Interview with ex-Saddler Ian Gaunt

The names of Walker, Brightwell, Aranalde, Tilson, Roper, Keates, Bennett, Goodman, Byfield, Matias, Leitao and Angell all bring back wonderful memories of Walsall’s glorious 2000/2001 campaign.

There were other people involved in that campaign though. Bryan Small, Barry Horne, Dion Scott, Karl Hawley, Alfie Carter and Ian Gaunt all played for Walsall that season.

The name of Ian Gaunt will be familiar to any Saddler who attended an LDV Vans Trophy game against Wigan in January. This is because the then 19 year-old centre-half, making his debut, scored a last-minute winner to take us through to the next round.

What happened to Ian after that? The Gilbert Alsop caught up with him recently and asked him a few questions….

When did you sign your contract? 

I signed my scholarship forms at the end of the 1998 season when I was 16.

At the beginning of the 1999/2000 season you played a friendly against Pelsall Villa and won 10-0 when the first team were away on tour. What are your memories?

I don’t remember too much to be honest, only that the Pelsall Villa players weren’t too chuffed at being thrashed by a load of teenagers. Now I’m a bit older I can completely understand why!

The pre-season friendlies for the next season saw you play against Rushall Olympic and Worcester City. What are your memories of those games? 

Not much, I remember it being boiling hot. I was on the bench against Worcester and remember getting thrown on at half time, literally as we were walking out for the second half because Matt Gadsby was being sick in the toilet (I think he’d got sun stroke). I played right back which was a first!

Walsall’s centre-halves that season were Barras, Roper, Tilson and Dion Scott. Did you know how difficult it would be to break into the first team? Did you think of yourself as 5th choice?

Obviously Barras, Roper and Tilson were well established so I definitely had some work to do to compete with them, I knew that would be difficult. Dion was a year older than me but I felt like I could compete with him. When all five of us were fit I was often played at left back for the reserves so we could all be accommodated.

The moment all Walsall fans will remember for you is scoring the last-minute winner in a LDV Vans game against Wigan. I understand you were only in the team because Ronnie Ekelund got stuck in a traffic jam. I also have memories of Gino Padula scoring a great goal for Wigan. What are your memories of this?

Yes, that’s right. Mick Halsall was looking after team that night and due to the traffic jam he had difficulty working out which players were in the dressing room, and who needed to be promoted from the bench etc. The whole experience was great. I played really well that day and obviously scoring the winner in the last minute was brilliant.

The next game you played in was a 4-0 defeat against Stoke in the next round, where you were sent off. How did you feel after that game?

The Stoke game was a different level to the previous week against Wigan. Aside from the sending off I didn’t play well so was really disappointed with that more than anything. The sending off came because Dion lost the ball on the half way line and I was trying to get back. To this day I’m convinced I made a good tackle and played the ball (not many people believe me though!). Ian Roper was on the other side of the attacker so I like to blame him (haha). I can see why I went off because I’d gone to ground.

You were released from Walsall a few days after their triumph at Cardiff. Were you with the squad that day? What are your memories?

I wasn’t with the playing squad, although I watched the match from a corporate box (can’t remember why/how I ended up in there but it wasn’t organised through the club) and saw a few of the players afterwards. It was obviously a great result for the club but ironically probably had some bearing on me getting released given that we had got promoted.

How did you feel about being released? 

I was gutted. I thought I’d done enough (and more) but the coaching staff has to make difficult decisions based on many factors, which I completely understand.

After leaving Walsall, I understand you had a loan spell at Moor Green before studying for your degree. Can you fill us in with what you have been doing since leaving Walsall?

I never really played for Moor Green; I was on the bench for one match I decided it wasn’t for me. I then went to Loughborough University to study Sports Science. During my first year the football team (made up of a lot of former players) were the best in Britain. The standard was very high. We beat a pretty strong Villa side (which included Paul Merson) in a pre season friendly and then went on to win the BUSA (now BUCS) championships. I played for English Universities and then Great Britain Students, which was an amazing experience and one of my proudest achievements. I was part of a trip to Libya where we played France and Libya. It also involved a visit to Colonel Gaddafi’s house/compound (not many people can say they’ve been there!).

After graduating I worked at Loughborough University for three years before in 2008 getting a job at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. I am now fortunate enough to be the Assistant Director of Sport at the University and live and work in a beautiful part of the UK. One of my roles is to manage pre season training camps for professional clubs. In the last few years we’ve had the likes of Barcelona, Norwich, and last season Man Utd and Everton training here. Dundee Utd uses our facilities as their main training ground so that’s obviously great to be involved in.

I don’t really play much football anymore, but I’m a keen golfer (would be rude not to be in St Andrews) and am determined to lower my handicap (currently 4). I got married to Heather last year and we are expecting our first baby in August.

Whilst I will also wonder what would have happened if I hadn’t have been released I know that many of the great things I’ve been lucky enough to experience since wouldn’t have happened otherwise.

Who were the best players when you were with Walsall? Who were you most friendly with? Are you still in touch with anyone? Where did the Spanish guys spend their social time?

Best players during my time were probably Andy Rammell and Jimmy Walker. Being a centre-half I learned a lot from the likes of Andy Tilson (who was really good to me). I couldn’t tell you where the Spanish guys socialised.

David Hunt was best man at my wedding; he got released from Walsall the same year as me, and was at Loughborough as well. He’s currently a physio at Birmingham City. I’m still in touch with a few of the other youth team players through Facebook but that’s about it.

Was their anyone from your youth team days that didn’t make the grade but you feel as though they should have done? 

Not really, but there’s a few that did get contracts who I (and others) felt shouldn’t have. Unfortunately we’ve since been proved right.

What was Ray Graydon like with you?

He made sure you knew who was boss (which is not a bad thing). I cleaned his boots so the pressure was always on me! Unfortunately for me he was great at bringing in centre-halves who did brilliantly in the last few years of their careers.

And finally, how much were you paid? 

Not very much!

Walsall v Bury – In-depth Tactical Analysis

We were desperate today and so was the pitch. Our goal was the only moment of quality. Credit to Bury though they didn’t let our creative players get into the game apart from that moment. Normally we would have Taylor bombing down the left and providing us with more width but he was sadly missed today. Grigg barely had a sniff all game. Mantom is a good player but he plays within his comfort zone, doing the simple stuff well but not driving the play forward. The whole team was flat and missing Butler’s spirit and also his defending. There were a few mix-ups between Holden and Johnstone, not necessarily Holden’s fault though but the back four in Butler’s absence haven’t looked a cohesive unit at all. Holden looks a yard off the pace and has to rely on his determination to get him through games. Chambers is missed over at right-back as well as there is not enough passing from the back when Purkiss fills in, although he is defensively sound.
All the subs were disappointing, especially Sawyers who did nothing to impress. Was the Bury goal offside? The bloody pillars were in the way so I have no idea.

Thats it for me now. Cricket will take over in the next few months. Lets hope we can hold on to most of our players so we can enjoy those Midlands derbies that are coming our way.

Walsall v Sheffield United – In-depth Tactical Analysis

It feels like a defeat today. It was a game we should have won, Brandy guilty of missing the best chances.

Due to a steam train setting the countryside on fire just outside Bicester, The Gilbert Alsop arrived at the ground at 3.40pm. Two minutes later, Westcarr turned and scored to give us a half-time lead.

After the break we went to force home our advantage and this is when Brandy had those chances, created by Westcarr and Baxendale. United took advantage to equalise from a tap-in after a long distance shot bounced off both posts.

Benning, who had to come on for an injured Taylor, was caught out for the goal. Although you cant blame him directly, there was certainly a lack of understanding between him and Paterson, who was on the left. First of all they both left the ball so it went out for a United throw-in and then a few moments later Benning allowed the attacker to run into a large space for the goal to be scored.

After the goal it was fairly equal and we almost got caught out at the end with Butler playing on with an injury and Downing having to make a well timed last-ditch tackle.

Defensively we were sound up until Taylor came off and then looked a bit shaky after that. Purkiss, who doesn’t offer as much going forward as James Chambers, did ok.

Adam Chambers was man of the match. He carried the ball forward a lot and also tracked back, he seemed to be everywhere. Mantom was content to do the basics and did that very well. Paterson was quiet, offering only a glimpse of his talent. Baxendale faded towards the end but was involved in a lot going forward. Westcarr did well, linking up play and scoring. I think he lacks a little confidence at time though, particularly when faced with making decisions. Sawyers had a decent cameo in his usual three minutes. Playing a great pass to send Paterson free.

And then to Brandy. In many ways he was the best player today. The United defence struggled with him throughout. He just couldn’t score today and with a goal return of only six for the season, for all his talents, this appears to be his weakness. He had five chances today, one quite easy, two he should have got on target and two that were difficult.

Bloody hell! What could have been? Nine points from the last three games may not be enough, but The Gilbert Alsop hasn’t given up hope and will be at Scunthorpe next week.

Walsall v Coventry City – In-depth Tactical Analysis

Wowsers! What a performance today. A deserved scoreline for an awesome display.
Grigg wasn’t playing so in came Baxendale to tear them apart and Westcarr went up top. Why didn’t Smith play this way against Hartlepool?
With Baxendale in the team we look like a really slick outfit. He is good with the ball and allows Paterson and Brandy to create chances as well.
Paterson opened the scoring with some good close control in the box and a great finish from a tight angle.
Westcarr got a penalty after Baxendale had been chopped down. Coventry went down to 10 men and then Westcarr and Paterson helped themselves to more goals.
Westcarr, the least mobile of our attacking players, played well doing the simple things well.
The back five were a compact unit not giving Coventry a chance. Chambers and Mantom protected the back four and ensured our creative players got as much as the ball as possible.
And boy did we create. Brandy did most of it, popping up everywhere and picking up lots of free-kicks. This gave Paterson loads of space to exploit which he did superbly. As well as his two goals he went on some other brilliant runs and could have got more.
A great day to be a Saddler.

Yeovil v Walsall – In-depth Tactical Analysis

The whole team defended superbly well today with the two centre-halves being the pick of the bunch. Johnstone hardly touched the ball at all and we restricted them to a couple of long range efforts from their big centre-half.
The first half was pretty equal I thought. Brandy going the closest with a long-range effort the keeper could only parry away. Although they had good spells of possession (their right-back appeared to be everywhere) they couldn’t do anything with it.
As soon as the second-half started we got Brandy more into the game and were all over them as we had wave after wave of attacks in the first ten minutes but came away with nothing to show for it and no real chances created.
Grigg came the closest just before he was substituted, at last forcing their keeper into a save from a run of successive corners. Hemmings came on for Grigg and Brandy played up top, with Hemmings on the left and Paterson on the right. We still couldn’t create a decent chance though and the game huffed and puffed to its inevitable goalless conclusion.
Although we were the slightly better team I think a draw was the best result.
Sawyers had a few minutes at the end and won a couple of headed flick-ons but you can’t really judge him on that alone.
Man of the match is anyone from Butler, Downing, James or Adam Chambers. I will plump for Downing who looked in control throughout and also kept possession well.

There were also two farcical moments when we went down to ten men. Brandy came off for five minutes in the first half as he appeared to have lost a shin pad or something like that and disappeared down the tunnel then got called back and after much faffing around on the bench eventually came back on.
Then with a couple of minutes left, Hemmings came off as I think he took a whack in the face. Baxendale was ready to come on, the paperwork handed in, then all of a sudden Hemmings rose from the dead (appropriately, for this time of year) then sprinted back on, leaving Baxendale jilted at the altar. Can anyone clear up what actually happened in both these cases?

Hartlepool United v Walsall – In-depth Tactical Analysis

A disappointing day.

I can take losing or drawing but to approach this game the way we did has left me more disappointed. Why did Featherstone play? I like him but he is not a creative player. We should have played Baxendale instead and played more positively.

When Featherstone came off we looked a lot better. Hemmings had an impact straight away and had our best chance of the game as we dominated the last 30 minutes. It also Brandy more into the game. Loads of half-chances were created and on a better day and with Grigg in the team we would have taken those.

Johnstone had a decent debut making a fine save in the first half as Hartlepool coped with the windy conditions better and twice narrowly missed scoring. His distribution could be better but it was very windy so I can let him off with that.

We scrapped and fought throughout an awful game. We needed some quality and only got that towards the end when Hemmings came on. As well as Hemmings’ miss, Bowerman, Paterson, Mantom and Brandy all squandered decent chances as we panicked in front of goal.

Roll on Yeovil.

Walsall v Tranmere – In-depth Tactical Analysis

The Brooklyn beer The Gilbert Alsop is sipping at the Sunflower Lounge in Birmingham tastes lovely tonight although it is hurting my sensitive tooth. A comfortable victory over Tranmere has meant all the travel and the cold hasn’t been a problem at all.

Although I may well be the oldest person here by at least fifteen years and look conspicuous,  as I am using a laptop whilst everyone else appears to be listening to a band that I can hear but cannot see, I don’t give a damn. We are four points off the play-offs and that is all that matters to me.

A Ronnie Moore team plays hoofball and that is exactly what we got from Tranmere tonight and we weren’t troubled by it one bit. The only problem was scoring the first goal as we went into the break having missed some very good chances and Mantom striking the post from range.

Tranmere almost scored after the break but James Chambers got a couple of impressive blocks in and then it was a repeat of our opening goals against Shrewsbury and Swindon. Brandy runs at the defence, gets tripped up and Grigg puts away the penalty. 1-0.

It was only five minutes later that we got out second. Westcarr from 30 yards out thought about hitting it, I thought ‘pass it’, he ignored my cosmic vibes and promptly smacked the ball into the bottom corner of the net. The Tranmere keeper, their best player by some distance, stood no chance at all.

After that we created more chances but couldn’t beat the keeper. Our only trouble was Brandy spontaneously combusting. He got booked for a very reckless challenge when he could have seen red and then proceeded to get involved in lots of niggly confrontations. Late on he raced clear and appeared to dive and look for the free-kick. The ref waved play on but shortly after gave him a severe ticking off. Thankfully, minutes later, he was brought off for Featherstone, for him to play his regulation last few minutes.

Man of the Match was Westcarr and I couldn’t argue with that too much but I would have given it to James Chambers who impresses me more and more. Taylor got forward well and had some good shots, surely he will score soon. Elsewhere, we worked hard, particularly our middle four and Grigg up front. Paterson should have scored in the first-half and once we got Brandy more into the game in the second-half it was game over for Tranmere.

Another 20 minutes before my train comes and I should get to bed for about two thirty. Tooth hurty? It might well do mate, but I have got to have a beer to celebrate this victory, haven’t I?

Swindon v Walsall – In-depth Tactical Analysis

“Football, bloody hell.” This game can be filed under that category. Paterson with a header (a header!) in the 89th minute from an excellent cross by Hemmings (Hemmings!) means we draw the game 2-2.

It was just deserved today. Paterson’s goal the only goal of any quality. Swindon’s goals came from a lucky deflection and then a howler from McCarey as he fumbled a shot that was going wide and presented it to the Swindon player. Grigg’s goal was, of course, a penalty after Brandy had been tripped.

Swindon are a good team. Well organised and keep possession well. But so are we, and although Swindon got on top in the second half they didn’t create a notable chance until McCarey’s mistake.

When Brandy was taken off for Hemmings in the 82nd minute, I thought our chance had gone, but, what do I know. Hemmings skinned the full-back late on and waited and waited for Paterson to arrive then delivered the best cross of the game for Paterson to head home. You beauty!

Butler gets my nod as man of the match. You need leaders in games like this and he stood out today. When we were under pressure just before half-time he ran 30 yards to win one header and give us relief.

Downing was composed. The Chambers’ twins did well. Adam, in particular, kept scrapping against a physically imposing team. As did Mantom.

We were not as creative as we have been. Taylor hardly got forward at all. Grigg worked hard but fed off scraps. Brandy was too deep to do any damage. Westcarr linked up play well but his shooting was on a par with Ian Roper’s.

Paterson? He was muscled out of it for most of the game but he never gave up. That is why he was there at the end to bag us a share of the points. An amazing end to an amazing game.

XXXX – Walsall FC – Me Love You Long Time XXXXX

Sawadee Saddlers! I am the sole member of the Walsall Supporters Club Bangkok Branch and The Gilbert Alsop has kindly let me do a report on yesterday’s game against the Brentford Bees.

Here I am super cold! You guys have crazy weather here. This is why I wear two hats. This is not buddhist philosophy. This is true life. I wear two hats because it is super cold, you crazy guys. You can see my one hat poking through my retro Walsall hat. Look at the left side of my head. This is not cotton wool this is another hat. Crazy weather, crazy guys!

I saw this super cute mascot for Brentford and thought about switching sides but I had paid £22 to sit upstairs and the nasty man in the bright yellow coat stopped me from walking round to the other end of the pitch, so I stay with the Saddlers. I am happy I stay with them as a well fought goalless draw away from home against a team managed by a Buddhist monk is a very good result where I come from. Super, super Saddlers all the way!

The game was no good but it no matter. I brought many snacks with me to ease the boredom. This is me eating a seaweed-based snack and thus becoming the first Walsall fan to eat a seaweed-based snack whilst watching the Saddlers. I am not the first Walsall fan to eat seaweed though, that was John Stonehouse MP on a beach in Miami in November 1974 as part of his failed Reggie Perrin act. He swallow so much seaweed he change his mind about suicide and then fly first-class to Australia instead. Crazy guy!

Later, I celebrated my first game by eating Mongolian hot pot with The Gilbert Alsop. In-between slurps of his soup, he tell me that McCarey was man of the match and his new favourite player, Andy Taylor, struggled defensively in the first-half but calmed down after the break and was our main threat going forward. All-in-all he think we good value for a point. I disagree. He is crazy guy. Butler was man of the match by long, long way!

Sawadee Saddlers.

Walsall. Back Where They Belong

Booooommmmm! Walsall are back and so is The Gilbert Alsop. After wintering in India and topping up my tan a couple of shades to a sort of off-white colour, The Gilbert Alsop came back to a Walsall team in the midst of a great run.

At our victory in Doncaster I could see that the gloom has been lifted and we can see clearly now the rain has gone. I genuinely felt that there were no obstacles in our way. I thought to myself, ‘Gone are the dark clouds that made us blind’. I had a feeling of great optimism and that it’s going to be a bright, bright, sunshiney end to the season.

Yes indeed. Walsall are back in 9th in the third tier of English football and all is right with the world.

What’s gone right? A midfield. That is the main difference. We now actually have one. Last season (until Flo turned up) our midfielders acted as a tool to protect the back four and then bollock the ball up to Macken. This midfield has kept the back four protected but also created chances for Grigg to bang home. Febian Brandy being the pick of the bunch. Pass and move is always better than hit and hope.

Downing coming in for Holden has made our defence more robust and settled it down. Taylor, in my humble opinion (which is better than most) is a better left-back than Sadler, who was many a fans player of the season last year. He is a threat going forward as well. A great bet for a first goalscorer as he takes a ‘well bang-on free-kick, innit?’ As many a child has stopped me in the streets to tell me, when I walk to work in Hackney, wearing my Walsall badge with pride.

Up front, Will Grigg, the man The Gilbert Alsop championed for inclusion in the Great Britain and Northern Ireland Olympic football team, has been bang on form. Seeing him the other week fighting against the giant Doncaster centre-half, Rob Jones, shows how much fire in his belly he now has. You can huff and you can puff put you wont take this man down. Stuart Pearce hang your head in shame. Your lack of knwoeldge about lower-league football cost us Olympic gold.

Now I will go back to the title of this piece, and explain what it refers to. When I was a lad (sometime in the early to mid-eighties) everytime I checked the league tables, Walsall seemed to be between eigth and tenth in the third tier of English football. Even when we got promoted or relegated we seemed to be in that position. Now, when I look at the league and see we are sitting in ninth, it gladdens my heart. It reminds me of watching Metal Mickey on TV whilst finishing the last scoop of my butterscotch Angel Delight at the table. The only time of the week I was allowed to watch TV whilst eating. This passes for domestic bliss in the West Midlands. Our nirvana.

Long may I be reminded of this glorious time.