Bob Booker Biography

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diplomat said:
Good point about Bradshaw, thinking about it I don't think Tracey was there either at that point was he? He didn't make his debut until the Huddersfield home game which was late in the season although he obviously might have joined earlier.
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Tracey signed for us either in Sept or Oct 1988 and I remember watching him in reserves matches. His debut for the 1st team was in the Sherpa Van trophy match at Wrexham on 5/12/88
 

Greville Waterman said:
BTW I spoke to Benno who still has no idea why he was suddenly dropped and replaced by Tracey for the promotion run in. Bassett has never given a proper reason either. Anyone got any clues?
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I was told he had a bust up with Paul Stancliffe in the dressing room after the 2-2 draw at home to Brentford in April 1989. After that Tracey became our number 1 keeper and Benno only played one more first team match for us (v Watford at home in the FA Cup in January 1990
 
Hopefully the rest of the content is as insightful.

Really enjoyed reading that.

When is the book due out?

Like many Blades, I also cherished having characters like Bob on what was an amazing journey under Dave Bassett. I remember him scoring twice vs West Brom and we got a pen yet the regular taker took it, might even have missed too! No room for sentiment!

Look forward to purchasing a copy!
 
Champagneblade said:
Hopefully the rest of the content is as insightful.

Really enjoyed reading that.

When is the book due out?

Like many Blades, I also cherished having characters like Bob on what was an amazing journey under Dave Bassett. I remember him scoring twice vs West Brom and we got a pen yet the regular taker took it, might even have missed too! No room for sentiment!

Look forward to purchasing a copy!
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You're thinking of the Southampton game in 1991. John Gannon took, and missed, the penalty. I remember the miss but can't remember if Booker was still on the field. Gannon was I assume the designated penalty taker - that was the first one we'd been awarded that season (it was February) and he'd taken the last one we'd had the previous year.

It wouldn't surprise me if Bassett insisted Gannon took the kick. 3 years before, Richard Cadette had scored twice against Ipswich and then took a penalty instead of Peter Beagrie and missed it. We won 4-1 but Bassett was not pleased with Cadette.

Cadette also won a 500 quid holiday voucher in the Blades Revival draw at half time, so he had a decent day.
 
Dear WalthamstowBlade. I used to read and even buy The Flashing Blade in Sportspages back in the day.

I'm based in North London, maybe you're not too far away? I would love to see the 1988/92 editions if there are any articles on Bob Booker e.g. Who is this bloke when he started badly, how he became a folk hero and maybe a retrospective when he left.

Please let me know.

Thanks again.
 
Greville Waterman said:
Dear WalthamstowBlade. I used to read and even buy The Flashing Blade in Sportspages back in the day.

I'm based in North London, maybe you're not too far away? I would love to see the 1988/92 editions if there are any articles on Bob Booker e.g. Who is this bloke when he started badly, how he became a folk hero and maybe a retrospective when he left.

Please let me know.

Thanks again.
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There was a series in the early editions called "Bloody Bad Blades" when some of the more useless United players of recent past were profiled. In one edition in early 1989 it said after the current piece "Next issue - Bob Booker (unless he gets his act together sharpish)". There was some mild ribbing of Booker's abilities generally at that time - I remember one contributor expressing surprise when he scored against Gillingham - but that all changed after the Mansfield game towards the end of that season, which I'm sure you know about.
 
LYDON said:
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"B-B-B-B-ooker....
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Surely G-G-G-Greville? ;)

As others have probably said, BB 'came of age' as a Blade on 13th April, 1991 away at QPR. We were in the top tier and had failed to win in the first sixteen games. Naturally, we were rock-bottom of the table until we beat Forest at home on 22nd December 1990.

After that, it was lift off as the Blades hit Championship-winning form (the PL came in 2 seasons later), at one stage winning seven consecutive games including against Man. U, Chelsea and away at Everton. Watching the Blades was once more a pleasure and we took very large followings everywhere. The QPR game was played in glorious sunshine with Blades fans everywhere, dressed in our then-iconic fluorescent yellow away shirts. Naturally, we won (2-1) and equally-naturally, BB added to Brian Deane's first half goal to scrore the winner.

Less than a month later (May 11th) we finished the season with a 2-1 home victory against Norwich. This was the last game with the all-standing kop, which was rebuilt for the next season. The 'official' crowd for the Norwich game was 21,019 but I swear there were that many just on the kop. We finished that season a more-that-creditable 13th.

upload_2017-2-20_8-21-11.png​
 
Greville Waterman said:
Dear WalthamstowBlade. I used to read and even buy The Flashing Blade in Sportspages back in the day.

I'm based in North London, maybe you're not too far away? I would love to see the 1988/92 editions if there are any articles on Bob Booker e.g. Who is this bloke when he started badly, how he became a folk hero and maybe a retrospective when he left.

Please let me know.

Thanks again.
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As the name says, I'm over in Walthamstow so not too hard to meet up. I have a pretty full set of programs covering 89/90-91/92 which may help? I'll have a look at my back issues of Flashing Blade, I'm missing one or two early ones but otherwise I'll have you covered. If you've not been in touch with him already, Matt Bell, the FB editor, would be a good bloke to chat to.
 
Thanks WalthamstowBlade. I'd be grateful if you could see if there are any specific articles on Bob in the FB fanzine. If so I'd love to get scans or copies. I'm meeting Bob tomorrow and I think he's kept the programmes but I will find out shortly.

Please let me know re the fanzine. Thanks.
 
Greville Waterman said:
Here is an extract from my forthcoming Bob Booker Biography. Hope you all like it. It covers his first few frenetic days after he joined the Blades before he made his debut against Bristol City.

Any comments, stories, additions, corrections really welcomed.

Thank you.

Best wishes

Greville Waterman

https://bfctalk.wordpress.com/2017/02/19/bob-booker-biography-extract-2/
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That's terrific. You really let Bob's voice come through.

There's also some interesting insight into Bassett's training, tactics and management that I'm sure Blades of that vintage will be interested in.
 
Greville Waterman said:
Thanks WalthamstowBlade. I'd be grateful if you could see if there are any specific articles on Bob in the FB fanzine. If so I'd love to get scans or copies. I'm meeting Bob tomorrow and I think he's kept the programmes but I will find out shortly.

Please let me know re the fanzine. Thanks.
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I'm away till tomorrow night but will have a leaf through when I get home. If there is anything Booker related I'll scan it in and email it over to you.
 

Thanks everyone. Glad it seems I'm on the right track. WalthamstowBlade thanks. Really appreciate any scans or a cover photo of a FB that features Bob.

Mick Rooker is also writing a foreword on Bob and how he became part of the community.

If anyone wants to send me anything
I'm on [email protected].
 
Revolution said:
I wasn't there but I think Mansfield away has to be seen as the game when he won people over. Everyone who was present says so (and I say this having attended the Zenith game).
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Yes, I take back my original statement! I was at Mansfield (front row, snow on my knees, and I bought a match programme which was filled with blank pages!), and Sir Bob's attitude shone through that day. Even my dad, who really didn't take well to Booker at first, mentioned how vital he was that day.
 
Think his first interview on joining the club was "I've spent my whole career at Brentford in the lower leagues. I'd like to thank Dave Bassett for giving me to play at such a big club. I thought my chance has gone. I intend to savour this and I can gaurantee the fans I will give my all".

Booker joined United as an underwhelming no body but became a cult hero.
We all knew he was limited talent wise BUT he played like he was one of the fans.
He did give 100% and showed he cared, always the first to clap the fans at the end of the match.
Also to be fair he did show odd moments of class and didn't look out of place in the top division.

He summed up the Dave Bassett special team spirit and he was really appreciated.

Also since leaving SU he still attends the odd rare away game, turns up at the Wembley games.
Also I personally saw him sat in the middle of the Leppings Lane end upper tier when we beat Wednesday 3-1 on that famous night in 1993.
 
Greville Waterman said:
Thanks WalthamstowBlade. I'd be grateful if you could see if there are any specific articles on Bob in the FB fanzine. If so I'd love to get scans or copies. I'm meeting Bob tomorrow and I think he's kept the programmes but I will find out shortly.

Please let me know re the fanzine. Thanks.
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No doubt you'll let him know there is still a tremendous amount of love for the guy amongst Blades fans, as we see him as fully one of our own :)
 
I doubt Bob would ever be able to a pint in any pub in the red part of the city.
Bob was just one of us.Someone who knew how lucky he was to have the job he had and he never let us down.
The likes of Currie and Woodward are up there for pure football ability.
I can't actually describe what he gave us,but it was bloody brilliant.
From bowing to us at Stoke, to climbing the fence at QPR and singing with us on the Leppings lane end.
Bob Booker will always get a standing ovation any time he steps on the hallowed Bramall Lane turf.
 
I remember his cult hero status started quite early - even when he was still shit.

I can clearly remember singing "Bobby Blunders Walks On Water" well before the end of the season and there being plenty "6 foot tall / cost fuck all" choruses too.

Really liked Webster but took to Bob's "do whatever it takes" approach very quickly. His "blinders" nickname was well earned in his first few games though.
 

I had the tremendous pleasure of spending some time in the company of 'Sir Bob' when he was invited to play in an ex-pro veteran team representing Sheffield FC in a 7 a side tournament in Hong Kong in 2007. I have to say that he is a wonderful, genuine, down to earth bloke, who clearly loved his football, especially his time in Sheffield. I'll try and dig out some photos and send them on.
 
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