Andy first saw Boldmere St Michaels play some 18 seasons ago after his Father told him that a workmate-Jimmy Rosborough- played for the team.
Andy was tasked to put together his ideal Boldmere team from the last couple of decades based on the players that he liked watching who were characters and were fun to watch.
Gary Beech (Goalkeeper) Andy said, "Gary was not the most athletic looking keeper but he represented those of us that carried a few extra pounds around their midriff."
Mark Howell (Right Back) He was a good solid defender and could play a bit as well. He was player of the year at the end of the 1994-1995 season.
Neil Finan (Left Back) He was a committed player and seeing in the bar afterwards you could tell that he was Boldmere through and through. He was good on the overlap.
Richard Evans (Centre Half) Half a stone lighter and he would have bee a brilliant player. He had a great attitude and commitment.
Dan Parker (Centre Back) Andy said, “He was my favourite player from recent seasons.”
Tim Gould (Midfielder) Andy said, “I brought along some friends who were neutrals. After 20 minutes in their eyes he stood out which shows what a good player he is. Even though he stepped up three levels to the Solihull Moors he did not get found out. Nor should he as he has the ability. I see he won awards in the
presentation night for his new club.
Adrian Ralph. (Midfielder) A player from 1991. He was big, physical player. A `holding player` is what you call him in the modern game as he would also break up spoil attacks. Born in the Black Country he was not at the `Mikes` that long but he made a lasting impression. He went back to play for a West Midlands team.
Michael Burgess (Midfielder) He could play anywhere
Steve McCarton (Forward) He left Boldmere to play for Rushall Olympic when they had a great team.
Jimmy Quiggin (Forward) Andy described him as a personal favourite because he would always catch the attention of a neutral supporter who saw him play. He was often `head and shoulders` above the other players. After he was released by Hereford United Andy saw him play for Redditch United at Sutton Coldfield Town FC. Chris Keogh tried to sign him the first time and although it was great to see him at Boldmere again (he was there as a youngster) Andy could not understand why he was not playing in the Southern League. However Keogh’s persistence paid off and he is with the Royals.
Nathan Gough (Forward) A current member of the Boldmere team. He is a nice lad and has been at Boldmere for years since he was a youngster. He could have played for anyone. He always used to come in and play a game as a substitute. He deserved the clubman of the year for last season
Substitutes who would have changed the game.
Richard Anstiss (Goalkeeper) Played in two spells for Boldmere. He has been a journeyman around the non league scene. Andy said, "With some keepers you could give them a pen and he would drop it but Richard was confident and had a safe pair of hands."
Nathan King (Defender) Played professionally for Shrewsbury Town including a game at Derby County (baseball ground) He was laid off when he had a knee operation. They would not give him another contract. It is believed that he is a fire fighter in Oxford. He played a couple of seasons for Boldmere. He enjoyed life `wine woman and song. `
Ian Jones (Midfielder) Former youth team player at Birmingham City who also played for Paget Rangers. I always liked to see him play and he was always trying to be the midfield `General` I once heard another Boldmere supporter exclaim that he was `crap`. Nevertheless I like `Jonah` and what he was trying to do on the playing field.
Andy Gonzales (Forward) in the 1990 there was a generation of Afro Caribbean players who were coming into football especially at professional level. `Gonzo` was an exciting player to watch at Boldmere and he was also a character.
There is only one Manager to be with this team and that is the legendary Alan Parsons.
Andy Cook has supported the Boldmere St Michaels team since the 1990/1991 season. He recalled in 1993 when Aston Villa came to Church Road to play Boldmere in the Birmingham Senior Cup. Cyril Regis played in a predominately reserves side winning 7-0 in front of a good crowd. Andy watched his first ever `live` game which was Aston Villa vs West Ham in 1981. He now documents each and every game and ground he goes to. He is proud to report that when he watched the preseason game between Boldmere vs Heath Hayes game on the 17th July 2008 it was his 856th game.
Andy is now a `ground hopper` visiting other grounds. This concept came from the `92 Club` formed in the 1980`s where supporters of football decided to visit every ground of the ninety two professional clubs. Andy had also visited most of the Scottish League clubs including Orkney and Shetland teams. Before he was married he travelled to grounds in Europe including Spain but mostly in Germany where he planned his route to see 8-9 games in several cities. He described one of the best experiences in Italy. He went to Turin and saw Sampdoria vs. Palermo (who play in pink) the ground was similar to Villa Park. However the fans were setting off flares several hours before the game. There is no culture of going to the pub before a football match as we do in the UK. However the atmosphere was electric. After the game there were hundreds of scooters riding away from the game with their horns `tooting.` Andy is not a great fan of Italian football, nevertheless he does like the atmosphere created at their grounds.
In 1996 during a ceasefire in Northern Ireland, Andy visited the grounds of Glentoran, Linfield, Clintonville, Crusaders and Ballymena United. He liked the Glentoran supporters club. On display pendants and programmes from their European trips were on display on the walls. They never get very far in the competitions. They have a branch of the Aston Villa’s supporters club there too. He said, "I was advised by a supporter not to go to a match because of the tension between Catholics and Protestants." He did see games in Ulster despite the risks.
Andy suggested that once the big club grounds are visited that `ground hoppers` start to visit grounds lower and lower in the non league pyramid. It is not about watching the football but getting to visit the grounds. Andy stated he would not visit grounds lower than the Midland Combination.
Andy has family in China. He, with his Thailand born wife, be moving to China into teach English at the end of 2008. Andy said, "There is a real interest in the East with the Premiership with Manchester United of course and Manchester City who have the former Thailand Prime Minister as Chairman."
Andy was interviewed by Mike Talbot on Friday 18th July 2008.
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Born on 30th March 1979 in As a kid, football was his first passion. He never dreamed that he would end up as a pop star. He was described as bit quite `nippy` as a player and had an eye for goals. In his first game for his school at the age of ten years, he scored five times. Playing for a Sunday league side he was spotted by scouts from professional clubs. He played as a trialist for the youth teams at Aston Villa and Not so well known is that at the age of 15 years he played for Boldmere St. Michael’s youth team. In the archives at Boldmere are the team sheets from the 1994-1995 season. He was a regular in that under 18`s team. On the evening of 26th October 1994 playing with a number 7 on his back, he scored a hat-trick against Birstall United. Boldmere won 4-3 that evening. He went on to play another 10 games that season scoring another couple of goals. He also played in the Boldmere team that faced `Spurs` at Once he left Boldmere a serious knee injury (torn ligament) shattered Simon's chances of ever becoming a professional footballer, so he headed off to Although he loved playing football he also pinpoints his childhood church experiences as a major influence on his later musical career. As a boy, Simon's mother would take him to church four times a week. Here Simon would sing along to gospel songs and learn the harmonies. A keen drama student at school, Simon took part in many productions as a young actor, even winning the lead in several performances. Music was always played in the Webbe family home, and Simon grew up to the soulful sounds of Bill Withers, Bob Marley and various gospel acts. His second album `Grace` was released on 13th November 2006. |
