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Getting To Know You

Our first two victims or I should say interviewees were from the Inters and
Mains leagues so we thought that this time around we'd pick on a manager
from the junior leagues.
Our subject this time around is in his third season as a Wallington Little League
manager and is the kind of person who can always be turned to in a crisis.
He'll not help you out but you can always turn to him, only joking, he is
one of the stalwarts of our league and this season has dropped down from the
under 10 league to the under 8s.
Our subject this time is:

FRANK FORMAN

When did you first become associated with Wallington Little League and did
you start as a parent or manager ? Also which teams have you managed 
so far ?
Four years ago I started as a sideline cheering parent when my oldest son
Joel started as an under 8.
However as time went on our team manager struggled a little (as we all do)
because he was running two teams and trying to maintain his 'real life' which
we all find hard, so I found myself taking a few training sessions and this led
to me taking over the team when they progressed to the under 9s.
I managed the Yellows under 9s and under 10s when Joel played for them
and now that he has moved up to the Inters I have transferred my allegiance
to the under 8s Emerald Greens, my second son Daniel plays for them but I
also get over to support Joel in the Inter Yellows whenever possible.
(Frank has already stood in as manager once for them this season too)

Do you have any special memories of your time at the helm of WLL teams ?
Special memories include the Yellows winning the cup and league at both
under 9s and under 10s level. However I have never enjoyed one sided games
and twice enjoyed getting to the final of the 7 a side but we ended runners
up on both occasions. If like me you have supported Chelsea for over 40 years
you always expect things to go pear shaped and this is a strange satisfaction
at seeing it all go wrong.
(If you don't support Chelsea or are under 15 just think England)

Do you have any nightmare moments from your time with our league that
stick with you ?
99% of my experiences have been positive, I enjoy the kids, the managers
and the parents.
I did have one nasty experience with one parent being extremely abusive
but for me it just reinforced how most people are so easy and enjoyable to
get along with.
Though putting up and taking down goals on my own would be my biggest
nightmare.

Did you play football as a lad and who were your football idols then ?
As a lad !  I'm out there every Thursday showing the youngsters, that's
anyone under the age of 40 how to do it.
The first footballer I remember looking up to was Ray (Butch) Wilkins.
I remember a guy running on the pitch to bend down and kiss his boots
to massive cheers. It was all down hill for him though when he left for
Manchester United and AC Milan. At Chelsea we had to make do with 
the likes of Micky Droy and Ron Harris, they'd probably not get anywhere
near the premiership these days but they always gave 150%.
In 1988 I went out to Mexico for the World Cup with my brother and 
although you can never forgive (or forget) 'the hand of god goal' both
the other goal he scored in that match and the one he scored in the
semi final against Belgium marked him out as a truly great player.
I also watched a young Ruud Gullit destroy England at Wembley, he was
literally unplayable.
Even years later Gullit and Zola stood out a mile !
(Better stop there before you start editing me)

So who would you say are your all time football heroes ?
Sorry to be boring but very few footballers can be called heroes.
Anyone who goes out and enjoys every game they play and gives a 
Ron Harris style 150%, anyone who always says yes and always turns
up they would be my football hero.

If someone wanted to treat you to something from the Cafe on a 
Sunday morning what would you choose ?
There would be no choice it would be a bacon sandwich.
However as a healthcare professional I can't advocate a high fat diet,
and I would recommend you eat a good bowl of museli and bran with
low fat milk before coming out on a Sunday morning. (Yeah right)

If you could change one thing about our league what would it be ?
Personally I would not keep the score. (Some leagues do this)
At the age our kids are playing we should be teaching them to be 
competitive but skills, movement, reading the game and team work are
all more important. In France if you play for a top youth team a free
kick is given against you if you hoof the ball away. The kids have plenty
of time to learn that great English skill !
I am quite shocked at how little positional sense some kids have after 
playing some cases for many years. 
A friend of mine who trains at a high non league level still sees lads who
have been at top clubs but still have no plan B.

Has there been a particular team or manager that has impressed you 
during your time with WLL ?
I really admire all managers for giving their time and putting in so much 
effort, this goes for all the volunteers who allow our league to even exist.
I don't want to sound pompous but I really don't think everyone realises
just how much time some people give up to allow all our kids to play 
football. (Their phone bills would make interesting reading too)
There is only one manager that stands out for me, my doppelganger,
the special one, Jose.

What have been your impressions of the season so far in your under
8s league ?
I think our league is really close this year, which shows that the trials
have worked out well. Unfortunately one team has been letting in lots
of goals but I can still see much enjoyment in that team too.
When games are close everyone has to try harder, improve and learn.
These are the matches that everyone goes home talking about, when
the score is too high no one gains.

If you had to play for an all star managers team, which position would
you chose to play in ?
Guarding the centre spot, since 1983 there has been no other position 
for me.

Is there anything else you would like to add about yourself 
or the league ?
Haven't I already said enough ?
Oh yes there is one more thing, 'Could you move away from the touchline
please and do not stand behind the goals'
If you have seen me ref then you have heard me say that before !

Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions Frank.

Archive getting to know you, click here to view past interviews