Thursday January 31, 2013, The Gazette 49 Sport 2 Benefits for Special award for youth coach Francis IDS as Angel look too slack after 25 years of dedication to football at the back by Paul Chronnell ally believe it,” said Tardio- Men’s football [email protected] li. “The people who were there applauding me when I ISLINGTON To generations of foot- went up to get my award, MIDWEEK LEAGUE ballers in Islington Fran- great managers like David London Angels 2 cis Tardioli is recognisa- Pleat, Dave Bassett and IDS 5 »ble as a coach who helps run former Arsenal players like Poor defending proved costly training sessions at prima- Frank McLintock, Bob Wil- for Angels as they were com- ry and secondary schools. son and Alan Smith, I fortably beaten in this must- But they probably don’t couldn’t imagine that would win Division One contest at realise that he has spent a ever happen to me.” Market Road. lifetime in football and has One look at Tardioli’s Angels were aiming to in- rubbed shoulders with the coaching career, however, crease the gap between them- great and the good of the gives plenty of insight into selves and fellow strugglers game since his days as an why the London FCA select- K Mile, but they were left apprentice with Tottenham ed him for such an honour. with a mountain to climb af- Hotspur in the early 1980s. He has been involved at ter conceding three sloppy The 47-year-old from the grassroots level of the goals in the first half hour. Freegrove Road, Holloway, game ever since playing for Arron Sebastian pulled has worked with current Islington & Camden’s dis- one back from a Daniel Wild- Arsenal stars Jack Wilshere trict schoolboys side while a ing throw, but IDS reassert- and Kieran Gibbs, and was pupil at first Hungerford ed control after the break Primary School and then St N Francis Tardioli outside Emirates at Wimbledon when the Stadium, where he received his award and added two more goals in ‘Crazy Gang’ of Vinny Jones Aloysius’ College in the late quick succession. 1970s. for his ‘contribution to grassroots and John Fashanu memora- coaching’ Photo: Dieter Perry However, Angels refused bly won the FA Cup in 1988. Promising to crumble and they did gain But the Islington-born Ar- youngest intake of six- and At the same time Tardioli Gibbs was one of the play- a consolation goal when Lee senal youth academy coach A promising midfielder, seven-year-olds at Arsenal’s was a coach with the Isling- ers who made the same jour- Rosamond netted a spectacu- still couldn’t quite believe it he played for the well known Hale End academy. ton & Camden district side ney from the Dons’ academy, lar free-kick to make the fi- when he was one of two men Payne United FC in Isling- “I started out at Wimble- for which he had played, and and is now a first-team star nal score 5-2. honoured by the London ton and for Chapel FC, and don in the mid-1980s and it also helped out at Holloway at Arsenal. Angels: Englezou, Wilding, North, Football Coaches’ Associa- was taken on by Spurs on was a brilliant place to be,” School in Hilldrop Road. “I just love football, I’ll Smith, Yeboah, Lansiquot, Graham, tion at their recent awards leaving school in 1981. recalled Tardioli. “They had “I was involved with never get tired of it,” admit- Evans, Romeo, Sebastian, Rosamond. dinner. Although he never made players like Vinny Jones [manager] Terry Howard’s ted Tardioli. “It’s my job to Sub: Dixon. He was invited to Emir- the grade at White Hart and John Fashanu at the district team in 1997 that so make the young kids at Ar- ates Stadium to receive the Lane, Tardioli enjoyed a time and of course had great nearly won the English senal’s academy feel at home Contribution to Grassroots non-league career that in- success and won the Cup. Schools Trophy,” added Tar- and just get them used to Coaching award and discov- cluded spells at Barnet and “But I was mainly work- dioli. “We had Jay Bothroyd training over there. Stone me, ered that the other winner Enfield before a knee injury ing with their community playing for us, who was a “You can spot very early alongside him was no other curtailed his playing days scheme, and then the acade- Holloway boy and then went on whether young players Anthony has than legendary Arsenal in his mid-20s. my. We brought through on to play for Arsenal and is have got that special talent manager George Graham! However, that was to lead players like Nigel Reo-Cok- now at QPR. or not, but you can’t rush it , “It was such an honour, I him into coaching, and some er, Mikele Leigertwood, and you have to give them time. checked out couldn’t believe it when I got 25 years later he is still do- Kieran Gibbs was there too Dream “I still see some of the first the call and I still can’t re- ing it, looking after the before Arsenal signed him.” team players, Kieran Gibbs “We got to the final and always comes in for a chat to with a 160! thought we had won it when see how we are doing and al- we won at Liverpool in the ways says hello.” Darts first leg but we had our goal- However, Tardioli still keeper sent off in the second finds time to coach back in In what could prove to be a leg and lost it at Highbury. Islington, where he runs af- defining week for the desti- “But they were great days, ter-school football classes at nation of the Archway & Dis- we had players like Joe Cole, Yerbury and Hanover pri- trict Darts League trophy, and Alan Dunne who has mary schools in Holloway, the top four teams battled it been a defender for Millwall where he has always lived. out against each other. for a long time now.” “The award ceremony was Leaders Admiral Mann When Wimbledon became a special evening, a lot of my impressively despatched MK Dons in 2004 their acad- friends and family came and North 19 11-4, but the losing emy disbanded, and Tardioli it was something I’ll always side cling on to second spot. soon found his way back to remember,” said Tardioli. Reigning champions Doyles his dream coaching role – at “And it was nice it was at showed that they have also Arsenal, where he works the Emirates, as Arsenal far from given up the fight to under assistant academy has played a big part in my retain their trophy, in a 9-6 manager Roy Massey at the life – and it was a 10-minute success against Hope and N Francis Tardioli, far left, with the Camden & Islington district team in 1997, including Jay Bothroyd Hale End HQ in Chingford. walk home afterwards!” Anchor to move above Hope into third place. Elsewhere Sheephaven Bay proved that they are Islington’s all-rounders secure a place still in with a shout as they edged out Crown 8-7. They Cross country stay fifth but are now level in the London final on points with both Doyles Disabled students from three Islington and Hope. schools put in an excellent all-round three versions of football (SLD ambu- There were some stunning performance to finish top in the first lant, powerchair and visually im- darts thrown at Whitting- round of the Panathlon Challenge. paired). ton Stone A as they defeated The youngsters, from Samuel Rhodes, Samuel Rhodes teacher Marianne Whittington Cat 11-4. Sean Richard Clodesley and the Bridge Sharp said: “I was so proud of them all. Daly hit the season’s highest schools, recorded wins in the kurling, The competition gave the children so out-shot so far with a 160 fin- football and athletics competitions at much and instilled a great team spirit. ish and later followed it up Westway Sports Centre. “The bus ride home to Samuel Rhodes with a 106 check-out. Antho- That was enough to earn Islington was full of noise and excitement and, ny Balban also hit an im- first place in their section, ahead of when we got back, they all raced off to pressive 122 check-out and neighbours Camden – who also qualify the other teachers to show off their tro- John Dines a 116. for the Central London final in March phy.” Nicholas Nickelby en- – and hosts Westminster. Panathlon is a charity that organises joyed a 10-5 victory against The teams also competed in boccia, multi-sport competition for more than Golden Lion and Boston polybat and table cricket as part of the 3,000 disabled children from 125 schools Arms had a 9-6 win against capital-wide tournament, along with across London and the south-east. Whittington Stone B.