TRFC Fanfile Interview No.1 - Barry Sindall
By Deadly Submarine
June 5 2009
As part of a summer series to keep the site ticking over during the quieter times of the close season, we have posed a series of questions to Tranmere Fans all around the World and we will be bringing you all the interviews in the coming weeks. First up is exiled Rovers Fan Barry Sindall.......
NUMBER 1 - BARRY SINDALL (DEVON EXILE)
What is your Name and where do you Live?
Barry Sindall I live near Colyton Devon.
How old are you and for how long have you supported Rovers?
63. I have supported Rovers since 1949.
Who or what made you support the Superwhites?
Home Town, a love of the underdog, but above all family tradition. My father started taking me to Rovers when I was four. I did the same with my son.
What was your first ever Rovers Game?
New Brighton away in 1949. The game was 0-0 so I was disappointed not to see any goals but it was good preparation for the frustration that is part of following rovers. My first home game was the same season against Doncaster we lost but this time the game had 6 goals and I was hooked for life.
As an exiled fan, how many Rovers games do you manage to get to each season on average?
Sadly 9 or 10.. I have however, retired this year and my son has bought me a season ticket for next year.
Who is your all-time favourite Rovers Player?
There is no one player. I loved watching Aldo and also Ian Muir and Barry Dyson but if pushed my favourite would be George Payne. He would be sensational give the lack of good English goalkeeper these days.
Who is the worst Rovers Player you've seen?
There are lots of contenders but it has to be Roy Lorenson a centre half who was slow, couldn't tackle, was crocked, and despite being about 6 feet 3in couldn't win a ball in the air - but the rest of his game was OK!
What was your favourite ever Rovers Game?
Again it varies with time. The last game of the season in 1958 was special. We had to win against Wrexham to go into the new 3rd Division. We won 2-1 in front of almost 20,000. But beating Bolton at Wembley was the most heady moment.
Select your All-Time Best Rovers XI:
George Payne, Tony Thomas, Steve Vickers, Roy McFarland, Ian Nolan Johnny Wheeler, Bobby Tynan, Johnny Morrissey, Ian Muir, John Aldridge, Pat Nevin or Tommy Eglington
What is your Favourite Away Ground?
Bournemouth.
Have you ever been to Wembley with Rovers and if so which year and which match?
I went to all the Wembley matches including the Mercantile Credit.
What is your all-time Awful Rovers XI?
Harris, Edwards, Hay, Lorenson, Jones (Derek) Gray (amazed that he did o.k at Carlisle), Connor, Lee (Andy), Frye, Goodwin, Spinks.
If you were in charge at Prenton Park, what changes would you make?
More focus on scouting, our record is poor compared to clubs like Exeter even though there is so much non league football in the area.
After missing out this season, where do you think Rovers will finish next season?
I think that it depends on who we sign. At the moment it looks as if we will not keep some of our best players. If Kay and Jennings go I think we will have a hard season.
Tell us something interesting or unusual about your support for Rovers over the years?
I was the youngest member (15) of the now defunct Prenton Park Development Association. The Association prospered in the early 60's when there was one of those periodic times of optimism and high gates ( well over 10,000 average) the Association raised significant sums to help build the main stand. I remember our first flood lit game (against Rochdale) with a gate of more than 16,000.
Have you ever worked for/been involved with the Club aside from being a Fan?
I think the main reason I was put on the development committee was that in those days money was raised by selling pontoon tickets. I had the biggest client list as I had the whole of the Woodchurch Estate to sell to.
To finish the Interview, tell us anything interesting that we may have missed out....
I left Birkenhead In 1964 and from 1968 to 1976 I lived in the Bahamas. I can remember listening with my ear pressed against the radio to BBC World Service broadcasting the League Cup game when Rovers won at Arsenal.
From 1976 I taught at Colyton Grammar (Devon) and from 1990 until 2008 was Headteacher. Every student knew my passion for Rovers and a surprising number began to follow Tranmere's results (perhaps to guess my mood).
Total Tranmere would like to thank Barry for his interesting interview and for opening the series in style!
Stay tuned to Total Tranmere this week for a second interview in the series with a more local Tranmere Fan.
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However, would it be possible to have forenames for all the players in the worst eleven?
and so much for a quiet summer after todays news