Rod Wallace and Alan Shearer were in Lawrie's England Under-21 team

WITH next week's exciting fixture at St Mary's coming up when England under-21s take on the Republic of Ireland, it brings back memories of my appointment in the role of under-21 and B team manager in 1990.

It started for me in June of that year when I was in Rome for the World Cup working for television.

I met Graham Taylor who was staying in the same hotel and we arranged to have a meal together.

I don't think at that time he had been officially announced as the new manager to succeed Bobby Robson.

We had obviously known each other as managers in those day.

We bumped into each other regularly on the circuit when we actually went out and about at least once or possibly twice a week to watch midweek games in all divisions, long before the days of Pro Zone and Prozac - whichever does what, I'm not too sure.

I had been working in the media and doing the odd bit of consultancy work for a couple of clubs and, by the end of the meal, Graham had intimated there would be a role for me with him in the next four-year period.

Date at The Dell Once we got together at Lancaster Gate the first fixture was to be held in the September, a friendly away to Hungary with an under-21 game the night before.

However, Graham was given the news that the Hungarians had said their national stadium, the Nepp, would not be available for some reason but they still wanted to host the game at one of their club grounds.

I was asked to go over to Budapest to see what the alternative accommodation would be.

The FA people were very nice and collected me at the airport and took me off to what was the ground I believe of Hondved, but was mainly what the Hungarian army used for their fixtures and sporting events.

Having to be very diplomatic, I didn't say too much but certainly the dressing room, shower and toilet facilities were not what one would expect for a top international game.

I then asked to see the under-21 venue which was even less appealing but, as I was to learn over the next four years, this was often the case when we travelled around Europe.

Over a lunch with the top officials, I took it on myself to suggest would they not like a trip to London in September by switching the fixture to Wembley.

Their eyes lit up and I said I would suggest it when I got home.

Graham thought it was a good idea too, until we were notified unfortunately there was a trade fair at Wembley on the date in question.

However, a compromise was reached with knowledge it would not be a full house anyway which allowed part of one stand not to be used and the game was to go ahead. It also meant the under-21 game would be held somewhere and with my connection at Southampton we contacted the Saints who were delighted to host the game at The Dell.

The fairytale in some ways was complete because, make no bones about it, working at international level is certainly the peak of anyone's career.

And to be able to bring England to the club I was most associated with was a fantastic feeling for me.

I also had the ability to pick the first squad and make sure there was some local involvement.

Rod Wallace had already played three or four times for the under-21s but I was able to put another of my young signings, Alan Shearer, into the squad along with a 19-year-old Jason Dodd.

Jason apparently thought someone was pulling his leg when he was informed he had been included, bearing in mind he had only recently arrived from Bath City.

However, looking back it appears we started with Rod in the team which went on to win 3-1 but neither Alan nor Jason were even on the bench. I gave them their first caps in the next fixture, though.

I suppose that was one of the most satisfying parts of that job looking back.

I treated it very much like the reserve team at a big club. Results are always important for professionals but more importantly, and certainly in B team fixtures, was the ability to look at players in an environment away from their clubs.

You could see if they were able to stand on their two feet and make an impression, and also bearing in mind they are representing a country on and off the field discipline was very important.

I was able to start international careers off of people such as Alan Shearer.

In my last game in San Marino, where I believe we scored about seven goals, I gave a young Robbie Fowler his first cap.

He actually scored with his first touch and was an obvious star of the future.

In fact, he became one of the best finishers the English game has ever seen.

Normally the under-21 team would play the evening before the main team and after our game I would join up with Graham for the big game.

San Marino was different.

The under-21s actually played in the small principality with a very small crowd and an early kick-off. At the end of the game everyone rushed to get ready because we thought we would be able to get back into the city and catch the senior team.

Along the road we had to stop at a toll booth and sitting in the front of the bus as the driver lowered the window to pay the man we could hear the commentary as the big game had literally just kicked off.

Whilst he was getting his change a huge roar went up and I could understand the word goal' which thundered out from the commentator's voice.

I said to our driver we are one up?' and he said no, you are one down'.

I thought he was joking but it was the famous backpass from who else but Stuart Pearce which failed to reach the keeper and a grateful San Marino forward nipped in to make himself a hero.

I then quickly made a managerial decision and told the driver to go straight to the airport.

We watched the rest of the game on TV there and we came out handsome winners.

It turned out to be Graham's last game and of course I resigned at the same time.

Another memory, looking at next week's fixture, was when we played in the Republic of Ireland.

The under-21 game on the Tuesday night was down in Cork and my old friend Jack Charlton, their national manager, came down for the fixture.

National anthem I remember the dressing rooms were in the bottom corner of this small ground and, after the teams had gone out, I bumped into Jack and we walked along the touchline together.

We hadn't reached the halfway line when an impressive brass band starting playing what turned out to be the Irish national anthem.

So Jack and I stood to attention like two guardsmen on the touchline and I remember muttering out of the side of my mouth come on, sing the words.' He replied something I cannot repeat but it was short and to the point!

He wasn't able to pull my leg because I would, as always, have sung out loudly - but amazingly our national anthem wasn't played.

The same happened the next night before the big game, which will be remembered for the fact Graham Taylor decided not to play Paul Gascoigne.

One of the reasons I think was Jack, having managed the player at Newcastle, would know too much about him.

Strange but true, but the result didn't go too well for us that night.

I do remember the under-21 game when a young Shearer picked the ball up in front of Jack and I who were sat alongside each other on the benches.

Happy days Jack, an England World Cup winner and a really true football man, was muttering loudly pass it, pass it, pass it' as Alan went past one man after another, then you greedy so and so', then the immortal words what a bloody goal!' Happy days and the wonderful part of it was to see young men progress to the very highest level in the game.

I look at Stuart Pearce now with a little bit of envy, but I certainly wish him well.

I would urge all of the lucky squad members to listen intently to him.

Not only was he a terrific player for England, who wore his heart very much on his sleeve, but would appear to be an England manager of the future.

So listen to him, don't cross him and - whatever you do - don't remind him about the pass back in San Marino.

11:30am Monday 4th February 2008

Print

Email this