The overriding conclusion of all the post-Olympics wash ups in the media is that you’re a miserable bastard if you didn’t enjoy it. And, while the London Olympic orgy has been in full swing, football has seen some familiar criticism coming its way, mainly in the form of “why can’t football learn from all these other sports people who don’t look, sound or act like John Terry”. A low blow, and in any case, while everyone was gushing with praise for Team GB’s gold medal haul, two football matches were taking place that reflected the happier, more communal side of national sport.
The testimonial matches for Everton’s Tony Hibbert and Watford’s Lloyd Doyley had much in common. Most obviously, both players are right backs with over 300 first team appearances for their clubs and a distinct lack of goals. Doyley and Hibbert have endured for a decade and yet, relatively speaking, neither is blessed with the kind of extraordinary talent that might set them apart from their peers.
A purely objective assessment of their qualities would probably conclude that both clubs could do better; it certainly wouldn’t describe them as irreplaceable. That they have remained at their clubs must be due to their determination as much as any inherent talent they had to begin with.
But, for their managers, it must be comforting to have players in the squad who aren’t going to need constant attention, who aren’t massive egos – players who just want to play. Even if the manager knows his right back is never going to be the best in his division, it’s one less thing to worry about when trying to assemble a side with limited financial means.
Managers come and go, but they rarely trade players like Doyley and Hibbert. It wouldn’t be worth it, because their value to Everton or Watford is greater than it would be to a prospective buyer. If this seems like a cold assessment of players who are loyal and embrace their club’s identify, then that’s precisely why the testimonial is important, as an opportunity to give those less celebrated players a rare moment in the spotlight.
Footballers of more obvious talent are likely to attract bids from other managers, making a ten year stint improbable, unless they already play for one of the biggest clubs with few natural predators. Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes fall into this latter category, and have celebrated testimonial seasons in recent years. But, when great players are awarded a testimonial, it’s not just a celebration of their loyalty, it’s a recognition of what they have achieved at the top of the game. You couldn’t say the same about Doyley and Hibbert.
Lloyd Doyley’s solitary professional goal for Watford is talked about as one of the most memorable events seen at Vicarage Road in years. The fans enjoyed Doyley getting on the score sheet almost as much as he did. They felt a part of it, because they felt that Doyley was one of them. You can’t feel that way about a player with ten other clubs on their CV, no matter how many times they proclaim their love for the club.
Tony Hibbert’s ‘goals scored’ column still reads a big fat zero, but you sense he won’t be too bothered after his testimonial. With Everton comfortably beating AEK Athens, Hibbert smashed in a free kick in front of the Gwladys Street End. The crowd responded as if Everton had won the league and a pitch invasion ensued; Hibbert was mobbed. This is what testimonials should be like.
We identify with players that stick around because there’s a cosy familiarity about them. Watford have signed eight or nine players from Spain and Italy this summer, but Doyley’s still there. It’s hard to quantify whether it really matters, you could probably produce stats to prove it’s utterly meaningless. But, on a human level, it matters a lot.
There are Lloyd Doyleys and Tony Hibberts at all levels of the game. Steady, hard working, limited, but loyal. You wouldn’t want eleven Tony Hibberts in your team – good lord, no. You don’t even want to imagine what a team of Doyleys would look like. But, wouldn’t you rather have one than none at all?
Doyley scores!
So does Hibbert!
