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CASUALS LEGEND PROFILE
Martin Rootes
YOUR ROUND: Beardo get the beers in Bridgend Debut: Early 1992 v unknown oppo in West End Sunday League Division C.
Final game: 8 March 2003 v Surbiton Griffins in Kingston & District League Division 3. Casuals won 5-2 thanks to a hat-trick from Dan Bennett and one each for Phil Malcolm and Dave Barnard.
Line Up: Wolsey, Rootes, Barnard, Richards, Hall, Edwards, Paley, Fenton, Brack, Bennett, Paley, Hardy. Subs: Peggie, Shepherd, Creely.
Martin made his debut towards the end of the Casuals first season. Back then he was a hardworking midfielder and his high fitness levels and enthusiasm were a real asset. Originally known as 'Mr. Clean' due to the lack of scurrilous gossip on him, he later gained the nickname 'The Equaliser' when scoring a vital late goal to level the scores in a midweek 5-a-side league. An ever present in the clubs second season, he was a good penalty taker with the majority of his 11 Casuals goals coming from spot kicks. A useful goalkeeper he also made a few appearances between the sticks.
Martin's last full season was 1995/96 but made a brief return the 2002/03 KDFL Div 3 championship winning season when he made seven appearances. Now known as Beardo due to his ever present stubble, he is stuck on 99 appearances and seems unlikely ever to join the 100 club.
Number of Bridgend Tours: 4: 1993, 1994, 2001, 2002.
Honours: 1992/93 West End League Division C Cup Runners up, 1995/96 London Commercial League Division 7 Runners up.
Preferred Position: Centre back but I would've liked a go up front to show Huw Thomas how it was done
Nicknames: Mr Clean, The Equaliser, Beardo
Birthplace/Date of Birth: Roehampton, 12 October 1970
Resides: Morden
Family: Engaged to Caroline for 12 years (still not sure!)
Occupation: TV Prop man/Grip
How did you come to join the Casuals: I knew Tony Smith (later known as the Feltham Porn King) when we were kids and played once a week with him and some mates in Sheen. He joined the Casuals - a Sunday side at the time - and asked me to come along.
Why did you leave: Knee and ankle injuries
Who else did you introduce to the club: My brother Michael who was an apprentice at Wimbledon at the time. Also got a few of his teammates along which came in very handy. Worm eating Geordie goalkeeper Neil Fairbairn made a real mark.
Highlight of Casuals Career: Winning pub golf on tour downing 8 consecutive pints and thrashing Phil in the final of the inaugural WCFC Snooker Competition in 1992 at the Herts Country Club.
Lowlight of Casuals career: Missing a penalty in a cup game. Sent the keeper the wrong way but hit the outside of the post. We lost 2-1. I also remember when I let Graham Nash borrow my new training top when he went in goal during a midweek game on astroturf. He fell badly and broke his wrist - a horrible compound fracture. Worst thing was the ambulance crew cut my top to shreds and Nashy never replaced it.
Most Embarrassing Moment: I remember one game where we didn?t have enough shorts in the kitbag so I had to wear the spare goalkeepers three quarter length padded bottoms that didn't have a drawstring. We played on a quagmire and as they got heavier and heavier they kept falling down. Trying to run and pull them up at the same time was not easy!
Best Casuals manager you played under: I played for three including Tony Smith and Catesy but it can only be one - The rapist.
Worst player you played alongside: The clubfooted Vinny Djemal. When he played full back he was always trying to go on mazy runs and take on his winger and he'd end up losing the ball deep in our half. I remember when we were looking for a new ground he suggested a pitch on Donkey Lane. How apt.
Funniest player: Gazza Ward. Never forget him ripping pages out of a bible to make a spliff in a Bridgend hotel room.
Favourite match: I once partnered Nick Markham at centre back against Kodak Sports in our third season and we managed to mark a pair of really good strikers out of the game. Nothing spectacular but a well earned draw as a result of bloody hard work and good organisation.
Worst match: Heatwave (or Cheatwave as they became known). In our two games against them the ref feared for his life. Intimidation, elbows in the throat, spitting, two footed tackles and a small army on the touchline ranting and raving and trying to trip you up if you went anywhere near the them. 1993 Cup Final defeat v Rangers Inter was really disappointing and I didn't play well.
Most memorable Casuals goal you scored: Far post header at Coychurch Road in Bridgend. Leapt like a flying fish over two defenders and powered in my brothers cross. Brilliant.
Funniest thing you have seen during a game: In Feb 1996 we played Peabody in the London Junior Sunday Cup in Dulwich. Their keeper hit a goal kick down the middle and with no-one anywhere near him our centre back Geraint Thomas flicked the ball on with the top of his head towards our goal. He was about 40 yards out. Despite the fact that the ball was traveling at a snails pace when it reached our keeper Danny Flapper Grimes, he managed to allow it to slip through his hands and legs and it rolled into the net in what seemed like slow motion. By far the worst piece of goalkeeping I have ever seen. So bad you had to laugh.
Funniest thing you have seen on a Casuals night out: At the 1993 Awards Dinner at a restaurant on Tottenham Court Road I remember at the end of his Nuremberg-esque speech Phil threw a wine glass at the wall shouted "Lets get this party started!!"
Favourite Bridgend tour memory: I had been on the 1994 tour for about 10 minutes and was playing pool in the bar with our tour shirts on and some minger came up to me and said "I know I'm rough but I'm from the Valleys - would you like to swap shirts!" Phil trying to knock Dan's hotel door down to get to his stash was also hilarious. It was the early hours and he was giving himself a run up and trying to shoulder barge it open but couldn't do it. He tried loads of times.
Are you still playing: I play a bit of 5-a-side at the local park with cast and crew of the Bill. Gary Lucy is quite good. Reg Hollis was shite.
How would you like to be remembered: A versatile motivator (I was always shouting) who always gave 100%.
Best thing about being a Casual: The great camaraderie and loads of laughs.
Message to the current team: Keep up the good work boys. Looking forward to the next reunion!!
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