We don’t get the respect we deserve

Our series of articles outlining why unpaid volunteer workforces in Non League Football deserve more respect continues.

“Every few weeks something happens and you think: ‘why do we bother’?”

That’s the view of Garforth Town chairman and groundsman Brian Close who says he spends “too many” hours at the J.S White Community Stadium, making sure his club is capable of playing.

The harsh reality of volunteering in Non League Football is that it is not all sunshine and roses.

Jobs such as cleaning the dressing rooms, washing the kits, secretarial work, painting, litter picking, ball finding, to general tidying up, go unnoticed by many.

“There’s a few of us, we could do with more volunteers like any club, but I don’t think any of us get a true reward,” Mr Close says. “I think for most of the time, all we get is hassle.

“There’s Dennis (Sanderson) who is in his eighties, well, he gets two buses nearly every morning before six o’clock from Pudsey to come all the way to Garforth to do a number of vital jobs.

“That’s unbelievable dedication and he must get disheartened sometimes when people can’t respect facilities.”

The pitch is Mr Close’s main bugbear. It is a precious asset to Garforth as well as it generates huge income as the club have corporate matches, local leagues finals to Leeds Ladies matches on it throughout the season.

“I spend hours on the pitch making sure it is in good condition and there’s always an opposition player who does something he shouldn’t,” he says.

“Opposition teams get told not to warm-up in the goal-mouths and you always get somebody who does. Usually when you remind them not to, all you get is abuse back.

“We spend a fortunate on our pitch and what do people want? A poor pitch or a good quality pitch? I know what I would rather play on.

“If people show respect, it will be in good condition all season.”

At Garforth, there’s a Jim, Norman, Linda, Jane, Chris, Craig, Phil, John, Carol, Samuel, Paul, Jon, Steve, and Andrew who all fill important tasks to keep the club going.

Then there’s young steward Michael too who stands in the tunnel at every home game.

“Michael’s only 20, I believe, and he seems to get more abuse than anyone,” Mr Close says. “He’s a quiet lad too who doesn’t get involved in confrontation.

“Two years ago he was seriously verbally abused by one particular team who were completely out of control. The language was outrageous. The referee or the assistants didn’t hear any of it so what can you do?

“Because he was wearing a yellow steward’s jacket, they picked on him for no reason. I thought it was disgraceful then and I still do now. If you were Michael and you had been at work all day, would go to something you’re meant to enjoy, just to get abuse?”

Mr Close read Selby Town chairman Ralph Pearse’s comments on Monday with interest. He understands where Mr Pearse was coming from, but admits he rarely has a problem with a referee.

“The only time I have had a real issue with a referee was a couple of years ago when there had been a major downpour of rain overnight,” he says. “A lot of games elsewhere were called off.

“Myself and a few others got on the pitch early on and we got it playable. There was one tiny bit which was boggy, but it wasn’t that bad and the sun was out.

“The referee came at 1pm and I explained what we had done and told him about the boggy bit. There was no ‘thank you for your efforts, you’ve done brilliantly’, all he said was ‘I’m not happy about this’. I was fuming.

“The game was played, but the assessor summed it all up five minutes later when he came in and said to me ‘you’ve done really well to get this one, the pitch is perfect’.”

Not that any of the bad points put Mr Close totally off. You’ll see him at Garforth for many years to come.

“I’m not going to pack it all in, but I think some supporters, players, managers and referees, need to think about volunteers and how much effort goes in,” he adds. “Because there are far too many times when we don’t get the respect we deserve.”

Nobody can argue with that.