Blades In Brunei

[Wilnecote Blade]

Just stumbled across this:

http://www.bt.com.bn/en/life/2008/10/26/national_stadium_celebrates_its_25th_year

Before my time, but anyone know anything more about it?



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[oldblade]

We played a few friendlies in Malaysia at the end of the 1983-4 season, and that kit looks like the one we used for that season, so I would imagine the picture was taken then.

 

[Darren]

It was actually our youth team that played out there to open the stadium. I think Lee Walshaw is the dark haired player to the right of the Brunei chap in the middle, but I don't recognise any of the other players.

I remember the players being shown round the Lane at a first team game after they came back brandishing the generous gifts given to them by the Sultan of Brunei - then the richest man in the world I believe - umbrellas!

I think we may have ended up out there due to connections Brealey had with Brunei - the first team went there in the international break in October 93 as well, winning a game 4-1.

 

[Darren]

We played a few friendlies in Malaysia at the end of the 1983-4 season, and that kit looks like the one we used for that season, so I would imagine the picture was taken then.

No, the tour of China and Malaysia was a tour the first team did at the end of the 83-84 season. We played two games in Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo and then played in the Workers' stadium in Beijing against a Beijing select XI - all down to Brealey's business connections again I suspect.

 

[Darren]

Looking at the pic again, the two players at the end are Paddy McGeeney and Paul Tomlinson, with good old Reg right at the end of the line.

 

[Darren]

And the one to Walshaw's right is probably Tony Philliskirk. Can anyone ID any more?

 

[oldblade]

No, the tour of China and Malaysia was a tour the first team did at the end of the 83-84 season. We played two games in Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo and then played in the Workers' stadium in Beijing against a Beijing select XI - all down to Brealey's business connections again I suspect.

Seems to me that we were definitely in that part of the world in May 1984 and we are wearing the kit from the 1883-4 season. Sarawak isn't a million miles from Dubai, so it seems highly likely to me that the picture was taken at that time. I doubt very much that it's from the 1990s.

 

[oldblade]

And the one to Walshaw's right is probably Tony Philliskirk. Can anyone ID any more?

Is the one on the far left Glen Cockerill? He used to have a shocking poodle perm like that! I believe that at one time they were thought to be stylish.......

 

[Vistoma]

And the one to Walshaw's right is probably Tony Philliskirk. Can anyone ID any more?

beat me to this one, looks like Philliskirk to me as well

 

[Darren]

Seems to me that we were definitely in that part of the world in May 1984 and we are wearing the kit from the 1883-4 season. Sarawak isn't a million miles from Dubai, so it seems highly likely to me that the picture was taken at that time. I doubt very much that it's from the 1990s.

Lol. Re-read my post. The pic was taken in 83-84! The youth team played in Brunei in September 83 (as the linked article states) and there is where the pic comes from. The first team played in Malaysia in May 84. I am not claiming the pic comes from the 93-94 season!!!

 

[Darren]

Is the one on the far left Glen Cockerill? He used to have a shocking poodle perm like that! I believe that at one time they were thought to be stylish.......

No, the pic was taken in Sept 83 and Cockerill didn't sign until March 84 - anyway the player in question is too young to be Cockerill. The one to Philliskirk's right may be Paul Smith though.

 

[Vistoma]

The following if from a Brunei web site so if the facts are wrong don't shout at me!


"Brunei vs Sheffield United
You would have to be fairly 'berumur' to remember this photograph and to be a football fan as well. It was His Majesty greeting players from Sheffield United for the match to commemorate the opening of the national stadium. You see, 25 years ago, on 23rd September 1983, before our independence, Brunei officially opened the National Stadium. That day was chosen to mark Al-Marhum Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien's 70th Birthday as it was him that had pushed for the Stadium to be made.

The $100 million stadium was completed just a few months before that. Ask your parents if they remembered that a fund was set up for members of the public to donate towards the building of that stadium. The amount of money collected from the public was $1.1 million which contributes to 1.1% of the total building cost. Not much but it does show the enthuasism that the public has for the stadium.

As part of the official opening, Sheffield United from England was invited to play against the Brunei National Team which the Brunei Team lost 1-0 despite the Sheffield United players suffering from jet lags. The next day, Sheffield United played against an invitation Brunei team and this time Brunei did better by drawing 1-1. I remembered for the second match, our PS from Industry, Dato Hamid Jaafar played left winger and scored that goal after a brilliant run down the left wing.

I was quite curious then as to how Sheffield United was able to come to Brunei because they were playing in the English league. I thought they would not be playing in England as September 23rd, 1983 was a Friday and the next game was on a Saturday. Apparently Sheffield United still played in the English league. So the team that came to Brunei was either the first team or a reserve team. I had never been able to find that out even until now. Sheffield was playing in the old English League Division 3. They won promotion to Division 2 at the end of the 1983/84 season finishing 3rd in their division"

 

[Silent Blade]

Paul Smith (Brian's brother) is 2nd from left

 

[Revolution]

And that looks like Brian Smith himself behind the Sultan and next but one to Walshaw.

I have spent a fair amount of time in Brunei. It's a weird place...you can't buy alcohol for a start!

 

[Darren]

And that looks like Brian Smith himself behind the Sultan and next but one to Walshaw.

I have spent a fair amount of time in Brunei. It's a weird place...you can't buy alcohol for a start!

So that's Id'd 8 of the 10 players visible. The one's missing would be the Glenn Cockerill lookalike, the smiley chap to McGeeney's right and teh two to Walshaw's left - any guesses?

I reckoned we lined up thus:

Tomlinson

McGeeney Smith B ? ?

P. Smith Walshaw ? ?

Philliskirk ?


I am 99% sure Jeff eckhardt went on the tour and he may be the player we can't see in the pic. Is Richard Cooper one of the mystery men?

 

[Coily]

There is a section on the end of season tour in the 1983/84 promotion booklet that I hope still remains within the hundreds of programs and Star specials I left at my folks house. Can't think of that season without remembering the majestic Bob Atkins strike at Millmoor which is pictured in the booklet too.

 

[Silent Blade]

So that's Id'd 8 of the 10 players visible. The one's missing would be the Glenn Cockerill lookalike, the smiley chap to McGeeney's right and teh two to Walshaw's left - any guesses?

I reckoned we lined up thus:

Tomlinson

McGeeney Smith B ? ?

P. Smith Walshaw ? ?

Philliskirk ?


I am 99% sure Jeff eckhardt went on the tour and he may be the player we can't see in the pic. Is Richard Cooper one of the mystery men?

I think the Glenn Cockerill's lookalike is called Mitchell. Trying to remember his christian name

 

[Revolution]

I think the Glenn Cockerill's lookalike is called Mitchell. Trying to remember his christian name

Greg.

 

[Silent Blade]

I think the Glenn Cockerill's lookalike is called Mitchell. Trying to remember his christian name

Greg.

Yes, that is right!

 

[Darren]

Yes, that is right!

Its not him. He left us close season 83 at the latest.

Having dug out my 1983-84 club yearbook where there is a team picture including apprentices, I can ID the GC lookalike as David Ashmore, and I think the smiley chap to McGeeney's right is Paul Stanely and the guy to Walshaw's left Peter Newey. I can't work out who the blond chap between Smith and Newey is. He looks a bit like John Reed but he would have been around 10 at the time!