THE STONES INTERVIEW BY TIM PARKS WEALDSTONE v CONCORD RANGERS 30.11.2019 Dave Parratt Wriggle room... Billy escapes the challenge of Left: Dave (centre, with moustache) Tonbridge heads the ball away in the epic 0-0 draw defenders at with Hereford at Lower Mead in 1977. the Vale Above: The Parratt family with his boys Jake (at back), Dean (left), Craig right, daughter Jo and wife Jackie (far left) muscular presence against the Southern Chris Lightfoot’s right hand post... it seemed League side’s back four. a routine save for the Stones keeper but we Givens shaped to protect the ball - but watched in disbelief as the ball squirmed from Stones head boy Dave tells the Parratt climbed magnificently early to meet his grasp and into the net. it a good six feet above the surprised striker “What nobody has mentioned is that Chris and power the ball back into the Rangers half. called for the ball when it was in the air” said Talk about putting down a marker! Dave Parratt from his St Neots home a few untold stories of QPR and the There was a collective intake of breath weeks ago, when I finally managed to track from the South Africa Stand crowd and Dave down the former centre-back. “He called and said: “I was determined to let them know so I never challenged. It was a mix-up. At the what I was about and win that first ball... to time I thought I could beat anybody in the air, FA Cup run of ‘77... let Givens know he wasn’t going to have an even First Division centre forwards, so that was a calamity really. FIND A WHOLE OF WORLD THE MEMORABILIA WEALDSTONE MEGASTORE: AT easy ride”. ave Parratt was a Wealdstone giant in It set the tone for a terrific first half perfor- “And it didn’t get any better. We were great his time - a converted centre forward mance from the Stones against a QPR side in that first half and Keith Furphy nearly who found his true vocation leaping who - despite an array of stars like Stan scored. Brinky (Steve Brinkman) was all flicks Dand heading the ball back at the other end Bowles, Leighton James and Hollins - were and tricks, the best player out there and me of the pitch. struggling in the First Division, just a year and Fred Barwick kept it tight in the middle. One moment summed him up for me. after finishing runners up behind Liverpool “Rangers were much better in the second The Stones were playing arguably the But then: Disaster. The Stones conceded half but they had the luck and a bad referee biggest match in our history, away to a free kick out by the right hand touch line on their side. Mick Leach won a penalty from QPR in the FA Cup third round and and that wily old warrior Hollins drove the me when he overkicked the ball as I came there were over 16,000 inside Loftus ball across the box at the School End of the in to challenge - then just fell over. I didn’t Road. Rangers wanted to put their ground, where the majority of the Wealdstone touch him. The third was decent, a strike from stamp on the game early on and their support (including myself) were gathered. Leighton James but their fourth came after skipper John Hollins played the ball high There seemed a moment’s hesitation in the our keeper was clattered from a corner and into the inside-right channel for Republic non Leaguers’ defence and there was Givens, they put away the rebound. But I must have of Ireland striker Don Givens to use his rising unopposed to head the ball towards CONTINUED OVERPAGE WEALDSTONE v QPR 02/07/2016 PAGE 7 on the left of the box and the winger turned his marker inside out before firing through Mar- ...and then, of course, tin Brownski’s legs into the far corner. Harly Wise threatened at the famously in the FA Cup... other end with a glancing header WEALDSTONE v CONCORD RANGERS 30.11.2019 wide, before Binns, injured STONES INTERVIEW CONTINUEDminutes earlier limped off to be replaced by another new face Dillon Casey. The Rangers youngsters exploited his absence a couple of THE best-known times forcing first Wes Parker and Rangers v then Tom Hamblin to head behind Stones game for corners, but Stones kept their was of course slender lead at the break. in January Rangers opened the second 1978 when our half brightly but it was Stones teams met at who doubled the lead on 53 min- Loftus Road utes. Hutchinson did really well to in the FA Cup steal the ball on the left and when 3rd Round - the he played it inside Calcutt was furthest we’ve upended by Dickandi, leaving the ever gone in official no alternative but to give the competition a penalty. Calcutt picked himself - and happily up to send Brownski the wrong their programme way from the spot. carried a report Stones were now playing con- and details of fidently and it was 3-0 just before that momentous “My job was to flick the ball theon, orhour hold when it WrightLIGHT latched afternoon in their done okay as I found out, years later, that up on the ground but you knewonto that ifa you cross from theFANTASTIC! left. He following home QPR had sent scouts along to watch me in got the ball in to George he wasplayed going toa short ball toAbove: Hutchinson, QPR’s issue. the next couple of games. Nothing came of score. The man was class. It’s whoonly whenplayed it back tointernational the impres - There was also it though”. you played up front with him that you knew stars Leighton It wasn’t a bad cup run to be part of: The how good he was.” sive Wright, who fired inside the a small cutting - James (far left) best in the club’s 120-year history. ave, now 65, was broughtnear up inpost. Bore and Don Givens from the ‘Michael “It was brilliant. But to be honest, even the ham Wood and was playingThe Sunday biggest worry applaudfor Stones Stones Wale Report’ wins over Hereford and Reading on the way football in the mid-1970scame when whenhis North limpedkeeper out Chris of in that same to QPR, it was just a case of doing your job. Dclub’s trainer recommended himthe to action Bedford with a quarterLightfoot of an for an programme, We were well organised - I joined the club as Town. hour left, meaning anamazing appearance save complaining a striker but then we had two centre backs The Southern League Premin side goal (same for 41-year-oldin player-the second about the price injured and me and Willie Watson dropped level as the Stones) were managedcoach by Scott Barry McGleish. half of the game of top flight play- back into the back four. Fry and centre-forward Dave went straight at Loftus Road. “What a player he was! I could stand up And the veteran was soon ers. Coach Frank into the team - but within a few months the - Our defenders for myself but the opposition were actually in action, clutching a shot from Sibley is quoted flamboyant boss had moved to moneyed fel- Paul Thomas scared of Willie - he just went round kicking low SLP outfit Dunstable Town.Giamm Fry persuad Cricklow. and Dave on their wages the **** out of them! I would win the stuff ed George Best and Jeff Astle toHe turn could out at not manageParratt a clean (fore - being “as much in the air and he’d win everything on the Creasey Park, and later that seasonsheet ashe alsolate on substituteground) Aaron seem as £500 a week”. FIND A WHOLE WORLD OF MEMORABILIA AT THE WEALDSTONE MEGASTORE: MEGASTORE: WEALDSTONE THE AT MEMORABILIA OF WORLD WHOLE A FIND ground. He could play a bit too. persuaded Dave to switch to Dunstable.Mitchell beat him withto a think shot the Rs Okay, that was “In my second season, the FA Cup season, “But that was a mistake- thewhich money flew ran in off the starsunderside are being of nearly 40 years a bit patronis- Fred Barwick dropped in and he was a tiger. out, Dunstable folded and I thinkthe Barrybar. felt a ago but a lot of Willie was back in midfield then and we bit bad that he’d left me in the lurch. He said ing, and they played football the right way, playing the ball he’d find me another club- andWealdstone: that summer INorth (McGleish),weren’t wrong. NON-LEAGUE in to him and Brinky, or Furphy and Bobby moved to Wealdstone. The bestCase move (Ifil), I ever Binns (Casey),Right: The R’s players earn Moss.” made”. similar amounts Parker (Martin),- Hamblinprogramme So would you rather have stayed as a Dave made his Stones debut(M’Boungou in Septem ), Brownreport (Hope), on our these days.... No.9 or as a No.5? I asked him. ber 1976 and quickly struck upWright, a partnership Ball (Davies), Cup Calcutt tie, which “I was more effective as a centre half, with the legendary George. (Bonnett-Johnson), Hutchinwe reproduced- you’re coming onto the ball all the time and for a friendly “Me and (my wife) Jackie, and George- and attacking it and I was very comfortable with Sue would go out socially andson, I’m actuLucien v QPR three that - but when I joined the club I was playing ally Godfather to George’s kids.