How good are you at football?

American_Mary said:
The teachers strike in the mid 80's had an impact on my sporting life, I was decent at running, town and district champ at 400m and 800m , but missed the County Championship with a bout of glandular fever, the following year I was out of age group and finished runner up in both events at town level, then when I was in the form of my life, I'd just broken 2 minutes for the 800m and was being touted to potentially to compete at a higher level and join the Harriers, I was going to stop playing cricket and give up athletics as my summer sport, the teachers went on strike so I missed two years of development and I became more involved in football due to the ease of access with my Dad, I'd train with the juniors one night and the first team on the following night.

I ran cross country for the county and played football, rugby, cricket and ran both athletics and cross country for my district but only played football for Cleveland at 6th form college level. I was a bit of an all rounder in a very small district, but I think all those sports helped in different ways. Football in my late teens kind of took over and probably had a negative impact on my first forays into adult relationships, with training 2 or 3 nights a week, then matches on the weekend, in hindsight I should have been more selective, I'm pretty much knackered now to do too much, I can't remember the last time somewhere didn't have a twinge on a morning or my knees and ankles didn't click.

Still it was great fun, and have some great memories, with a few disappointments along the way, I've played in every position on the pitch, although the less said about my emergency stints in goal the better, and won cups and leagues, along with the occasional personal trophy, made friends that I still keep in touch with and in the main avoided any real serious injuries until rupturing my achilles right at the end, I had 25 years of playing organised 11 a side, played at a few league grounds, scored at Ayresome Park, the consolation in a 4-1 defeat in the years of the very tight nets and my family thought I'd hit the post as the ball bounced back out.
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I probably ran against you mid 80s . I ran for Mandale and ran for Middlesbrough schools and then ran for Cleveland schools . Came second in schools cross country at Stewart Park in 84 . Loved running
 
American_Mary said:
The teachers strike in the mid 80's had an impact on my sporting life, I was decent at running, town and district champ at 400m and 800m , but missed the County Championship with a bout of glandular fever, the following year I was out of age group and finished runner up in both events at town level, then when I was in the form of my life, I'd just broken 2 minutes for the 800m and was being touted to potentially to compete at a higher level and join the Harriers, I was going to stop playing cricket and give up athletics as my summer sport, the teachers went on strike so I missed two years of development and I became more involved in football due to the ease of access with my Dad, I'd train with the juniors one night and the first team on the following night.

I ran cross country for the county and played football, rugby, cricket and ran both athletics and cross country for my district but only played football for Cleveland at 6th form college level. I was a bit of an all rounder in a very small district, but I think all those sports helped in different ways. Football in my late teens kind of took over and probably had a negative impact on my first forays into adult relationships, with training 2 or 3 nights a week, then matches on the weekend, in hindsight I should have been more selective, I'm pretty much knackered now to do too much, I can't remember the last time somewhere didn't have a twinge on a morning or my knees and ankles didn't click.

Still it was great fun, and have some great memories, with a few disappointments along the way, I've played in every position on the pitch, although the less said about my emergency stints in goal the better, and won cups and leagues, along with the occasional personal trophy, made friends that I still keep in touch with and in the main avoided any real serious injuries until rupturing my achilles right at the end, I had 25 years of playing organised 11 a side, played at a few league grounds, scored at Ayresome Park, the consolation in a 4-1 defeat in the years of the very tight nets and my family thought I'd hit the post as the ball bounced back out.
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Sounds like you might be roughly the same age as me AM. I scored two goals at Ayresome Park and still have the video of it (two of the most scrappiest goals I am ever likely to score):D I still play 5-a-side at 48. Well did until Covid.
 
TommyPlus said:
Anybody have a trial or a promising career wrecked by the customary cruciate ligament injury?

5 a side maestro about the limit of my abilities although I played with Cooper671 and, if it pleases anyone, he's garbage.
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I was a decent schoolboy footballer represented and captained the district side. Had a trial for the Boro at Hutton Road, though I'd played OK, but there were some decent lads playing to be fair.
Went on to play Teesside League, and Northern League for South Bank, but wrapped in as it for cloggers (late 60's) and nobody spoke to me, so went back to TL. Thoroughly enjoyed playing, a sad day when your legs become detached from your brain!
 
Estonboy said:
I was a decent schoolboy footballer represented and captained the district side. Had a trial for the Boro at Hutton Road, though I'd played OK, but there were some decent lads playing to be fair.
Went on to play Teesside League, and Northern League for South Bank, but wrapped in as it for cloggers (late 60's) and nobody spoke to me, so went back to TL. Thoroughly enjoyed playing, a sad day when your legs become detached from your brain!
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Imagine what it was like when your legs NEVER did what your brain was wanting them to do . 😎
 
I'm shockingly bad at football. And almost all sports. Which upsets me as I enjoy exercise.

In my yoot I was compared to Curtis Fleming. Turn out it was has passing and shooting ability I shared. None of his defensive qualities.
 
Awful.
I don't actually enjoy playing team sports much; more of an individual sports player.
Prefer watching team sports though.
 
Frozen Horse said:
Awful.
I don't actually enjoy playing team sports much; more of an individual sports player.
Prefer watching team sports though.
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Me too, certainly nowadays. I'm not very good at dealing with people who take it more seriously than me, I can't quite get it with adults. I do with kids obviously, and high standard players, but not a kickabout with your mates.

Last time I played five-a-side I had to split up a fight between two of my work colleagues on work premises, either one of them could have easily ended up getting dismissed. This was a matter of weeks after some tvvat had gone into the back of me when I wasn't looking and led to me fracturing my scaphoid as I fell. Grown men in their thirties acting like they're playing in a world cup.
 
I was never all that good, played for my primary school and captained the second team in first year senior school.

I played for Tottenham once though! Tottenham probation against Haringey social services 😀
 
atypical_boro said:
Me too, certainly nowadays. I'm not very good at dealing with people who take it more seriously than me, I can't quite get it with adults. I do with kids obviously, and high standard players, but not a kickabout with your mates.

Last time I played five-a-side I had to split up a fight between two of my work colleagues on work premises, either one of them could have easily ended up getting dismissed. This was a matter of weeks after some tvvat had gone into the back of me when I wasn't looking and led to me fracturing my scaphoid as I fell. Grown men in their thirties acting like they're playing in a world cup.
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You always get one or two idiots at every level. There was one guy who I used to play with who wasn't particularly dirty but spent the entire game moaning and shouting at his team mates (some of them not very good at all but trying their best). Did result in a moment of pure comedy in one game when he belted the ball at the wall in anger and it came flying back and smacked him in the face. Karma.

That said I do like to play to win. The perfect game for me is a friendly atmosphere but everyone trying their hardest. It does annoy me sometimes people who just goal hang or try dribbling every time they get the ball. It's a team game, the point is to try and win the match not play for yourself. I've played in some terrible games where it's like primary school kids playing. Everyone chasing the ball and no one bothering to try and defend.
 
festa5 said:
You always get one or two idiots at every level. There was one guy who I used to play with who wasn't particularly dirty but spent the entire game moaning and shouting at his team mates (some of them not very good at all but trying their best). Did result in a moment of pure comedy in one game when he belted the ball at the wall in anger and it came flying back and smacked him in the face. Karma.

That said I do like to play to win. The perfect game for me is a friendly atmosphere but everyone trying their hardest. It does annoy me sometimes people who just goal hang or try dribbling every time they get the ball. It's a team game, the point is to try and win the match not play for yourself. I've played in some terrible games where it's like primary school kids playing. Everyone chasing the ball and no one bothering to try and defend.
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Well horses for courses I guess. For me, it stops being fun if one of your 'close friends' starts having a hissy fit at you for not being willing to break your leg in the tackle at 6.15 on a Tuesday evening after a long day at work.
 
Seven different Northern League clubs. I was a decent player but was never interested. I much preferred Sunday league with the lads. Northern League used to get in the way of being able to go out on a Friday night. ;)
 
hewielewie said:
Sounds like you might be roughly the same age as me AM. I scored two goals at Ayresome Park and still have the video of it (two of the most scrappiest goals I am ever likely to score):D I still play 5-a-side at 48. Well did until Covid.
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I'm 50 next month so same era, mine was a scrappy one too, keeper made a save and I followed up to make the score 4-1, it was the 1, pitch was bobbly and dry and everything played out wide seemed to run away from me, but great experience.

As I got older I certainly lost the competitive edge, I know people that can't cope with losing at all, I hated negativity on the field, quite often those must guilty of not trying were the ones most prone to give it out and although I was always a talker on the pitch I always felt encouragement was a better method than bawling someone out.
 
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atypical_boro said:
Well horses for courses I guess. For me, it stops being fun if one of your 'close friends' starts having a hissy fit at you for not being willing to break your leg in the tackle at 6.15 on a Tuesday evening after a long day at work.
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Think you've misinterpreted what I've written there if you think that's what I was endorsing.
 
festa5 said:
Think you've misinterpreted what I've written there if you think that's what I was endorsing.
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No I got what you were saying. I just think 'playing to win' is one thing, but I would never be bothered if someone else wasn't really trying. Surely its just about fitness at this age, if you get what you want out of it and others don't, it honestly wouldn't bother me. I know you weren't endorsing the kind of behaviour I mentioned above.
 
I don’t mind people having a whinge at 5 aside , it always happens. Only time it annoys me is it’s normally the guy who is actually doing the least work who normally whinges.
 
atypical_boro said:
No I got what you were saying. I just think 'playing to win' is one thing, but I would never be bothered if someone else wasn't really trying. Surely its just about fitness at this age, if you get what you want out of it and others don't, it honestly wouldn't bother me. I know you weren't endorsing the kind of behaviour I mentioned above.
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To be honest if it was a game where most people weren't really playing to win then I probably wouldn't play again rather than get particularly annoyed by it.

Same the other way too actually, I packed in playing in 5 a side leagues as I got fed up with the chew from some of teams. Middle ground is the sweet spot for me.
 
Depends really. If it's justified it doesn't really bother me. But the biggest whinger in the game I play in is probably the biggest culprit for doing all the stuff he whinges at others for. Winds me right up 😂
 
festa5 said:
Depends really. If it's justified it doesn't really bother me. But the biggest whinger in the game I play in is probably the biggest culprit for doing all the stuff he whinges at others for. Winds me right up 😂
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Same with mine. Very hypocritical! Suppose you let him get on with it and certainly make sure you remind him when he f*cks up!
 
Never pulled up any trees and mostly played a lot of 5-a-side over the years, I’ve got a good shot and a bit of pace (even with a bit of a gut) so can do a shift up front, I enjoy playing in nets too. Had two years in Brunei til 2019 and played for a couple of expat teams which had some lads who’d been good footballers in different countries. Due to the poor quality of Brunei’s national team I ended playing with and against several former and current national players and players for the big DPMM Singapore league team, I even managed one lad who was a quality player (for the standard out there) and should get loads of caps. Played with a Filipino international who you could tell was a cut above but he tried too hard in the one game he filled in for us. Also was lucky enough to play a game for Prince Mateen’s team which was great and good standard. I now wonder what my degree of separation from players like Messi is!
 
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