From joy to despair
Hi, hope you are all well.
I have mentioned in previous blogs how the career of a professional footballer can be a rollercoaster of emotions and as a rule it is something that I have learned to live with.
But even I had underestimated just how quickly it is possible to go from one extreme to the other until last weekend.
I scored my first goal for Notts County - and indeed my first goal since April 2007 - in our 2-1 home victory against Exeter only for my elation to evaporate and turn to despair when I sustained another hamstring injury soon after!
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As for that goal, you might well ask why my recent scoring record has not been better.
In my rather weak defence, I should point out that I have had a lot of injury problems since April 2007 and, not wanting to disappoint anyone who thinks that professional footballers tend to blame everybody else for their shortcomings, I could also mention managers always employing me as a defensive midfielder, goalkeepers always making great saves from my shots and team-mates not passing the ball to me (which are all the excuses I can think of just now!).
It had been so long since my last goal that I had forgotten how to celebrate one - as anyone who saw my celebration on Saturday would testify. It was not the slick, choreographed (or some might say, silly) celebration that we see a lot in modern-day football - I think it portrayed a mixture of shock, relief and elation.
Hopefully in the coming months I can get a few more goals and try to come up with a better way to mark them!
One of the most memorable goal celebrations I have seen over the years involved big Mick Harford during his time at Wimbledon in an FA Cup tie against Watford.
He was not the goalscorer. In fact, it was Watford who had scored the goal (as I recall they were on their backs with their legs in the air impersonating dead flies) but Mick made sure he walked right through the opposing team as they did their pre-rehearsed celebration, catching a few players with his studs as he did so!
Please feel free to share the best or worst goal celebrations that you have seen.
My goal on Saturday was the culmination of a great fightback from the team after going a goal down to a very good Exeter side that have been performing way above the expectations many people had of them this season.
Over the last few games, I have been making a conscious effort to try and get in the box more and fortunately this paid off for the goal. Our left winger Myles Weston whipped in a great ball and I was on hand to finish it off.
Tongue in cheek, I said to the boys that I arrived late in the box like David Platt did in his prime.
The immediate reply I got from Jamie Forrester was that it reminded him more of Gail Platt from Coronation Street!
As well as having forgotten how to celebrate, I also forgot just how good it feels to score in a competitive match. Regardless of the level, it is an incredible buzz, as I am sure a number of you have experienced.
It has been rare in Notts County home matches this season for our team to win after falling behind, so that was another reason why the goal gave me so much satisfaction.
That's the positives from my weekend covered. As I said, there was a downside and it occurred no more than a minute after I had scored. The adrenalin was pumping and I was determined to close the ball down straight from the restart. Unfortunately, as I did so, I felt an all too familiar pain in my right hamstring and was swiftly substituted.
Being in the dressing-room at the end of the game was a surreal experience. On the one hand, I was delighted to have played a part in securing an important victory for the team and on the other I was devastated to have sustained another injury and the inevitable spell on the sidelines that it brings.
It is at such times that the harsh reality of football and the insecurities that come with it become apparent. This is hardly a good time for me to pick up another injury (although I am keeping my fingers crossed it is not too bad), given that I am out of contract at the end of the season.
It is obviously a worry to me but all I can do is focus on is getting fit as quickly as I can so that I can continue where I left off.
On a lighter note, I would like to give a word of praise to our referee on Saturday, Oliver Langford. Referees get a lot of bad press, sometimes rightly so, but I had nothing but admiration for the way he went about his business on Saturday.
The only fault I could find in his performance was the somewhat questionable penalty he awarded to Exeter (although in his defence, he said the linesman gave it)!
What I liked about him was that, right from the start of the match, he was chatting away to players, explaining his decisions. While the game was going on, he even took the time to ask me how the blog was going, telling me that he agreed with a lot of the comments made on the website stating that I needed a haircut!
Basically he was showing the players respect which as we all know is the "buzz" word right now and as a result he got it back. Ask any player and they will tell you that one of the things that winds them up the most is if a referee ignores you or talks down to you.
In my experience, if a referee explains his decisions to you and as has a bit of banter with the players, such as Mr Langford did, he is going to have a much easier game to officiate.
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.
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Great blog Gav,
Sorry to hear about the injury but just concentrate on getting yourself fit and then increasing your goals tally.
Great point about referree's their is nothing worse than watching them strut round as if they are to good to talk to people or waving people away who are asking them questions.
Maybe you can fix for Mr Langford to come to Premier League and we will send you Steve Bennett in return?
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Hi Gavin.
Many time reader, first time blogger here.
Just want to say that I find all your blogs to be a true insight into the modern day professional footballer and I really enjoy reading them all. Although I play football regularly, I have never been good enough to make it beyond local clubs and work teams (not least because of a lack of personal fitness) so it is nice to read about your opinions and emotions.
I too have had my fair share of injuries while playing (included the dreaded hamstring) and know how frustrating they can be and also the euphoria of scoring a goal in a match (particularly if it is an equaliser/winner).
Keep up the good work and I look forward to many more enjoyable reads.
Thanks!
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Funniest goal celebration I've ever witnessed was in a local Sunday league match when an opposing midfielder scored a belter from 35 yards. His prompt celebration involved him taking off the boot he'd smashed the ball with and throwing it toward the goal. Unfortunately the said boot caught his own striker in the face (who was running toward him, arms aloft) and knocking him unconcious. Quality.
Another nice blog Gav. I've inadvertently become a Notts County follower as a result. Take care of that hammy.
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I once saw Paul McGrath do something similar in a goal celebration when he was at Man Utd. From memory, the opponent team scored and proceeded to jump on top of each other. McGrath didn't feel the need to walk around the jubilant players so he simply walked on them. Funniest thing I've ever seen!
What about the worst ever celebration? I reckon Giggs & Ince at Man Utd when they did that really pathetic thing where the slapped hands and danced away from each other.
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I was watching the score updates on Saturday and when Jeff Stelling announced you had scored i actually jumpeD up and went 'YESSS'! Sorry to hear about the injury though.
Keep the blog up, it's a very enjoyable read!
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Hi Gav
I'm a Notts fan but don't get down much as I live in Leeds, my old mans a season ticket holder in the sirrel stand though and he keeps me upto date with whats going on. Being from Leeds I obviously have a lot of respect for your dad and what he did at Elland Road so it was great to see you get the winner on saturday. Sorry to hear about your injury though, it seems like 1 step forward, 2 steps back for you at the moment. I wanted to say that the fans are happy with the way Notts are playing this season and if we'd have turned some of those draws into wins earlier on in the season we'd be in the playoffs so keep playing football and the results will follow! Come on you pies!
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Another intriguing blog from you Gavin, I'm actually quite enjoying the varied things you talk about in it, even if I am a Forest fan ;o).
The 'best' celebrations I've seen were:-
Marlon Harewood, after scoring the eventual winner against Sheffield Wednesday, running to the touchline in front of our main stand to celebrate, jumping to punch the air, and catching the linesman clean in the jaw, knocking him out.
Another one involved Colin Cooper celebrating a Stuart Pearce free kick away at Wolves, by running into the goalpost in an attempt to get the ball (a feat equalled by Paul McGregor when he scored against Lyon in the UEFA Cup).
The 'best' recent one, was Joe Garner, Gareth McCleary, Matt Thornhill, Brendan Moloney and Rob Earnshaw doing the Soccer AM 161 Checkout Celebration, which also involved a silly little dance at the end..
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I agree wholeheartedly about the referee's. I play Sunday League football and we are told to respect the referee but we hardly get any respect back ourselves. I scored a goal which I believed was perfectly fine, only for the ref to flag it offside. I asked him if it was me that was offside and how close was it as I thought I was on, he pulled me over, stopped the game and gave me a telling off and threatened to book me if I questioned him again. In another game, a ref gave a throw in the wrong way, the other team laughed as they knew it was clearly our ball so I said it was our ball ref and that ref also threatened to book me. In another game, the most pedantic booking of the season, I stuck it wide from a flowing move and the goalkeeper went to retrieve the ball so our striker went to the sideline to get a drink, he put the drink back in the holder and the ref booked him for leaving the pitch without permission. That cost us a £9 fine and as it was a yellow card, we couldn't appeal!
We fully respect the respect campaign, but like you say, it should go both ways. A litttle communication either way, in a non-aggresive manner is all we ask for.
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#5 I agree. I think five months of this blog has created hundreds of Gav Strachan fans.
I now refer to Gordon Strachan, winner of 15 major honours as player and manager, simply as; Gavin's Dad.
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I agree completely about refs! But just like any walk of life you get your good ones and your bad ones. Unfortunately some people are attracted to positions of power just so they can abuse it.
One of the funniest goal celebrations has to be a friend of mine scoring for scarborough last season. He was so elated he ran over to the fans, picked up a baby before kissing it and holding it aloft. The linesman then disallowed the goal, ruling him offside. Utter devastation!!!
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Hi Gav,
Well played on saturday. You and Adam Nowland had a good game and your goal was the icing on the cake. I could clearly see how devastated you were. And we all felt for you.
As far as the Referee goes, I'm sure you are right and he was brilliant with the players but for allowing that Linesman to overrule him on the penalty decision he made no friends in the crowd.
Anyway, good luck with the recovery.
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Hi Gavin, great blog as always! The point you make about the referee is intriguing. Do you find in the lower leagues that referees are more willing to talk to players to explain decision where as in the Premier League some referees (i'm looking at you Mr Bennett!) prance about with their noses in the air? Do you think that premier league referee's are going the same way as the players i.e. Believing their own hype and slowing turning into prima donnas? Keep up the good work and i hope the hamstring injury clears up quickly :)
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i agree with #9, its a great read and has created many fans of this blog (me being one of them)
i used to play Sunday League football a few years ago but for so many games i was on the bench so when one game i game on during a corner, i scored a header on my first touch (granted, i didnt score many) my celebration was pure shock i ran towards our half when one of their team tripped me up and i damaged my knee. i think i was on the pitch for about 30 seconds before i had to come off.
Keep up the great blogs Gavin!
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Hi Gav,
Quality blog, always interesting and inciteful.
Your point about referees really strikes home for me. Surely the most important attribute a referee needs is to be able to manage people. Knowing the rules, although extremely important, is secondary to this. They need to deal and handle the players in a way that avoids confrontation and use the relationship that they strike up with the players as a tool in their armoury. Accordingly, this interaction between player and referee is THE single most important thing in the respect campaign. Thus, for the respect campaign to really succeed the FA needs to encourage referees to break down the communication barrier with the players as Mr Langford did in your game.
Hope the injury isnt too bad fella, get well soon!
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Hi Gav, i seen the goal at the weekend and your celebration certainly had a 'no frills' feel to it.
i used to love the Roger Miller celebration in the Italia 90 World Cup. Remember him? he played till he was about 90!
also remember the colourful character tina asprilla scoring a goal at home to Metz in the Uefa Cup, he then proceeded to take off his shirt, put it on top of the corner flag and start waiving it about infront of the gallowgate end. he then got yellow carded, missed the 2nd leg due to suspension and we got beat on aggregate!
Sums newcastle up really!
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Great blog as usual, and I have to agree with you regarding referees.
I am 47 now and only play 6 a side in a sunday evening league. We have a young ref on site who can only be 20, but he gets a huge amount of respect from players much older than him merely because he explains why he made his decisions, and will sometimes answer our protestations with "if I got it wrong then I'm sorry, but that's what I saw". Can't ask for much more than that...
Good luck with the hamstring!!
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Another good blog...
The point about referees is an interesting one, as a casual watcher of MotD etc... All I seem to see is 4 or 5 players berating the referee whenever he makes a decision against them! Being aggressive towards the officials at any level of football is surely huge disrespect and a major problem!
I would agree that if a referee explains and talks to players he is more likely to get respect. However, I don't think that the majority of players at any level allow officials to do this as they spit their dummies out as soon as possible!!
It would be interesting to hear your thoughts.
Thanks and keep up the good work
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Hey Gav, super blog again (maybe you could show Chic Young how to write one of these things).
Congratulations on the goal and i'm sorry to here about the injury, hope you're back playing soon. As for the celebrations, my favourite was Robbie Keane's forward roll. Simple but looked good on TV. Maybe you should try a Nani or a Obafemi Martins celebration on your next goal, might take a while with your record so as well make it special eh? :P
I fully agree with you on the whole respect thing. I started playing football competitively up here in Scotland for the first time in 3 years again this season all be it at amateur level and realised how frustrating the refs can be.I'm only 19 so refs are alot firmer than when i was playing for the school team. I fully understand that when a ref makes a decision that 99.9% of the time he won't change it but when you ask them to explain some decisions the reactions you get are jaw dropping. The referee we had last weekend was brilliant though, and i had to wonder why he only reffed at amateur level. he came in to our dressing room before the start and had a laugh. He explained that he might not get every decision right but if ones don't go for us then there will be ones that don't go for the other team either so it will even out and then on the pitch he had a bit of banter with all the guys, from the colour of their boots to the hair and for that the game was much more enjoyable and the ref got respect as i think no-one questioned his decisions even if we didn't agree with them. If refs at our level could all be a bit more like that then it would be safer as amateur games tend to get nasty so one that helps players enjoy the game would mean players wouldn't get so frustrated and there wouldn't be so many wild tackles. And i imagine that it would be similar at pro level even though players are a bit more disciplined, however with poor refs means poorer discipline.
How did you say the blog was going anyway to the ref? Over the past few months and again today, i would of said not too badly haha.
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Great Blog Gav.
Always look out for it, always a good read.
One of the funniest celebrations I remember was Ketsbaia (sp?) for Newcastle, scored and the took his shirt off, I think then attempted to take his boot off before kicking the advertising hoardings for some strange reason, so funny to watch.
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One of my favourite ones was when Robert Earnshaw scored for my team Cardiff and just grabbed the camera mans mike and screamed into it while facing the cheering fans!
Quality.
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Great blog again Gav....
Was in the pub with Sky Sports News on tv on the weekend and when it came up you had scored there were cheers from different corners of the pub, followed by mild embarrasment that we were cheering for a guy who's blog we all obviously read.
Lovely stuff!
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Great blog as always Gav.
As another poster said, I also tend to look out for Notts County results on a Saturday now.
As for celebrations, you can't beat Marco Tardelli's celebration in the 82 World Cup final (I think). After scoring against Germany he repeatedly screams 'Tardelli, Tardelli, Tardelli.......' Classic.
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Nice blog again Gavin. Tales like yours remind us being a professional footballer isn't all about WAGs, writing off flash cars and multi-million pound transfers. Have you read the excellent 'Left foot forward: A year in the life of a journeyman footballer' by Garry Nelson? It's far easier for us ordinary fans to relate to than ghosted autobiographies from the likes of Wayne Rooney!
Best celebration I saw was probably Gazza's 'dentist chair' in Euro 96 v Scotland, though I guess as a Scot you may disagree...
Hope hamstring injury isn't too bad by the way.
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Another good blog...
Sorry to hear about the new hamstring injury, I hope it's not too bad.
I noticed today that Wayne Rooney also injured his hamstring last night. Do you think there will be any notable difference between yours and Rooney's recoveries?
I was just interested to know whether money will play a part in it, as, obviously, United have a fair bit of it to throw around, and Notts County aren't the biggest club in the world.
Good luck with the injury anyway.
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I really enjoyed watching the celebration of Ayr United's second equaliser in the Cup match against Kilmarnock at the weekend. The goalscorer, a sub who had only just come on, ripped off his jersey and ran dementedly like a headless chicked - into the arms of the ref. Rightly booked for taking off his top, the player gave the ref a peck on the cheek.
Some refs up here would have given the player another yellow card for dissent, but fair play to this one, he saw the funny side of the situation and just laughed.
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United.
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Great read Gavin!
One of my favorite celebrations is the Bernado Corradi one when he 'knighted' Joey Barton with corner flag - classic cheese!
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at 24, i was thiking the same thing. I think there will be a difference in recovery, because A) Utd will have better facilities than Notts County, and B) No offence intended, but Rooney is a lot younger than Gav.
As for goal celebrations, i think it was Forlan once who took his shirt off, then couldn get it back on and had to stand on the sides until he did. classic.
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Hi Gav - Great blog as usual. I've been following them for the last few weeks and they are a good read and an interesting insight into the 'ins and outs' of football in the lower leagues. Like another reader mentioned, I've started to lookout for Notts County results now on a Saturday. I'm a Leeds fan and have vivid memories of your old man performing wonders back in the early 90's - great times. Keep up the blogs.
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How about that guy, can't remember what league it was in, who jumped up on the fence to celebrate his goal but when he jumped down his ring got caught and it pulled the top half of his finger off!!
Extreme celebration - costly one too!!
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Hi Gav,
First time I've read your blog and I must say it's interesting stuff.
As a referee it's interesting to note your comments about your ref on Saturday, sounds like he is one to watch. I try to talk to players during matches as much as possible, usually it works, but sometimes you get a real numpty who won't listen, so you only really have one way to manage someone like that.
Funniest goal celebration I remember was my Saturday side a few season's ago. The goalscorer ran wildly to the corner flag, turned and beckoned everyone else to him. However, the rest of us were by now just lying on the floor pretending to have fainted from the shock of him scoring.
Anyway, hope the injury is not too serious
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1st time ive really read your blog gavin, reason for doing so I was watching soccer saturday on sky sports 1 watching the results coming in hopeing for a wee result with my coupon ha! Noticed you scored for Notts as i had them on, Jeff stelling then says goal by Gavin Strachan there, Im sure he will include that in his blog on the BBC website! so decided to take a look for myself. Some interesting stuff in this weeks cheers!
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I have read all your blogs so far and have found them all really enjoyable. I have never commented before but felt compelled to do so today.
I am an Exeter City fan and thought I'd say thank you very much for deciding to score against us!!!
I, like many others due to their matches being called, was sat in front of Sky Sports news.
I was pleased to see us take a 1 - 0 lead, ok to see it go to 1 -1 and cross when it went 1 - 2.
However I did raise a smile to see that it was you that scored.
Good luck with the rest of the season and I hope the injury clears up soon.
ps: try scoring against some other teams in the future!
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Hi Gav, great read and great insight too!
As far as celebrationsa re concerned, what about Forlan and his shirt? He took it off but couldn't put it back on again...he runs around with if off! Amazing...had to have it cut with scissors but i couldn't find the whole thing on youtube:
http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=9s_oJaFXVrE
Anyway, keep up the good work, on and off the pitch.
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Surely one of the funniest goal celebrations was from a Mr G Strachan when playing for Scotland. Having watched various goalscorers clearing the advertising hoardings with one leap to celebrate with their fans it came to wee Gordon's turn. He stood side on to the hoarding with hand on top "attempting" to get his leg over, if you pardon the expression, much to the amusement of teammates and crowd.
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Great blog Gav
There are some pretty horrific celebrations out there that I recall, some of my most hated:
1) Tim Cahill "boxing" with the corner flag. *cringe*
2) Any footballer who does the "cradle" celebration after they've had a child. *cringe!*
3) Any footballer who does a dance (best example I can think of is Adebayor at Arsenal who always dances when he rarely scores)
4) The DJ celebration that people like Emile Heskey and Andy Johnson sometimes use
Best celebration I can remember is Gary Neville after Manchester United scored against Liverpool. He'd been getting stick all game so gave a bit back and got fined! A sad day for football.
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Enjoy all your blogs Gav, keep up the good work.
With regard to the Respect campaign fair play to Howard Webb who was the referee for B'ham v Wolves on Tuesday. Firstly he failed to award a stonewall penalty for Blues and then got in the way of a pass which deflected off him and led to Wolves scoring their second. After the match he immediately apologised for both incidents and said he was in the wrong. He's the only ref I've heard do this. That's what earns respect.
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i read your blog quite often but i think this is my first post. robbie fowlers infamous 'sniff the line' celebration did it for me as well as the craig bellamy golf swing after the john arne risse debacle....... good luck with the injury hopefully you'll bag a few more before the seasons out. u should think up a ridiculous celebration for your next goal.......maybe take suggestions from the many gav strachan fans, could be interesting :)
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Refs need to stop being so aloof, interact with players and have a sense of humour.
At the Ayr v Kilmarnock game on Saturday, Alex Williams got an injury time time equaliser for Ayr. He took his shirt off and was running towards the crowd when the ref stopped him, so Williams game him a hug.
The ref had no option but to book him, so Williams gave the ref a peck on the cheek which the ref laughed off.
Some refs would have sent him off fo a hug and a kiss when the guy was just elated.
Best celebrations are Nigeria in the world cup 94 against Greece when a player pretended to be a dog.
Klinnsman v Sheff Wed doing the dive.
Denis Laws classic one hand in the air.
Fowler and Macca, when Fowler scored in the first minute of a game. They were both looking at an imaginary watch in bemusement. Off the cuff and very funny.
Worst are when any mencenary player kisses a badge.
Plus Chelsea when LeBouef, Wise, Morris etc posed for a photo that time. Horrible.
On another note, why do so many top players look so angry when they score nowadays?
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Hi Gav,
Great blog if far too fair-minded sometimes.
Best ever celebration for me was when your da attempted to jump the hoarding and then realised he was never going to make it.
We'd a guy at our indoor once who, after scoring, pulled his shirt over his head Ravanelli style and ran smack into the fire door.
Oh, how we laughed.
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One of my favourite goal celebrations involved Robbie Fowler with his 'White Lines' celebration against Everton in 1999.
It was particularly funny considering the stick he had been geting from the Everton fans.
Although, to hear Gerard Houllier try to explain the celebration as a "Cameroonian grass eating celebration that he learnt from Rigobert Song" is almost as funny.
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Yes, beathollow92, good one, Klinsmann dive was good, and I remember a Michael Owen slapping his head after scoring in response to a bald guy who'd been giving him stick all game. And Ginola's 'shirt off and flex' in FA Cup after wonder goal v Barnsley...
But I still reckon Gazza's 'dentist's chair' (aided by Sheringham) after Euro 96 goal v Scotland (having flicked ball over head of Pat Butcher look-a-like Colin Hendry). That was a real 'up yours!' to the media who'd been giving the team stick in the build up to the tournament...
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Best celebration ever has to be Martin Palermo, then of Villareal, who upon scoring jumped on to the advertising boards in front of his fans, only to fall straight off and break his leg!
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One of the funniest celebrations i have seen is when ronaldo scored that goal against fulham to put utd 2-1.
He ran to the bench to celebrate with everyone and as he got out of the group hug Gary Neville just clobbered him round the face and just had smilled to himself
Very Funny.
Good blog as ever and I am with a lot of others that had a little grin when you scored at the weekend but I thought you might cover yourself in glory a bit more!!
good work mate!
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I remember Elano (I beieve) once scored and went to take his shirt off but quickly realised he would've got booked so he eventually struggled and span the shirt around so it was back to front to show the crowd his name on the shirt. It took so long to do that the referee ran over getting ready to book him for taking his shirt off, before realising that he hadn't taken it off and sulked off.
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Gav, your blog is a great insight - keep going, but really you SHOULD get your hair cut!
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Great blog again Gav. Good luck with the injury.
My favourite celebration has to be Cantona's lob, where he just stands there looking imperious lapping up the adualtion.
Incidentally, I've been keeping an eye for you on my current FM2009 game, hoping to snap you up on a free for Macclesfield side!
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Hi Gav
I was at the game on Saturday with my little brother and I must say what a fantastic game of football it was. The first half had all the goals but the second half had endless of chances (if you was still on the pitch in the second half you could have doubled your goaslcoring total for the past two seasons!!!!)
I love how county play under McParland and I cant believe what a talent Myles Weston is, how good do you think he can be and will the pies be able to keep hold of him if we dont get a play off place?
P.s Love the blog and your spot on about the ref! Hope your not out for too long.
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Stephen Irelands celebration where he just dropped his shorts and stood there in his superman pants was great.
On the Ref's thing, it's always nice when you get a ref who talks to the players and has a laugh. Sometimes though people just moan for the sake of it and make the job impossible. I can remember when i got sent of this season, it was nothing nasty i was last man and went for a fair tackle but the striker just beat me to it. The ref had no option but send me of and even apologised while doing it, yet people on my team still started having a go at him even though it was clear cut sending off offence.
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Refs also need to stop giving yellow cards to players that a) take their top off to celebrate a goal and more so b) dive into their OWN crowd to celebrate.
It is stupid they are not offending anyone or inciting violence so I don't see any reason it should be outlawed!
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As an Exeter fan who was working I could only watch the game on teletext, but when I saw you scored, I knew we were doomed.
I did assume it must have been 'shinned in' or bounced off your knee!
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Again, another good blog from you Gav. You definitely have a feel for what people find interesting from your entries. Nice to have something good to say about the ref as well and explain your point of view with it.
As for celebrations, I go back to when their were less elaborate. How about Mick Channon whirling his arm 360 degrees? Pretty safe, too. I wonder how many injuries are caused these days by goal celebrations?
Perhaps, Gav, next time you score (as I'm sure you will when you get back from injury - good luck with that, BTW), perhaps to ensure you don't hurt yourself, how about doing something simple? Perhaps something appropriate like making a gesture with two fingers...no not THAT gesture...move your fingers as if they were a pair of scissors! How appropriate would that be? ;)
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Mick Harford......
Once a Hatter...always a Hatter....
Legend as a player at Luton and if he keeps us up this year then surely a Knighthood is around the corner!!!
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I think it was Kevin Kuranyi when playing for VFB Stuttgart, who would run to the sideline, take one shoe off, and pretend to use it to call his mum and tell her he just scored a goal.
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I'm surprised my ultra puritanical firewall managed to let that frankly obscene picture of Gail Platt through. I scrolled from the bottom of the picture up thinking "Hmmm" and got a nasty surpise when the chinless wonders face apperared.
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Hi Gavin,
I read your observation regarding the Ref on saturday with great interest.
I played briefly as a full-time pro for 2 or 3 clubs before finding my true level and enjoying 10 years as a semi-pro. I , like many on this forum experienced varying degrees of refereeing standards, but I feel a great number had no playing experience to speak of and did not really 'understand' what was going on.
Most Ref's have to start at a very young age to be able to progress into The Football League, whilst ex-players who may be interested in becoming a Ref ( who knows why!) don't have sufficient time to climb that same ladder.
Whilst watching my son play under 11 football this season, the majority of the Ref's are very young ,starting on that journey, obviously with little playing experience. By far the best Ref we have had this season was one of the Dads helping out. He was an ex Swindon Town player who knew exactly if what he saw was accidental or intentional and it made for an excellent game.
Should there be an initiative to help ex players 'fast-track' the system to get them up the ladder and potentially provide an alternative career after they hang up their boots?
Keep up the good work on and off the pitch.
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Post 18 . I was a bit stunned when he asked , so I just had a little chuckle and said "not too bad thanks"
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Post 46 . Seeing as I am under intense pressure , I might have to get the hair cut this week.
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If the ref is reading this, speak up and tell us what Gavin says to you when he doesn't like your decisions!
Brilliant blog this week Gavin, the best so far in my opinion. Do any of the other players read your blog, if so what do they think? Writing requires a bit of intelligence and practice so did you get any academic qualifications in the past?
Cheers mate, keep it up.
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P.S. Not to be sycophantic but I think you have splendid hair. Don't cut it off, it looks great. ;)
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post 59. Yes they do . They tend to remember a line and then say it out loud in the changing room as a bit of banter . They understand why I am doing it as a lot of us are all in the same boat, trying to prepare for a career outside of football.
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Alright Gav, gutted to hear about your injury on Saturday, thought you were having your best game for the club up until then, especially getting on the end of one of Myles' crosses and sticking it in.
However, to more important matters...
DO NOT CUT THE HAIR!
It will ruin my attempts to get a Gavin Strachan song going amongst the Kop, stolen from Man Utd fans a very long time ago:-
"When the ball hits the goal,
It's not Shearer or Cole,
It's Gav Strachan.
When the ball hits the net,
Though his hairs not cut yet,
It's Gav Straaachan."
It even seems more realistic now you've scored. Hope the lads are up for Saturday, and of course that the games on. Being mental I booked a 4:10am train down to London to have a day out as it was only a quid, you 'pies!
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Great blog - first time I've read it.
If you ask my brother, he might just mention a celebration I pulled off back in the day I played for my town's youth team. Playing at the centre back position and only picked because of my size, I rarely was allowed across the half-way line.
But.. my team was up 14 to nothing and I scored the one goal that really knocked the other side down. My goal to 15-0 was quite spectacular. Well, I scored and ran the length of the pitch doing spins and ended sliding on my knees in front of the traveling spectators (a dog, 2 moms and a sibling).
On a professional level, Brian Laudrup's celebration when he scored for Denmark against Brazil in the 1998 world cup. Ran to the corner flag and laid down on the grown like he was chilling on his couch. Great stuff!
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Great blog, Gav. I have been reading your blogs for quite a while but this is my first comment.
Your great insight and down-to-earth attitude (which is lacking in many football stars) give good advice to everyone who reads your blogs.
Hope the hamstring problem isn't too severe and keep scoring those goals!
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Your blog is a delightful read with insight to the "other side" of the pitch. I enjoy the comments, too. Today, particularly entertaining is the ditty 62 wrote. I hope you have a speedy recovery.
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Always a great read Gav - down to earth in a (funnier) Jimmy Armfield style that we can easily forget some footballers still have in these days of millionaire car crashes!
Do sort your hair out though. I fear a Facebook group will not be long in the offing ;~)
Get well soon.
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Re: Comment 30 - I recently did a referees course at Manchester FA and they showed us this picture of the guy who pulled off his finger when celebrating.
http://futebolistasroxas.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/the_finger.png
It was to show us why jewellery is no longer allowed in the game.
Also, as a referee, I can comment on the "Respect" issues that have been brought up on the blog. Firstly, I totally agree with the statements that the best refs are those that talk to the players and explain decisions and this is the main thing that I, as a newly qualified referee, have been trying to do in my first few games.
However, if, after the first decision, you get a torrent of abuse off the players, you really do wonder if it is really worth the time and you feel like not bothering helping them enjoy the game, if they don't let you. But, admittedly, that kind of behaviour has certainly stopped happening as often as it used to.
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fantastic blog, so true about the refs respect thing.
we have a similar thing in new zealand. i play state mens league and a lot of the refs (even in the low leagues) take the power straight to their heads.. its disgusting...
i remember one time a foul was given against one of our players for what looked to be a perfectly normal tackle and (it being the 5th/or so of many similar calls against us) asked casually to the ref "what did our player do to cause a foul"
ref turned to me and told me one more outburst like that and he will card me
also best celebration iv seen was in my league team... our winger just lobbed the keeper from 30 yards out by the sideline and turned and sprinted back up the wing waving his arms madly above his head yelling.. wouldv been quite funny if we werent all stunned by the screamer of a goal!!
btw hope you get over your injury soon!
and if you dont get your contract renewed youll definatly be welcome to come to New Plymouth, New Zealand to play for the mighty FC Western and write some more quality blogs
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I work with Mr Langford and I find even in his day job dealing with finances, he talks to the staff all day (occassionally too much..), explains his decisions (in detail..) and loves to have a joke. In all seriousness he does understand what makes people tick, glad to hear he's just the same on the pitch. Good luck Oli!
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and also gav.. dont cut your hair! iv grown my hair long and now score around 5 a season (not bad for an 18 year old attacking mid playing mens league... league only comprises of about 18 games too)
little superstitions are great arent they?
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Check out this link some of these celebrations are brilliant including a rude italian who loves the grass hes playing on.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=SFrMSzoLXIU
Lee peacocks break dancing and Peter Crouch's robot make me laugh everytime.
Gavin have you ever done a celebration which was pre meditated and wish you hadnt?
Keep up the good work and heres to a speedy recovery
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Here's a video with some of the best celebrations ever
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=fc1JcYQvrZo
p.s Gavin, When you're talking to your Dad please tell him to sign a left-back. We've been crying out for one for ages.
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It's a pity there aren't more players in professional football as honest and refreshing as you, Gav...but then I reckon the money changes attitudes as they accumulate more of it! Would Cristiano Ronaldo act like such a petulant twerp if he were on £500 a week? Whilst the money has changed the game, in many ways for the better, it has also brought out the bad points of a lot of people. What's your views on the situation at Manchester City right now? Do you think Mark Hughes is in heaven or hell?
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Post number 39 : Very good post, totally agree on the great Denis Law's iconic celebration as well as the badge kissing thing.
The other horrible " celebration " is the finger to the lips shushing the crowd. Ridiculous and dull as hell.
Oh by the way Gavin, as an Exeter fan, thanks very much for choosing us to score against.
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great blog again, gav. sorry about the injury!
goal celebrations... i hate most of them these days... so contrived, and plain ridiculous!
i still love the old denis law one best of all. a true classic!
i used to just go mental when i scored. it was just such a rush that i couldn't control myself...!
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Great blog and one I look out for every week.
Two reminiscences about good referees.
The first was in a Sunday League game when I was playing up front and the ball went for a corner. I went to fetch the ball and the ref gave the corner. Later on he said I did not know if it was a corner but as you went to fetch it I knew it must be.
The second was a Saturday afternoon game when we did not have a ref assigned but a chap turned up. He was a rugby ref who did not have a game so had rung up to see if any football clubs needed one. The game was played in a superb spirit, but during the game the opposition centre forward was fouled and the ref gave a free kick. The CF started mouthing it off so the ref said ok and gave the kick the other way. The opposing players all agreed with the ref - superb common sense refereeing.
As for goal celebrations - one of my ambitions was to score a goal after I had reached the age of 50 so when we moved to France I joined a veterans league and managed to achieve it last year. As for the celebration I was bent over double trying to get my breathe back!!! French veterans leagues are something to behold - played on a Friday evening kicking off about 9:00pm, afterwards into the bar for a few beers, around midnight have an aperitif before a 4 course meal with wine, followed by a whisky or pastis, then drive home at about 3:00am. C'est la vie.
Keep up the good work Gavin
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Great blog, Gavin.
As for the worst goal celebration just look at this one:
http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=1NIPlZRoi3Q
Who can forget Bolo Zenden's poor attempt at a summersault??
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Gavin
Enjoy your blog - saw a video of your goal & thought iot would have graced a much higher standard of football and the pundits would have been purring over it - hope you're not out too long
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#7
Did Colin Cooper not run into the post after McGregor scored the penalty?
I still think Shefki Kuqi's celebration is funny, a big fat lad throwing himself in the air and landing square on his belly.
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I remember about 10 years ago when Bury were playing Middlesborough a player called Beck scored for Boro and jumped onto the grating that used to be in front of the away fans. One of the fans got a bit over excited and yanked his crown jewels, resulting in him dropping to the floor and having to be substitued soon after!
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oh, i love your dad's 'trying to vault the advertising boards' celebration at the world cup. genius!
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Gutted to hear about the hamstring injury, get fixed soon.
Get the hair cut, shaved to the bone like myself thats the style thats in.......... that way you might see the ball earlier and score more goals...
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Although slightly biased as a Rangers fan, but Gazza playing the flute in front of the Celtic fans was a fantastic celebration despite the trouble he got in for it.
But best goal celebration has to be Tardelli's celebration for Italy in the 82 World Cup final. It sums up best of all the unplanned, pure adrenalin rush of scoring a goal and just running wild with it.
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#80 - I was at that game! Those were the good old days when Bury were any good. And that game ended in a 1-1 draw, I seem to remember. Emerson played for Boro but didn't do much that night...damp nights in small run-down stadiums in Lancashire weren't to his liking!
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For goal celebrations, Stuart Pearce's raw emotion/relief after scoring in the penalty shoot-out against Spain at Euro 96, finally banishing the demons/pizza adverts that had plagued him since missing at Italia 90.
And for some strange reason the only other celebration that sticks in my mind is Dalian Atkinson after scoring for Villa against Wimbledon at a rainy Plough Lane. He scored a 'wonder goal' after a long and mazy dribble and as he celebrated running down the touchline by the Villa fans, one of them (who looked suspiciously like Noddy Holder) ran onto the pitch and held his umbrella over Atkinson to shield him from the rain *shrug* :-)
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one of the best celebration i've seen is Ayr United's last minute goal against Killie last weekend when the goalscorer hugged the refferree twice, just after he scored with his shirt off, and then he hugged him again after being yellow carded!
also i think it was stephen hunt rugby tackling reading's mascot after he scored was another great celebration!
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Great blog as ever Gavin.
A few great celebrations:
Ketsbia losing it and kicking the crap out of an advertising hoarding at St James Park.
Pele shouting Goal after his header against England in 1970, only for Banks to produce the save of the century. (I was reminded of this as Ferrari's celebrations were cut short at the Brazilian GP)
Bobby Charlton just walking back and shaking hands with his team mates
But for sheer passion Tardelli and Pearce have to take the winners rostrum.
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Oh and Baz Savage moonwalking always raises a smile.
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Great stuff again Gav, I said you should shoot more! Though I think Mr Weston deserves ALMOST as much praise as me for the cross hehehe.
Sounds like the banter after your goal was celebration enough, when I used to play when I was 13 if I scored (rare enough on its own), I wouldn't get much congratulation from the team, unfortunately thats how some kids get treated.
Away from that, I don't suppose you have any idea who'll be replacing you in the team next Saturday? Any chance you could put a word in for Jay Smith, I believe he's been pretty good this season but isn't given enough of a chance.
But I digress. Keep writing!
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Gavin ...this is great stuff. I am hooked.
On the subject of Goals ...does it ever tick you off when a player scores the winning goal and is named man of the match when really thats the only half decent thing he did in the game?
Goal celebrations .... If someone is going to do a specific goal celebration it has to be original or you just look like an idiot. Perhaps you could center your next celebration around your hair or maybe around your journeyman status. Let us know what its going to be.
I for one can't wait until your next goal ...er could you make sure its not against Swindon please.
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Great blog Gavin and congratulations on your goal. This is actually my first time reading your blog and it is very interesting, i look forward to the next one.
It is great to hear something from a professional footballer. I myself am trying to turn professional, but it's really hard to do here in the United States. I am only 17 years old and I play for one of the best teams in the country. I wish I can somehow get a trial in Britain because I believe that I have what it takes to be a professional.
Sorry to hear about the injury.
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#79 - It may have been, I need to dig the video out to have a look.
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#79 - According to this ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DX_FRzR-YAo ) video at 2:29, its Colin Cooper. Good spot. :)
(The same Paul McGregor who scored goals like - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CCw2HCs1hU )
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Good blog Gav
Yes being a Watford supporter I remember MickHartford from Luton doing that.
Still very pleasing scoring against the rivals.
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Gavin, why don't you think of taking up refereeing, or, in all seriousness, is it a bit late for you now at your age?
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I remember about 10 years ago when Bury were playing Middlesborough a player called Beck scored for Boro and jumped onto the grating that used to be in front of the away fans. One of the fans got a bit over excited and yanked his crown jewels, resulting in him dropping to the floor and having to be substitued soon after
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I remember that. His name was Mikel Beck and was a Dane. I remember him playing for Derby as well. Awful player it must be said.
As for celebration, many moons ago playing a friendly match I scored a last minute goal to make it 3-2 to us and went on to make a summersault celebration, only for me to twist my ankle and mess up my ligaments. I was sidelined for about 8 weeks. What a genius I am sometimes eh!!
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Excellent blog Gavin, I'm now looking on a regular basis to see if you've put a new one up!
I am a Notts County fan and was there last Saturday (16th Jan) and was delighted to see you score, and score a cracking goal too - good to see Myles finally showing of that potential we all know he has.
I know you've had a hard year with injuries and occasional stick from the fans so to see you score was great - I could see the relief and joy in your celebration in front of the family stand, which is coincidentally where I sit!
So I was sad to see you hobble off with hamstring problems again, the best of luck with the recovery. A month may seem a long time but I think you are relatively lucky compared with other players - some are forced off for a lot longer than that. I hope to see you challenging for the first team again soon anyway!
On the matter of referees I agree that the guy on Saturday seemed better. Not sure what he was like personally but did seem to let the game flow and controlled proceedings better, and it was not his fault that the linesmen were awful. Hopefully we should see more of that kind of referee down at Meadow Lane - We don't half get some strange decisions!
All the best for the future anyway
Sam
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And on the matter of goal celebrations, I personally like Alan Shearer's celebration - no nonsense, just a smile and the arm in the air. Although I think the 300th one he scored merited something special, instead it was just two arms I seem to remember :-P
Having said that, Shefki Kuqi's dive is very entertaining too.
Obviously its up to you, but maybe for your next goal (and it will come, I'm sure) you should run into the crowd if possible - I always think that shows the bond between the Players and the supporters. Just make sure you haven't been booked and/or are not on a suspension!
And definitely don't do a Martins/Earnshaw style flip - with your injury record you could put yourself out for a while!
All the best
Sam
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