Salute to Delboy

[MAQ]

Great article in todays Yorkshire Post, Read Below

LINK

For the Un-clickable

There's only one Derek Geary... sadly for the game of football

THERE are many players in English football, over-paid, with the wrong attitude, who frankly do not deserve anything like the adulation they get from the supporters.


We all know the types; they range from those who kiss the badge on the shirt one week and disappear the next, to those who waste the talent they have been born with by getting ideas above their own stations.

A player who makes the most of his ability and accepts his limitations yet understands the total importance of giving 100 per cent for a club every time he pulls on the shirt.

A player like Sheffield United's Derek Geary.

It might not have commanded many headlines in the national newspapers at the time but Geary recently admitted that his career may soon be over.

A succession of knee operations have pushed his durability to the limit and doctors have even warned the 29-year-old that to continue playing presents a risk to his own long-term health.

The tough-tackling Dubliner, however, is still smiling and says he will treat every game from now on as if it could be his last.

"I might not even be alive in 10 years," he said. "I will worry about the future in the future."

He already accepts that he will probably need a knee replacement.

Some say his attitude is brave, others might be less kind – but no-one can question Geary's commitment.

Diminutive in size, but with the heart of a lion, he is one of a select group of players who have worn both the blue and the red stripes in Sheffield.

He is as popular now with the Blades supporters as he used to be with the Owls and that is because he refuses to give in and always gives his best.

Those who chant 'Geeeee—aary, Geeee----aary' when he has just run 50 yards to complete another tackle admire his
guts.

At the end of last season, it looked all over when the defender was struggling to even jog around the training field after nearly 12 months on the sidelines.

Last summer was a make-or-break juncture but his confidence in the knee slowly began to improve.

Then, due to an injury crisis at Bramall Lane ironically, he was then thrown back into the spotlight in November as a substitute in a game at Barnsley.

After completing his first 90 minutes since August 2008 last month, his team-mates formed a guard of honour outside the dressing room.

Those who have met Geary know that his demeanour can light up any room. He is unassuming, polite, down to earth, and always happy to talk football.

With a little bit more luck, he would have been capped by his country and were it not for the Blades' relegation from the Premier League three seasons ago, who knows?

The clock is now ticking but any fair-minded football supporter will hope that he keeps on going for many more years yet.

Football needs players like him. Those who appreciate what they have got and who are willing to give as much as they can in order to carry on living every schoolboy's dream.

 

[TonyAgana]

Hear hear.

 

[JohnDenver]

I had meant to post this myself.

You've got to to admire the bloke. Just watching him walk around off the ball it looks like he's hurting.

 

[Linz]

...always happy to talk football.

To be fair, even if he wasn't happy to talk about football, you'd not be able to understand him telling you to "feck off"

 

[JohnDenver]

To be fair, even if he wasn't happy to talk about football, you'd not be able to understand him telling you to "feck off"

Indeed. Although any passing dogs would probably get the point...

 

[Linz]

Indeed. Although any passing dogs would probably get the point...

Don't you mean "dags"?

 

[dansufc]

Really nice guy, me and my mate once waited after a match, it was in the prem i believe, and after the match it was the players awards dinner or something so we decided to wait till they came back to get autographs, geary and squinny came back together, and geary was really nice and had a little chat with us, if i remembeg rightly he called us over to him, as we didn't want to invade his privacy

 

[raul]

I know it's normally 10 years for a testimonial, but could we not roll his years with us AND them together and jointly give him the night to remember he deserves?

 

[Lepps]

Really nice guy, me and my mate once waited after a match, it was in the prem i believe, and after the match it was the players awards dinner or something so we decided to wait till they came back to get autographs, geary and squinny came back together, and geary was really nice and had a little chat with us, if i remembeg rightly he called us over to him, as we didn't want to invade his privacy

I agree that Geary is a nice guy. I have a great pic of both of us at BDTBL on one of my many visits to our PLACE OF WORSHIP. Such a charming Little Leprecaun, hopefully he will still be able to do some good for us. Perhaps my friend Kev will organise some sort of do to show our appreciation.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

I know it's normally 10 years for a testimonial, but could we not roll his years with us AND them together and jointly give him the night to remember he deserves?

Excellent idea. a very hard working honest pro.

 

[Vancouver]

Definitely a good idea. Did he leave them in a good way or do they dislike him for playing for us?

 

[Autumn]

Another one of the lovely lads we have, no pretence with him. Wish some of the other players had his attitude.

 

[derrywan]

Don't you mean "dags"?

you big racist.

 

[SwissBlade]

I had a similar thing with Del.

Saw him in Crystals on the night we beat the pigs at home dec 2005, he hadn't played but was still out with Quinny and a few other players celebrating. Had a really decent but drunken chat with him and when I said I was gutted he hadn't played that game he said that he was moving on loan in a few days because he didn't fit into NW's.

Anyway, just a few weeks later he was playing week in week out for us.

Roll on to last season and I saw him when I was out in town again, so went up to him and mentioned that we'd had a chat a couple of years back, He remembered more than me and reminded me of what i'd said to him about staying and fighting for his place. He was laughing his head off at me.

Brilliant lad, just the sort of player that we need at the club. And a cracking little player. If a few other players showed the same spirit as him then we'll do alright.

So where do we sign up to get him a testimonial... Lets just call it a Del Geary appreciation game

 

[Linz]

Shall we consider the campaign to award Derek Geary a testimonial well and truly commenced?

 

[Robbie]

Had a really decent but drunken chat with him and when I said I was gutted he hadn't played that game he said that he was moving on loan in a few days because he didn't fit into NW's.

Again, similar to this I saw Del (in a number of occasions in Leadmill) on a night out in his Wednesday.

Coming from a family with an Owl as a brother, I occasionally went to watch some of the pig games. Del always stood out for me, him and Quinn would always put in what I liked. But always got too many yellows.

Cue me saying to him 'you should come down to the lane, in fact bring Quinny with you too' Del responded with 'not a chance' (or at least that is what the leprechaun sounded like) and just had a laugh before offering to buy us all a drink, I told him to put his money away as I probably earned me and got a few shots in.

I also told him that he would be a huge success if he cut out the petulant yellow cards that weren't needed.

Again similarly I saw him again shortly after he joined us and I said 'I see you took my advice' and again he just had a laugh about it and had a couple more shots.

I don't know if he remembered me or what, but on the number of occasions I have seen Del out and about he has always been welcoming towards fans.

Shall we consider the campaign to award Derek Geary a testimonial well and truly commenced?

Facebook groupppppppppppppppppppppppppp

 

[raul]

Seeing as it was my idea, only if I get to play in it.:thumbup:

 

[Robbie]

Actually - I think we should wait. If he is sadly forced to retire at some point - give him an honoury testomonial.

I think it would draw a big crowd too.

 

[raul]

Why don't you want to see me in shorts Robbie?

 

[Robbie]

Why don't you want to see me in shorts Robbie?

I was actually just PMing you for a private viewing..... minus the shorts

 

[raul]

Just checked Robbie, I only have a request from Linz, a request from Autumn and 37 from Alien Woodward.

I think you're having me on....

 

[Robbie]

Just checked Robbie, I only have a request from Linz, a request from Autumn and 37 from Alien Woodward.

I think you're having me on....

I stopped as you seemed ungrateful

 

[Lt. J Dangle]

Just had a quick shufty on facebook and there are 172 members of the Derek Geary appreciation society.
There is a post on the wall which reads "Piggy CUNT FUCK him and the rest of you!!!" The poster has a wanky "we're all W***** aren't we" avatars and his name is Richard Trotter! You can't help but laugh.
DEREK GEARY WHAT A TW@ has 49 'members'

 

[boo radley]

If i'm first to pick, he's on my team.
And in the trench with Monty and Morgan