BEST XI: A REFLECTION

 

If we’ve learned anything over the last couple of years, it’s that votes can be divisive. Never mind the politics, football votes can be particularly heated; who would you have up top in a Newcastle United vote – Shearer and Milburn? I’ve no doubt that those two would be heavily in contention, but surprises can happen especially because not everyone will have seen wor Jackie play and will have favourites from the players that they have watched.

It’s the same at a local level. We tend to vote for the players that we’ve played with or admired watching, so legends can tend to slip out of the memories. Should Pinder Fairgrieve have been in? Tommy Ballantyne? Bobby Cairns, Bill Snowdon, Dave Appleby, Davey Hay, Mick Arkle, Billy Miller, Jimmy Anderson, Michael Anderson, Geordie Common, or even the Ainger brothers?

None of us saw Francis or Walter play, but Francis was capped by Northumberland and Walter went on to play for the likes of Old Carthusians and London, so both must have been incredibly gifted players. Alan Arkle is probably one of the most talented players of the modern era to pull on the Rothbury shirt. John Kidd was outstanding. Many, many others had a shout of making the vote but with just six spots to fill in each position over the 40-odd year period memories allowed, the pitching and the voting was incredibly tough.

If you weren’t included in the vote or were placed by mistake in the wrong category, apologies. Everyone has their own Dream Teams and maybe we can get folk to pitch them in to the club for a more definitive personal view. But remember it was just a bit of fun to get people talking about the game while we’re on lockdown with no sport to watch and the Best 11 team is by no means definitive.

It did turn out, however, a formidable side. And when you take the closest votes from the ones who just missed out, it makes it an unbelievably good squad to select from and any manager would have a headache picking a starting 11 from that.

Henry Woodcock claimed the goalkeeping spot just ahead of the legend Keith Appleby, who was a cracking versatile player even without the gloves. I didn’t see a lot of Henry playing, but watched him on a few occasions during the 2009/10 title winning season. Others will know more, but Henry was an acrobatic shot-stopper and imposing keeper who passionately defended his area, as many a referee will testify! Henry has gone on to coach at a high level and was a popular choice.

When I think of Gordon Mackenzie, I see him lifting trophies in the old white and red pinstriped strip under the floodlights at St. James’ Park and Shielfield. Gordon was a winner and a leader who was never beaten on the pitch. Tough-tackling and determined, but also a real menace going forward with pace and a superb cross and finish to match. John Smith was similarly quick to cover ground and get his tackles in and was comfortable with the ball at his feet. Another real leader who would inspire those around him with a massive work-rate and quiet confidence, John was a defender of the highest order.

Kevin Coe was a classy centre-back who read the game so well, had a wonderful touch, pass and skill. Kevin could have been pitched anywhere for the side. Though his ball playing and intelligence were first class, he could superbly time tackles and win headers too. His partner in the vote, Tom Macpherson, is another who makes football, and defending in particular, look easy. Tom is one of those who always seemed to have time on the ball and played it out coolly from the back while directing the play. Also a nightmare to try and get beyond with positional and tactical nous, tough tackling and ability in the air. The back four that were voted for could be interchangeable with their ability to slot into any of the positions and I’m sure many opposing players will look at that vote and agree – and have the bruises to prove it!

The vote for the middle of the park was another really difficult one and it turned up two skilful players with the passing range of a sniper rifle and dead-ball genius. Mention Tony Brown and Kevin Proudlock and you think of skill, the ability to beat a man, intelligent probing and the defence-splitting balls as well as dangerously whipped in corners and free kicks. Skill is also the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the two wingers who were voted in – Stuart Foreman and Mark Bruce. Both had mind-blowing dribbling ability and the knack of pulling off the unexpected and were both deadly finishers. If someone is going to do something spectacular on the pitch, you’d have your money on Mark and Stuart. Both have tied defenders in knots with their close control, dribbling skills and body swerves that have sent many a full-back away to the shops for the papers. Cheeky nutmegs, overhead kicks, you get the picture. Bruce and Foreman bring a real nonchalant flair to the side; a midfield with an abundance of talent.

You want goals from your strikers and with around 1,000 in an amazing career, Nick Gutherson was a massively popular pick. Nick scored the lot; headers, left foot, right foot, tap-ins, 25-yard pile-driver volleys; three, four, five, six, seven in a game. It’s hard to imagine the devastating goal-scoring ability of the soft-spoken, modest Nick if you never saw it in action. He must have been in his 40s when I saw the majority of Nick’s game and even with age and a bandaged knee he could ghost past a marker and drill a shot beyond a keeper with uncanny ease – to have watched him in his 20s must have been a real privilege. A gentleman and a legend of Northumberland football with a ruthless knack for smashing the ball into the back of the net.

His strike partner Jackie Angus is another that was ruthless in front of goal with a skilful touch and powerful shot. Battling, determined and hard to knock off the ball, Jackie is (he’s still pulling on the shirt occasionally) an intelligent player with bags of skill, the ability to pull off wonderful curled finishes, beat his marker, play in others, and that steely determination to win that runs throughout the side that was picked.

The debate could run forever. The style of the game changes, opponents change, players come in and out of fashion. It is testament to the standard of footballers that Coquetdale has produced that the pick was so incredibly difficult. You know in your own head who you would have picked and it’s time to get behind the lads that are playing now. Go along and show your support, join the committee, have a say. We have a club with almost 150 years of football history and how many can compete with that? 

ROTHBURY TOP 20 (VOTED) SQUAD:

No team can run on the bare 11, anyone that has had the headache of managing a team will tell you that. Especially at the local level where injuries, unavailablity and work commitments can all take a toll. Dan Herron & Tom Macpherson took the honours in the management poll, just rewards for the incredibly hard work and ambition that they put into taking the club into the Northern Alliance and winning the Second Division title in such style at the first attempt. 531 votes were cast across the 12 selections. A selection of the closest runners-up have been added in here to complete a top 20 squad.

GK:

Henry Woodcock

Keith Appleby

DEF:

Gordon Mackenzie

John Smith

Tom Macpherson

Kevin Coe

Darren Arkle

John Kidd

Alan Arkle 

MID:

Tony Brown

Kevin Proudlock

Graham Foggon

Rex Ballantyne

Mark Bruce

Stuart Foreman

Alan Brown (Della)

FOR:

Nick Gutherson

Jackie Angus

Craig Sutton

Dan Thompson