The James Ramsden Column

Wednesday 10 April, 2002

We shall remember

I feel a bit numb. I don't know why really, it's a bit like the Queen Mother- we knew it was going to happen sooner or later, but we all thought she'd last for ever. Bradford City's very own royal, Stuart McCall, will not be with us next season. Lets hope the flags are raised to half mast at VP on Saturday, and we have a two, not one minute silence in honour of one of the most loved and best servants to the club we have ever known.

So has Nicky Law done the right thing? It's a bold move for someone who has only been with the club so shortly. Unfortunately, Nicky has got himself into a bit of a catch 22 situation. We all agree with him on his youth policy - it's about time that we had some young, eager players with something to prove out on the pitch (aka Bower), but we all love the man playing in the middle of the park who thinks he is only 22. I admit that this season Stuart has lost some of his pace, and conversations on terraces,websites and in taprooms are increasingly turning to whether Stu can hack it anymore - but surely he has to have some involvement? Take Tom Kearney for example - the new Stuart McCall. Surely he can become the new Stuart McCall even faster if he had guidance from the man himself? If indeed we are going to be having a large influx of young, inexperienced players coming to the club over the summer, who better to educate them in the ways of Valley Parade than Stuart McCall? He doesn't have to do his talking on the pitch anymore - he's done all that, but he should be given a role within the coaching staff, a perfect springboard to a future managerial career and a great way of improving the new talent at Valley Parade.Bradford City need Stuart McCall because Stuart McCall is Bradford City.

So what sticks in the mind about Stuart? His performances in the middle of the field when he first played for the bantams. McCall and Jackson dominating play and spraying passes all over the park. The strange fact that when I was a kid,I was proud to know that his wife was called Liz and his daughter was Carly. His toothy grin on the team photo's. Being gutted when he moved to Everton, but being over the moon when he scored two goals for Everton in the FA cup final (and then re-enacting the 'chest and volley' in games the next day, but putting it over the bar). Loving it when he scored against Sweden in the World Cup (and trying to re-enact it on Italia 90 on the megadrive, but realising it was just too crap a game). Being a bit gutted that Stu decided to move to Rangers, therefore denying me the chance to see him on match of the day. Being even more gutted when Stu spoke in an interview about four years later and realising that he had lost his West Yorkshire accent and had turned into a Scot. Specially tuning into 'Question of Sport' when he was on. Hearing the rumours that he was coming back to VP and then not believing it when he actually did. Owing it all to him that we won promotion. Watching him fall off the roof of a car but not spilling a drop of his lager (and then re-enacting it perfectly). Smacking Andy Myers in the face.

Writing this has made me realise what a true hero Stuart has been to me over the years, and this Saturday I have the pleasure of meeting Stuart after the game (I won a competition on his website) and to be honest, I'm not sure what I'm going to say to him. I'll think I'll just print of this column and hand it to him, and then ask him how Liz and Carly are getting on.

Index of column & Biography | Mail