I'd have taken TB as well if he could have kicked the deep fried mars bar sandwiches.LOL.
It was burgers, not deep fried mars bars, in those days!!And I recall you offered a small financial reward that would have fed that habit well!
Having joined the Oak in the 96/97 season, this will be my 15th season (if selected!) - 22 games short of the 400 target!
There have been opportunities to leave (surprisingly a few approaches!), but the loyalty, comaraderie and friendships have outweighed those pastures new - not the pitch!
will need oaker or trafic cone to confirm or deny but i also think as well as the Mile Oak 5 already mentioned, Nick Martin, Ivan Mainprize, keith Heaseman and Neil Roberts may also have been one club men at the Oak in the 90s?
Look what you've started with Eric, Gonzo - he's like a dog with a bone!
Sorry to p*ss on your fire Eric, but quite a few of the ones you've mentioned have played at other Clubs. Nick Martin (419 games), had a spell with Horsham YM and Shoreham; Ivan Mainprize, as mentioned, had a spell at East Preston; Jamie Ash (377 and still going) had spells at Three Bridges and Southwick; Wayne Whittington (348 and still going) was also at Lancing and so it goes on. The current manager, Anthony Whittington was also at Lancing & Steyning before the Oak, but joined as a player in August 1999 and took over management 6 years ago? His efforts go beyond the call of duty, even buying his own grass seed last week to try and aid the pitch - the council owned pitch!!
Happy Wanderer has touched on a few of the older generation - but most of them can list 1 or 2 other clubs.
That leaves Steve Porter on 451 games and still only 33/34, myself and Chris Paine (292) games as the only "One Club Men" still going.
If we touched on the committee and older generation, which was all intermediate level in those days, treasurer Barry Gratwicke has played and sorted finances for donkeys years, whle the Secretary, Colin Brown, has been doing things since Day 1 as far as I am aware!
Sorry to bore you with one Club's stats - but despite all the "knockers" of the facilities and the pitch etc, the loyalty shown by many is admirable - and the Club celebrate its 50th anniversary this season . . .
