"SINCE NOBBY STILES ..."

We all grew up in little villages, our roots aggressively planted in medieval history—the history of the Vikings. Our football teams became our modern-day tribes, depending on the town of our birth. We wore their colours and supported them in every way, something that one generation has passed down to another. I need not say more having been born in West Bromwich. By now you are familiar with my tribe.


It was my cousin, Rob Marsh, who first got me interested in coaching. I was captivated, something that did not surprise Rob because he knew how much I loved the game. My continued involvement substantiated what he must have thought would be a life calling for me. He asked me, "Paul, why don't you write a letter to Albion and introduce yourself to Norman Bodell?" I owe Rob a debt of gratitude for it. I've said it before, he's my hero.


I sent that letter, and the next thing I knew, Mr. Norman Bodell, head scout, called and asked me to meet him at The Hawthorns on Sunday morning at ten o'clock. Thanks to Rob and his encouragement, that meeting led to an invitation to coach at The School of Excellence and also to coach the U17 team. In my first practices, parents of budding pros came up to me and one of them said, "Mate, we dow know hoo yow am, only that y-ove just cum back from America, but yome the best coach we've 'ad since Nobby Stiles!"


Now, that was a compliment, to say the least. Nobby Stiles was a fiercely committed ball-winner for England and Manchester United in his day. He and Bobby Charlton are the only Englishmen who were on the winning side in a World Cup and European Cup final. In 1968, Nobby returned to Wembley Stadium to help United defeat Benfica in Europe's premier club competition. He was a defensive midfielder, tactically speaking, the central figure of his team's set-up. He didn't always get recognized for his accomplishments, but his peers knew and appreciated his worth.


It was about this time that I heard the word Coerver for the first time, in a strange scouser accent...