WHO inspires the inspirations in the ever-changing world of football? Which traits stand the test of time?
In the latest in our series, we pick the brains of Stourport Swifts manager Quentin Townsend.
Having come through at Wolves, he joined Hereford United in the mid-90s where he played in Division Three and also against a star-studded Middlesbrough side featuring the likes of Fabrizio Ravanelli in the League Cup.
Relegation from the Football League saw Townsend opt for a different career, reinventing himself in Non-League where he helped Redditch United win a double promotion in 2004 to jump straight into the newly-formed Conference North.
Townsend managed Southam United and Pershore Town before taking the reins at Walshes Meadow ahead of the 2018-19 season with the aim of bringing Southern League football back to Stourport.
And that ambition is being fuelled by influences that take Townsend right back to the start and his days at Molineux.
WHO WAS YOUR GREATEST GAFFER AND WHY?
It would have to be the late Graham Taylor.
He believed in me when I was a YTS at Wolves and gave me my first professional contract, he backed me a lot.
He allowed me to realise that dream of being a professional footballer which was all I had ever wanted to do from the age of four.
WHAT IS YOUR TOP MEMORY OF PLAYING FOR GRAHAM?
I would say a lot of it was to do with Graham’s right-hand man, Steve Harrison. Graham brought him in as his former assistant when he left the England job.
That relationship was absolutely critical. Graham was the top guy but Steve was the one who interacted with the players and staff.
Denne historien er fra January 03, 2021-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra January 03, 2021-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
SHAKERS REVEL IN MAKING HISTORY
DAVE McNabb says Bury's FA Cup heroes are proud to be writing their own chapters in club history.
WILCOX: WE FEEL COMPLETE WITH WIN
RUSS WILCOX'S verdict after watching his Gainsborough Trinity side outmuscle and outplay their hosts was that it was \"probably our most complete performance\".
CRACKER BY KABIA TOPPLES TUDORS!
ASSISTANT boss Stewart Yetton said his Truro City side were good value for their win over table-toppers Hemel Hempstead Town.
BRAKES PUT STOP ON BORO BATTLERS
SEPARATED only by goal difference before kick-off, these sides remain neck and neck in the embryonic table after playing out 90 minutes in the October sunshine that was a great advert for the division.
BOSS COTT'S GOT A REALLY GOOD THING WITH ROVERS
STEVE Cotterill hailed Forest Green Rovers’ first class performance as they produced a spirited comeback to topple fellow high-flyers Eastleigh at the Silverlake Stadium.
SKIPS STEER HEED'S SHIP
GATESHEAD captains of the past and present are playing a lead role in helping the National League club move on from the departure of FA Trophy-winning manager Rob Elliot.
FA CUP PREVIEW: SWEET! 'DREAM' DRAW IS CHANCE OF OUR LIFETIME
DAVE NORTHFIELD says minnows Biggleswade FC were like 'kids in a sweet shop' when they drew out York City in what he describes as the 'draw of a lifetime'.
PARKER'S HEART IS STILL AT HOME
FORMER England right-back Paul Parker has revealed he would never completely rule out a return to management – but says he would only do so for one of his beloved local clubs.
LOCALS RALLY TO REBUILD BRIDGE
WHEN committee members at Bamber Bridge set out to raise £30,000 to protect the club's future, they were apprehensive about the response they'd get.
RUTHLESS BEES FIND THEIR FEET
ASTERLING second-half performance resulted in league leaders Barnet brushing aside a Boston United outfit that led at the interval through Keaton Ward’s early strike.
