnes Warren Beattie Malcolm Beech Steve Beech Stuart Beech Peter Bell Ronnie Bellwood Jim Betmead Keith Bowey Frank Bowker Steve Brooks Kevin Byrne Malcolm Clegg Dave Cookson Bobby Cuthbertson Frank Cygal Paul Dawson Malcolm Denning

Roy Dobson Tony Eaves George Ellarby Allan Fish Steve Flynn Don Gair Alan Goodall Gordon Griffith Andy Haddock John Hay Frank Haydock Steve Hesford Bert Hession John Hills Matt Hilton Lee Impett Les Ingham Phil Kendrick Ron Kennedy Derek Lancaster Ben Lavelle Paul Legate

Andy Lyons Dean McGinley Jamie McGuire George McIntyre Brian McManus John McNicholas Steve Macauley Peter Marshall Ricky Mercer Jamie Milligan Kenny Moran Martin Moran Norman Moran Harvey Morley Jimmy Moseley Alan Moyes Stuart Murdoch Jamie Nay Brian Newman Barry Nicholson Jon Parkin Lennie Reid

Mark Roberts Stuart Robinson Mark Scott Tom Scott Gareth Seddon Reg Smallbone Jim Strachan Rob Thomas Phil Thompson Lee Thorpe Alan Tinsley Alan Tuson Loz Walsh Dennis Wann Dave Wassall Tom White Roy Whitehouse Harold Wilkinson Tommy Willacy Fred Willder Graham Yeo

FTFC FPA OFFICIALS WHO TO CONTACT AT FLEETWOOD TOWN'S FPA

H A H A H

Chairman Stuart Murdoch Email: stuart.murdoch@fleetwoodtownfc.co.uk Phone number: 07921 934775

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Vice-chairman Phil Brown Email: phil.brown@besutilities.co.uk Phone number: 07976 054398

A BURTON ALBION SUPPORT JOEY BARTON’S HSIDE THIS SEASON WITH AN ONWARD CARD GET YOURS: ROVERS CLUB SHOP AT HIGHBURY STADIUM |AONLINE BY VISITING ONWARDCARD.CO.UK BRISTOL DONCASTER ROVERS ALL KICK HOFF’S AT 3PM UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE PORTSMOUTH H

TICKET OFFICE: 01253 775080 FLEETWOODTOWNFC.COM | @FTFC | #ONWARDTOGETHER

SUPPORT JOEY BARTON’S SIDE THIS SEASON WITH AN ONWARD CARD GET YOURS: CLUB SHOP*PLEASE AT HIGHBURY STADIUM ONLINE

BY VISITING ONWARDCARD.CO.UK NOTE ALL FIXTURES| ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE ALL KICK OFF’S AT 3PM UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE TICKET OFFICE: 01253 775080

Secretary Tony Collier Email: tony.collier@fleetwoodtownfc.co.uk Phone Number: 07931 415844 Thanks to John Cross (Blackpool FC Former Players Liaison) and Ted Hargreaves for their continued support and assistance FLEETWOOD TOWN FORMER PLAYERS ASSOCIATION

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