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***Big Ron Davies Update***


hugh

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Well...the latest is that I'm driving from California over to Albuquerque, New Mexico t'see the great man. He had a tough week last week although his spirits improved at the weekend.

 

So on Thurs/Fri I will pass on messages from Johnny Sydenham and all of you good will. He'll be geeting print outs of all the supportive stuff you've written on here.

 

Thanks as always, positive re-inforcement will help our 'friend' right now.

 

Have a good drive and say hello!

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Well...the latest is that I'm driving from California over to Albuquerque, New Mexico t'see the great man. He had a tough week last week although his spirits improved at the weekend.

 

So on Thurs/Fri I will pass on messages from Johnny Sydenham and all of you good will. He'll be geeting print outs of all the supportive stuff you've written on here.

 

Thanks as always, positive re-inforcement will help our 'friend' right now.

 

Tell him the blonde kid from the Archers still loves his 4 goals against Villa!

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Speak with Ron at least once a day at the moment, keep up with what's going on - you know.

 

Anyway last night with a lot of time on his hands, Ron took out all the notes, wishes etc that we have sent him and re-read them. He has read them before and appreciated them, yet last night he went through them one by one and really digested them.

 

He said "I did not realise my Saints friends loved me that much." I have got to tell you it was a really lovely moment when he told me that, he has felt isolated and your thoughts were very reassuring and comforting to him. To quote Ron "It's finally sinking in how lucky I am to have so many friends back there."

 

Hopefully I will see him tomorrow, it's a helluva long drive from Huntington Beach, if I can make it I will, if not I'm stopping in Flagstaff and then getting to New Mexico on Friday morning.

 

I have all sorts of stuff for him, including a lot of new messages, a few good books (including Taking Le Tiss) and some top quality winter clothing. I used to work in fashion retail business and Ron was (unbeknowingly) actually a customer of mine...and I know he likes his clobber. His wardrobe now is barren, even of essentials.

 

So thanks everyone for the continued words of support, I'll check in and give you feed back when I see the big fella.

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I find it very sad that probably the best centre forward of the late 1960s is living in such a way

 

Indeed, Ron's tale, and he's not alone in his experiences, is salutory to the fact that football, as a career, is fleeting. Most of us are lucky in that our chosen career, seemingly mundane at times, gets us through our working life and financially secure into our retirement.

 

It's important that clubs impress on their young charges how important it is to have a back up and that flashy cars and whatever other trappings are for the 'now'.

 

A little prudence can go a long way.

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Indeed, Ron's tale, and he's not alone in his experiences, is salutory to the fact that football, as a career, is fleeting. Most of us are lucky in that our chosen career, seemingly mundane at times, gets us through our working life and financially secure into our retirement.

 

It's important that clubs impress on their young charges how important it is to have a back up and that flashy cars and whatever other trappings are for the 'now'.

 

A little prudence can go a long way.

 

Just to clarify: I am well aware that Ron's position has been made all the more difficult by football related injury. My comment really was to the younger players that this too could happen to them. God forbid this being so.

 

My comment was never intended as a criticism of 'the greatest centre forward that the world has ever seen!"

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To the tune of Mac Namarra's band

 

Hi name is Ronnie Davies he's the leader of the team

He's the greatest centre forward that the world has ever seen

You alway can rely on him to score the vital goal

And as for Bobby Charlton you can stick him up your hole

La la la, la la la la la

La la la la la la la la la

 

Used to love that one.

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To the tune of Mac Namarra's band

 

Hi name is Ronnie Davies he's the leader of the team

He's the greatest centre forward that the world has ever seen

You alway can rely on him to score the vital goal

And as for Bobby Charlton you can stick him up your hole

La la la, la la la la la

La la la la la la la la la

 

Used to love that one.

 

 

Happy days! :)

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I see on the OS that Solent Uni is honouring Mick Channon with an honorary doctorate of sport on saturday, joining Le Tiss and Terry Paine (and Lawrie). I wholeheartedly support this award for the legends of our club. There is one more fully deserving legend that should be added to that list. How we could influence Solent Uni to complete the list I don't know, but to me it would be very fitting for the the greatest centre forward that the world has ever seen. And to see Big Ron at SMS would make it complete in my view.

 

Best wishes to Ron again Tim

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I see on the OS that Solent Uni is honouring Mick Channon with an honorary doctorate of sport on saturday, joining Le Tiss and Terry Paine (and Lawrie). I wholeheartedly support this award for the legends of our club. There is one more fully deserving legend that should be added to that list. How we could influence Solent Uni to complete the list I don't know, but to me it would be very fitting for the the greatest centre forward that the world has ever seen. And to see Big Ron at SMS would make it complete in my view.

 

Best wishes to Ron again Tim

 

I know a couple of the guys responsible at Solent Uni so will have a word.

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...just setting off now across the South from Cali to New Mexico not in the Merc, but in an old Buick to go see recently widowed Big Ron Davies, hopefully can cheer him up somewhat.

 

Have books (all soccer), nice winter cloths and some good cheer (especially from a lot of you).

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I see on the OS that Solent Uni is honouring Mick Channon with an honorary doctorate of sport on saturday, joining Le Tiss and Terry Paine (and Lawrie). I wholeheartedly support this award for the legends of our club. There is one more fully deserving legend that should be added to that list. How we could influence Solent Uni to complete the list I don't know, but to me it would be very fitting for the the greatest centre forward that the world has ever seen. And to see Big Ron at SMS would make it complete in my view.

 

Best wishes to Ron again Tim

 

Absolutely, this needs to happen IMO

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...just setting off now across the South from Cali to New Mexico not in the Merc, but in an old Buick to go see recently widowed Big Ron Davies, hopefully can cheer him up somewhat.

 

Have books (all soccer), nice winter cloths and some good cheer (especially from a lot of you).

 

Bon Voyage -have you turned the cat off and let the cooker out?

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FF - Are there any plans for or is there any chance that either the club or supporters could fund a trip to St Marys for Ron as part of the clubs 125th Anniversary next year. Am sure there would be a full house if that were to happen.

 

We are working on it but TT will know more when he returns from visiting Ron, I hazard a guess.

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We are working on it but TT will know more when he returns from visiting Ron, I hazard a guess.

 

Just got in, checked into a hotel as it's late And Ron is probably asleep. 12 hours non-stop, partly on route 66, past Grand Canyon NP, through the Navejo nation past some place with Jeronimo associations.

 

Have a lot of stuff to take care of with Ron in the morning and I will ask him. Also people want to interview him right now and he just does not want too.

 

Good night...

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... partly on route 66, past Grand Canyon NP, through the Navejo nation past some place with Jeronimo associations.

 

Pretty neat drive, isn't it? Some of the New Mexico stuff is a little freaky. If you head too far off the main highway in certain places, intimidating-looking military people appear from nowhere, stop you and tell you to go back!

 

Warmest regards to the Great Man from me. A man without memories is poor indeed, but Ron's football and family memories make him a very rich man in much more important ways than bank accounts.

 

Tim, thanks for everything you're doing.

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After an absolute 'nightmare' night (long story involving sleep walking from exhaustion) I finally hooked up with the Big man today. Took him out to breakfast then lunch and drove with him to some places for him to take care of vital business...he has not had any transport until now. Also delivered a care package, some nice quality winter clothing and some good reading including a copies of 'Taking Le Tiss' and Mick Channon's book as well.

 

Well his health is much better, he is coping well/bravely with his loss and also moving much better with his new hips. As he ate and when we had quiet time I read him each and every good luck wish and memory that you - his friends sent him on here and by e-mails to me. Thank you so much, he was visibly moved and comforted by your care and concern.

 

To be honest Ron has always been averse to coming back and has not been one that tries to draw attention. However and quite surprising to me, he how he seemed to warm to it a lot after spending all day with him. There are some wonderful ideas, let's see if we can make them come to fruition.

 

I'll see him again tomorrow.

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Go easy on him Tim, and give him my best regards also. He knows me as the quiet one of the three GITRs. He sent me a very nice thank you for all the letters and messages that were passed on during the primary GITR campaign. I thought he'd like to know it was very much appreciated.

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Tim, thanks for your excellent and informative updates.

 

Like Ron, we lived abroad for many years (in my case the Middle East for 20 years), and was also adverse to coming back home even seriously considering moving to Thailand when my contract was finished.

 

However 5 years ago, we moved back to the UK, initially with some reservations, but now, we do not regret our decision at all.

 

Coming back home to our roots has proven to be the right decision. After all, your origins account for a lot and although there are many things we are still not happy about, it is outweighed by the benefits of being in your country of birth and the familiarity that this brings.

 

I hope that one day Ron realizes this and comes home where I am sure that everybody will ensure that he settles back in with minimal problems. I am assuming of course, that he still has family members back here in the UK.

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After an absolute 'nightmare' night (long story involving sleep walking from exhaustion) I finally hooked up with the Big man today. Took him out to breakfast then lunch and drove with him to some places for him to take care of vital business...he has not had any transport until now. Also delivered a care package, some nice quality winter clothing and some good reading including a copies of 'Taking Le Tiss' and Mick Channon's book as well.

 

Well his health is much better, he is coping well/bravely with his loss and also moving much better with his new hips. As he ate and when we had quiet time I read him each and every good luck wish and memory that you - his friends sent him on here and by e-mails to me. Thank you so much, he was visibly moved and comforted by your care and concern.

 

To be honest Ron has always been averse to coming back and has not been one that tries to draw attention. However and quite surprising to me, he how he seemed to warm to it a lot after spending all day with him. There are some wonderful ideas, let's see if we can make them come to fruition.

 

I'll see him again tomorrow.

 

Say hello from me Tim.

Spoke to someone in an influential position at Solent Uni last night about a doctorate for Ron. Say nothing to him but I do think it will be seriously considered. Obviously that would involve him coming over.

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Just left the Big Fella's gaff to head to Albuquerque airport and off to Seattle to watch Bex and tha boys in the MLS Champioship game.

 

A couple of great days with Ron, I managed to really help him understand how loved he is and today he got out all his old memorabilia to share. TBF, he was given some pretty high accolades during his career.

 

Some amazing stuff, there is a picture of him at the training ground with Wynne Davies and John Toshask (the dynamic Welsh forward line). They are all dressed up in 'casual' attire, the startling thing is that both Wynne and Tosh are clearly taller than 'Big' Ron FFS

 

Oh...and he wanted us to beat Norwich (another ex club)...I kept him updated with the score.

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