This week, Steve Burr tells us who proved the biggest influences on his career
WHO inspires the inspirations in the ever-changing world of football? Which traits stand the test of time?
In the latest of our series, we pick the brains of one of Non-League’s most iconic figures for his exploits in the dugout and on the pitch.
Steve Burr played a huge part in the halcyon days at Macclesfield Town and Hednesford Town where his bosses made quite the impression on a man who would become one of the most sought-after gaffers outside the Football League in his own right.
Having started life in the dugout at Nuneaton, he guided Hucknall Town to a Northern Premier League title, took Northwich Victoria to the third round proper of the FA Cup, before taking Kidderminster Harriers to within a whisker of a Football League return.
Burr’s managerial career featured many more pitstops and although he has no intention of returning to the hotseat, his post as interim assistant manager at Hereford has recently been made permanent.
WHO WAS YOUR GREATEST GAFFER AND WHY?
I was fortunate to play for two clubs where we had a lot of success, Macclesfield and Hednesford.
Peter Wragg had come in as manager from Hyde, Macc’s big local rivals at the time and we went and won the treble (Northern Premier League, League Cup, President’s Cup).
You would run through a brick wall for him. He wasn’t a coach, but Wraggy knew a player and how to get the best out of them.
You just loved being around him, he was at the hub of the jokes when it was time to have a laugh and his team talks were legendary.
We would win away from home and by the end of the coach trip back up the M6, he’d probably be down to his underpants, having a beer and a singsong with the lads.
The other one is John Baldwin at Hednesford. He signed me for £20,000 from Macc and was another who knew the players he wanted and how to get the best from them.
We had a great spirit off the field, not just with the lads but the wives and girlfriends as well. On a Thursday at the end of every month he would take us all for a Chinese. He also didn’t like anyone going home after training, we would be there until midnight sometimes because he just loved being at Hednesford and around the lads.
He was a right character, very single-minded and he is the reason the club is in the ground it is in now. People forget that.
WHAT ARE YOUR BEST MEMORIES OF PLAYING UNDER PETER AND JOHN?
As well as the laughs you could have with Wraggy, there was the other side to him. He could blow his top.
I remember being two down at half-time at Bath and all hell broke loose, Wraggy went nuts.
We had a lad called Graham Tobin, a footballing centre-half and a great lad, and he was on the receiving end that day. He had enough, took off his shirt and boots and jumped in the bath.
Next thing you know Wraggy is in there with him, fully clothed, and he stayed there for the entire second half !
We went back out and won 3-2 and Wraggy was still there in the bath when we got back in. He just turned round and said: “That’s it, I’m resigning. You lot don’t need me.”
The other one was when I got sent off at Burton. I stormed into the dressing room absolutely fuming and put my foot straight through the door, took it off its hinges.
I was raging, the centre-half had got the better of me and the red mist came down, that was it.
Wraggy followed me in and started fixing the door at the same time as giving me a right dressing down. He did his best to make sure no one noticed but that was pretty hard because it had come right off.
We had some fantastic times getting promoted at Hednesford. The last game at the old Cross Keys ground before heading up to the Conference, when we beat Leek 3-0, that’s the sort of memory that sticks with you.
They gave the crowd at around 3,000 I think but there was more like 6,0007,000 there. They were great days.
I remember playing in the Welsh Cup the one year. What Hednesford were doing in it I’ll never know and we were a pain in the backside to the Welsh FA because they probably didn’t see us getting to the final, where we lost to Cardiff City at Cardiff Arms Park.
Before that we got drawn away to Haverfordwest and went down on the Friday night.
Dale Rudge, Kevin Collins and I decided to get the cards and a couple of beers going once John was tucked up in bed.
I jumped out the window to get to Kev’s room
and we were playing cards. Next thing you know John was at the door bellowing. “What are you lot doing? What’s Burry doing in there?”
I hid in the cupboard while Kev covered for me and by the time John had got round to check, I had got out of the window and was back in my room.
He knocked and there I was. “What’s the matter, John? I’m trying to get some sleep for the game tomorrow!” “Oh, sorry Burry,” he said.
I stay in touch with John and we have a laugh about it to this day. He’s still adamant I was in that room but I have
never told him!
HOW HAVE THEY INFLUENCED YOUR STYLE OF MANAGEMENT?
They were different types. John was more cool-headed whereas Wraggy would be on the ceiling one minute and on the floor the next.
In some ways I could be a bit like Wraggy. If we won I’d be jumping from the rooftops and if we didn’t I could be the world’s worst person to be around until we played again.
I think a lot rubbed off on the man management side, maybe not the coaching so much but a big part of success is down to how you deal with players more than how good at coaching you are.
I could fill a book with lads and the different things they have had going on away from football that you have to deal with. You get all sorts, particularly in Non-League.
What both Wraggy and John had was that knack of getting the best out of the players they had, though. They had some real success and while good times come and go at every club will those days ever be repeated?
HOW WOULD THEIR STYLES OF MANAGEMENT FIT WITH TODAY’S GAME?
The playing style wouldn’t change because both brought exciting players to their clubs.
Joe O’Connor, big Steve Essex, Kevin Collins, Brendan Hackett at Hednesford, the likes of John Askey at Macclesfield, they were all good footbal