My Dad - A True Blade

[LoughboroBlade]

Very sorry to hear that Greenwich – hears hoping we have a not-rubbish performance today that he’d have enjoyed.

 

[benn5712]

We more than likely do....
Naw, this particular one was a bit older than me and I'm guessing you're a tad younger than me?
I finished my apprenticeship in '73, so would be doing my time in Forge fitters around 71/2 ....
Were you a footballer? If so we'll definitely know each other.

Unfortunately I wasn't talented enough to even have two left feet. P...ed me off no end because I loved playing footy but was never an athelete.
Maybe you would remember Prince Andrew, or rather his look alike. Ray Turner one of the foremen, think he was a junior at the lane.

 

[LSF]

Yep, remember Ray, think he passed away last year? Didn't know he'd been a player of some ability though.
I gelled more with Len Ashton who's still knocking about and a Blade I believe.
I'm guessing you knew Dennis (Dino) Corton too?

 

[benn5712]

Yep, remember Ray, think he passed away last year? Didn't know he'd been a player of some ability though.
I gelled more with Len Ashton who's still knocking about and a Blade I believe.
I'm guessing you knew Dennis (Dino) Corton too?

Yes. Coit (Coyt), Eddie, Terry Hallam. That sparky Bob ? went to work in S.Africa and I believe he was a more than accomplished player, playing maybe at a very high standard over there. Tony ? in the office. Big Blade he was.

 

[Greenwich Blade]

Yep, remember Ray, think he passed away last year? Didn't know he'd been a player of some ability though.
I gelled more with Len Ashton who's still knocking about and a Blade I believe.
I'm guessing you knew Dennis (Dino) Corton too?

Ray Turner was one of my dad's best mates at Firth Brown and he was indeed on United's books for a while without making the breakthrough. Even so, whatever Ray said about football was gospel in my dad's view.

In the 1970s dad's Firth Brown friends used to go on the John Street Terrace, a chap called Harry being the fixer - Harry always got the tickets, called my mum Lady Bell, and bunked off school to go to a United manager's funeral, getting caught by the cameras (presumably Pathe) so got the cane - sometimes accompanied by shop steward Tricky Dicky aka Richard Caborn.

By the time we were in decline, they positioned themselves behind the dugout and gave Jimmy Sirrell plenty of friendly advice; every now and then Mr Sirrell would stick his head over the top and give them a measured reply.

 

[LSF]

Yes. Coit (Coyt), Eddie, Terry Hallam. That sparky Bob ? went to work in S.Africa and I believe he was a more than accomplished player, playing maybe at a very high standard over there. Tony ? in the office. Big Blade he was.

Bob Smith, old mate of mine and a good player, was with Chesterfield at one stage but as you say went to Oz and played at top level there.
Tony Harrison was the big Blade, and a character too! Named one of his kids Nathan Anthony Currie Harrison.
Terry Hallam still knocking around, saw him and Len Ashton not so long ago.
Sure those guys will be paying their respects to Rennie Greenwich Blade .

 

[LSF]

Ray Turner was one of my dad's best mates at Firth Brown and he was indeed on United's books for a while without making the breakthrough. Even so, whatever Ray said about football was gospel in my dad's view.

In the 1970s dad's Firth Brown friends used to go on the John Street Terrace, a chap called Harry being the fixer - Harry always got the tickets, called my mum Lady Bell, and bunked off school to go to a United manager's funeral, getting caught by the cameras (presumably Pathe) so got the cane - sometimes accompanied by shop steward Tricky Dicky aka Richard Caborn.

By the time we were in decline, they positioned themselves behind the dugout and gave Jimmy Sirrell plenty of friendly advice; every now and then Mr Sirrell would stick his head over the top and give them a measured reply.

As an apprentice I was always a bit wary of Ray, he was a bit dour at times. First piece of advice k received when starting my spell as apprentice in Forge fitters...."don't let Rennie see you stood about doing nothing, he'll be on you like a rash"
Warning heeded, and I witnessed him taking issue with any malingering, he could be fearsome when vexed!

 

[benn5712]

Bob Smith, old mate of mine and a good player, was with Chesterfield at one stage but as you say went to Oz and played at top level there.
Tony Harrison was the big Blade, and a character too! Named one of his kids Nathan Anthony Currie Harrison.
Terry Hallam still knocking around, saw him and Len Ashton not so long ago.
Sure those guys will be paying their respects to Rennie Greenwich Blade .

Nearly got the right continent. SA - OZ, tomato potato.
Certain those you mention will.
All the best.

 

[benn5712]

Mr Sirrell would stick his head over the top.

Some sights just can't be unseen.
Excuse me and LSF, the pair of us are single handedly turning this into all our yesterdays.
You have plenty of good memories which are the best to have.
All the best and up the Blades.

 

[Greenwich Blade]

Some sights just can't be unseen.
Excuse me and LSF, the pair of us are single handedly turning this into all our yesterdays.
You have plenty of good memories which are the best to have.
All the best and up the Blades.

Don't worry, I'm loving the Firth Brown stuff!

 

[cahill]

Some sights just can't be unseen.
Excuse me and LSF, the pair of us are single handedly turning this into all our yesterdays.
You have plenty of good memories which are the best to have.
All the best and up the Blades.

How could you not remember Jimmy Sirrel ? ( rhetorical) What a handsome man Jimmy was.

 

[Fanny magnet]

Rip Adrian

 

[Blade56]

Sorry for you loss G.

At least he went out with us on the up, hope he knew that at the end. You are his legacy and it sounds like you loved him very much.

 

[Greenwich Blade]

Appearing in the Times was a lifelong ambition for my dad, so although it was just over a week after his lifetime ended, we felt a death notice in his favourite newspaper last Thursday would make him very proud.

Them's the funeral details; all are welcome.

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

Sorry to hear of your loss. I was away at the time, and missed your original post, which did both you and your Dad proud. I have been lucky enough to be in the middle of 5 generations of Blades: Grandad, Dad, me and my brother, 2 kids, 2 grandkids. There are many things more important than football, but life is a whole lot better for sharing with your family the experience of watching the Blades (other clubs and sports are available, but mostly inferior). Hold on to your thoughts about the good times you shared.

 

[Kenilworth]

Appearing in the Times was a lifelong ambition for my dad, so although it was just over a week after his lifetime ended, we felt a death notice in his favourite newspaper last Thursday would make him very proud.

Them's the funeral details; all are welcome.

View attachment 49190

Will you get time to hitch it all the way to Villa Park, Ades?

 

[Greenwich Blade]

Will you get time to hitch it all the way to Villa Park, Ades?

I'm going to have to give it a miss. The wake is at Tapton Hall so we might have to find a pub near there to watch it on the telly.

 

[Greenwich Blade]

May I introduce my big brother, EalingBlade? He played a big part in forcing me to support United as well.

 

[I should coco]

The wake is at Tapton Hall so we might have to find a pub near there to watch it on the telly.

Ball Inn on Crookes, Broomhill Tavern or the Bull's Head at Ranmoor are all about a mile from Tapton Masonic Hall and will all have it on.

Hope it goes well for you and your family.

 

[djbaldken]

It is with a heavy heart I have to announce that the man responsible for making me support United, my dad, has finally lost his battle and died peacefully at 10 o'clock this morning. You'll be glad to know that as he lay on his bed having gasped his last, I laid my Blades scarf across his chest, and not for the first time, a red and white scarf had to dry my tears. He might have had "a family of idiots!" (the London Blades' favourite quote of his when I told the tale of how he had to come and pick me up from near Peterborough on the A1 very early on Christmas Morning in 1989) but he did a pretty good job of making me the person I am, for good or for bad, and I am so proud that he is my dad. He also managed to touch the lives of everyone he came into contact with, as those who listened to his wry observations at Bramall Lane will testify. I am already missing the phone calls after we've lost which missed out all pleasantries and introductions and got straight to the point - "Were they rubbish?" View attachment 48526

My thoughts are with you Greenwich. RIP. Hopefully your dad will watch us from the stadium in the sky when we make it to the promised land. Condolences to you and your family.

 

[ghandi]

May I introduce my big brother, EalingBlade? He played a big part in forcing me to support United as well.

I know of him as my friend's partner was leader of Ealing Council and when she knew I was a blade mentioned your brother whom I immediately knew was your brother as she mentioned your father was a Mormon clergyman.

 

[Greenwich Blade]

I know of him as my friend's partner was leader of Ealing Council and when she knew I was a blade mentioned your brother whom I immediately knew was your brother as she mentioned your father was a Mormon clergyman.

That's him! He's got a photo of Tony Currie on the wall next to his desk in Ealing Town Hall; it hides a picture of Jeremy Corbyn (sort of) .

 

[Maidenhead]

I'm going to have to give it a miss. The wake is at Tapton Hall so we might have to find a pub near there to watch it on the telly.

I know of him as my friend's partner was leader of Ealing Council and when she knew I was a blade mentioned your brother whom I immediately knew was your brother as she mentioned your father was a Mormon clergyman.

The wake is at Tapton Hall and your father was a clergyman?

I hope he doesn't feel too uncomfortable my old mate.

As it happens I'm at a memorial to a deceased Masonic friend of mine at a different Masonic Hall that day

​

 

[Greenwich Blade]

The wake is at Tapton Hall and your father was a clergyman?

I hope he doesn't feel too uncomfortable my old mate.

As it happens I'm at a memorial to a deceased Masonic friend of mine at a different Masonic Hall that day

​

Oh, he won't mind. He fits in and mixes well anywhere.

 

[Wapping Blade]

Oh, he won't mind. He fits in and mixes well anywhere.

“Masons, are they rubbish?”.

 

[Tezza1889]

Sorry for your loss mate, RIP Blade..

 

[Greenwich Blade]

The great thing about having your own radio show is you get to do a tribute to your own dad, not that he would have liked much of what I played because, barring one memorable occasion when I was playing The Enid, he objected to every bit of music he ever heard emanating from my bedroom. However, I've made it all relevant in one way or another, and I've included some commentary from United 2-1 Leeds in 2002, as well as Stan by Roy Harper (about when Roy's dad took him to watch Blackpool as a boy), followed by myself recounting the story of my dad's assist for John Matthews v Cambridge on Dec 30th 1978. I also quote benn5712 's description of Firth Brown.

 

[The Crab]

May I introduce my big brother, EalingBlade? He played a big part in forcing me to support United as well.

Went to watch Ms Crab's nephew play in a Ball Hockey tournament down Ealing.

North Circular Road, conflicting info from Ms Crab and the Sat Nav. Went well.................

 

[Bayingblade]

I'm going to have to give it a miss. The wake is at Tapton Hall so we might have to find a pub near there to watch it on the telly.

If you decide on the Bulls Head GB, there's every chance we could be there and if so, I'll buy you a pint and drink to your Dad's memory.

 

[Steve Mackan]

It is with a heavy heart I have to announce that the man responsible for making me support United, my dad, has finally lost his battle and died peacefully at 10 o'clock this morning. You'll be glad to know that as he lay on his bed having gasped his last, I laid my Blades scarf across his chest, and not for the first time, a red and white scarf had to dry my tears. He might have had "a family of idiots!" (the London Blades' favourite quote of his when I told the tale of how he had to come and pick me up from near Peterborough on the A1 very early on Christmas Morning in 1989) but he did a pretty good job of making me the person I am, for good or for bad, and I am so proud that he is my dad. He also managed to touch the lives of everyone he came into contact with, as those who listened to his wry observations at Bramall Lane will testify. I am already missing the phone calls after we've lost which missed out all pleasantries and introductions and got straight to the point - "Were they rubbish?" View attachment 48526

Condolences Greenwich Blade. Very sorry to hear that.