“One of football’s unsung local heroes, Alan Sykes, enjoyed 18 years at Curzon Ashton. Mike Pavasovic pays tribute to his loyalty and football ability which have been appreciated by all in the area. Sadly his club do not award testimonials but at least this feature will highlight the career of a superb clubman.”
Even though the words weren’t mine, Maurice thought I was having a go at the club because of the line about the lack of testimonials and he sought me out in the stand to make his feelings known.
However, my abiding memory of Maurice is his Roller parked up among all the other cars behind the Katherine Street goal at National Park. Somehow the ball never hit it.
WHEN Alan Sykes retired in May, 1990, it was fitting that he did so in true Roy of the Rovers style. After 18 years’ loyal service to one club, he signed off by scoring the goals that won Curzon Ashton the Manchester Premier Cup.
The script couldn’t have been better written if it had been intended for a boys’ comic. Sykes, who had made only a handful of appearances all season, suddenly found that injuries and suspensions (and no doubt the barmy eligibility rules the competition had in those days) meant he was included in the squad to take on Salford City at Old Trafford.
When the day came he was named as one of the substitutes. He was by no mans certain to get a game but that was of no consequence – it was enough simply having the chance to walk on to the turf graced by his boyhood heroes Best, Law and Charlton. However, it got better.
Not only was 37-year-old Alan brought on to play, he made it 1-1 just as things were looking grim. A goal at Old Trafford. It was a finale beyond belief.
Had his days as a footballer ended there and then Alan would not have complained. But somebody up there liked him and the fairytale took another twist. Against all his expectations he was named in the starting line-up for the replay at Droylsden.
Things were to get even better, although it didn’t seem like it at half time when the score was 1-1. Alan took off his boots, waiting to be substituted, but much to his surprise manager Steve Waywell told him to go back out. He did so — and scored a hat-trick.
Hardly an appearance all season and suddenly Old Trafford, a cup medal and four goals. What a way to wind up a career.
In many ways his performance was a victory for the bread-and-butter footballers who make up the vast majority of the game. Even at non-league level there are those who can boast of Wembley and international appearances. Alan Sykes brought his playing days to an end with such style he struck a blow for those thousands who toil year-in, year-out, with so little reward in the way of headlines.
However, that’s not to suggest that Sykesy was ever lacking in talent. In 604 appearances for Curzon he scored 234 goals and they were at all levels. Having joined them in their Manchester League days he continued to perform successfully in the Cheshire, North West Counties and Northern Premier leagues.
If Alan Sykes is remembered for one thing in particular it must surely be his unswerving loyalty to Curzon Ashton. He vehemently rejects the claims so many people make that he stayed at National Park because he lacked ambition.
“The fact it, there were never any offers,” he recalled. “You can’t decide decided yourself where you ant to go and no other non-league clubs came in for me. It’s not as though Hyde United ever came and said we’ll give you so much money to leave Curzon.
“On the other hand, after such a long time at a club you do develop a strong sense of loyalty. It’s harder to leave because you become almost like part of the furniture.
“Another point is that although players never made any money at Curzon in my day, they were well looked after in other ways. When I was at Huddersfield Polytechnic they used to drive over the Pennines to pick me up for matches. Another time, when I was doing industrial training in Barnsley, they paid for me to take a taxi to an evening game in Ashton.”
Actually, Sykes was linked with various Football League clubs in his teens but the best he managed was an appearance for Wrexham reserves against Tranmere. He spent a week at the Racecourse Ground rubbing shoulders with the likes of Micky Thomas and Arfon Griffiths but the Welsh club never got back to him. Other clubs to show interest were Stockport County, Oldham Athletic and Sheffield United.
Curiously, Alan’s career as a footballer has often run parallel to my own in journalism, and when our paths have crossed it has usually been an occasion of note.
I first heard of him when I was an 11-year-old in my first week at Hyde Grammar School. He may have dreamed that he’s play at Old Trafford one day but I never imagined I’d be writing about it.
Getting to know a new class, the legendary Fred Whyatt, then head of PE and games, found the name Brian Sykes on his list. “Are you related to Alan Sykes?” Fred inquired. “Yes, he’s my cousin,” Brian replied. “Well,” said Fred, “if you’re anything like him you’ll be a brilliant footballer.”
It’s an opinion to which Fred, now retired and a director of Hyde United, still adheres. He commented recently: “Of all the lads I dealt with in my 30 years at Hyde Grammar School, Alan Sykes was the best footballer. I’ll never know why he didn’t make it into the Football League.”
That was the end of my encounters with Alan for several years. While I got down to exams, he went on to play for Cheshire, British Polytechnics, Manchester County FA and then Curzon.
We met each other again in October, 1981, when Curzon visited Hyde United, who were then running away with the Cheshire League championship, and beat them 5-4.
By 1988 I was sports editor for the Ashton Reporter Group and covering Curzon on a regular basis. Alan was on the way back from one of a series of bad injuries which had such an adverse effect on the latter years of his career.
He was brought back for an FA Vase preliminary round tie at Staffordshire side Meir KA. He responded by scoring both goals in a 2-1 win.
This feat was not just a tribute to his enduring skill, but to his guts in coming back from an injury and in particular from a knee injury that had sidelined him for 18 months.
Two years later it was that famous night at Old Trafford. Revelling in Manchester United’s hospitality and never before encountered comfort of a seat in the directors’ box I have to admit that I quite unprofessionally leaped up with the rest when Sykesy scored.
The moment was at once exhilarating and amusing because in front of me a row of six or seven other people were on their feet. After an initial cheer they turned to me as one and shouted: “make sure you get his name in your pad.”
It was Alan’s family, another major pillar of his career. Alan has always been able to count on the backing and encouragement of his family and particularly of his “famous” father Jim.
Obviously, when asked to name his most memorable match Sykesy automatically recounts the Old Trafford story but there’s a couple of other games.
In 1980, Curzon, then in the Cheshire League, reached the semi-finals of the FA Vase, losing to Stamford. Not long afterwards, a special game was arranged to celebrate the opening of National Park’s Maurice Rubin Clubhouse. They took on Stockport County, but with a special guest — Bobby Charlton. The programme showing Alan’s name next to that of the Manchester United and England star is one of his most treasured possessions.
Six months into his retirement, Sykesy remains as passionate about the game as ever. He has stayed on at National Park as treasurer and is hoping to become an FA coach.
Looking back, he sees the biggest changes as the establishment of the Pyramid, which certainly blew apart the non-league status quo in Tameside, and the increasing importance of money with football.
He explained: “I don’t think the game has improved since 1972, but money’s playing a bigger part at all levels. I think it’s sad clubs like Curzon can’t really compete with the sums others pay. We lose players because other clubs offer the money. I suppose that’s human nature.
Perhaps the last word should go to Curzon Ashton chairman Harry Twamley who travelled to Alan’s Hyde home with fellow committee man Pete Booth to sign him in 1972.
He said: “Alan was written off many times but he always came back. He had three bad injuries after 30 but battled back to fitness every time and against the odds.
“What Alan achieved speaks volumes for his character and dedication. People thought he was finished when our reserve team was wound up but he proved them wrong and went on to score at Old Trafford.
“I can’t speak highly enough of him as a player or as a character. I hope he will spend many more years with Curzon Ashton as a committee member.
“When I think about it, the best thing w ever did at Curzon was when we went to Alan’s house in 1972.”