Bob Booker Biography

[Greville Waterman]

This is just to let everybody know that I am currently writing a biography of Bob Booker. This will cover his life and times at all three clubs with which he was associated as a player, coach or assistant manager, Brentford, Brighton and Sheffield United. Bob is very supportive of this project and is assisting me in every way possible.

The book will be published around this time next year by Bennion Kearny who have already published a couple of my books on Brentford (see https://www.amazon.co.uk/Growing-Pai...ville+waterman if you are interested).

I am initially focusing upon his spell at Brentford but will soon be gathering details and interviewing former team mates and colleagues of his from his time at Sheffield United and I am well aware of just how popular he remains to this day. I have already spoken to Derek French and any other suggestions gratefully received.

I would be very interested and grateful to hear from any Sheffield United fans who would like to share their thoughts and reminiscences on Bob and what he has contributed to your club. I would really like to understand how and why you took him to your hearts and why he has remained so popular to this day.

Please leave your messages here or I can be contacted at [email protected]

Many thanks.

Greville Waterman

 

[coolhandluke]

Fuck me ...... where do we start ?

I'll give this some thought Greville and get back to you ....... as I'm certain many more of us will !

 

[DronnieBlade]

Why we took him to our hearts ?

I'll make this quick n easy.

Ran around a lot. Gave everything he had, every game he played.

Kicked a good few along the way.

But ultimately wasn't much kop at football !

It's the Blades way !!

UTB

 

[Booker4]

I obviously look forward to that! Bob will always be my favourite player! I don't any memories that you won't already know like Leicester away etc.

 

[Booker4]

Why we took him to our hearts ?

I'll make this quick n easy.

Ran around a lot. Gave everything he had, every game he played.

Kicked a good few along the way.

But ultimately wasn't much kop at football !

It's the Blades way !!

UTB

I regularly hear our fans saying things like what you've just said mate, about Bob's lack of ability etc. But I think he was better than some remember and I can't personally think of any United player, other than Deane, who was better at heading. He popped up with some really crucial goals too, both to go up and then stay up. QPR away, Southampton at home stand out in the season we stayed up.

 

[Grecian2000]

Started off as a "poor mans" Webster.
One heroic performance in the most hideous conditions at Mansfied (that doesn't even include the weather).
Seemed to love every minute playing for a "proper" club.
Scored a goal that guaranteed survival in the top flight.
Turned up to see us play even after he'd left.

Basically he epitomised someone realising he had actually hit the jackpot at the arse end of his career and he milked every last moment he could. Shame his attitude doesn't permeate through to some of the current day players who are, probably, more gifted but just "don't get it" in the same way.

Good luck in your efforts, should be a good read, there must be some untold stories worth telling on the way.

 

[Rodley]

I regularly hear our fans saying things like what you've just said mate, about Bob's lack of ability etc. But I think he was better than some remember and I can't personally think of any United player, other than Deane, who was better at heading. He popped up with some really crucial goals too, both to go up and then stay up. QPR away, Southampton at home stand out in the season we stayed up.

Agreed, outstanding at attacking headers. Real threat at set pieces.

 

[Russ]

Can't let this get to 10 posts without mentioning :

oooooooo
aaaaaaaaahhhhh
Bob Bookahhhh!!!!!

Then followed the more dour oooo ahhh cantona chant.

 

[Roygbiv]

I'm a little too young to really remember him playing but I do I recall him saying goodbye to the fans on the pitch just before the Derby game in 91 . Got a great reception to start off what would become a great day

 

[VLYDONIMIR]

"B-B-B-B-ooker....

 

[Kenilworth]

Skip the Brentford and Brighton parts - they'll be like the bibliography that no one will be interested in.

He only made it when he came to us - he loved a bit of Novern and it suited him

Bob, Bob Booker, the Big Tall Fooker

 

[Rodders]

Over to you Pinchy ..

 

[judge]

Why we took him to our hearts ?

I'll make this quick n easy.

Ran around a lot. Gave everything he had, every game he played.

Kicked a good few along the way.

But ultimately wasn't much kop at football !

It's the Blades way !!

UTB

So disrespectful
The guy scored crucial goals at tge top level and to get us there

To say he wasnt much kop at football is pinchyesque bullshit

 

[BushBlade]

Wasn't he once asked to sign something for a kid's birthday and he ended up going to the birthday party as a surprise for the kid?

 

[sitwell]

he made we wee a bit when he scored at QPR.

 

[DronnieBlade]

I regularly hear our fans saying things like what you've just said mate, about Bob's lack of ability etc. But I think he was better than some remember and I can't personally think of any United player, other than Deane, who was better at heading. He popped up with some really crucial goals too, both to go up and then stay up. QPR away, Southampton at home stand out in the season we stayed up.

Don't get me wrong. I loved him as much as the next fella.

One of my best ever memories as a Blade was a cardboard life size cut out of Bob, popping its head out of a convertible car cruising along Woodseats after the Leicester match. Priceless

UTB

 

[Caveblade]

You need to talk to Mick Rooker at the club, he has plenty of anecdotes and will point you in the right direction.

I was running a training course a few years ago and Mrs Bob Booker was on the course. I couldn't resist giving a quick rendition of "ooh aaagh Bob Booker, I said Ooh aagh Bob Bookaaaaaagh" and educating the man ure fans in the room that they didn't one up with it, it was our original for the great man himself.

Christine did say how much they loved their time in Sheffield and how great the Blades fans were.

 

[Sean Thornton]

"Dirty Fookah" !

Legend.

 

[Bladesway]

Started off as a "poor mans" Webster.
One heroic performance in the most hideous conditions at Mansfied (that doesn't even include the weather).
Seemed to love every minute playing for a "proper" club.
Scored a goal that guaranteed survival in the top flight.
Turned up to see us play even after he'd left.

Basically he epitomised someone realising he had actually hit the jackpot at the arse end of his career and he milked every last moment he could. Shame his attitude doesn't permeate through to some of the current day players who are, probably, more gifted but just "don't get it" in the same way.

Good luck in your efforts, should be a good read, there must be some untold stories worth telling on the way.

This many times over. Limited in ability but got every last ounce of that ability out of himself through toil and effort.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

Arrived as a journeyman, became a hero, left a fan.

There aren't many who aren't from Sheffield who tap into the mysterious depths of being a Blade. Bob drilled all the way down and became totally immersed.

 

[Snowman]

Anybody who was there at Mansfield in the snow will tell you how that one game showed all that any Blade needed to know about Bob Booker and how he was and is still a Blade. Absolutely epitomised what we were then and hope to become again in spirit, guts, determination and sheer honest work rate. Good player. Not a mercenary . Worth his status amongst us.

 

[Pinchy]

So disrespectful
The guy scored crucial goals at tge top level and to get us there

To say he wasnt much kop at football is pinchyesque bullshit

Except that it's absolutely true, much as I loved him...

His best mate at the club was our present manager, Tufty.

Oh and the Ooh-Ah was not an original, sadly. It started off at Villa as Ooh-Ah Paul McGrath.

 

[Sean Thornton]

Anybody who was there at Mansfield in the snow will tell you how that one game showed all that any Blade needed to know about Bob Booker and how he was and is still a Blade. Absolutely epitomised what we were then and hope to become again in spirit, guts, determination and sheer honest work rate. Good player. Not a mercenary . Worth his status amongst us.

This.

 

[Greville Waterman]

This really good stuff. Thanks. At Brentford he wrote every shirt apart from goalkeeper but started as a striker and ended up as a midfielder or occasional centre half. He was signed by you to replace Simon Webster who was a centre half I believe. Did he play everywhere for you too?

He was also half fit when he left Brentford after knee surgery so I am amazed he played so often for you.

What were the highlights? Leicester? Scoring at QPR or 2 v Southampton?

 

[sheffielder]

Players like Bob epitomise what being a blade means to us.

 

[VLYDONIMIR]

Give it Chwenty years and they'll be someone along asking for anecdotes about....

 

[silverfox]

This really good stuff. Thanks. At Brentford he wrote every shirt apart from goalkeeper but started as a striker and ended up as a midfielder or occasional centre half. He was signed by you to replace Simon Webster who was a centre half I believe. Did he play everywhere for you too?

He was also half fit when he left Brentford after knee surgery so I am amazed he played so often for you.

What were the highlights? Leicester? Scoring at QPR or 2 v Southampton?

The real highlight is not the playing really...

Bob was the sort of bloke you would want at your side....

In a football match
In a fight
At war
In a pub

He just never gave up, or hid, even if he was playing crap.

We like that...

 

[judge]

Except that it's absolutely true, much as I loved him...

not in my eyes

 

[Blade for Sale]

Wasn't he once asked to sign something for a kid's birthday and he ended up going to the birthday party as a surprise for the kid?

That was me! My neighbour had a sister (sadly no longer with us) who worked in the pools office and arranged it. It wasn't a party, he just rocked up at my house with Mick Rooker and stopped for an hour for a cuppa and a chat. I was so dumbstruck I can't even remember saying owt! He then invited me and my old man to the League Cup tie v Everton as guests of the club, met all the players. Bob Booker is beyond legendary, he is everything we need more of in the game, humble, hard working hero with time for everyone, even an 11 year old kid he didn't know from Adam. Brilliant, brilliant man.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

This really good stuff. Thanks. At Brentford he wrote every shirt apart from goalkeeper but started as a striker and ended up as a midfielder or occasional centre half. He was signed by you to replace Simon Webster who was a centre half I believe. Did he play everywhere for you too?

He was also half fit when he left Brentford after knee surgery so I am amazed he played so often for you.

What were the highlights? Leicester? Scoring at QPR or 2 v Southampton?

The essence of him gaining cult status was that the position he was asked to play didn't seem to matter. All that mattered was he was wearing the shirt and epitomised everything that meant. Why was he so popular? When he pulled on that shirt he played in the way every Blade watching would recognise themselves playing. He was probably at his best for us in midfield. He was never going to be Tony Currie, more Trevor Hockey. But he was great in the air and scored some important goals. As others have said, that game at Mansfield cemented his place as a popular figure, the goal at QPR elevated that to cult status. Most could see his limitations, but he played to his strengths to such a level that they paled away. Mick Rooker is your man to fill in with the stories that will paint a fuller picture of why he has the status he has with Blades everywhere.