Pavey thanks to Robert Henriksson

An infectious smile comes across the face of every AIK fan when I mention one name: Kenny Pavey – crowd favourite, idol of the North Stand, legend. If you wanted a definition of a whole-hearted, passionate player then I would give you Kenny Pavey. But he isn’t an English clogger, this guy has skill to go with the tough tackling.

AIK fans couldn’t believe it when he was left out of the starting eleven at the start of the season. Once he was back in the team he scored a last minute winner against ÖSK in the first full 90 minutes that he played, an example of his never-say-die attitude. With Pavey back in the team, AIK have started climbing the table. The Banguras may get the goals, but when the chips are down you would always want Pavey on your side.

Of course, Kenny has appeared on TBIR before. And it’s a great pleasure to have him here again:

Hi Kenny, thanks for taking the time to speak to The Ball Is Round again. How’s Stockholm life treating you?
Always nice to speak to The Ball Is Round; life is good in Stockholm. The football and my family are keeping me busy haha.

Has it been frustrating for you starting from the bench at times this season?
Yes of course. Any player that is happy to be on the bench has no ambition or belief in my eyes; I was injured just before the start of the season which meant not starting the first 3 games. I had a good run in the side then what can only be described as politics got involved and I was on the bench for another 3 games. But since then I have played from the start in every match and we have actually won every game: 6 wins in a row.

What else do you think went wrong last season when the club spent so much of the year around the relegation zone?
The key thing was that we lost so many players throughout the team. Key players, regular starters, it doesn’t matter which team you are, it takes time for players to gel together. I never thought that it was going to be as bad as it was but it really was something that I’ve never experienced in my playing career before. For me this was one of the most important seasons in my life as I was going to play Champions League football. The team was totally different from the year before and we never got a chance to show people outside of Sweden how good we really were, and that was very disappointing for me.

AIK fans love you, with many holding you up as an example of a player who displays the AIK spirit. How does that make you feel, knowing that you’ve become such a big part of a special club?
What can I say to that? When I signed for AIK, some friends from my team in Ljungskile told me that the fans would love me. Of course I had my doubts of how well it would go, but I never in my wildest dreams thought that it would be so special. They have been amazing to me and I will never forget the support they have given me during my time here.

Are you missing the games against Hammarby since their relegation?
Yes, absolutely!! I think it’s a shame for Swedish football that teams like Hammarby are not in the top league; the atmosphere is fantastic. As much as the AIK fans loved to see them go down, I think they really miss the derby matches. 

Apart from AIK, who do you reckon will win the Allsvenskan this year?
I think Elfsborg and Helsingborg are our biggest threats 

Do you have a plan to move back to England at some point or do you see your life as being in Sweden for the long term?
We are very happy in Sweden right now, especially in Stockholm, and being that I have a good profile in Sweden and I would like to work in football in the future, I don’t really think about it [moving back to England] too much. Plus it’s a great place to bring up kids which is a huge priority to me, so I guess at this moment no.

Could you imagine ever signing for Djurgården with the huge rivalry in Stockholm?
No, I could never do that to the AIK fans.

Do you ever get together for a beer with Calum Angus and James Keene – the other top-flight English lads?
No, I don’t actually. Borås is quite a long way away from Stockholm but I always have a good chat with James when I’m down there and I recently had a chat with Calum for the first time. Both are top men.

What kind of reaction do you get from Djurgården and Hammarby fans when you’re out in town?
To be honest, I have a lot of fans from the other clubs come up to me and tell me how much they hate AIK and me, but they tell me they love my style and would like me if I played in their team. I have never had any bad incidents with any of the fans.

How do you celebrate Midsommar?
Yes we have the traditional Swedish midsummer with dancing around the penis* and having a beer with some lovely food haha.

Kenny, it has been an absolute pleasure, cheers!
THANKS THE BALL IS ROUND, ALWAYS A PLEASURE!

The full version of Andy’s interview can be found on his excellent website Blågul Fotbul.

* Many readers will have read about the penis and will maybe think “those Swedes are always at it!”. And then maybe they’ll be confused for a moment. To help you: at Midsommar (a Swedish holiday) the Swedes will get together for a party which includes a load of booze and food. In the afternoon they will dance around a pole, a bit like the English maypole, where it’s a symbol of fertility with the pole having phallic symbolism.

I normally see around 100 games a season (98 to be exact in 2010/11) yet I have never seen a female take control of a game.  I asked Andy Hudson who she was and he told me all about Linzi Robinson, the lass in the middle.  Impressive stuff indeed and knowing a fair few females who know more than most about the game I watched on as she kept the game flowing despite a few “tasty” tackles, having earnt the respect of the players and managers alike.

With the rise in both media focus and popularity in the last few months of the female game after the events of last season it was an opportunity too good to miss to find out a bit more from Linzi on her assent up the officials ladder.  So we sent our girl in the north, Christa, to meet Linzi and talk about life in the middle.

So Linzi, how did you get started in your refereeing career?
Football has always been something I have done, whether watching or playing.  When I was a player I was that one who was always questioning the referee.  So when I decided to give up I just decided to do a referees course.  As part of the course you have to referee six games, and my mentor was one of the assessors in the highest levels of the womans game and he seemed quite impressed with my performance. I started off in a Mens Sunday League in Durham and progressed up through the leagues.

What do you enjoy about refereeing?
Referees are there for a reason; without them there would be no game so I enjoy the whole package – the game and the banter. I’ve been on the other side of the coin when I have turned up to play and the referee hasn’t arrived and I know how disappointing that is.  Sometimes events do get you down but they are a minority of the time.

What are the most worst aspects of being a referee?
Probably the stereotype that we are not there to allow people to enjoy the game or that we have a chip on their shoulder.  I don’t take anything personally these days.  We all have bad days and sometimes players may just be trying to escape from their partner indoors, only to find that they have a female referee!

How do you deal with personal comments from the sidelines – managers and the crowd alike?
Times have changed fortunately.  I do look younger than I am and sometimes this works against me as managers think I may not be experienced enough. I am very clear in laying down my guidelines to the managers prior to the game.  A couple of times when things have appeared to be getting a bit much I have stopped the game when the ball has gone out of play and had a word with the bench, making it clear they need to pack it in. My job is about the 22 players on the pitch and not those off it.  I know they want to win and it does get competitive and that is why we all love football.  Apparently I do have a “look” about me and this sometimes is enough.

What has been your best achievement to date?
Last season I got my first promotion, although I wanted to go a bit further.  However, I got a county cup final which was really pleasing.   I am hoping this season I have a good season and get another promotion.

So what would be the aspiration or pinnacle for you?
I am quite realistic and I do not think we will ever see a female Premier League referee.  It would be great if it happened, but I think the men’s game is different to the female game.  I do get challenged more in men’s game at the moment.  Who knows I could be the next Sian Massey, albeit a Geordie one!

Following on from that last comment, what was your view on the whole incident?
When I knew she had been chosen for the game I made sure I watched it on TV.  I thought she was spot on with everything.  I didn’t see the aftermath for a while, and didn’t think much of it at first.  Then the following day my phone went mad, and people wanted my views.  The media went out of control, but as an FA official I couldn’t comment.  Interestingly enough the whole incident had a positive effect as we (local FA) started getting more enquiries from females wanting to be referees having seen what a good job Sian did.  

How do you feel that the recent Womens World Cup, and Japan’s win is significant to the game?
It was one of the best football tournaments for a long time,  and undoubtably the best ever women’s tournament.  Germany did a great job in hosting it and what it did show is how many other countries are now starting to catch up on the traditional female powers of Germany, USA and Brazil.  Japan won the tournament in spite of all of the things that have happened to them in the past year, playing the game as it is supposed to be played.  I wish I was a betting person because I thought Japan would win the tournament.  It did show that the game is being played at a high standard across the world.

The World Cup Final was the “most Tweeted event ever” according to the Guardian (over 7,196 per second apparently!). How do you think Social Media is changing the way we view/think about football?
As a “tweeter” myself I think it is massive. The fact that you are gaining more knowledge about football in other areas of the country you can get a feeling as to what is going on.  It is a massive bonus and is helping to promote the game.  

How would you sum yourself in a 140 character Tweet?
Very Passionate supporter of female (and male) football. Honest Geordie who just wants football to be progressing forward.

Many thanks to Linzi for sparing her time and being so forthright in her views on the game.  You can hear the whole interview by clicking on the link below.

[audio http://stuartnoel.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/linzi_robinson_2011-07-24-sun-18-41-07-cn.mp3]

As most people do from time to time at 5.25pm on a weekday to try and kill that final five minutes of work, I Google random things. Sometimes I Google my own name just to see who comes up. For a long time it had all been about a solicitor in Bristol, a Tattoist in Peterborough and a Partner in an Australian property firm. But on my last search a new name came up, and it was slap bang in the same world I live in, working on a football blog that is as cynical about the Premier League as I am.

So never letting someone else’s idea get in the way of mine, I bring you “Knowing me Stuart Fuller, Knowing you another Stuart Fuller….part 1″

Morning Stuart. So tell me a bit about Thegoal-line.com. What is the site all about and what role do you play?
Thegoal-line.com is the football website that gives the beautiful game a sideways glance. In an age when the sport of football increasingly takes itself far too seriously we take pleasure in giving the beautiful game the occasional poke in the eye! My role is Championship Predictions and a weekly look at what is going on in England’s best league.

What is your background? Did you ever thought you would be working in “football”?
My background as a football fan was falling in love with Italia 90. Cameroon vs Argentina was the first game I sat through as a child. The brutal treatment of Caniggia, the attitude of Cameroon, the dodgy goalkeeping. It had me hooked and I have been in love ever since. I first went to a Norwich game in August 1990 with my uncle and brother (A Watford fan). It was a fantastic 3-2 home victory and I still remember Marco Gabbiadini scoring one of the best goals I have ever seen at Carrow road albeit for Sunderland.

At the age of ten I was a little older than most, but football well and truly grabbed me in the summer of 1990. My working background has little to do with football, as I am in the self storage industry. One guy had stored a seat from the old Brighton Goldstone ground which is about as glamorous as it gets. Most customers will stop and talk to me about football and there is a mix of supporters down here in Sussex. Brighton & Crawley being the main two.

Do you ever get mistaken for a solicitor in Rainham Kent or a learned professor in crop rotation (other Stuart Fuller’s)
I do sometimes get mistaken for Stuart Fuller a leader in banking and finance based in Sydney. My boss at work said my football website The Ball is Round looks good. I did not have the heart to tell him it was not me!

Why are you a fan of the mighty Canaries aka Norwich City? Is it simply for Delia’s pies?
Well as I stated above, I was taken to my first Norwich game aged 10. It was not long after that I became a season ticket holder at Norwich. Living in Brighton and short on funds means I can not see as many game as I would like now. Twitter, The EDP, The Pink Un and the BBC, especially 5 live helps me in my quest for knowledge on all things green and yellow. My last match was the 1-0 FA Cup defeat against Orient so it is probably best that I stay away for now!

Do you ever get to any Non League games? If so what team?
It has been a while since I saw a non league game (What? Lewes is just on your doorstep !). Back in my youth I saw Worthing play when I could not get to Carrow Road. Now living in Brighton I catch a Seagulls game once in a while. I work most Saturdays now so its harder to see as much live football as I would like. Stuart has since attended a game at Lewes btw.

Last year I was visiting my brother in Libya and watched Alahly Tripoli which quality wise was very non league, but there was a brawl,two sending offs and also a wonderfull overhead kick. Watching football in Libya at the June 11th stadium was a great experience, I would have liked the opportunity to go back but that does now seem unlikely. They are due to host the next African nations cup but again I can’t see that happening now.

Do you know any other Fuller’s working in football?
There is your good self and I believe there may be other Stuart Fullers around. If we take away the Stuart we have my brother Iain who writes for the Goal line and obviously my other brother Richardo who plays for Stoke.

You can follow Stuart at Twitter.com/Sfulls

James Boyes, as well as doubling up as Lewes FC’s website and programme editor is also the club’s official photographer. We caught up with him mid-shot to find out what it is like to be sat on the edge of the pitch with your eye on the lens.

What are the worst conditions you have had to work in?
I think the wet and the cold are the photographer’s enemy. I managed reasonably well in my first season as there wasn’t too much rain, but the last two seasons I haven’t been so lucky. Last season I tried to brave the rainstorm when we ironically played Bath at the Dripping Pan but five minutes into the second half, the game was abandoned. I was in the back of the stand by then but I did manage to get a photo of a wet referee blowing the final whistle. I couldn’t do the puddles justice though.

I think the coldest conditions were when Lewes played at the Kassam Stadium against Oxford Utd in February 2009 in a freezing, biting wind. Fortunately I managed to get home just before the snow which chased me around the M25 and caused more than a few problems for everyone the next morning.

You’ve worked at a few different clubs in the Non Leagues as a travelling photographer. What are the best media facilities you have come across?
To be honest, photographer’s rarely get to experience clubs’ media facilities, unlike journos with their cups of tea, radiators and wi-fi, and they certainly aren’t allowed in the hospitality areas with their dirty boots and bags of equipment. Sometimes it’s even a struggle to get hold of a teamsheet. Again, the facilities vary wildly depending on the club and the league but the Kassam Stadium was quite good (and warm). It was nice to go to Wembley when I photographed the play-off final in 2009, but the fancy press box is in a different section to the photographer’s area which is a window-less room underneath the stadium.

What picture are you most proud of?
In terms of football, there are two that stick in my mind. One is of Jean-Michel Sigere celebrating his 94th minute goal which secured a Lewes win against Thurrock in 2008 that kept our promotion on track. He ran towards me behind the goal and I just hit the shutter in hope. The other one is of David Wheeler celebrating a goal against Leatherhead in last season’s FA Cup replay. It was a dark, foggy night but I managed to capture the joy and relief that comes with a longed-for goal. Great photos need a lot of luck though.

The photo shoot for the 125th anniversary of the squad and Ibbo as 19th Victorian gentlemen was a stroke of genius. Who came up with the idea, and how easy was it to convince Ibbo to go along with it?
Sadly this was an idea dreamt up by Alex Leith and the Sussex Express. I wish I could claim it as my own.

Ever dozed off or been distracted so that you have missed a vital moment?
As I mentioned earlier, good photography is a lot about luck, from chosing the right end to anticipating a key incident. With practice you can reduce the luck level a certain extent but an element of it will always remain. Even more so when you have to take notes during the game for a match report as well as taking photos.

Sometimes I don’t see the actual “goal” being scored as I’m following the player who is shooting or the keeper who is diving and it’s often the crowd reaction that gives you an initial indication as to what has happened. I’ve not yet nodded off but it’s sometimes been a struggle. It wasn’t whilst I was photographing but to answer your question, I was watching Brighton v Leeds at Withdean a few seasons ago with my wife and we missed a goal because we were both, independently, watching a passing policeman putting his glove on.

Which one player would you have loved to have photographed in action?
I can’t decide between Bryan Robson, Zinezine Zidane or Bobby Charlton. So I’ll choose Eric Cantona.

What do you keep in your camera bag? Any secret hipflask to keep you warm?
Nothing out of the ordinary really. A camera, lenses, memory cards, spare battery, stopwatch, pen, notebook, Conference registration number and some headache tablets. If I’m off to an away game on the train then I might try and stuff some sandwiches in there too. Looking at that lot, maybe I need to get a bigger bag!

Is the job the lonliest in football?
Yes it can be at times. It’s normally no problem and there’s enough going on to occupy you, but it got so bad when Lewes played at Woking earlier in the season that I upped sticks and went to join Director Patrick Marber and the boys from EFW and TBIR on the terrace when the Rooks were trying to claw back an equaliser in the last 20 minutes. I enjoyed that. I’m quite humbled sometimes that I am able to go pitch side and behind the scenes at some grounds. I felt like that when I went to Wrexham given the history of the Racecourse Ground. Even Sutton United when I thought of their win over Coventry in the FA Cup all those years ago. Wembley was great too but if I ever get to go pitch side at Old Trafford then it’s downhill from there.

Would you want to be a photographer full time?
Sounds like a good thing to do, but it’s probably not as easy as it would appear. You’d be expected to get the shot every time with no excuses and you probably wouldn’t be able to enjoy the match particularly. I spoke to an Observer photographer earlier in the season at the Dripping Pan and he gave me an insight into the long days and high demands of his job, but one good thing is that he got all his equipment supplied by Canon free of charge, lucky chap, which would be wonderful. Can I plug Canon at this point? At least for me there’s not all that much pressure and the lights at the Pan are so bad that even the best of the pros would struggle to get a decent shot. I photographed a good friend’s wedding as a favour after Christmas, but it was bloody hard work, I was busy all day and I ended up with almost 1,000 shots to download and sort through. Wedding photographers might seem expensive but I now know they earn every penny.

Sum up James Boyes in a 140 character tweet?
Programme editor, website editor, wannabee sports writer and amateur photographer. Enjoying the ride until someone tells me to get off.

You can follow James’s work either by getting your butt down to watch Lewes FC play or by looking at his fantastic Flickr feed here.

Next week will see a brand new reality TV competition hit our screens with the launch of Pro FC on Sky Sports News. The concept is simple. Take a group of talented but as yet undiscovered footballers who have not had the right opportunities to be spotted, put them through some intense coaching and then pick the best two at the end of the week and send them off to a professional club. Simple eh?

“Pro FC is about finding real football potential and raw talent and providing opportunities for young players.”

The two men behind the concept on paper share little in common. Martin Allen, ex-West Ham United legend and former manager of Brentford, Leciester City and Milton Keynes Dons amongst others and DJ Campbell, currently doing the business in the Premier League for Blackpool. Sure they are both involved in football but so are thousands of others.

You need to dig a bit deeper to see the link, and the whole concept of Pro FC. DJ Campbell was scoring for fun in the Isthmian League for Yeading when Allen signed him for Brentford, seeing potential in the young striker who was working as a van driver back then. Whilst he had started his career as a trainee at Aston Villa he had been released before he had an opportunity to shine. Allen oversaw his development as a professional and after just eight months with the Bees he got a dream move to Birmingham City. Five years after making the move from non league obscurity, DJ Campbell helped Blackpool to promotion at Wembley Stadium in the play-off final. A school boy’s dream? The journey of less than 6 miles along the A40 had taken five years but he had made it. However, the frustration is that there are literally hundreds of other players in the Non Leagues who simply do not get spotted and thus will never make that journey.

And this is what Pro FC is going to try to change. Unfortunately most footballers who make it through clubs’ academies are those who develop early. They are taken on under scholarship programmes at the age of 16, and clubs decide whether to keep them or not, normally after 18 months. The number that get retained is tiny. For the chosen few the fight to play football does not end there as they have to try and displace the increasing number of foreign imports that litter squads up and down the country. Many clubs today do not have reserve sides so opportunities for players who have reached 18 are limited to trial games and friendlies.

Look at the tactics used in the past by Arsenal and Manchester United in the Carling Cup. “Wenger’s kids” the papers would remark as a group of youngsters progressed through the tournament. Five years ago the Independent reported on “Highbury’s class of ’05″ dazzling in the competition. That would include those stars of today such as Arturo Lupoli, Quincy Owusu-Abeyie and Kerrea Gilbert then. What about the Manchester United “stars of the future” such as Kieron Richardson, Mark Howard and Adam Eckersely?

The clubs need to have a “greenhouse”, a place where these players can develop mentally and physically. More often than not it is Non League sides nowadays who take the risk on these players, hoping that one day they can get a leg back up into the league. Chris Smalling, once of Maidstone United and now of Manchester United, Ben Foster, ex-Cafe Rouge chef playing for Racing Club Warwick and now an England regular and Paul Benson, discovered playing park football and now at Charlton Athletic, so the dream can still be achieved.

So how will Pro FC actually work? Martin Allen explains the concept.

“I love X-Factor, I love Britain’s Got Talent and I love the story of the underdog having its day, living the dream like DJ Campbell. We aim to find not just one player, but many players, to set them off on their journey that will one day see them playing in the Premier League”

Martin Allen is one of our footballing heroes. He was a player who always gave 100% and played under the nickname “Mad Dog”. However, people often under estimated his talent and he was unlucky not to receive a call up for England. He also came from great footballing stock. In fact, has there ever been a greater footballing dynasty than the Allens? Father Denis played for Reading and Charlton Athletic, Uncle Les played for Spurs and QPR, as did cousin Clive. Then of course was ex-West Ham and Spurs star Paul, who was the youngest player to play in an FA Cup Final and finally Bradley, who played for QPR and Charlton Athletic, both cousins of Martin. If anyone knows about football, then surely he is best placed to advise?

Since coming up with the concept, Allen has been working 7 days a week to set up the competition which will start on the 21st February. After spending 17 years as a professional footballer and then 13 years as a manager/coach, gaining the prestigious UEFA Pro License, Allen has had to adapt to running a business rather than a football club. The first camp in February will see two players get a chance to train with and be assessed by Tottenham Hotspur, but there will also be an educational part to this. Whilst the players will be put through their paces by the coaches during the day, in the evenings, they will also receive guidance on how they could follow a career in football in other ways.

Prozone, the official match analysis partners of the FA and the Football League will be on hand to give the players some idea of how they could follow a career as one of their analysts. The FA will provide information on coaching and refereeing, and Scout7, one of the biggest football scouting networks in Europe, will be on hand to give tips on potential careers in this area. And of course each of the players will be tutored in the importance of diet and nutrition in their daily life.

“Every player will work with a pro coach and will be trained, coached and managed by them, providing them with a full pro footballer experience. They will also gain insight into the ‘team behind the team’ and alternative careers in football available to them.”

The players will go through their paces Monday to Thursday, with Sky Sports News filming the best of the training sessions to be held at Warwick University, then on the Thursday night the coaches will announce their starting XI’s for the big game on the Friday. This game will be videoed and analysed by Prozone, and two players will be chosen to join Tottenham Hotspur for a two day trial. “Bring ‘em to Spurs and we will have a look at them” were the words used by Harry Redknapp when Allen approached him about the first Pro FC camp. Support has also been positive from many Football League clubs agreeing to take some of the players on trial after the other sessions later in the year.

“The Pro FC concept is about ensuring everyone takes something positive away with them, they get to experience life as a pro footballer in all its pain and glory – this includes ice baths! But as a realist, I know that only a small percentage will succeed as a pro footballer, so Pro FC provides further insight on how to live and work in football – through managing and coaching, refereeing, scouting, medical and commercial routes, in other words, the team behind the team.”

We will be getting fully behind Pro FC in February, bringing reports to you every day as well as featuring one of our own Non League stars on a daily basis. We know that there is so much talent in the Non Leagues who will never have a look in, but that is one of the reasons why we love the game at this level, and this is why we will wear our Pro FC badge with pride.

His book is the story of Bromley’s worst ever season. It is a funny and heart-warming tale of football at the very bottom: Dave turns up to each match with his football boots in his bag, just in case the team are a player short; the crowd is always announced as 400 as no-one can be bothered to count; the team ship so many goals that in one match, the taunting opposition fans actually lose count of the score. It’s easy being a football fan when your team are always winning.

To say that this is one of our favourite ever books about football is an understatement. Whether it be because of our love of non league football, the fact that we live in Bromley or that we always back the three legged horse there are so many moments in this book that we can relate to.

Literally as soon as we had read it we fired off an email to author Dave Roberts. And amazingly he responded within minutes. Since then we have been firm author pen friends. Dave now lives in the US but we recently caught up with him about the book, his younger years and his new project.

The book The Bromley Boys is incredibly detailed from thirty years ago. How did you remember all of the events going on from such a long time ago?
I’ll let you into a secret – I don’t. I get hold of the match reports and dig out the old programmes – these tend to jog memories. There’s also a couple of fans that I used to watch games with, including Derek from the book, who help out. One of them, a bloke called John, has a photographic memory and recalls the most incredible details. He could tell you what colour shirt and shorts the opposition goalkeeper was wearing in an obscure Kent Floodlit League game from 1971. I love that kind of detail.

Apart from the proliferation of snoods, in your view how has non league football changed since the 1970’s?
The fitness levels. When I came back in 2008 (I live in the US now), I went along to a Bromley game. I couldn’t believe how fit they all were. Last time I’d been back in the Seventies, non-league players generally played for the enjoyment of playing football, even if some were out of shape and not particularly hard workers. Most had full time jobs and football was just something they played once or twice a week, and trained on one night.

When you last came back to the UK, did you have a Bromley Boys reunion with the ginger one?
I did. Sad story, really. He’s not in the best of health and the ginger locks are long gone, but apart from that, he’d hardly changed at all. It was quite inspirational. Here was someone who had had his life torn apart by illness, yet still managed to be happier and more positive than most people I know. He’s still as passionate about Bromley as he ever was and, despite the fact he can hardly walk, still gets down to Hayes Lane occasionally.

Where is the strangest place you have seen a copy of your books for sale?
I’ve only seen it in two shops, but the strangest place I haven’t seen it would be the club shop at Bromley’s ground. Apparently the management were unimpressed with the book’s title which described them as “the worst team in Britain”. Which wasn’t my idea, by the way – the publisher put that bit in. Honest.

How surprised were you by the success of a teenagers diary about an obsession for crap non league football in suburban London from 30 years ago?
Hmmm – put like that, I can see how it hasn’t quite set the world on fire.Even the editor who bought it described it as “willfully uncommercial”. It’s taken two and a half years to go to a reprint, so, although it’s very kind of you to describe it as a success, it’s probably more accurate to say that it has done quite well in the Bromley region.

Was there ever a sequel in the pipeline?
I’d love to do a sequel one day, but they didn’t have a season anywhere near as disastrous after that, and I became a bit less obsessive. So the ingredients that made Bromley Boys work would no longer be there. Which makes it a bad idea really, doesn’t it?

Who would play you in a film of The Bromley Boys, and how many offers have you turned down from film companies so far?
Here’s a world exclusive for you – it’s currently in development with a producer and they’re getting a script written as we speak. I like the idea of Thomas Thurgood from This is England playing me, but come to think of it, he’s probably too old now. Maybe Darren from Eastenders.

Who is the most famous person in your phone book?
Alan Soper, former Bromley goalkeeper from the early 70s. Is he famous? I’m not sure. He sent me a Christmas card this year. I got really excited about that.

Apart from the 7-0 drubbing at the hands of Weston-Super-Mare recently, things are going well for Bromley. How easy is it to follow their progress from across the pond?
Thanks to the internet, it’s pretty easy. I also get the excellent fanzine (Two Footed Tackle), sent to me and there’s a really good online supporters forum, Back to Hayes Lane. There’s Twitter coverage of every game and I get to see the goals from most of them on the Bromley website. From what I’ve seen , this is one of the best Bromley sides there has ever been.

My proudest moments in my publishing career were seeing a copy of my book in a shop for the first time, and then seeing someone actually reading it. What has yours been?
I think it would be getting the deal for the new book. I’d just about given up when one of the world’s biggest publishers made an offer. I still can’t believe my luck.

Ever been tempted to “re-arrange” the books in a book shop for your own personal gain?
I couldn’t comment on that, apart from saying that Beckenham Books had a very nice display just after I visited them.

Ever gone up to a stranger reading your book and offered to sign it? Would you?
I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone reading it, but if I did, I’d be all over them.

Give us one story that ended up on the cutting room floor?
Charlie King , the Chairman and everything else that season, was irrationally proud of the playing surface, which he was convinced was the best in the league. One frosty night, when the players turned up for training ( and I turned up to watch them), Charlie met them at the gate and told them that they couldn’t train on the pitch in case they ” broke the grass”. Training took place in an icy car park, which led to quite a few cuts and bruises. But at least the grass was OK.

Tell us about 32 Programmes which is due out this summer?
Glad you asked. It’s a book about my wife and I moving to the US, and me only being able to take a small amount of programmes from my collection in our hand luggage, while the rest were kept in storage until we settled. The book is the story behind each of the 32 programmes I choose, which range from a World Cup game between Argentina and Peru, to a Bromley v Civil Service FA Cup qualifier. The book covers the important parts of growing up, like failing with girls, trying to befriend skinheads, writing really bad songs and corresponding with a TV football presenter.

Bromley Boys is available at most good bookshops – just look for the sections that have recently been re-arranged. Alternatively head to Amazon and get your copy there. For more information on Dave and his books head off to his website.

What are the general aims of Fodboldselskabet A/S
The aim of Fodboldselskabet A/S is, according to our articles of association, to own and run an English football club no later than 2013. I think it’s safe to say that we’ve managed that!

Why have you chosen to invest in the non leagues in England? Are there not any similar opportunities in Denmark?
That is a mix of availability, our financial options and an interesting club that we can help develop on and off the pitch.

We’re not in this project to pour neverending big numbered checks into the club. Instead we’re going to work hard in cooperation with the fans, the manager and the management in the club to ensure growth through economical responsibility, and hopefully secure a rise through the ranks of the leagues – not that we’re in a rush to do so. It must be done properly.

Regarding the opportunities in Denmark for a project like this, they don’t exist. It is really hard to explain, but most sports clubs in Denmark are formed as associations, and the clubs will generally have a wide presentation of sports such as handball, badminton, athletics, gymnastics etc. Therefore the clubs are not seen as businesses, but as associations that offers the local population an opportunity to play a lot of different sports.

Why didn’t the attempted take over at Chester City work out?
Well, the council estimated that the fan clubs (CFUs) idea was the best way to go and decided to go with that. We put in our best effort and had the best intentions for the club, the fans and the local community, but that wasn’t enough. We have to accept that, and we of course wish Chester and the fan club the best of luck.

During that process, we of course also made some mistakes and there’s no need to deny that, but what is important is that we’ve learned from these mistakes. Now we’re in Croydon Athletic and the clubs got our full attention.

Did you look at any other clubs before Croydon? And is this the end of your ambitions in terms of investment into English football?
Before Croydon we looked at several clubs. However, none of them presented the same opportunity as Croydon, which we believe offers great opportunities and potential for economical development, local cooperation and just the right gut feeling.

Why Croydon? And why only a 51% share?
Well, the reason we did choose Croydon Athletic I just stated above. The possibility to cooperate with Mazahr regarding the clubs future was a great opportunity. You have to remember that he’s invested a lot in the club and has already got the knowledge of the club, of the fans and of the non league system, that we would have had to use a lot of time to acquire. If you ask me, the cooperation with Mazahr is the perfect opportunity for Fodboldselskabet.

Did you start the process before the Pakistani match fixing allegations break in the press? What impact did this have on your decision making?
We entered the takeover negotiations with open eyes. That means that we were aware of the match fixing allegations but also that Mazahr has been completely honest with us regarding those allegations.

What can fans expect from your involvement on and off the pitch?
The fans can expect commitment, professionalism and honesty. As I’ve mentioned earlier, our key focus is on economics. We’re not going to jeopardize the club and the economics in the search for rapid promotion. As you’ve seen in many other clubs, success on the pitch does not guarantee economical success. Economical success however, can be the base for success on the pitch.

Bacon rolls are famous non league snacks yet few clubs get it right. The Danes produce the best bacon in the world so can you re-assure fans you will try and bring a real taste of Denmark to South London?
I don’t really think we’ve got any of the best bacon left in Denmark. Most of it is actually exported – I know you benefit from that in England. To be honest I was actually looking forward to fish and chips and a mince pie. (We will settle for a Carlsberg then – ED)

How is Fodboldselskabet A/S funded? Is the principal the same as the “Myfootballclub.com” concept here in England?
I’m really not to acquainted with Myfootballclub.com, but the participants had a vote for the match squad as long as they paid a monthly fee or so, yea?

Fodboldselskabet A/S is a PLC, and the shareholders only influence is to elect the board of directors. The team selection is the responsibility of Dave Garland, Bob Langford and the team. The dealings on the pitch we’ll leave to the players.

How do you want to be seen in England and Denmark?
We want to be seen as what we are. Football interested people with a particular interest in English football and football culture. Besides that, we want to listen to ensure a close cooperation between Croydon Athletic, the fans and the local community, and that is an area that we’re working really hard on. We believe in a symbiotic relationship between the club, fans and local community as a starting point for long term success.

What sort of players in terms of level of skill and capability do you think you will bring to Denmark, and where will they come from?
Bringing players from Croydon Athletic to Denmark is not part of our plan, but the other way we hope to bring young Danish talent, that has the necessary skill and commitment to play for the Rams. First of all we’ll see how Lasse Weber and Stefan Rasmussen cope, and then we’ll see if other options emerges later on, and then we’ll make a decision in cooperation with the gaffers..

How will you determine whether the project has been a success?
Our first priority is to ensure a sound economical plan and to avoid relegation in this season. The completion of a healthy economical plan takes first priority, but we understand that these two priorities influences each other. However, with the recent signings of players, and when the two Danish signings reach full match form, we are confident that we’ll be placed well above the relegation zone at the end of the season.

What is your impression of football at Croydon’s level? Did you see many games before you came to a decision to buy a stake in the club?
We didn’t see that many games before the decision was made. As I’ve stated before, our main reason for purchasing the stake in Croydon was the potential in the club. Prior to the purchase, we obviously investigated heavily into the possibilities for the current season and whether the potential to ensure finishing above the relegation zone existed.

How have the first few months been in charge? What have been your first impressions of the club, the league and English football?
The first few months have been quite a ride. We met a lot of positive comments from people in Denmark and there’s been quite a bit of press attention. Besides we were very disappointed that the first few matches were cancelled due to weather conditions, but with the momentum we’ve picked up in the last few games we’re really looking forward to the rest of the season.

We’ve also planned a trip for the shareholders to come and watch a home game, which we think will have a large support among our shareholders. A few has already been at Keith Tucket for a game.

Was you surprised how cold it got in Croydon before Christmas compared to Denmark?
I guess you could say that. We had a lot of snow in Denmark as well, and I think we all just thought that England was all about rain and no snow.

Foreign club owners have got bad press in England. What can you do to improve this view?
We’re definitely not in this because we lack a toy to spend millions of pounds on. Most of us have followed the Premier League and the Championship and before that the Football League, the FA Cup and the League Cup. I think most of us – at least that’s how I feel – are impressed by the raw sincerity and commitment that exists in English football.

But we’re in this because of our interest in English football and the culture in particular and I think that’s going to be the major difference – This is not a prestige project but a result of our long term interest in English football.

Accepting the tongue in cheek when setting the ambition at Champions League trophy in 2019 which incidently would require 6 promotions in 8 years, isn’t it still either somewhat naïve to the current levels of the conferences to have a target of 2-3 promotions in 5 years or can we expect significant further investments in players and supporting staff?
It might be a bit too optimistic as we need to develop the club economically simultaneously. But we believe that there’s a lot of unexploited potential in Croydon Athletic FC, and I guess only time will tell whether it’s naive to target 2-3 promotions in 5 years time. First of all though, we’ll need to secure the club from the relegation zone.

Croydon will be a club where football fans own 51% of the shares. Will that lead to initiatives trying to focus more on the fans enjoyment of the club than on the financial returns? If no, how then will Croydon differ from all the other clubs and if yes, how will this be turned into an advantage trying to progress through the leagues?
We are working with several ideas to strengthen the relationship with the fans, and that is really important to us. Our shareholders are football fans and we’re going to act like football fans and focus on how to improve the fans and the local communities experience with the club, without losing our focus on a economically healthy business.

Many thanks Morten for taking the time to answer our questions, honestly and as candidly as possible. I am sure that a number of clubs, as well as fans will be looking on with interest to see how the partnership works, and of course, good luck for the rest of the season and we all hope that Croydon Athletic will next season still be in the Ryman Premier League.

Believe it or not newspapers and magazines do not just give jobs out because “you really love football” and “passed my O-level in English”. Virtually every national media journalist had to start at the lowest rung on the ladder. And in football, that means being the junior for a local newspaper, working you way up, travelling up and down the country watching the game in cramped, cold press boxes before rushing off to file a 1,000 words on Billingham Synthonia or Pilkington XXX. Some then get given more regional teams, becoming a bigger fish but to make the jump from the local lake into the big national sea is an honour only given to a few.

We’ve been lucky through the route we have chosen to rub shoulders with some of these individuals (although not at any Premier League/Football League games – that is a story for another day), seeing the pressure they have to work under. During the Rugby World Cup Final in 2007 at the Stade de France in Paris we spent the whole of the second half relating what was actually going on on the pitch to the surrounding press as they desperately tried to make their print deadlines. Hardly the glamorous world that many expect (although the pre-match steak and frites was top notch).

One such journalist who has “earnt his spurs” the hard way is Villa-Supporting, Daily Express football writer Matt Law. We caught up with Matt over Christmas to discover what life is really like in the modern world of football journalism.

How did you get your break with a national newspaper?
After working for 6 years on local papers, covering Tamworth FC, Burton Albion and Derby County, I joined the League Paper covering all football outside the Premier League. I was then approached by the Daily Express to work as a London football reporter, a job I had always wanted.

You seem to follow Arsenal quite a bit for the Express. What insights have surprised you about the club, or football in general?
At Arsenal, the daily newspapers have a separate press conference with Arsene Wenger, away from television and radio. I first surprised at Wenger’s razor sharp sense of humour and still flinch now whenever he swears!

What story have you been most proud of in your career and why?
I broke the story that Theo Walcott had been omitted from the England squad for the 2010 World Cup. Because of the timings of the squad announcement, I put the story on my twitter page and on the Daily Express website. It proved to be a fascinating day on twitter as the full squad unfolded and in many ways was the start of twitter becoming a big football news source.

Every journalist seems to have a book in them somewhere. What would yours be about, and any plans to publish?
I am actually not very keen on football books, so if I write a book, it would be a fictional novel. Unfortunately, I am yet to think what it would be about!

You are an avid “Tweeter”. How has social media changed your job?
Twitter allows me to interact with readers and football fans in a way that newspapers do not. It also gives me the opportunity to air my opinions, however strong!

What do you think the future is of print media with the rise of blogging? Newspapers and football journalists are certainly having to adapt to the changes that the internet, and immediate news outlets, have brought about. It is still clear however, that newspapers drive the news agenda every day of the week.

Who has been the hardest person to interview after a game and why?
Arsene Wenger whenever Arsenal haven’t won!

You’ve been lucky enough to travel to a few “interesting” places to cover the game. What is the worst place you have been to and is there anywhere else duller than Minsk?
What’s wrong with Minsk?! (ED – See our trip to the dullest place on earth here) I’ve certainly had to follow the England squad to some places that I didn’t think I would find myself reporting! Kazakhstan, Trinidad and Belarus. Five weeks this summer staying in Sun City reporting on the England squad certainly had its ups and downs.

Snoods, short sleeve shirts with gloves on, players wearing tights – all three would be in our Football Room 101. What would be in yours? Players kissing the badge.

When was the last time you went to a game in a non professional capacity?
I am a huge Villa fan. I go whenever I can get to a game, or convince my desk to put me on the Villa matches. My wife is a Man City fan, so I’ve also been dragged to Eastlands rather more than I’d like in the last few years.

How difficult is it to write objectively about the situation at Aston Villa when you are such a big fan?
It’s not a problem to write objectively. For some reason, they usually lose when I cover them so it’s easy not to be too biased in their favour. When Villa beat Chelsea at Villa Park a while back, I was in the press box jumping and cheering. Not very professional!

Let’s wind forward 3 years. Who will the “big 4” be?
I’d love to be able to predict that. Sadly, it’s hard enough to say who the Big 4 will be even by the end of the season.

Is there a press football team, and are you in it?
I played for the England press football team against 11 men claiming to be the Kazakhstan press team. After being thrashed, we found out half of them played in the Kazakhstan domestic league. Although we did have Chris Waddle on our team and still lost!

Sum up Matt Law in a 140 character Tweet
“London and England Football journalist, recent expert at thinking of alternative shorter words and removing unnecessary spaces!”

Still would be nice though wouldn’t it to be paid to watch football? Jealous? Us? Never!

You can follow Matt at Twitter.com/mattlawexpress

So when James Boyes came to us and asked for our “best ever interview” for the Lewes FC programme we looked at each other knowingly and decided that the ULTIMATE interview would be with each other – after all we really can talk absolute crap for hours. Unfortunately work commitments mean that we are normally 600 miles apart during the week. No problems though – after all we have technology on our side. Or so we thought….

Danny – Earth calling Denners
Stuart – Got you!
D – I can’t see you on messenger
S – I am not on messenger, I am on Google
D – I don’t use Google
S – OK, I will go onto messenger….nope can’t do that on my Mac
D – Shall we do this by phone?
S – Carrier Pigeon
D – Post
S – Yeah ‘cos that will get there…I know a block at the Gatwick sorting office….ah there you are
D – Right, shall we kick off?
S – So, crop rotation in the 14th century – what was all that about?
D – The Young Ones – Grade A funny!
S – I am impressed you remembered it! OK – having been away from the “league” scene for a while, how has it been going back to BHA a couple of times recently?
D – Both bitter and sweet. Bitter in that it costs an arm and two legs, you can’t get a beer in the ground, you get told what you can and can’t do every five minutes and there is no lettuce in their burgers. Sweet in that they beat Portsmouth, handsomely, and that made it all worth the while.
S – So next season in a new stadium, with potential home games against West Ham and Aston Villa (based on current form), would you be tempted to start going again?
D – I shall pick and choose the games I go to. Hopefully, Lewes and Brighton will do the sensible thing and have home games on alternate Saturdays. Then I can pitch up at both, in between my jaunty trips abroad. I thought we were here to celebrate a classical Greek Athenian philosopher, right?
S – Just a warm up and then we can get onto that famous Garforth Town reject. Taking of trips abroad, on the FIFA star index, what would gain a 5 star trip these days? Obviously the bar has been raised in previous years.
D – I don’t dish out the coveted FIFA 5 stars too easily these days. It would have to be something very special. How about a trip to Berlin for a derby between Hertha and FC Union in Division 2 – watched by a sell out crowd of 75,000 followed by the Leipzig derby the very next day?
S – The Leipzig thing is amazing – great stadium as well. So this football blogging thing. How, why and when for you?
D – How is anyone’s guess, I’m still try to work out how to use a computer properly. Why? Because at the time there wasn’t anything quite like EFW. All of the (deep breath now) “ground hopping” blogs were more concerned with how they were going to keep their programme in mint condition and what time the last bus left from Chester-Le-Street. I just wanted to get likeminded folk, those who enjoy a beer. …and a giggle and didn’t take life or football too seriously together in one place. And I think that’s worked. When? About three years ago, but only really seriously in the last 12 months. And I think that has worked!
S – What was your first trip you published? Do you look back at what you wrote and cringe? I am thinking of republishing all mine from day 1….sort of a retro look back
D – The first one I published was from a trip to Romania to see them tackle Holland followed by a Division 4 game in Bucharest the next day. And yes, it was shocking, as were the rest of them around that time. I think the polite way of describing them would be “rough around the edges.” – rubbish in other words. But good fun.
S – I learnt yesterday the origins of the term “pushing the envelope”…how can we (as in TBIR/EFW) push the envelope even further based on our past year?
D – I only started taking a camera to games two years ago. Before then, I thought anyone who snapped away at games was radio rental. Like those who wave their mobile phones around at gigs. No need. Can we upgrade the envelope to a jiffy bag? That’s the six million dollar question. And will we still be able to push that through the letter box? I need to upgrade from Blogger to WordPress that much is true. But to do that I have to put in more effort and invest more time to learn new skills. And I quite like my fix of Homes Under the Hammer in the morning. That’ll have to give.
S – So what are your aims for 2011 for EFW?
D – As for 2011, all that I know is that I know nothing. Another nod to Socrates there, did you notice? More of the same, really. Other writers have climbed on board the good ship EFW, and they’re really talented chaps. I’m chuffed to bits that someone else would want to write for EFW.
S – You have pulled in some big names in 2010. Who have you in your sites for 2011 and how do you managed to get so many big names to agree?
D – It was a concertina-effect, once Barry Glendenning agreed to answer a few questions – and set the standard, it was easier to get others to say yes, culminating in getting James Richardson on, which was the highlight of 2010 on EFW. I belong to Jimbo. Oh and Dave Lamb was brilliant but only if he’s reading this. As for 2011, I don’t know – Gareth Gates? Patrick Marber?
S – You mention other writers – do you see a day that EFW will just be a portal for new writers?
D – That would be brilliant. If someone can get a bit of recognition by virtue of penning an article on EFW, then my work here would have been done. I missed my calling, but if I can help another person get a leg up, then I will.
S – It is certainly a long term ambition of mine to create a site for young writing talent
D – Aye, and not two old duffers like us. Talking of Duffers…Terry Duffelen has done a great job to bring the football blogging community together, no?
S – Yes indeed – how much power do you think the blogging community has nowadays?
D – Not too much power. But a fair amount of increasing respect I think. Initially, the perception was probably of a bunch of nerds hiding behind keyboards. And now, due to the likes of Michael Cox and Kieran from the Swiss Ramble, bloggers seem to be all the rage at the moment, the best of which will probably turn their hobby into a living.
D – I suppose I should ask you a few questions then? How do you get a golden pass from the Current Mrs. Fuller to attend all these matches?
S – I’ve always travelled for business, being away for days on end. I think I would drive her mad if I was at home every night. She doesn’t want for much being a simple northern lass – a bottle of stout and a greasy chip butty. She reads all my stuff and is actually an inspiration behind some of my best work
D – Open the windows, why did you start The Ball is Round?
S – Well the forerunner was BudgetAirlineFootball.co.uk and that was set up to help fans go and get to games abroad. I have travelled for years going to football and used to take handwritten notes and keep them in a file, now taking pride of place in the Museum (my shed in the garden). Then I would see amusing stuff or get into situations where I thought “that would be funny to read about”…so I started blogging in 2006
D – Hypothetical situation time. You’ve got a free pass next Saturday; would you prefer to go and see Lewes, West Ham, a new non league ground, the Milan derby or a division three match in Bulgaria?
S – 1. A visit to a new non league, 2. Lewes FC, 3. The Milan derby 4. Bulgaria and finally 5. West Ham…unless Avram had gone and then it may just move above Milan and Bulgaria
D – So West Ham have slipped down the pecking order. You gained infamy by penning an open letter to the board at Upton Park. Is modern football rubbish?
S – Modern football isn’t rubbish per say – the club owners are businessmen and need to make money for their stakeholders, and like all businesses that means trying to gain more ARPU (Average revenue per user). So that means higher ticket prices, more crap merchandise, more paid for internet content etc. But unlike other businesses they seem to think that the quality of their product on offer does not matter – in fact they can reduce the quality and still expect people to pay more – bit like Southeastern trains really. After all clubs feel they have a monopoly on a fan’s support…..but here is the secret….they don’t – fans have a choice!
D – So what is this Socrates all about and why are all these football bloggers nodding in approval of the Harveys in the Rook Inn?
S – A meeting of some of the finest minds in the independent football writing community. And where better than a community drinking some of the best independent beer in England!
D – And at the best ground, no? What is so special about an afternoon at the Dripping Pan?
S – The surroundings, the fans, the banter – all friendly, nothing confrontational….Lewes fans are simply friends you have never met!
D – I think it’s the best beer garden in England. So being Devil’s Advocate here, Lewes isn’t your local Non League club is it? Why not follow them?
S – I used to – Welling United is my local team and I did get involved with them, helping out on the programme, doing some match reports and even bringing in a couple of corporate sponsors. But they didn’t appreciate it. No one ever said “thank you” for the free time I had given up so I thought “sod that”
D – So their loss was Lewes’s gain then. And you’re involved in the Lewes FC programme now as well?
S – Yes – and that is really enjoyable. I love writing about the unusual stuff around football and the fans seem to enjoy the stuff we are putting in there. And with the Community Share Scheme in place I will become a part owner of the club soon. And of course there is our ongoing work to turn The Rook Inn into a shrine to football. That project is far from finished and all donations from any club are still gratefully accepted
D – You spend part of your working week in Denmark. How does watching football in Denners compare with games back in dear old Blighty?
S – Football in Denners varies so much based on the levels you watch – even in the Superliga. FCK and Brondby are very corporate, akin to our Premier League clubs with your branded popcorn and fizzy drinks, whilst a visit to Lyngby in the same league is like a visit to a League One club. Go down a division or two in Denmark and it is the same level as Lewes. Funnily enough, the Danish equivalent of Myfootballclub has actually invested in Croydon Athletic of the Ryman League
D – Final question. Do you have a spare plastic wallet to keep my Bognor Regis programme in so it doesn’t get creased?
S – Only if you tell me the return times from Braintree Freeport on Saturday evening!

Surprisingly, both Danny and Stuart are married, hold down regular jobs and can use a mobile phone. Lord help us all.

Jolly is a bit of a superstar in the non-leagues and few people who I have spoken to have a bad word against him. Wherever he has gone, he has been prolific in terms of his scoring. He won the golden boot (for the second time in just three seasons) with Carshalton Athletic just two seasons ago, and openly said he wanted to move on in the summer to try and win the league with Sutton United. As 2010 became 2011 his decision looked vindicated as his goals had helped Sutton open up a decent lead in the Ryman Premier League. However, a week is a long time in football, let alone the three it was between seeing Mr Jolly and then catching up with him as in mid-January he rejoined Ryman League rivals Wealdstone on loan. We caught up with him on the trip across town to his new club.

Do you class yourself as a Professional footballer? What else do you do?
No I don’t. I work in the Pensions Industry for the Local Government Pension Scheme. Very far removed from being a pro footballer!

It is rare to see such a prolific striker in the non-leagues who is not built like a brick shithouse. What is the secret to your success?
A good meal and a bottle or two of wine on a Friday night! I think I score a lot of my goals from being one step ahead of the defenders in and around the box and always being on the move. I enjoy playing football and being relaxed plays a big part. Sometimes you can try too hard and you don’t do the things that come naturally.

31 goals in 2008/09 won you the Ryman Golden Boot. Did you think some bigger clubs may have come sniffing around Colston Avenue?
There were a few clubs who contacted me but the money that was on offer wasn’t enough to be worthwhile and to give up my day job. Some pro clubs feel they can offer a low package because they are giving you a chance of becoming a pro. I wasn’t willing to give up the career I had created for myself just for the off chance of a few years of being a pro footballer.

Any particular teams that you always struggle against?
Not really. I never really look at who I score or don’t score against.

Having seen certain Football manager’s siblings be given chance after chance to make it without success at Football League (and Premier League) level, ever wish you would have been born Richard Wenger?
No. I wouldn’t want to people to think I was only there because of my Dad, Uncle or Brother. I wouldn’t feel comfortable knowing it was my Dad and not my ability that gave me the opportunity. But I’m sure I’d cope if they was offering me thousands of pounds a week!!

Sutton United look good this year but how far in reality can they go with teams like Crawley Town ready (and able?) to spend £300k to bring in a non league player?
There will always be one or two clubs who have limitless pits of money & it makes the game exciting. Money buys good players but it can’t always get you that team spirit. There is a good group at Sutton with a lot of potential & spirit so who knows how far the team can go.

Without agents at the level you are at, how do transfers materialize?
A cheeky phone call from a manager or over a beer in the bar after a game!

Ever fancied taking the route of other ex-step 3 non league players such as Martyn Lancaster (ex-Northwich Victoria, Leigh RMI and Southport) who is now at Miami FC, and Kenny Pavey (ex-Sittingbourne United) now with AIK Solna in Sweden in playing abroad?
I had the possibility of going to America and doing a football scholarship there when I was 16 but in all honesty I was scared to leave home and live in another country at such a young age on my own.

When you first started playing, what level did you think you could reach?
I thought I had something when I was younger but I was never the best player in any team I played for. I thought if I could nick a professional contract at any club then I would have been happy.

How do you motivate yourself to play on a wet winter’s night at Horsham?
Strangely I like playing in the cold. It makes me run around more to stay warm. Also I prefer midweek games to Saturday games. There’s something about playing under floodlights that makes a game seem more special and professional.

Who would play Richard Jolly in a film about your career?
I’d play myself and demand a huge multi million pound pay check from 20th Century Fox so I can buy an island and retire!

Every played in front of one man and his dog and thought “What am I doing here?”
Yep. One game that sticks in my mind was a Tuesday night game for Heybridge Swifts at home. I scored in the first minute and they played a crowd cheering on the tannoy as there were only about 10 people in the ground by then!

Snoods, gloves with short sleeve shirts, music when goals are scored – three things we would banish to Football room 101. What would you put in there?
Ice baths. Pre season training. Injuries

What team do you support? Ever had the chance to train or play for them?
I support Queens Park Rangers. I used to be a season ticket holder until I was 16 and started playing on Saturdays. I never wanted to play for them just in case it didn’t go as planned, got sacked and ended up hating the club.

Did you know that Caroline Barker from BBC’s Non League Show is a big fan of yours? Anyone else well known in your phone book?
No I didn’t know she even knew of me! I don’t have any well known people in my phone book

Sum up Richard Jolly in a 140 character Tweet
A man of simple pleasures. Give me family, friends, food and an endless cellar of the worlds finest wines! And a few million quid!

And there we go. It’s not that glamorous being a Non League star on a Saturday and then having to go back to work on Monday morning. But thousands of players like Richard do just that every week. And without them the world would be a much duller place. So for adding some enjoyment into our lives, Richard I thank you!