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CASUALS LEGEND PROFILE
Graham Bartlett
CASUALI: Bart (back row third from right) celebrating a another win for the mighty WCFC
Motormouth scouser Bart made his Casuals debut against Parkside Ealing in the second game of the 1996/97 season, and scored in a 2-1 victory. A hugely popular dressing room figure he was often the butt of jokes about his close friendship with teammate Arfan Shaikh. Many of his appearances were as a substitute but he excelled with the linesman's flag in his hand, a skill which led to a transfer to UEFA to train their Lino's. Bart flew in from Switzerland to play in the Casuals Past v Present match in 2001 - great committment from a great club man.
Most recently seen at the Casuals Reunited match in May 2008, Bart is now Marketing Director at Nike UK and still comes up trumps with top quality prizes for the annual Casuals raffle.
A true Casuals legend.
Casuals Appearances/Goals: 68 / 7
1996/97 22 games / 3 goals
1997/98 27 games / 4 goals
1998/99 13 games/ 0 goals
1999/00 6 games / 0 goals
Number of Bridgend Tours: 3 (1997, 1998, 1999)
Honours: 1998/99 London Commercial League Div 3 Championship, Arabian Cup 1998, 1999.
Debut: 28 Sept 1996 v Parkside Ealing in London Commercial League Division 6. Bart scored in a 2-1 Casuals win. Phil Malcolm scored the other goal.
Team: Ferris, Richards, Smith, Geraint Thomas, Neil Williams, Brailsford, Cates, Welch, Huw Thomas, Malcolm, Bartlett. Subs: Aiken, Simon Bartlett, Djemal.
Final game: 30 Oct 1999 v Rank Xerox in London Commercial League Division 2. Drew 0-0.
Team: Poynter, Richards, Peggie, Geraint Thomas, Shaikh, Brailsford, Bray, Cates, Bartlett, Jeyes, Shepherd. Subs: Winterbottom, Malcolm, Creely.
Q&A completed in 2007
Nickname: Bart
Birthplace/Date of Birth: 8th March 1970 in Billinge (which is in Merseyside in case you're wondering)
Resides: The House of European Football, Nyon, Switzerland
Occupation: Senior Manager for Business Development and Licensing at UEFA (i.e. bag carrier)
How did you come to join the Casuals: Trained with them in the Summer of '96 to try to get fit and realized you didn't need to be to play for them so stayed on.
Why did you leave: Someone was stupid enough to offer me a job as a tax exile in Switzerland.
Who else did you introduce to the club: Arfan Shaikh. He actually introduced me but then didn't come until I'd been there for a while (cue gay gags)
Highlight of Casuals Career: Scoring on my debut (despite 21 eyewitness reports to the contrary I still maintain it was a 35 yard screaming volley and not a shinner from inside the box). And waving the League Trophy out of a minicab sunroof at 2 in the morning on Euston Road...
Lowlight of Casuals career: Being left on the bench for the semi-final against arch rivals Guinness. Came off the sidelines with ten to go and the score 0-1 and scraped the bar with a diving header that would have been the goal of the season.
BEHIND YOU: Bart displays his customary skill levels at Casuals Reunited 08 Preferred Position: Right side of midfield (as long as Pilch was at right back, anyone can look good playing next to Pilch...)
Most Embarrassing Moment: The resounding chorus of "Phil Malcolm's a rapist" in the Bridgend clubhouse with Phil leading the singing.
Best Casuals manager you played under: I played under Phil and then the Catesy/Dave B combo. I'll say Phil, he was my first an you always remember your first (cue more gay gags).
Worst player you played alongside: Not answering that, the Casuals was all about the team spirit. (And if anyone else lists me I reserve the right to come back, change this and give them a right slagging).
Funniest player: Vinny. George Best's a legend for half the world but Vinny Dej was a leg over to every Bridgend bird.
Favourite match: The 5-0 thrashing of Maccabi Association in my first season. They were a good team and we tanked them in a howling gail. Mud, passion, great goals, fantastic cup tie. Oh, an I scored a brace of belters.
Worst match: Any of the losing semi-finals. I think there were three in my time as a Casual.
Most memorable Casuals goal you scored: My debut strike.
Funniest thing you have seen during a game: Pilch's announcement over the Bridgend tannoy that a Casuals player was causing an obstruction and should leave the pitch. Tragically it was about me.
Funniest thing you have seen on a Casuals night out: The sheer inappropriate drunken nonsense that was our trophy collection in '99. Fantastic.
Favourite Bridgend tour memory: Payney's demon eyes routine in the curryhouse in '97. Classic.
Are you still playing (If so, who for): Turn out for UEFA in friendlies now and again.
How would you like to be remembered: Loyal to the true Casuals' spirit. And not as a lino.
Best thing about being a Casual: Dave Brailsford's four redbull prematch pep talks, Rulo's goals, Bridgend Tours, glorious cup runs, Roadhouse nights but most of all the pleasure of playing the beautiful game with a top bunch of lads. Will stop there, am fillin up.
Message to the current team: The Club has a glorious history so never forget you're part of something important that you must respect, nurture and embellish. And if you win a cup be sure to get thoroughly rat-arsed at the awards ceremony, throw it round the room til it's smashed then leave singing "Casuali" before they chuck you out.
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