We interviewed another local hero, Kevin Proctor, in his testimonial season of 1995, shortly before his retirement from the club...
KEVIN PROCTOR Barrow's veteran midfield ball-winner
Let's go right back to when we were in class 2A of Victoria Junior School and the day after your debut for the school team when Mr. Smith had you announce to the class that you scored two goals. What do you remember about that game? I remember it as if it were yesterday. It was pouring down and muddy and we played against St. Columbus winning 5-2. One of my goals came from the kick-off after they scored with me scoring without an opponent touching the ball. I played inside right. Did you have any ambitions to play professional football for Barrow, or possibly even any other, bigger clubs back then? It was always my ambition to play for Barrow and I've been quite happy with the way things have turned out. You first played for Barrow in 1976, but left when Ron Yeats took over as manager, only to be tempted back by Ray Wilkie in the late eighties. Do you have any regrets about missing those years when you could have been playing for Barrow? I didn't leave until Brian McManus took over, which was after Ron Yeats had left. Also I came back before Ray Wilkie took over as Maurice Whittle was manager at the time [Ah, right. I really ßµ¿¿*®ed up that question then, didn't I? Ed.]. I sometimes wish I'd stayed as I would have liked to have broken the appearances record, but I had an enjoyable and successful time at Holker Old Boys and Dalton United during that period. So what tempted you to come back? I came back to Barrow because I believed I could still play at a higher level and thought I'd give it another go. I enjoy playing in front of crowds as it adds a little pressure which I seem to thrive on. Every player we've interviewed so far has said that the best manager they played for was Ray Wilkie. But conversely in recent years, the most universally reviled by Barrow fans have been John King and Graham Heathcote. How did you find playing under them? Ray Wilkie was the best manager, not only for the success he brought to the club, but because he was down to earth and you could have a laugh with him. In the case of John King, I didn't really get the chance to play for him as I broke my leg at Farnborough in one of his earlier matches in charge. However, both he and Graham Heathcote had been very good players in their time; they were good motivators and they introduced several good ideas into the club, but they just didn't fit into Barrow AFC. I have to admit that I got on very well with them both as people and quite enjoyed my time with them. Your reputation in non-League is of being hard but fair. That would be borne out by the fact that you have only ever been sent off once; at Slough in 1990, a decision that mystified not just the Barrow fans. Are you now any the wiser as to why you were dismissed that day? To tell you the truth, I've often thought about that sending off and to this day I still don't know why, but I'd love to play against that centre-half one more time to discuss it. You can certainly look after yourself against the hardest men in non-League, but are there any players against whom you've thought 'I'm glad I don't have to play against him every week!'? Not really, as I think I've always given as good as I've got. However, the hardest battles I've ever had were in the '88 Trophy semi-final games against Enfield when I played against Paul Harding. In the first leg at home I hit him in a tackle that was a beauty and he hobbled off later in the game. I thought no way will he play in the return leg, but sure enough, he did and during that game I sustained a cut head after a clash with his elbow. However, I stayed on the pitch, so I guess I won on points! What about from a skill point of view? Who are the best players you have played both with and against? Over the years, I've played with many good players (also some donkeys!) and class players such as Kenny Lowe, Glenn Skivington and Colin Cowperthwaite are right there at the top. Kevin Reeves played a few games for Barrow and even though he'd had to retire as a pro through injury, when you played with him, he just oozed class. As for the best I've played against, there's nobody who really stands out in my mind as even though you have to respect your opponents, if you show too much they will walk all over you. Indeed your reputation has sometimes meant that your own skills have been overlooked. Yet you have scored some useful goals for Barrow. Do any stand out as particular favourites? There are a few which include a volley from outside the area at Kettering which started off at about 25 yards, but stretched to about 50 yards by the time we got back to Barrow. Another was in an FA Cup replay at home to Morecambe which we won 6-1. I scored with a diving header from outside the area again. In fact Morecambe have been a lucky club for me in the scoring stakes over the seasons, with me notching a few goals against them. You have had, though, more than your fair share of injuries. Which of these would you say was the worst and why? Most definitely it was breaking my leg at Farnborough in the season we were relegated from the Conference, for I firmly believe that if I hadn't broken my leg at that time then we would have avoided relegation. I've worked it out that during my time at Barrow I have had approximately seventy stitches in my head, which must be a record in itself! Aside from the FA Trophy final, what are the outstanding memories of your time at Barrow, or do you just have any good or funny stories? When I eventually retire, the things I will remember will be the magnificent playing surface at Holker St. and the great support I've received over the years from the fans. However, the most outstanding memory will be that my father managed to see me play at Wembley before he died shortly after the final itself. As for funny stories, I'd better not say anything as it could incriminate people. Coming up to date, how's the testimonial going? Things are going well at the moment as I've got Glasgow Celtic coming down at a date to be arranged. I've also got a Sportsman's Dinner planned and there are many local clubs organising quiz nights, race nights, etc. on my behalf, so I'm enjoying it all. Will this be your last season playing for Barrow AFC? What will you do when you hang up your boots? Do you have any plans to go into coaching or management? I've missed a lot of football during the last couple of seasons due to having to work away from home, but I've just started a new job which will keep me in the area for at least a couple of years. So now I can get down to training and playing again. As for retiring, I have no intention yet and will play for as long as I enjoy it. But I would like to go into the coaching side of things as well as I think I've got a lot to offer back to the game. On the management side, I'm not so sure as it's like playing Russian Roulette with all the barrels loaded. You have had several games in the reserves this season. Are there any good young prospects we should be looking out for as the future stars of Barrow AFC? I think it's a bit early to say yet as most of them are still acclimatising to the step up from U-16 football into open age, which isn't easy. However, one player in particular is Ryan Tyson who reminds me a little bit of myself at his age. I just hope they all get as much enjoyment and maybe success as I have out of football. What would be your advice to young players just starting out in the game? As I said previously, I think to enjoy playing is the biggest factor and hopefully the rest will fall into place. Also you have to have a little patience. The issue of groundsharing with the rugby came up again earlier this season, as it does from time to time. What do you think of the idea? Financially it is the way forward for smaller clubs, but on the field I don't think it is viable as playing surfaces for football and rugby need differing conditions. Also with Barrow there is the feeling between the two clubs' supporters to be taken into account. A couple of our stock questions now to finish off. Which are the best teams you have played both with and against? The FA Trophy winning squad is most definitely the best team I've played with. The best side I played against would have to be Darlington when they won the Conference to get back into the League. How do you rate the standard of football in the Northern Premier Leafue as compared to the Conference? I think the gap is widening between the two leagues, but I also think that the standard in the Northern Premier has dropped slightly over the last couple of seasons. What do you think of the standard of refereeing at our level of non-League football? I don't want to shoot myself in the foot, but I think that the refereeing standards leave a lot to be desired. I think the major problems are that too much pressure is put on referees by the powers-that-be, plus the fact that referees haven't played football themselves and don't realise what goes on in the game. Finally, along with Colin Cowperthwaite, you are the only Barrow player to have been mentioned in every single issue of Give 'Em Beans! to date [issue 022]. How does it feel to learn of such an honour? I feel honoured that you deem me newsworthy enough to make your publication every time and hope that it will be the case for a long time to come. Keep up the good work. Many thanks to Kevin for answering our questions so frankly. Let's hope his testimonial raises an absolute slagbank (before it was taken down) of cash and that we see him at Holker St. for many years to come. Issue 022 - May 1995