Interview by Zac Welshman
Photos by Stuart Tree
There was plenty to reminisce over at King George’s Field on 6 May. Danny Bracken’s testimonial gave fans and players the chance to catch up with old friends and trade stories of seasons gone by. But perhaps no moment realised the nostalgia around the ground more than when Josh Uzun surrendered his ball-playing duties, donned the gloves, and replaced his former captain in goal.
Uzun had already taken the goalkeeping mantle once before after Bracken fell victim to a broken leg at Walton Casuals in the 2017/18 campaign. With the Casuals in the hunt for a play-off place but now without a recognised goalkeeper, the midfielder shouldered the additional responsibility, stepped into goal, and over almost 70 minutes, produced a string of expert stops to keep the score at 0-0.
Thankfully, the circumstances that surrounded this most recent replacement were far less serious. A wrist injury suffered midway through the second half of his testimonial was enough to force Bracken out of goal, but not enough to keep him off the pitch as fans delighted in seeing their former captain switch sides and try his luck outfield. And while all eyes were on Bracken, many supporters were just as eager to see Uzun reprise his role as emergency goalkeeper, even if, as the man himself put it, “There was a lot less pressure this time.” And this second goalkeeping cameo gave Uzun the chance to reflect on his first foray between the sticks.
“Obviously Bracks broke his leg after about 20 minutes,” he recalled. “And I’d always messed around in goal, so when James [Bracken] said, ‘Do you fancy it?’, I just said, ‘Yeah, I’ll give it a go!’ But it was horrible. As soon as the whistle went it was just relief. Even though I’m not a goalkeeper, I didn’t want to let the team down.”
With Uzun standing several inches shorter than his predecessor, there were concerns that Walton would take advantage against the comparatively diminutive keeper.
“I remember the commentator for the recording said when I was getting my shirt on, ‘He’s a bit small for a goalkeeper!’”
Despite the early doubts, an inspired performance kept the home side at bay and the result would prove vital as Corinthian-Casuals finished in the play-off places by a single point before ultimately securing promotion, a fact Uzun could only humbly recount by declaring, “It all worked out in the end.”
His willingness to take one for the team and the performance that followed has given Uzun cult-hero status at King George’s Field, but it’s his outfield successes that remain a talking point for many. Flushed with compliments by sentimental fans during the testimonial, a pre-season hat-trick against Bristol Rovers is often pointed to as an example of his natural talent.
“Yeah, I remember that game!” he said. “One was a free-kick on the edge of the box and two were penalties. I’ve not scored many hat-tricks so to do it against a side like that was nice. I’ve never been the quickest or the strongest but technically I’ve always been good, I’m maybe one or two steps ahead of others.”
Uzun’s former manager James Bracken would likely agree with that assessment, as the ex-Casuals boss once allegedly claimed that, if he could, he would field an 11 made up entirely of Josh Uzuns.
“I’ve heard this before,” he said with a chuckle. “It’s really nice to hear, we spoke before and he told me I had a complete footballing brain. Even in goal I sort of know where to be, so apart from maybe centre-back, I’ve played everywhere for James.”
It was Bracken who brought Uzun to Tolworth after the pair first worked together for a season at Sutton United, and it’s a decision he’s still grateful for.
“I know James understood what I’m about, and I’m happy he brought me here because of the people I met, and the memories I have are amazing.”
Despite departing back in 2018, Uzun is still held in high regard around the club, a fact that was evident from the stands as the fans behind his goal serenaded him once again despite his efforts to keep the man of the hour at bay.
“It’s amazing, I never really had that anywhere else, that connection with the fans and the players. You don’t get that everywhere, it’s a special club. I’m so grateful, when the boys behind the goal sing your song it just gives you such a buzz and I’ll always be grateful for the support they’ve shown.”
Although there was no clean sheet this time around, Uzun wasn’t too downtrodden about being beaten by his former captain from the spot with the last kick of the game.
“It was Danny’s day and I’m happy he scored. I think it would have been wrong of me to save the penalty! When he got it, I thought I’ll stay in the middle, I didn’t want to get dinked or be embarrassed…but I dived late!”
Many of those that took to the field during Bracken’s testimonial have unique stories and fascinating relationships with the club. But despite a plethora of available anecdotes, Uzun’s may just top the lot when it comes to originality, and his return to King George’s Field was as entertaining as it was heart-warming.
