1. What do you remember about your debut in a red shirt?

You would be amazed by the amount of boys who got their first call up at the turning circle on a Saturday morning whilst waiting for the Chambers coach to arrive....and I was no exception to the rule.  Most of the other lads (except Dee Barnes) had been given the "start" in some form or other so the pressure was on.....then out of the November mist came Uel Henry in the purple vauxhall.  Strangely enough a couple of the 6ths had gone down with a mysterious flu during friday night and a defender was required - it was away to Banbridge and at 4 down at half time, Uel gave a speech that any country's president would be happy to have hanging on his office wall - we came away with our tails up only conceding 3 in the second half.  I managed to keep my place from then on but soon discovered how easy it was to catch that strange flu on a Friday night and on a Saturday come to think of it...

Don't worry readers, Dee secretly wore the town strip under his track suit on a saturday afternoon for a couple more seasons and it eventually paid off with a few mixed games for the town during the summer before we headed off to university..........


2. Who is the best player you have played with/against?

The best player I have played with over a few seasons in the past would have to be Ken Crooks for his style on / off the pitch and his continuing fitness levels.....The best player I have played against would be Joe McKnight from Banbridge, we seem to have come across one another at least once a season for the past few and each time his "passion" for the game amazes me - I hope someone puts him out to "graze" and soon.  Mind you, I heard that Willard is making a comeback - Joe, give up now when you have the chance...!


3. What is your funniest memory of CHC?

Too many to mention ..............but Willy (Marlin) if you are reading this, it wasn't me with the scissors in Portrush's changing room...........


4. You would be a keen tourist with the first eleven, is it true that there was eight people in your old GOLF GTI on a trip to Pembroke?

A big thanks has to go out to B "Eddie Irvine" Hall for managing to find the only available space in the Golf which just happened to be behind the wheel.  Luckily I had just enough room to tap the play button and the scene was set - a car with 8 passengers and the old F1 theme tune pumping out.  I thought we looked conspicuous until we stopped at a level crossing and I gazed over to see Phil Barbour on the back of some random bloke's moped - I decided then it was gonna be long night.........a special mention must also go to the horse and cart owner who made the massive mistake of allowing me and Big John to get a lift home with him that night - I have never seen a horse sweat so much!


5. On the way home is it true that you almost won 500punt with a throw of a dart?

I know, normally I wouldn't lift my arm for anything less than a £1000 but the saturday night had been costly...  On reflection, its a good job I didn't win it cos you had to spend it in the local shop which only sold peat briquettes and we didn't have enough room in the car.....!


6. Does D Barnes see himself as a Keano or Scholes in midfield?

Its a well known fact that Dee was an excellent footballer when he was at school but the lure of hockey was too much for Mr Barcley's hero - at that stage he was showing all the signs of being an out and out midfield workhorse and I would have been happy to put him in the same sentence as Keane or Robinson even but as the surface turned from green to grey and as he got a little further away from the warmth of the changing rooms for games, things plateau'd.  Don't get me wrong he was always an asset to the team but as time has gone on, I have never really forgiven him for not allowing me a Jimmy Five-Bellies type lifestyle as any top footballer's mate should have.


7. You are famous at CHC for your Johnny Cash and Elvis impressions if you could share the stage with just one who would it be?

It would have to be with Elvis in the Burnavon but only if Johnny (Marks that is not Cash) was keeping the overflow crowd amused at the Club House!


8. Name your all time great CHC junior eleven

       Colin Sommerville
       Ian Millar
       Paul Crooks
       Gareth Johnson
       Ryan Bolton
       David Barnes
       Ken Crooks
       Les Allen
       Alan Stevenson
       Glen Forrest
       Sam Cuddy

(and because he always turned up for the team photo anyway, I would allow Richard Barnes to sub!!!!)

On reflection of my choice, I am disbanding the team immediately for everyone's safety....and Sammy has already been sent off for "gubbin" anyway!


9. Your Mother was Principal of Donaghy Primary School and at times during this season 6 of the starting 1st eleven were past pupils of this school(2 Cuddys, 2Blacks, Godfrey and Noel). You and Steve Kelso were the products of your year, what is the schools secret?

Everything is strong at Donaghy and as Mickey Harte would say it was the little things that made the difference - same bus driver every morning, girls and boys playing British Bulldogs every breaktime and the girls winning and the same mum picking you up at the end of the day (even though it wasn't your own mum!) - a brilliant school which has produced top people over the years. 

10. And finally Favourite Film/Food/Sportsperson

Film: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Food: Cowboy Supper from Brewery Lane chip shop (not sure if that's in the Andy Barbour "Good Chip Shop" guide but it should be....)

Sportsperson: Ayrton Senna