11th April 2005
Hi all,
For anyone who read last week's thought you probably won't be surprised to find out that I've taken steps to make sure that my commute in and out of work more relaxing. No, I haven't stopped doing it altogether, or taken another form of transport. Instead I've started taking a book on the train with me.
Getting the right book isn't always easy. On that ridiculous journey on the Bank Holiday Monday I did have a book with me, but it wasn't a good choice. It has been a useful book practically for me (regarding household organisation), but at the time it wasn't engaging or interesting enough to pass the time. A book for commuting needs to be an easy read, on a familiar subject matter.
And so in a roundabout way I come to recommend "Woody & Nord: A Football Friendship" by Andy Woodman and Gareth Southgate. An easy read? Yep. Familiar subject matter? They both came through the youth system at Crystal Palace, a subject I'm extremely familiar with.
So am I recommending the book because it is about Palace? Hold your horses, Palace are only really featured in the first few chapters. It is important to the book because it is the foundation of their friendship, which has endured as Southgate has forged a career in the Premiership and for his country, while Woodman has bounced around the lower leagues (and indeed at the time of writing is playing non-league football).
For me the book works like this. Having Gareth Southgate's name on it generates interest, while Andy Woodman's tales of life in the lower leagues helps you keep turning the pages. Don't get me wrong, Southgate isn't as boring as people would have you believe, but you're familiar with the names and therefore some of the stories (although I'd like to think that the incident where he threw up over our old chairman was fairly exclusive to Palace fans).
Woodman's life story introduces us to a whole new set of characters, those who make a meagre living in the lower leagues, usually acknowledged by the fans of the clubs they play for. You are left in no doubt as to what regard Woodman held Northampton captain Ray Warburton in, or his former manager Ian Atkins.
For those of us used to reading about jaw-dropping Premiership salaries it is refreshing to read about Woodman worrying about a fine of two-weeks wages, and doing what he can to avoid it. Normally I'm loathe to read about footballers trying to maximise their pay from football clubs but when you go through the details of Woodman's move from Brentford to Colchester you can't help but smile when he tells us how he got the most he possibly could from both his former club and his new club.
For the most part the two are quite candid, and there sometimes differences of opinion (most notably regarding former Palace manager Alan Smith). Remembering Southgate's career at Palace I'm quite surprised at some of the things which he hasn't included - there is no mention of the Cantona incident, or his being stamped on by Roy Keane. Interestingly he is prepared to talk about Eileen Drewery's infamous player treatments, but doesn't mention Alan Smith getting a hypnotist in for Palace in March 1995. From a more positive standpoint he doesn't mention his amazing goal against Portsmouth in 1993 either.
Personally the book reminds me of a lot of moments in my life. The picture of Gareth Southgate holding the Division One championship trophy in 1994 - the successful culmination of the season that I started going to Palace games by myself. Southgate's inside story of Euro '96, up to, including and beyond his penalty miss against Germany. A few of the redeeming weeks from an awful summer, reminding me of my trip to visit friends in Plymouth for the Switzerland game, having lots of friends round for the Scotland and Spain games. The feeling of dread when Southgate stepped up to take that penalty, knowing what his record from the spot was (he knew it well too - one taken for Palace, one missed).
The great thing is that although miles separate them in distance as well as career (and being fair no-one would have taken Nigel Martyn's place in goal for Palace while he was there, sorry Andy) they still remain friends. Not in any kind of trite way that might help sell a book, but in a genuine way that is told through the smaller tales within these pages. Southgate not being ashamed of playing football in the park with Woodman and Woodman's son. Woodman calling Southgate in Japan during the 2002 World Cup to rue Sol Campbell's goal against Sweden, and all the occasions where the two have watched each other play.
Friendships remain, memories remain. They are things which they'll never forget, and I can't help but tie my own memories in with theirs. Maybe this book won't resonate with you the way it does with me, but there are parts of the book which I would say have universal appeal. Whether you are a football fan or not, whether you've even heard of Crystal Palace or not.
And yes, I'm thinking of Gareth Southgate's joyous reaction when he equalised on the night of the Cantona incident, how much it meant to him, meant to me, and meant to everyone else there supporting Palace that evening. You can't forget these moments, even if you wanted to.
Have a good week!
Tony
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