CORK & BOTTLE Clarets star Jack: Dad’s Crazy Gang spirit is alive and kicking at Burnley
FOOTBALL SEAN DIGGING FOR GOLD WITH TOMMY
BURNLEY’S Sean Dyche has been chatting with top golfer Tommy Fleetwood as the Premier League season gets set to tee off again.
Clarets boss Dyche has often plugged into other sports personalities to help his players punch above their weight.
Cycling coach Sir Dave Brailsford, former Warrington Wolves coach Tony Smith, Oxford
Steve Bates
JACK CORK wasn’t even born when dad Alan and the rest of Wimbledon’s infamous ‘Crazy Gang’ made history with their 1988 FA Cup win over Liverpool.
But fast-forward 32 years and Cork senior can see a watered-down version of Wimbledon still exists today in the Premier League – at Burnley.
And that’s why he loves watching son Jack and the rest of Sean Dyche’s men going toe-to-toe with the big guns.
Back in their heyday, no one liked playing Wimbledon – especially at Plough Lane.
And Burnley’s Crazy Gang-style spirit makes a trip to Turf Moor tough for teams who aren’t up for a scrap.
“Dad really enjoys watching Burnley because he recognises a little bit of what Wimbledon had at the time,” said Clarets midfielder Jack.
“All credit to the staff here for bringing in the correct people. You feel it with the atmosphere, you feel everyone has your back.
“In training, in games, if someone’s not at it, they’re told.
University rowing coach Sean Bowden, Saracens and Harlequins rugby union clubs, plus the Mercedes F1 team, are among those enlisted for Burnley’s development.
Now Dyche is certain that an audience with Southport-based Fleetwood can lead to a Premier League pay-off for his players.
Dyche (right) said: “I like to try and nick those little bits of gold off people. I was asking Tommy
Atmosphere
No one wants to disappoint their mates and that’s down to the gaffer bringing in hungry people who want to improve and who have something to prove.
“We get a lot of stick about our style, but there’s a lot of quality too. We have a lot of good players. Just look how well we’ve done.
“Before it all stopped due to coronavirus we were on a good run and we’d gone eight games unbeaten in the league.
“We were going in the right direction, had the momentum, and it felt the same as when we finished seventh and got into Europe.”
Cork returned to training last week as
Burnley reopened their Gawthorpe Hall complex.
But during lockdown he’s seen plenty of TV action – with his old man (above) reliving his own playing days.
“My dad’s been texting me all the time saying you’ve got to watch this and that, when all the old games are on TV. He’s a bit bored, I think,” said Cork.
“He’s loving all the old reruns. But he wasn’t happy they put the 1987 final on recently and didn’t follow it the next week with Wimbledon in ’88.
“I watched the Wimbledon final ages ago and I’ve got lots of books about the Crazy Gang. I’ve got a picture of dad in my study, about the psychology, the in-between bits which arrive when you are playing. How to maintain your concentration.
“You’re walking down the fairway and there could be a five minute walk before you play your next shot. How do golfers find that alertness to play that first shot following the break in play?
“Can that help us for instance in a penalty situation or when play is halted for some time? It’s with his mum and dad at the old Wembley when they won.
“I tell my kids, ‘Look, that’s your grandad when he played at Wembley in the FA Cup Final’.
“They can’t believe it. They just see the size of him now, and bald, and don’t really think it’s him!
“I wasn’t born when that game was played, but I was at the semifinal in 1993 when he was playing for Sheffield United against Wednesday.
“Mum still reminds me that when my dad scored I dropped my hot dog and burst into tears!”
Cork’s eyes have been watering again, with painful blisters – a reminder that he’s not kicked a ball for so long. “It feels like we’ve been off for a really long time,” he said.
“We all had GPS monitors and still had our routines and regimes to work to. But it’s good to be back in again – even though for now it’s only in small groups.
“We were back for one day and I was soaking my feet in salt water because I had blisters. I hadn’t worn boots for so long. They’re a lot tighter than trainers and, with all the changing direction, I got blisters straight away.
“It would have been interesting to see how they came back 30 years ago in my dad’s day.” also how do you let mistakes go? I call it small failures. In golf you have a lot of small failures. You have to become alert again and learn how to park the mistake.”
Dyche also asked Fleetwood how he utilises his support team.
He added: “I’m also interested in the team behind the team. How is all that managed?
“A good coach in any sport should not be afraid to steal the odd idea or two.”
Blisters