Words by Dominic Bliss
Photos by Katja Hillebrandt and Stuart Tree
Few players have embodied the Corinthian spirit quite like Danny Bracken did over the course of 12 years and 508 appearances for the club, and his testimonial on Saturday was a reminder of all that is good about Corinthian-Casuals.
Players from across his time here returned for the game between a team of Corinthian Legends, managed by Brian Adamson, and a Casuals All Stars side, led by James Bracken, and as Danny himself put it after the final whistle: “It couldn’t have gone any better".
"For everyone to turn out as they did, in that weather, on Coronation weekend, was really special,” he said. “Everyone who was there did it in the right spirit, the game was competitive enough that it was entertaining to watch as well as being fun to be part of, so I think the balance was right.”
The sentiment was flowing from the moment the players began arriving, with old team-mates catching up and working out which dressing room they were meant to be in. It was like a little time-warp!” he laughed. “When I walked in one changing room, it was like I’d stepped back 12 years, and the other one was a gradual progression of another seven years.
“It was really good to see them all and I thought everyone played well, which was nice, because when the line-ups came out it looked like one team was more balanced than the other, but when the game kicked off it was actually very even. It was really good seeing some of the old faces. When I saw Meddie [Nsubuga]… who I played with 10 years ago, he didn’t look any different! He literally looked identical, and apparently he’s been playing at Banstead. He’s 42 and I think he might have played 90 minutes – to be fair, he probably played better than I’ve ever seen him play!”
The supporters turned out in good numbers to pay tribute to a club great and the atmosphere throughout was one of celebration, much needed at the end of a tough season. The Fiel Londres joined the local faithful behind the goal and unfurled two new banners for the second half. Bracken was overawed by the good feeling.
“When I saw three security guards, I was thinking, ‘I’m not sure these are going to be needed today!’” he joked. “Obviously, the fans are great and then the Brazilians add to the atmosphere. My whole family came down, with my missus’ family and some of my dad’s football friends as well. It was just nice to have everyone there for the day and the game couldn’t have gone any better.”
Bracken faced competition in the other goal, as Jon Williams – a popular part of James Bracken’s backroom team and our head groundsman – put in a great display between the sticks.
“Do you know what, I’ve seen Jon in training and he’s an amazing shot-stopper and he made some great saves,” said Danny. “He definitely made more saves than I did during the game, so I was pleased for him – he did really well.”
There was also a chance for a bit of unexpected nostalgia when Danny picked up an injury and couldn’t continue in goal. Without a sub goalkeeper, he looked around the pitch at the options and saw Josh Uzun, who had stepped in to replace him at Walton Casuals during our promotion campaign in 2017/18, keeping an invaluable clean sheet in the process. The script was written.
“When I hurt my hand, I was thinking I’ll try and play on, then I made one save and it hurt so much, I thought, ‘Do you know what? Uzun’s over there – let’s get him in!’
“He did a good job at Walton the first time around and he’s a bit of a keeper, to be fair, so I think he enjoyed it as well.” It meant Danny got his chance to prove to everyone that he really could have cut it as a left-winger at this level.
“I rolled back 20 years, I reckon!” he said. “I used to play left wing as a kid, although I used to be a bit faster, but I think years of goalkeeper training and jumping on the floor doesn’t really prepare you for running on the wing.
“I did alright, though. I probably did better outfield than I did in goal, to be honest! It was fun to be out there and play with people like Kieron Cadogan, who has played in the Championship for Palace. To share the pitch with some of those players was something special, to be honest.”
Danny had an effort disallowed for the ball going out of play, but he wasn’t to be denied his testimonial goal, and when Danny Dudley gave him a nudge in the back in stoppage time, the referee pointed to the spot. But was it a bit of a soft one, for the occasion?
“A stonewall penalty!” Danny responds. “Stonewall. I saw Duds coming, just took the contact and went down. The ref was brilliant, to be honest. I liked the way he didn’t want to give a goal when I dropped one in my own net as well! I did just think about taking a goal kick and getting on with the game, but I don’t think my brother would have let it happen – he’d have come on the pitch himself!
“I’d like to see VAR on the ball that supposedly went out for the other goal I got, because I’d have had two if that counted.
“But it was good fun and I think everyone who was there enjoyed the day, because Casuals isn’t about me. It’s about the community and everyone around it. It was a day for everyone really and I hope everyone enjoyed it.
“You see people like Rog [Stringer], who has been there for years. He’s been stood there on his own at Three Bridges when we were getting battered 4-0 and struggling in the Ryman South, and to see him still there 12 years on, still supporting the team as loudly as he was then, with the support that has grown, is great.
“We’ve got some really good people down there and I just hope the club can have a team that the crowd can continue to get behind, and establish themselves again as a Corinthian-Casuals team that no one wants to play, which is what the aim needs to be.”
After the game, Chairman Brian Vandervilt paid tribute to Danny, who received a signed shirt from all the players involved and a commemorative cake from David and Julie Harrison.
Vandervilt also paid tribute to the club’s long-serving media officer and programme editor, Stuart Tree, presenting him with a signed shirt as the fans and former players sang his name.
The clubhouse was alive long after the final whistle had blown, with supporters, former players, managers and volunteers mingling and reminiscing. There was a royal coronation earlier in the day, but it was also the day Corinthian-Casuals celebrated the man who was the jewel in the crown of a generation of players this club will never forget.
