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I have found PDC's treatment of Curly the tea man to be truly touching.  It is well documented that he let him sit on the bench at Wembley to recognise his devotion to duty over 30 years.  I remember seeing Paolo standing with his arm around Curly as Chesterfield picked up the trophy.  He appeared to be telling him something along the lines of "we will win the league to make up for this".

A little over a month later and I saw Paolo again with his arm around Curly, this time full of smiles. Job done.

I find the obvious affection that Paolo has for Curly to be very emotional.  To me, Paolo is showing his love for the history of STFC and its fans.  He has shown his understanding of what it means for the fans to experience success and failure and how the fabric of the club will outlive the short term STFC careers of our players and management.  In this way he is showing that  he already deeply feels part of the club and he won't leave us lightly.  I don't mind admitting that the photo's showing the sheer joy on Curly's face has brought a tear to my eye. I have never been prouder to support Swindon Town FC than I am right now.

Which pictures are curly in for those of us that dont know what he looks like

[url width=900 height=675]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f208/RWDP1983/DSCF0907.jpg[/url]

 :clap: :clap: :clap:

Thank you Costanza for the photo.

I did wonder who the chap was fair play to PDC for including him

when i saw this live at the CG yesterday i thought it was j wray with a few drinks inside him :oops:

I bet Curly could tell a few stories about previous managers and players.

This is another reason why DiCanio has become so beloved in his short time with us; he cares about the people who make up the club, whoever they are.
This to me is the exact opposite of McMahon's treatment of John Trollope. It is why this championship feels so much better than that one did, and don't misunderstand me, that one felt good. There's a reason the club won family club of the year; amongst other things, it genuinely feels like those at the top care about those who work lower down and those who pay to watch. It's a massive cliche, but it feels like a family.

Perfectly put Uncle, thats it in a nutshell.  Doom-mongers warning of the imminent departure east of Paolo are ignoring his massive sense of loyalty and belonging to the STFC family.

I'm sure Paul Bodin and Kate Cady would beg to differ

Strange how people forget isn't it arriba ?

Yeah, when did Bodin get booted out exactly?

News to me.

I think its important for a manager to have his own backroom team, including the youth coach. I guess these two were kind of forced on him as such. However given Paul Bodins history with the club, it is disappointing to see.

Where did he say Bodin had been booted out ?

Since when was Kate Cady part of the STFC 'family'? She was nowt more than a member of staff.

Agree 100% with you

and treated like shit. This club has got a hell of a lot of things right this season but Kate Cady was one they didn't.

To be fair Bodin should be judged on what talent he provides us with.So far that is none.Weird how the managers since bodin got the job have all treated him badly eh.

All?
There has only been the current manager since.

If you mean since he has been youth boss then i know of no friction with wilson-hart etc.

Talking of birds getting poor treatment, where was Rockin Robin yesterday ?

Remember him publicly bemoaning Wilsons reluctance to play youngsters. That aside he simply isn't producing the players.

Genuine question, how much of that is down to him?

Well, he fathered one of them himself.

Nathan Thompson, Leigh Bedwell, Miles Story and Louis Thompson have all been included in the match day squads with Bedwell the only one not having actually featured.

Made me choke a little. Curly is the kind of unsung hero that should be honoured and rightly so. Lovely to see Paolo hold him high in his affections! Paolo can't leave, would break so many hearts!

Are we producing less players than other similar clubs in our position?

In a nutshell the problem for Bodin(and Cady) is that they were not Di canio's selections for the roles. Both have done nothing wrong though.

Out of them he bought in bedwell.The others were here already.The others he bought in have all just been released.May not all be down to him but as a club that has survived at times on money raised selling youngsters i would say he has to shoulder some of the responsibility. Put his past links to one side,if anyone else was in charge i would also say the same.

I have neither the knowledge nor the experience of how a youth team (and physios) should be managed to be in a position to judge.

Does anybody on the TEF have that insight?

Me either,i am just going on youngsters we have produced in the past to what we have now.As to physios fuck knows but we avoided alot of long term injuries this season

Its not about who he has brought in though. Youth systems pass players on to the youth team coach from within,with released players from other clubs adding to that. Storie came in after release from Wolves though to be pedantic

So, who is responsible for scouting and brining in youth players?

One would assume the youth team manager.

Although, as I said, one doesn't really know about these things.

The coaches within the youth set up. Coaches in the different age groups of the players generally decide with Jeremy Newton. Bodin will select the youth team squad with the help of Dave Warren,Ian Palmer and Jeremy Newton.

If Di canio has ideas to make it better then bring it on i say. Can't see it imporoving much on the money they currently survive on though.
Think they have done ok really

Has Bodin sr. actually been bombed out?

I thought it was just speculation...

I think Bodin is toast as soon as the season ends.

There is no doubt about the current youth setup having some major problems.

Not sure if all that's down to Bodin though - I dont know the guy - but he's head of that department, so the buck has to stop at his desk for at least not addressing the problems and sorting them out.

It's one of the critical revenue generation departments at the club, so it needs to be run right by a charismatic individual who is inclusive, can engage with local clubs at grass roots level and can persuade families that STFC is the perfect place for little johhny to be playing football at.

A respected ex-pro with an infectious personality (someone like Lee Peacock - if he knew what he was doing in yoof football) would be perfect.

No disrespect to PDC, but the appointment needs to be English, not Italian.

PDCs embracing of Curly (literally and metaphorically) has been touching and uplifting - great photo earlier.

Paolo's recent youth-directed rant was yet another surprise but he is very demanding on matters football even though I'm still not clear what PDC has done, hasn't done or is about to do, though that would be a new thread wouldn't it?

Very much a "I told you we'd do it!" moment I think. :D

The affection shown by PdC to Curly brought a tear to my eye. Yet I still can't interpret (from photos etc) exactly where

 the emotions lie.

Changing tack, what is the point in us now having a Youth structure ? We no longer have a reserve team, through which

a transition can be gradually made through to the first team.

Equally, the arrogant Premier League has orchesrated the EPPP to ensure that we wouldn't benefit financially from

developing talent.

So why bother ? Is it not better to pick & choose our talent from bigger clubs ? Maybe those with an established CV ?

EG Ward, Ferry, Caddis, Bostock, Ritchie et al.

Those of you who, dare I say, have subscribed to Sky Sports, have inadvertantly contributed to the failings of Youth

Policy and League football in general.

Are we making a bit much of the Curly stuff? Is he just a nice bloke that PDC likes? Does he remind PDC of his father? Is it because he is the embodiment of the history of the club? I don't know.

I met Curly a couple of weeks ago and had a chat with him about his Wembley experience, he was so chuffed and honoured to be asked to sit in the dugout, one of the best moments of his life with STFC.
Sometimes it's just nice to do a little something for someone in the background to show they're appreciated, that's all.
Fair play to PDC and the board.

As many on here are probably aware, but Danny Wilson also let Curly Withers sit on the bench at Wembley 2010. I don't remember that getting any media attention or fans praise? Anyway I think the more important fact people are missing, is that Curly has sat on the bench twice and we haven't even scored a goal (and Risser's strike doesn't count). Maybe it's time to move him on? I heard Paul Hart let him sit on his knee at the Notts County home game last year...and we all know how that went.

Personally I feel that Paul Bodin has done a good job. The best player we've produced from Swindon for years has cum as product of his own testicles and for that type of commitment to the system I feel he deserves a bit of acknowledgment.
The problem is that unless your father is a bit of a club legend that anyone really decent from our area aged 16 or below, will just get nabbed by Reading or Southampton (it happens all the time). Look at all the players under the Byrne era/recently that we've 'produced' when really the were either rejected or nabbed from other teams Jutkiewicz (Southampton), Kennedy (Reading), Morrison (Plymouth), Tozer (Plymouth?), Storey (Wolves) amongst others.
All we can do as a club is keep finding these or other gems who can't cut it at bigger clubs even once they've served their YTS. Like Ritchie, Caddis, Ferry etc and try to move our team forward with young players who would command a fee if they were to ever leave.

Like Curly Withers ?

To be fair to Curly, he never came off the bench so wasn't given the chance to score.

Errrm

No. Not like Curly Withers in the slightest. Curly has been here since the dawn of time whereas Kate had barely been here for 5 minutes.

But then I though that was obvious.  ::)

So what's the qualification period then ?

Heh heh.

Curly.

I don't know what the qualification  period is smart arse but Cady didn't pass it.

Fuck me.

Why all so defensive about some physio that had really not been here for that long? PDC thought she was not up to the job so he got rid. Would people prefer that he decided to continue working with somebody he felt didn't cut it?

I guess you never saw her bouncing on to the pitch? It was quite a sight.

kate had been with the club for a few years and is highly qualified. She was dealt with badly even if she wasn't wanted

If PDC felt she wasn't up to the job, then what else should he have done?

Stop being a smart arse arriba :)

I hope i'm not coming across as anti Di canio as i am not. The gist was really that for every Curly Withers there is a Kate Cady.
Football is a brutal business from the board room to the boot room. I think some have been a bit blinkered of the facts thats all

It happens at every club we are not unique are we.Our fitness team this year has worked our youth team hasn't.

Amen to that!

There's not much incentive these days to invest in youth, mainly down to that agreement between the PL and FL.

A part of me is happy we underinvest in youth and spend on getting the best first teamers we can. I'd hate it if we spend loads and overhall the youth system, find some talented lads only for them to fuck of to Man U for bugger all.

I always felt it was a slight embarrassment for the club to see her jogging onto the pitch, seemed to take ages to reach the stricken player.  I understood she was still within the set-up, unless she has moved on recently.  I don't quite get the Withers love-in either, he comes in on a matchday and makes tea - and has done for 30 years.  I well remember people like John Cook who stood outside the ground for years selling programmes in all winds and weathers - until the big fat greek took over producing, printing and selling the programme.  The guy was distraught at losing his little job at the CG, for no pay, just a match ticket and miss the first 10 minutes of any game.

2 players from a possible 7 given pro contracts and a first year schoar training full time with the first team squad doesn't point to something not working imo.

Wasn't Dave Byrne working to a target of "two per year, one to play, one to sell" as a definition of success? I'm with arriba, the youth seem to be doing fine. But Di Canio clearly wants his own people in place in every dept so like Cady, Bodin will be on his way this summer, irrespective of whether he's meeting the targets set.

The youth setup shouldn’t be within PdC’s jurisdiction, or not to the extent where he can overhaul it. If it brings his on people in then they’ll end up buggering off when PdC does too! With the youth setup there has to be a long-term strategy that has the power to outlast several managers

I think there's a big difference between the club tea-man and anything to do with the playing side of the business.

I've heard that Curly is almost certainly on his way out this season. He's wanted by Championship clubs as a result of his Wembley appearance.

Only the best tea-men make tea at Wembley. It's a once in a career moment.

I know he is now at Hereford but Will Evans also came through the youth system, in truth we may as well have paolo in charge of the youth team because lets be honest, if you do not play Paolos way, you do not play. simple as that. Great as far as i can see as a fan, however there isn't anything wrong with the players being produced, just not to Paolos taste, I think that Billy is a great player and it would be a great shame if we were to lose him, others i am not so sure, but i have also seen Murray play for us this year who is about as effective as Dossevi.

If will evans was as good as you say he is, he wouldve been playing ;)

football is all about opinions and everyone has one. Will is in my opinion a good centre half, however is he as good as flint, McCormack, devera, no he isnt, seeing as though we have conceded the least amount of goals in the football league, could you tell me of any centre halfs that would be better to have?

I think we need to remember the constraints that the youth set-up work under - we do not have an academy set-up as some clubs have.  The only one with any worthwhile experience is Paul Bodin, the other coaches do not have the experience required to bring these kids through.  We even have to cap in hand for donations to send the youths to the Milk Cup in Ireland.  When you  see the set-up at Southampton for example and compare that to the facilities for our youths to train and play there really is no comparison.

Have you watched him play for the first team then? I thought he played a 2nd half of a jpt cup game and that was it.

Our centre backs are more than adequate imo

How has this thread turned into a debate about the Youth system and whether Paolo was right to ship out Kate Whateverherfuckingnameis!?!?!?!

Talk about it in a separate thread for fucksake! Pisses me off.

----------------BACK ON TOPIC----------------

I'm glad someone like Curly is getting the appreciation he deserves. Been with the club for years, hiding in the shadows, if you like, but finally getting some recognition. Good stuff!
He's a top bloke too, as I'm sure anyone who has had the pleasure of meeting him, will vouch for.

To Curly!  :pint:

not for swindon as the JPT game was the only time he played for the first team. he came on as sub (centre mid) in the first half for Douglas from memory. I have seen him play for Hereford against us this year where i was very dissapointed in him, he pretty much ran around trying to kick lumps out of our players and was booked and then subbed off before being sent off, this i can only guess was out of frustration against swindon though as that booking id the only one he has had all season. I have seen him play three other games for hereford when i have been impressed by him, Hereford are shit tho. besides my point was, just because you are producing good players in your youth system it doesnt mean that they will play, if you have better players in the first team, why would they? you send them out on loan as we did, and have done with others, will impressed at Hereford and they decided that they wanted to sign him. he is their 3rd top scorer too.

We are the TEF, we'll do what we want!! ;D

this post prompted my response. threads evolve so tough shit

Whose Curly Withers? - mine does in the cold weather!
I'll get me coat

If you are being pedantic then we got him from Coventry who had got him from Wolves ;)

What, into random bullshit which nobody has no real idea about? Nah....

Anyway.....Curly Withers - makes a cracking cuppa

cant believe this has dragged on for 5 pages ::)

 :doh:make that 6

curly withers was one of four people who threw me out of ground whilst protesting against diamandis.

so fuck him.

Yeah, he looks a bit tasty.

:) i didnt resist. it was a non violent protest :)

Did he say 'your names not down your not coming in' or did he want to steal the orange beanie?

He made him a cuppa.

Milk and two

Yup, I dragged it off topic by posting drunken exaggerated bollocks.

Soz.

Don't be daft. No need to apologise. Others just got a bit sensitive,fuck em ;)

Man City or Chelsea, ok ... but I don't think we should let a prospect like Curly go a mere Championship club;

However I think posters giving credit to Bodin for bringing Curly on are quite wrong

Any relation?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pick_Withers

Cheers.  :pint:

Some of the best posts on this forum have been due to drunken exaggerated bollocks. What I suggest is keep posting drunken bollocks until you stumble on the right alcohol:exaggerated bollocks ratio.

Back on topic, who would you regard as our last home grown success story?

We picked up Jutkiewicz as a 16 (?) year old, so I guess he could count. Can't really remember the last one. Buzzer? I guess Bodin Jr has a shot if we don't sell him.

Not sure this has much relevance on the whole ' are the youth setup under-performing' argument. For all I know all academies at our level may be the same, Crewe aside .

Careful now batch

This is a topic about Curly , folk are not allowed to talk about anything else here.

But Curly was team man for all those players. Probably.

No surprise that Paolo loves his tea man. I have to queue up 5 minutes into the second half to get mine. Well done Curly.

Nope

Not allowed to go off topic, not even in the slightest. Never happens on the TEF. Never.

Depends what you regard as a success. We've had a few that have made pro.

in our case, I think sucess is when the youth system can pay for itself or even make money for the club. Reglardless of when they (players) entered the system or who they end of playing for.

I doubt any clubs youth system does that. We've had good fees for a few players though

How's talking about the shitty youth team only slightly going off topic, you penis? But fuck it, if you cant beat em, join em!
The youth team - what a pile of shite they are! Bring back budgie..

Coronation Street was never the same once he left

it didn't go off topic.

its something to aim for though

As a fan I'd regard success as a player or two that can break into the first team and not end up at supermarine.

Storey or bodin may have a chance..

Not sure how the club view success though.

:facepalm:

I'd agree. Anyone who goes onto play professionally or is sold i'd say would fit that catagory.

I'd also say that semi pro football is stronger due to clubs like ours,just like the football leagues are stonger for the top academy's. Players drop down a level so football overall is better for it imo.

We cant compete with most local rival's facilities / coaches / setsups etc... one of the best strategies we can do is invest in scouting and get what drop outs we can from the bigger clubs - try to pick up a shaun wright-philips for example.. also try to attract the best talant from clubs similar to ours, and this was what budgie was good at

Not sure where the idea that Curly has been Tea Boy for over 30 years came from. Certainly for the 70's,80's and most of the 90's the players drinks were made by ex BR men Pete Smith and Bob Richens. Both really nice guys who worked with Macari, Ardilles,Hoddle and Gorman,anyone else remember them? 

Don't know Pete Smith but Bob Richens is a name I recognise.  Think he ended up sweeping the Legends Lounge up if it had been used the previous day.

In the town at the top book from 1993 the tea man was those two geezers mentioned above