Grahame Bartlett
lsfc.co.uk : Barty, what age where you when you joined L.S.F.C.?
GB : I joined the club when i was 10 years old, Paul Gibbins was the manager and i remember making my debut when i was 11 at Attleborough School. I think we got slaughtered..
lsfc.co.uk : Who were your coaches in those early days?
GB : Paul Gibbins was the main man, I owe that man so much. He taught me so much about football, litterately taught me how to kick a ball. We used to train ever Thursday and after the training session we were giving slips of paper with who we were playing and where. Match fee's used to be £1, and I have to mention the oranges at half time, Gibbo always used to sort us out with half time oranges...legend! My Dad, Chris Bartlett was also a big part of the youth team as when we turned to 7 a side, Chris ran one team and Gibbo ran the other. Chris ran Long Stratton Strikers and Gibbo ran Long Stratton United. Their were loads of young players back then, so much talent, shame they a lot of them went elsewhere. Chris used to help Gibbo at training and between them they ran teams for 5 years until we had won every cup and league possible, no joke we were awesome! I thank my dad aswell as he bought us 2 kits when we were playing in the youth team, not to mention giving up his thursday nights and saturday's for 5 years to come watch me and the boys play. Robert Lee was also part of the club, every saturday he used to come and run the line for my dad or Gibbo, he never let us down. It's things like this I look back on and am so grateful for. He also used to help at training, it was a superbly run youth side. So a massive cheers go to Gibbo, Chris and Rob!
lsfc.co.uk : Did many of the lads from that era carry on through with the club?
GB : Yeah there are a few playing for Stratton still, Stephen Blunt, Dale Wallis, James Lee, Paul Folkard, Lloyd Douglas, Shaun Moss and myself all played together and we are now splt between first and reserves, but as I said there was loads more talent that never got spotted and they moved onto clubs like Newton Flotman, Poringland and Hempnall. Traitors!! I remember when our youth team split up after under-16s, me and a load of mates when up training with the men, it was so intimidating at the time, I remember people making comments and also how physical it was compared to what we were used to and this was just training!! Never the less I stuck at it but most of my mates dropped out. Infact they all went to Newton Flotman FC apart from me and Shaun Moss. However, Vic did spot me and took me under his wing, I am forever grateful to him for believing in me and giving me the chance to become the player I am today. I believe i'm peaking now at the age of 22 and I couldn't be more happy as a player, i'm having my best season for the club and looking forward to every game now.
lsfc.co.uk : Any stand-out memories from those old youth days?
GB : Yeah, the one that stands out the most to me was winning a final against Pulham on penalties. It was so hot added to that Pulham and Long Stratton Strikers were the only 2 teams who were to win anything that season. I think they won the league and we won the cup. Anyway, it was such an intense game, everyone was matched man for man, the final score was 1 all and i'll never forget my clearance off the line. We only scored one penalty through Shaun Moss, everyone else missed theirs (7 a side were small goals!!) and Pulham missed all their penalties too (well, Dale Wallis saved them all!).
lsfc.co.uk : Having spent so long at the club, what changes, if any, have you noticed at the club down the years?
GB : Well at first it was sad to see that there wasn't any youth coming through for several years but the last 2 seasons there have been youth teams set up so thats quality!! Also i've noticed a lot more interest from the public, people generally notice you and ask you how you got on, it's real nice. I've also noticed that standards and facilities are improving all the time, the club really is going places now. The passion to win every week from players and staff is such a good feeling. I joined the mens team in division 4, and Vic has taken us to Division 1 and has built a team more then capable of being Premier division. That's a huge change for the club. Also there's been a massive change in the reserves team. Going from a pub team to a team full of young quality players under Dobin's managership, Currently they are top of the table and heading for promotion!!
lsfc.co.uk : Can you tell me your biggest influences in making you the player you are now?
GB : Well I wouldn't individually pick anyone out. I have to mention Paul Gibbins as he introduced me to club football, and taught me many things over 6 years from being a boy to a teenager. I'll also mention my dad (chris Bartlett) for helping run the team and telling me my weak points after every game, its surprising how much just talking about a performance can improve a player mentally and physically. Also Dobin (Rob Eastaff) gets a mention for last season, he taught me not to be a girl and take a hard challenge, now I hate to see people on the floor injured, I guarantee ill get up from a hard challenge and run it off, it wont even hurt anymore. It's very rare for me to have to come off through injury this season. Challenge hard and fair, that's how to play football. Vic Harwin has had a massive impact on me, at the age of 16 he gave me a chance in the first team, and I stayed there, I got promotion with him 3 seasons in a row and am still in his team week in, week out. Just someone believing in you can make you the player you become. He has taught me so much, he changed me from a boy into a man, and now a very good friend. Brian Lythgoe also has had a big impact of me as a player, tactically the man is faultless, he knows every trick! Every Tuesday he takes training for the men's team and gets us all fit and prepared for each game ahead. He is so passionate about football it rubs off onto the players. Him and vic make a great double-act for the first team.
lsfc.co.uk : Tell us how you think the first team has faired this season in Div. 1 and about your own form.
GB : Well some games we are unbeatable, I challenge anyone to beat us on our day, unfortuanately we have dropped silly points against bottom of the league sides and individual errors have also cost us valuable points. It's a bit frustrating as I know we can win every game if we really WANT it!! But I know i'll play premier division under Stratton one day. However, we play more good then we do bad and we are currently in the top 6!! For me, this has been the best season I have played, i'm starting to peak as a player. My first season at right back, and i'm enjoying it so much. I have however been moved out of position to right wing for the last couple of games but hope to be back to right back soon! My confidence is sky high, and looking to get our clean sheets back!
lsfc.co.uk : Barty, What ambitions do you have for your time in a red shirt?
GB : My commitment is with LSFC, I have no intensions of moving away from the club, the players on and off the pitch are great mates and i'm enjoying my football so much. I can see myself being involved in running a team one day, I just can't get enough of the game! I wouldn't leave the Reds for a premier club, Hempnall did approach me last season and i'm still here. I think Stratton runs through my veins! It would take something massive to make me leave! As a kid I was scouted by Carrow FC, who at the time were massive, full of Norwich and Norfolk players. But I turned them down as I was loving playing with my mates each week and having my dad as manager. Things were sweet. But looking back, I do wonder if that was a big mistake, I might of made it. But i have no regrets though. come on you Reds !
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