sport Although the side missed the chance to stantial lack of technique if this happened win the league in the next campaign, they and it was your responsibility to run down took the Rock Cup crown and returned to to the road, jump through the traffic and winning ways the following year, retrieve the ball. Sometimes, if achieving the double. Cumbo’s final more than one team would be They took year saw this generation take its the Rock Cup playing, it would count as a goal first treble, laying the foundations against you and the next team crown and for the club’s most successful period would come on in your place. returned to that is still being lived today as they winning ways chase a 15th league title in a row. the following Lincoln nursery
Crowning achievement
Beating Celtic was the crowning achievement and was beyond Lincoln’s and Gibraltar’s wildest dreams. It is there in the record books and the whole experience was a bit magical to be honest. The atmosphere around the Victoria Stadium was out of this world, “It gives me a deep satisfaction to see these players who I helped blood into the first team to represent the national selection against the best footbalyear... Cumbo was ready for a break lers in the world. I have no doubt that, if a Patio football from football but senior figures scout had seen Lee Casciaro in his younger The bulk of the locals making up today’s within the club, including Charlie, peryears, he would have been picked up and suaded him to get more involved with side were brought up on a culture of ‘patio become professional. His character before youth development. The ‘nursery’, as it is football’ where most training sessions a match is completely different to any othwould take place near the team’s clubknown within Lincoln circles, involves kids er player. He prepares himself in the best house in Humphries. Having small-sided as young as five-years-old training basic way and is fully focussed on achieving his games in very confined spaces around the ball skills at Hargraves before stepping up goal. His speed and strength are amazing into competition a few years later. estate helped the boys develop quick feet and he is always hassling defendCumbo has nursed the current and an elegant touch on the ball. Playing The bulk of ers, prowling for a goal.” under 13s team from their first your way through tight situations was the moments in football and is confident the locals Lincoln way. There was no hoofing the ball Current club captain Roy Chipomaking that the ‘Lincoln talent factory’ will up the field and this type of conditioning lina, who initially joined the club up today’s mass-produce another batch of top would encourage a more subtle approach, at five-years-of-age due to family players of the standard we see to“I used to have a size three ball that was side were connections, marshalled the deday, which will naturally benefit the weighted inside and it would push them brought up fence superbly against the Scotnational selection, “We have a huge to keep the ball down. We worked a lot on a culture tish champions as he helped the array of talent here who are working on transition from defence to attack and of ‘patio club etch its name into the record hard and progressing year on year. you need to know how to pass and move football’... books, “It’s amazing what races They need even more commitment effectively in tight situations to achieve through your mind in just a few now with the influx of foreign playthis.” In training sessions, if a player kicked seconds,” he said, reflecting on what went ers, but the progression I have witnessed the ball over the wall, all the players would through his head when L. Casciaro poked since I joined has been immense.” groan out loud. It was considered a subTreble Winners 2013-2014 season
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2016
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