Post by Jon on Jun 14, 2012 22:54:21 GMT
The internet can be used for good as well as for evil. A question about Mike Squire got me googling and after I found contact details for him, I sent him an e-mail letting him know what an impression he had left on the minds of Chesterfield fans.
I got a really nice reply back which he is happy for me to pass on. I've stuck it below copies of the two posts on the "Dave Smith" thread. When I get a little free time, I will take a look back at some of the players that arrived in the Spring of 84 - a strange time in the history of our club.
sites.google.com/site/verradoboyssoccer/team-roster-and-stats/about-the-team
I was sceptical about the football CV (some people have been known to exaggerate!) but the England Schoolboys bit is definitely true - two matches and two goals in 1982.
It's funny that a player who is probably forgotten by Torquay fans is so well remembered by a Chesterfield fan.
Squire was brought to the club by Dave Webb when he took over in 1984. He was a Dorset lad and came to us from Dorchester, but I think had previously been on Fulham's books. Webby would have known of him as he was Bournemouth-based.
Squire's arrival was part of a huge cost-cutting exercise as Webb immediately axed all the highest earners (including John Turner) and replaced them with far cheaper options.
The Chesterfield Sunday game (18 March 1984) was a prime example of the new cost-cutting regime. To save money, we did a Northern tour playing Hartlepool on the Saturday and Chesterfield on the way home on the Sunday! Chesterfield were comparatively well rested having made the short trip to Stockport on the Friday night.
Squire's record wasn't too bad really - three goals in fourteen appearances. He wasn't offered a contract at the end of the season though.
I never actually saw him play as I was living in France at the time, but the era that saw his arrival is not fondly remembered by many!
Mike's reply to my e-mail:
well, what a little saunter down memory lane!
Thank you so much for passing that along. I still have the newspaper clippings in my football career scrapbook along with my England jacket, tie, etc. Each year I host a Christmas get together for the high school football team and I take great pride is showing the players my scrapbook that contains school, England U-18, Torquay and Italian press clips.
I have scored many goals in my brief football career that was ended after only 6 months playing in Italy with a complete dislocation of my right knee severing all three ligaments, but I must say that particular goal truly still brings goose bumps!
Tony Currie, (Leeds/England), was on a short spell with us at Torquay at the time. I received a ball forward from Stephen Pugh, who received the pass from Currie, and sensing the defender so close I tried a flick over his head, turned and hit a half volley into the net from the edge of the box. I must say that it was a bit of a surprise to me when it whistled in because I could probably hit another 10 of those and they would be saved.
However, in addition to remembering the move so well, I remember distinctly a hush around the stadium and in my euphoria I heard a lone voice in the crowd say’ “Nice goal lad”. I didn’t look to see if it was one of our fans or theirs, I just remember hearing the compliment and it has always stayed with me that the effort was appreciated so noticeably.
I was back in England for work from 1997-2002 and coached Bramley United to an unexpected Hampshire League Championship title as a player/coach.
I now enjoy coaching at the Benfica Youth Soccer Academy U15/16 as well as coaching at the local Verrado High School.
I learned so much from so many good people that I almost feel it a duty to pass on what knowledge I have. In fact, I still call my Poole Grammar School coach to discuss tactics, formations and so forth. But I love to coach and pass on my experience to those younger than me. I’m a bit of a harsh coach but in 3 years of coaching Verrado High School we have reached the state quarter finals twice and the final once albeit with a team containing less than half club soccer players. It’s a real challenge but when the players do as they are told and see positive results they trust in what I coach and that is very satisfying to me. I would admit that the few games we have lost in the 3 years I have coached were definitely to stronger teams and we are always the underdog, but maybe I prefer it that way! But with 60+ wins and only a handful of losses in 3 years I think the stats speak for themselves.
I would really like to pay a visit to TUFC next time I am in England. My leaving wasn’t the best thing for me following my falling out with Dave Webb, but I remember my brief stay there fondly.
I got a really nice reply back which he is happy for me to pass on. I've stuck it below copies of the two posts on the "Dave Smith" thread. When I get a little free time, I will take a look back at some of the players that arrived in the Spring of 84 - a strange time in the history of our club.
Jun 12, 2012 20:32:23 GMT @wildebeeste said:
Might I just add? A player called Mick Squire of TUFC scored one of the finest goals I ever saw at Saltergate. I can't remember the year but it was a Sunday afternoon game and Torquay were 2-0 ahead at half time but lost 3-2. It was exactly like Gazza's famous goal for England against Scotland; a flick over a defender's head and then a volley into the net. I can't remember ever hearing of him again, though. Does anyone know what happened to the man who scored this cracking goal?
Jun 12, 2012 21:58:49 GMT Jon said:
Claims to have played professionally in Italy, before moving to Arizona where he now coaches:sites.google.com/site/verradoboyssoccer/team-roster-and-stats/about-the-team
I was sceptical about the football CV (some people have been known to exaggerate!) but the England Schoolboys bit is definitely true - two matches and two goals in 1982.
It's funny that a player who is probably forgotten by Torquay fans is so well remembered by a Chesterfield fan.
Squire was brought to the club by Dave Webb when he took over in 1984. He was a Dorset lad and came to us from Dorchester, but I think had previously been on Fulham's books. Webby would have known of him as he was Bournemouth-based.
Squire's arrival was part of a huge cost-cutting exercise as Webb immediately axed all the highest earners (including John Turner) and replaced them with far cheaper options.
The Chesterfield Sunday game (18 March 1984) was a prime example of the new cost-cutting regime. To save money, we did a Northern tour playing Hartlepool on the Saturday and Chesterfield on the way home on the Sunday! Chesterfield were comparatively well rested having made the short trip to Stockport on the Friday night.
Squire's record wasn't too bad really - three goals in fourteen appearances. He wasn't offered a contract at the end of the season though.
I never actually saw him play as I was living in France at the time, but the era that saw his arrival is not fondly remembered by many!
Mike's reply to my e-mail:
well, what a little saunter down memory lane!
Thank you so much for passing that along. I still have the newspaper clippings in my football career scrapbook along with my England jacket, tie, etc. Each year I host a Christmas get together for the high school football team and I take great pride is showing the players my scrapbook that contains school, England U-18, Torquay and Italian press clips.
I have scored many goals in my brief football career that was ended after only 6 months playing in Italy with a complete dislocation of my right knee severing all three ligaments, but I must say that particular goal truly still brings goose bumps!
Tony Currie, (Leeds/England), was on a short spell with us at Torquay at the time. I received a ball forward from Stephen Pugh, who received the pass from Currie, and sensing the defender so close I tried a flick over his head, turned and hit a half volley into the net from the edge of the box. I must say that it was a bit of a surprise to me when it whistled in because I could probably hit another 10 of those and they would be saved.
However, in addition to remembering the move so well, I remember distinctly a hush around the stadium and in my euphoria I heard a lone voice in the crowd say’ “Nice goal lad”. I didn’t look to see if it was one of our fans or theirs, I just remember hearing the compliment and it has always stayed with me that the effort was appreciated so noticeably.
I was back in England for work from 1997-2002 and coached Bramley United to an unexpected Hampshire League Championship title as a player/coach.
I now enjoy coaching at the Benfica Youth Soccer Academy U15/16 as well as coaching at the local Verrado High School.
I learned so much from so many good people that I almost feel it a duty to pass on what knowledge I have. In fact, I still call my Poole Grammar School coach to discuss tactics, formations and so forth. But I love to coach and pass on my experience to those younger than me. I’m a bit of a harsh coach but in 3 years of coaching Verrado High School we have reached the state quarter finals twice and the final once albeit with a team containing less than half club soccer players. It’s a real challenge but when the players do as they are told and see positive results they trust in what I coach and that is very satisfying to me. I would admit that the few games we have lost in the 3 years I have coached were definitely to stronger teams and we are always the underdog, but maybe I prefer it that way! But with 60+ wins and only a handful of losses in 3 years I think the stats speak for themselves.
I would really like to pay a visit to TUFC next time I am in England. My leaving wasn’t the best thing for me following my falling out with Dave Webb, but I remember my brief stay there fondly.
