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CASUALS LEGEND PROFILE
Dave Brailsford MBE
MEDALS GALORE: Vialli at the Beijing Olympics A larger than life figure known as Vialli due to his striking resemblance to the Italian striker, Dave was a semi professional cyclist and joined the Casuals aged 32 in the Summer of 1996.
He was awarded the MBE in June 2005 for his work as Performance Director and Chief Exec of British Cycling's GB Cycling Team. He led them through the successful Athens Olympics campaign, where the team picked up four medals, two of the gold.
The 2008 Beijing Olympics were an even greater success as Dave's cyclists won 14 medals in total, including eight golds. He was crowned Coach of the Year at the BBC Sports Personality Awards in December 2008.
You can see Dave collecting his Coach of the Year award here
Dave is without doubt the MFC (Most Famous Casual). Casuals Appearances/Goals: 81 / 8
96/97 28 games - 3 goals
97/98 28 games - 3 goals
98/99 18 games - 1 goal
99/00 7 games - 1 goal
Debut: 21 Sept 1996 v Greenford Academicals in London Commercial League Division 6. Casuals won 3-2 thanks to a Phil Malcolm hat-trick.
Team: Ferris, Richards, Neil Williams, Geraint Thomas, Markham, Brailsford, Cates, Welch, Huw Thomas, Malcolm, Phillips. Subs: Aiken, Allen.
Final game: 11 March 2000 v Northolt Saints in London Commercial League Division 2. Casuals lost 1-2. Dave came on as a sub for Nigel Thorpe.
Team: Ferris, Richards, Smith, Geraint Thomas, Stennett, Cates, Jeyes, Humphrey, Nelson, Malcolm, Thorpe. Subs: Phillips, Brailsford, Winterbottom.
Honours: 1998/99 London Commercial League Div 3 Championship
Arabian Cup 1998, 1999.
Number of Bridgend Tours: 3: 1997, 1998, 1999.
Preferred Position: Centre Midfield
Nickname: Vialli
Birthplace/Date of Birth: 29.02.64 / Derby
Resides: Ilkeston near Nottingham
Family: Live with Lisa, step daughter Laura and our new born baby girl - Millie.
Occupation: Performance Director of British Cycling i.e. run the British Cycling Olympic Team.
How did you come to join the Casuals: Shared a house with the diminutive Des Monks of BBC TV Castaway fame who played for the Casuals at the time.
Why did you leave: Too fat, too old, too slow, - I kept telling him to quit but Phil just wouldn't accept it so I left as he was making me look shit.
Who else did you introduce to the club: Pete Winterbottom.
Highlight of Casuals Career: Winning the London Commercial League Division 3 in 1998/99. We played really well all season and the team spirit was great.
Lowlight of Casuals career: Losing 6-0 to Leyton in the 3rd Round of the 1997/98 London Cup.
Most Embarrassing Moment: Being sent off v Eel Pie shortly after a big on-field bust up with Phil Malcolm after he was subbed against his will.
Best Casuals manager you played under: Started under big Phil M but he quit for a while so I became joint manager with Catesy until Phil returned to steady the ship. So really it has to be between Phil and Catesy and I think Phil just edges it as he used to make me a cuppa (well actually it was the Good Lord and Roger who used to make it) before the game in that shit-hole of a flat he used to have in Uxbridge.
Worst player you played alongside: Tony Smith - fairly skillful but a total headless chicken.
Funniest player: Vinny Djemal - that guy was a legend.
Favourite match: Whipping Rank Xerox's arse 5-0 - what a bunch of tossers they were!!
Worst match: Being hammered 6-0 by Leyton in the London Cup and being totally outclassed.
Most memorable Casuals goal you scored: There weren't that many but I remember scoring in extra time in a 1997 League Cup game v Sporting Hackney. We drew 1-1 and went onto win on penalties.
Funniest thing you have seen during a game: During a cup match in Nov 1997 v Eel Pie, Phil was subbed and he sulked so much that he threw his shirt on the floor before leaving the pitch in a full on strop. He went straight to the changing room got changed and started walking home from Richmond and didn't get in touch for days after - I pissed my pants!
Funniest thing you have seen on a Casuals night out: I think it must be the time Catesy, Pete W and I flipped a coin to see who took the Welsh girl home we had just met in the chippy (honest) in Bridgend after a long night out. I was lucky enough to win the toss at which point Catesy broke down and begged me to let him go cos "I haven't got a girlfriend at the moment, please, please, it's been ages" he whimpered. As he began to well-up I felt so sorry for him that I let him go and off and spend the night with the girl and her mum! I'll never forget his face whilst he begged so much!!
Favourite Bridgend tour memory: There are so many!! The printable ones include Phil pissing in the Arabian Cup and putting it on his head after a round of "Pub Golf", but I really like the time Catesy and I were chatting up a Valley girl in Monroes. At the time I was on a roll using a tactic whereby I had resorted to asking girls to name where they would most like to go in the whole World and when they named the place I would then offer to take them there - you may laugh but it was always a winner! Anyway, on this occasion Catesy and I agreed to economise a little so we asked this girl to name anywhere she would like to go in Europe to which she replied "oh sorry I don't like Europe" so we thought sod it and said "ok then, what about anywhere in the World?" and she said "OK then Paris". That's the Valleys for you!!
Are you still playing: No
How would you like to be remembered: As a player who gave it everything every time I played.
Best thing about being a Casual: Great team, great lads, great spirit, great memories on and off the pitch.
Message to the current team: At five to three on a Saturday just remind yourselves that you have been waiting for this all week and it's another week until you'll play again. Don't waste the opportunity and play with pride, passion and commitment - you only get out what you put in!
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