Jason Rockett Q&A

1, Your one of a few players to make the tricky transition from the playing field to boardroom.

I never intended to move to the boardroom. When my playing days were over I was gutted, but I started coaching part time at Sheffield Utd Academy as well as working in property development. I was coaching youngsters there like Kyle Walker but never thought I would end up coming back to the club in such a senior role. I was offered the Chief executives position after being a director of Scarborough Development Group. It was a difficult decision as football administration is notoriously full of politics and at times very fickle. However, in the end such a position particularly at United was impossible to turn down.

2, While at Scarborough FC, who of your team mates was the biggest joker.

There were a lot of personalities and jokers as you could imagine. Things I could tell you about Wells and Swalesy. I use to travel in a car with Steve Charles, Darren Knowles and Ian Ironside which was a laugh. There was an away game at Torquay where a few players including Mark Calvert and Aidie Meyer (the rest to remain nameless!) completely emptied the hotel room of the physio John Murray. He had to share a bed with Phil Chambers that night! Also we were training on the beach and Ivan Ash came down for a scoop, so Aide Meyer and I threw him in the sea all suited and booted.

3, did you ever try “Rockett Fuel” and have you still got a bottle???

(Jason laughs) I did, it was disgusting. Other players had drinks, like Richie Cola and Iron’s brew which were nicer. I gave away my last bottle a while back but do have a scrap book with a label of Rockett Fuel in it.

4, because you have a few qualifications could you beat brainy footballer and York City defender Clarke Carlisle in a pub quiz?

I’m rubbish at quizzes, I’m too busy to sit down reading Heat and watching Tv, maybe if it was all business related???

I’d give him an arm wrestle.

(Might have to speak to ex Boro players Scott Kerr and Michael Coulson see we can get this on) To be continued…

5, what you think of Scarborough Athletic carrying on the legacy of Scarborough and playing football at neighbours Bridlington? 

I think the club are doing the right thing. It appears very well run now days. I believe Bridlington have been fantastic hosts for Scarborough Athletic. However, I suspect it’s recognised that the club need to get back to somewhere they can call home in Scarborough so as to grow and maximise their potential.

6, you won player of the year in 1996-97 season and scored 13 goals. What do you consider were your best and worst games for Boro and why.

Best games were under Waddy (Mick Wadsworth) the team really played well. Had a good game against former club Rotherham in 1998 where I split my head open. Cardiff the first game of 96/97 season and Cambridge the start of 97/98 were good ones and Carlisle when I scored a late equaliser. The latter even stopped the manager giving me grief for a week. I felt I played well in the play offs as well, we just met a side bang in form. There were more highs than lows over the years and I hope my performances were fairly consistent.

Worst game we lost 7-1 at Wigan and the game at Fulham where I gave a back pass to Ironside that he made a right hash of. It got repeated on an old Nick Hancock video “football bloomers”. Thankfully he got blamed but it was a bad pass off my left foot which was only for standing on. There’s always the odd game where your legs just don’t work with your brain no matter how hard you try. Thankfully I have forgotten those ones unless they are on video!

7, Does it hurt you that a club you put so much effort into is no longer there.

Yeah it does, I visited the town in the summer for a few days and had to stop at the ground. I’ve taken a picture at the gates with my 6yr old son and found it hard to tell him that’s where I use to play. I moved on long before the demise of the club but it was still a very sad day. Most of all for the supporters, staff and other people associated with the club that had invested so much time, money and emotion over many years. 

8, Was it a feat for scarborough FC to get up to that level, do you believe that a team from the town can do the same once again?

The current club have a good hard core fan base. If they get back to the level Scarborough were and get the right backing from sponsors and local businesses anything is possible. Look at Aldershot, Accrington Stanley and AFC Wimbledon. Back then it was hard work to stay in Division 2 because of resources. However, Scarborough made two play offs and were respected by all other clubs in the league. The club could get back to where they were if it’s correctly run but unfortunately the old club was mismanaged for many years. I think the key for any club now is to grow their own talent and attract the best young players with potential in the area.

A giant amongst men, my tribute to Jonah Lomu

In this day and age there are great sportsmen & women. From David Beckham, not only what he has achieved on the pitch, but he has become a fashion icon & humanitarian raising millions for children around the world. On the women side Jess Ennis-Hill what she has also won in her sport after overcoming early injuries and last year regaining the World Championships and only giving birth and raising a child with training on top she must be forged from the same steel her home is famous for. 

But with them two mentioned and all the other sports personalities around the globe, there is but a true giant in the game and he is Jonah Lomu. Standing at 6ft 5in this Auckland born Māori, must of put fear not just to opposing half backs, but the whole team when coming against him. 

He broke records early on in his rugby career as he was the youngest player to represent his school Wesley College, while playing for the team there he was told by his coach that he should start getting use to been this. As not to long after that he was the youngest All Back at 19 years old and with only two international caps he was set loose on to the World stage at the 1995 World Cup in South Africa. He may not have helped New Zealand win in the final as that was South Africa's time. But with his running game, my earliest memory of him is ripping though the English defence. It reminded me of a David Attenborough nature programme where a pride of lionesses are jumping on top of a stampeding wilder beast and the lions are just getting shrugged off, that is such the power, strength & speed of the guy.

It was at the end of 1995 when Jonah was first diagnosed with Nephrotic syndrome he was on dialysis due to the deterioration in his kidney function. He had a Kidney Transplant in 2004.

Jonah scored tries against every major test playing nation in World Rugby except South Africa (12 matches) and Wales (3 matches), he now jointly still holds the record  of 15 tries in World Cup tournaments, which was equalled by South African Bryan Habana at this years World Cup in England. I have to say I am saddened by his passing, but I do think that his shadow will last long over the Rugby world who will mourn this Māori warrior who gave everything into all that he loved & who loved his greatness, Rest in peace big guy. 

Real World Football

I've just watched a non league football match that will live long into the memory, for anyone who watched it & was there. That was Salford City first FA Cup 1st round match against Notts County & founder member to the Football League also The Worlds Oldest League club. They had the likes of 38 year old keeper & Northern Ireland Legend Roy Carroll, ex Leeds & Manchester United Alan Smith & joint top scorer in last seasons FA Cup with 5 goals Jon Stead. Salford on the other hand had a Gas Man in defence in Chris Lynch, this tough defender on match days has hardly any sleep, as after the matches he has a quick shower then pops off to work filling gas bottles. Paul Scholes on of the owners has quoted in saying “This lad would tackle a transit van.”

Others in the team are Physio's in the Manchester Hospitals, Students and footballers go to job fitness instructors. As I watched this match it was hard to see who were the professional team, as Salford City pressed a high tempo match for around 90% of the match. Most of the Manchester side had been working that day & they made sure Notts County time there was going to be tough. Even owner Gary Neville ordered the pitches width be scaled down, they had a game plan and they stuck to it by the letter.

Over time clubs from the football leagues are going to fear coming to places like Moor Lane as non league team are becoming more organised and long may it continue.

Helland Road

2001 seems a long time ago, this was the year Leeds made it to the UEFA Champions League. Since then this once mighty club has free falled its way down to it lowest position to League One. 

After a promotion back into the championship & Ken Bates selling up, we thought the dark days at Elland Road was behind us when Mr Massimo Cellino took over from GFH. But people need to remember the first thing he did when he acquired the West Yorkshire club was to sack Brian McDermott after a heavy defeat, only to reinstate him a few weeks later. Since the arrival of the infamous Italian, we have gone though 5 managers since April 2014. Cellino isn't called "The Coach Eater" in his native country for nothing. 

We should of seen the writing on the wall with this, but as fans we have been blinded with the hope of securing promotion back to the promise land, The Premiership. It's looking more unlikely that this once mighty club will ever get to play on the biggest stage in football anytime soon, especially under the stewardship of Cellino.

Now we have Steve Evens as the head coach and this guy may have done well for Boston United, Crawley Town & Rotherham United with getting these clubs promoted but even he comes with a dubious past with a suspended sentence for tax evasion. Only time will tell if he will be the man for the job, or will he just be the 6th manager on the roundabout of destruction for my club Leeds United, only time will tell? 

RIP Hulkamania

As of last night everything to do about the Hulkamainia movement has just been erased from WWE history.

Hulk Hogen back in the day

Hulk Hogan's profile has also been removed from the site & from the Hall of fame.

There are now only two judges on the reality programs "Tough Enough" thats Daniel Bryan & Norwich's very own Paige.

Bryan (left) Paige (right)

But why has 30 years of saying our prayers & taking our vitamins just simply disappeared over night???

It turns out the leader of the Hulkamainiacs, Hulk Hogan has gone on an offensive rumoured racist rant. As a child I use to love the WWE (WWF-World Wrestling Federation) back in the day, I use to sit with my grandad on a Saturday catching up with the action. I'd be lying to you if I wasn't mesmerised with the glamour & bright lights of this new world my grandad had shown me, it sure beat what we had with World of Sport with Big Daddy & The Giant Haystack. 

So to see hulk Hogan memory to be banished like that I am a little sad, but also stand by Vince Mcmahon in the fireing of such an idol to kids young & now in our 30's. 

The Boss Vince Mcmahon 

The WWE are trying to keep a clean image after some big stories in the press, the biggest on was Chris Benoit's when he shot his whole family then killing himself. They know no one is bigger than the WWE Universe and I think they have shown this by running riot over Hogen. But what would be next for such a massive icon not only in the squared circle but also made the path clear for wrestlers such as The Rock to breakthrough on to the big screen, could rival wrestling company TNA Employ his services again or would this be a hot potato to much???

The Twelfth Man - Pre Season Friendlies Part 2 The Silver Royd Games

Ok just after I launched my last blog the next set of fixtures were realised. In this blog I'll cover 2 of the 3 matches that will be held at Scarborough Rugby Football Clib, Silver Royd.

Silver Ryod, home to Scarborough RUFC

Tuesday 21st July 7:30pm, Accrington Stanley FC at Silver Royd (Scarborough RUFC)

This club from Lancashire was made famous from an old Milk advert on TV. Every time I hear someone say Accrington Stanley, I just want to shout "WHO ARE THEY?".

Stanley are a club with a long history and tradition. They were also nearly wiped out of existence, but their loyal fans have stuck by them thick or thin.

This will be the highest league club Athletic will play this pre season & they will be a very tough team to break down in defence & midfield. Even if manager John Coleman doesn't bring his top players, they will still be a formidable team to play against. In the Stanley team  there is a midfielder who goes by the name of Josh Windass, he is the son of former Seadog Dean Windass. So I do hope for a big crowd to the match and cheering our boys on.

Josh warming up before a match with Accrington Stanley

Saturday 25th July 14:00, Tadcaster Albion Silver Royd (Scarborough RUFC)

Tadcaster Albion are under new manager Billy Miller and he has been quick to shore up the defence by bringing in Ex Leeds United defender Matt Heath, after Denny Ingram moved to Pickering Town FC. He's also brought in a midfielder aswell as he has secured the services of former Scarborough Athletic's Jimmy Beadle. But the threat doesn't stop there as there Ate a few familiar faces in The Brewers team from Paddy Miller, Andy Milne, Josh Greening and Tom Claisse's it's going to be a match that day.

 Also the Taddy fans follow their team in big numbers so expect the fans to be a great equaliser to the match atmosphere as I'm sure the song "Tad all over" will be heard on the wind at the rugby club.

The Twelfth Man - Pre Season Fixtures Part 1

Is it that time of the year, the sun is out & everyone is all on their holidays or popping into a beer garden having a cold one. But to ALL Scarborough Athletic fans will be looking at these Pre Season fixtures with optimism for this coming season in the Evo-Stik First Division North.

The teams where playing maybe in the lower NCEL Leagues but one thing I know there no push overs. I know the season hasn't started, but they'll be looking for a good performance if not a win & hit the ground running themselves. But let's have a closer look at Bryan Hughes & Paul Foots opposition coming up this July.

Barton Town Old Boys (A) Thursday 9th July 19:45 

The Euronics Ground, Marsh Lane, Barton-on-Humber, DN18 5JD. 

Don't be fooled by the name, this team from the other side of the Humber Bridge. They are no push overs, they finished a very respectable 5th place in the NCEL Premier Divison. They have Ex Seadog Scott Phillips bagging in the goals, he even got a hat trick on the last day of last season to secure them the 5th spot in the league. 

Scott Phillips

Scott has been a revelation at Batron Town last season as he finished 2nd in all competitions with 37 goals, only falling 3 goals behind Cleethorpes Town front man Brody Robertson.

So he'll love to try and get a goal against his old team, Dave Anderson would be foolish to leave him anywhere away from the pitch for this one. Barton Town are not just a one man team, they where scoring 2.35 goals a game & kept 9 clean sheets, but we do have Ben White who's an ex Barton player on our goal this season & I'm sure he'll know where the main threat from his old team mates. 

Hull United (A) Saturday 11th July 15:00

Dene Park, Beverley Road, Dunswell, Hull, HU6 0AA.

The new boys of the NCEL First Dvision and there not here to make up the numbers in NCEL First Divison league. They may be two leagues below BORO, but lead by former British Champion pro boxer Curtis Woodhouse, he will be pack his first XI with a knockout punch. Also with new chairman & Hull City legend Ian Ashbee they will be a force for anyone coming against them this season. Curtis has been quick to make sure the players who helped them win The Humber Premier Leauge & Cup double are signed up for The Citizens this term. Driffield born Curtis Woodhouse has led a double life in football & boxing at the top flight, he has also managed Goole AFC & Sheffield FC. I personally can't wait for this match and will be down at Dene Park as this should go though all the rounds and should be end to end action, I can't see this been a nil nil draw.

Curtis Woodhouse (left) Ian Ashbee (Right)

Thackley AFC (A) Wednesday 15th July 19:45

Dennyfields, Ainsbury Avenue, Thackley, Bradford, BD10 0TL.

Scarborough Athletic have a midweek match in West Yorkshire against the Dennyboys, old rivals for the Seadogs in their NCEL days so to some supporters this could be a trip down memory lane. Thackley fans are hoping for a strong season after finishing mid table in the NCEL Premier Divison, the management duo of Chris Reape & his assistant Paul Clayton hope to keep that feel good factor from last season. Their fans know that the season only took off after they were at the helm. I do feel that dispite being in a league below Scarborough, Hughes & Foot know not to take Thackley as a walkover, but a building block to finishing off their own team what should be a successful season for the seadogs.

Scarborough Athletic do have another fixture announced for Saturday 18th July but against a Scarborough & District XI kickoff 3pm but I'll do another blog for this nearer the time.

Scarborough team proving to be good sports in junior football

SCARBOROUGH Sports FC have been making an impact in the community for the past three years. 

The club was established three years ago with the intention of supporting grass-roots football and ensuring the game is available to all to all those wanting to play. 

Based at Gallows Close playing fileds, Scarborough sports are the only football club in the league who do not charge their players any signing on fees and have a number of dedicated volunteers and committee members helping to fundraise to provide sports equipment and coaching so as not to hold back any child from partaking in the sport. 

Coach Ant Taylor said: “We aim to provide the area's youths with the opportunity to learn, have fun and experience the importance of teamwork. We are very proud of our achievements and are hoping the hard work of a lot of people connected with the club will lead to much on-field success.

“The kids are a pleasure to work with and they all go out thee with a smile on their faces and enjoyt the game, which is exactly how it should be.”

The under-10s team are always open to new players and if anyone would like to help volunteer on match days or in training they would love people to call or text either Ant Taylor 07825908911 or Samantha Harriman on 07462 297529 for more information.

Ant added: “There are some great facilities around Scarborough such as the pitches at Gallows Close and it is great to be able to put something back into the community.”

Words & pictures by Pete Spence

pete@thescarboroughreview.co.uk 

The Twelfth Man - The New signings

           (www.radioscarborough.co.uk)

It's coming to the end of June and the nights are drawing in closer and you know people on Facebook are going to start telling you how many weekends till Christmas "Bah Humbug!!!"

On a more positive side, was only last week the football fixtures for the prawn sandwich brigade were out, so that can only mean one thing. I will be back on the wireless on a Saturday afternoon with my fellow co presenters, Jerry Scott & our man at the ground Will Baines, giving you ALL the latest news & scores from Queensgate, Bridlington for ALL the action of Scarborough Athletic FC. As they plan another attack up The Evo-Stik North First Division. 

Back at the Helm will be Byran Hughes & Paul Foot respectively. Even though a few players have moved to pastures new, the management duo have been and got new heroes for the Boro faithful to cheer on the terraces. 

There's a new man inbetween the goal, Ben White he joins us from Barton Town Old Boys. He's a tall 21 year old shotstopper from the academy at York City and he wants to slot in where Crackers left off last term. 

The hole that Jimmy Beadle has been left in the Seadog faithful hearts, has been replaced by a spartan, 22 year old Joel Dixon. Who has turned out for Frickley Athletic, Harrogate Railway Athletic & Jimmy's new team Tadcaster Albion. Joel will be giving us a defensive approach to the midfield, giving it a bit more teeth and maybe a different element in attack. Could he be the Evo Stik's Pirlo, only time will tell?

       (Picture courtesy of Blyth Spartons FC)

It seems like forever when we heard the news of Hughes & Foot's first signing of the season. Ex Bantam Dominic Rowe, a pacey winger and sure to be a fan favourite come the end of the season. At only 22 years of age this pocket rocket has took the decision to drop a league or two, to be apart of what is happening at the club. I can't wait to see what this lad can do.

We have one new signing left and that's our new club captain Leigh Franks. Franks is no stranger to the East Coast as like Blott, Beadle, Ingram, Hackworth & even Paul Foot before him have worn the Scarborough FC Jersey. Franks brings in a Welfth of experience to the defence as has played for Buxton & Harrogate Town in the leagues above. Leigh is glad to be back playing for his home town club and we wish the new lads aswell as the current crop who have signed on for another season, all the best in there pursuit to glory. 

 

Taking on the world - Part 1

Over the years there is one thing that I love doing & that is Volunteering. In the past I have used my services in many charitable organisations and the odd couple of football teams. I do this as I am an active person & I love to be part of a community.

Back in the day I have work in a shop for the Royal Voluntray Service, I have worked at Dial-a-Ride, I have worked at Sheffield FC on match days in the turnstiles & have been the Kitman for Scarborough Athletic FC. At the moment my love of football has lead me to coaching kids football, down at Biercliffe for under 10's & next season under 11's. Not only having that all under my belt and a job I also do two radio shows on Radio Scarborough. Where I co present The Twelfth Man Sport Show with Jerry Scott, I now have my own show on a Tuesday night called The Mixtape show.

All that is amazing, but this autumn something much bigger in coming...

I'll show you how big, 20,000 people applied for this out of that they had to reduce this to 10,000 & from all them I am now one of the 6,000 pack members that will be at 13 venues around England & Cardiff for this years Rugby World Cup. This is something I've wanted to do since the Atlanta Olympic Games in the 90's, I was gutted I missed out in applying for the 2012 London games & last years Grand Départ last year. 

It's been a long process and I couldn't of done this without the support of my family especially My brother Craig & my Nephew Harry also not forgetting my wife Laura.

In this journey so far I've had to show why I deserved to be a Pack member in a face to face interview by showing community spirit & follow the Rugby code of conduct:

I have to be honest I'm relatively new at Rugby, I only got seriously into it when my nephew stared playing for York RUFC & I went to cheer him on at matches. Me, Craig & Harry even picked rugby teams to support to give it a competitive edge. Harry is a Wasp fan as he was born in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. At the time they played at Adams Park home of Wycombe Wanderers. Craig is a Leicester Tigers fan, as there sponsor it "Caterpillar" the construction and mining equipment manufacturers as there more commonly known as "CAT" which are his initials. My team are Saracens for the only reason a player called Dan Scarbrough played for Saracens in 2004-08 and not only was he a good player but had a awesome surname & was a Yorkshire man.

I do say I'm relatively new to rugby, but Rugby has always been there. My other brother played it and always loved watching The World Cup, The Six Nations & Autumn internationals. So to now be apart of The Rugby World Cup this time around is awesome in my eyes, there is nothing bigger. The games I'll be covering are the two at Elland Road home of Leeds United. 

So I've done all my training I can do at the moment, I have two big dates of training in early July & in August and I've had a look at my uniform which I get in July.

Be happy, it drives people crazy!!!

I can say I'm a positive person most times of the day (I can be very grumpy). But I do believe if you feel happy, it will rub of on others and they will be happy aswell. 

My wife taught me something about 6 months ago called "Kill them with kindness" something she uses in her line of work (no she's not a hitman or her).

But she said if you use this, when someone is been negative it will drive them cray cray (her words not mine).

I've been using this principle in nearly everything I am doing with a little help with some NLP training I have acquired  Over the years and I can say I'm coming out with some amazing results. I don't want to go though all my tries at this in fear of losing the momentum I have built with certain people. But if I'm feeling peckish I'll go to a certain leading supermarket where they might have an offer on say 10 pieces of chicken and I have been known to come out with....... 15 has been the most, or yesterday my window cleaner came to the door as we needed to pay him, but I wanted something doing in return that I knew would cost extra (this is sounding filthy) so I had a chat in my happy positive way a d now having that something done at no extra cost. 

So just to round things up, if something is bothering you or it's not right, don't just go in all guns blazing, go in with a smile and see what more you get.

"Be happy, it does drive people crazy"

The self proclaimed Saviour of community radio in Scarborough!!! (Only time will tell)

Ant Taylor is Scarborough born & bread, and he'll tell you he was brought up on the mean streets of Eastfield. Ant is a keen sports fan, he loves Football and as a child would have been seen at the old Athletic ground cheering on Scarborough FC. His favourite player as a child was Tommy Mooney & club legend Darren Foreman.
 In 2002 he met a girl (who became MrsT) in a night club in Sheffield, and the following year he was a resident in S4.
Ant worked for a telecoms company and though them made contacts & later friends at The Worlds Oldest Football Club Sheffield FC. He went to a few matchs before he learned they had a disability team so went training with them & even turned out for a few matches for them.
At the time when Ant was calling it time on playing the sport he loved, Ant moved back to his home town of Scarbough and found himself volunteering for his home town club Scarborough Athletic FC as their kitman. He worked under then manager Rudy Funk and was working alongside players like club captain Tony Hackworth, Paddy Miller & Hull City legend Dean Windass.
But had to cut this short as an old football injury flared up again he had to say farewell to a team that eventually won the NCEL Premier Division a season later.

When Ant moved back to Scarborough he was working at The Scarborough News in advertising, until he was made redundant. In this time of unemployment Ant discovered an app called Vine, where he could make 6 second videos of jokes or sketches, in this time he made friends from Radio presenters, comedians in the states, to a Robbie Williams tribute act called Blobbie Williams. 

Ant went through two more jobs in quick succession. Where he could not fit in aswell as his previous employments, before landing a job in Radiology at the hospital. Ant always wanted to be on radio and after speaking to Tom Campbell & appearing on his show as an avid listener he asked Tom for advice on how to get onto Radio.

A few days later went by and, he found a community Radio Station called Radio Scarborough & sent them an email as they were looking for volunteers to help run the station. A week went by and Ant got a reply asking if he could go meet the MD Jerry Scott, who asked him if he'd like to join up with him on Saturday's to help cover the Scarborough Athletic matches. Ant jumped at this opportunity and felt everything had come round full circle and from there The Twelfth Man show & Ant's Tuesday night show The Mixtape Show was born.

You can hear Ant on Radio Scarborough Saturday's from 2pm & Tuesday evening from 8pm at www.radioscarborough.co.uk