Colin Collindridge

[8lade]

Turns out a family member is one of the carers at the home where Colin (98) resides; 142 apps 52 goals from 1938-50 for United.
Do I try and visit this old fella?
Leave him alone?
Try and interview him?
What should I do?

 

[Scooter_mcgavin]

Er, leave him alone?

 

[BushBlade]

Turns out a family member is one of the carers at the home where Colin (98) resides; 142 apps 52 goals from 1938-50 for United.
Do I try and visit this old fella?
Leave him alone?
Try and interview him?
What should I do?

Ask said family member to ask him if he’d like a visit from a Blade. He probably would, I imagine care homes can be a bit lonely at times.

 

[The Crab]

Ask said family member to ask him if he’d like a visit from a Blade. He probably would, I imagine care homes can be a bit lonely at times.

This would be my advice. Your family member will know him, and more than likely know if he'd like visitors.

Having "worked in the trade" myself a lot of people don't get many visitors so it might cheer him up.

 

[PokerBlade]

Depends on if you want an honest chat with an old man or if you're going to shout at him about who owns the freehold, I suppose.

As said above, try to contact indirectly at first, get an idea of his health and mental state, but there's a good chance you'll find an old lad who's made up that people still think of him and have an interest in his past.

Don't want to put a dampener on it, but if he's 98 then you won't have forever to think about it, and it'd be a shame to lose some of the stories he'll have.

 

[TJB.]

Try and interview him?

From an oral history point of view, interviewing older ex-players who played for us but who are lesser-known than the legends of the club (perhaps even unheard of) would be a fascinating little project. I'd love to hear something like that.

 

[Bill Johnson]

Take Pinchy. Just to ensure a calm uncontroversial visit.

 

[itsinyerblood]

There's no right or wrong to this question. As has been said above, contact a relative first, then, if it appears he'd like to meet, make sure it's at his convenience.

Care homes, at least for me, can probably be incredibly isolating and lonely places to live. it's one of the sadnesses of getting old that you gain the importance of unwanted baggage, therefore what may have once been a healthy social life can transform into a barren present and future. I hope this works out well, good luck.

 

[CrookesBlade]

Depends....has he got some freebies for Stoke going spare?

 

[JohnDenver]

Turns out a family member is one of the carers at the home where Colin (98) resides; 142 apps 52 goals from 1938-50 for United.
Do I try and visit this old fella?
Leave him alone?
Try and interview him?
What should I do?

Definitely find out if he’d welcome a chat, but make sure it’s a conversation he enjoys rather than an interview. Unless you’re offering him a job...

 

[Topplayersleave]

At 98 he might not even remember playing for United

 

[GrayBlade]

At 98 he might not even remember playing for United

If he’s like my own older relatives, you can bet your bottom dollar that he’ll remember playing for United in the finest detail. What he probably won’t remember is what he had for lunch.

 

[broomhillblade]

I met him a few years back and he could talk for England! A lovely man. He had loads of stories to tell about his time with the Blades. He was one of my earliest heroes, after Jimmy Hagan.
However, I've no idea whether he's in good health today.

 

[8lade]

Obviously I'd be very discreet about it and it was really that as many of you guys have said it could be he doesn't get many/if any visitors. Apparently for 98 he isn't too bad but in and out of awareness. Although I'd not heard of him before he would be a latter day legend having been our top scorer for 3 consecutive seasons (once jointly) in the top tier. I shall investigate further.

 

[The Crab]

If he’s like my own older relatives, you can bet your bottom dollar that he’ll remember playing for United in the finest detail. What he probably won’t remember is what he had for lunch.

Thats the sad truth a lot of the time. They'd tell me some amazing stories then aske me whats for tea, just after we'd fed them!

 

[ucandomagic]

I visit my 98 year old Mum in a Care Home every day. My advice would be to give it a go - but be prepared to leave if he seems disinterested. If it doesn’t work, try again - moods can be as different as chalk and cheese.

Also, it may sound correct to talk to relatives, but my experience is that different relatives will see an entirely different person. For some they will be ever- cheerful, and others they almost seem to hold responsible for their infirmity.

Talking to the very old can be inspiring or depressing, but it will always teach you a lot about yourself.

 

[Large Mendonca]

I reckon this is in breach of data protection / patient confidentiality, unless said ex-Blades player has given permission.

Not you 8lade but your family member.

 

[XM657]

For the uninitiated Versatile, playing in goal 1947/48 V Man Utd won 2-1(thanks Silent). Pathe News site has a clip of cup game 47/48 with Colin and Sir James combining for a left wing centre, sorry don't have technical savvy to give link but watch the Hagan shimmy to put the ball through for Colin.

 

[BladeFisher]

Depends on if you want an honest chat with an old man or if you're going to shout at him about who owns the freehold, I suppose.

As said above, try to contact indirectly at first, get an idea of his health and mental state, but there's a good chance you'll find an old lad who's made up that people still think of him and have an interest in his past.

Don't want to put a dampener on it, but if he's 98 then you won't have forever to think about it, and it'd be a shame to lose some of the stories he'll have.

At least he's seen United win a cup.....

 

[Deleted member 875]

I visit my 98 year old Mum in a Care Home every day. My advice would be to give it a go - but be prepared to leave if he seems disinterested. If it doesn’t work, try again - moods can be as different as chalk and cheese.

Also, it may sound correct to talk to relatives, but my experience is that different relatives will see an entirely different person. For some they will be ever- cheerful, and others they almost seem to hold responsible for their infirmity.

Talking to the very old can be inspiring or depressing, but it will always teach you a lot about yourself.

My Grandma passed away nearly 10 years ago, at the age of 99, and she was remarkable as even at that grand old age she was still wonderfully sharp as a tack. A few weeks before she died she visited Sheffield to visit my lad when he was a newborn as she was always waiting for a great grandchild, on that visit although her health was failing she was in absolute top form, cantankerously hilarious telling some brilliant stories and we had a family game of Whist and she wiped the floor with us, screwing me over multiple times. Time spent with the elderly can be absolutely awe inspiring. The saddest thing was she told me at the end of the visit she was sad as all her old friends had died, and she had never really got over the death of my Dad, and a few weeks later she went to bed, fell asleep and never woke up again, and her death came with the same impeccable timing as her card playing.

 

[The Crab]

My Grandma passed away nearly 10 years ago, at the age of 99, and she was remarkable as even at that grand old age she was still wonderfully sharp as a tack. A few weeks before she died she visited Sheffield to visit my lad when he was a newborn as she was always waiting for a great grandchild, on that visit although her health was failing she was in absolute top form, cantankerously hilarious telling some brilliant stories and we had a family game of Whist and she wiped the floor with us, screwing me over multiple times. Time spent with the elderly can be absolutely awe inspiring. The saddest thing was she told me at the end of the visit she was sad as all her old friends had died, and she had never really got over the death of my Dad, and a few weeks later she went to bed, fell asleep and never woke up again, and her death came with the same impeccable timing as her card playing.

I have every sympathy, and as you know can relate to that. What your Grandma must have gone through with the passing of your Dad. I can see the same thing with Ms Crab's parents, especially her Mum, she is supressing a lot I think. It's not the way it's meant to work is it? A parent isn't meant to bury a child, it's not the way it's meant to be. But sadly too often, it is.

But hopefully she could take comfort from being surrounded with love from you and your family.

 

[Ranmoorblade]

I reckon this is in breach of data protection / patient confidentiality, unless said ex-Blades player has given permission.

Not you 8lade but your family member.

It is and I’d be very careful if you was you as the family member could get in trouble over this.

 

[Grappler]

At least he's seen United win a cup.....

You win a cup when you win a league title, we got one when we were promoted from League One, that big silver thing that Chris Wilder nearly dropped from the top of the open topped bus.

 

[Kentblade]

You win a cup when you win a league title, we got one when we were promoted from League One, that big silver thing that Chris Wilder nearly dropped from the top of the open topped bus.

It is a long time since I watched Colin play at the lane.
Excellent player.

UTB

 

[Cerberus Blade]

Turns out a family member is one of the carers at the home where Colin (98) resides; 142 apps 52 goals from 1938-50 for United.
Do I try and visit this old fella?
Leave him alone?
Try and interview him?
What should I do?

Do what you’ve done in the past for him. Nothing.

This is about him and his remaining time. I’m afraid it’s not appropriate to try jumping on the coat tails of his impending funeral procession for your own vanity.

 

[georgebernardshaw]

Do what you’ve done in the past for him. Nothing.

This is about him and his remaining time. I’m afraid it’s not appropriate to try jumping on the coat tails of his impending funeral procession for your own vanity.

Snottiest post of the year so far

 

[Cerberus Blade]

Why thank you Sir! Well deserved too I think.

 

[8lade]

I’m afraid it’s not appropriate to try jumping on the coat tails of his impending funeral procession for your own vanity.

Disgusting that you think anybody would do such a thing. As I have befriended elderly people before who otherwise have little contact with the outside world I am happy to do it again. The last was a Dakota pilot from WW2 and he was happy to have somebody to talk to. Just to conclude I think you are a total arsehole something I have speculated on before but today you have confirmed it for me.

 

[Isar]

Do what you’ve done in the past for him. Nothing.

This is about him and his remaining time. I’m afraid it’s not appropriate to try jumping on the coat tails of his impending funeral procession for your own vanity.

Such poor taste.
So if you get to live to a ripe old age you just want everyone to ignore you and your life time experiences?
When, or if I live to a ripe old age, I would be delighted that someone would want to take the time to talk to me about my life and experiences.

 

[Deadbat]

Just seen he has passed away.