Thank you to Liam Scully for sorting this article and to Terry Bourne for taking the time to answer questions asked by some of the members of Vital Lincoln City.
We plan to do at least one Q&A with someone from the Football Club every month from now on, so if you have anyone in mind, please post on 100% Imps!
I’ve heard the issue of players throwing their kit to fans can be a thorny one for kit men, is this true?
Yes, it can be. Players throwing shirts or giving shirts away can be when they fail to tell me they’ve done so.
How many unnumbered shirts are readily available at away games in the event of blood wounds etc? Is this really necessary?
Blood shirts are a Football League requirement and normally two shirts are in the physio bag plus a Goalkeeper’s shirt.
I heard Forest was your previous job/supported team. Is the role any different at Sincil Bank?
Yes, Forest is my supported team. I was the assistant kit man at Forest so the role is similar, but I am Head Kitman at Sincil Bank so that job comes with more responsibility.
Have there been any practical jokes (probably not on a match day) involving the kit eg undersized shirt for Rheady, failing elastic in shorts, itching powder?
No, there has been no practical jokes played in terms of the kit.
Multiple holes in socks: – performance-enhancing, fashion statement or sheer stupidity?
Cutting socks is what most players do, so it’s not anything new to me.
In the year roughly how many days does Danny wear Lincoln City training get up?
I’m guessing about 360 days a year!
What was the funniest kit malfunction you have had to deal with?
I think the worst thing I have had to deal with is a player at Forest, he had a bit of a problem when his shorts ripped.
Are you obliged to eat with the players and thus not free to have the occasional fried egg or bacon butty?
I don’t like fried eggs but I do enjoy a bacon butty from time to time.
How many shirts does Rheady have ripped in his on-field tussles each season?
I don’t think Rheady had one ripped last season, but John had a couple ripped.
What’s your matchday routine?
For a home game, I normally set up on a Friday. Then I normally arrive at the ground before 8 o’clock on match day to sort out the referee’s room, sort the footballs and any last-minute things that need doing. The players start to arrive at around 12, so I will go check they are alright with everything, some might need some different studs putting in their boots, but that generally depends on the weather.
For away games, I like to arrive two hours before the team. If it is an away game that has an overnight stay with it, I will be up for breakfast around 7 am and go for a walk before heading off to the ground.
Do any players have special requests (if there is a such a thing with kit etc that you do)!
Yes, a couple have socks and underpants just for match day, and in colder weather, several players want under armours/skins etc.
The most famous player you’ve worked with and best football story?
Possibly Stuart Pearce is the most famous person that I’ve worked with. There are several funny stories, but I still think my first senior kit man Terry Farndale putting chocolate sauce on his breakfast thinking it was brown sauce takes some beating.
Best motorway services and favourite thing to buy from them?
The McDonalds/Subway on The A1 is a particular favourite Luke Treadwell our assistant Sports therapist is a big Fan of Leicester Forest East. We always have to buy a bag of Percy pigs for our journey home.
What temperature do you wash the kit at?
We have just had a new laundry at the Elite Performance Centre so everything is now pre-set.
Any tricks of the trade you can share with us mere mortals in terms of removing stains?
I find blood tricky to get out. Vanish is the best for that.
How do you keep a washing machine smelling fresh?
That’s hard to say. Mine goes a bit whiffy sometimes.
Who are the brightest players you have worked with at Lincoln?
I think Sam Habergham and Tom Pett are both well-educated lads.
Which player has made you laugh most?
I possibly have to say Matt Gilks was a very funny guy.
Worst boots at the club?
There are a few horrendous ones, I can’t wait until the season starts as I expect there will be more rascal pairs arriving soon.
Saturday 5pm. What’s the first result you look out for, other than our own?
At the business end of last season, any of the teams around us was always the first I looked for. Away from our games and rivals, I will always look out for the Forest score.
Which is worst, socks or underpants?
Bozzie had a couple of horror pairs on a matchday but they’ve now been laid to rest.
How many home strips would a player get through in a season?
Each player has two shirts on a match day which hopefully will last them all season but you also have to factor in Shirts for the FA cup as they have a different arm patch. Also, if a game is live on TV in Carabao Cup or in the EFL Trophy you have to have competition-specific sleeve badges. Finally, there is a league game around 11th November which each player shirts has a poppy on which is auctioned to fans to raise money for the Royal British Legion. So it can be anything above four shirts a season.
Q&A With @ImpsKitman – "I don't like fried eggs but I do enjoy a bacon butty from time to time."https://t.co/BwMyRdSEGE#ImpsAsOne #ProudToBeImps
— Vital Lincoln City (@VitalLincoln) July 27, 2019
https://www.facebook.com/VitalLincolnCity/posts/2319666824736216
