So far, our reserve team lines up as follows: Felgate, Bailey, Mayo, Morgan, Raggett. Now, we have two central midfielders to join them. The first of which is another very familiar face indeed.
Michael Bostwick got 90 votes, 12% of the overall outcome. We know him well of course, he’s been immense this season and claiming ‘Away Player of the Year’ was no less than he deserved. Personally, I feel he has been our player of the year but democracy has proven me wrong on that one.
Something Bozzie brings to the current squad that I’m not sure we’ve had for ages is an absolute dominance in the air and a fearless snap in the challenge. It shows that perhaps we, as fans, have a likening for the no-nonsense midfielder, the cracking challenge and the box to box work rate. Michael Bostwick isn’t going to get on the ball and beat players before flicking an assist with the outside of the boot, but he’s going to intimidate, harass and work until the final whistle blows. As fans, we like someone who plays as though their life depends on it and in Bozzie, we have that.
“If you remember me,” Graham Bressington said at a 2008 dinner. “You’ll remember I’d sell my facking grandma for a win on the pitch, and I’d have a few jars afterwards to celebrate it.” After that, he had a few more jars before disappearing off to an after dinner event. Bressy liked his beer ,he liked his football and with 89 votes, it appears we liked him too.
My memories of Bressy are mixed. I recall a cracking goal against Gillingham in 1990/91 (I think), a game which we lost 3-1. He beat a couple of players at the Railway End and fired in from a good 25 yards. That’s how I saw it, head resting on the granite wall looking on in wonder. For many years I claimed it was the best goal I’d ever seen in the flesh.
He wasn’t about that though, Bressy was about not giving a f***, he was one of the last breed of players that could drink with fans on a Friday, smash the opposition Saturday and be back in the pub by 7pm with the people who paid to watch him. He was a maverick of sorts, our maverick, a player who joined in our GMVC season and ended up with a Player of the Year award. I won’t mind admitting, when I heard he’d been sold I cried. I bet I was 12 years old.
Graham Bressington and Michael Bostwick, both very different to you average footballers and both in our SWXI reserve side.
Without further ado, here on your winners. On the next page, obviously.
This result means we shall have to play George Shipley on the right wing, with Dave Smith on the left.
It will go to a vote but I imagine Gareth Ainsworth might have a place somewhere.
Sigh
Gainey like Cantona etc.
Shame you never saw Dave Smith, Gain was great – but Smith when GT made him the play-maker was something else.
Sorry Sir Gareth, but I agree with Malcolm Johnson – Shipley will have to go right to accommodate Smithy on the left, shirt out, socks down, drifting past another bemused full back with a twirl of his Zapata moustache.And he was even better pulling strings in the centre!
We’re defined by our ages, aren’t we? You youngsters…..
Totally agree, Dave Smith must get in as well as Alan Harding a brilliant passer with great ball control. Together with Dave Smith a devastating duo on the left
Of course if we had Cockerill up front we wouldn’t have these selection problems.