Thanks!
All time British+Irish Fantasy Draft
- Thread starter crappycraperson
- Start date
DONE
BILLY LIDELL, an individual who was so synonymous with a club that the club had a nickname after him. Someone whose memorial plaque rests in the entrance to the club’s museum, someone who refused to desert his club even when it was relegated, someone who rejected a transfer contract worth a few hundred times his club wages and someone who played football on a part time basis; yet retired as the top goalscorer of the club.
With only a paltry league medal and several years spent in the championship, one might rightfully wonder why he is held in such high regard. Liverpool were actually coined Liddellpool by fans in his honor, he was the only other player to be selected twice to represent Great Britain side(Matthews being the other) and came 6th in a greatest ever offical poll conducted by Liverpool, ahead of far more successful players.
Why do Liverpool fans and legends such as Dalglish, Callaghan, Paisley and Shankly consider him to be one of Liverpool's greatest ever if not the best?
The winger came to prominence in the late 40s when he led Liverpool to a title and FA cup final. However, due to the incompetence of the board and his fellow players, Liverpool suffered the ignominy of relegation.
Amidst the gloom of the 1950s when relegation from the top flight and humiliating cup exits meant the Kop had little to smile about, the only shining light was William Beveridge Liddell, a player whose name to this day evokes dewy-eyed reminisces of a bygone football age.
During a barren era which commands little coverage in Liverpool history books, the Scot ensured crowds continued to flock to Anfield in their thousands and was largely responsible for keeping the club's head above the abyss of Football League oblivion.
Although his modesty would never have allowed him to admit it, without Liddell the Reds could well have sunk into the murky depths of the old Third Division. And if they had, who's to say they'd ever have escaped?
He single handedly carried Liverpool, rejecting the advances of successful clubs and his faith in his club never wavered. Ultimately it's a shame that his career precluded the Shankly era. It resulted in a lack of trophies to show for but there was never any question about his individual ability and talent.
Such was his love for the club that in 1950, he turned down a £12 000 contract package to play in Colombia when he was earning a woeful maximum wage of £10 per week under a yearly contract. It was only testament to his quality that those offered contracts and accepted them include Alfredo Di Stefano, Neil Franklin and Hector Rial.
Playing style
Liddell had all the silken attributes associated with speedy wingers but he also possessed the one attribute the breed normally so painfully lacks - Billy had brute force. That force synchronised with his technique and powered his left pendulum in the act of scoring 228 goals, to add to the countless he made over his 23-year Liverpool career in which he made a then record 534 appearances.
Boy was he strong... In full flight, he was like a rampaging tank shredding through defenses with ease. A deadly cocktail of searing pace, ruthless finishing and sheer physicality which his peers struggled to come to terms with.
“Bill was so strong it was unbelievable. You couldn’t shake him off the ball. It didn’t matter where he was playing. He could go round you, or past you, or even straight through you sometimes!”
"I always knew I was in for a hectic afternoon when I was marking Billy," Ramsey said. "The only way to try to hold him was to beat him to possession of the ball. Once he had it, he was difficult to stop. He once said to Liddell "Any chance you can go play on the other wing for a while Billy, I'm knackered. "
Once, he fractured poor Wilf Mannion's cheekbone in a clash of heads, but while Mannion was carried off, Liddell stayed on the pitch and scored in a 3-2 win.
Liddell, in a collision, broke the ribs of the England goalkeeper, Frank Swift. However, Swift himself insisted, "It was fair. Billy doesn't know how to be anything but fair." He played hard but always fair.
Billy was always strong, even as a teenager, and was a naturally two-footed player. He also had good skills, but was so strong for a winger. In those days most wingers were fairly lightly-built players but Bill had absolutely no fear. He was a gentleman through and through. But he would also work on the pitch. He was a real workhorse but he had a nice touch as well. Sometimes he would use his strength to send defenders flying, but always totally fairly.
Liddell was some player… He had everything. He was fast, powerful, shot with either foot and his headers were like blasts from a gun. On top of all that he was as hard as granite. What a player! He was so strong – and he took a nineteen-inch collar shirt!”
His shooting prowess was the stuff of legend. A pile driver from Liddell once fractured the arm of a Nottingham Forest goalkeeper. There are reported instances when goalkeepers deliberately ducked or dived the wrong way in order to avoid being hit by a Liddell rocket. Billy was even capable of scoring headers with the heavy leather ball from outside the penalty box!
When I went to my first professional football match it was Liverpool. When Billy got the ball the anticipation from the crowd was just huge. What is he going to do with it? Is he going to shoot from 30 yards or take it past people? He was wonderful. Billy played with a heavy ball on the heavy pitches. The way he used to kick the ball, wow! He was so strong."
Ever the gentleman, Liddell, during the course of his illustrious career he was never booked and captained the club with distinction. One of the finest role models ever to play the game, he was the perfect club ambassador: a devout Christian who never drank, smoked or swore, he did a lot of work for charity, helped out at local boys' clubs and was a qualified Justice of the Peace.
An irrepressible goalscoring wing-forward who was a true great and a gentleman.
Tributes
"Forgive me if my eyes sparkle when I think of Bill Liddell. You can talk of how the players of yesteryear would have struggled to cope with the demands of the modern game. Bill Liddell would have been a star in any team, in any age. How I wish I could have had a Liddell in my successful teams. With him in the side I reckon we would have won the Grand National and the Boat Race.
He was often embarrassed when people referred to us as Liddell-pool during the days of struggle but I think it was fair enough. He was a team rolled up into one.
It is close between him and Kenny for the title of the best player ever to have worn a Liverpool shirt. By today's standards, I don't think there is the money to buy a Billy Liddell
He was often embarrassed when people referred to us as Liddell-pool during the days of struggle but I think it was fair enough. He was a team rolled up into one.
It is close between him and Kenny for the title of the best player ever to have worn a Liverpool shirt. By today's standards, I don't think there is the money to buy a Billy Liddell
Billy Wright, the captain of England and often an opponent of Liddell, said that "Scotland have had few greater players. He could conjure goals out of nothing.
“Bill was aggressive. He took opponents on and had the shooting power to finish things off. There wasn’t a weakness in Billy’s game. He was as strong as a bull on the ball. Defenders found him a real handful, but always respected him.”
More tributes if you are interested
http://www.billyliddell.com/article/2214
Your write ups are fecking brilliant Joga. The McGrory piece was one of the best things I've encountered in all of these draft threads.
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Cheers mate, appreciate it. It was vital to give detailed write ups on the likes of McGrory, Franklin and Liddell as they aren't too renowned amongst the current generation. Didn't want people coming into the match thread with Neil who?
So don't expect too many good write ups from us from now on
. Its all going to be pretty straightforward ones for the more well known and recent players like Souness, Barnes etc.feck didn't realise my match is on tomorrow. Have zip till now.
Was in the same situation after going by Chesters list.
Luckily I had done all but the few parts that would change between the games.EDIT: Which was my fault clearly not Chesters!
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bollocks, promised crappy a write up as well and I've got work. @crappycraperson - going to have to be tonight pal.
Stuff sent to crappy.
I'll try to drop by to comment in the match thread(s) - but I can't promise much as I'm working my arse off this week.
I'll try to drop by to comment in the match thread(s) - but I can't promise much as I'm working my arse off this week.
Unacceptable.
To be completed...
Team: On Her Majesty's Secret Pillows
Motto: Shaken not Squeezed
Tommy Gemmell - The left back of the famed 'Lisbon Lions', he is an aggressive attacking full back he lacked nothing and took no prisoners. He became known not only for his stalwart defending but also for his charges forward and his thunderbolt strikes at goal. Referred to as the Greatest left Back in the world by none other than Jock Stein, he is one of only two British footballers to score in two different European Cup Finals. A specialist Penalty taker, who missed only 3 of 34 in his career, he has been voted into Celtic's Greatest Ever team.
Emlyn Hughes - First Liverpool captain to lift the European Cup. Legend has it that, on driving the 19-year-old down to Liverpool, Bill Shankly told a policeman: "Don't you know who is in this car? There sits the future captain of England." It turned true! Versatile enough to operate as Left back, Centre back or as a defensive midfielder, Crazy Horse can be depended upon to run through brick walls for his team.
Paul McGrath - widely recognised as one of the greatest players to have ever come out of Ireland. A natural and magnificent athlete with outstanding soccer talent, he is also a tough tackler and brilliant reader of the game. Called God by the Villa fans, he was voted player of the year 1993. He is also versatile to play in centre of defence or in midfield. If not for his alcoholism and problem with his knees, he would have gone on to be one of the greatest defenders globally of his generation. Ferguson said after the match "You have to wonder what a player McGrath should have been." He also commented that "Paul had similar problems to George Best [but] he was without doubt the most natural athlete in football you could imagine". True praise from a football legend who knows a thing or two about football talent.
George Cohen - WC'66 winner with England. Not flashy, yet crucial in providing width to teams without a specialist wide player, his workrate and stamina provided crucial and integral in England winning the WC. In a documentary on Channel 4 to find the greatest England XI, Cohen was given the right back spot by the public, ahead of Phil Neal and Gary Neville.
One of the iconic photographs of English football where Alf Ramsey prevents Cohen from swapping shirts with Argentinian player due to rough nature of the game.
Wes Brown - Sir Alex Ferguson - "without question the best natural defender this club has had for years". United fans have no need for introduction to Wes. Versatile to play both Right Back and Centre Back, his career would have been far more glittering if not for his injuries.
Nobby Stiles - Small, wears dentures, short sighted. Not exactly qualities to be a top footballer, unless he can scare opponents off with that gap toothed laugh of his.
Stiles's simple passing game and fearless ball-winning skills when deployed in the middle of the park snuffs out the flair and peril of creative opponents and his ability to gain and retain possession also allowed his more skilled team-mates to do the damage upfront.
Liam Brady - The man with the magical left foot. A midfielder renowned for his elegant technical skills, high-quality passing and close control. Three consecutive FA cup finals with Arsenal, two Scudettas in his 2 years with Juventus, he had the capacity and skills. In case you've ever wondered, his nickname Chippy is not for his talent to make both short and long chips on the field, but for his liking to the potato kind, as in fish and chips! Vision, close control, tactical nous, he had it all. Strong legs and wiry frame made it difficult for opponents to knock him off the ball. A praise from Trap during Juve's heydays is not easy to come by “We might have had seven or eight players who were in the Italian squad but it was Brady, who brought experience and personality to the side, and his role in midfield was vital.”
Not just play making, his famous goal vs Spurs is a example of the goal threat that he is:
Ofc, he had a tremendous match against Man utd, but I'll stop committing suicide by posting that video
Steve McManaman - The most decorated English footballer to have played abroad, with the UEFA website stating that "of all England's footballing exports in the modern era, none was as successful as McManaman." To earn a place for himself in the turbulent Galacticos time of Real Madrid and to earn the praise of his fellow players like Zidane is no easy thing to achieve. Johan Cryuff described McManaman at the time as the most useful player in the "Galaticos" because he was "everyone's best partner on the pitch. the spanish press described him as "El Cartero" (the postman)- the implication being that though he could dribble long distances, he seemed to collect the ball and deliver it promptly.
His impact was such that he is still listed as a legend in Real Madrid website. His importance is underlined not just by his individual performance, but by his ability to bring about the best in others unselfishly.
G8 - Gazza, the most naturally gifted English midfielder of his generation. Supremely talented and noticed for both his on field and off field antics.
Gascoigne announced in 2004 that he no longer wanted be called Paul or Gazza. Instead, his new name was to be ‘G8′ – a genius combination of his first initial and former shirt number. It had another brilliant advantage as well. “It sounds a bit like great, or it does with my Geordie accent”, Gascoigne explained.
Note: After the infamous ball squeezing above, Gazza sent Vinnie a rose and the hardman returned the gift with a toilet brush.
Popularly known as 'Gazza' he is the most naturally gifted English midfielder of his generation. His speed of thought and natural ability put his ahead of most of his peers. One of those players who simply plays the game for fun and has the ability to wow the supporters with his antics both on and off the pitch. His exquisite talent evidenced in the WC games with a notoriety to match with his off field gimmicks, he will never be forgotten.
He would have been a fantastic signing to Manchester United, but a offer of a car to his dad and a sunbed to his sister when Fergie was on a holiday tipped the scales in Spurs favour. Some anecdotes of Gazza that are worth recollecting now:
The Spurs were having a training session one day and one of the players kicked the ball over the fence. Gazza said ”don’t worry I’ll get it”, jumped over the fence, and completely vanished for the rest of the day. The next day, approximately 24 hours later, Gascoigne jumped back over the fence, with the ball under his arm, completely straight faced saying ”I got it!”
In one match, the referee had dropped his yellow card, and Gascoigne was kind enough to pick it up for him. Of course, instead of just handing the card back, Gazza used the chance to show the ref the yellow card as if he was booking him. The ref, typically, felt his authority threatened and returned the favour.
While at a restaurant in Rome, Gazza and his wife were planning to have lobster for dinner. Eight of the crustaceans were lurking in the cold water tank, but Gazza insisted he wanted only one in particular. Since the waiter didn’t seem to understand his Italian, Gascoigne took matters into his own hands and jumped into the lobster tank headfirst. He emerged with the lobster in his hands, shouting, “I want that one!” Gazza proceeded to sit down at the table, salt in eyes, new suit soaking, but enjoying his personally picked meal. The next morning, he suffered from a cold and had to call Lazio that he couldn’t make the match as he’s got the flu. To this day, he claims the lobster was both ‘well-cooked’ and ‘well worth it’.
Mark Hughes -
Michael Owen -
Shay Given -
Team: On Her Majesty's Secret Pillows
Motto: Shaken not Squeezed
Tommy Gemmell - The left back of the famed 'Lisbon Lions', he is an aggressive attacking full back he lacked nothing and took no prisoners. He became known not only for his stalwart defending but also for his charges forward and his thunderbolt strikes at goal. Referred to as the Greatest left Back in the world by none other than Jock Stein, he is one of only two British footballers to score in two different European Cup Finals. A specialist Penalty taker, who missed only 3 of 34 in his career, he has been voted into Celtic's Greatest Ever team.
Emlyn Hughes - First Liverpool captain to lift the European Cup. Legend has it that, on driving the 19-year-old down to Liverpool, Bill Shankly told a policeman: "Don't you know who is in this car? There sits the future captain of England." It turned true! Versatile enough to operate as Left back, Centre back or as a defensive midfielder, Crazy Horse can be depended upon to run through brick walls for his team.
Paul McGrath - widely recognised as one of the greatest players to have ever come out of Ireland. A natural and magnificent athlete with outstanding soccer talent, he is also a tough tackler and brilliant reader of the game. Called God by the Villa fans, he was voted player of the year 1993. He is also versatile to play in centre of defence or in midfield. If not for his alcoholism and problem with his knees, he would have gone on to be one of the greatest defenders globally of his generation. Ferguson said after the match "You have to wonder what a player McGrath should have been." He also commented that "Paul had similar problems to George Best [but] he was without doubt the most natural athlete in football you could imagine". True praise from a football legend who knows a thing or two about football talent.
George Cohen - WC'66 winner with England. Not flashy, yet crucial in providing width to teams without a specialist wide player, his workrate and stamina provided crucial and integral in England winning the WC. In a documentary on Channel 4 to find the greatest England XI, Cohen was given the right back spot by the public, ahead of Phil Neal and Gary Neville.
One of the iconic photographs of English football where Alf Ramsey prevents Cohen from swapping shirts with Argentinian player due to rough nature of the game.
Wes Brown - Sir Alex Ferguson - "without question the best natural defender this club has had for years". United fans have no need for introduction to Wes. Versatile to play both Right Back and Centre Back, his career would have been far more glittering if not for his injuries.
Nobby Stiles - Small, wears dentures, short sighted. Not exactly qualities to be a top footballer, unless he can scare opponents off with that gap toothed laugh of his.
Stiles's simple passing game and fearless ball-winning skills when deployed in the middle of the park snuffs out the flair and peril of creative opponents and his ability to gain and retain possession also allowed his more skilled team-mates to do the damage upfront.
Liam Brady - The man with the magical left foot. A midfielder renowned for his elegant technical skills, high-quality passing and close control. Three consecutive FA cup finals with Arsenal, two Scudettas in his 2 years with Juventus, he had the capacity and skills. In case you've ever wondered, his nickname Chippy is not for his talent to make both short and long chips on the field, but for his liking to the potato kind, as in fish and chips! Vision, close control, tactical nous, he had it all. Strong legs and wiry frame made it difficult for opponents to knock him off the ball. A praise from Trap during Juve's heydays is not easy to come by “We might have had seven or eight players who were in the Italian squad but it was Brady, who brought experience and personality to the side, and his role in midfield was vital.”
Not just play making, his famous goal vs Spurs is a example of the goal threat that he is:
Ofc, he had a tremendous match against Man utd, but I'll stop committing suicide by posting that video
Steve McManaman - The most decorated English footballer to have played abroad, with the UEFA website stating that "of all England's footballing exports in the modern era, none was as successful as McManaman." To earn a place for himself in the turbulent Galacticos time of Real Madrid and to earn the praise of his fellow players like Zidane is no easy thing to achieve. Johan Cryuff described McManaman at the time as the most useful player in the "Galaticos" because he was "everyone's best partner on the pitch. the spanish press described him as "El Cartero" (the postman)- the implication being that though he could dribble long distances, he seemed to collect the ball and deliver it promptly.
His impact was such that he is still listed as a legend in Real Madrid website. His importance is underlined not just by his individual performance, but by his ability to bring about the best in others unselfishly.
G8 - Gazza, the most naturally gifted English midfielder of his generation. Supremely talented and noticed for both his on field and off field antics.
Gascoigne announced in 2004 that he no longer wanted be called Paul or Gazza. Instead, his new name was to be ‘G8′ – a genius combination of his first initial and former shirt number. It had another brilliant advantage as well. “It sounds a bit like great, or it does with my Geordie accent”, Gascoigne explained.
Note: After the infamous ball squeezing above, Gazza sent Vinnie a rose and the hardman returned the gift with a toilet brush.
Popularly known as 'Gazza' he is the most naturally gifted English midfielder of his generation. His speed of thought and natural ability put his ahead of most of his peers. One of those players who simply plays the game for fun and has the ability to wow the supporters with his antics both on and off the pitch. His exquisite talent evidenced in the WC games with a notoriety to match with his off field gimmicks, he will never be forgotten.
He would have been a fantastic signing to Manchester United, but a offer of a car to his dad and a sunbed to his sister when Fergie was on a holiday tipped the scales in Spurs favour. Some anecdotes of Gazza that are worth recollecting now:
The Spurs were having a training session one day and one of the players kicked the ball over the fence. Gazza said ”don’t worry I’ll get it”, jumped over the fence, and completely vanished for the rest of the day. The next day, approximately 24 hours later, Gascoigne jumped back over the fence, with the ball under his arm, completely straight faced saying ”I got it!”
In one match, the referee had dropped his yellow card, and Gascoigne was kind enough to pick it up for him. Of course, instead of just handing the card back, Gazza used the chance to show the ref the yellow card as if he was booking him. The ref, typically, felt his authority threatened and returned the favour.
While at a restaurant in Rome, Gazza and his wife were planning to have lobster for dinner. Eight of the crustaceans were lurking in the cold water tank, but Gazza insisted he wanted only one in particular. Since the waiter didn’t seem to understand his Italian, Gascoigne took matters into his own hands and jumped into the lobster tank headfirst. He emerged with the lobster in his hands, shouting, “I want that one!” Gazza proceeded to sit down at the table, salt in eyes, new suit soaking, but enjoying his personally picked meal. The next morning, he suffered from a cold and had to call Lazio that he couldn’t make the match as he’s got the flu. To this day, he claims the lobster was both ‘well-cooked’ and ‘well worth it’.
Mark Hughes -
Michael Owen -
Shay Given -
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Going to go through the figures so we know for the next round:
Group A
Gio - 288m
1. Jimmy Greaves 30m, 2. Tom Finney 72m 3. Ashley Cole 36m 4. Davie Meiklejohn 10m 5. Des Walker 34m 6. Alan Morton 29m 7. Alex James 21m 8. Gordon Banks 10m 9. George Young 16m 10. Alan Mullery 10m 11. Willie Miller 10m 12. David Platt 10m
Stobzilla - 286m
1. Jimmy Johnstone 38m; 2. Alan Hansen 40m 3. Johnny Giles 50m 4. Eddie Gray 40m 5. Kevin Ratfcliffe 15m 6. Peter Reid 15m 7.Danny McGrain 28m 8. Ron Springett 10m 9.Alan Shearer 20m 10. Teddy Sheringham 10m 11. Mike England 10m 12. Stuart Pearce 10m
Crappy - 289m
1. Irwin 42m, 2. Rush 30m 3. Wayne Rooney 20m 4. Bale 30m 5. Rio Ferdinand 55m 6. Jim Baxter 47m 7. Andy Goram 10m 8. Phil Neal 15m 9. Patsy Gallacher 10m 10. Steve Bruce 10m 11. Martin Peters 12. Eric Brook
Group B
Annah - 300m
1. George Best 95m, 2. Stanley Matthews 52m, 3. Danny Blanchflower 63m 4. B. Collins 10m 5. Jim Leighton 10m
6. McCracken 10m 7. Hardwick 10m 8. Ron Burgess 10m 9. Stan Mortensen 10. Bill Slater 11. Mel Hopkins 12. Kenny Sansom
SirAF- 279m [REMOVED: Gary Pallister]
1. Giggs 70m, 2. Hurst 10m, 3. Gary Lineker 25m 4. Trevor Brooking 18m 5. Steven Gerrard 33m 6. Joe Hart 10m 7. John O'Shea 10m 8. Ledley King 25m 9. Leighton Baines 15m 10. Michael Carrick 14m 11.Terry Butcher 16m 12. Alex Ferguson 10m 13. Sandy Jardine 23m
Raees (-5m) - 298m
1. Denis Law 58m, 2. Dave Mackay 49m, 3. Alan Ball 17m 4. Billy Bremner 47m 5. Sol Campbell 37m 6.Eddie Hapgood 10m7. Billy McNeill 18m 8. Ray Clemence 10m9.Raich Carter 12m 10. Cliff Jones 10m 11. Peter Lorimer 10m 12. Bob Crompton 10m 13. Paul Reaney 10m
Group C
Skizzo - 300m
1. John Charles 42m, 2. Bobby Moore 52m 3. Neville Southall 15m 4. Paul Ince 26m 5. Gary Neville 30m6. David Beckham 50m 7. Frank Lampard 15m 8. Bobby Lennox 20m9.Ian Wright 10m 10. Tony Dunne 10m 11. Mark Lawrenson 10m 12. Bobby Murdoch 20m
Lynk - 295m(-5m)
1. Roy Keane 75m 2. Pat Jennings 30m 3. Billy Meredith 30m 4. Tony Adams 35m 5.John Terry 39m6.Barry 10m 7. Duff 10m 8. Fowler 14m9. Waddle 10m 10. V. Anderson 16m 11. Ivor Allchurch 10m 12. J. Carey 16m
Chesterlestreet - 296m
1. Duncan Edwards 69m,2. Billy Wright 30m, 3. Roger Byrne 27m; 4.Johnny Haynes 30m 5.William R. Dean. 45m 6. W. Woodburn 10m7. Jack Kelsey 10m 8.Pat Crerand 20m 9. Cliff Bastin 12m 10. Alex Jackson 19m 11. Leonard Shackleton 12m 12. Pat Rice 12m
Group D
MJJ - 267m
1. Bobby Charlton 66m, 2. Bryan Robson 60M, 3. Kenny Dalglish 49m 4. Ray Wilson 10m 5. Harry Gregg 10m 6. Alex Raisbeck 10m 7. Nat Lofthouse 10m 8. Jack Charlton 12m 9. P. Beardsley 10m 10. Lee Dixon 10m 11. Phil Thompson 10m 12. G. Hoddle 10m
Barney - 287m
1. Paul Scholes 67m, 2. Graeme Souness 56m 3. Jimmy Armfield 15m 4. John Greig 17m 5. Ronnie Simpson 10m 6. John Barnes 20m 7. Kevin Keegan 10m 8. Neil Franklin 21m9. Billy Liddell 19m 10. Jimmy McGrory 22m 11. David O' Leary 10m 12. B. Auld 10m 13. Wilf Mannion 10m
EAP - 285m
1. Paul Gascoigne 46m, 2. Norbert P. Stiles 45m, 3. Paul McGrath 45m 4. Michael Owen 16m 5.Liam Brady 49m6. Shay Given 14m 7.George Cohen 12m 8. Wes Brown 10m 9. Tommy Gemmell 12m 10. Sparky Hughes 10m 11. Emlyn Hughes 12m 12. McManaman 14m
Group A
Gio - 288m
1. Jimmy Greaves 30m, 2. Tom Finney 72m 3. Ashley Cole 36m 4. Davie Meiklejohn 10m 5. Des Walker 34m 6. Alan Morton 29m 7. Alex James 21m 8. Gordon Banks 10m 9. George Young 16m 10. Alan Mullery 10m 11. Willie Miller 10m 12. David Platt 10m
Stobzilla - 286m
1. Jimmy Johnstone 38m; 2. Alan Hansen 40m 3. Johnny Giles 50m 4. Eddie Gray 40m 5. Kevin Ratfcliffe 15m 6. Peter Reid 15m 7.Danny McGrain 28m 8. Ron Springett 10m 9.Alan Shearer 20m 10. Teddy Sheringham 10m 11. Mike England 10m 12. Stuart Pearce 10m
Crappy - 289m
1. Irwin 42m, 2. Rush 30m 3. Wayne Rooney 20m 4. Bale 30m 5. Rio Ferdinand 55m 6. Jim Baxter 47m 7. Andy Goram 10m 8. Phil Neal 15m 9. Patsy Gallacher 10m 10. Steve Bruce 10m 11. Martin Peters 12. Eric Brook
Group B
Annah - 300m
1. George Best 95m, 2. Stanley Matthews 52m, 3. Danny Blanchflower 63m 4. B. Collins 10m 5. Jim Leighton 10m
6. McCracken 10m 7. Hardwick 10m 8. Ron Burgess 10m 9. Stan Mortensen 10. Bill Slater 11. Mel Hopkins 12. Kenny Sansom
SirAF- 279m [REMOVED: Gary Pallister]
1. Giggs 70m, 2. Hurst 10m, 3. Gary Lineker 25m 4. Trevor Brooking 18m 5. Steven Gerrard 33m 6. Joe Hart 10m 7. John O'Shea 10m 8. Ledley King 25m 9. Leighton Baines 15m 10. Michael Carrick 14m 11.Terry Butcher 16m 12. Alex Ferguson 10m 13. Sandy Jardine 23m
Raees (-5m) - 298m
1. Denis Law 58m, 2. Dave Mackay 49m, 3. Alan Ball 17m 4. Billy Bremner 47m 5. Sol Campbell 37m 6.Eddie Hapgood 10m7. Billy McNeill 18m 8. Ray Clemence 10m9.Raich Carter 12m 10. Cliff Jones 10m 11. Peter Lorimer 10m 12. Bob Crompton 10m 13. Paul Reaney 10m
Group C
Skizzo - 300m
1. John Charles 42m, 2. Bobby Moore 52m 3. Neville Southall 15m 4. Paul Ince 26m 5. Gary Neville 30m6. David Beckham 50m 7. Frank Lampard 15m 8. Bobby Lennox 20m9.Ian Wright 10m 10. Tony Dunne 10m 11. Mark Lawrenson 10m 12. Bobby Murdoch 20m
Lynk - 295m(-5m)
1. Roy Keane 75m 2. Pat Jennings 30m 3. Billy Meredith 30m 4. Tony Adams 35m 5.John Terry 39m6.Barry 10m 7. Duff 10m 8. Fowler 14m9. Waddle 10m 10. V. Anderson 16m 11. Ivor Allchurch 10m 12. J. Carey 16m
Chesterlestreet - 296m
1. Duncan Edwards 69m,2. Billy Wright 30m, 3. Roger Byrne 27m; 4.Johnny Haynes 30m 5.William R. Dean. 45m 6. W. Woodburn 10m7. Jack Kelsey 10m 8.Pat Crerand 20m 9. Cliff Bastin 12m 10. Alex Jackson 19m 11. Leonard Shackleton 12m 12. Pat Rice 12m
Group D
MJJ - 267m
1. Bobby Charlton 66m, 2. Bryan Robson 60M, 3. Kenny Dalglish 49m 4. Ray Wilson 10m 5. Harry Gregg 10m 6. Alex Raisbeck 10m 7. Nat Lofthouse 10m 8. Jack Charlton 12m 9. P. Beardsley 10m 10. Lee Dixon 10m 11. Phil Thompson 10m 12. G. Hoddle 10m
Barney - 287m
1. Paul Scholes 67m, 2. Graeme Souness 56m 3. Jimmy Armfield 15m 4. John Greig 17m 5. Ronnie Simpson 10m 6. John Barnes 20m 7. Kevin Keegan 10m 8. Neil Franklin 21m9. Billy Liddell 19m 10. Jimmy McGrory 22m 11. David O' Leary 10m 12. B. Auld 10m 13. Wilf Mannion 10m
EAP - 285m
1. Paul Gascoigne 46m, 2. Norbert P. Stiles 45m, 3. Paul McGrath 45m 4. Michael Owen 16m 5.Liam Brady 49m6. Shay Given 14m 7.George Cohen 12m 8. Wes Brown 10m 9. Tommy Gemmell 12m 10. Sparky Hughes 10m 11. Emlyn Hughes 12m 12. McManaman 14m
@Edgar Allan Pillow Brilliant team, one of my favorites. Has a really high average level rather than a few that sticks out. Gazza and Owen would be terrifying to say the least.
@Gio Need you to submit your write up against me to @Edgar Allan Pillow
I will submit the same to him.
I will submit the same to him.
Group A
Gio------- Games played: 1 -----Points: 1 -------Goal difference: 0
Stobz---- Games played: 1 -----Points: 1 -------Goal difference: 0
Crappy--- Games played :0-----Points: 0--------Goal difference: 0
Gio------- Games played: 1 -----Points: 1 -------Goal difference: 0
Stobz---- Games played: 1 -----Points: 1 -------Goal difference: 0
Crappy--- Games played :0-----Points: 0--------Goal difference: 0
Thanks Skizzo, I will add these to the OP
Group B
Annah ----- Games played: 1 ----Points: 3 -----Goal difference: +8
SirAF ------ Games Played: 0 ----Points: 0 -----Goal difference: 0
Raees------ Games Played: 1---- Points: 0 -----Goal Difference -8
Annah ----- Games played: 1 ----Points: 3 -----Goal difference: +8
SirAF ------ Games Played: 0 ----Points: 0 -----Goal difference: 0
Raees------ Games Played: 1---- Points: 0 -----Goal Difference -8
No problem. Finishing up the last couple now. Should be easy to just update them from now.
Group C
Skizzo -----Games played: 1 -----Points: 3 ----- Goal difference: +15
Chester --- Games played: 0----- Points: 0 -----Goal difference: 0
Lynk ------Games played: 1------Points: 0------Goal difference: -15
Skizzo -----Games played: 1 -----Points: 3 ----- Goal difference: +15
Chester --- Games played: 0----- Points: 0 -----Goal difference: 0
Lynk ------Games played: 1------Points: 0------Goal difference: -15
Group D
MJJ ---- Games played: 0 ------ Points: 0 ------ Goal Difference: 0
EAP --- Games played: 0------ Points: 0 ------ Goal difference: 0
Barney -Games played: 0 ------ Points: 0 ------ Goal difference: 0
MJJ ---- Games played: 0 ------ Points: 0 ------ Goal Difference: 0
EAP --- Games played: 0------ Points: 0 ------ Goal difference: 0
Barney -Games played: 0 ------ Points: 0 ------ Goal difference: 0
I will get it to you by today or tomorrow. Sorry, am in a process of moving houses so severe shortage of time.
@Barney @Joga Bonito
I need your tactics for EAP in case MJJ does not submit his. We need to start at least one game from your group tomorrow
---
@Stobzilla submit your tactics against me to Edgar
I need your tactics for EAP in case MJJ does not submit his. We need to start at least one game from your group tomorrow
---
@Stobzilla submit your tactics against me to Edgar
@SirAF need your tactics for raees
I can play my game against him if you don't want to wait? Considering several people seem to be late with their write ups.
Souness
Few players can boast a trophy haul as impressive as Graeme Souness. With five old first division titles, three European Cups, four League Cups, a Coppa Italia, three Scottish Premier Divisions and four Scottish League Cups to his name the man epitomised winning. Wherever he went, he won. During a period of time where Liverpool were the best club around, he stood out. Souness will be remembered as one of the biggest hard-men in the history of British football, and with good reason, but that does not do him justice. He was a brilliant player. He could pass as well as anybody and could score goals too. His vision on the pitch was outstanding. On Liverpool's official website he is described as "A bear of a player with the delicacy of a violinist." That sums him up perfectly.
Barnes
Few players left Liverpool supporters in awe as much as John Barnes. He is one of the most graceful players ever to step foot inside Anfield. While he did not win as much as a player of his talents deserved, he played an instrumental role in creating on of the best Liverpool sides of all time under Kenny Dalglish. Dalglish said of Barnes that, "Barnes did what we expected him to do. He made a goal, scored one, and entertained. You remember that." Digger could do it all. Twice he won FWA Footballer of the Year and he also won the Players' Player of the Year once. Sadly, his career on the left wing was halted by injuries. Barnes proved just how intelligent he was by adapting his game to a central midfield role and playing well there too.
Keegan
The signing of Kevin Keegan from Scunthorpe was described by Bill Shankly as "Robbery with violence." This was not far from the truth for a player who went on to be worth more than ten times the amount Shankly played for him, won two Balon d'Ors and went on to win countless other trophies. Keegan not only achieved success in England with Liverpool, but when Hamburg came knocking he went there and played an instrumental role in helping them win the league once, finish runner up after, and finish as runners up in the European Cup. It was during his time at Hamburg when Keegan won his two Balon d'Ors and he is considered by many Germans to be the first foreign superstar in the Bundesliga. Keegan mixed his hard working nature with his brilliant football skill and was an unbelievable player.
Few players can boast a trophy haul as impressive as Graeme Souness. With five old first division titles, three European Cups, four League Cups, a Coppa Italia, three Scottish Premier Divisions and four Scottish League Cups to his name the man epitomised winning. Wherever he went, he won. During a period of time where Liverpool were the best club around, he stood out. Souness will be remembered as one of the biggest hard-men in the history of British football, and with good reason, but that does not do him justice. He was a brilliant player. He could pass as well as anybody and could score goals too. His vision on the pitch was outstanding. On Liverpool's official website he is described as "A bear of a player with the delicacy of a violinist." That sums him up perfectly.
Barnes
Few players left Liverpool supporters in awe as much as John Barnes. He is one of the most graceful players ever to step foot inside Anfield. While he did not win as much as a player of his talents deserved, he played an instrumental role in creating on of the best Liverpool sides of all time under Kenny Dalglish. Dalglish said of Barnes that, "Barnes did what we expected him to do. He made a goal, scored one, and entertained. You remember that." Digger could do it all. Twice he won FWA Footballer of the Year and he also won the Players' Player of the Year once. Sadly, his career on the left wing was halted by injuries. Barnes proved just how intelligent he was by adapting his game to a central midfield role and playing well there too.
Keegan
The signing of Kevin Keegan from Scunthorpe was described by Bill Shankly as "Robbery with violence." This was not far from the truth for a player who went on to be worth more than ten times the amount Shankly played for him, won two Balon d'Ors and went on to win countless other trophies. Keegan not only achieved success in England with Liverpool, but when Hamburg came knocking he went there and played an instrumental role in helping them win the league once, finish runner up after, and finish as runners up in the European Cup. It was during his time at Hamburg when Keegan won his two Balon d'Ors and he is considered by many Germans to be the first foreign superstar in the Bundesliga. Keegan mixed his hard working nature with his brilliant football skill and was an unbelievable player.
David O'Leary
Arsenal's record appearance maker, he was a bedrock at the back at Arsenal for 2 decades. One of the finest centre backs to ever feature for Arsenal, he had more than just longevity in his locker. O’Leary was an imperious centre-half who, despite a slender physique, was deceptively powerful and pacey too belying his six-foot frame.
In an era dominated by limited stoppers, O'Leary was a cultured and composed player, full of grace both in his use of the ball and the manner he loped across the field; he became affectionately known as ‘Spider’. O’Leary oozed calmness too; opting to play out from the back instead of lumping the ball forward. His composure, both as a defender and when in possession of the ball, was exemplary, as was his reading of the game, he did everything possible to avoid last-ditch tackles. Instead, he'd intercept when others might stand off, and he would always look to jockey opponents away from the danger zone rather than dive in. A intelligent all round ball playing defender and a magnificent player to behold.
Ronnie Simpson
Ronnie Simpson, the second ever Celtic player to be named Scottish Footballer of the Year was an integral part of the legendary lisbon lions. There was no doubt about his supreme shot-stopping skills as he kept 91 clean sheets -almost one every two games - over the course of collecting four championship, one Scottish Cup and three League Cup medals with the Hoops.
What made him outstanding was Simpson's top-class foot movement and ball distribution skills. As Willie Woodburn would say, "Ronnie's superb skill and courage laid the foundation for what must be the most successful year in Celtic's long history."
Billy McNeil went on to add "Ronnie was as much a footballer as he was a goalkeeper. Anything that went in behind us defenders, Ronnie would come out and do something about it.
Paul Scholes
Nothing I could ever say could possibly do justice to this genius's ability and sheer talent. If you haven't extensively watched this maestro in action, I'd suggest you stop depriving yourself any further and watch any footage you can get your hands on.
Obligatory collection of Scholes quotes
Arsenal's record appearance maker, he was a bedrock at the back at Arsenal for 2 decades. One of the finest centre backs to ever feature for Arsenal, he had more than just longevity in his locker. O’Leary was an imperious centre-half who, despite a slender physique, was deceptively powerful and pacey too belying his six-foot frame.
In an era dominated by limited stoppers, O'Leary was a cultured and composed player, full of grace both in his use of the ball and the manner he loped across the field; he became affectionately known as ‘Spider’. O’Leary oozed calmness too; opting to play out from the back instead of lumping the ball forward. His composure, both as a defender and when in possession of the ball, was exemplary, as was his reading of the game, he did everything possible to avoid last-ditch tackles. Instead, he'd intercept when others might stand off, and he would always look to jockey opponents away from the danger zone rather than dive in. A intelligent all round ball playing defender and a magnificent player to behold.
Ronnie Simpson
Ronnie Simpson, the second ever Celtic player to be named Scottish Footballer of the Year was an integral part of the legendary lisbon lions. There was no doubt about his supreme shot-stopping skills as he kept 91 clean sheets -almost one every two games - over the course of collecting four championship, one Scottish Cup and three League Cup medals with the Hoops.
What made him outstanding was Simpson's top-class foot movement and ball distribution skills. As Willie Woodburn would say, "Ronnie's superb skill and courage laid the foundation for what must be the most successful year in Celtic's long history."
Billy McNeil went on to add "Ronnie was as much a footballer as he was a goalkeeper. Anything that went in behind us defenders, Ronnie would come out and do something about it.
Paul Scholes
Nothing I could ever say could possibly do justice to this genius's ability and sheer talent. If you haven't extensively watched this maestro in action, I'd suggest you stop depriving yourself any further and watch any footage you can get your hands on.
Obligatory collection of Scholes quotes
He is the phenomenon. - Ronaldo Nazario
“I want to pass like him. Who taught him how to do that?” - Ronaldinho
"Good enough to play for Brazil. I love to watch Scholes, to see him pass, the boy with the red hair and the red shirt.” - Socrates
“If he was playing with me, I would score so many more.” - Pele
“His technique is unique.” - Maradona
“At La Masia (Barcelona’s Academy) his name was mentioned a lot. He’s a teacher.” - Messi
“Scholes is the best i’ve played with. He’s amazing.” - Cristiano Ronaldo
“The only great English midfielder in my career was Paul Scholes. He has elegance in him. Others were pretenders.” - Pirlo
“Out of everyone at Manchester United, I would pick out Scholes – he is the best midfielder of his generation. I would have loved to have played alongside him.” - Guardiola
"I’m not the best, Paul Scholes is."
- Edgar Davids
“I love Paul Scholes – I ran up to him at Wembley [after the Champions League final last year] to get his shirt and wish him good luck. It’s on the wall at my house!” - Andres Iniesta (In fact Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets and Pedro wanted to swap shirts with Paul Scholes. The honour eventually went to Iniesta, apparently after the five Barca stars had drawn lots.)
"I’ve still got Paul Scholes’ shirt at home which I swapped with him once. When I was at Liverpool he was one of the players I liked most" - Xabi Alonso
"He is the one whose level I aspire to. He is the best player in the Premier League." - Fabregas
"There is no doubt for me that Paul Scholes is still in a class of his own. He’s almost untouchable in what he does. I never tire of watching him play. You rarely come across the complete footballer, but Scholes is as close to it as you can get. One of my regrets is that the opportunity to play alongside him never presented itself during my career." - Zidane
"Paul Scholes is a role model. For me – and I really mean this – he's the best central midfielder I've seen in the last 15, 20 years. He's spectacular, he has it all: the last pass, goals, he's strong, he doesn't lose the ball, vision.
Maybe one small regret is that I never got to play with Paul Scholes - but I was never going to leave Barcelona and he was never going to leave Manchester United." - Xavi
"Without any doubt the best player in the Premiership has to be Scholes. He knows how to do everything, and he is one who directs the way his team plays. On top of that, he has indestructible mental strength and he is a genuine competitor." - Thierry Henry
“I want to pass like him. Who taught him how to do that?” - Ronaldinho
"Good enough to play for Brazil. I love to watch Scholes, to see him pass, the boy with the red hair and the red shirt.” - Socrates
“If he was playing with me, I would score so many more.” - Pele
“His technique is unique.” - Maradona
“At La Masia (Barcelona’s Academy) his name was mentioned a lot. He’s a teacher.” - Messi
“Scholes is the best i’ve played with. He’s amazing.” - Cristiano Ronaldo
“The only great English midfielder in my career was Paul Scholes. He has elegance in him. Others were pretenders.” - Pirlo
“Out of everyone at Manchester United, I would pick out Scholes – he is the best midfielder of his generation. I would have loved to have played alongside him.” - Guardiola
"I’m not the best, Paul Scholes is."
- Edgar Davids
“I love Paul Scholes – I ran up to him at Wembley [after the Champions League final last year] to get his shirt and wish him good luck. It’s on the wall at my house!” - Andres Iniesta (In fact Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets and Pedro wanted to swap shirts with Paul Scholes. The honour eventually went to Iniesta, apparently after the five Barca stars had drawn lots.)
"I’ve still got Paul Scholes’ shirt at home which I swapped with him once. When I was at Liverpool he was one of the players I liked most" - Xabi Alonso
"He is the one whose level I aspire to. He is the best player in the Premier League." - Fabregas
"There is no doubt for me that Paul Scholes is still in a class of his own. He’s almost untouchable in what he does. I never tire of watching him play. You rarely come across the complete footballer, but Scholes is as close to it as you can get. One of my regrets is that the opportunity to play alongside him never presented itself during my career." - Zidane
"Paul Scholes is a role model. For me – and I really mean this – he's the best central midfielder I've seen in the last 15, 20 years. He's spectacular, he has it all: the last pass, goals, he's strong, he doesn't lose the ball, vision.
Maybe one small regret is that I never got to play with Paul Scholes - but I was never going to leave Barcelona and he was never going to leave Manchester United." - Xavi
"Without any doubt the best player in the Premiership has to be Scholes. He knows how to do everything, and he is one who directs the way his team plays. On top of that, he has indestructible mental strength and he is a genuine competitor." - Thierry Henry
@crappycraperson I've got Gio writeup. If you can send me yours, I'll start it by noon tomorrow.
BACK LINE
RONNIE SIMPSON
Ronnie Simpson, the second ever Celtic player to be named Scottish Footballer of the Year was an integral part of the legendary lisbon lions. There was no doubt about his supreme shot-stopping skills as he kept 91 clean sheets -almost one every two games - over the course of collecting four championship, one Scottish Cup and three League Cup medals with the Hoops.
What made him outstanding was Simpson's top-class foot movement and ball distribution skills. As Willie Woodburn would say, "Ronnie's superb skill and courage laid the foundation for what must be the most successful year in Celtic's long history."
Billy McNeil went on to add "Ronnie was as much a footballer as he was a goalkeeper. Anything that went in behind us defenders, Ronnie would come out and do something about it.
JIMMY ARMFIELD
Jimmy Armfield, widely regarded as the best English right back ever, was one of England's finest ever defenders, and in the early 1960s was recognised as one of the best full backs in the world.
He played in the 1962 World Cup in Chile, where he was acclaimed as "the best right-back in the world" after being voted as the right-back of the tournament (he was also voted "best right-back in Europe" between 1962 and 1964). He was included in the 1966 World Cup-winning squad but missed out on the tournament through injury and would have probably gone on to captain England instead of Bobby Moore.
He brought a new dimension to the game with his overlapping runs down the wing, by utilizing the space in front of him when teams used to put two markers on Stanley Matthews. Fans flocked to see this adventurous duo bamboozle opposing markers. His main attributes were speed, superb distribution, outstanding tackling and an enormous capacity for hard work.
JOHN GREIG
Men of the stature of Graeme Souness, Sandy Jardine and Ally McCoist have all said John Greig was the best. The fans have said it, too. They voted him the winner in a competition to find the Greatest Ever Ranger.
It isn't difficult to see why Greig was their choice. It wasn't just his ability, though he was a devastatingly strong and influential player. It was also his passion, his drive, his undeniable will to win that expressed, more than any other contemporary.
A determined, forceful player, recognised for his great leadership qualities, Greig made 755 official appearances for Rangers. He scored 120 goals for the club and won three domestic trebles. Greig actually started his career with Rangers as a forward, prior to being moved back to midfield and finally to left back, thus highlighting his versatility and quality.
If any player deserves the Greatest Ranger accolade it's John Greig.
NEIL FRANKLIN
Neil Franklin was arguably the finest centre-half the England football team ever had. After the Second World War, he became an automatic choice for his country, only to scupper an apparently gilded career byone disastrous, if understandable, decision. His move to Colombia proved to be a disaster as Santa Fe wasn't forthcoming with its promises. He was unfortunately ostracized on his return to England and was never selected for the national team.
What made Neil Franklin different as a central defender was his pure skill. Virtually all stoppers of his era were hunky bustlers whose brawn and aggression were their paramount assets, but the Stoke number five adopted a singularly subtle approach. Though firm in the tackle and competitive in the air - indeed, impressively so for a man of 5ft 11in who weighed just 11 stone - he tended to master his adversaries by shrewd positional sense and almost uncanny anticipation.
Then, having gained possession of the ball, he could stroke it with masterful accuracy to which-ever colleague he chose. He was a ball playing and a no-nonsense stopper rolled into one and arguably the finest English centre back ever.
DAVID O'LEARY
Arsenal's record appearance maker, he was a bedrock at the back at Arsenal for 2 decades. One of the finest centre backs to ever feature for Arsenal, he had more than just longevity in his locker. O’Leary was an imperious centre-half who, despite a slender physique, was deceptively powerful and pacey too belying his six-foot frame.
In an era dominated by limited stoppers, O'Leary was a cultured and composed player, full of grace both in his use of the ball and the manner he loped across the field; he became affectionately known as ‘Spider’. O’Leary oozed calmness too; opting to play out from the back instead of lumping the ball forward. His composure, both as a defender and when in possession of the ball, was exemplary, as was his reading of the game, he did everything possible to avoid last-ditch tackles. Instead, he'd intercept when others might stand off, and he would always look to jockey opponents away from the danger zone rather than dive in. A intelligent all round ball playing defender and a magnificent player to behold.
RONNIE SIMPSON
Ronnie Simpson, the second ever Celtic player to be named Scottish Footballer of the Year was an integral part of the legendary lisbon lions. There was no doubt about his supreme shot-stopping skills as he kept 91 clean sheets -almost one every two games - over the course of collecting four championship, one Scottish Cup and three League Cup medals with the Hoops.
What made him outstanding was Simpson's top-class foot movement and ball distribution skills. As Willie Woodburn would say, "Ronnie's superb skill and courage laid the foundation for what must be the most successful year in Celtic's long history."
Billy McNeil went on to add "Ronnie was as much a footballer as he was a goalkeeper. Anything that went in behind us defenders, Ronnie would come out and do something about it.
JIMMY ARMFIELD
Jimmy Armfield, widely regarded as the best English right back ever, was one of England's finest ever defenders, and in the early 1960s was recognised as one of the best full backs in the world.
He played in the 1962 World Cup in Chile, where he was acclaimed as "the best right-back in the world" after being voted as the right-back of the tournament (he was also voted "best right-back in Europe" between 1962 and 1964). He was included in the 1966 World Cup-winning squad but missed out on the tournament through injury and would have probably gone on to captain England instead of Bobby Moore.
He brought a new dimension to the game with his overlapping runs down the wing, by utilizing the space in front of him when teams used to put two markers on Stanley Matthews. Fans flocked to see this adventurous duo bamboozle opposing markers. His main attributes were speed, superb distribution, outstanding tackling and an enormous capacity for hard work.
JOHN GREIG
Men of the stature of Graeme Souness, Sandy Jardine and Ally McCoist have all said John Greig was the best. The fans have said it, too. They voted him the winner in a competition to find the Greatest Ever Ranger.
It isn't difficult to see why Greig was their choice. It wasn't just his ability, though he was a devastatingly strong and influential player. It was also his passion, his drive, his undeniable will to win that expressed, more than any other contemporary.
A determined, forceful player, recognised for his great leadership qualities, Greig made 755 official appearances for Rangers. He scored 120 goals for the club and won three domestic trebles. Greig actually started his career with Rangers as a forward, prior to being moved back to midfield and finally to left back, thus highlighting his versatility and quality.
If any player deserves the Greatest Ranger accolade it's John Greig.
NEIL FRANKLIN
Neil Franklin was arguably the finest centre-half the England football team ever had. After the Second World War, he became an automatic choice for his country, only to scupper an apparently gilded career byone disastrous, if understandable, decision. His move to Colombia proved to be a disaster as Santa Fe wasn't forthcoming with its promises. He was unfortunately ostracized on his return to England and was never selected for the national team.
What made Neil Franklin different as a central defender was his pure skill. Virtually all stoppers of his era were hunky bustlers whose brawn and aggression were their paramount assets, but the Stoke number five adopted a singularly subtle approach. Though firm in the tackle and competitive in the air - indeed, impressively so for a man of 5ft 11in who weighed just 11 stone - he tended to master his adversaries by shrewd positional sense and almost uncanny anticipation.
Then, having gained possession of the ball, he could stroke it with masterful accuracy to which-ever colleague he chose. He was a ball playing and a no-nonsense stopper rolled into one and arguably the finest English centre back ever.
DAVID O'LEARY
Arsenal's record appearance maker, he was a bedrock at the back at Arsenal for 2 decades. One of the finest centre backs to ever feature for Arsenal, he had more than just longevity in his locker. O’Leary was an imperious centre-half who, despite a slender physique, was deceptively powerful and pacey too belying his six-foot frame.
In an era dominated by limited stoppers, O'Leary was a cultured and composed player, full of grace both in his use of the ball and the manner he loped across the field; he became affectionately known as ‘Spider’. O’Leary oozed calmness too; opting to play out from the back instead of lumping the ball forward. His composure, both as a defender and when in possession of the ball, was exemplary, as was his reading of the game, he did everything possible to avoid last-ditch tackles. Instead, he'd intercept when others might stand off, and he would always look to jockey opponents away from the danger zone rather than dive in. A intelligent all round ball playing defender and a magnificent player to behold.
GRAEME SOUNESS
Few players can boast a trophy haul as impressive as Graeme Souness. With five old first division titles, three European Cups, four League Cups, a Coppa Italia, three Scottish Premier Divisions and four Scottish League Cups to his name the man epitomised winning. Wherever he went, he won. During a period of time where Liverpool were the best club around, he stood out.
Souness will be remembered as one of the biggest hard-men in the history of British football, and with good reason, but that does not do him justice. He was a brilliant player. He could pass as well as anybody and could score goals too. His vision on the pitch was outstanding. On Liverpool's official website he is described as "A bear of a player with the delicacy of a violinist." That sums him up perfectly.
PAUL SCHOLES
Nothing I could ever say could possibly do justice to this genius's ability and sheer talent. If you haven't extensively watched this maestro in action, I'd suggest you stop depriving yourself any further and watch any footage you can get your hands on.
Obligatory collection of Scholes quotes
He is the phenomenon. - Ronaldo Nazario
“I want to pass like him. Who taught him how to do that?” - Ronaldinho
"Good enough to play for Brazil. I love to watch Scholes, to see him pass, the boy with the red hair and the red shirt.” - Socrates
“If he was playing with me, I would score so many more.” - Pele
“His technique is unique.” - Maradona
“At La Masia (Barcelona’s Academy) his name was mentioned a lot. He’s a teacher.” -Messi
“Scholes is the best i’ve played with. He’s amazing.” - Cristiano Ronaldo
“The only great English midfielder in my career was Paul Scholes. He has elegance in him. Others were pretenders.” - Pirlo
“Out of everyone at Manchester United, I would pick out Scholes – he is the best midfielder of his generation. I would have loved to have played alongside him.” -Guardiola
"I’m not the best, Paul Scholes is."
- Edgar Davids
“I love Paul Scholes – I ran up to him at Wembley [after the Champions League final last year] to get his shirt and wish him good luck. It’s on the wall at my house!” - Andres Iniesta (In fact Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets and Pedro wanted to swap shirts with Paul Scholes. The honour eventually went to Iniesta, apparently after the five Barca stars had drawn lots.)
"I’ve still got Paul Scholes’ shirt at home which I swapped with him once. When I was at Liverpool he was one of the players I liked most" - Xabi Alonso
"He is the one whose level I aspire to. He is the best player in the Premier League." -Fabregas
"There is no doubt for me that Paul Scholes is still in a class of his own. He’s almost untouchable in what he does. I never tire of watching him play. You rarely come across the complete footballer, but Scholes is as close to it as you can get. One of my regrets is that the opportunity to play alongside him never presented itself during my career." -Zidane
"Paul Scholes is a role model. For me – and I really mean this – he's the best central midfielder I've seen in the last 15, 20 years. He's spectacular, he has it all: the last pass, goals, he's strong, he doesn't lose the ball, vision.
Maybe one small regret is that I never got to play with Paul Scholes - but I was never going to leave Barcelona and he was never going to leave Manchester United." - Xavi
"Without any doubt the best player in the Premiership has to be Scholes. He knows how to do everything, and he is one who directs the way his team plays. On top of that, he has indestructible mental strength and he is a genuine competitor." - Thierry Henry
“I want to pass like him. Who taught him how to do that?” - Ronaldinho
"Good enough to play for Brazil. I love to watch Scholes, to see him pass, the boy with the red hair and the red shirt.” - Socrates
“If he was playing with me, I would score so many more.” - Pele
“His technique is unique.” - Maradona
“At La Masia (Barcelona’s Academy) his name was mentioned a lot. He’s a teacher.” -Messi
“Scholes is the best i’ve played with. He’s amazing.” - Cristiano Ronaldo
“The only great English midfielder in my career was Paul Scholes. He has elegance in him. Others were pretenders.” - Pirlo
“Out of everyone at Manchester United, I would pick out Scholes – he is the best midfielder of his generation. I would have loved to have played alongside him.” -Guardiola
"I’m not the best, Paul Scholes is."
- Edgar Davids
“I love Paul Scholes – I ran up to him at Wembley [after the Champions League final last year] to get his shirt and wish him good luck. It’s on the wall at my house!” - Andres Iniesta (In fact Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets and Pedro wanted to swap shirts with Paul Scholes. The honour eventually went to Iniesta, apparently after the five Barca stars had drawn lots.)
"I’ve still got Paul Scholes’ shirt at home which I swapped with him once. When I was at Liverpool he was one of the players I liked most" - Xabi Alonso
"He is the one whose level I aspire to. He is the best player in the Premier League." -Fabregas
"There is no doubt for me that Paul Scholes is still in a class of his own. He’s almost untouchable in what he does. I never tire of watching him play. You rarely come across the complete footballer, but Scholes is as close to it as you can get. One of my regrets is that the opportunity to play alongside him never presented itself during my career." -Zidane
"Paul Scholes is a role model. For me – and I really mean this – he's the best central midfielder I've seen in the last 15, 20 years. He's spectacular, he has it all: the last pass, goals, he's strong, he doesn't lose the ball, vision.
Maybe one small regret is that I never got to play with Paul Scholes - but I was never going to leave Barcelona and he was never going to leave Manchester United." - Xavi
"Without any doubt the best player in the Premiership has to be Scholes. He knows how to do everything, and he is one who directs the way his team plays. On top of that, he has indestructible mental strength and he is a genuine competitor." - Thierry Henry
JOHN BARNES
Few players left Liverpool supporters in awe as much as John Barnes. He is one of the most graceful players ever to step foot inside Anfield. While he did not win as much as a player of his talents deserved, he played an instrumental role in creating on of the best Liverpool sides of all time under Kenny Dalglish. Dalglish said of Barnes that, "Barnes did what we expected him to do. He made a goal, scored one, and entertained. You remember that." Digger could do it all.
Twice he won FWA Footballer of the Year and he also won the Players' Player of the Year once. Sadly, his career on the left wing was halted by injuries. Barnes proved just how intelligent he was by adapting his game to a central midfield role and playing well there too
BILLY LIDELL
Billy Liddell, an individual who was so synonymous with a club that the club had a nickname after him. Someone whose memorial plaque rests in the entrance to the club’s museum, someone who refused to desert his club even when it was relegated, someone who rejected a transfer contract worth a few hundred times his club wages and someone who played football on a part time basis; yet retired as the top goalscorer of the club.
An icon who Liverpool fans and legends alike such as Dalglish, Callaghan, Paisley and Shankly consider to be one of Liverpool's greatest ever if not the best.
Liddell had all the silken attributes associated with speedy wingers but he also possessed the one attribute the breed normally so painfully lacks - Billy had brute force. That force synchronised with his technique and powered his left pendulum in the act of scoring 228 goals, to add to the countless he made over his 23-year Liverpool career in which he made a then record 534 appearances.
Boy was he strong... In full flight, he was like a rampaging tank shredding through defenses with ease. A deadly cocktail of searing pace, ruthless finishing and sheer physicality which his peers struggled to come to terms with.
All in all, an irrepressible goalscoring wing-forward who was a true great and a gentleman.
FORWARDS
WILF MANNION
A supremely gifted inside forward, Mannion was one of the finest inside-forwards the English game has ever seen.
His creative talents and sheer ability were never in doubt and he is up there with the likes of Raich Carter, Johnny Haynes, Glenn Hoddle and Paul Scholes as amongst the best English playmakers in history.
The original 'Golden Boy' (before it became a hipster thing) during the 1940s on account of his mop of blond hair and precocious talent, he was once described by England team-mate Alf Ramsey as the ‘greatest soccer brain in modern football'. He was a marvellous, instinctive natural footballer.
A complete inside-forward, a fine ball player, an exceptional passer of the ball, he could cut through defences to score with a sudden, disconcerting change of pace.
He was an integral component of England's arguably most gifted side ever, which featured the likes of Swift, Wright, Franklin, Matthews, Carter, Mannion, Finney, Mortenson and Lawton amongst others.
KEVIN KEEGAN
The signing of Kevin Keegan from Scunthorpe was described by Bill Shankly as "Robbery with violence." This was not far from the truth for a player who went on to be worth more than ten times the amount Shankly played for him, won two Balon d'Ors (finishing runners up once) and went on to win countless other trophies. Keegan not only achieved success in England with Liverpool, but when Hamburg came knocking he went there and played an instrumental role in helping them win the league once, finish runner up after, and finish as runners up in the European Cup.
It was during his time at Hamburg when Keegan won his two Balon d'Ors and he is considered by many Germans to be the first foreign superstar in the Bundesliga. Keegan mixed his hard working nature with his brilliant football skill and was an unbelievable player.
Jimmy McGrory
Pele, Puskas, McGrory, Muller. For the majority of readers, and certainly those outside Scotland, one name in this quartet might be considered a little less illustrious than the others. As it is, and while Jimmy McGrory is undoubtedly the least-known of these goalscoring greats, the Celtic legend nonetheless stands proudly alongside Pele et alin the list of football’s ten most prolific marksmen and as the greatest British goalscorer ever.
A staggering tally of 550 goals from just 547 competitive appearances ensures his place amid such legendary company and when it comes to league goals, only six players in the history of the game have managed more.
McGrory at his prime established himself as the deadliest centre forward in football. The most feared attacker in the game. His ability to score with his head was unrivalled but his skill with the ball at his feet was also immense. McGrory could score from any angle and distance.
WILF MANNION
A supremely gifted inside forward, Mannion was one of the finest inside-forwards the English game has ever seen.
His creative talents and sheer ability were never in doubt and he is up there with the likes of Raich Carter, Johnny Haynes, Glenn Hoddle and Paul Scholes as amongst the best English playmakers in history.
The original 'Golden Boy' (before it became a hipster thing) during the 1940s on account of his mop of blond hair and precocious talent, he was once described by England team-mate Alf Ramsey as the ‘greatest soccer brain in modern football'. He was a marvellous, instinctive natural footballer.
A complete inside-forward, a fine ball player, an exceptional passer of the ball, he could cut through defences to score with a sudden, disconcerting change of pace.
He was an integral component of England's arguably most gifted side ever, which featured the likes of Swift, Wright, Franklin, Matthews, Carter, Mannion, Finney, Mortenson and Lawton amongst others.
KEVIN KEEGAN
The signing of Kevin Keegan from Scunthorpe was described by Bill Shankly as "Robbery with violence." This was not far from the truth for a player who went on to be worth more than ten times the amount Shankly played for him, won two Balon d'Ors (finishing runners up once) and went on to win countless other trophies. Keegan not only achieved success in England with Liverpool, but when Hamburg came knocking he went there and played an instrumental role in helping them win the league once, finish runner up after, and finish as runners up in the European Cup.
It was during his time at Hamburg when Keegan won his two Balon d'Ors and he is considered by many Germans to be the first foreign superstar in the Bundesliga. Keegan mixed his hard working nature with his brilliant football skill and was an unbelievable player.
Jimmy McGrory
Pele, Puskas, McGrory, Muller. For the majority of readers, and certainly those outside Scotland, one name in this quartet might be considered a little less illustrious than the others. As it is, and while Jimmy McGrory is undoubtedly the least-known of these goalscoring greats, the Celtic legend nonetheless stands proudly alongside Pele et alin the list of football’s ten most prolific marksmen and as the greatest British goalscorer ever.
A staggering tally of 550 goals from just 547 competitive appearances ensures his place amid such legendary company and when it comes to league goals, only six players in the history of the game have managed more.
McGrory at his prime established himself as the deadliest centre forward in football. The most feared attacker in the game. His ability to score with his head was unrivalled but his skill with the ball at his feet was also immense. McGrory could score from any angle and distance.
MJJ is without internet, as he had recently shifted his home and he's mostly through mobile.
I'll will prepare his players write ups and formation and can provide the same by Saturday.
Player profiles of lesser known players -
Patsy "Mighty Atom" Gallacher -
There are few players in the history of Celtic so fondly recalled as the great Patsy Gallacher.
The Donegal-born forward is commonly regarded as one of the most gifted footballers to ever wear the famous green and white Hoops and some would argue that he was the most talented Bhoy of them all.
The man who would later be nicknamed 'The Mighty Atom' first caught the eye at Clydebank Juniors but some thought the player was simply not physically strong enough to perform in the senior game. At 5' 7" Patsy was a frail looking character who appeared capable of being blown away in even the mildest of breezes.
After a number of trial games he was eventually signed by Willie Maley on October 25 1911 and made his full competitive debut at Parkhead in a 3-1 league win over St Mirren. When Maley first introduced the fragile looking player to his new team-mates the legendary Jimmy Quinn remarked: "You can't put that Bhoy on the park boss. If you do it will be manslaughter!".
But peerless Patsy soon convinced Quinn and the Celtic support that despite his slim build he had the steel to go with his skill and that no opponent would be allowed to bully and kick Gallacher out of a game.
In terms of his ability with a football Gallacher was a revelation. A genius. He was the most wonderful of dribblers and his audacious talent saw him tease and terrorise defenders. He was an entertainer but his cheeky skills also had an end product as time after time Gallacher would deliver a killer pass or hit home an unstoppable shot.
The Celtic support had seen nothing like the unique brilliance of Patsy and his dazzling runs and thunderous shots would brighten up the dourest of Scottish winter afternoons. His jinking, gutsy, jousting runs had the supporters roaring their approval year after year.
Possibly his most celebrated moment was in the 1925 Scottish Cup final, a match since dubbed 'The Patsy Gallacher Final'. Getting the ball just inside the Dundee half, he rolled past challenge after challenge, sometimes appearing in danger of toppling over as he swerved and swayed dangerously close to the ground. No Dundee boot or body could stop him completely as he veered, sure foot as a young deer, towards their goalmouth. Finally a heavy, desperate tackle grounded him inside the six-yard box. Patsy hit the ground and for an instant his brave effort seemed to be at an end. But Patsy had not yet parted company with the ball, which remained between his feet. A quick somersault and both Patsy and the ball ended up entangled in the Dundee net for the most unorthodox goal in a Scottish Cup Final. It was one magical moment.
The Irishman - who came to Scotland with his desperately poor family when just a young child - was a major factor in numerous Celtic successes as the Bhoys established themselves as the dominant team in Scottish football. His Parkhead career would last 15 years in which time the Hoops won six league titles four Scottish Cups, four Glasgow cups and eleven Glasgow charity cups.
He had a good sense of humour as well. Patsy Gallacher played in the blue of Rangers in a benefit match for his Rangers' pal Andy Cunningham. Not an easy thing to stomach for any proud Celt, but at the end of the game he took off his jersey to reveal that he was wearing actually The Hoops jersey underneath. Even the Rangers fans are said to have laughed.
His most audacious stunt, however, came when the Celtic manager Willie Maley took his side to a luxury hotel in Dunbar for a thoroughly modern spa-style period of training, rest and relaxation. The team were, for health purposes, put under curfew. Gallacher, however, decided he would quite fancy a nippy sweetie or two, and so persuaded a hotel chambermaid to lend him her uniform. Small and svelte enough to exude femininity, a glammed-up Gallacher sashayed past Maley, on sentry duty in the hotel foyer, bade his boss a very good night in a comedic high-pitched squeal, and disappeared through the door Maley was holding open for “her”. Prepared to go out on the town in drag, in the old austere environment in Scotland in the 1920s, he must have really wanted that dram.
In the summer of 1926 Maley announced that Gallacher would be retiring but a furious Patsy denied all knowledge of this and subsequently joined Falkirk where he played on for another six years. Speculation among his fans was that the board wanted to save on Patsy's wages, which were considerably higher than those of any other Celtic player of the time. He was sadly missed by the Celtic support but his performances in the Green and White meant he would never be forgotten. Many believed that if he'd stayed we could and should have won even more.
In total, Patsy Gallacher played 464 times for Celtic and scored 192 goals. He also won international caps for both Eire and Northern Ireland. He became the highest paid international player at the time, and over 50,000 turned up at Windsor Park (N Ireland) to see him in his debut. Even after over 50 years after his death his name is revered like few others by Celtic fans, most of whom were not even born when he was still alive.
A brilliant and evocative encomium to Gallacher is found in James E. Handley's The Celtic Story: A History of Celtic Football Club (1960):
'From the days of Johnny Campbell, Willie Groves and Sandy McMahon, the 'prince of dribblers', to the era of Willie Fernie and Charlie Tully, the Celtic club has recruited a host of players whose cantrips with the ball have given ecstatic delight to the followers of soccer, but in that brilliant galaxy no star has shone with the effulgence of Patsy Gallagher.
'Commentators exhausted their repertory of metaphors in trying to place him. To them he was 'the mighty atom', 'the vital spark', 'the will-o-the-wisp', 'the Cinquevalli of the football field' and a dozen other extravagances. It is hard to refrain from claiming that he was the greatest forward the Scottish game has ever seen.
'From the beginning, fresh from Clydebank Juniors, a stripling of seventeen, he caught the popular fancy with his unorthodox style, his inexhaustible treasury of tricks, his magical elusiveness expressed in uncatchable wriggles, slips, swerves, hops and famous 'hesitation' stops. To see Patsy halt in mid-career, place a foot on the top of the ball an calmly wait for opponents, reluctant to approach and be fooled, to make up their minds, made many a supporter's afternoon. Physically speaking, he should have been wafted off the field like thistledown. His small, fragile form seemed altogether out of place in First Division football.
'Only his supreme cleverness saved him from annihilation, for he had incredible pluck an tenacity and took alarming risks. For such a puny frame his stamina was phenomenal, and at the close of play he was worrying the opposition with the same degree of doggedness that had marked the opening minute.' (p. 89)
Patsy died on the 17th June 1953 aged 62. His funeral mass was held at St.Paul's Whiteinch, and Patsy is buried in Arkleston Cemetery on the outskirts of Paisley.
You can never underestimate the impact "The Mighty Atom" had on Celtic and the Celtic support. A Celtic great.
Great quotes about him -
"If you put that wee thing out on the park, you'll be done for manslaughter!"
Jimmy Quinn to manager Willy Maley after first seeing Patsy Gallacher
'The Mighty Atom!'
Celtic supporter's nickname for Patsy Gallacher
"To play alongside Patsy Gallacher in national cup final was a dream. Patsy was the fastest man over 10 yards. He moved at great speed and he could stop immediately sending opponents in all directions. He could win a game when the rest of us were just thinking about it."
Jimmy McGrory
"Within 20 yards of goal Patsy Gallacher was the most dangerous forward I have ever seen. You never knew what he would do. Often he would wriggle through, past man after man, with defenders reluctant to tackle in case they gave away a penalty kick."
Alan Morton of Rangers and Scotland
"Many people have asked me how Patsy would have stood up to the rigours of the modern game. He would have strolled through it. There is no present day player in this country that I would put anywhere near his class. Even Jimmy Johnstone, with all his talents, never reached the Gallacher heights. Gallacher was always advancing; there was no doubling back and playing across the field. Everything he did was positive."
Jimmy McGrory
"There never was a player like him, and I often wonder if we shall see his like again. I wish we could, just to show the present day players that we of Patsy Gallacher's time had something to boast about."
Alan Morton
"He was the greatest wee ***** that ever kicked a ba'!'"
Tommy Cairns of Rangers at Patsy's funeral
"Patsy was the complete footballer. He had wonderful ball control, he had tricks of manipulation all his own. His body swerve and ability to change pace, which never came from practice but obviously were natural gifts, were a sore problem to opponents."
Sir Robert Kelly
"So long as there is a Celtic the name of Patsy Gallacher will be revered, and his sons and their families can rightly be proud of that."
Sir Robert Kelly
Source: http://www.thecelticwiki.com/page/Gallacher, Patsy
Patsy "Mighty Atom" Gallacher -
There are few players in the history of Celtic so fondly recalled as the great Patsy Gallacher.
The Donegal-born forward is commonly regarded as one of the most gifted footballers to ever wear the famous green and white Hoops and some would argue that he was the most talented Bhoy of them all.
The man who would later be nicknamed 'The Mighty Atom' first caught the eye at Clydebank Juniors but some thought the player was simply not physically strong enough to perform in the senior game. At 5' 7" Patsy was a frail looking character who appeared capable of being blown away in even the mildest of breezes.
After a number of trial games he was eventually signed by Willie Maley on October 25 1911 and made his full competitive debut at Parkhead in a 3-1 league win over St Mirren. When Maley first introduced the fragile looking player to his new team-mates the legendary Jimmy Quinn remarked: "You can't put that Bhoy on the park boss. If you do it will be manslaughter!".
But peerless Patsy soon convinced Quinn and the Celtic support that despite his slim build he had the steel to go with his skill and that no opponent would be allowed to bully and kick Gallacher out of a game.
In terms of his ability with a football Gallacher was a revelation. A genius. He was the most wonderful of dribblers and his audacious talent saw him tease and terrorise defenders. He was an entertainer but his cheeky skills also had an end product as time after time Gallacher would deliver a killer pass or hit home an unstoppable shot.
The Celtic support had seen nothing like the unique brilliance of Patsy and his dazzling runs and thunderous shots would brighten up the dourest of Scottish winter afternoons. His jinking, gutsy, jousting runs had the supporters roaring their approval year after year.
Possibly his most celebrated moment was in the 1925 Scottish Cup final, a match since dubbed 'The Patsy Gallacher Final'. Getting the ball just inside the Dundee half, he rolled past challenge after challenge, sometimes appearing in danger of toppling over as he swerved and swayed dangerously close to the ground. No Dundee boot or body could stop him completely as he veered, sure foot as a young deer, towards their goalmouth. Finally a heavy, desperate tackle grounded him inside the six-yard box. Patsy hit the ground and for an instant his brave effort seemed to be at an end. But Patsy had not yet parted company with the ball, which remained between his feet. A quick somersault and both Patsy and the ball ended up entangled in the Dundee net for the most unorthodox goal in a Scottish Cup Final. It was one magical moment.
The Irishman - who came to Scotland with his desperately poor family when just a young child - was a major factor in numerous Celtic successes as the Bhoys established themselves as the dominant team in Scottish football. His Parkhead career would last 15 years in which time the Hoops won six league titles four Scottish Cups, four Glasgow cups and eleven Glasgow charity cups.
He had a good sense of humour as well. Patsy Gallacher played in the blue of Rangers in a benefit match for his Rangers' pal Andy Cunningham. Not an easy thing to stomach for any proud Celt, but at the end of the game he took off his jersey to reveal that he was wearing actually The Hoops jersey underneath. Even the Rangers fans are said to have laughed.
His most audacious stunt, however, came when the Celtic manager Willie Maley took his side to a luxury hotel in Dunbar for a thoroughly modern spa-style period of training, rest and relaxation. The team were, for health purposes, put under curfew. Gallacher, however, decided he would quite fancy a nippy sweetie or two, and so persuaded a hotel chambermaid to lend him her uniform. Small and svelte enough to exude femininity, a glammed-up Gallacher sashayed past Maley, on sentry duty in the hotel foyer, bade his boss a very good night in a comedic high-pitched squeal, and disappeared through the door Maley was holding open for “her”. Prepared to go out on the town in drag, in the old austere environment in Scotland in the 1920s, he must have really wanted that dram.
In the summer of 1926 Maley announced that Gallacher would be retiring but a furious Patsy denied all knowledge of this and subsequently joined Falkirk where he played on for another six years. Speculation among his fans was that the board wanted to save on Patsy's wages, which were considerably higher than those of any other Celtic player of the time. He was sadly missed by the Celtic support but his performances in the Green and White meant he would never be forgotten. Many believed that if he'd stayed we could and should have won even more.
In total, Patsy Gallacher played 464 times for Celtic and scored 192 goals. He also won international caps for both Eire and Northern Ireland. He became the highest paid international player at the time, and over 50,000 turned up at Windsor Park (N Ireland) to see him in his debut. Even after over 50 years after his death his name is revered like few others by Celtic fans, most of whom were not even born when he was still alive.
A brilliant and evocative encomium to Gallacher is found in James E. Handley's The Celtic Story: A History of Celtic Football Club (1960):
'From the days of Johnny Campbell, Willie Groves and Sandy McMahon, the 'prince of dribblers', to the era of Willie Fernie and Charlie Tully, the Celtic club has recruited a host of players whose cantrips with the ball have given ecstatic delight to the followers of soccer, but in that brilliant galaxy no star has shone with the effulgence of Patsy Gallagher.
'Commentators exhausted their repertory of metaphors in trying to place him. To them he was 'the mighty atom', 'the vital spark', 'the will-o-the-wisp', 'the Cinquevalli of the football field' and a dozen other extravagances. It is hard to refrain from claiming that he was the greatest forward the Scottish game has ever seen.
'From the beginning, fresh from Clydebank Juniors, a stripling of seventeen, he caught the popular fancy with his unorthodox style, his inexhaustible treasury of tricks, his magical elusiveness expressed in uncatchable wriggles, slips, swerves, hops and famous 'hesitation' stops. To see Patsy halt in mid-career, place a foot on the top of the ball an calmly wait for opponents, reluctant to approach and be fooled, to make up their minds, made many a supporter's afternoon. Physically speaking, he should have been wafted off the field like thistledown. His small, fragile form seemed altogether out of place in First Division football.
'Only his supreme cleverness saved him from annihilation, for he had incredible pluck an tenacity and took alarming risks. For such a puny frame his stamina was phenomenal, and at the close of play he was worrying the opposition with the same degree of doggedness that had marked the opening minute.' (p. 89)
Patsy died on the 17th June 1953 aged 62. His funeral mass was held at St.Paul's Whiteinch, and Patsy is buried in Arkleston Cemetery on the outskirts of Paisley.
You can never underestimate the impact "The Mighty Atom" had on Celtic and the Celtic support. A Celtic great.
Great quotes about him -
"If you put that wee thing out on the park, you'll be done for manslaughter!"
Jimmy Quinn to manager Willy Maley after first seeing Patsy Gallacher
'The Mighty Atom!'
Celtic supporter's nickname for Patsy Gallacher
"To play alongside Patsy Gallacher in national cup final was a dream. Patsy was the fastest man over 10 yards. He moved at great speed and he could stop immediately sending opponents in all directions. He could win a game when the rest of us were just thinking about it."
Jimmy McGrory
"Within 20 yards of goal Patsy Gallacher was the most dangerous forward I have ever seen. You never knew what he would do. Often he would wriggle through, past man after man, with defenders reluctant to tackle in case they gave away a penalty kick."
Alan Morton of Rangers and Scotland
"Many people have asked me how Patsy would have stood up to the rigours of the modern game. He would have strolled through it. There is no present day player in this country that I would put anywhere near his class. Even Jimmy Johnstone, with all his talents, never reached the Gallacher heights. Gallacher was always advancing; there was no doubling back and playing across the field. Everything he did was positive."
Jimmy McGrory
"There never was a player like him, and I often wonder if we shall see his like again. I wish we could, just to show the present day players that we of Patsy Gallacher's time had something to boast about."
Alan Morton
"He was the greatest wee ***** that ever kicked a ba'!'"
Tommy Cairns of Rangers at Patsy's funeral
"Patsy was the complete footballer. He had wonderful ball control, he had tricks of manipulation all his own. His body swerve and ability to change pace, which never came from practice but obviously were natural gifts, were a sore problem to opponents."
Sir Robert Kelly
"So long as there is a Celtic the name of Patsy Gallacher will be revered, and his sons and their families can rightly be proud of that."
Sir Robert Kelly
Source: http://www.thecelticwiki.com/page/Gallacher, Patsy
Do I play today against SiraF? @crappycraperson
"Slim" Jim Baxter -
'Slim' Jim Baxter is best remembered for his performance at Wembley in 1967 when, as Scotland defeated world champions England 3-2, he engaged in a bout of keepie-uppies for the amusement of the Tartan Army. It was the perfect encapsulation of an arrogant, self-destructive player who, for many, remains the most gifted Scotland has seen.
Born in Fife in September 1939, the young Baxter had worked as a cabinet maker and a miner before, after a spell with local junior team Crossgates Primrose, he signed up with Raith Rovers in 1957 at the age of 18. The wing half's cultured approach quickly set him apart from the rest. ''Treat the ball like a woman," he once said. "Give it a cuddle, caress it a wee bit, take your time and you'll get the required response.''
In June 1960, Rangers paid a Scottish record fee of £17,500 to take him to Glasgow, and he was an instant hero. On October 29, he won his first medal as Rangers beat Kilmarnock in the Scottish League Cup final. A week later, he opened his Rangers account with a league goal against Clyde, and a few days after that made his Scotland debut, while he was also on the scoresheet in an 8-0 Cup Winners' Cup victory over Borussia Monchengladbach at the end of November. He was establishing himself as a star and, though he was on a basic wage of only £22 a week, he had already developed a taste for the lifestyle. "One day, I was a Raith Rovers player who couldnae pull the birds at the Cowdenbeath Palais," Baxter recalled. "The next day I was in Glasgow and the girls were throwing themselves at me. I wasn't letting it go by."
Rangers won the title that season, as well as finishing runners-up in the Cup Winners' Cup. By the end of the 1961-62 season, he had added another League Cup winners' medal as well as the Scottish Cup. By his third season, though, things were starting to sour.
A group of Arsenal fans organised a petition begging their club to make a move for him in the wake of that performance, but nothing came to fruition and so in May, after five months on the list, Baxter attempted to give himself a PR boost. "It's not true that Glasgow Rangers have to bail me out before every match. Some of the stories about me are fantastic," he told one Daily Express reporter as he sunk a tomato juice followed by a glass of milk. "I sink a few bevvies on Saturday nights, and maybe one night early midweek. The rest of the week I stay home with my parents and watch television. Any time I have a bad spell, and I have one every season, they say it's because I'm steamed. It got so that even the club began believing the gossip. I was called before the manager and told to get a grip on myself, but I hadn't been doing anything out of line except starting the season in poor form."
However, the gossips' stories were a lot closer to the truth and, while he was proactive in the media, he may not have managed his image so effectively behind the scenes. He once recalled a time Leeds United boss Don Revie held tentative discussions over a potential deal. "I'm told," Revie said, "you drink everything brewed and distilled around here, there aren't enough women for you to chase, and you're not averse to the odd brawl." Baxter replied: "Aye, you're very well informed." Precisely when - or even if - this actually took place is unclear, but that the top English clubs were unwilling to take a risk is simple enough to understand.
He suffered another dip in form in the 1963-64 season, and was subsequently dropped from the Scotland squad for a British Home Championship game with Northern Ireland in October, but his standing remained sufficient to ensure his inclusion alongside the likes of Alfredo Di Stefano, Eusebio, Ferenc Puskas and Lev Yashin in a Rest of the World squad to face England later that month. Even then he - along with fellow Scot Denis Law - was obsessing over wages. "We looked at all those great players and we wondered what they were getting," Baxter later said. "I was on £35 at Rangers, Denis maybe £50 at Manchester United. We knew it was chickenfeed." Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur and Inter Milan all made approaches over the coming months, but no move came to fruition, and Baxter remained a Rangers player for the 1964-65 season.
In December, he put in one of the finest performances of his career as the Gers won 2-0 at Rapid Vienna in the European Cup second round to seal a 3-0 aggregate victory, and Rapid coach Franz Binder said afterwards: "We were not just beaten by a very fine team but, also, by a truly world-class player in Jim Baxter." However, the match had not ended well for the wing-half: having repeatedly nutmegged Walter Skocik during the game, the Austrian reacted by fracturing Baxter's shinbone. "I couldn't blame the Austrian defender for the tackle," he said. "I was taking the mickey something terrible."
Baxter was to spend four months on the sidelines, and during that time his drinking problem worsened; upon his return, he was not the same player. Rangers boss Scot Symon realised as much, and when Sunderland made a £72,500 bid in May 1965, his two-and-a-half-year stint on the transfer list finally culminated in a transfer. "I wanted to stay in really big football and Sunderland, like Rangers, have always thought big," Baxter said upon completion of the deal, though he was later more honest: "I left Rangers and went to a bad side. I would never have left if I hadn't gambled all my money away."
While his marriage that summer may have been interpreted as a sign that he was ready to settle down, there were fewer positive indications on the pitch. He was badly out of shape when making his first Sunderland appearance at the start of August - a 5-0 defeat to Celtic in a pre-season friendly - and his drinking did not abate. When he was in the mood, though, he could still turn it on. In November, when Scotland hosted Italy in a World Cup qualifier, Baxter is said to have told team-mate Billy Bremner that, if he did not repeatedly nutmeg the great Gianni Rivera, he would not have had a "decent game". Baxter did nutmeg Rivera that day, and apparently shouted to Bremner: "Hey, wee man - one down, nine to go!" Scotland won the game 1-0.
His drinking continued to attract negative attention. In the summer of 1966, while on international duty, he was forced to do press-ups until he vomited after returning to the team's hotel drunk at 4am ahead of a friendly with Portugal, and he would regularly booze the night before games ("Friday night was always Saturday night to me," he once said). In March 1967, ahead of the derby with Newcastle, Baxter had apparently gone for a big night out - according to Barry Robson, a bouncer writing in Ken Gambles' Black Catalogue, a "comatose" Baxter was carried out of a nightclub at 2.30am on the night before the game. "Twelve hours later, from 3pm that afternoon," Robson continued, "I was privileged to witness the destruction of Newcastle United, aided and abetted by the revived corpse ... It was nearly a one-man show, with Baxter mesmerising the Newcastle players." Sunderland won the game 3-0.
The following month, April 1967, was the scene of Baxter's most memorable performance. England, having lifted the World Cup at Wembley the previous summer, welcomed a Scotland side to London for a British Home Championship clash with every expectation that they would inflict a sound beating. In the minutes prior to the game, according to legend, Baxter was sitting down reading a copy of the Racing Post and, when new manager Bobby Brown suggested he might want to warm up, he stretched out one leg and then the other and replied: "That's me warmed up." In a high tempo match in which hearts were ruling heads and violent tackles were legion, Baxter maintained his laidback approach, and at one stage slowed the game to walking pace as he juggled the ball on his instep while Nobby Stiles looked on bewildered. Sir Alex Ferguson said his performance in Scotland's 3-2 victory "could have been set to music", though opinion was divided as to whether he took things too far. "When we were beating England at Wembley and I sat on the ball, I hadn't planned that," Baxter told the Daily Express in 1996. "It wasn't something I thought might get a big headline - no, it seemed a natural thing to do to please the lads up on the terraces."
In his retirement, he made the ill-advised decision to buy a pub, and in 1994 underwent two liver transplants in the space of four days. In 2001, he died of pancreatic cancer. His ashes were buried at Ibrox and, among the many tributes, Sir Alex Ferguson labelled him "arguably the best player to play in Scottish football", while Kenny Dalglish said he was "one of the greatest ever footballers, and he had a swagger and an arrogance about him on the pitch that only truly great players have".
A more disciplined lifestyle would almost certainly have led to a longer and more successful career, but Baxter was proud to be an individual: "Everything I did on the pitch was off-the-cuff. Sheer instinct. If I'd been a good boy, maybe the swashbuckling stuff would have got stifled." He always maintained that he drank so much "because I liked it", and said: "Perhaps I did enjoy myself too much, but what's too much? Moderation, as far as I'm concerned, is for moderate people."
Source : http://www.espnfc.com/story/1044586/the-mavericks-jim-baxter
'Slim' Jim Baxter is best remembered for his performance at Wembley in 1967 when, as Scotland defeated world champions England 3-2, he engaged in a bout of keepie-uppies for the amusement of the Tartan Army. It was the perfect encapsulation of an arrogant, self-destructive player who, for many, remains the most gifted Scotland has seen.
Born in Fife in September 1939, the young Baxter had worked as a cabinet maker and a miner before, after a spell with local junior team Crossgates Primrose, he signed up with Raith Rovers in 1957 at the age of 18. The wing half's cultured approach quickly set him apart from the rest. ''Treat the ball like a woman," he once said. "Give it a cuddle, caress it a wee bit, take your time and you'll get the required response.''
In June 1960, Rangers paid a Scottish record fee of £17,500 to take him to Glasgow, and he was an instant hero. On October 29, he won his first medal as Rangers beat Kilmarnock in the Scottish League Cup final. A week later, he opened his Rangers account with a league goal against Clyde, and a few days after that made his Scotland debut, while he was also on the scoresheet in an 8-0 Cup Winners' Cup victory over Borussia Monchengladbach at the end of November. He was establishing himself as a star and, though he was on a basic wage of only £22 a week, he had already developed a taste for the lifestyle. "One day, I was a Raith Rovers player who couldnae pull the birds at the Cowdenbeath Palais," Baxter recalled. "The next day I was in Glasgow and the girls were throwing themselves at me. I wasn't letting it go by."
Rangers won the title that season, as well as finishing runners-up in the Cup Winners' Cup. By the end of the 1961-62 season, he had added another League Cup winners' medal as well as the Scottish Cup. By his third season, though, things were starting to sour.
A group of Arsenal fans organised a petition begging their club to make a move for him in the wake of that performance, but nothing came to fruition and so in May, after five months on the list, Baxter attempted to give himself a PR boost. "It's not true that Glasgow Rangers have to bail me out before every match. Some of the stories about me are fantastic," he told one Daily Express reporter as he sunk a tomato juice followed by a glass of milk. "I sink a few bevvies on Saturday nights, and maybe one night early midweek. The rest of the week I stay home with my parents and watch television. Any time I have a bad spell, and I have one every season, they say it's because I'm steamed. It got so that even the club began believing the gossip. I was called before the manager and told to get a grip on myself, but I hadn't been doing anything out of line except starting the season in poor form."
However, the gossips' stories were a lot closer to the truth and, while he was proactive in the media, he may not have managed his image so effectively behind the scenes. He once recalled a time Leeds United boss Don Revie held tentative discussions over a potential deal. "I'm told," Revie said, "you drink everything brewed and distilled around here, there aren't enough women for you to chase, and you're not averse to the odd brawl." Baxter replied: "Aye, you're very well informed." Precisely when - or even if - this actually took place is unclear, but that the top English clubs were unwilling to take a risk is simple enough to understand.
He suffered another dip in form in the 1963-64 season, and was subsequently dropped from the Scotland squad for a British Home Championship game with Northern Ireland in October, but his standing remained sufficient to ensure his inclusion alongside the likes of Alfredo Di Stefano, Eusebio, Ferenc Puskas and Lev Yashin in a Rest of the World squad to face England later that month. Even then he - along with fellow Scot Denis Law - was obsessing over wages. "We looked at all those great players and we wondered what they were getting," Baxter later said. "I was on £35 at Rangers, Denis maybe £50 at Manchester United. We knew it was chickenfeed." Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur and Inter Milan all made approaches over the coming months, but no move came to fruition, and Baxter remained a Rangers player for the 1964-65 season.
In December, he put in one of the finest performances of his career as the Gers won 2-0 at Rapid Vienna in the European Cup second round to seal a 3-0 aggregate victory, and Rapid coach Franz Binder said afterwards: "We were not just beaten by a very fine team but, also, by a truly world-class player in Jim Baxter." However, the match had not ended well for the wing-half: having repeatedly nutmegged Walter Skocik during the game, the Austrian reacted by fracturing Baxter's shinbone. "I couldn't blame the Austrian defender for the tackle," he said. "I was taking the mickey something terrible."
Baxter was to spend four months on the sidelines, and during that time his drinking problem worsened; upon his return, he was not the same player. Rangers boss Scot Symon realised as much, and when Sunderland made a £72,500 bid in May 1965, his two-and-a-half-year stint on the transfer list finally culminated in a transfer. "I wanted to stay in really big football and Sunderland, like Rangers, have always thought big," Baxter said upon completion of the deal, though he was later more honest: "I left Rangers and went to a bad side. I would never have left if I hadn't gambled all my money away."
While his marriage that summer may have been interpreted as a sign that he was ready to settle down, there were fewer positive indications on the pitch. He was badly out of shape when making his first Sunderland appearance at the start of August - a 5-0 defeat to Celtic in a pre-season friendly - and his drinking did not abate. When he was in the mood, though, he could still turn it on. In November, when Scotland hosted Italy in a World Cup qualifier, Baxter is said to have told team-mate Billy Bremner that, if he did not repeatedly nutmeg the great Gianni Rivera, he would not have had a "decent game". Baxter did nutmeg Rivera that day, and apparently shouted to Bremner: "Hey, wee man - one down, nine to go!" Scotland won the game 1-0.
His drinking continued to attract negative attention. In the summer of 1966, while on international duty, he was forced to do press-ups until he vomited after returning to the team's hotel drunk at 4am ahead of a friendly with Portugal, and he would regularly booze the night before games ("Friday night was always Saturday night to me," he once said). In March 1967, ahead of the derby with Newcastle, Baxter had apparently gone for a big night out - according to Barry Robson, a bouncer writing in Ken Gambles' Black Catalogue, a "comatose" Baxter was carried out of a nightclub at 2.30am on the night before the game. "Twelve hours later, from 3pm that afternoon," Robson continued, "I was privileged to witness the destruction of Newcastle United, aided and abetted by the revived corpse ... It was nearly a one-man show, with Baxter mesmerising the Newcastle players." Sunderland won the game 3-0.
The following month, April 1967, was the scene of Baxter's most memorable performance. England, having lifted the World Cup at Wembley the previous summer, welcomed a Scotland side to London for a British Home Championship clash with every expectation that they would inflict a sound beating. In the minutes prior to the game, according to legend, Baxter was sitting down reading a copy of the Racing Post and, when new manager Bobby Brown suggested he might want to warm up, he stretched out one leg and then the other and replied: "That's me warmed up." In a high tempo match in which hearts were ruling heads and violent tackles were legion, Baxter maintained his laidback approach, and at one stage slowed the game to walking pace as he juggled the ball on his instep while Nobby Stiles looked on bewildered. Sir Alex Ferguson said his performance in Scotland's 3-2 victory "could have been set to music", though opinion was divided as to whether he took things too far. "When we were beating England at Wembley and I sat on the ball, I hadn't planned that," Baxter told the Daily Express in 1996. "It wasn't something I thought might get a big headline - no, it seemed a natural thing to do to please the lads up on the terraces."
In his retirement, he made the ill-advised decision to buy a pub, and in 1994 underwent two liver transplants in the space of four days. In 2001, he died of pancreatic cancer. His ashes were buried at Ibrox and, among the many tributes, Sir Alex Ferguson labelled him "arguably the best player to play in Scottish football", while Kenny Dalglish said he was "one of the greatest ever footballers, and he had a swagger and an arrogance about him on the pitch that only truly great players have".
A more disciplined lifestyle would almost certainly have led to a longer and more successful career, but Baxter was proud to be an individual: "Everything I did on the pitch was off-the-cuff. Sheer instinct. If I'd been a good boy, maybe the swashbuckling stuff would have got stifled." He always maintained that he drank so much "because I liked it", and said: "Perhaps I did enjoy myself too much, but what's too much? Moderation, as far as I'm concerned, is for moderate people."
Source : http://www.espnfc.com/story/1044586/the-mavericks-jim-baxter
Martin Peters MBE -
One of the trio of Hammers that won the World Cup for West Ham in 1966, Martin Peters was one of the most outstanding players in the clubs history. Between 1962 and 1970, he played 364 games for the club and scored 100 goals. Not a bad return for a midfielder! In truth, for much of his career at West Ham he enjoyed a free role behind the strikers, so he was very much the attacking midfielder. A catalyst for such a healthy goal return was the Greenwood near post cross tactic, the same tactic that produced so many goals for Geoff Hurst. Like so many of our players from that era he was born close to the Boleyn, just down the road in Plaistow.
Martin was a product of the West Ham academy and made his debut on Good Friday 1962 against Cardiff City. He did not figure in the 1964 FA Cup winning side but in 1965 he truly cemented a place in the first team and he went on to play a leading role in theECWC final against 1860 Munich that season. The following year he was a regular in the England World Cup side and of course he scored the second goal in the final against West Germany. The near post cross that he and Hurst practiced so much at West Ham had paid off in the quarter final when a cross from Peters found Hurst at the near post who headed home the winner. Martin played 67 times for his country and scored 20 goals – another healthy return. Despite being a regular name on the West Ham score sheet, Martin only scored the one hat trick in his Hammers career and that was against West Brom in 1968.
It was in 1968 the then England manager, Alf Ramsey, famously said that “Martin Peters is ten years ahead of his time in the game”. He certainly was the complete midfielder – good in the air, strong with either feet and elusive with his movement. He played in just about every position whilst at the Hammers, even deputising in goal in only his third game after Brian Rhodes was injured. Similar to many players Martin had his own pre game superstition. Like Bobby Moore he liked to be the last to pull his shorts up in the dressing room. The story goes that on the way out of the tunnel in the ‘66 WC final, both he and Bobby Moore were checking on each other, both pulling up and down on their shorts to make sure they were last!
However, a few years after the World Cup, Martin was starting to think he was living in the shadows of Moore and Hurst. He also thought his chances of trophies and success would be heightened with a move away from Upton Park. In 1970, West Ham did a deal with Spurs that amounted to 200,000 pounds – 150,000 cash and a swap deal that brought Jimmy Greaves the other way. At the time I remember many Hammer fans (including myself) being distraught that we had let Peters go so cheaply –despite the fee being a record at the time. Martin went on to play 287 times for Tottenham, scoring 76 times. His move did not bring him the great success he had hoped for despite two League Cups and one UEFA Cup winning medal. He moved to Norwich City in 1975 and in 1978 he was to get another award – the MBE. After over 200 games for the Canaries he finished his career with a short stint at Sheffield United.
One of the trio of Hammers that won the World Cup for West Ham in 1966, Martin Peters was one of the most outstanding players in the clubs history. Between 1962 and 1970, he played 364 games for the club and scored 100 goals. Not a bad return for a midfielder! In truth, for much of his career at West Ham he enjoyed a free role behind the strikers, so he was very much the attacking midfielder. A catalyst for such a healthy goal return was the Greenwood near post cross tactic, the same tactic that produced so many goals for Geoff Hurst. Like so many of our players from that era he was born close to the Boleyn, just down the road in Plaistow.
Martin was a product of the West Ham academy and made his debut on Good Friday 1962 against Cardiff City. He did not figure in the 1964 FA Cup winning side but in 1965 he truly cemented a place in the first team and he went on to play a leading role in theECWC final against 1860 Munich that season. The following year he was a regular in the England World Cup side and of course he scored the second goal in the final against West Germany. The near post cross that he and Hurst practiced so much at West Ham had paid off in the quarter final when a cross from Peters found Hurst at the near post who headed home the winner. Martin played 67 times for his country and scored 20 goals – another healthy return. Despite being a regular name on the West Ham score sheet, Martin only scored the one hat trick in his Hammers career and that was against West Brom in 1968.
It was in 1968 the then England manager, Alf Ramsey, famously said that “Martin Peters is ten years ahead of his time in the game”. He certainly was the complete midfielder – good in the air, strong with either feet and elusive with his movement. He played in just about every position whilst at the Hammers, even deputising in goal in only his third game after Brian Rhodes was injured. Similar to many players Martin had his own pre game superstition. Like Bobby Moore he liked to be the last to pull his shorts up in the dressing room. The story goes that on the way out of the tunnel in the ‘66 WC final, both he and Bobby Moore were checking on each other, both pulling up and down on their shorts to make sure they were last!
However, a few years after the World Cup, Martin was starting to think he was living in the shadows of Moore and Hurst. He also thought his chances of trophies and success would be heightened with a move away from Upton Park. In 1970, West Ham did a deal with Spurs that amounted to 200,000 pounds – 150,000 cash and a swap deal that brought Jimmy Greaves the other way. At the time I remember many Hammer fans (including myself) being distraught that we had let Peters go so cheaply –despite the fee being a record at the time. Martin went on to play 287 times for Tottenham, scoring 76 times. His move did not bring him the great success he had hoped for despite two League Cups and one UEFA Cup winning medal. He moved to Norwich City in 1975 and in 1978 he was to get another award – the MBE. After over 200 games for the Canaries he finished his career with a short stint at Sheffield United.
edgar will start gio vs myself
i will start barney vs edgar soon
i will start barney vs edgar soon
@Annahnomoss @SirAF - need your write ups for tomorrow's match
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@Lynk @Chesterlestreet - need your write ups for tomorrow's match
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@Lynk @Chesterlestreet - need your write ups for tomorrow's match