bob johns mate
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John Clothier remembers....full article....
The Press Officer – John Clothier
After 8 years it is time to hang up the quill!
It was whilst I had a season ticket Mansfield Town that Bob Bennett suggested I should go with him to watch Moor Green - a couple of years before the merger with Solihull Borough. And the journey had begun!
I am the last of a long line of Clothiers cockney born and bred and grew up in Leyton. Strangely for an east ender I never ever watched West Ham (actually born in West Ham Lane) or the Orient. For some unknown reason I supported both Mansfield and Oldham Athletic as a kid and as the job moved me around the country had season tickets at both in later life. I still regard Oldham as my other club
The early days of Solihull Moors were hard and the gates were low. I had taken early retirement and wanted to do something to help and the programme was an obvious choice. I had had some experience as press secretary for the North Yorkshire Squash league and asked the then Moors Chairman, Nigel Collins, if I might write a few articles; he invited me to a meeting and I left that somewhat bemused but as the Club Programme Editor for the 2010/11 season!
It was a sole destroying job which took almost 5 full days each week to do
When Marcus Bignot took over as manager the following year he suggested I did the press officer job as well as I was already doing the match reports for the programme and for 3 years I did both jobs.
My first away match as programme editor still sticks in my mind as it was against Harrogate Town (who else) and they invited my entire family to the match – we lost 0 -2 but a great day out for clan clothier – my eldest grandsons were both mascots, led out by captain Theo Streete We lost our first seven games that season and avoided relegation by a single point.
I have a small reputation for wearing my “reporters” hat during the winter and I shall be ever grateful for the Gainsborough Trinity supporter who asked me why I wore it because I looked stupid! (we beat them 3 – 1 away so be warned before you mock the press officer ).
So many highlights have been covered in the 8 years. Drawing with ex EFL York City in the 2011/12 FA Trophy was a travesty of poor refereeing - we were miles the better team. 4 – 0 away at Harrogate in 2014 saw Omar Bogle show yet again what a quality player he was,
On the question of abiding memories I wish I get out of my mind being beaten at Hyde away on a night when it snowed – it was the season before we won the National North and Hyde had yet to win a home match until we went there early in March 2015. Quite unbelievable. My best match in the promotion year had to be raising the Birmingham Senior Cup at Blues – that’s how good a team we were!
Then in 2016 we were 0 -2 up at Luton in the FA cup at half time thanks to 2 terrific strikes by Ossie – OK we got trounced but for 45 minutes anything seemed possible
The 0 - 1 win at Braintree in October 2016 – last gasp pen from Harry White – a gutsy performance by a team who had just learnt that their manager was about to leave
Hartlepool the season before last – simply put, we had to win to survive – Adi did it again in the closing moments
Eastleigh last season - Tim’s first game in sole charge , one down and then Adi and Dan Sweeney struck, both in spectacular style – and we thought perhaps we wouldn’t be relegated
And the players? Darren Middleton such a class act, Dom Langdon the first left back to make the position his own, Adam Cunnington and Matt Smith showed us how to score goals, Jas Singh brought stability to the defence over several seasons – a more modest player I have yet to meet. Phil Midworth was an inspirational captain during very difficult times on the pitch, Stuart Pierpoint a rock in defence, Junior English – Mr Solihull Moors, Ryan Beswick a gem of a midfielder, Theo Streete who wore his heart on his sleeve .
I could not single out a player from the promotion winning side – they were all just brilliant. Ditto last season’s squad although a different class to anything we had seen previously at Damson Park. That said Darren Carter is to my mind the most professional player ever to wear a Moors shirt. Also sad to see “Jamma” Hylton on his way – he light up so many games at crucial moments.
I would like to think that had we not moved back to Yorkshire after 22 years in the Midlands, I would still be the Press Officer of this simply magnificent club but after 2 seasons I have realised its’ just too far to travel on a regular basis
To my many friends at the club, I will miss you but will never forget the wonderful times, good and bad, we have had . To the new Executive I wish the success they so richly deserve – it has been a real pleasure working with people of the calibre of Darryl. Calvin and Cheryl. To the hundreds of players who have passed through, a big thank you because without you we would not be where we are today and to Tim Flowers – you made the difference – inspirational!
And finally, to Luke, Matt and Tom, the Media Team - you have been simply the best guys to work with – the best in non-league
Thanks Again – hope to see you at the northern away games this coming season
“Clothears”
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19/Jun/2019, 3:31 pm
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Bigdavey
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Re: John Clothier remembers....full article....
All the best John.....I'm sure we will see you many times more without that clipboard....)
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19/Jun/2019, 3:50 pm
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Dickiesmint
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Re: John Clothier remembers....full article....
Good luck John, it was a pleasure working with you on the odd occasion, hope to see you at Harrogate away this season, always a gent
All the very best
--- Enjoying the roller coaster ride
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19/Jun/2019, 4:08 pm
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DamsonParkite
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Re: John Clothier remembers....full article....
Many thanks for being such a loyal and knowledgeable servant to the club for the last eight years and also for sharing your memories of all the matches and fine players that you have witnessed along the way. And you’re absolutely right, for those first heady 45 minutes at Kenilworth Road, anything really did really seem possible!?
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19/Jun/2019, 4:22 pm
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Griff79
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Re: John Clothier remembers....full article....
Some great memories there JC, all the best mate👍👍
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19/Jun/2019, 6:44 pm
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RoJ
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Re: John Clothier remembers....full article....
I remember the mascots at Harrogate very well indeed, but didn't remember the score that day. Good to have shared some matches with you and thanks for the work you did for the club.
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19/Jun/2019, 8:57 pm
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monkspathmoor
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Re: John Clothier remembers....full article....
All the best to a real gent, a pleasure working with you, enjoy the next phase in your life and look forward to meeting up with you at future Solihull Moors games.👍
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20/Jun/2019, 8:09 am
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Sensible Fielder
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Re: John Clothier remembers....full article....
Call me a sentimental old git John but that post almost left me feeling a bit dewy eyed!
Really appreciate all the work you put in to make the programme a thoroughly interesting read especially in the early days when our gates barely topped 200 and for affording me the opportunity to reveal some insights in the “terrace talk” piece!
Like you say so much water under the bridge and memories that will endure. Remember vividly that 4-0 at Harrogate when we looked like scoring every time we went forward in the first half. Can’t remember a more dominant Moors performance apart from the legendary 5-0 away win at Droylsden on that Monday night in March 2011. I’ve mentioned on here before that Matt Smith later said that was his best performance (and goal) in a Moors shirt, ably assisted by Bewsick, English and Johnson who also scored that night.
The club is moving forward in many directions and that inevitably means a change in personnel at a number of levels. I’ll never underestimate the contribution volunteers like yourself have made to laying the foundations for these current heady days at Moors.
Go well mate
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20/Jun/2019, 9:48 am
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M00R5
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Re: John Clothier remembers....full article....
I sent John a text already, but just want to reiterate all of the above.
Those early John Clothier programmes also gave me my first opportunity to write mad stuff about the Moors. I think I may even have made some un-PC comments about a dinner lady at Curzon Ashton that probably haven't aged well and I wouldn't make today - but John published them anyway! Can't even get jokes about Michael Barrymore or recipes for Catfish Chowder in there these days without being censored. John was a true radical and some of those programmes were gold. The 'Terrace Talk' Gurd mentions was a real highlight and worked well as a fan profile considering how few of us there were at the time.
Had the pleasure of leaning on John on a few occasions to help get the audio commentary off the ground. He's no small part of why we now reliably have audio coverage of most games.
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20/Jun/2019, 10:00 am
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Ojiveojive
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Re: John Clothier remembers....full article....
What's left to say? a Mooron through and through and a trailblazer from where we were to where we are now and into the future. Without the likes of you, John, The Moors would have been a less amiable club. All the best for the future and I look forward to seeing you, and the hat, very soon.
--- What a looooooooooong strange trip it's been
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20/Jun/2019, 10:19 am
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