Richard Luscombe SCORING goals is the hardest thing to do in football, so they say. Creating them, stopping them, watching them, cheering them are also vital components in the match-day experience.
There are, however, so many other elements that contribute to that drama on the pitch and, when it comes to unsung heroes, the ball assistants at Plymouth Argyle are very near top of that list.
They are surpassed by just one man, Colin Bunney, who is responsible for coaching, mentoring and organising those ball assistants, quietly ensuring the visual job they do is completed with efficiency, fairness and professionalism.
Colin has been in charge of this cast of young heroes for more than a decade and we decided it was time to dig a little deeper into this unique role.
How many years have you been in charge of the ball assistants?
I have been doing the ball assistants job for some eleven years now.
Most memorable game?
Although the Liverpool replay was a great occasion for everybody connected with the Club, the most memorable game for me was the return leg against Portsmouth, which clinched our place in the Play Off Final. Who will ever forget Peter Hartley’s winning goal?
Any ball assistants deserve a special mention?
All of my ball assistants deserve a mention, they do a great job in sometimes difficult conditions but a special mention must go to James Wooding who has been with me since the age of five when he came to the Argyle Community Trust coaching sessions at Derriford Leisure Centre. It’s been nearly ten years now and in that time he has even started to support my favourite teams.
What is your match-day routine?
My routine doesn’t vary much at all, I like to get to the ground very early and get myself organised for the match. Two days before a match, I contact parents regarding availability of the assistants, I work with a team of 14 and this allows for assistants who might not be available due to having a DJM match. The assistants muster at the arranged time and I ensure they are all wearing the required kit, and are allocated their spot for the match.
Most memorable incident?
Most memorable incident sadly is for the wrong reason and that is when our ball boy Jake McLean was pushed to the ground by Liam Kelly of Leyton Orient. More than enough has been written about this incident but only one person acted with class and dignity throughout the whole episode, and that was Jake. His interviews in the press showed maturity beyond his years.
Any changes you would like to see to ball assistants in Football League?
The only changes I would like to see regarding ball assistants is the introduction of some common guidelines to ensure all clubs are roughly doing the same. Some clubs don’t appear to use ball assistants and some have very few around the pitch. I take full responsibility for the actions and performance of our ball assistants at the club but I’m not sure that level of accountability is standard throughout the EFL.
Argyle Community Trust are extremely proud of Colin and his ball assistants, and we would also like to thank our sponsors, Porters Bar on the Barbican and Steve Bishop for their fantastic support.
