Below is Colin’s story in his own words along with some of his personal photos:

“

Redheugh Boys Club,

When I was in the fifth form at school my mum and dad were looking for a football club for me to play for. My mums cousin (Uncle Joe), who was a Barber on Tyne Rd.  Uncle Joe was also the father of Tommy Robson (that would make Tommy my half cousin), who had just signed for Northampton Town from Redheugh Boys Club.  Uncle Joe took me to the boys club where I met Evan Bryson, Tommy Leonard and Alec McPherson.

At the time that the boys club was sited within the Teams, before moving to Rose Street school.  I was completely hooked by the place and attended the club at least four times a week.  The club at that time had A, B and C teams all under 18.  I started in the C team, then graduated to the B team.  The B team played in the Jarrow and District League.  Tommy Leonard was the leader of the boys club at that time and he had watched my progress with great interest.  Around this time we were to play a West German side (Westfalia juniors) at Redheugh Park – Gateshead FC’s ground.  Tommy insisted that I play against the German side and I never looked back after that, I was a regular in the a team, and was even selected to play for the Durham County Boys Club under Duncan Gibson for two years.  I look back at that time and the all encompassing memory that the greatest influence on me was Mr. Evan Bryson, who taught me how to conduct myself both on and off the field.

It was at Redheugh that I met my best friend Ian Branfoot (Branny).  We played in the A team at Redheugh together (in a very successful side) as well as in the County side, even winning the Gillette Cup where we beat Hampshire in the final 6 – 1 at The Crystal Palace.

Ian and I even went on to play for England boys clubs together against Wales and Scotland and soon after ended up at Sheffield Wednesday.

It seemed we were inexplicably linked until I went to Sunderland and Ian went to Doncaster Rovers, before once again reuniting again at Lincoln City.

When I was just 17 I was sent for trial at Northampton Town, with Rob Fuller from Wrekenton Juniors.  They wanted me to sign but my mum and dad didn’t want me to go because they thought I was too young.

It was at this time that Redheugh became the junior side of Gateshead FC, the Player Manager of the first team being Bobby Mitchell (the ex Newcastle left winger) who played in the successful Newcastle Cup winning team of 1955.  Branny and I progressed to the reserve side until Bobby Mitchell played me in a first team game against the Newcastle United side which was to include a guest appearance by Jackie Milburn.  The match had been arranged to help raise money for Gateshead FC.  I was then included in the first team and played in the North Regional League which included the reserve sides of Middlesbrough and Sunderland.  It was also at this time that Ian Branfoot and I had a trial for Newcastle.  We played for the Newcastle Juniors team against Doncaster Rovers and both scored in a 2-1 win.  Word came back after the game however that Gateshead wanted too much money for us and believed they had better players in the squad at the time.  My ambition was always to be a professional footballer, but to be turned down by your hometown club was a kick in the teeth.

Soon after however, it was when Ian and I played for England boys club that a scout recommended us to Sheffield Wednesday.  Our trial was a reserve game against Bolton Wanderers.  We must have played well because we were both asked to sign for Wednesday after the game.

As part of the deal in signing for Wednesday we played a game against Gateshead.  The reserve team that day had an average age of 18.  We drew 4-4 and once again Jackie Milburn guest appeared for Gateshead.

When you join a professional club you think you know how to play football but Ian and I had to learn our trade and there was no better teacher than Alan Brown, the Manager at Sheffield Wednesday.  He was one of the first to play 4/3/3 and indeed Wednesday became known as the wingless wonders.  In our first season in 1965/66  Wednesday played in the cup final against Everton.  The same year England won the world cup of course and while they were achieving that we were on tour in Bulgaria.  My first team debut was also against Everton at Goodison Park in the following year.  Alan Brown believed in youth and his coaching was at least 10 years ahead of everyone else.  His handling of young players was exceptional.  Also at this time, Lawrie Mcmenemy who was our coach at Gateshead, had joined the staff at Sheffield Wednesday.  I played several times for the first team over the next two years, playing against great players, but even when you weren’t playing the boss would take you as a substitute or as first reserve to keep you involved in the squad.  In 1968 we went on tour to Mexico and played at the Azteca stadium in Mexico city, we were the Guinea pigs for the England team who were to play in at the 1970 World Cup.  The England doctors monitored us in training because Mexico City was at altitude.  When we came back from that trip we would learn that Alan Brown had taken the job at Sunderland and in turn I was placed on the transfer list.  Jack Marshall took over from the boss and I didn’t get along with him at all.

I followed “the Boss” soon after to Sunderland.

I was still a First Division player and I was coming home to the North East.  Unfortunately, Sunderland was not a happy time for me as we were relegated in the first year I was there.  Sunderland however were great to me, most of the time I languished in the reserve side because the squad were very talented, with youngsters that would go on to play in the 1973 Cup final.  I can remember we once went to play at St. James’s park and turned over the Newcastle Utd first reserve team who were playing regularly in the central League.  While I was there we also played and beat Darlington’s first team in the Durham Senior Cup.  At this time I was even fortunate go on tour and played in the Anglo Italian Cup against Lazio in Rome and Fiorentina in Florence.

I was released by Sunderland and signed for Lincoln City in 1972.

David Hird, the ex Arsenal and Man United player, was the manager.  Graham Taylor was a player at Lincoln City and he was my roommate on away trips.  David Hird was soon however sacked and Graham became the manager.  The club became more professional in its outlook under Graham.  Several new players were signed including Sam Ellis who I had played with at Sheffield Wednesday and Ian signed from Doncaster Rovers.  I enjoyed my time Lincoln until the final season, when early on in the campaign I was badly injured which required an operation.  It was a frustrating time because I only played the last two games of the season and for that reason Graham had to release me.  I was 28.

Graham was friendly with Howard Wilkinson who was the manager of Boston United.  Howard was someone who I played with at Sheffield Wednesday.  Howard was also the FA North regional coach and he said I had to think about my future carefully.  The chairman at Boston was great to me so I signed for them and it turned out to be the best three years of my career.  I moved into Sports Centre Management, as well as playing in a very successful side, and enjoyed my time there before moving back to the North East.

I attribute much of my time in football to my roots.  In my opinion, there is no better club than Redheugh.  Under the guidance of a great man such as Evan Bryson and the Management Team I was provided with the ideal beginning to my career.

Long may such a worthwhile community club last.

Colin Symm

“

All at Redheugh congratulate Colin on his successful career, thank him for his words and wish him All the Best!!!

Colin’s Playing Career

• 1964-1966:  Redheugh BC and Gateshead FC
• 1966-1968:  Sheffield Wednesday – App 19 – Goals 1
• 1969-1972:  Sunderland – App 14 – Goals  0
• 1972-1975:  Lincoln City – App 69 – Goals 7
• 1975-1978:  Boston United – App 92 – Goals 9

Over the years we are really proud of our achievements in terms of youth development and our input to both people and communities.  From time to time there are those that grow their grassroots start at Redheugh into a long, distinguished career within the game.  There are none more so than former professional player and manager, Ian Branfoot.  A summary of Ian’s career is below, in his own words:

“It started off at the boys club!!

I was spotted by the Sunderland Manager, Alan Brown and offered a contract. I was due to do my A levels at school so my dad told Mr. Brown to come back when I had done the exams.  By that time Alan Brown was manager at Sheffield Wednesday, he knocked on the door in Lobley Hill and offered me a contract with my mate Colin Symm.

I was there for about 4 years and played in the first team a few times (even at Old Trafford against Charlton, Law, etc.) then the manager left and I did not get on with the new manager.

Laurie McMenemy took me to Doncaster Rovers on an exchange deal and I had 4 years there.

Then Laurie got the sack.

Graham Taylor rang me up and offered me a contract at Lincoln City.  I had met Graham on the FA coaching courses.  Alan brown had sent me on the FA coaching courses when I was about 19 and I was fully qualified at 21!!!!!!!

I had 5 great years at Lincoln with Graham and then he offered me a job as the Youth/ Reserve coach. Unfortunately soon after, Graham left to go to Watford with Elton John.  I was offered the managers job by the Chairman but told him I was not ready and did not want the job yet.

I was then offered a job by Laurie Mcmenemy as Youth team coach at Southampton where I had 5 great years.

Then I wanted to move on as I thought I was now ready for 1st team coaching.  After a lot of searching I eventually got a call from Morris Evans who was manager at Reading.  I took the job as first team coach and after a short time Maurice was sacked and I was given the job.  I had 5 years there as Manager, won 2 promotions and the Simod Cup at Wembley.

Then as usual for some reason (probably because the money grabbing board sold off the best players) I was sacked.

After a couple of days out of work, Steve Coppell (Crystal Palace) rang me.  It was a huge surprise because I hardly new Steve.  He offered me the First team Coach job.  I waited until I was paid up, rang Steve and he said “I`ll see you in the morning” I had over 2 years with Steve at the Palace and it was the most enjoyable time in my coaching career.

I was then offered a managers job at Wimbledon and at Southampton.  I took the Saints job but it was two and a half difficult years, despite getting to another cup final at Wembley.

The board of Directors, as usual, decided to sell our best players, Shearer and Flowers and Neal Ruddick were allowed to leave at the end of their contracts!!

After being sacked there I applied for the Managers job at Fulham and got it.  Two and a half years running the whole of the club with a great Owner, then Al Fayed came in and sacked us all.

I then started scouting and travelling around Europe!!  Great job!!  I was then offered the Academy Directors job at Sunderland.  I was there for 5 years and produced some very good players.  For some unknown reason I was then payed up and sacked.

I continued to do some scouting which is definitely the easiest and best job in football!!  That is a brief history!!”

All at Redheugh congratulate Ian on all his many achievements and thank him for providing us with his words and photos for this post.  We wish him all the best for the future.  Thank you and All the Best Ian!!

Details:

• Full name:  Ian Grant Branfoot
• Date of birth:  26 January 1947
• Place of birth:  Gateshead

Playing Career:

Managerial/Coaching Career:

Player:  Thomas Henry Robson.

D-O-B:  31-July-1944

Career

Tommy was at Redheugh Boys Club 1960-1961.  At 17 years old Tommy was an England Youth International.  He then moved to Northampton Town August 1961 till 1966 playing 74 games and scoring 20 goals.  December 1966 saw him move to Chelsea where he played 7 Games.  In 1966 he moved to Newcastle United, playing 48 Games and scoring 11 Goals.  He played at Newcastle United until 1969 when he moved to Peterborough United until 1981.  In total he played 482 games scoring 111 Goals.

When Tommy played at Newcastle United he played alongside players such as Wyn Davies, Albert Bennett, Jim Scott, Pop Robson and Bob Moncur playing a big part in United qualifying for the European Fairs Cup which of course they went on to win in 1969.

Tommy Now lives in Peterborough with his wife.  We are very sad to say that he is battling Motor Neurone disease.  The club would like to wish Tommy all the best for the future in his battle with this disease.

Gateshead Redheugh have sponsored a team in Northern Iraq. The team are called Taq Taq  and are from the region of Kurdistan in Northern Iraq.  The coach Mohammad Wali says he is really grateful to Gateshead Redheugh.  The boys of Taq Taq love the strips and are really looking forward wearing them in the new season.

Mo would like to thank Redheugh for all its help and wishes the club all the best for the future.

The U12 Whites finished their league season in style with victory over Ryton Cobra’s.

Redheugh raced into a 3-0 lead with goals from Thomas Wilkinson (2) and a great header from Musa Nawaz. 2 Ryton goals reduced the arrears before a Leo Fasuan strike settled the nerves on the stroke of half time.

In the second half, Redheugh dominated possession and with virtually the entire team switching positions the goals continued to flow. Further strikes from Zuhair Abdullah, Thomas Wilkinson, Nathan Burn (2), Euan Harrison, Owen Rayner and Leo Fasuan sealed the points and ensured Redheugh ended the league programme with a 100% record.

The game was played in great spirit from both teams and we would like to wish Ryton good luck for the rest of the season.