Vinnie Jones - 60 today

[manxblade]

I'm 58 today

I'm 58 next week and lived on winn gardens in my younger days. I Went to Hillsborough school. Mrs dials class

 

[Bell4]

Vinnie had tattoos of all the clubs he played for - except Utd

 

[dazzlingblade]

Can't remember him being any good at Bramall Lane. He was another midfield clogger when we wanted a bit of finesse!

He was apparently scared to death of Billy Whitehirst too. So not quite the hard man he made out to be

Wasn't it whitehurst who chose Jones to stand along side him in the fight with the Wednesday boys? I doubt many people would take Whitehurst on, but I'm sure Jones proved himself that day

 

[Rooks]

I was involved with a project getting celebrities to the children's hospital at Christmas time. Vinnie Jones came and was brilliant. Phoning round other players to come down. He stayed all day. He was certain we wouldn't go down. Next week we beat forest and the rest is history. No the greatest player, but a leader and a top bloke.

Wardonia, did he come up with Carl Bradshaw ?

 

[Rochdaleblade]

He improved the profile of the club, but was a poor player. He played in an era where basically every team had a dirty fucker in midfield, although the likes of Steve McMahon, Bryan Robson and Peter Reid could obviously play a bit too. David Batty and Charlton Palmer not so much. I can clearly remember Vinnie doing a step over once, to clear gasps of astonishment from the crowd. My main memories of him were his headband, long throw and "committed " tackles. Seems like a decent bloke, but I'd take Monty or Santos ahead of him in midfield.

 

[Rooks]

I think there is a softer side to him like was just mentioned by wardonia_blade . I remember in one of his early matches him going over and making a special fuss of the disabled enclosure. He didn’t have to do that.

He wasn’t a brilliant footballer. To a degree we paid 650k for a catapult, as my Dad put it. But he was a leader and he did instill belief in others.

I did find it odd him recalling his time with us and suggesting he was getting man of the match most weeks as that simply wasn’t true.

He didn’t come over all that well when interviewed by YorkBlade once when he insisted on continuing to eat his dessert when he was being interviewed. I just found it a bit rude!

But he did a job and contributed to keeping us up, so in that sense he has my thanks.

Champagneblade, he used to win the Man of the Match with the match sponsors at most games.

This ensured that they met him after the games.

 

[Booker4]

Vinnie had tattoos of all the clubs he played for - except Utd

That maybe true but I have read positive comments from Jones on United since he left too. At the time I think he didn't enjoy it as much as Leeds but Leeds were doing well at the time and he was a cult hero there. He scored a few goals for Leeds whereas for us he was more of a defensive midfielder I recall but I didn't see us too often in that era in person.

I'm still surprised looking back that Basset sold him given he was only 25/6 at the time and in his peek tears but guessing Harry didn't have much of a say in it anyway! I suspect he used the money in Brian Gayle who arrived at the same time. We also signed Paul Rogers for just £50,000 who did superb job alongside John Gannon.

 

[wak1889]

His 5 second booking

I was at that game

 

[Aganarama]

As a kid, I was on a Tony Currie soccer school, Easter '91, and won a penalty competition in the old gym at the top of the car park. The prize was a Panini Arsenal (!) photo ball (hardest football known to man), presented by Vinnie. He was really nice and had a good chat - moreso than the cursory "well done" that he could have done. It's always stuck in my mind. (That was the good thing about that Bassett side - always happy to have a chat to young fans...even when waiting for a haircut at Mark Stevenson on Mansfield Road)

 

[Winn Gardens Blade]

Complete respect coming from winn gardens and making it to 58.

Cheers fifty I'm born and bred on Winn Gardens.Been going to the Lane since 1976.Not as many true pigs as people think on here always been a decent amount of Blades though

 

[petcharlie]

My God remembering him playing for us . That really makes me feel bloody old

 

[Silent Blade]

Champagneblade, he used to win the Man of the Match with the match sponsors at most games.

This ensured that they met him after the games.

Most games? No way! Maybe just a few

 

[Sportbilly /Detroit Blade]

I liked him for the fight and spirit, that was part of our club at that time. He was a limited footballer in my view (although better than most people would give him credit for).

If you watch this, I suspect you'd agree with my view that there's a very decent bloke under the tough guy image / exterior.

 

[Pollingtonblade]

Cheers fifty I'm born and bred on Winn Gardens.Been going to the Lane since 1976.Not as many true pigs as people think on here always been a decent amount of Blades though

I lived there from the age of 1-7 - 1979 to 1985. I also briefly in the mid 90s have a lady friend who resided there.

 

[VictoryBlade]

Can't remember him being any good at Bramall Lane. He was another midfield clogger when we wanted a bit of finesse!

He was apparently scared to death of Billy Whitehirst too. So not quite the hard man he made out to be

Everyone was scared of Billy ask Hansen!

 

[McGrath]

Everyone was scared of Billy ask Hansen!

And Neil "razor" Ruddock.

 

[Winn Gardens Blade]

I'm 58 next week and lived on winn gardens in my younger days. I Went to Hillsborough school. Mrs dials class

Can't remember Mrs Dials and I olso went to Hillsborough school Mr ploughs class.DM me your name please we could have been mates

 

[Sportbilly /Detroit Blade]

Wasn't it whitehurst who chose Jones to stand along side him in the fight with the Wednesday boys? I doubt many people would take Whitehurst on, but I'm sure Jones proved himself that day

Did that fight actually happen?

 

[Tezza1889]

Did that fight actually happen?

Back at the time I'd heard about BW taking 2 out outside Henry's..

Paul Beesley recollected the story on under the cosh, so somebody who was there on the night said VJ walked out with him, and they promptly dispatched them both, then the rest of them shit it.

Folklore now.....

 

[DifferentClass]

Vinnie had tattoos of all the clubs he played for - except Utd

He saw Wilder's and felt he just couldn't compete.

 

[dazzlingblade]

Did that fight actually happen?

Sure someone who was there talked about it on the under the cosh podcast

 

[AlienWoodward]

I thought he was good for us at the time and a much better footballer than people give him credit for.
I remember him stood in front of us away at Leeds starting the "He's a Blade" chant and all the away support singing it to him.
Also socially attending local football club presentations for free etc.
Really nice guy.
The fact he's made it as an actor tells you his tough guy image wasn't all true.

 

[Darlington82]

After the Watford game, we saw Vinnie in Only Fools and Horses at the Hammersmith Apollo. The show was great if you are old enough to have grown up with it. He was fine in his role, but the is no doubt he is a big star and loved by the reception he got, everytime he came on stage.

As a footballer I hated him, he pushed Toddy out of the team who was such a better footballer. But do not disagree he was a significant part of our successful season, but behind Deeno, Hodges, Tracey, Bryson and the defence.

Whenever anyone mentions him I always remember Roker Park when Hodges head butted someone and Vinnie had to be held back from jumping into the crowd when someone threw a cup of tea over him. Mental Day, we were held back in for ages as bricks came flying over the wall.