Bolivia left to look for Taylor-made replacements
September 24th 2009 09:52
Coming face to face with a City player is always going to be a buzz whatever the weather.
I remember Dad gushing over a close encounter with Santos Gaia near the lifts in the Centre Spot a few years back. The Brazilian was cornered and asked to keep up his prolific form in front of goal ahead of the trip to Charlton in the FA Cup.
Spilling out of Torquay after booking yet another trip to Wembley we walked back to car sharing the pavement with a member of the day´s triumphant squad.
If ever there was a player who really put in a shift for City it has to be local lad Andy Taylor. He went through the highs and lows with us playing games against Old Trafford and at Wembley.
The former Manchester United trainee made over a 100 appearances for The Grecians during our non-league days and was handed the captaincy at times by Paul Tisdale.
Talking about wearing the armband for City at a fans forum in March 2008 the deadball specialist spoke of what an honour it was for him to lead The Grecians into battle.
“I'm very proud. It's my home town team,” The utility man said. “I feel I'm a good talker, a communicator who leads by example.”
However seeing Taylor heading away from Plainmoor accompanied by his folks it was clear that after missing out on a place on the bench his time at The Park was coming to an end.
His commitment to the cause while here and his return from serious injury highlights how lucky we are as City fans to watch real people turning out for us rather than a bunch of prima donnas.
Over here in South America many footballers do not live the high life even when they become international regulars and have to fight the authorities for a fair deal.
The most common form of protest is to call a strike and that is just what the national team of Bolivia have done. The entire La Verde squad have vowed not to show up for next month´s World Cup qualifiers against Brazil and Peru.
“Bolivian football is in deep crisis,” Read a statement issued by their player´s union. “As long as our suggestions are not taken into account and implemented the country´s professional footballers resign indefinitely from representing the national team.”
The major gripe of the players is the amount of opposing factions governing the game in the country. Power is divvied up between the FBF, the League and regional associations with few people looking out for the interests of the players.
As with all industries the strike is a useful bargaining tool and this year alone footballers in Uruguay, Peru and Argentina have already threatened action to one degree or another.
In March the Uruguayan players' union forced a midweek round of matches to be called off amid a dispute centring on unpaid wages and bonuses.
In July the Peruvian national team staged a walk out in protest of malaise blighting the game in the country.
More recently the start of the Argentine season was pushed back a week as again a players' union pitched battle against the national association.
It remains to be seen how things will pan out in Bolivia but with Evo Morales in the top job football is always treated a serious business in the country.
Up the City!
Tim
http://timsturtridge.com/
I remember Dad gushing over a close encounter with Santos Gaia near the lifts in the Centre Spot a few years back. The Brazilian was cornered and asked to keep up his prolific form in front of goal ahead of the trip to Charlton in the FA Cup.
Spilling out of Torquay after booking yet another trip to Wembley we walked back to car sharing the pavement with a member of the day´s triumphant squad.
If ever there was a player who really put in a shift for City it has to be local lad Andy Taylor. He went through the highs and lows with us playing games against Old Trafford and at Wembley.
The former Manchester United trainee made over a 100 appearances for The Grecians during our non-league days and was handed the captaincy at times by Paul Tisdale.
Talking about wearing the armband for City at a fans forum in March 2008 the deadball specialist spoke of what an honour it was for him to lead The Grecians into battle.
“I'm very proud. It's my home town team,” The utility man said. “I feel I'm a good talker, a communicator who leads by example.”
However seeing Taylor heading away from Plainmoor accompanied by his folks it was clear that after missing out on a place on the bench his time at The Park was coming to an end.
His commitment to the cause while here and his return from serious injury highlights how lucky we are as City fans to watch real people turning out for us rather than a bunch of prima donnas.
Over here in South America many footballers do not live the high life even when they become international regulars and have to fight the authorities for a fair deal.
The most common form of protest is to call a strike and that is just what the national team of Bolivia have done. The entire La Verde squad have vowed not to show up for next month´s World Cup qualifiers against Brazil and Peru.
“Bolivian football is in deep crisis,” Read a statement issued by their player´s union. “As long as our suggestions are not taken into account and implemented the country´s professional footballers resign indefinitely from representing the national team.”
The major gripe of the players is the amount of opposing factions governing the game in the country. Power is divvied up between the FBF, the League and regional associations with few people looking out for the interests of the players.
As with all industries the strike is a useful bargaining tool and this year alone footballers in Uruguay, Peru and Argentina have already threatened action to one degree or another.
In March the Uruguayan players' union forced a midweek round of matches to be called off amid a dispute centring on unpaid wages and bonuses.
In July the Peruvian national team staged a walk out in protest of malaise blighting the game in the country.
More recently the start of the Argentine season was pushed back a week as again a players' union pitched battle against the national association.
It remains to be seen how things will pan out in Bolivia but with Evo Morales in the top job football is always treated a serious business in the country.
Up the City!
Tim
http://timsturtridge.com/
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