Wignall - You can have chips!

YOU CAN HAVE CHIPS!

STEVE WIGNALL

FOREWORD by LOMANA TRSOR LUALUA

First published in 2009 by

Apex Publishing Ltd

www.apexpublishing.co.uk

PO Box 7086

Clacton on Sea

Essex

CO15 5WN

Digital Edition converted and published by

Andrews UK Limited 2010

www.andrewsuk.com

Copyright 2009 by Steve Wignall

The author has asserted his moral rights

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

All rights reserved. This book is sold subject to the condition, that no part of this book is to be reproduced, in any shape or form. Or by way of trade, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition, including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser, without prior permission of the copyright holder.

Production Manager: Chris Cowlin

Cover Design: Siobhan Smith

Photograph: Kindly supplied by Colchester Gazette

Publishers Note: The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author and are not necessarily those of Apex Publishing Ltd

Copyright: Every attempt has been made to contact the relevant copyright holders, Apex Publishing Ltd would be grateful if the appropriate people contact us on: 01255 428500 or

We would like to dedicate this book to our children, Thomas, Jack and Sally, and our grandchildren and great-grandchildren yet to come!

Anne and I love and are more proud of our kids than they will ever know.

The love of my life, Anne has always been at my side to encourage me in everything that I have done since we met as teenagers in 1970. Whether as a player, coach, manager or husband, her love, enthusiasm for life and drive have always inspired me. I thank her for her help and input over many hours working on this book, which has proved invaluable and without her support I would never have finished it.

Recently I attended a function and was asked by a member of the audience, Who is your best friend? I answered without hesitation: My wife Anne!

I would like to thank my wonderful parents, Peg and Arthur, for encouraging me to follow my dream. Sadly this meant that I have always been far from them in miles, but not in thought. People are often asked, Who are your heroes?

Mine are simply my mum and dad!

To all the players and others that I have not mentioned in this book, I apologise but it wasnt possible to name everyone. I must give a special mention, however, to Ian McDonald and Graham Brookland for graciously coping with my many phone calls to plunder their memories of certain facts that I couldnt recall myself!

Steve Wignall was the manager when I joined Colchester FC after being spotted playing college football. I scored a hat-trick in my first trial game for the Us as a 17yearold and was offered a chance to join their Youth Training Scheme to play in the youth team.

Steve always took a genuine interest in the young players at the club even when he had his hands full running the first team and doing all that the job entailed as a manager. He always encouraged me and showed great faith in my ability and rewarded me with my first professional contract. He also gave me my League debut at Chesterfield, which was my big chance and I scored my first senior goal within minutes of going on the pitch.

After Steve left Colchester I still kept in touch because of my friendship with his son Jack. I spent time at their home and Steve was always there to give me good advice regarding my career.

As a footballer you feel indebted to the manager who gave you your first professional contract and, as Steve gave me that chance, I will never forget him.

I always found Steve to be honest and upfront as a person. When I heard that he was writing his autobiography I knew that his book would also reflect him as a person. Honesty can be in short supply in football sometimes but not in Steves case.

So this book is definitely a good read!

Best wishes, Lomana Trsor LuaLua

CHAPTER ONE

I am not a great reader of books, so the thought of actually writing one myself was quite daunting. When I received a letter from Apex Publishing suggesting that they publish my autobiography, my immediate reaction was to put the letter to one side or even bin it! Why me? Who would want to read about my life and career, when there are so many more people of consequence and importance who have published work over the years?

However, my wife took a very different view. Why shouldnt you write a book? You can say this; you can say that. It will be good fun! Ill help. Her enthusiasm for the task helped persuade me to give it a go. My wife has a great memory for detail, almost photographic at times, so going back over the years her recall would become invaluable.

Heres a little story to give you some idea of my wifes character. At junior school, if the curriculum for the day had been completed with ten minutes or so to spare, the teacher, not wanting the kids to be sat around idle or messing about would say, Anne Parry [her maiden name, obviously], come out to the front and talk! She would keep the class entertained and perhaps educated in anything she chose to speak about on that day. Nothing has changed after 32 years of marriage!

Regarding the content of my book, it will be as it was, with little sensationalism and not too much poetic licence, just honest everyday things that have happened and experiences that have occurred in my life as a professional footballer, coach and manager. Anne said, Could you put the naughty bits in? My reply was, Lets wait and see. I have no intention of embarrassing anybody in my book, but at the same time most things need to be told as they were.

I have met some fantastic people in and outside football. I have also met some nuggets, backstabbers, silly arses, big-time charlies, dicks and wannabes, etc. Oh dear, Im sounding a bit cynical already and Ive hardly got started!

I didnt play for England or in the top division of football but I still had a good career in a tough profession and came out of it in pretty good shape. People tend to take special notice when they read or hear something that a famous person has stated, or assume that if a foreign manager or coach at a high level says something in broken English it must be profound. What a load of cobblers! Having been in the game at a decent level, I can assure you it isnt all profound. Having been a manager in the Football League, I know that what is said in the dressing room at Colchester United or Manchester United will be very similar. One big difference is that you dont see many second-hand Vauxhalls in the players car park in Manchester. The point Im trying to make is that you dont need to be a household name before you have something worthwhile to say to people.

Coming from Liverpool I nearly always try to see the funny side of things, so there have been lots of comical events in my career as well as some not so funny moments. All in all I am a positive person and even now, at the ripe old age of 53, I try to be optimistic every day I get out of bed. My father always says, You are a long time dead son! and he is 88!