Now Dorset is beautiful
And the song hit the big time for a short spell with their peculiar brand of humorous lyric and dress sense becoming a parody of the country yokel look.
Truth is, the words are accurate in every sense, Dorset is home to some of England?s spectacular scenery as a stroll along the promenade at Bournemouth or Poole would attest to and is also the place where Ron Tilsed grew up.
To delve into the Tilsed story you first need to look at the achievements of the man and that, in its self, is an article alone but filled with outstanding moments, devastating lows and not a little humour along the way.
Ron was actually born at Weymouth Hospital, a coastal town and home to the thriving Royal Navy industry, that holds special memories for this scribe having spent many a summer there as a child with the Sea Cadets but we digress. The only reason Ron was born there was because Poole Hospital was fully booked that night and though technically a Weymouth lad, he is Poole through and through and doesn?t accept anything other.
One interesting fact that came to light is Poole Harbour is second largest only to Sydney and not a lot of people know that but it gives an indication that it is not a little backwater but a thriving port that has played many a significant role throughout England?s troubled past both as a staging post for peacetime and war.
Tilsed began his professional career at the tender age of sixteen with his local club, Bournemouth, both turning pro and making his debut for the side. It was whilst playing here that the team reached the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup, an immensely important competition for the young players as the likes of Wayne Rooney, Tim Cahill et al will tell you, and was where the giant ?keeper was spotted for representative honours.
Selected for England Youth, Tilsed went on to represent his country many times but none more so inspiringly perhaps than in the World Youth Cup. England won the tournament after the custodian stopped three penalties in the semi-final against Russia before England went on to defeat Portugal in the Final with a resounding three-nil thumping.
?I?m very honoured to have played in that side,? a very humble Tilsed murmurs quietly, ?I wouldn?t have changed that experience for anything, and it was unbelievable being so young but reaching the pinnacle of the game for your age group.?
The guy also played with two of England?s early million pound men, Steve Daley and, the actual first, Trevor Francis, now a pundit for many Premier League shows and sideline analyst at matches.
In 1971 it was a transfer to Arsenal, as reserve goalkeeper to legendary Bob Wilson, in the year the club recorded its first ?Double? by winning the 1st Division title and going on to beat Liverpool 2-one in the FA Cup Final with a memorable Charlie George goal sealing the victory as Tilsed sat on the bench.
Peter Marinello also joined Arsenal that year from Hibernian and was hailed as the Scottish answer to George Best but injury and excellent form by the side saw him limited in appearances, but he and Tilsed became lifelong friends, especially after both transferred to Portsmouth in 1973.
Sadly, a broken arm saw Pompey bring in another ?keeper and next stop for Tilsed was South Africa for two years before heading down to Australia for the brand new National Philips League and to Canberra City at the request of the late great Johnny Warren, who was also the best man at Ron?s Wedding.
Moving on and Frank Arok brought Tilsed in as goalkeeper coach for the Australian national side as he had had specialized training with the likes of Bob Wilson and Peter Shilton in the UK and the training drills of the Socceroos were very similar to those he had taken part in.
In 2000 it was back to England where ?pub manager? was added to the resume, in Bournemouth, and also Goalkeeper Coach at his boyhood club and many would feel the wheel had turned full circle but not so.
Now back in Australia and Adrian Alston brought Tilsed into the Wollongong Wolves set-up in 2005 where the likes of Daniel Beltrame were taken under the wing before coming to Sutherland Sharks for the current Telechoice Premier League season and, it has to be said, doesn?t it show in the sparkling form of Phil Zabaks this term.
So as you see, an enthralling trip down memory lane with much to be proud of, which without mention of, albeit only briefly, would not do the Ron Tilsed story justice.
Next time it?s a one-on-one with ?RT? and a look at the humorous side of football and touching moments??..to be continued
-By Micky Brock
