400 mile Away Days in non-league on a shoe string budget of £0 per week

14 players were able to make the long trip to Wales to face Merthyr Town on a freezing February day to play in the re-arranged fixture after the original Saturday was called off. The trip will rack up nearly 400 miles. So it will need some planning.
I collected the mini-bus on the Friday before the weekend as its half term and the school Weatherfield Academy kindly lend this to us and its half term. So transport is sorted. We don't pay the lads a penny but on a long trip like this we want to at least feed them. So, we were working out the cost and what to buy when the development squad manager Colin offered to cook a large pasta for the lads. Well I think he had offered on behalf of his wife Nikki, but either way we quickly accepted as it beats the hell out of a meal deal sandwich. Thanks Nikki! (& you Colin of course)!

10am: Started the day in hospital, on the phone

On the morning of the game I had to nip to hospital with my wife for two appointments and as always the organising was in full swing. I still had players to confirm, I had injuries to decide on and some logistics to think about. Assistant manager Gareth didn't have a great night either with his partner rushed to hospital over night but thankfully she was home and stable enough for Gareth to come. On top of that I was aware that I had not written up my match prep properly although had the outline in my mind.

11.30 am: Quick bit of work in the office

We dashed back from hospital and instead of now completing the match prep with the team confirmed I was forced into doing some work, that actually pays me. A couple of orders on our shop had to be processed and now I was at my desk in the home office rushing through that. Running out of time I decided to print blanks and maybe we can do it on the way. I think I forgot I was driving!

1.15pm: Any room for players?

I got everything out into the car and my wife had made me beans on toast "You cant go without eating". Yep, correct, so I stood in the kitchen and scoffed it down quick and headed off. We got to the mini-bus and I needed to still pick the kit up. its a mile away at Treasurer Dudley's house. His wife Katrina has been washing the kit to save us money. I dashed round in the mini-bus to collect it, whizzed into the petrol station to fill up then back to the stadium. Still on time. We collected all our equipment from our locker inside Creasey Park and we headed off at half one.

4.30 pm: Dinner is served lads

We made good time and stopped for our pre-match meal. Not at the Hilton, in a Starbucks car park. The lads stretched their legs and we dished up dinner on paper plates in the back. But we couldn't sit on the bus to eat it as we couldn't stand in the isles. It looked like we were going on a camping holiday. So the lads took turns standing outside and eating but it was below freezing so then dashed to the bus for some respite.

4.30pm: Queue for food is freezing!

4.30pm: Share it out Keiran!

On we went and we looked at a huge mountain ahead of us as we got deeper into Wales. We joked about climbing it. The smile was wiped off our faces as the sat nav indicated left and all the equipment slid to the back doors and we indeed would be climbing this mounting. The road actually resembled those on the original Italian Job film but soon we were level with our ears popping. This really felt like a top gear challenge with Jeremy Clarkson. The next part being, what goes up, must come down. We did say that perhaps we would be hurtling into the stadium wall if the brakes fail.

Gareth looked pale but ready for action

We arrived at the impressive stadium in good time and got all our equipment inside. Gareth and I found a quiet room to finish our match prep and we got on with fitness testing one of the players.
We were delighted with our start and showed what a threat we are going forward and took the lead through Ethan Lamptey. At half time we talked about what would happen and of course Merthyr came out all guns blazing. We conceded from a corner which we strongly felt was a foul and later we conceded a goal through an error. Late on another error gifted them a third and we were beat. Terrific effort again from the lads though. Grit and determination with flashes of brilliance. These young players can truly compete.

7.15pm: Warm up on crispy freezing 3G

On reflection that error was a combination of players switching off and when you consider the affect fatigue has on players focus maybe its not surprising. Added to that being crammed up in a phone box on wheels for 4 hours certainly doesn't help physically either.

Ethan scored then stretchered off

As I sat in the players lounge afterwards contemplating and coming down from the energy of the game Ryan approached me and said he was going to get a lift back. Ok, I didn't really think about it.

We jumped back on board the bus and headed back to England. Cans of red bull kept me sharp as I drove back with most of the lads kipping in the back. Around 1.30 am we got a call. Ryan is at the gates of creasey park and cannot get his car out. Oh no, it didn't even occur to me. that when ryan said he got a lift, he meant back to Creasey Park the stadium. Thankfully Ryan is one of the incredible's and managed to get to his car and get inside and sleep till we got there with the gate key so he could get home. Home being another 45 minutes for him into London.

10.30pm: Interview done, time for home

3am we arrived and unloaded the bus and everyone got their cars running to clear the ice. One of the players got inside my car to kick the door open from the inside as it was frozen solid.
One of the poor lads also had the inside of his car frozen as his window was broke and would not go up. I wasn't sure the laughing was sympathy.

3am: below freezing,

I walked in at 3.30am and my wife greeted me in the hallway with a hug, "why are you up"? I asked. She said she was worried and dare not text becasue I was driving. She said "I'm gutted for you with the result". I said "I'm gutted as well, but for the lads, you should see what they have been through today yet tried so hard and performed so well" As I lay in bed at 4am I now realised the benefits of Red Bull getting us all home safely would come at a price. I was wired and re lived the whole day back to back before eventually riding out the caffeine fix. I know some thing really good things will happen for these players. Such an honest bunch. This year has of course been tough and we've got our toughest battles still to come. But every game we try and never ever give up. They learn and have evolved. They are young & their are some good stories coming.

3am: Home & frozen cars

2am: MK Drop off, frozen cars

Next day I took the mini bus back to the school with Andrew our secretary and apart from that I could barley raise a conversation. I was physically and mentally exhausted. By the evening, I was good to go again, ready for another battle, ready to surprise people. When these lads do something amazing, they also will surprise a few people, it wont surprise me though.

We go again.

 Tony McCool
@antmccool7

25th July 2017 Dunstable Town FC 0 Luton Town 4 - A day in the dugout

Another fantastic evening for a club re-birthed and reconstructing processes learning protocol to run football matches off the pitch whilst we replicate that on the pitch.

So it started with a haircut…I thought, I’m looking a bit ‘Gordon Strachan’ (in his heyday) or maybe Cilla Black here. Going to have to get the groundsman on it if I don’t tackle it.

So I sat in the chair, who would have thought football frustrations would come out here? “You’re the Dunstable Town manager now aren’t you”? Yes I am. “I would love to be a football coach” he said. “Well why don’t you then”? I replied. He said, “Well, I did my badges but I gave it up. I really want to do the big stuff”. I responded again, “So….why don’t you then”? He said “Well nothing came up. Really I would want to be the Luton Town manager”. At that point a lot of frowns appeared on my head along with confused eyebrows and shocked eyes. “Really, Luton Town? fair play mate, maybe I would suggest you learn your trade for a few years, keep learning. Go and coach a kid’s team and start learning”? He said, “Well I only want to coach at pro level and it’s hard to get in so I left it”. I thought to myself, wow, I coached for years in grass roots, I coached senior amateur teams and spent over a decade coaching in academies as well as working in senior pro environments. This guy wants to bypass all of that? I wanted to go from that shocked emoji to the one of the monkey with its head in its hands, but I feared it could ruin my rapidly improving appearance.  Then he continued, “well I also want to be a scout, that’s where I really see myself, scouting players”. For a split second my ears pricked up, I actually could do with some help scouting, this is a young keen guy maybe. So I asked, “oh, fair play. Do you go to a lot of games?” He replied, no, I haven’t been to a game for years”. “Oh, but you want to be Luton Town manager, when was the last time you watched them?” He said “I can’t remember, years. The last actual game I went to was at craven cottage, Fulham v Man Utd and Ryan Giggs scored with the outside of his foot volley” I did another shocked face. Now in my head I’m thinking, that’s years ago. I remember the goal. A quick check when I got home it's 10 years ago. I rarely go 10 days without seeing a live game! So, my head went a bit “You do know that the current Luton Town manager has done all the things you are refusing to do, as well as played a lot of games”? I’ve also coached for 20 years and been at several pro clubs and studied hard and now I’m at club 'beneath him'.

As I left I was thinking how that attitude was consistent with a lot of footballers. They want all the lavish lifestyle and celebrity life, but are not willing to do the hard part in between. Then they wonder why they fail. Is this there fault or simply a culture of young people gaining celebrity status on fast-tracked reality TV shows? Why go to acting school? Why bother? Why write great comedy? Why bother? Why work on great presenter skills with knowledge? Why train in professional entertainment? You don’t need to go through all that, you can bypass it. I wonder if many young people now think football is the same. Do they think there will be a reality TV show football club that takes people out of there lazy lives and thrusts them into stardom and all they need to do is act stupid, talk without any amount of respect and decency and parade around half naked and be promiscuous. Bingo, I’m a footballer or a football manager.

Andy Millman (Ricky Gervais) addresses show makers

I think this was brilliantly illustrated and so well written in the series Extras by Ricky Gervais with the character Andy Millman having a realisation of his life having been on celebrity Big Brother pointing at the camera saying “f*ck you, the makers of this and you lot for watching” after describing how desperate you must be to want to be famous so much you hand in your dignity at the door. 

I think this is one of my favourite speeches of all time Extras Speech It makes me think about football and how its changed with so many quitting after they don't 'make it'. So why did you play in the first place? Was it to be famous or becasue you loved football? 

Anyway, the Football…

I must extend a huge thank you to the ground staff at Creasey Park because the pitch is looking tremendous.  Overall as we go through pre-season you can see the new bunch of lads learning about each other. We are on a very steep learning curve and I have to say a unique situation for me. But that is the challenge I relished. Perspective is something we have to keep reminding ourselves of. We are a very young team, they are impressionable. In some cases they are lacking a bit of confidence and they don’t realise how good they are. But it will come. Because we are not lacking ability.

Tyeeeq Bakinson along with Freddie Hinds now Bristol City
& Cameron McJannett now Stoke City

I had a very warm chat with Andy Awford as he shared some of the work they do from a holistic view of player development at Luton Town. It would be wrong to go into detail but I was really impressed with the approach to ensure young chaps are afforded equal opportunity. He also spoke about the importance of creating good people with life skills. Well done Andy and thanks for bringing them to Dunstable Town. Although it is a reality check to be looking young men in the eye that I coached when they were 11/12/13/. It fills me with personal pride to see them doing so well. I remember a young Arthur Read and complimenting him only for my fellow coaches to remind me that I always rate the ginger haired players. Well I don’t think anyone that was at last night’s game would disagree that I think I have been proven right as he pretty much dominated midfield with very clever movement and rotation and use of good first touch and passing range. Good to also have Tyeeq Bakinson also come to me and say hi, such a nice humble well mannered young man. I recall his parents well and I know they will love to hear that. I wish him and all them other lads huge success and nothing would fill me with more delight than to see one or two take the field in the football league, let’s hope in a gleaming new stadium and gleaming new era for our professional neighbours.

One of the challenges we face with our brand new crop of players is self-belief and confidence. We have to remind ourselves that we also were a very young team. Dare I say, not your typical Step 3 Southern league semi-professional outfit currently. Added to to that we have had 9 training sessions, in our lives as a team. In those 9 sessions we have had to fit in a recruitment program, followed by a pre-season. When most of our competitors were starting pre-season games in gleaming new kit, we were still drilling down on a new squad selection after rustling together some footballs. So, this is very much a fledgling outfit. All things considered then I feel we are in exciting times when you consider that against two excellent similar level teams we have more than held our own and have put fear into team’s defenses. These lads have got a load of work to do, but I’m so proud of them already. We had two 17 year olds on the pitch yesterday. I’m so confident in their ability, they are not filled with that confidence yet, but they should be, they were terrific. When I see Aaron Hudson whipping down the line, beating his opponent, showing great skill I couldn’t help but smile. The score didn’t bother me one bit in moments like that. Brandy Makuendi in centre midfield also, you wouldn’t believe he is just 18 as he demands the ball and shows great ability to stay on it. That’s bravery. Nimmy up front, 17, hangs on every word you tell him. I think if I asked him to make his runs from the defending corner flag he would do it. These young men are learning fast and we will watch them mature as young men as we go. In the next bracket we have a group of 19-23 year olds desperate to learn and willing to work hard to improve. That leaves some pressure on our experienced ‘old’ players, Scott Betts (24) and Skipper John Sonuga (28). These chaps have shown great calmness. Fantastic role models.

Overall Luton Town dominated this game. That statement is not an embarrassing one to make. Tactically we needed to place ourselves in better positions to be able to make contact and we know that now and will work on it. A shift in shape helped with that and for the first time it allowed us to get forward in a sustained attack. There keeper made a good save from electric Ryan Young (he will terrify teams this season), that would have been 1-1. Instead a combination of errors from us allowed them to tap in a second.

Of course we still have a lot of questions to answer as to who and where so from that point we had to remind ourselves that we are preparing for a season and therefore we have to put preparation ahead of the result as we moved personnel around and tried some different things.

So, full credit to Luton Town lads and another good work out for our lads as we get nearer to the season.

We should give a mention to the guys off the pitch. The people who volunteered to save this club and now work tirelessly to get the club prepared for genuine football matches. We still have kit to sort out, we are rustling together water bottles for the lads along with many other things which they are sorting and have sorted. But the ladies and gentlemen behind the scenes are all on the same page in that we want to create a togetherness and professional approach from here in. There is a real solution and can do approach and it has created a buzz around the pitch and place. The fans have been brilliant to the players, they understand the dynamics and there patience and support is hugely appreciated. The amount of young children in Dunstable Town and Luton Town kits enjoying a night out was also great to see.

Ive got to thank all the people that have stepped forward to help me and the club already. Like my old colleague from west London Justin Lucas-Hill. He has been provided professional medical support for us as well as helping with staff recruitment. He hasn’t asked for one penny so I feel obliged to tell people how wonderful he is and if you feel you need treatment please visit http://www.sportspt.co.uk/ He might even be able to meet you at the club moving forward

DTFC - The Jackals - No Fear

When I look in the eyes of the people running the club I see such decent transparent people, guys discussing ways to improve things for the lads well post 10pm. I even got a nice bit of homemade cake. When I walked back to the changing rooms I left a chairman sweeping it out in his suit. That is the ego free football environment I’ve always striven to work in, all hands on deck. As I walked back to my car with the stadium lights off and loaded with equipment I reflected on what I had just seen and thought to myself…

This is going to be a long hard season, with many ups and downs. But, one thing I know for sure, I want to do everything I can to give these great lads, fans and people running the club a glorious football day they will never forget.

#coyb

Tony McCool

@antmccool7

Totally FREE Grass Roots Football Club

We want to do something revolutionary. In every industry the price only ever goes up. But for young children who want to play football I want the price to come down to zero.

For next season we will launch a new football club on the Luton & Dunstable border's as a test. Can we do it? Can we deliver a 'higher end' brand of football. An almost professional approach with first class standards. Qualified coaches coaching with a one club ethos that is looking to develop players in a challenging, safe, fun environment where creativity and smiling is embraced not stifled. We will do this and the boldest thing is we will deliver this with no cost to parents.

Why?

New 3G pitch locked Saturday Mornings

Why would we want to do this? Is it important? Well in my view it is and i think I have enough experience to justify this. Ive coached Fiitball and Football now in over 100 schools and over 10,000 children all over England and in a wide range of communities. I have had the great pleasure of working in schools where there are children with all sorts of difficulties and challenges and there is a statement I have heard many times. On occasion you get the sense that a boy or girl is showing real talent with technique, understanding, enthusiasm and desire for sport and so I ask the question. "Do you play Football outside of school"? Many say they are with a club, that's great! Some say they are with an professional academy and I always follow that up with "How many times a week do you train"? Most say "once" on a rare occasion they say "three or four". I always say well done to both but in my own mind I'm simply gauging if they are in a next level development centre or actually an academy signed player. But there is a crucial answer that if I had heard once would be too many, but I've heard it several times. "I don't play for a team, we cant afford it". I know its hard for grass roots teams. They have to pay for kit, facilities, ref's, league fees, fines, FA admin, training, equipment etc. Nothing is free, so they try their best to gain sponsorship and the rest we all know as subs comes from the parents. 

To think that football has become a pay2play culture is simply outrageous and something we must address. The FA said it wanted more than 500 pitches by 2020 like that will cure grass roots football. I commend them for investment and who doesn't want better pitches? But some children simply cannot afford to play on them and some pitches remain locked in off peak times and empty with no concessions. Surely that means we might miss out on talent?

Lets look at Academy football and the investment required from parents.

If you have a child playing in 2nd tier level football, like a development centre. Then of course you will have transport cost but on top of that, some development centres actually charge for this. I know of fees ranging from £400 to £900 per year for the privilege of having your child in the 'system'. Now I've got no issue with any organisation providing a good service and someone paying for that service. That's reality. If I wanted my children to learn guitar, I would have to pay. If the product is good and my child enjoys it and their is clear signs of progression than I have no issue with paying the fee. My only point is, this certainly again prices out certain members of our society who simply would not be able to afford that fee. They cant afford to be recognised as talented and then invited to be developed.
But lets say that somehow they have luckily leapfrogged grass roots and the host of development centres and they have been signed by an academy. Great news. Or is it? We all know the staggering statistics that are heavily stacked against the player making it all the way through to the first team so what would be the cost to the parents? Lets attempt some numbers.
Players are expected to train 3-4 times per week and then attend a game which could be at home or a long distance away. If the player is in foundation phase U9-U11 they could live an hour away from the training ground. Older children a bit further. Most people could do around 40 miles in an hour. On average fuel consumption figures I think £10 for a round trip is 'conservative'. Not taking into account a long away game drive, so that's circa £50 per week. So its reasonable and fair on that basis to assume that the financial commitment from the parents is around £200-£300 per month. That's without any loss of earnings for leaving work early and also assuming the parent has a car. I knew children that were travelling miles on public transport and in taxis. Alone! So actually, the celebration of signing full academy forms could be quickly dampened by the possibility that you may need to find over £2,000 per year to support that progress.

With this in mind I easily conclude that this wonderful game is pricing some young talent out of football. Football talent cannot discriminate on any basis. We already know that the level of performance in international tournaments is not acceptable or even arguably enjoyable. If you exclude talent based on money will we improve that in the long term? A game that has constantly thrown up world class players that have previously lived a life of poverty playing football in streets for free. Now I'm not suggesting that talented children cannot come from wealthy parents and can only exist from high rise council flats. Not for one second am I suggesting that. But what I am saying is that we are not putting them two children on the same pitch to give them equal opportunities. If we truly want the best players in world cups then we need to give everyone a chance to display there talents and widen the talent pool.

The Premier League Cash Cow

I don't believe in criticising footballers for what they earn. They have worked hard to get to where they are, well most have anyway. If somebody is willing to pay that, then fair play. I heard a lot of criticism after Zlatan Ibrahimovic had been claimed in the press to be earning £367,000 a week plus a staggering £140k + goal bonus. But its difficult to criticise something we contribute to. I have got Skysports and BT Sport so I'm feeding this animal. Is it obscene? Yes of course? Do I think children's nurses and doctors wages in comparison is a disgrace. Yes! People do so many great life saving jobs for a fraction and I heard radio talk shows of people describing that, but I wanted to ask. "Have you got SkySports"? You see people worldwide are not tuning in to watch those fantastic public servants, they are paying and tuning into watch the Premier League and its superstars are now far removed from the reality we all live in. But I don't begrudge them. If someone offered me £20million a year to do something I loved, football, I wouldn't turn it down on morality and principle. I don't think any of you would either.

I'm also not one to say that these players owe anyone. Its there money, if they give to charities and vulnerable, sick and desperate people, that's there choice. Some do, I'm sure most do and which is commendable because they don't have to and rightly so. It may also be worth considering that they also contribute to the public purse in a month what many of us would take decades to contribute. So perhaps the cynics need a wider consideration when feeling a bit resentful.

What I will say though with passion is this. These guys are in England earning this money and the gulf between them and the grass roots game is widening with every new millionaire they make. These players will no doubt take there fortune back home eventually as circa two thirds are foreign players in the top clubs and I ask, what have they contributed to our game at the bottom? Yes we tuned into watch them and thanks for the entertainment. But you made that fortune in England and we should be taking action to insist they do because football is not a charity of choice. Its the game and the country that provided you with this huge earning spell so, I think its reasonable for a levy to be imposed to help get these young players in the window and back onto pitches at no cost. We could never make that happen though? Why not, if its in contracts from tomorrow lets say. There are few footballers contracts over five years in term so in five years I suggest they would all have the levy imposed. Now let me give you some examples and numbers.

Going on last years published figures 2016/2017
£1.38Bn Was spent on transfer fees
£174m was spent on agents fees
£1.933Bn was spent on players wages.

That's a staggering £3.487Bn spent by clubs

If the FA imposed a 1% Bottom up Grass Roots ring fenced fund and the tax office allowed this pre deductions that would create £34.8Million
Grass roots teams typically cost circa £3000 per year to run. So this fund would create a staggering 11,623 totally FREE football teams and these numbers are on the Premier League alone.

Or
If you said to every player, the next contract you sign has got the new rule imposed. Of your 52 week salary, one week has to be given back to the game at grass roots. You might begrudge this. But tough. Reality is, the club/agent will probably negotiate the extra to cover it anyway. If this was done five years ago all contract's would now include it and based on 2016-2017 £1.933Bn was spent on players wages in the premier league alone. My grass roots levy would raise £37million. That could fund over 12,000 grass roots football teams for FREE. Meaning more players can play without restrictions. Equal opportunity = more players = more realistic competition = better players in the system = better players coming through?

In the Meantime...

Between the Premier League, The FA and government its hard to know if anyone has enough minerals to tackle this and go for such a simple but challenging system of change so we have taken our own innovative steps. Our football club will be every bit professional and we will look to progress players. No parents will be the manager or coach. It will be our own people working on a syllabus and ethos we have created based on our experience of what works in terms of successful professional achievement but also what works in terms of creating an enjoyable environment for happy football memories. We have some innovative new ideas of ways we will fund this. It will require buy in from the pro clubs and we are also in talks with some key partners who want to help us achieve the impossible and provide Free extra curricular football including organised weekly competitive games.

Unfortunately mortgage companies are not great at listening to great stories of people trying to be community changers so of course the funds need to come from some-where. So if you think you can help, please get in touch and we will share the plan we have to make this happen. But one overriding position will not change. Parents will not be asked for subs.
Get on board at our new club 2touchfootball and if your looking for a new team or have a child from any background who you think would like the opportunity to join please get in touch.

Already we have had a parent tell us that for reasons of course we wont share, her some has not been able to play in a team for three years. She was so happy to see our advert. He has began training with us and guess what. He was excellent! That's why we are doing this!

@antmccool7