You can be at AFCB, Man Utd or elsewhere but strikers have to score

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In his new paper back biography 'Ted MacDougoal!', there is a new chapter at the end of the book on Ted's reflections – past and present, where he talks about the modern game and how it has changed at the clubs where he used to play his football. I was intrigued what he thought about headed goals today.

Ted MacDougall was well known for the diving header and headed goals. It was a bit of a signature for him. But asking him about why there doesn't seem to be so many great headed goals these days in the possession football we see and immaculate pitches, he has plenty of answers for that, but he is convinced even the biggest teams resort to knocking it up to the big man when things aren't going for them.

Ted MacDougall chats to Cherry Chimes at Dean Court.

"It's a lot to do with the pitch. You look at some of those old photographs of the pitch and  try and put five or 10 passes together. I mean you had to kick it from there to there via route one to get the ball into the box and crosses and that. It's a lot simpler game today.

"But if you see Manchester United struggling then they go to that game. They put Mario Fellaini on and he'll go up front. And they'll start playing balls in the box, because at the end of the day, I still think the ball has to come in," said Ted.

Ted left Bournemouth to go to Man United in 1972. It was a jump for him from the third tier to the first division, not something a player is likely to do today. "It was still Man Utd. We were still getting 50-60,000. I ended up getting £10 a week raise. But they were all coming to the end. George (Best) had gone missing, Bobby Charlton was finishing, Dennis Law was finishing. It was in transition the whole club and were were about fourth or fifth from the bottom. We weren't a good team and it was survival mode sort of thing for players where the players were looking out for themselves. They weren't bothered about me.

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"I needed people to see my runs or I was never going to score goals. It was not like I could dribble past people or  whatever. I wasn't that type of player. If you saw my runs and my movement and you delivered it. You know then you'd hopefully get the best from me. If you never saw the run or you never played the ball then or early enough then I'm not going to be in it," said Ted.

I asked Ted whether it was possible that a league One player today could even dream about making a similar move to the Premier League, like he did in his day. It would be impossible wouldn't it?

"When I went from Bournemouth to Man United that was the record then for a third division player to go to Man Utd – £200,000 or £220,000 or whatever it was. And I think it can happen  to a goal scorer for obvious reasons. The trouble is, if you are a goal scorer and you are scoring goals – you are on the move, and if you're a goalscorer that's not scoring goals – you're also on the move," chuckles Ted.

"I find it's not the same today, because I used to say, if I'm scoring goals you should be picking me, and if I'm not scoring goals, you have to leave me out. I don't  see anyone saying those types of thing today. You know with regards to putting things on the line and saying I'm a goal scorer, I score goals. Jermain Defoe has probably been one of the closest, because he's a goal scorer," said Ted.

"You have to be selfish to be a goal scorer - 100 per cent. More than selfish, no, no I mean you have to be very single-minded and that's why it always makes me think, when people say this is a team game. You know people are in the team for different reasons. He's a young lad trying to make it. You're an old pro trying to get another year's contract. Everyone is in there for different reasons. Of course, you state the obvious that you are in there to win, but you know when we win and I score we collectively do well. Or vice a versa. "

You want to get the headlines though, I suggest. "Yes, I do because that was my job," said Ted.

If you would like to read more about Ted MacDougall's career and his amazing football tales make sure you pick up a copy of Ted MacDougoal with its new Reflections - past and present chapter.

Dean Court Days - George Best arrives at Dean Court

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Michael Dunne is an avid AFCB fan who has published a biography on Harry Redknapp this summer with Pitch Publishing called 'Dean Court Days'. Michael, editor or All Departments podcast, has kindly asked Pitch Publishing if Cherry Chimes could run some extracts of the book this summer and we are going to start with the arrival of George Best at Dean Court on 26 March 1983. Many thanks to Michael and Pitch Publishing.

The front cover of the Newport match programme
had a picture of George Best on it. There was no
mention of the transfer in the programme, such was
the last minute nature of it. 

Following a 0-0 draw with Huddersfield at the start of March 1983, reports began to emerge that Bournemouth were about to sign George Best, still considered by many to be the greatest British footballer of all time. At 36 and in the grip of alcoholism, Best was a shadow of the player who had put fear into the hearts of defences across Europe in the 1960s, but his fading skills and box office appeal were enough to briefly bring the crowds back to Dean Court. 

After stating on television whilst in Southampton that he ‘could be signing for a club just a bus ride away from here,’ Best was unveiled to a stunned local press at Dean Court on transfer deadline day. Bournemouth had officially bought Best from the San Jose Earthquakes, then known as the Golden Bay Earthquakes, of the NASL, although the Ulsterman had not played for the Californian club in almost two years.

How much Bournemouth had paid to secure Best’s registration was never revealed, although when Best’s girlfriend and former Miss World Mary Stavin joined a crowd of 9,121 to watch him make his debut for the Cherries, the gate money from an attendance double the average at Dean Court would have helped offset some of the fee.

After making his debut in a 2-1 defeat at home to Newport County, Best was granted a leave of absence prior to the match against Orient on Easter Saturday after his former landlady from his early years at Manchester United passed away. He was expected to return in time to feature in the Cherries’ line-up. On the morning of the match, however, it became clear that Best was not going to appear. Managing Director Brian Tiler was prompted to take the unusual step of producing a poster saying ‘George Best won’t be playing today’ which was put up outside Dean Court in order to ensure fans looking forward to seeing the former European Footballer of the Year were informed of his absence before paying their money at the turnstile.

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Tiler could not have been accused of giving Best licence to do as he pleased, as his widow Hazel explained many years later. 'I remember Brian going up to London to fetch George Best back to play for the Cherries,' said Mrs Tiler. 'When he got to the Barbican, where George was living at the time, there was no sign of him. So Brian was driving round with Mary Stavin looking for him. They tracked him down to one of his favourite pubs, but George escaped through a toilet window. Then Brian caught up with him at another pub, but by this time it was obvious George was in no fit state to play the following day.’

Despite his drink-fuelled absences, Redknapp does not recall any problems with Best when he did join up with the squad. 'George was great,' says Harry. 'He came to training; he was just fantastic. I still don't think I've seen a better player in this country. He was one of the lads. Came in, trained every day. The lads couldn't believe they had got him here to play. I think he absolutely loved it here. George was enjoying his life, still playing. Obviously he'd lost that pace and everything that he had which was a shame. He was nowhere near the George that we knew in his prime, but it was great just to have him around for that spell. I think any way the club could make a few quid at the time they would do it. George came in, gates went up home and away so I think commercially it was quite a good move for the club.’

George Best wasn't listed to be among the starters for AFCB against
Newport County, but he ran out wearing the number seven shirt.
The full team on the day was: Leigh, Heffernan,
Sulley, Spackman, Brignull, Impey, Best, Beck, Lee,
Nightingale, Dawtry, Sub: Graham, while Morgan didn't play.

If you want to pick up a copy of 'Dean Court Days' just click on the link and order your copy now! Look out for the next extract on Dean Court Days next Monday.

Michael will be organising a book signing soon and Harry Redknapp is also likely to want to sign some copies too. We'll keep you informed. 

TalkSport listening - Sports Bar

Tomorrow night Cherry Chimes will be on the airwaves of Talk Sport's Sports Bar programme at 11.00-11.30pm talking about the past season and this summer's transfer talk.