Did you play, and were you any good?

[therealpattcobb]

So yeah exactly what it says in the title really.
Can we find our best player?
Plenty of opinions here, but just who walked the walk as well?
Town League, Central Comb, Sunday Alliance, Sunday League, Nene Valley League or if you were better the (proper) UCL
Maybe even higher up the pyramid?
I'm counting up now, and in my memory I played for ten clubs at least.

[St Edmundsbury Cobbler]

No and no.

One of the biggest disappointments in my life is that I am extremely crap at the sport I absolutely love.

[Cordwainer2]

No and no.

One of the biggest disappointments in my life is that I am extremely crap at the sport I absolutely love.

Same here!

[EB Claret]

No and no.

One of the biggest disappointments in my life is that I am extremely crap at the sport I absolutely love.

Me too!
But then most of us are

[Carton Lid]

Yes and average, mostly in the Rushden League with Wollaston, Bozeat and Earls Barton on Saturdays.

[BackOfTheNet]

Long answer :I hated football until I was in my late teens. As a young kid I had some sort of muscle weakness in my legs and was late walking. It's long since gone but it left me a bit behind the other kids at sport. It's always been a bit of a chicken and egg situation as to whether I hated football because I was rubbish at it or was rubbish at it because I hated it, either way I made very little effort when we played it at school. It's one of those things I've come to regret not bothering more with because I came to love the game and really enjoyed doing 5 a side matches with work when I was a bit older.

Short answer: no and no!

[DrillingCobbler]

I've dipped in and out of playing football with mates over the years (5 a side) but the one constant is that Im absolutely useless. Although I have an impressive record for the Cobblers fans team - played 1, scored 1. About 20 years ago!

Hockey was the sport I excelled in as a kid and played for Kettering first team for a season or so when I was 17/18. Gave it up because it clashed with football (watching us).

Took up squash when I was 21 and 30 years later I still play 3 or 4 times a week and in the local county leagues. Keeps me honest and earns me my weekend beer tokens!

[TPFKA Marvo]

Yes and no.

Scored a fair few goals but at a very low level.

[Lizard68]

Yes, I played until the age of 29 (too early), started playing at about 16 I think.

Highest league I played in was Sunday Alliance Division 1 back in the mid 80's to mid 90's.

I was asked to play for a Saturday afternoon team by someone watching one of my games. Told them I couldn't because I support the Cobblers  

Looking back now I could have done better with the life experiences I have now and I definitely finished too early. That is my big regret.

[TPFKA Marvo]

Yes, I played until the age of 29 (too early), started playing at about 16 I think.

Highest league I played in was Sunday Alliance Division 1 back in the mid 80's to mid 90's.

I was asked to play for a Saturday afternoon team by someone watching one of my games. Told them I couldn't because I support the Cobblers  

Looking back now I could have done better with the life experiences I have now and I definitely finished too early. That is my big regret.

I used to manage a side in the Sunday Alliance, was player-manager for the first season in Division 7. We went up through the leagues and I "retired" at the end of our first season in the Premiership alongside the likes of Duke of York, Sun Kislingbury and Senior Boys club. To be honest it was much more fun down the lower end of the league, players playing for the sheer joy of it. Once you got up near the top echelons that "fun" evaporated as things became more serious. Overall though, wouldn't have missed it for the world.

[Lizard68]

Two teams I played for had a first team in a higher league and a reserve team obviously  in a lower league. I played for both. Therefore I played for 6 teams (all Sunday Alliance) but 2 of those were reserve teams. Ranging from Division 6 (or something like that) to Division 1.

Also, had some good cup games played at Sileby's ground and Timken had a good pitch as did St Andrews Hospital.

I've played at Gainsborough Trinity and Wellingborough's Dog and Duck but that was  my guest appearances for my works team.

[Lizard68]

I used to manage a side in the Sunday Alliance, was player-manager for the first season in Division 7. We went up through the leagues and I "retired" at the end of our first season in the Premiership alongside the likes of Duke of York, Sun Kislingbury and Senior Boys club. To be honest it was much more fun down the lower end of the league, players playing for the sheer joy of it. Once you got up near the top echelons that "fun" evaporated as things became more serious. Overall though, wouldn't have missed it for the world.

I know you did John, probably came up against you on the odd ocassion. I agree lower down was good fun, then as you say it got a bit too serious. Partly the reason I gave up, still regret it though.

[Terryfenwickatemyhamster]

Played at a reasonable/ok ish level. Even got a couple of quid at times. Played a few times at the county ground and twice at Sixfields. Hung up my boots at the grand old age of 55. Played at goals a couple of times after that.

[DavCobb]

My uncle was a Cobbler in the 60's (Div 2 on way down) and my dad's cousin is ex-pro Terry Hennessey. I always fancied myself to replicate him. Unfortunately I wasn't as good as I was in my head but always loved playing on the numerous pitches around the town for a few different teams. I've played with lots of VERY good players who never go anywhere, which tells you how much dedication (and luck) is required to make it as a pro.

I'm surprised we haven't had the classic "I played for the county and had trials with Watford" yet. 

[Worthless Recluse]

I'm surprised we haven't had the classic "I played for the county and had trials with Watford" yet. 

I played for the County but never got so much as a sniff of a trial, not even at the poxy Cobblers!
I gave the game up in my teens after playing one season for Dav Town, U/18's I think, to concentrate on another sport, before returning to it several years later to play Sunday league for the local village side.
Between times I morphed from a half decent left back into a not so good forward, busting the myth that the older you got the further back you had to play.

[Larry]

Played at decent school level but came across Derrick Christie. I realised I wan't much good that day.

[therealpattcobb]

To pick this up once again, I played for Pattishall mens team when still at school. Scored 15 goals in a less than average season "stick the young lad up front coz he's quick"
I was "scouted" by Bugbrooke as they embarked in their first season in the UCL however I played mainly for the A side with a couple of forays in the Reserves, I didn't really have the steel to get any further particularly given all the travelling in the UCL. Late 80s I found I was getting more enjoyment from watching The Cobblers so my allegiances switched to Sundays. Pattishall Freeways, Silverstone, Sun Kisl, Pattishall Rangers and Duston Barnstormers- being my clubs.
Managed Pattishall Rangers to two cup finals in 1998, both against local rivals Greens Norton both defeats!! The second final we lost 6-1 at Fernie Fields on the same day that Cobblers lost the playoff semi-final 3-1 at Bristol Rovers, fair to say I've had better days than that in football!

[Terryfenwickatemyhamster]

Managed Pattishall Rangers to two cup finals in 1998, both against local rivals Greens Norton both defeats!! The second final we lost 6-1 at Fernie Fields on the same day that Cobblers lost the playoff semi-final 3-1 at Bristol Rovers, fair to say I've had better days than that in football!

Are you Brady in disguise

[Monkey]

I scored a fair few for the Shoemakers (Fans team). Around 25-30 in 70 odd appearances I reckon.

My "claims to fame" (small fry, but considering my ability level, is somewhat impressive...)

1) Scoring at Sixfields against a team with Sammo, Razor, Parrish, McGoldrick and a few other ex-players.
2) Scoring a perfect hat-trick against Burton away. We lost 7-3 I think.

I also played 5-a-side for the fans team for a number of years. Came up against the likes of Scott Cross and McWilliams brothers on the rare occasion that we dallied in the top tier. If you thought Sammy scored from a good angle last night... I once lobbed the keeper from the corner flag in a 5-a-side goal.

Retired after back surgery about 8 years ago but almost certainly fulfilled my maximum potential.

[everbrite]

Resounding No unfortunately but I did play left wing for my Junior School 2nds. After that it was either Rugby and Hockey in the winter and spring terms. Whilst playing for NSHC we had a few games against Kettering and Drilling - God he was a dirty devil! In those days Mens Hockey more often than not the Coaches adopted Mens style player formations! Enjoyed it and was still playing at 68yrs.