Give ’Em Beans! - Interviews

The first interview we ever conducted was with a man who required no introduction from us. Scorer of two of Barrow's three goals against Leek Town at Wembley in 1990, before that he was one of our longest serving players. But in August 1990 he threw it all in and emigrated to Australia with his family, never to be heard from again... or so you thought! So we put special correspondent Philip Wilson on a plane for Sydney armed with our platinum Give 'Em Beans! American Express Card to bring back this exclusive interview with Kenny Gordon, in which he talked about his new life in Australia and his memories of Holker St...

KENNY GORDON

'Gone to Oz, but not forgotten by us'

It's been over two years now since you left England. First of all, may I ask how you and your family have settled down in Australia?
We have settled quite well. I have found it a bit more difficult than Gill and the kids.

Where do you work?
I do a similar job to that I did in England with a company called Rotary Mechanical Services.

Are you or do you intend to get involved in football in any way here?
My days of serious football are over. I just have a game with the over-thirties on a Sunday morning. There are more Poms than Aussies in our team!

How do you rate the standard of Australian soccer?
I haven't seen a game from the National League so I can't comment on that one. The standard of the State League is nothing to write home about - they are just very fit and physical, like an average HFS team... and that's the better State teams!

What do you like about living in Australia?
I can answer that one very easily... the climate is the big plus.

What do you miss about England?
We miss our family and our friends... and a good few pints of mild with Cowps!

How do you like Christmas over here? It's all a bit different with all the heat, and barbies on the beach; that sort of thing, isn't it?
The first two Christmases [1990 and 91] were a nightmare. It won't ever be the same without our family and friends. We spent last Christmas on the beach.

I know the Aussie magazine British Soccer Week prints all the Premier and Barclays League tables, results and some reports, but it isn't very good for non-League. Is it possible for you to keep in touch with what's happening at our level of football?
The only way I can keep in touch with non-League soccer is through the International Express, and my Mam sends the Evening Mail every week.

Out here in New South Wales, the main winter spectator sport is Rugby League. Do you follow the rugby here at all?
The rugby here is like soccer in England. The presentation is very good if you like rugby. It's on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It's a bit repetitive; again like the soccer, very fit and physical.

In Australia though, it's presented with a razzmatazz that's more akin to American Football than the way it is back home. Do you think sport in England could benefit from that sort of presentation?
I don't think so. Like the rugby in England there is never any trouble. You can take your family. But you would struggle with the razzmatazz, since the climate here certainly helps that along.

You said in Darren Gardner's The Post War Years that everyone remembers his first and last game. We all know about the FA Trophy final, but what can you remember about your first ever game against Burscough in 1978?
The thing that sticks in my mind the most apart from scoring with my left foot, or my standing foot, is that I came off very tired, not so much physically, but mentally.

Are there any other incidents that stand out from your career at Barrow?
I had a lot of ups with Barrow AFC and one or two downs. One humorous thing that has always stayed in my mind was a cold night at Frickley when Skiv took short on the field and ran off without saying a word... and then Frickley scored! But the main thing that sticks in any player's mind who has had the privilege to have played for Barrow is the fantastic support, and for that I say - THANK YOU ALL!

You must have played a few times against John King and Graham Heathcote when they were at Altrincham. Do you have any memories that stand out from games with them?
I had the misfortune of playing against them on more than one occasion. I say 'misfortune' as we were normally on the wrong end of the scoreline! I remember one 6-1 defeat at Holker St. They were always very hard and physical encounters. I can safely say they were the best non-League team I have played against. But as the years have gone by, Barrow has grown as a club and can now hold their own as a physical and a footballing side. As far as memories go, there was never a game that went by without some story to tell.

How did you feel about our relegation last season?
It was probably the hardest to accept after two seasons when nothing could go wrong. Then came the news of Ray Wilkie's illness and you just think there is no justice in the world. I honestly believe that the club did not get over it. Now they have to knuckle down and start again.

Which would you say was the best Barrow team that you played in?
This is a very hard one to answer, because I was fortunate to play with so many good players. But if I was pushed I would say the 1988 and the 1990 teams. They had nothing between them. They had character of their own... that was all down to Ray!

Which was the worst Barrow team you played in?
Oh, with no hesitation, I'd say it was the team that Brian Kidd put together in his three month stay at Barrow.

Who would you say was the best manager you played under, and why?
The best manager without a doubt was Ray Wilkie. We just don't have enough time to mention all the qualities of Ray as a person. As a tactician, it is easy because he never ever talked about the opposition, he just told us what he expected from us as a team. And he always spoke to us as adults - apart from Chilts, that is. So players spoke very highly of him and never questioned his judgement. Which shows just how highly people thought of him, not only as a manager, but also as a person.

Who were the best players you both played with and against, and why?
I have had the privilege of playing with so many good players I won't list them for fear of leaving anyone out. That would be an insult.

Do you watch Neighbours and Home and Away? If so, do you know of the latest plot developments just to spoil it for British fans who get them nine months or so after they're shown in Oz?
No, I don't watch them, sorry... but our kids love them. Not to worry, they will grow out of it!

This won't mean a thing to anybody else reading this, but to indulge the Editor I have to ask you: 'Are you a fan of Clive Robertson, the world's least objective newsreader?'
I didn't know who Clive Robertson was until I came to Oz... and now I wish I still didn't know who he was. I hope that answers your question.

Finally, Kenny, do you have any message for the players and the fans at Holker St.?
I would like to thank the club, players and supporters for the best twelve years I could possibly have had in football. Also for the friendships that Gill and I have made over the years that we will never forget. And we hope to see you all again one day.

Well, that little spiel at the beginning of this piece about sending our correspondent out to Australia probably fooled exactly none of you. But it's amazing what you can achieve with an aerogramme and a bit of imagination! However Ken did include this letter with his reply to our questions and I'm sure he won't object to our reprinting it here.

Dear Beans!,
First of all, I'm sorry it has taken so long for me to reply, but time is really flying. Never mind the excuses, I'd just like to thank Give 'Em Beans! for the chance to do this interview. I hope it's okay. I've kept the answers as short as possible so as not to bore you all, but I could have written pages on some of the questions.

Well, thanks once again, and I would like to wish all of you all the best and I hope to see you again one day at Holker St.

Yours faithfully,
Kenny Gordon

Beans! replies:
Okay, you ask, Kenny... it was brilliant! Don't thank us - the pleasure is most certainly all ours. Many many thanks for completing our questions. We were sorry to hear that you found Christmas a bit of a downer. I hope that this year was better. Here's wishing you the best of luck and every success to you and your family in the years ahead from the readers of Give 'Em Beans!

Issue 015 - March 1993

KENNY GORDON 'Gone to Oz, but not forgotten by us'
The first interview we ever conducted was with a man who required no introduction from us. Scorer of two of Barrow's three goals against Leek Town at Wembley in 1990, before that he was one of our longest serving players. But in August 1990 he threw it all in and emigrated to Australia with his family, never to be heard from again... or so you thought! So we put special correspondent Philip Wilson on a plane for Sydney armed with our platinum Give 'Em Beans! American Express Card to bring back this exclusive interview with Kenny Gordon, in which he talked about his new life in Australia and his memories of Holker St...
It's been over two years now since you left England. First of all, may I ask how you and your family have settled down in Australia? We have settled quite well. I have found it a bit more difficult than Gill and the kids. Where do you work? I do a similar job to that I did in England with a company called Rotary Mechanical Services. Are you or do you intend to get involved in football in any way here? My days of serious football are over. I just have a game with the over-thirties on a Sunday morning. There are more Poms than Aussies in our team! How do you rate the standard of Australian soccer? I haven't seen a game from the National League so I can't comment on that one. The standard of the State League is nothing to write home about - they are just very fit and physical, like an average HFS team... and that's the better State teams! What do you like about living in Australia? I can answer that one very easily... the climate is the big plus. What do you miss about England? We miss our family and our friends... and a good few pints of mild with Cowps! How do you like Christmas over here? It's all a bit different with all the heat, and barbies on the beach; that sort of thing, isn't it? The first two Christmases [1990 and 91] were a nightmare. It won't ever be the same without our family and friends. We spent last Christmas on the beach. I know the Aussie magazine British Soccer Week prints all the Premier and Barclays League tables, results and some reports, but it isn't very good for non-League. Is it possible for you to keep in touch with what's happening at our level of football? The only way I can keep in touch with non-League soccer is through the International Express, and my Mam sends the Evening Mail every week. Out here in New South Wales, the main winter spectator sport is Rugby League. Do you follow the rugby here at all? The rugby here is like soccer in England. The presentation is very good if you like rugby. It's on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It's a bit repetitive; again like the soccer, very fit and physical. In Australia though, it's presented with a razzmatazz that's more akin to American Football than the way it is back home. Do you think sport in England could benefit from that sort of presentation? I don't think so. Like the rugby in England there is never any trouble. You can take your family. But you would struggle with the razzmatazz, since the climate here certainly helps that along. You said in Darren Gardner's The Post War Years that everyone remembers his first and last game. We all know about the FA Trophy final, but what can you remember about your first ever game against Burscough in 1978? The thing that sticks in my mind the most apart from scoring with my left foot, or my standing foot, is that I came off very tired, not so much physically, but mentally. Are there any other incidents that stand out from your career at Barrow? I had a lot of ups with Barrow AFC and one or two downs. One humorous thing that has always stayed in my mind was a cold night at Frickley when Skiv took short on the field and ran off without saying a word... and then Frickley scored! But the main thing that sticks in any player's mind who has had the privilege to have played for Barrow is the fantastic support, and for that I say - THANK YOU ALL! You must have played a few times against John King and Graham Heathcote when they were at Altrincham. Do you have any memories that stand out from games with them? I had the misfortune of playing against them on more than one occasion. I say 'misfortune' as we were normally on the wrong end of the scoreline! I remember one 6-1 defeat at Holker St. They were always very hard and physical encounters. I can safely say they were the best non-League team I have played against. But as the years have gone by, Barrow has grown as a club and can now hold their own as a physical and a footballing side. As far as memories go, there was never a game that went by without some story to tell. How did you feel about our relegation last season? It was probably the hardest to accept after two seasons when nothing could go wrong. Then came the news of Ray Wilkie's illness and you just think there is no justice in the world. I honestly believe that the club did not get over it. Now they have to knuckle down and start again. Which would you say was the best Barrow team that you played in? This is a very hard one to answer, because I was fortunate to play with so many good players. But if I was pushed I would say the 1988 and the 1990 teams. They had nothing between them. They had character of their own... that was all down to Ray! Which was the worst Barrow team you played in? Oh, with no hesitation, I'd say it was the team that Brian Kidd put together in his three month stay at Barrow. Who would you say was the best manager you played under, and why? The best manager without a doubt was Ray Wilkie. We just don't have enough time to mention all the qualities of Ray as a person. As a tactician, it is easy because he never ever talked about the opposition, he just told us what he expected from us as a team. And he always spoke to us as adults - apart from Chilts, that is. So players spoke very highly of him and never questioned his judgement. Which shows just how highly people thought of him, not only as a manager, but also as a person. Who were the best players you both played with and against, and why? I have had the privilege of playing with so many good players I won't list them for fear of leaving anyone out. That would be an insult. Do you watch Neighbours and Home and Away? If so, do you know of the latest plot developments just to spoil it for British fans who get them nine months or so after they're shown in Oz? No, I don't watch them, sorry... but our kids love them. Not to worry, they will grow out of it! This won't mean a thing to anybody else reading this, but to indulge the Editor I have to ask you: 'Are you a fan of Clive Robertson, the world's least objective newsreader?' I didn't know who Clive Robertson was until I came to Oz... and now I wish I still didn't know who he was. I hope that answers your question. Finally, Kenny, do you have any message for the players and the fans at Holker St.? I would like to thank the club, players and supporters for the best twelve years I could possibly have had in football. Also for the friendships that Gill and I have made over the years that we will never forget. And we hope to see you all again one day. Well, that little spiel at the beginning of this piece about sending our correspondent out to Australia probably fooled exactly none of you. But it's amazing what you can achieve with an aerogramme and a bit of imagination! However Ken did include this letter with his reply to our questions and I'm sure he won't object to our reprinting it here.
Dear Beans!, First of all, I'm sorry it has taken so long for me to reply, but time is really flying. Never mind the excuses, I'd just like to thank Give 'Em Beans! for the chance to do this interview. I hope it's okay. I've kept the answers as short as possible so as not to bore you all, but I could have written pages on some of the questions. Well, thanks once again, and I would like to wish all of you all the best and I hope to see you again one day at Holker St. Yours faithfully, Kenny Gordon
Beans! replies: Okay, you ask, Kenny... it was brilliant! Don't thank us - the pleasure is most certainly all ours. Many many thanks for completing our questions. We were sorry to hear that you found Christmas a bit of a downer. I hope that this year was better. Here's wishing you the best of luck and every success to you and your family in the years ahead from the readers of Give 'Em Beans! Issue 015 - March 1993