20 Years of SULSESC
SULSESC celebrated its 20th birthday by sponsoring the match against Crystal Palace at Glanford Park on November 3, 2007.
Honorary president Graham Taylor was our guest for the day, as MARTYN GIRDHAM reports
"I only scored three goals in my Football League career and one was against us,” said the President, as the SULSESC contingent tucked into their pre-match pie, oops, sorry, three-course lunch, in the Glanford Park restaurant.
That Graham Taylor was able to find time to eat his lunch at all is testament to his obviously well rehearsed ability to eat, talk and answer a bombardment of questions almost in the same breath.
Nowadays, of course, Graham is part of the media circus that follows football at the highest level and he had turned down the opportunity to talk to over a billion viewers and listeners, who were tuning in live, in over 200 countries, as the Arsenal v Manchester United counter attraction took secondary billing on Saturday lunchtime. Much better then to have lunch, meet and chat with 27 dedicated, mainly Southern based Iron supporters, prior to, dare I say, a not so royal Palace performance.
Doesn't that say everything about a down to earth Scunthonian who has experienced just about everything in the football world, a man who is totally comfortable in the media and who can now enjoy reporting on the game he loves without the added pressures of management. Been there, done that, got lots of tee-shirts. Well, at least one of those tee-shirts was Scunthorpe United (okay, Reserves) before Graham headed off for glory via those unmentionable clubs down the A18 and A15.
That is how the conversation led to Graham mentioning his goal against the Iron. I haven't had the heart to check the record books!
Matt Gray, Russ Foster, Stevie Sumner, Marky P. and myself were honoured to have seats close enough to chat with the man himself, i.e. the splendid figurehead of Ian Tremayne, plus of course Graham. Next time round, we'll take a back seat, honest.
Although born in Worksop in the 1940s, it was not long before a young Graham was heading for an upbringing in sunny Scunny, as father Tom's journalistic career brought him to town, courtesy of the Evening Telegraph. Tom, of course, headed the Sports Department at the Telegraph for many years and reported on the Iron under the guise of 'Poacher'.
It was those early memories of climbing the stairs to the press box at the Old Show Ground that Graham recalled, as the sport which was to make him famous took an early hold. We heard stories of former Iron manager Frank Soo, Len Sharpe, Jack Brownsword and Graham's favourite Iron player, Jack Haigh, who sadly passed away earlier this season.
One particular story referred to a young teenage footballer learning about life in general, in the not so private changing room bath. Come to think of it, that story had better be told verbally.
Away from football, Graham spoke with fondness of growing up in the town, playing cricket at the end of the road, Scunny Grammar School and the strict upbringing his parents gave him and his sisters, befitting a typical working class council house family in the 1940s and 50s.
Lincoln City was the club where Graham really set his stall out in management terms and from here it was onwards and upwards to the fairy tale that was Watford, rising from Division Four to Division One and leading to the ultimate position as manager of his country.
Players mentioned along the way as the most gifted and skilful included John Barnes and, on the international stage, Paul Gascoigne. Luther Blissett was described as the ultimate professional.
During those early management days at Lincoln, Graham recalled almost terrifying telephone conversations with the likes of Bertie Mee and Bill Shankly at Arsenal and Liverpool. No signings, loan or otherwise, likely there then!
Captain Ian, kindly seated 'our' Graham in view of the large Glanny Park restaurant TV screen so as he didn't miss out on the goal action. We didn't miss out either as the stories continued to flow. Apparently, the current media circus that is TV and radio includes a couple of other big Scunny fans in the production side of things. Graham loves nothing better than calling them over to discuss the Iron and subsequently baffle the accompanying big time press corps. Nice one, Graham.
So, onto the assembled masses…well, 27 of us and the rest of the restaurant clientele, who seemed to have cottoned, (sorry, Perry!) onto the fact we had an important guest in our midst. A nice touch saw our hero move seats to the second of the SULSESC tables. Conversations, autographs and photos continued to flow, nothing too much trouble. Karen and 'young Ben' proved a particular hit and why not?
The first-half came and went, half-time saw more photos and Graham commented that we have to expect teams to come to try and cancel us out, sit back and look to break. Exactly as Nigel keeps telling us. The ex-England manager did warn, however, that we need to beware whilst attacking and losing the ball on the edge of the opposition box, especially when our centre backs have moved forward.
The second-half came and went and Graham nipped out early to ensure a decent arrival at another engagement, as we reflected on another wonderful day for SULSESC. Almost back-to-back to-back promotions, championship football and lunch with such a wonderful
ambassador for Scunthorpe (the town), Scunthorpe United and SULSESC. To the hard working committee of SULSESC, thank you and congratulations on your continued success over 20 years.
It doesn't get much better than this…