“I’ve not done too bad, I suppose” – Legend Barlett reflects on Wealdstone career

(Picture: Action Images via Reuters)
By Matt Badcock
THAT’S the thing about eras, eventually they come to an end. Gordon Bartlett’s years in charge of Wealdstone have long secured his status as a club and Non-League legend.
But on Monday he delivered his final team-talk as Stones boss when he told his emotional squad the time had come to step down.
Last Saturday’s 2-0 National League South defeat to Rod Stringer’s Chelmsford City came on his 22nd anniversary as manager. It proved to be the last of a dynasty that started in 1995 and included three promotions as Wealdstone re-established themselves on the map.
The flood of tributes since are an illustration of how high Bartlett is regarded throughout the game.
“The messages I’ve had from other managers, ex-players – even Britt Assombalonga text me last night – have been amazing,” Bartlett told The NLP. “It’s very humbling.
“One funny one was Rod Stringer. He sent me a very nice text message and I sent an expletive back because he was the one who put the final nail in the coffin! But I know he would have appreciated the reply.
“I wanted to tell the players first. We trained Monday night at 6.30pm. I’d told my staff just before and we sat the players down in the changing room.
“I can’t deny I was very emotional. I was fine with the staff and I was absolutely fine until I looked at the players. I told them what we were doing that night but I wouldn’t be involved.
“I only had to look at the emotion in the players’ eyes and, I’ve got to be fair, I became very emotional. After 22 years in the changing room it was tough. But I felt a genuine feeling towards me.”
That warmth was evident in the social media postings from former players who are now in the Football League like Tom Pett and Luke O’Nien.
“The amount of ex-players, and I’m not just talking about the boys who have gone up, but boys who are all good club men, some who were only at the club five minutes, people I never would have imagined,” Bartlett said.
“It’s easy talking about your Toms, Britts and Lukes who have gone on and done very well out of the game, but it’s everybody.
“I’ve always tried to treat people the way I want to be treated myself. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a superstar or a young kid coming through. A young player we’ve just introduced to the first team has sent me a lovely text. I’ve had a lovely text from Glenn Little talking about the time I spoke to his mum.
“I’m not saying there’s a right way to manage or a wrong way to manage. It’s your way. Bobby Wilkinson is going to come in and be totally different. I sincerely hope it’s successful for him because it’s a great club.”

Bartlett has exchanged messages with Wilkinson and has offered any insight the incoming manager may want.
He’s also been offered a role at the club, still to be determined, but for now the 61-year-old thinks it’s right to “disappear into the background for a couple of weeks”.
Yesterday was Barlett’s first Saturday in 33 years he wasn’t a manager. Instead, he planned to watch son Craig play in the Surrey League. But Bartlett leaves the Wealdstone dug-out with countless memories.
“Winning Division Three of the Isthmian League,” Bartlett recalled. “It was us or Braintree. We had to win at home or they’d win the league. Braintree were 5-0 up at half-time. We weren’t.
“With 20 minutes to go we won it. The celebrations, relief whatever you call it, rank as one of my personal best days. They went into the early hours of the morning. That was the start of the road back for the club.”
A play-off final win against Dulwich Hamlet is another big highlight, as was the day they sealed the Ryman Premier title, and promotion to Step 2, at Margate.
Bartlett says he took over a club in depression and administration with no ground and three players.
“I did question it, I’ll tell you the truth,” Bartlett said. “Paul Rumens was then chairman. He sold me the history of the club, said we’ve got to go backwards to go forwards, but in two years we’ll have our own stadium.
“We never got the new ground. We’ve been denied promotions, had a lot of hassle. It was almost certain we were going to get the Hive, now Barnet‘s ground, but that went by the wayside.
“We groundshared for years until we got to Ruislip. All of a sudden the club had a heartbeat and has gone from strength-to-strength. Our crowds were around 250. We’re now averaging just under 1,000.
“I look back with an awful lot of pride at the obstacles we’ve overcome, the       difficulties, to take the club to where we are now… I ain’t done too bad.”
*This article originally featured in the August 27 edition of The Non-League Paper. The NLP is available every Sunday.