As Boreham Wood FC prepare for a historic Wembley appearance, one veteran correspondent reflects on the lessons learned from covering the club as an amateur side half a century ago. The club, now one win away from reaching the English Football League for the first time, holds a special place in the memory of the journalist, who began his career reporting for the Borehamwood and Elstree Post.
Recalling his gap year before university, the journalist describes how he landed a role at the local paper after a school friend spotted an advert. Under the tutelage of editor Roger Norman, he learned the principle of reporting 'without fear or favour', a mantra that would guide him through assignments covering conflicts in the Middle East, African dictators, and US presidents.
Travelling to away games on the team bus, the young reporter witnessed the realities of amateur football: players receiving 'boot money', a goalscorer betting on his own performance, and groupies at the back of the bus. These experiences taught him to navigate the grey areas of journalism, knowing when to report and when to hold back.
The journalist's career later took him to the world stage, where he interviewed figures such as Robert Mugabe, Ariel Sharon, Boris Yeltsin, George W. Bush, and Donald Trump. He credits his time on the Boreham Wood bus with teaching him to listen, learn, and ask the right questions.
Now living in Argentina, the journalist will be watching Sunday's match between Boreham Wood and Rochdale from 7,000 miles away, a testament to the enduring impact of those early days in non-league football.
