What's your dullest anecdote about meeting a footballer?

[YorkBlade]

I once saw Glyn Hodges in Bawtry. We were both killing time looking in shop windows while our respective other halves were busy actually shopping.
Our eyes met.
I nodded the smallest of nods.
He just looked away.

Met loads of players as a kid hanging around waiting for autographs. Kenworthy was my hero.

Derek French once stopped his car & flagged me down ‘cos he thought the car behind him & in front of me had crashed off the road.
It had just turned left.

Saw Chris Armstrong filling his car up at Morrisons in Catcliffe - about 100 yards from where I had my Derek French experience.

'The Derek French experience', can we get that open at Alton Towers?

 

[Isaw Joeshaw]

I once saw Jack Charlton standing on his own in the Exec Suite when he was manager at Boro and they were rumoured to be interested in one of our players .

Hoping to get some first hand info on this , I boldly wandered over and said - “ Hi Jack , so what are you doing here today then ?”

He replied “ Watching a football match “ then turned his back on me .

 

[Badger Blade]

I once used a urinal next to Chris Kamara. I got stage fright and had to pretend to go.

I saw Chris Kamara at soft play at Tong garden centre in Bradford, back when mask wearing was all the rage so luckily for him, nobody could go and bother him while he was reading the paper and playing on his phone while Mrs Kamara was entertaining the grandkids in the ball pit.

 

[Houston_Blade]

'The Derek French experience', can we get that open at Alton Towers?

An aggressive rub down and some small talk in a room that smells of ralgex.

 

[Swannyblade]

Mark Bunn in the queue behind me in Greggs in town...don't know if he bought a bun though.

Richard Wright in the window of a coffee shop on Division St - nodded at him, he nodded back...rivetting stuff!

Why do I only ever see crap keepers?

 

[Isaw Joeshaw]

I once met John Fleck, Jimmy Cranky, Chris Kamara and Kirsty Gallagher in La Chambre.
Long story.

You’ve made that up .




It was Jimmy Clitheroe and Matt le Tissier .

 

[Alan Birchenall's hair]

Pat Rice asked to borrow my 'Kevin Keegan' brand shin pads as I took them off behind the net when I had a trial day at Arsenal in 1974. Starstruck, I obviously said yes. He'd spotted them as they were some of the first to also incorporate ankle protectors as an all-in-one. He fucked off with them and I never saw 'em again. Bastard......

Was clean bowled by Simon Stainrod on Oaks Park cricket pitch in 1977. 'Howzat!' he shouted. 'Out' said the umpire. I never got chance to join in the conversation.

Tackled David Ford into a hedge on a pitch at Arbourthorne about 1979 or 80. Called me a clumsy wanker I think. Probably right.

 

[Blade.com]

I was about 10, late 60s. United playing West Ham spent all Friday night getting my football book ready, great page with a picture of Martin Peters; Geoff Hurst and Bobby Moore on. 20 to 5 ran round to the old players entrance, hundreds there, no chance. Walked back to the station and sat waiting for the 6.10pm train home. Down the steps come all the West Ham team, spy Bobby Moore,
" Can I have your autograph please".
"FXXK OFF".
" Does that mean no Bobby"
Twat.

 

[Micky Narker]

I've never bumped into a United player but I used to work with a lad who played non-league and had been capped by St Kitts.

 

[Berkshire Blade]

Saw Joe Kinnear going to play squash once at a local school. Would see Ed De Goey and Gus Poyet around a fair bit just in town doing shopping. Saw Neil Shipperly at a bar in a non league ground just minding his own. He wasn't even watching the game.

 

[Nah den]

A few years back Che Adams sat next to me on a train in Manchester heading back to Sheffield at evening rush hour. It was during an international break and he was in some Blades training gear. Always wondered what the story was there. Didn't like to bother him though.
Once saw Brian Gayle (during his playing days) buying 4 Stella and 20 Silk Cut from the Spar that was at the bottom of Bushey Wood Road.
More recently stood behind Carl Asaba in the Co-op I Dore. Didn't speak to him.

 

[Davalon]

Used to be mates with Tony Agana. Been out for drinks with him numerous times. Haven't seen him in years, though.

Tony was sat opposite me at Costa near Catcliffe at the weekend.

Looks well.

 

[sufc323]

I had 2 encounters with Billy Sharp at Meadowhall.

The first was in Boots on the hair gel aisle, he was with Jags and we exchanged glances.

Then a few weeks later, I was in Nandos and Billy walked in with his family, I said to our lass "I think that's Billy Sharp" a bit too loudly cos his wife gave me a weird look.

 

[Champagneblade]

Brian Howard gave me his left, size 5, play-off final losing boot at Wembley Premier Inn. He gave my brother his right boot.

What a memento. Do you have it in a glass case in the outside toilet?

 

[Champagneblade]

I once saw Paul Coutts in Nero on Ecclesall Road. I didn't say anything to him. He didn't say anything to me.

You both didn't give anything away?

Nice homage!

 

[Solihull Blade]

'The Derek French experience', can we get that open at Alton Towers?

Saw 11 of our players in Coventry the other week. All looked disinterested and by the end of the encounter, so was I.

 

[YorkBlade]

Saw 11 of our players in Coventry the other week. All looked disinterested and by the end of the encounter, so was I.

I had some lovely sandwiches

 

[Greasy Chap Butty]

You’ve made that up .




It was Jimmy Clitheroe and Matt le Tissier .

Jimmy Clit hero as he's known down there

 

[Greasy Chap Butty]

You hear stories about dodgy medical professionals don't you. Convinced it's only a matter of time before my attractive dentist asks me to get my kit off when I go for a check up.

I think I've seen that documentary on the internet......

 

[Lucky Polo's]

I saw Peter Barlow (Ken's Son) in the petrol station at Calver.

He wasn't very tall.

(Neither am I).

 

[DifferentClass]

Once walked past John Fleck at the gym, he was in full training gear.

 

[Champagneblade]

I saw Darren Carr in Macro and he was absolutely massive. I said to my Dad "is that Darren Carr?" and my Dad replied "looks like him", totally non-plussed by me spying a United reserve and got on with looking at reversible belts (not as a form of corporal punishment btw).

I got a lift to the Lane a couple of times from London with Sean Bean, but I don't like to talk about it much...go on then... I used to live in Maida Vale and Sean in Belsize Park. We both used to frequent Ye Olde Swiss Cottage pub which was run by Steve, a Unitedite. I moved to Singapore not long after which was a shame as we lost touch. Lovely guy and his wife was really nice. The pool room was all decked out in United shirts!

I also met him on a train prior to this. I left him alone as he was with the girls. At the end we had a chat as my Dad and his Mum used to work for the same company. When we got off the train my Dad who was picking me up was stood chatting to his Mum who was picking them up! Not sure why that seems amusing to me but just goes to show you can take the boy out of Sheffield etc.

I also wrote to Kevin McCabe and he called me at home. I watched the QPR away game with him when one of their Directors got held at gun point.

 

[Sean Thornton]

Saw our first team walking towards me in Bury one wet winter evening. Told them all to fuck off as did about 2000 other Blades. Jose Baxter looked ripped off his tits.

True story.

 

[Sheffsteel]

True story....that's very dull ha ha

I went to the league cup match at the Lane in the mid 80's, it was a night match against Rotherham, think we won 5-0.
On the same night, Wednesday played at home to Everton and lost, think it was 0-5 to Everton, Lineker scored a hatrick.

There was a Red Ribbon charity do (I think ) at the club after the match.

Saw our manager Ian Porterfield in the bar area. Felt compelled to acknowledge him but had a bit of stage fright.
I spoke to him and my opening line was "Sheffield double tonight"
He replied "What?"
I said "its always a good night when there's been a Sheffield double"

He hadn't a clue what I was talking about, so I excitedly explained that we'd won 5-0, whilst Wednesday lost 5-0.
His reply was "ohhh"....he didn't seen remotely interested in what I said and he walked off.

I felt like I'd just done a bad chat up line like "do you come here often?" ha ha

 

[pommpey]

Mick Quinn, the fat, beer-swilling Bob Carolgees-a-like who played centre forward for Pompey and who was porking a barmaid at a fun pub in the city I worked at as a bouncer once came in and showed me a load of watches he wanted to flog. He said, 'Fancy a decent Rolex, lar?'

'No thanks,', I said.

He did give the barmaid chlamydia

The end

pommpey

 

[Fade2Blade]

Bumped into Gordon Strachon, I asked him for his autograph for my Grandson, without breaking stride he asked if I had a pen to which I replied 'no', he just shook his head and continued walking.

 

[Champagneblade]

Mick Quinn, the fat, beer-swilling Bob Carolgees-a-like who played centre forward for Pompey and who was porking a barmaid at a fun pub in the city I worked at as a bouncer once came in and showed me a load of watches he wanted to flog. He said, 'Fancy a decent Rolex, lar?'

'No thanks,', I said.

He did give the barmaid chlamydia

The end

pommpey

I didn't know Chlamydia did watches!

 

[Sheffsteel]

Another true story:
I went drinking in the Barnsley town centre on a Saturday night about 15 years ago.

There weren't many in the bar and it was fairly quiet, to my surprise Chris Morgan and Steven Quinn were getting served at the bar.
My mate at the time was a Wednesday fan and he started winding them both up.

Morgan seemed quite drunk and was good at giving banter back, he was pretty chilled (maybe pissed) and having a laugh joking around with my Wednesday mate.
Stephen Quinn was drinking orange juice and quite serious, although he was with a very young looking girl (maybe his girlfriend).
The girl with Squinny looked about 17 (initially thought she was too young for Squinny)...then realised Squinn was also very young
probably only about 21 at the time.

so I had a chat with him.
Squinny came across really well, down to earth and genuine.
He told me he loves playing for United and treats each season like it's his last in football. He even bought me a drink.

 

[Champagneblade]

Bumped into Gordon Strachon, I asked him for his autograph for my Grandson, without breaking stride he asked if I had a pen to which I replied 'no', he just shook his head and continued walking.

To be fair you weren't overly prepped for there moment, were you?

 

[Torrix1889]

Saw Gerry and Kate McCann in East Midlands Airport, they looked sheepish.