A family affair for Richard Sneekes
Tuesday 28th September 2010, 8:49AM BST.
Former Albion favourite Richard Sneekes has revealed the chance to play alongside his son at Dudley Town was too good to turn down.
The 41-year-old Dutchman, a Hawthorns hero between 1996 and 2001, has signed for Town along with 16-year-old Giorgio, although Sneekes senior won’t be in action against Darlaston tonight or for Saturday’s game with Shawbury Town.
Sneekes last played competitively for Hinckley in 2007 but is as an academy coach at Tamworth, where he works alongside Town boss Steve Hinks.
He said: “Obviously, Steve Hinks, the manager at Dudley Town, I work with at Tamworth. He wanted my son Giorgio to play for him so the chairman said why don’t I sign as well.
“It will be really interesting to play a first-team game with my son – a really proud moment for me.
“I was 16 when I made my debut for Ajax, for Giorgio it is Dudley Town so I guess it’s a bit different.
“He was ready to give up football 15 months ago but now the penny seems to have dropped. It’s more important to me what my son gets out of this.
“It should help him get better and stronger.”
But Sneekes insists that his appearances will be restricted to cameo roles.
He added: “I can’t play for 90 minutes, I’d have to go on a training regime for that and I have too many commitments for that, so it will just be cameo appearances here and there.
“Next month I will be 42 but I can still play. You are playing 18 to 20 year olds – it’s more a case of helping out.
“These sorts of clubs run on tight budgets. Hopefully it might get a few more on the gates.
“I’m looking forward to it.”
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“Sneekes, Sneekes”. Richard Sneekes – what a legend.
…and is that Steve Austin in the photo shaking hands with him? Crikey – I used to work with him at NatWest in Birmingham 20 years ago! He was kit-man for Dudley back then.
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