Getting to Know 4th Team Player Manager NEIL BENNINGTON
1. Full Name: Neil Bennington
1.2. Knicknames: Benny (5-18yrs). Benno (A Ramsden name). Shit (since i first kicked a ball!).
2. Age: 36
3. Place of Birth: Ro0m12, Ward13, 0305hrs 05.03.73 St. James' Hospital, Leeds.
4. Position: Used to be winger..now, well...be lucky to get off The Dame Judy.
5. Boots : Adidas World Cup
6. Playing History : As a kid: Farsley Jnrs. Student: Cardiff Art College (92-96) & UNC-C (95). Couple of Sunday league teams in Leeds. Mods (06-?) Many gaps due to work, travel, other sports and being crap.
7. Best Player/s you have played with :
Guy Mallot...no idea what has happened to Guy (we played in Farsley and Horsforth School teams together), but he was a genius with the ball at his feet. Such a pity that the 80's were a nightmare and lads like him could not get that break in life. He was easily good enough and the best i've ever seen.
Gary Lovelace...The grace, the swerve, the movement, the feet, the voice (a Solent FogHorn) all used to great effect. Never seen anything like it:Unique.
8. Best Player you have played against:
An Ealandians forward 2/3 seasons ago. No idea his name or how he was in div2. He took everyone apart that season (they scored over 120 goals that year), to which i was an all too eager impotent victim for his exploits.
9. Football Idol: Kevin Keegan...that interview about Man Utd was genius. I'd love it too Kev, love it!
10. Favourite supporting football memory:
At Elland Rd. 01/02 season Leeds vs PSV Eindhoven. Quarter Final of UEFA Cup (2nd leg; 0-0 at PSV). The PSV fans were in the south east corner (holds 2/3,ooo max?). From arrival until the stadium empty, the PSV fans sang their hearts out. Standing up all game, a sea of red and white, they chanted ''GO PSV GO PSV GO PSV!'' at a relentless pitch which was incredible. There was no pause, no let up, a constant drill instruction to their team, until PSV scored with 5 minutes to go to win the game 1-0. They paused to cheer, but as soon as Leeds were about to K.O again, it was back to the chant.
Amazing. Respect.
11. Worst supporting football Memory:
Elland Rd. Leeds vs Newcastle 82/3 season in the old Div 2. Kevin Keegan playing. All game he is pelted with coins, bottles and the like. He is hit a couple of times. I was 9/10 at the time. I couldn't believe it. The atmosphere walking to the the ground (that lovely ginnel from West Leeds), the police upon leaving, the lad getting beaten up over a car bonnet: The whole evening was an introduction into the darker side of life. It started my yin/yan relationship with Leeds United.
12. Greatest playing memory/achievment:
So far:-Managing/ Captaining the game last season (a must win, and we did 4-0 win) that had the entire former U-17 squad involved (with Scot, Carl & Chris). Really was an honour to be in that game and witness at first hand the pleasure it brought to all the lads. And it was all done for Bill The Squirrel!!
I used to be a flying winger (believe it or not), and in 1995 (Cardiff Art College) I scored a dream goal from 18/20 yds out with my left foot after running the length of the pitch down the left wing, 'licking' (had to get that phrase in somewhere) their midfield and defence. I'm my own worst critic, but that goal did get applause from everyone on the pitch. Honest.
13. Worst Mods or previous club memory
Driving to Ellandians with Keith Fenton. Not read Dante, but i'm certain this experience is one of the levels of purgatory.
Twisting knee on a pre season training session (02/03). Out all season.
14. Mods Hero: Mohammed at the launderette in West Park
15. Best ground you've played at:
Who can forget the changing room at East Ardsley, the howling wind at Salendine Nook, the 'Old Earth' pitch sign In Huddersfield, the Cellar Dweller Fella at Bramley? However, nothing beats the postage stamp pitch at Bedquilts and the sight of the Leeds City Council groundsman sat in his van, reading Viz, as another player disappears down a 6 foot pot hole.
16. Favourite Band/Artist and Track at the moment:
Hard one this as pop music is like a bic razor. Has planned obsolescence. Prefer artists that can write a good lyric or two.
I haven't listened to the charts and all that in years.
Recent artists: Eels. Manu Chao. Robert Wyatt. Immortal Technique. M.I.A.
Recent Track: David Byrne and Brian Eno, "Life Is Long".
John Lennon still tops them all though:"You say In My Life you want a Revolution, well Gimme Some Truth Out The Blue Working Class Hero, Imagine Strawberry Fields Forever and that Woman is The Nigger Of The World". Genius.
17. Pre-match preparation routine
Porridge and a few cups of tea for breakfast. Make sure my boots are clean (it was drilled into me as a kid) and got everything ready, like 'Is my head screwed on?'.
18. What do you do on a saturday when not playing football
Something to keep me busy : Cycle. Take a train somewhere and pitch the tent. Climb a hill. Collect wood and make a huge bonfire.
Always liked Saturday as a day. Saturn is the ruler and cannot be measured.
19. Best Friend/s at the club
The Bar-tender(s). Especially those that dish out free sausage/pies.
20. If you could change 1 thing about the club what would it be?
Bit of a kop out answer, but I don't see myself as being at the club to change any '1' thing, I'm here to help in whatever capacity I can.
err...Maybe get a trophy and etch all the names of the previous Clubman of the Year winners...ooh that would include my name then, funny that I should think of this then, eh?