Stoke City FC
From an early age a
heart complaint meant I lacked the speed and stamina of other kids at
school, what was a footie mad kid to do?
Adapt ,in my case by volunteering to go
in goal , from last to be picked for the regular playground kick-arounds I
bombed to the top of the list.
Having an eager goalkeeper on your side
solved the one leadership problem faced by every self elected team captain
, who was he going to play in this dreaded position.
Many of those who assumed their roles as picker
of teams did so based on their footballing ability alone. Trust me it
certainly wasn't for their leadership , organisational or man
management skills.
Naturally enough like any child I looked
around for a hero , someone who new the trials and
tribulations of being placed between the two sticks , or in my case two
piles of jumpers.. a
goalkeeper , the best in the country , the world , no better still
of all time ... Gordon Banks...
And so my love affair with Stoke City
Football Club began...