Now a director of “Malta Choice – the largest choice of villas and farmhouses with private and shared pools in the Mediterranean Islands of Malta and Gozo” former midfielder Paul O’Berg spoke to our matchday programme to focus on his five-year stint at the club between 1979 and 1984.
BEST MATE…
I came in from Hull and ‘Parky’ (Noel Parkinson) was another lad from there. He was my best mate while at the club.
BEST TRAINER…
The best one, apart from myself (!), would be Neil Pointon. He was young at only 17-years-old when he arrived at the club in 1981 and was eager to learn and do well.
I’d put myself down as the quickest, but only up to the first 20 yards. Any distance after that, it was between Neil Pointon and Chris Cowling.
LEADER…
When I first joined, Vinny Grimes was the captain of the team and I’d have to say he was the leader.
MOST INTELLIGENT…
It’s easy to determine the most intelligent player off the pitch. It would have to be ‘Boxy’ Alan Boxall, who was deputy head of a local school. He signed from Barton and went on to play for Chesterfield. In terms of intelligence on the pitch, it would go to ‘Dexy’ (Dennis Leman), who arrived from Sheffield Wednesday in the early 1980s.
MOST SKILFUL…
The most skiful would be ‘Sammy’ (Dave Stewart). He joined the club from Chelsea after a couple of months at Stamford Bridge, following a move from Hull. He was a tricky winger and scored goals as well, but he drifted into non-league and left the full-time game relatively early.
UNSUNG HERO…
For me, the unsung hero was Scunthorpe-born Chris Cowling. He made his debut when he was just 17 and would put himself on the pitch to play a game when he wasn’t fully fit, giving everything for the cause. It ultimately didn’t prolong his career though.
JOKER…
Again, that would have to be Vinny Grimes.
BEST PLAYER…
He was only on loan with us from Nottingham Forest for a few months, but Danny Wilson was the best player I played with during my time at Scunthorpe United. He scored three goals in the six games he was with us and went on to play a lot of games for Brighton, Luton, Sheffield Wednesday and Barnsley before becoming a manager.
FORMER TEAM-MATES…
Every year we get together for a Golf Day event which features ex-players of the 1970s and 1980s, along with any guests that wish to come along. We have between 25 and 30, and compete for the ex-Iron’s Golf Trophy, which is known as the Ron Ashman Trophy. It’s been ongoing since 1989.
BEST TEAM…
The best team I played in was the one that won promotion from the old Division Four in 1982-83.