We're Hayes ... & Yeading

Queens Park Rangers U23 4 v Sheffield United U23 3
U23 Professional Development League
Monday 26 August 2019
Played at Harlington Training Ground

SUFC 2019/20 Game 15

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It transpires that the rather thin bloke seen hanging around in the dugout at the U23 home match v Watford was a certain Mr Andrew Hughes.  At that previous game (played at Chesterfield), I trotted around all the Carrier Bag Firm and asked them the simple question - who’s he there? Not one of them could answer. Too fucking interested in whether on loan David Parkhouse has scored recently for Derry City. I’m an open book. When the announcement was made on 21 August that Andrew had been appointed as lead U23 coach at Sheffield United. Even after reading his CV - first team coach at Huddersfield, played for Oldham, Notts County, Reading, Norwich City, Leeds United, Scunthorpe United and Charlton Athletic, a brief spell coaching Bolton Wanderers U23s, and coaching jobs at Rotherham United and Crystal Palace.  I have still basically never heard of him. No reflection on him. Just poor from me - I go around in a haze of train timetables & good beer guides. And, a Sheffield United haze at that. Good luck fella. You are ours now.

One of the beautiful things about age group football & other small ball is that you feel very close to & involved in the action. Unfortunately, the dugouts at Harlington are over the far side, in the no public over there, roped off section. So, I couldn’t really see, nor more importantly hear, what Mr Hughes was up to. Jack Lester was also over there in his now customary position 10 yards away from the dugout - available for consultation. Best I could note was that Hughesy was active & prowling the technical area.  At one stage I heard him bawling at Ompreon - come on Sammy, come on - but in an encouraging, not chastising way.

However, I couldn’t help but notice that Andrew does NOT have a List A Cricket game on his CV. He appears never to have played in the 50 overs a side, English Domestic Cricket Cheltenham & Gloucester Cup. I’m mentioning that, because his predecessor Travis Binnion did - in 2002. Taking one catch (as wicketkeeper) and scoring 20 runs in what was, ultimately, a fruitless chase of 281 to win.  Baller - as the Young ‘Uns would say.

Currently, I have no intel as to whether the recent trialists at Academy level come from Andrew’s contacts. But, I can tell you that today’s kid in the spotlight was Callum Gribbin, wearing 8 for the Young Blades. There’s a theme here - I’d never heard of him either. Turns out he’s been a Manchester United WonderKid. Aged 20, born in Salford. Callum has previously been in the middle of a tug of war between Man U & Liverpool Academies. Google reveals there has been an awful lot of “chatter” around Callum over the years. However, it appears that his development was stalled by injuries & he was eventually released by the other United this June. He’s Callum Gribbin - although to the ever vociferous Marcus Dewhurst, he’s Gribbo. He’s quite tall, but wiry thin - in an athletic way, not in a scrawny way.

Well, Gribbo couldn’t have started better. I was just making the note in the Precious Pad that - he’s all left foot. He whipped in a dangerous free kick left ‘un on just three minutes. Jake Young got a great shot off, keeper making a good save. Within a minute, Gribbin took the ball on a short, but mazy run, in the inside right channel & slotted home the first goal with his right foot. Four minutes - me likeee.  Initially, Gribbin had set up on the right side of midfield, alongside Broadbent & York. But, it quickly became apparent that he was the more pushed forward, attacking midfielder & he was popping up in different bits. Overall he was calm and assured on the ball. One of those simple, but effective, I’m just going to help the ball on its way sort of players. I assume he was out to impress. So, he had that slightly disconcerting - get out of my way, I’m having this greediness about him. On 13 minutes, Sammy Ompreon gave Gribbin a great lay off, he beat his man & got hauled down. No doubt in his mind who was taking the free kick - which was very poor & blazed miles over.  I did feel Callum drifted a bit at times as the game went on. At one stage, George Broadbent lost the ball near Callum. It was noticeable that everyone else regrouped & tracked back - except Callum, who was ambling half heartedly. As early as 25, natural leader Ky Gordon was getting a bit shirty - assertively explaining that Gribbo needed to come towards him to look for the ball. I couldn’t quite work it out - but I think Jack Lester was also shouting “Callum, Callum” etc, wanting a bit more effort. So, by 30 minutes in, me likeee slightly less.

But, overall, he’s clearly a good player. He was finding space in midfield, driving forward or playing quick, easy, intelligent balls. He drew a few free kicks and took some whacks & needed some Fizz for his efforts. He was subbed on 51, along with Harry Sheppeard. Stephen Mallon & Illiman Ndiaye coming on.

Right - the match. That Callum Gribbin goal after 4. Equaliser on 39, QPR go ahead on 47. Young Blades equaliser on 60, and go ahead on 71. SuperHoops leveller on 78 & a winner on 86. Somewhat disappointing to concede four, including a late winner. Maybe a draw would have been a fair result. But, there weren’t much in it. Once free kick freddy Gribbin had cleared off, another ex-Manchester United starlet, George Broadbent was allowed a go. On the D, bang centre, 60 minutes. A lovely up n over free kick, with a bit of power, easily beating the keeper - on what I thought was the easier side for a save.

Mentioning George, I’m just going to point out. We had three starters who have been in the Manchester United system - Gribbin, Broadbent & Jean Belehouan. (And of course, Harry Boyes from Manchester City & Sammy Ompreon from Chelsea).

But, United’s third goal was the stand out. Courtesy of ex Guiseley AFC striker Jake Young. I lost track a bit. But, I think Sammy Ompreon robbed his man, pushed it to Jake. He took off on a glorious snaking run & calmly finished with his right foot. I thought Jake had a very good game. He’d had that third minute shot saved from Gribbo’s cross. On 17 minutes, he went close again with a lob shot across the face of the goal.

Obvs disappointing to concede 4. Although, in general, I thought Gordon & Belehouan & Ferguson dealt well with QPR attacks. Particularly good at cutting crosses out & shutting down chances - organised & committed. And maybe it was my imagination, but it looked like the Young Blades were employing the High Press at times - York, Ompreon & Boyes getting after it & right amongst it.

As I’m sure you’re aware, the Carrier Bag Firm is a GLOBAL PHENOMENON. Football anoraks, tickers & lickers, hoppers & boppers. Ubiquitous. Omnipresent. It’s just that there are some locations which are more suited to spotting the Bagger in their natural habitat. Harlington is one of those. Down a country lane, narrow gate in, everyone along one touchline. And, there is a sort of netting affair slung on posts along the touchline. Which does obscure the CBF view somewhat. But, here’s an old CBF trick for you. The fucking players will have to get on the pitch somehow. So, there’ll be a gate. And, there’ll be a gap in the netting where that gate is. And, that my friend is the natural lair of the QPR Carrier Bag Firm. I conveniently attached myself at one end. Kept schtum of course. But, the Baggers know & I was sussed. Lovely fella. Happy to inform me that this was his 35th game of the season. The game had kicked off at 1pm. On full time, him & his mates had it all on to get the four and half miles to Hayes & Yeading United’s 3 o’clock against Farnborough. I’ve got a friend of a friend who lives near Hayes. Over a few beers he often regales us with the legendary chant.

We’re Hayes ….. & Yeading
We’ll kick your fucking ….. head in

Godspeed the Queens Park Rangers Carrier Bag Firm.

As it happens, there is only one viable Beer Destination near the QPR Harlington ground. The White Hart - a Fuller’s pub. My Northern sensibilities still find it a little bizarre. You get off the tube in the urban wastelands of Hounslow. You catch a bus. You buzz along a perimeter road around Heathrow Airport. Past all the budget chain hotels & fast food outlets. Then, boooof, what’s this? It’s a sort of village. Jesus - there’s a Locomotive Society formed in 1947 which runs miniature steam engines on a Sunday. Hang on. This “village” only seems to run 100 yards in any given direction - before you hit the Heathrow environs urban wasteland again. In that “village” is the superb White Hart.

The Fuller’s & Friends Collaboration with Tiny Rebel, Respect Your Elders on cask at a remarkable 6% sounded superb. Unfortunately, it had the “Coming Soon” label on it. I double checked with the helpful & knowledgeable barman. No sorry, only recently racked. I offered the usual ultimatum - to come back on the hour, every hour until they could pull it through for me. He politely declined as it would “be ready tomorrow”. Drat. I had London Pride. In a London Village.

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