football firsts
Matt Holland, former Ipswich and Charlton midfielder, talks us through his football memories
First match? The first game I ever went to was Bolton against Southampton in 1979. I only remember that because my dad kept the programme and used to tell me that was my first game. He’s a big Bolton fan, so that was why I went there. I think he tried to persuade me to be a Bolton fan, but at my school, you were either Manchester United or Manchester City, so he was unsuccessful! I went to watch Bolton and Bury a lot because that was our home town (Bury). Then, I’d go to United a lot after that as well. But Bolton against Sunderland was the first one in 1979. I would have been four and a half because it was in March, but I couldn’t tell you anything that happened in the game! (Bolton won 2-0). First hero? Bryan Robson. As I mentioned, you were either United or City. I was a Red and he was just someone I really enjoyed watching. You always have someone where you think: “I’m going to try and be like him” and he was the one, so he was my very first hero. He influenced my decision a bit on where in the team to play, but to be honest I was probably a midfielder anyway. Watching the way he played appealed to me a lot: loads of tackles, goals, box-to-box and just all-action, really. He was someone that caught my eye very early on. First boots? I’m tempted to say they would have been when I was about six or seven, maybe a bit younger. I got them for Christmas and slept with them on! I think they were Gola but I am guessing a little bit. They were definitely black and white, though, because they all were in those days. First kit? It would be a United one, with Sharp as the sponsor. It was a home kit but I could not be certain on the year. First game? I played on loan at Farnborough when they were in the Conference. Does that count? Aside from that, it would have been at Bournemouth against Oxford in 1995. We won 3-0 and I played left-back. I’d been at West Ham for a couple of years, been on loan at Farnborough, and I was desperate to just get playing, really. At 19 or 20, I went on loan to Bournemouth and just wanted to play regular football in front of a big crowd. First goal? It was against Leyton Orient at home for Bournemouth in 1995. Maybe about ten games into my time there. It was at Dean Court and I hit one from the edge of the box, which just kind of sailed in! First red card? Never had one. I managed to avoid them throughout my career, but I got away with one that I can remember at Sunderland playing for Ipswich. It was definitely a full-blooded challenge, shall we say, on the halfway line and I was late. I could have seen red and was probably a bit fortunate not to have done! In fairness, Peter Reid was brilliant in the press conference afterwards. He said there was no malice or intent in it, but I think if it had been today it definitely would have been red. It’s a different game now. You definitely got away with a bit more back then, but it was border line, even at that time!