A sticky patch and a bumpy pitch
As I have mentioned before, there have been one or two sticky patches during my career.
Probably the scariest was just a couple of weeks before the start of the 2003 - 2004 season when I was still without a club having been released by Southend United. Drastic times call for drastic measures. We were a young family living with my wife's mum and dad (very nice of them I might add), so I needed to get something sorted!
Having managed to get hold of a list with all the managers' phone numbers, I tried to make contact with as many as I could. In addition to all the managers in League One and Two, I also chanced my arm with those in charge of some of the smaller Championship clubs. In an ideal world it would have been nice to give Sir Alex a call but I decided to go for the more sensible approach!
I am sure a lot of players in my position have tried the same tactic and invariably you don't manage to get hold of all the managers. One manager I did get hold of, though, was Glyn Hodges, who according to my list was manager of Barnsley. He answered the phone and I immediately went into my spiel including the clubs I had played for etc, not giving him a chance to interrupt for fear of rejection! He listened patiently and when I was finished, he commended me on my determination to get a club but added that he was not in a position to offer me anything. Why? Because he had been sacked four months earlier! Nice one Gav!
As a result of these phone calls, and ultimately putting up with the inevitable rejection that comes with them, I was offered a trial at Hartlepool United, which thankfully turned out to be successful. It led to arguably the best years of my career so far.
Without wishing to give the impression of patting myself on the back, the moral to this story is that to stay in this game, you have to stick at it. You have to be prepared to travel up and down the country going on trial at clubs, being the lad sat in the corner with the different kit on (because when you are on trial they normally just give you bits of old kit that do not match)! Ultimately, it boils down to having the desire to do it.
I am pleased to say that, after missing the last few Notts County games because of my hamstring problem, I am now back in full training. It has taken a lot of hard work and a lot of pestering the physio to get back ahead of schedule. The trade-off for me getting back earlier than expected was that the physio insisted that we cram a weeks' worth of hard work into one day. He was not joking! He threw everything he had at me that day and was only satisfied when I lost the power of speech!
There is no getting away from it, we were on the receiving end of a real beating at the hands of Dagenham & Redbridge at the weekend. All we can do is apologise to the 300 or so County fans who made the long journey south. Credit where credit is due, Dagenham were excellent. They worked harder than us and thoroughly deserved their 6-1 victory. Even the fact I made the bench was no consolation on the day.
It is a tough place to go and you can see why they have a decent home record. It is a very small ground with a bumpy pitch and as a team they play to their strengths which is utilising the physical strengths of their two strikers, Paul Benson and Ben Strevens.
They like to get the ball into the box at every opportunity and against us at the weekend the crosses being put in were very accurate
We have a chance to regain some personal pride on Tuesday against Wycombe Wanderers at Meadow Lane. As well as putting a smile back on the fans' faces, a victory would set us up nicely for Sunday's FA Cup second round match at home to Kettering. All games are important but the financial implications of getting to the third round and possibly being paired against a Premier League team are massive for a club such as ours.
County's defeat on Saturday was not the only reason why it was a bad football weekend in our household. The other was that my little boys' team lost 10-0 - yes, 10-0. At this point I would like to make it clear that as the coach of the team, I intend to take the credit when the team is doing well and blame the manager when it is not! Needless to say, the theme for Wednesday night's training session is going to be defending!
Hello, I'm Gavin Strachan. I describe myself as a "journeyman" player after 13 years in the game as a professional. I'm currently between clubs, having been released by Notts County. I'm also studying journalism and the aim of my blog is to provide an insight into the life of a footballer.
Here are some 
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~30~RS~)
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"It is a very small ground with a bumpy bitch"? That's a bit harsh on the tea lady!!!
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Your right . I have just checked my copy I sent in and it definitely says pitch . Maybe someone at the bbc has a problem with someone at dagenham!.
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You keep telling youself that XD
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Excellent blog once again.
Can I ask what's been the highlight of your career ?
And what do you think of your father's chances on Tuesday night ? Think it will be a father and son double win ?
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Hey Gavin, cant you get your old man to sign you for the hoops and then let you go out on loan while raking in a good few grand a weeks wages :-) ?
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youve done it again gav, love it!
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hey Gavin
quick question, Im 17 years old, you reckon its too late for me to get into football?
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point 5 . I think we would both agree that we get on better when he is not my manager!.
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Point 7.
Not at all mate . There have been loads of late developers . Ian Wright , Stuart Pearce . I am sure there are loads more examples.
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point 4 . Probably the play off final for Hartlepool . Even though we lost it was a great day for the town.
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Gavin,
Never mind your son's team needing a training session in defending, I think your own team might need the same going by the weekend's goals against tally!!
Anyway good luck for your game on Tuesday - here's hoping you make the starting eleven!!!
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Gavin,
I've yet to comment on your blog, but this is one of the best reads on the entire BBC Sport website. Some of the other regular features have become over-reliant on stereotypes, or jumping on the latest bandwagon, with little variety or developing interest. Yours, so far, has been excellent - and consistent.
I wondered how you'd keep our attention once I saw you'd got an injury - but it's got better and better. Glad to see you fit again, look forward to hearing of your influence shoring up the defence. Furthermore, the tales of your son's team are interesting - and are so similar to the kind of matches I play in!
I hope you don't find it patronising when I say well done!
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Thanks to Craig for spotting the small error in Gavin's blog. It was a mistake at our end and nothing to do with Gavin, and we have now corrected it.
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Hi Gavin, great blog by the way, I have really enjoyed reading them.
Someone asked this question in a previous blog but I don't think you got round to answering it:
Who did you support when you were younger? Aberdeen, Manchester United or Leeds? Or did you choose someone different from who your dad played for? Also who were your footballing idols when you were growing up?
Keep up the good work
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Gavin, I know that dreadful feeling of a bad defeat for your kids team. I coach my daughters Under 5's team and we lost our last game 9-0!!! It was no consulation that the other team had six players who were over 5 years old-my teams oldest player is 4!!
Anyway, I stomped and moped around the house most of the weekend. I am resisting the temptation to make the kids train every day this week!!!
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dont feel too bad, my team lost 11 2 yesterday, and were under 18's
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Point 15...tigermilkboy :
Are you serious....4 year olds playing in a competative game ?!?!? Surely at that age they're no where near old enough to be playing in an actual game.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not one of those people that say it's unfair for young kids to lose at sport as it "upsets them" but at 4 years old they're still learning the very basics and years away from playing in a team. They have no concept of the rules or what playing as a 'team' means. I cannot see the logic in putting 4 year olds into a game situation.
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Hiya Gavin, i coach/manage a kids under 9's team and yes we lost 10-0 as well yesterday in a local cup comp. The week before we had just lost 2-1 and as one of our kids came off the pitch his dad said to him "i only saw you put one tackle in today son and that was in the last minute,your meant to be a defender tackling and helping to win the ball. " " dont worry dad " he said, " its alright dad i think i made one in the first half as well....! " priceless to see the look on his dads face.
How old were you when you first started playing competitivley and do you think kids play too much football too young nowdays harming their development ?
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My best result playing for South Queensferry was against Inverkeithing Utd - we only lost 9-2! I scored which made it doubly impressive...
Liked the fact you made sure we knew you weren't on the field when you lost 6-1. I would've done the same ; )
Nice blog though Gav. Love the fact that you respond. If you ever see Chick Young ask him if he'll respond. In fact, can you ask youre Dad nicely if he'll ask Chick to respond, possibly during a Champions League press conference, so that Chick can't refuse!
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Point 15...tigermilkboy :
Are you serious....4 year olds playing in a competative game ?!?!? Surely at that age they're no where near old enough to be playing in an actual game.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not one of those people that say it's unfair for young kids to lose at sport as it "upsets them" but at 4 years old they're still learning the very basics and years away from playing in a team. They have no concept of the rules or what playing as a 'team' means. I cannot see the logic in putting 4 year olds into a game situation.
Yes. Here in the US we have under 5 soccer(sorry! for the Americanism) leagues. We play on mini-pitches, mini goals and size 3 ball, six per side (including goalie)and the coach is allowed on the field. The minimum age is 3.5 and you have to be under 5 on 1st Aug. Most of my team is just 4, I have a couple still 3.
I would not say it is competitive. It is an achievement to get toddlers to stay on the pitch but they do pretty well and have come on great from our first practice. They can all run with the ball etc. It is fun and a good introduction to sports, anything that keeps them fit and healthy. It does teach them teamwork and friendship and taking turns. They don't care about the result! They love the end of game picnic. It is fun! My daughter is the only player I have ever seen that skips instead of runs. She skip dribbled the ball 20 yards last game to laughs and cheers.
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Another interesting blog Gavin - however I can't believe "everyone" is so positive about them..........there has to be some complainers and moaners out there who don't like you/what you're doing?!!?!
Question for you - how long do you think you can keep playing professionally? Do you stick with your old mans' banana diet?
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Hey Gavin,
I have been reading your blogs right from the first one. They have been pretty insightful and a delight to read.
I like the way your construct your story as well...
I have been observing this right from the beginning, but do you ever get fed up with people asking about your father on the blog all the time?
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Gavin
Another very good blog, allways a good read. And sorry to hear about the result for your sons team lol.
Quick question, what was it that made you become a midfield player? Is it that you had particular strengths in that area of the pitch and decided thats where you want to play, or did your father or another manager make you play to your strengths in midfield and make you practice that position? What position did you want to play when you were younger?
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Hi Gav,
I have only just joined in on the posting of comments and stuff, but ive read your blog everyweek for about 6 weeks now and there brilliant.....all im usually interested if im honest is prem footy and liverpool, but you seem to give fans like me the backroom knowledge and i love it.....
Keep going there really good reads.
Can you talk about the team talks at half time when your winning and when your behind?
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Gavin, been reading your blogs with great interest. I think you're doing an excellent job there. I met you at Cov once, but I doubt you remember. Spoke the Jairo Martinez the other day who was with you at Cov, told him what you were doing. He said to say hello for him!
Cheers
Nick
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point 21 . I will keep going for as long as I can or as long as somebody will have me .
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Point 18 . I think I was about 8 or 9 before I started playing competitively . I do worry that the kids games and being associated with pro clubs are becoming a bit too serious too early.
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Point 14 . I have to admit I supported whoever my old man was at . Although during high school he was at Leeds and they were pretty special times at Leeds then.
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Point 25 . I thought Jairo was back in honduras . If you get a chance wish him all the best for me.
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Hi Gav, yes he is. He's back with Motagua, the team who sold him to Cov. As it goes, having a knee operation today!!
I'll probably speak to him in a few days so I'll pass your message on.
Cheers
Nick
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Hi Gavin,
Im a very happy Dagger after the weekend results, as i'm sure you can appreciate.
I just wondered:
- How do the players pick themselves up after such a defeat?
It must be tough to get the game out of your head, especially with another game coming up so soon (tonight). Is it just a case of forget it happened, train more to improve, or take a more theoretical approach and learn from the mistakes?
Been good following your blogs by the way, a nice read. Shame you couldn't make it on to the field on the weekend, would have been interesting to hear your views of the game from the pitch rather than the sidelines.
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Hey Gav, I really enjoy reading your blog but could maybe do with a bit more detail sometimes.
Obviously I'm not a professional footballer and have been in awful teams where losing 6-1 is almost respectable (!), but we all have normal lives to get back to the next day so it doesn't matter. What on earth does a manager say to a team of pros after something like that? What's training like at the beginning of the week? Do you really analyse it or just try to forget it?
Cheers.
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Oh. I see #31 was a couple of seconds quicker than me in asking the same question!
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Again, another excellent blog Gav, keep up the good work...
This one seemed a lot more in depth as well, so please long may that continue!
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Gav, how do the late developers get noticed? Cause i doubt that the scouts go looking down the local park for players
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Hi Gavin,
Another great read. Can I just quickly ask...
When you were without a club, or when you have perhaps been coming back form injury and have been unattached, how do you get yourself in good enough shape to impress clubs on trial?
I only really got into playing football competitively at 18/19 at an amateur level. Fitness was a major issue! I ran a marathon a few years ago, and although the kinds of fitness for endurance running and football is very different, I did manage to adapt it to football in about 6-8 weeks and was the fittest ever. I joined a decent semi-pro club but seriously injured ankle ligaments after a week there! I left shortly after (although the club were happy to keep me and give me a chance when I was fit). That was now about 15 months ago and I am back playin amateur, seeing a sports physio regularly to treat my now-troublesome ankle but I just cannot get myself fit again and it is seriously affecting my game.
Cheers!
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hey baby.
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Gav, how do the late developers get noticed? Cause i doubt that the scouts go looking down the local park for players
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Sorry to answer a question aimed at Gavin but thought it was worth pointing out that Paul Benson - who is mentioned in this article and scored a hat trick on the weekend, was actually picked up playing for White Ensign in the Essex Olympian League, which is at tier 11 in the football pyramid.
Thats pretty much park football so im guessing scouts do attend these games as gems can be found!
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Excellent blog, really enjoying the read.
There was a player called Bell who signed for Man City at 28 years of age if memory serves me correctly - so it is never too to start playing sport in an capacity.
MindxxSecretmartxx, I'm 21-years-old and have just started playing amatuer Rugby League in the local league - so get yourself involved.
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Gav
Enjoy the blog, but really - if you are training to be a journalist, you must learn the difference between "your" and "you're" (post 2) - go to the bottom of the class!
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Gavin,
I must agree. The part about looking for a new club is very interesting. Non-players think it all happens by magic. I wonder where you get your tenacity from!?
If you can cope with bearing your soul in future, please do. It is the best stuff you write and the most interesting on the site.
I know you are training to be a journalist but don't change your fundamental style too much. As you can see above, we like it.
My (not so little) boy's team lost 10-1 at the w/e but it was a cup match against a higher division team and he did get an assist.
I'm 54 years old. I haven't played for over 30 years but I still have some boots! Can I have that list of managers phone numbers please?
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Ignore 40. That's what sub-editors are for!
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Hi Gavin, really enjoy your blog.
A good few years ago me and a friend bunked of school and went to a Scotland Under 21 game at Love St, Paisley. I think it was against Bosnia - was this the game you made your Under 21 debut?
Reason I ask was your dad was in the Wee Barrel pub before hand "celebrating". Had to get driven the 100 yards to the ground as he had had a few.
Good laugh that day.
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Wibble
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Even if they're not competitive, it's just so wrong to put anyone under 10 in regular matchups. In fact the best footballing cultures have kids practicing well into their teens. It's counter-productive to do matches until they've learned all they can about skills on the ball. It seems the only way to stop parents from organizing these things is to put in a ban. I'm sure a lot of people would be outraged, but these same people ruin the potential of so many kids, even if they don't learn to hate the game.
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Hi Gavin,
Great blog, being a bournemouth supporter i understand allthe highs and lows of lower leauge football, I have one question i am about to take a coaching course and is there any tips you can give,
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#39, you're thinking of Tony Book, not Colin Bell. I used to hang my hat on being the next Tony Book (i.e. getting picked up late), but the years have rolled on ... and on ... and on.
Gavin, someone up above wrote : "do you ever get fed up with people asking about your father all the time" ...... so ...
How did your mother feel about you joining the Professional Football ranks?
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Gavin,
Have you ever played with/against Liam Hatch?
Only he's a hero of mine and i heard he got a bad neck injury.
League Two is really exciting this year. My tips are Wycombe, Bury, Barnet/Darlington
Barnet is just a gamble.
What about you?
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Nice blog, pleasently surprised now I have finally gotten round to reading it. Just got back from Meadow Lane and I have to say you and Forrester seemed to be the only players who really wanted to be there and whose hearts were in it.
I have to say our section of the Jimmy Sirrel stand thought you should be man of the match. Keep it up- we need you at the moment!!!
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Gavin mate, I have read all you're blogs so far and read both the comments and your responses with interest. I'm a Celtic fan myself and having been inexplicably beaten tonight by Aalborg I havent had much to say all night. I just thought now would be a good time to say that i am somewhat of a Notts County follower now just to see if your name pops up sometimes. I do have a question which may surprise you since most Celtic fans ask about your dad (who is doing a fantastic job, just rotten luck in europe, but the trebles still on!!)
You said being on trial meant you were stuck in a different kit, but do you think that getting on with the players around you helped you get a contract at county?(apart from your football talent of course ;)) you seem to like it there so i assume you get on with your teamates. Best of luck Gavin,
James
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Hi Gavin, really enjoy reading your blog, i was at Dagenham on Saturday to watch The Daggers take on your boys and your right they did give you a real beating, i wondered how quite the team coach is on the way home after a heavy defeat ? by the way my boy got all the subs autographs on Saturday apart from one and that was yours ! i hope fame has not gone to your head ? cheers keep it up
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how many days are in a year.
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Gavin.
Another hugely enjoyable blog, I was hoping to come and watch you play against WW but my 17 year old broke his wrist training Monday night. (freak accident, not malicious) So I am not allowed out to play.
I should say thanks for giving away the free kick that set up WW second goal, but I am sure you were robbed.
One of the best parent rants I saw was when my 17 year old was about 8 and playing wide left the centre forward bless him was a tad rotund and not blessed with pace, the also rotund dad told his son each time he lost the ball to talk to his winger.
Eventually young rotund comes over near the touch line and asks my son "How many Pokemon cards have you got then" and then wanders back to the middle of the pitch to wait for the approval of the vocal dad.
Hope you are fit and playing the first weekend in May away at WW I have everything crossed that we will be celebrating promotion.
Best wishes Martin (no 1 chicken counter)
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Hi Gav,
Late poster here from deepest darkest Kettering.
Looking forward to being sat in the away end at Meadow Lane on Sunday, as I've read all your blogs so far and found them inspiring!
What I'm wondering is, do you believe that Kettering have a chance at all against Notts?
Or is it a hard thing to know what to expect going into a cup game like that?
Thanks,
Billy, 18, Kettering
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Gavin, good to hear you've returned from injury even if the result wasn't what you and your teammates wanted. I find your blog quie refreshing and a bit different from the same old constant Premiership-ness of the rest.
I was wondering what you made of the guy (Arton Beleci) who is attempting to crash course himself to Premiership football within a year using various techniques? I don't think he stands a chance, but will do quite well owing to the fact he'll be training constantly for a year rather than any fancy-schmancy techniques he's claiming will work. You're more in a position to comment than me though, being a pro footballer already.
Jim
http://jims-tirades.blogspot.com/
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Gavin - out of interest, which other blogs are you reading to get some inspiration?
If you are reading any, can you post some links up to any other football related ones you know and like?
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