News in Brief- Seven Questions

Hi Mark Thank you for sitting down with News in brief. Firstly we would like to congratulate you on winning Season 04 Friday Top goalscorer and Player of the year.

Thanks, it is an honour to win them but I couldn’t have done it without the players I had around me so it was a team effort for me.

Down to Business

Q1. You relinquished the role as manager of Cov Rangers at the pinnacle of your powers can you tell news in brief how and why this came about?

It had been a long hard season and towards the remaining 1-2 months of the season I found myself just wanting to concentrate on playing. People don’t realise managing can be strenuous even in a 5 a side league. Keeping players happy with substitutions, trying to find players to play when you are let down at the last minute by your regulars was a weekly struggle. On a personal level it was too hard for me to make substitutions whilst playing and listening to everyone moan at me!

Q2. After going unbeaten in Season 04 you have got off to a slow start in Season 05. What do you put this down too?

I wouldn’t say we have got down to a slow start, we looked poor for 3-4 weeks but that was pre-season and the change of management was still going through. In the league itself we have 2 wins and 1 loss which I think is a good start for a promoted team. We have struggled with players this season also and we have had to bring in 2-3 new guys as we have been quite let down by some of the players from last season. It’s a tougher league we need tougher players I guess.

Q3. Can you give news in brief you favourites to win the CLUB HEAT Friday Premiership, Championship and Division 1?

Well that’s a question seeing as the leagues have not been split into the 3 formats yet! For the premiership you can’t look past the Shadows, all this promise that they were quitting this season and yet they are still here… damn hahahaha. Unfortunately I think K.Kobras will slip down to the championship but I feel they will hold their own in that league and possibly win the thing. I only know a couple of teams in division 1 so I couldn’t say much, FC your mum could do it but I don’t know what they are up against. I still have not got my head around the new format if i am honest!

Q4. You are also a major force in the Sunday Leagues and have recently joined K.Kobras. Could you tell news in brief a little about the two sides and your aspirations for both teams in Season 05?

I will start with Cov Rangers. My heart says we will have a decent season but with everything that’s gone on my head tells me realistically we could be looking at mid table in the premier division. With the new signings of Dan and Mark Lea I feel we have bought in 2 extremely good players, the problem is though finding the right balance and dealing with the players who may not get the call to play. Having played 2 games with the new signings and winning them both I really do feel a confidence coming back into the team. Even my goals to shots ratio is picking back up!

K.Kobras- I really do feel we should get promoted in the Sunday league. It looks a really decent squad and they are all good lads, if the physical side of the team can come into fruition a little more I see no reason that we can’t win the league. There are some good teams which will be a challenge but I have to be confident in the team we have. The one thing the team needs is to keep Matty Upton.

Q.5. News in Brief want to know if you had the chance to pick a 5 a side CLUB HEAT league dream team from all of our leagues who would you pick and why?
(Squad of 8 please)

Oh no, this means I get moaned at from people now doesn’t it?

GK - Suki - Old Boys - As much as I feel the team contribute to the lack of goals they concede a great deal I cant look past how well he does in goal. The fact he plays for such a winning team speaks for itself, I could have picked another 2 goalkeepers but i am looking at who concede most and the goalkeeper is the last person between you and the goal so Suki it is.

DEF - Kim Green - Old Boys - The man Is a rock! Even when you get past him he is intelligent enough to either put you off or make a sneaky foul which the refs never pick up on. I actually think Kim is the star of the old boy’s team. Without him they would concede a great deal more and wouldn’t have the reassurance at the back.

DEF - Mark Lea - Cov Rangers - I really do rate Mark very highly, he played in my team a few seasons ago when we went unbeaten and has recently come over to us again. Just seems to do enough to make the tackle or block. Pops up with the odd important goal when you need it as well the one thing I rate above most is his distribution from defence, always seems to play the attacker into good space.

DEF - Terry - City Rejects - I have a lot of respect for this guy, he is an unsung hero. The goals he scores from distance are a great asset to any team. Another player who seems to pick the right pass at the right time. He also inspires the team well with his team talks.

MID - Andy Harbourne - Cov Rangers - What can I say that won’t appear biased? One of the better players i ve had in any of the teams i ve played for. Always gets a tackle in whether he wins the ball or takes the man out, Has one of the best left foots i ve ever seen in the 5 a side leagues and is a real nice guy! Yeah he really is, just don’t cross him on the pitch!

MID/ATT - Danny Thompson - Something else - Another left footer and what a left foot! The thing I like about Danny is his never say die attitude. It’s only the past couple of seasons I feel he has really stepped out as a top goalscorer, he always scored goals but never to this consistency. He also knows how to fire his team mates up which can be very important in big games.

ATT - Meluci - Shadows - He knows how to score! The amount of times i ve watched him bend the ball into the corner out of a nothing situation is quality. A lot of people don’t like him but I don’t think that’s because of anything nasty, it’s because he is such a tricky player. Seems to have it all, skills, shot accuracy and a great pass.

ATT - Dan - Lloyds Bar - a player I know well, his main strength is pace and he has lots of it. Does miss a good few goalscoring opportunities but it is never really a problem as his sheer pace gets him into plenty more goalscoring opportunities. Can seem to shoot a bit too much when other players are available for the pass but that’s the only thing I could worry about, seems to be maturing as a player and I think that side of him left him.

That was too hard so I have to name others I feel needed a mention. Other mentions I have to give are Carl Pickup, Kieran Edwards, Ellis from the Ziggy Tooters, Steve from Cock Fighters, Dave Jones and Curtis from Excelsior.

Q.6 Describe Cov Rangers in 3 words

Too friggin moany!

Q7 Finally After being part of the Leagues at the sports centre for many years how are you finding the ‘Evolution of indoor Football’

Well I can answer this fairly seeing as I was playing at the sports centre even before the “5star” revolution! It was only the other day I was saying to someone how far it’s come. The most impressive thing and revolutionary thing for me is the website. It really does make me laugh at times and I think its good people can check on standing etc from home (if only it was updated quicker and more often!) The amount of cups now has also improved. There seems to be enough competitions now so everybody has a realistic chance of picking up a trophy. Things finally seem to be coming together now for the leagues but it still needs the odd adjustment in areas but i am confident the whole package is really coming good. The awards night is also an excellent addition, it’s a shame a lot of teams don’t turn up, and THE VENUE IS SUPRISINGLY RELAXED hahahahha so get yourselves down there.

Thank you for your time and good luck in the CLUB HEAT Season 05!