Non-league: Injured Howes victim of a cruel gag

7:00am Thursday 28th February 2013 in Latest Sport Photograph of the Author By Neil Perrett

STRICKEN non-league star Glenn Howes was the unwitting victim of a cruel jibe which has created more bad blood between bitter Dorset rivals Poole and Wimborne.

Howes’s playing career remains in the balance after he suffered a serious leg injury when he was caught by a reckless late tackle during Poole’s clash at Merthyr 12 days ago.

Numerous other clubs and supporters from the non-league fraternity have rallied round Howes with Poole producing a special t-shirt emblazoned with the motto ‘Win It For Howesy’.

However, ahead of Tuesday’s Dorset Senior Cup tie against Gillingham Town, Poole officials were left fuming when they arrived at Wimborne’s Cuthbury to find the slogan had been mocked.

The Dolphins, who were allotted the home dressing room for the semi-final tie, were met with a hand-written message on the changing room notice board which read ‘Don’t win it for Howesy’.

It is understood to have been the collective handiwork of a group of Wimborne players who had penned the comment following a training session.

And while the Daily Echo has learned the original message may have read ‘Win It For Howesy’ – as a sarcastic reference to the t-shirt – an unnamed Wimborne player is believed to have added the ‘Don’t’.

Wimborne, who last night set up another duel with Poole by booking their place in the Dorset Senior Cup final at the expense of Weymouth, have downplayed the incident.

However, Poole boss Tom Killick, speaking to Hot Radio following their 4-1 win over Gillingham, slammed the prank as “disrespectful” and, in a reference to their club’s success compared with Wimborne, said “jealousy is a terrible thing”.

Wimborne, who currently trail Poole by 27 points in Division One South & West of the Southern League, were one of the first clubs to send a message of good wishes to Howes after news of his injury had become apparent.

In a statement issued to the Daily Echo, Wimborne said: “Firstly, the club wishes to emphasise that everyone at Wimborne Town, especially the players, feels for Glenn Howes and wish him all the best as he recovers from the dreadful injury he sustained at Merthyr.

“Most of the Wimborne players have played alongside most of the Poole players at some time and there is real camaraderie as well as rivalry between the two teams.

“The comment that was written in our changing room was done completely in jest and we are surprised that the Poole Town manager felt it was worthy of mention.”

Earlier this season, Killick ruffled a few feathers at Cuthbury when he told the Echo no Wimborne player would improve his Poole team. His comments were pinned on the Wimborne dressing room wall ahead of their 3-0 win over their rivals in the Southern League Cup.

And a section of Dolphins supporters had previously labelled Wimborne as ‘Poole Town reserves’, a reference to the number of former Tatnam players in the Cuthbury ranks.

Comments(19)

CourtOffside says...
9:47am Thu 28 Feb 13

"Completely in jest". Oh. That makes it Ok then.

Only it doesn't, does it.

Quite the opposite.

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bourne free says...
10:31am Thu 28 Feb 13

CourtOffside wrote:
"Completely in jest". Oh. That makes it Ok then.

Only it doesn't, does it.

Quite the opposite.
Its called Banter / cheer up Mr PC

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Fanfor45 says...
11:50am Thu 28 Feb 13

bourne free wrote:
CourtOffside wrote:
"Completely in jest". Oh. That makes it Ok then.

Only it doesn't, does it.

Quite the opposite.
Its called Banter / cheer up Mr PC
Guys please. I know I'm likely to be controversial here but a bit of perspective. Glenn was injured doing his job just like many people in the country get injured doing theirs. They get injured in the same way as Glenn, where a mistake has been made. The difference with a tackle in a game of football is that a split second mis-timing can turn a genuine attempt at winning the ball into what was witnessed here; an apparent thug-like assault on a fellow player. It has likely ended Glenn's career but that is the risk you take. As for the adding of the word "don't"....come on it's harmless banter that goes on in any walk of life and is only as harmful as Glenn wants to make it. It concerns no-one else.

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CourtOffside says...
11:58am Thu 28 Feb 13

'Banter', because acting like a c---- needed a new, less offensive name.

Pfft.

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losthope says...
12:13pm Thu 28 Feb 13

If it's banter, then both sides will be laughing.

If they're not, then it isn't and claiming that it is is simply trying to pass on the blame for your insensitivity.

Man up if you have upset someone. Apologise. Better still, think before you speak.

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bogtrotter says...
12:43pm Thu 28 Feb 13

It's Killick making a deal out of it, just anything to get a bit of press. Boring.

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No banter says...
1:18pm Thu 28 Feb 13

Firstly the words from Wimborne statement - "jest" if you think this word is the right one to use as an excuse for the writing used about the injury and the terrible effect it has had and will have on Glen then your standards as a club should be looked at (I guess this is a ploy to say it is not that bad but you know it is it out of order by not having your name on the echo just a club statement ).

secondly - I feel sorry for the individual who wrote the words, if they have such a sad life as to take the time to have a negative comment at a guy who has lost his career and his health then they need to have a long look at their own life and standards, even better come clean be a man and speak to glen.

There is a lot of bad stuff out there and would it not be better to give a bit back and being a fellow footballer wish glen all the best.

Last the people who said it was banter - banter would have been something about gills stuffing Poole or about one of their healthy players.

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matt68 says...
2:16pm Thu 28 Feb 13

bourne free wrote:
CourtOffside wrote:
"Completely in jest". Oh. That makes it Ok then.

Only it doesn't, does it.

Quite the opposite.
Its called Banter / cheer up Mr PC
banter is ok if the victims of banter do not mind if they do then it is unacceptable and must stop, this sort of thing can be very hurtful and some people can be badly affected by this sort of banter?

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curryandstella says...
6:47pm Thu 28 Feb 13

Get a life, It's sad if Howes playing days are over, but their are much worse things happening in Dorset ie Friday nights tragic accident

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No banter says...
7:00pm Thu 28 Feb 13

You are right they are many things worse and our thoughts go out to the family. But no one said so called jest remarks about that event.

Will say again sad that people have sad lives and it makes them feel better about themselves making poor remarks about someone's health. If it is not that bad then the person responsible if he were a man could show himself admit his mistake and apologise

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Strawbs_78 says...
7:03pm Thu 28 Feb 13

Just to clarify Howes isn't a professional footballer so he hasn't lost his career. Unfortunately as crude as it may be this type of thing is the fairly normal, especially in non-league football.

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No banter says...
7:26pm Thu 28 Feb 13

Sad that lots of people coming on here twisting and deflecting the facts which are simple

1 A young man has been in an incident that has had a negative effect on his health.

2. some one who has nothing better to do has made jest over this which is poor behaviour if you are a decent human

3. It is wrong which ever way you try to spin it or deflect it. sorry you won't change my mind how ever you spin it. What would (not that you would care what I think) is the club and the person come clean ( we all make mistakes ) apologise close the matter move on and restore the faith in people.

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gameon says...
9:05pm Thu 28 Feb 13

No banter wrote:
You are right they are many things worse and our thoughts go out to the family. But no one said so called jest remarks about that event.

Will say again sad that people have sad lives and it makes them feel better about themselves making poor remarks about someone's health. If it is not that bad then the person responsible if he were a man could show himself admit his mistake and apologise
Trouble is WTFC isnt a mans Club anymore it lost that title when Ron Dinmore & Brian Maidment etc sadly passed away .Tommy and Taffy have a lot of friends at the club who will never forget what the lads did when they played for the Magpies This unsavoury business has been done by one or more of Cuss|s Kids no better than youth players not Man enough to own up All bodes well for the Dorset cup game ???

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WFC66 says...
9:58pm Thu 28 Feb 13

Not really a newsworthy story but then Killick's never slow to make a mountain out of a molehill and create waves.

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No banter says...
11:13pm Thu 28 Feb 13

Guess WFC66 is connected to Wimborne, another person with no apology for events , just an attack on Tommy having listened to his interwiew he did not say what was wrote down. If I was connected to WImborne I would be asking why my manager had not sorted it out. If i were manager I would want my Players to be men tough on the pitch dignified off it and be a representative of me the club and supporters

I don't think it will be the end off this matter the pink will have it, the non league paper will possible have it and I know a video of the tackle is on talk sport so they might possible run this story.

Time to act with dignity, sort it out and the board and manager stop hiding behind silence ( you will be pleased this is my last post on the matter)

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WFC66 says...
8:28pm Fri 1 Mar 13

No Banter....you are right....you are guessing....I am not affiliated in any way to Wimborne else my tag would have read WTFC....shows why you are no better than those you moan about! Stick to facts you know to be true!

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No banter says...
11:03pm Fri 1 Mar 13

WFC66 I said I was not going to post again but as I have made a mistake about you being connected to Wimborne FC felt I had to post again.

As I made the mistake I will not dig my head in the sand i will do whats right and say that I am sorry. I understand totally that after their behaviour I would be very upset to be connected to them if I was not, so please accept my apologies.

Secondly as you your status was the only mistake you pointed out on my post thank you very much for agreeing with me on all the other many points. Many thanks

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Tanker69 says...
6:27pm Sat 2 Mar 13

Poole town need to get a grip.... They got t shirts for a bloke who didnt even break his leg. Do it for howesy... they are acting like the bloke died. Before you ask I'm not connected to Wimborne, but as an observer on the whole situation, Tommy Killick pipe down you moron!!

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upton snowboarder says...
8:54pm Sat 2 Mar 13

Well this is a sad turn of events really, sad that wimborne can not apologise as a club...no one wants to admit to it. All that can be said is refering to the actions of his men (i use the term men loosely) as "jest". Glenn doesnt just have to recover to play football again, glenn has to recover so he can work and pay bills etc. I really hope that wimborne dont suffer any injuries of this kind to any of there players. there could be many motives as to who would do it...a ex player who lost there place in the side and is jealous. Maybe if wimborne players focused more on there football they wouldnt be so far behind. Jealousy is a terrible illness and a get well soon card is in the post.

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