On holiday in Durham 10 days ago, I went to a Bobby Robson signing session for his autobiography just come out. A real gent and made time to talk to everyone.
Inevitably the Shrimpers were mentioned (with him being a Geordie I made sure I mentioned THAT New Years day game of course). He replied that Southend offered him a job once. Sure enough, we were the first ever club to offer him a manager role - in 1969. Trevor Bailey was our chairman, and BR came down to Brentwood (where Trevor and Essex CC were playing a match at the time) for a job interview and we offered him a player-manager role. He turned it down because we offered him LESS wages than he had been on when Fulham paid him when they signed him as an untried 17 year old nearly 20 years previously (plus ca change...!).
He also has one or two things to say which are very interesting in the context of recent comments made on this board about Mitchell Cole and especially James Lawson. Talking about his debut at the age of 17 for Fulham, he says 'supporters who immediately condemn young players for not being good enough should remember that a large measure of disorientation comes with promotion to the first eleven. It takes time for the shock to wear off and for a boy's confidence to grow'. This season is inevitably going to be harder than last year, and Roots Hall floaters are well-known for quickly getting on the players backs - we must be patient and encourage the team - it's even more important now than at the Millstad in May. We should remember that most of our players have NEVER played at League 1 level, and will need time to bed in - I think that's why we were off the pace in the first half against Vale last week.
I did tell him that there's a youth coach job going at the Hall at the moment, but he didn't seem interrested...
Lastly, if we didn't already know what a top chap he is, he even urged a couple of boys in Sunderland shirts in the queue saying 'support your team'.
Inevitably the Shrimpers were mentioned (with him being a Geordie I made sure I mentioned THAT New Years day game of course). He replied that Southend offered him a job once. Sure enough, we were the first ever club to offer him a manager role - in 1969. Trevor Bailey was our chairman, and BR came down to Brentwood (where Trevor and Essex CC were playing a match at the time) for a job interview and we offered him a player-manager role. He turned it down because we offered him LESS wages than he had been on when Fulham paid him when they signed him as an untried 17 year old nearly 20 years previously (plus ca change...!).
He also has one or two things to say which are very interesting in the context of recent comments made on this board about Mitchell Cole and especially James Lawson. Talking about his debut at the age of 17 for Fulham, he says 'supporters who immediately condemn young players for not being good enough should remember that a large measure of disorientation comes with promotion to the first eleven. It takes time for the shock to wear off and for a boy's confidence to grow'. This season is inevitably going to be harder than last year, and Roots Hall floaters are well-known for quickly getting on the players backs - we must be patient and encourage the team - it's even more important now than at the Millstad in May. We should remember that most of our players have NEVER played at League 1 level, and will need time to bed in - I think that's why we were off the pace in the first half against Vale last week.
I did tell him that there's a youth coach job going at the Hall at the moment, but he didn't seem interrested...
Lastly, if we didn't already know what a top chap he is, he even urged a couple of boys in Sunderland shirts in the queue saying 'support your team'.
