An Interview with…Richard Bone
Rather than just interviewing former players and managers, I thought that it would be interesting to also interview other people who have different roles in football.
I have interviewed John Helm who is a Commentator, Kim Milton-Nielsen and of course Keith Hackett who were former referees. Mick Dennis the well-respected Journalist also provided an insight into his career in football journalism.
Today’s interview is with Richard Bone, the Kitman at Maidenhead United. I met Richard when watching my team Aldershot Town beat Richard’s Maidenhead United earlier this season. I wrote about the game and a link to the article can be found here.
Richard was very keen to help me out with an interview and tell me of his role as Kitman for Maidenhead United. Here is the interview:
Hi Richard, thanks for taking time to do this interview. What is your background in the game? Did you play at all?
I only played locally and not at a high level.
How did you come about being the Kitman for Maidenhead United?
The First Team Coach Aaron O’Brien actually got me into the Club. We were together a few years back at a local Club and always said to him that if the kitman retired then give me a call.
The Friday before the season started I had the phone call as the Kitman had announced he was retiring. I had a few people to speak to, such as my family and my boss at the time. For me, it was a no-brainer not to accept it!
What is your routine on a matchday?
I arrive at the ground around 10:30am and start the laying out of all the coaches kit and players kit. The water bottles are then filled and also the pre-workout bottles. I then await players to arrive.
When game kicks off, I go into changing the rooms collect all warm-up kit and put in machines and get that done.
After the match I collect all the kit, tidy up the dressing room and put kit in for wash and leave around 19:30.
My wife works at the club as well in the tea-bar. The club is very family-orientated.
Is there a big difference in your routine for a midweek game to one on a Saturday?
No, not really. It’s just a later finish but I have the same routine as a Saturday
What preparations do you have to do during the week?
Not much really I go on a Friday to clean changing rooms make sure all of the match-day balls are all clean and at the right pressure.
If we are away then Friday is the day to pack everything up ready for travel on the Saturday. It’s the same for a Tuesday away game, I will do it during that day.
I guess that you have to deal with the training kit as well as the playing kit?
No, the players look after their own training kit.
I was once at a game where the opposing team forgot their away kits and their kitman had to go to a nearby sports shop and buy a load of England shirts as a replacement! Have you ever had any disastrous moments in your time as a kitman?
Touch wood no never done that I always make sure the kit is first in.
How many shirts a season do the players get through?
They get three or four. Obviously the players that are on the fringes of the First-Team may only need one for the season but the regulars need three or four.
At Arsenal, the captain decides on whether the outfield players wear long or short sleeves. Are there any traditions like that at Maidenhead?
I’ve actually spoken to Vic Akers the former Kitman at Arsenal about the famous Arsenal tradition about the captain’s choosing the sleeves.
He said that it was a nightmare as Tony Adams would choose short sleeves, go out for the warm up then come back in and want long sleeves! Luckily for us, all of our shirts home and away are short sleeves so they don’t have a choice.
Do any of the Maidenhead United have any strange superstitions?
Only the Captain. He won’t get changed until he has been in to see the referee with the team sheet that’s the only one I know of
How many hour a week do you have to work with sorting out all of the various kits?
I’m only in charge of the First Team. I oversee the Ladies and Academy Kitmen and deal with kit issues with them.
About Author
