“Fitness is the key to footballing success,” Isaak Van Elsacker told us (year unknown, we forgot to make a note but probably around 1960). And although nearly 40, he is still fit enough to last the pace in the forward line.
He reckons last season — playing for Congleton Rangers — was the most successful since he started at the age of 16.
Most of that success, however, was as a trainer. Under his direction, all four teams ended with either winners’ or runners-up medals — a vindication of his emphasis on fitness.
It was this lack of staying power, in his view, that caused Congleton Town’s defeats last season.
He would like to see Town nursing local talent instead of going to Kidsgrove and the Potteries for reserve players. Local clubs should co-operate with them, he says, for it’s the interests of young players that should come before a team’s league progress.
“Van” is looking forward to another good season for Rangers because of the number of young lads they have. He hopes to continue playing with them and showing them how to “make the ball talk.” For next to fitness, he puts ball control as a match-winning factor.
Thirdly, he values an aggressive spirit. “Attack even when you are losing,” is his motto.
One of his biggest wishes is to see retired players use their experience to coach youngsters. Too many lose all interest in the game when they hang their boots up.
He joined the Fortuna Club in the Royal Netherlands Football Association at 16, playing in the second division. He was called up in 1937, and played for the Princess Irene Regiment. In Britain during the war, he played for the Royal Dutch Army against the British Army, Royal Navy, RAF and other Free European armies — including a match against the Belgians at Wembley.
After marrying Phyllis Smart at Congleton, he settled in the borough and played as centre-forward for Congleton Town in the first half of the 1946–47 season. As a storekeeper at Foden’s, he played for Foden’s for the rest of that season (winning the Manchester Amateur League and runners-up in the cup), and the next season (won the cup). He then played for Mossley White Star, Congleton Town again, Back to Foden’s and Sandbach Ramblers, then in 1954–56 was a trainer and player with Town Reserves and in 1957–58 held the same position with Rangers.
Van played with Rangers “quite a few times,” and in coaching the team received sterling support from club officials. He is a great believer in the amateur spirit — playing the game purely for the pleasure of it.
• The photo of Mr van Elsacker is the first of these old photos we have enhanced with AI. As far as we can tell, it is remarkable accurate. (26-11-004 and 26-11-005
