Emley legends look back on golden days
“THE last interview we had was with John Helm on the bus at Wembley,” laughs Nicky Bramald as he and Ray Dennis recollect the events that led to them being captured by ITV’s cameras in 1988.
Calendar had followed Emley to the FA Vase final, and the footage also gives an insight into the dressing room prior to kick off.
Manager Gerry Quinn tells his players they are fitter and stronger than Colne and it comes across that there was real belief Emley would lift the trophy.
For Bramald, fitness nearly prevented him from taking to the Wembley turf.
He said: “In training (Emley midfielder) Mick Green gave me the dead leg on the Tuesday before the final. Talk about stress! If it wasn’t for Ben Quansah, the Wakefield Trinity physio, I wouldn’t have played.”
Thankfully he would appear and as a match report notes he gave Colne’s defence all sorts of troubles, before another knock, this time not a case of friendly fire.
“I broke through and took on three, a lot said I should have shot but I slipped it to John Francis. Then just after half-time I got clattered. You carry on, but it cramped my style and then I had to go to rightback, so couldn’t get forward as much.”
With Emley enjoying the majority of the possession the match report suggests goalkeeper Dennis was a spectator for much of the game.
“In the second half I just had one save. We dominated a lot of games and had done for years so you got used to it,” said Dennis.
As for chances at the other end, although Ray can’t have had a clear view at the time, having watched it again both he and Nicky are convinced that the Paul Gartland corner in the first half crossed the line.
“Because the TV cameras were there we could see it after,” Dennis said.
Bramald added: “It does look over. There were just a lot of bodies about.”
With the action continuing there was no time for this to play on their minds, although Ray believes it was the mental aspect of the occasion which would ultimately cost Emley, rather than fatigue as the match went past the 90 minute mark.
“I think players were more frightened of losing. If we’d treated it as a normal game and just gone to win we’d have beaten them. I think it was the occasion really.”
Ironically, the following season, they would knock Colne out in the first round of the Vase.
“That was one of Gerry’s best results because Colne had gone professional. They never lost all season apart from that game. Alan Kennedy, who used to play for Liverpool, had signed for them.”
Nicky is keen to point out that Kennedy had a torrid time.
“He got subbed; he was on my side of the pitch!” he said.
He’s similarly looking forward to squaring up against Manchester United legends when they visit Emley.
“I’m looking forward to playing against Sammy McIlroy and if Gerry plays me at right-back I’ll be up against Lee Sharpe. It’s brilliant for me as they’re my team. I started out as a George Best fan when I was young and it developed from there.”
Bramald continues to play to this day. He added: “I love 5-a-side, and there are some good players from the West Yorkshire, Northern Counties East and even Northern Premier leagues that play.”
So he’s clearly looking forward to a good stint in the match. As for his team-mate?
“I’m looking for ten minutes!” Dennis laughed, as Bramald chipped in: “He’s upped it five!”
■■Nicky and Ray are part of the Emley All Stars team taking on the Manchester United Legends at Emley on April 5.
Tickets are available online via Eventbrite.co.uk, in person at The Wentworth (opposite the football club), or phone 01484 506940.