Players having time for fans!

[bricktop]

The best players i have had met are Leigh Bromby, i met him a couple of years back when i was at my stag night at Owlerton and he was there with the rest of the Watford lads. Spend a good half hour chatting away to him about football and life in general and found him to be a top lad.

Also used to meet Neil Shipperley and CKR quite regularly at work. Shipps was one of the nicest blokes you would ever be likely to meet, and would also have time for a chat. I found CKR to be quite shy and guarded of strangers but once you got speaking to him he was sound and down to earth, and seemed very eager to do well in his career.

On the other hand i have met a couple of other footballing big names who i have found to be arrogant and up their own arses. Neil Warnock could be like this, but he wasn't a patch on Howard Wilkinson who whenever i have seen him has behaved like an arrogrant, aloof prat.

 

[Ted Danson]

On the other hand i have met a couple of other footballing big names who i have found to be arrogant and up their own arses. Neil Warnock could be like this, but he wasn't a patch on Howard Wilkinson who whenever i have seen him has behaved like an arrogrant, aloof prat.

When Ive met Niel Warnock in the past hes been a very friendly and approachable person. My old flat mate saw him in a petrol station and got him to sign a card for my birthday and ended up chatting to him for about 15 mins.

Niel Warnock will always be a legend in my book.

 

[Paddys Cough]

The best players i have had met are Leigh Bromby, i met him a couple of years back when i was at my stag night at Owlerton and he was there with the rest of the Watford lads. Spend a good half hour chatting away to him about football and life in general and found him to be a top lad.

Also used to meet Neil Shipperley and CKR quite regularly at work. Shipps was one of the nicest blokes you would ever be likely to meet, and would also have time for a chat. I found CKR to be quite shy and guarded of strangers but once you got speaking to him he was sound and down to earth, and seemed very eager to do well in his career.

On the other hand i have met a couple of other footballing big names who i have found to be arrogant and up their own arses. Neil Warnock could be like this, but he wasn't a patch on Howard Wilkinson who whenever i have seen him has behaved like an arrogrant, aloof prat.

Used to play Sunday League with Howards son and I can back this statement up - as for other players, I met Morgs at Owlerton once and he was a top bloke, got some stick off some piggies but took it with a pinch of salt and reiterating Foxys point about Doug Hodgson, lived next door to a mate of mine (with another blades player who I can't seem to remember, any ideas Foxy?), he was always a top bloke with us and always had a kick about too.

 

[JohnDenver]

Also used to meet Neil Shipperley and CKR quite regularly at work. Shipps was one of the nicest blokes you would ever be likely to meet, and would also have time for a chat.

Shipps was out and about in Marylebone before the playoff final this year. Seemed a really good guy and clearly still had connections at Utd.

Seeing him (our promotion season secret weapon) gave me a real hope for the final. It was either that or the beer.

Silly old me.

 

[sharrow]

Howard W was one of my PE teachers at Abbeydale Grange. He was up himself even then. Not a patch on 2 top blokes - Master Bates and the late Mr Hague RIP.

I once sat next to Chris Short on a plane flying back from the States - top bloke!

 

[sitwell]

Howard W was one of my PE teachers at Abbeydale Grange. He was up himself even then. Not a patch on 2 top blokes - Master Bates and the late Mr Hague RIP.

I once sat next to Chris Short on a plane flying back from the States - top bloke!

They were my teachers too as well as Dowdeswell ,if the truth ever came out about Wilkinson he could be in serious trouble. Bate and Hague were great but too much emphasis on running for me ,Coe influence I suppose.

 

[GainsboroBlade]

I met Warnock a few times,when the Blades played a pre season game here in Gainsborough a few years ago Warnock spoke to me and my dad for 10 mins or so outside the Northolme!! He was great with us and is definetley a Blades legend!!!!!!

As for Kilgallon,theres no excuse for that.

 

[silverfox]

My personal favourite was having Doug Hodgson and Andy Scott come into school when I was in sixth form as as a big Blade I was given the meet and greet job - have to say they were both fantastic, had a really good laugh with them.

Interesting point here.....

Dougie is a member of this forum, but stopped posting when a few of the younger posters decided to call him a liar etc....

Works both ways I suppose.

Oops just noticed Foxy's post further up!

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Both NW and Stuart McCall were really friendly when I've met them in the past, happy to chat.

One of the nicest players I've met is Andy Walker, who I spoke to about 5 years ago. He seemed genuinely delighted that someone had remember his time at the Lane, and seemed to have a lot of good memories of his time with us.

 

[keenzy]

Howard W was one of my PE teachers at Abbeydale Grange. He was up himself even then. Not a patch on 2 top blokes - Master Bates and the late Mr Hague RIP.

I once sat next to Chris Short on a plane flying back from the States - top bloke!

They were my teachers too as well as Dowdeswell ,if the truth ever came out about Wilkinson he could be in serious trouble. Bate and Hague were great but too much emphasis on running for me ,Coe influence I suppose.

Must be about my dad's age. He had same guys take him for P.E

 

[Stafford Blade]

Whether it's in their contracts or not it is certainly in the interest of public relations to sign a few and have pictures taken especially with the young uns' It's something they remember all their lives.
I was refused when I was a kid many years ago by an English cricketer and I've hated the toffee nosed git ever since.

If it was at some sort of function or appearance then i would say he should pose for pictures / sign books etc. But this was as he was on his way in to the ground on match day. As I think others have mentioned, he could have been running a bit late and was risking a fine so was in a rush. Or he simply couldn't be arsed to stop and chat ( he might have been on his period!? ). It doesn't sound like he was directly rude to the bloke and was just giving Evans the hurry up.

I know of an ex wednesday and England international that refused to have anything to do with fans on a matchday but would happily stop for pics / autographs any other day of the week.

 

[Stafford Blade]

They were my teachers too as well as Dowdeswell ,if the truth ever came out about Wilkinson he could be in serious trouble. Bate and Hague were great but too much emphasis on running for me ,Coe influence I suppose.

what are you suggesting??






surely not a perverted pe teacher?? there's not many of them about

 

[Silent Blade]

A friend from my chess club (1909-1989) was a Blade and often told me some stories about playing for cricket clubs. George Hirst coached him and my friend said George was a bubbly character but in contrast Wilfred Rhodes refused to sign an autograph when my friend asked him to. Another friend (now in his 70s) said Stanley Matthews refused his request for an autograph but Tom Finney had time to sign an autograph for anyone.

Atfer my first away match (v Leicester in March 1970), Woody signalled to my dad to lift me up at the side of the team coach so that I could push through my pen and match programme through the small sliding window at the top, he then collected all the players autographs before giving the programme back to me. I was star struck and shaking like a leaf!

I used to go autograph hunting at the old John Street players entrance in the early 1970s. After a reserves match against Man U (it was a week after Man U's 1st team's 4-0 defeat at Ipswich- Alex Stepney, Ian Ure, Paddy Crerand and Nobby Stiles were dropped from the 1st team), I got into the Man U coach and Crerand told me loudly to "get out" but Stiles and Ure were furious with him for being too hard on me and both signed autographs for me. My dad despited Crerand since that day and often would ridicule him everytime Crerand is on TV (he was one of the ITV panelists for the 74 World Cup). After our 3-1 win against Orient, Orient's winger Mark Lazarus (who scored 2 in their 3-1 win against us in the opening day of that season) invited me in the coach to collect autographs of Orient players. John Tudor, Alan Hodgkinson, John Hope and Jim Brown were always cheerfully signing autographs for anyone.

After the 1-1 draw at the Dell in Sept 1976, my Swansea mate (one of my 3schoolfriends that my dad picked up from my school near Newbury to go to the match) was really keen to collect autographs of the FA Cup winners. He was pleased to get the autograph of the late Bobby Stokes (the scorer of the FA Cup final) but Mick Channon walked past him and ignored others who requested an autograph from him. Myself, my dad and other two friends were starting to feel like leaving the ground to have tea somewhere but my Swansea mate insisted on waiting for Lawrie McMenemy so we made the long walk back to the car and when my dad drove back to the ground to pick my Swansea mate up. My Swansea mate was about halfway the walk back from the ground when we caught up with him. He told us that McMenemy refused to sign an autograph for him despite that there were not many fans left outside the ground. Watching MOTD a few months later (at my house- probably during the school holidays), my dad and I were flabbergasted to see "hypocrite" McMenemy cheerfully signing autographs for fans who were in the terraces in front of the cameras!

 

[Foxy]

reiterating Foxys point about Doug Hodgson, lived next door to a mate of mine (with another blades player who I can't seem to remember, any ideas Foxy?), he was always a top bloke with us and always had a kick about too.

There were a number who used the house over the years, its one of the ways I knew we'd got the genuine Doug and not a wind up.... The usual "internet detectiveness" rang true but he confirmed it recollecting a few times about his stay in the area, and a couple of little known players

I'd hazard a guess the one your thinking of will be either Mark Blount or Mark Foran.

We used to play footy in front of the houses/garages and they were always friendly and talkative. Used to have a lot of time for the locals.

As I say, was good to have him on here, but sadly, I think he was a bit put off when people inferred he wasn't who he said etc. Not sure if he still lurks

 

[bricktop]

What was his username Foxy. I'd like to have a look at some of the stuff he posted.

Cheers

 

[Foxy]

What was his username Foxy. I'd like to have a look at some of the stuff he posted.

Cheers

Can't remember to be honest Brownie, will have a dig through and let you know.

He said more in the shoutbox & via PM though to be perfectly honest, he didn't get much chance to post in loads of threads etc before people started doubting/having a go at him while I wasn't around.

 

[bricktop]

I've always wondered if many other players or high profile people from the Lane, or people who have a association with United ever have a read through this or other forums, or are even active contributors.

 

[Autumn]

Brownie family members tend to look more than players, from what I know anyways

 

[beightonblade]

i'm certain they do ......................

and on the pigs board they go further ..... look at strapon
is it reight he's censoring / sueing sum of the posters ?

 

[Darren]

They were my teachers too as well as Dowdeswell ,if the truth ever came out about Wilkinson he could be in serious trouble. Bate and Hague were great but too much emphasis on running for me ,Coe influence I suppose.

Its probably the lawyer in me, but in irritates the hell out of me when people insinuate things against people without spelling it out.

If you have cast iron proof that Wilkinson was up to no good, tell us what it is.

If you don't have proof and its all speculation and rumour, its probably better not said.

 

[Bayingblade]

Its probably the lawyer in me,

Would that be one of your colleagues or "just a friend" Dazzler?

Happy new year btw

 

[Silent Blade]

A friend from my chess club (1909-1989) was a Blade and often told me some stories about playing for cricket clubs. George Hirst coached him and my friend said George was a bubbly character but in contrast Wilfred Rhodes refused to sign an autograph when my friend asked him to. Another friend (now in his 70s) said Stanley Matthews refused his request for an autograph but Tom Finney had time to sign an autograph for anyone.

Atfer my first away match (v Leicester in March 1970), Woody signalled to my dad to lift me up at the side of the team coach so that I could push through my pen and match programme through the small sliding window at the top, he then collected all the players autographs before giving the programme back to me. I was star struck and shaking like a leaf!

I used to go autograph hunting at the old John Street players entrance in the early 1970s. After a reserves match against Man U (it was a week after Man U's 1st team's 4-0 defeat at Ipswich- Alex Stepney, Ian Ure, Paddy Crerand and Nobby Stiles were dropped from the 1st team), I got into the Man U coach and Crerand told me loudly to "get out" but Stiles and Ure were furious with him for being too hard on me and both signed autographs for me. My dad despited Crerand since that day and often would ridicule him everytime Crerand is on TV (he was one of the ITV panelists for the 74 World Cup). After our 3-1 win against Orient, Orient's winger Mark Lazarus (who scored 2 in their 3-1 win against us in the opening day of that season) invited me in the coach to collect autographs of Orient players. John Tudor, Alan Hodgkinson, John Hope and Jim Brown were always cheerfully signing autographs for anyone.

After the 1-1 draw at the Dell in Sept 1976, my Swansea mate (one of my 3schoolfriends that my dad picked up from my school near Newbury to go to the match) was really keen to collect autographs of the FA Cup winners. He was pleased to get the autograph of the late Bobby Stokes (the scorer of the FA Cup final) but Mick Channon walked past him and ignored others who requested an autograph from him. Myself, my dad and other two friends were starting to feel like leaving the ground to have tea somewhere but my Swansea mate insisted on waiting for Lawrie McMenemy so we made the long walk back to the car and when my dad drove back to the ground to pick my Swansea mate up. My Swansea mate was about halfway the walk back from the ground when we caught up with him. He told us that McMenemy refused to sign an autograph for him despite that there were not many fans left outside the ground. Watching MOTD a few months later (at my house- probably during the school holidays), my dad and I were flabbergasted to see "hypocrite" McMenemy cheerfully signing autographs for fans who were in the terraces in front of the cameras!

RIP Mark Lazarus, never forgot him kindly inviting me to get autographs from the Orient players in the coach after we beat Orient 3-1 in October 1970

 

[Oreyt]

You've resurrected this thread Silent Blade

If only I had a witty pun to work in.

 

[DifferentClass]

RIP Mark Lazarus, never forgot him kindly inviting me to get autographs from the Orient players in the coach after we beat Orient 3-1 in October 1970
View attachment 217518

One of the few Jewish footballers of his era.

He came from a boxing family so if anyone gave him any stick they'd soon regret it...

 

[Weasel]

His family should take solace in that he should be up and about again in a few days time.