George the Rip

Yes it was Norman Burtenshaw, one of my all time favourites. Jim Finney and Kevin Howley should be added to the list IMO. Of todays officials only Howard Webb would get close to this group, but not that close!

Those of a certain age certainly do remember George with great fondness; my first real terrace hero. Saturday afternoon was such fun for this schoolboy watching George. I stood in a Milton Road matchbox yelling my contribution to the mass chant of ‘Kirby, Kirby, Kirby’ as he stormed forward from the edge of the penalty area to get his head on a Terry Paine corner. Anyone, or anything that was in the way of his charge was trampled underfoot. Hard and dirty indeed, but he soon stopped opponents trying to kick us off the park for no one really wanted to tangle with George. Favourite memory? Leeds United in 1963 when a rather young Billy Bremner kicked a Saints player without fully realising who it was. Suddenly, Bremner was running for his life being pursued by a very angry George intent on putting his mark on the young upstart which George duly did! Great memories of a real gent. And yes, my User Name is in his honour and memory.

Thank you for saving the Saints. Thank you for restoring our pride. Thank you for restoring our future. RIP Markus Liebherr; a true and great Saint.