Veteran retires from playing
IAN IS APPLAUDED FROM THE ETONE PITCH AFTER THE 3rds 5-3 WIN OVER
NORTHAMPTON LIONS ON 8th MARCH 2008
Players past and present have been asked to make "comments" about Ian, and these will be posted here over the course of this week. Ian's last match was against Northampton Lions on 8th March 2008 - he had a wonderful opportunity to mark it with a goal, but the keeper guessed the right way and saved his penalty flick when Nuneaton were already 4-1 up. A minor blip in an extremely impressive career.
COMMENTS
Ian himself recalls:
This is really difficult because I am quite touched that people should bother and so many people over the years have retired without too much fuss. That is what I had expected! What friends you are!
Hockey has been a major part of my life starting when I was 14 and suddenly discovering that I had a talent for our great game. I was a little fat lad then and I am working my way back to that 45 years later. I got into the school team mentored by Dave Hughes who also drafted me to Nuneaton. I knew something good was happening because this girl that I had fancied for years, and thought I was just a podgy nerd, said she would go out with me and we have been together ever since.
The likes of John Couling and Roger Cheney taught me all the dirty tricks of the game so when I went to college I made the first team as a centre half in the old 2,3,5, system! We played 70 games that year and lost just 1! Nuneaton would not allow me to play on an occassional basis so I played for Atherstone and when I left college joined them along with emerging talents like Dave McCarthy, Steve Tallis, Dave Cooper, Pat Holmes, Roy Jesson, Pete Morgan. A good side and we could compete with Nuneaton although I do remember losing on a cold day at Weddington when I missed a penalty against Alan White. I came to Nuneaton when I was 27 and it took 18 months to get into the 1st team. My debut was on the left wing in place of Chris Harris! I guess Gordan Hall saw my dribbling talent. The next 8 years were pure magic as we won league titles and the Warwickshire plate 3 times. What a team: Alan White, Nev Holmes, Ian Short, Nigel Rixon, Tag Taylor, Chris and Dave Harris, Harry Christer, Stevie Olner, Dave Cooper and some great youngsters like Mickey Campton, Nigel Lawton, Robin Entecott.
I did my coaching badges for soccer and hockey so if you have been at my training sessions they are a mixture of styles and is probably why my feet get in the way much more nowadays. I bet quite a few can remember those esessions in the freezing cold at 9pm at William Bradford. I coached a round the area and wanting to play 1st team I went to Ashby where I was fortunate to play in another league winning team. I came back and coached at Nuneaton with the firsts and captained the 2s - with Roger Stokes taking that over - another great title win!
I have captained the threes and the fours. The experience of winning the fourth team league and captaining the side in the Midlands Premier was something else. We were beaten week upon week but I have to say the attitude of the players like Alan, Mark, Steve, and others was fantastic. Managing the first team with Frisa as Skipper was another great season.
I have been angry and frustrated and elated all in the same game week after week, and I have no idea how I shall cope without the outlet out great game affords. I wish I was playing on but my feet tell me different. I really want to do it all again and like all the older players we feel we still have the skills but sadly they are in slow motion. There have been so many highlights but I guess quite a few of the Dads will recognise that playing alongside your own son is something special. I am not going away, I will be down to watch and who knows play an odd game.
One story: At West Bridgford playing sweeper. Centre forward breaks away and I( dark, stocky and vicious) decided he was not going past me. He ends up in a heap and I run off quick. Mickey Campton( Blonde, slim, fast) was just passing his prostrate form, recovering from our attack, when the umpire called him over a sent him off for 'doing' the guy - umpires! Blind as a bat the lot of them. I shall be available for matches next year!
Jenny (Mrs) Nixon posted the following:
40 years after having to get married out-of-season and give birth to our sons out-of-season (so he didn't miss a match); when he knows that he will have to go shopping on a Saturday afternoon there's still a possibility that he will change his mind. I'm sure he'll also miss everyone when he is attending his Leicester City matches, but he has a lot of friends at the club and will be keen to keep in touch.
Nev Holmes posted the following:
"I’m sure I know many stories with a bit of thought but one that instantly comes to mind: I was playing in the county championship with Ian many years ago. Ian, in making a tackle got into difficulties and impaled himself on his stick, it acting like a snooker cue on two soft balls. Ian was in agony on the ground but managed a smile as I advised him “ If you feel a lump in your throat for God's sake swallow, don’t cough!”
Ian is well known for his school walking & skiing trips in Switzerland etc but his sense of direction is not that good.
I remember a trip with him in the 1980s and it took him over an hour and a half to get to Olton HC via some out of the way places in Birmingham.
I also played in a game with him about the same time when Ian had more hair and mine had no grey in it.
We were both playing full backs and a particularly awkward centre forward who liked to dish it out was causing us problems. I’d had enough of this and at the appropriate moment took the ball and man together leaving the striker in a heap. A loud shrill whistle followed. The umpire called over the nearest defender to the incident (Ian) and spoke to him. By this time I was nonchalantly some thirty yards away on the opposite side of the field. Ian protested his innocence to no avail and received a yellow card.
On returning to the field all Ian could comment was that I must be particularly good looking – a comment that I had to agree with.
..also, in a game many many years ago on the grass at Weddington against North Stafford Ian and I were again playing full backs. As was customary we looked at the opposition and decided who would mark who. I had a little inside knowledge on this occasion and selected a bustling brute of a centre forward leaving Ian a young slim Asian teenager. Ian thought he had got the better of the deal as this lad would be no problem to him. How wrong he was. We lost 2-0, Ian’s man getting both goals and giving Ian a torrid afternoon chasing shadows. The young man in question was Imran Sherwani who would later go on to win a gold medal for Great Britain against Germany scoring in the Olympic final of 1988.
I have played hockey normally with and sometimes against Ian for over 30 years.
We enjoyed a golden period together for a number of years in what is considered by some the finest first team in the history of the club.
We have enjoyed some great moments on and off the pitch, including winning a hat-trick of Warwickshire Plates in 3 consecutive seasons.
Ian was always good company traveling to and from matches and in the pre-game changing room where banter would abound, sadly no longer part of the modern game.
Ian would always have an opinion, sometimes we agreed! But always gave rise to a spirited discussion.
Ian joined Nuneaton from Atherstone and brought with him a coaching qualification which at that time was unique in the club. Ian tried to make best use of this for the benefit of his new team – mates, but not everyone was impressed. Ian would be heard during games and training session that this or that activity would be recommended in “The Coaching Manual”.
This phase would come back to haunt Ian throughout the next few seasons, whenever Ian would make a mistake on the pitch the distinctive high decibel tones of Chris Mouseley could be heard “ That’s not in the Coaching Manual Ian – did you pick that up at Atherstone?”
I have enjoyed playing with Ian and hope to enjoy umpiring the odd game with him in future.
Ryan Stokes posted the following:
"Along with my dad, Ian has been one of the major factors of my development in the last couple of years. He hardly ever criticises you for making mistakes, so when he does you know you deserve it!! But he has helped me build my confidence tremendously last year, and hopefully I can help him give our new younger generation the same belief. Thanks a million Ian, and all the best mate."
Roger Stokes posted the following:
"I haven't played for quite as many years as you, 28 to be exact. My most abiding memory, as you know, was 4-5 years ago with the 2nds - you were my vice-captain then. We were top of the League all the way through the season, up until the very last game, when Leicester nicked ahead of us before we went for our final match at Spondon - needing to win, and Leicester to drop points. We won 3-0, but we had to wait to find out the Leics score! I received an instant text from them to say they had drawn! We won the League by ONE GOAL!!! Ian, we danced some kind of jig on the side of the pitch - totally fantastic! You have been a fantastic inspiration to so many players at the club, myself included. You are always so positive, never putting anyone down - always looking for the good things, and building on them. We have always shared the same philosophy - to enjoy playing the game. I know how much you will miss playing, it will hurt after so many years! I can still see the sheer delight on your face when you scored against Kettering this season - pure enjoyment! You will have left your mark with the youngsters you have been training on Wednesday nights - for which the club is so grateful. Thank you so much for your help over the years, it's been a pleasure!"
Nigel Lawton posted the following:
"Ian Nixon is one of those old fashioned reliable types. He is available every week,gives 100%, always there to help with jobs (captain,training,etc) - always wants to talk about how things can be done better. He will be missed but we all hope he will keep in touch, I'm sure he will because what do you do on saturday if you aren't playing hockey?? Golf? The weather isn't nice in winter. Shopping?? That's sad! So best wishes and thanks for all your help to me and the club and keep in touch."
Ian was always very fond of beans, but surely this is taking it a bit too far!!!!
MORE TO COME OVER THE COURSE OF THE WEEK.