Book on Justin Fashanu

[Fitzhugh Fella]

I helped the author of a new book on Justin Fashanu recently and it has just been published

Not read it yet but for those interested

http://www.justinfashanustory.com

[Norm]

Duncan, thanks for the link.

[washsaint]

reminds me of what a nasty piece of work his brother is (John) - when his brother needed support he disowned him and made it all about John Fashanu. Wonder if Justin would have had more support/help in this era: he was pretty good for Saints in the short time here

[Wade Garrett]

One of Brian Clough's biggest regrets was the way he treated Fashanu.

[Miltonaggro]

As Washsaint said, he was very useful for us, a proper bustling centre forward if memory serves. Don't think Uncle Alan had the money at the time to make it permanent, would have been interesting if it had and Fash had rediscovered his Norwich form in an excellent Saints side!...

[RonManager]

Saw him play for Hearts a fair bit when I lived in Edinburgh, he was a very popular Jambo.

[The Majestic Channon]

Will have to buy that book. Anyone know how many games he played for saints? was it 2 ?

I remember his goal for norwich on the opening credits of match of the day where he flicked the ball up , span and scored a bullet of a volley. Didn't he hang himself ?

[Viking Saint]

He did, hung himself in a lock-up in Shoreditch....was apparently scared that a warrant had been issued for his arrest for sexual assault of a minor in the US....turns out there wasn't one and his fears were unfounded....Clough's description of their situation in his book was very interesting....he really regretted his treatment of Fashanu but admitted he had no idea of how to handle him....

[GAS]

Will have to buy that book. Anyone know how many games he played for saints? was it 2 ?

I remember his goal for norwich on the opening credits of match of the day where he flicked the ball up , span and scored a bullet of a volley. Didn't he hang himself ?

From Wikipedia - In August 1982, he was loaned to Southampton (scoring 3 goals in 9 appearances).[10] At The Dell, Fashanu settled in well and his promising form helped the "Saints" overcome the sudden departure of Kevin Keegan; manager Lawrie McMenemy would have liked to make the move permanent, but was prevented from doing so by lack of funds.

 

I've just read the Mark Ward book 'Hammered' and he mentions Justin in it. All very typical, about having to share a room etc, and this was written after Justins death. All very sad.

[Kenilworthy]

Fashanu was the first loan player to score for Saints. Always felt that if we could have managed to buy him we could have made something of him. He came back to haunt us as well, scoring for Notts County at the Dell in 83 - a defeat that could have made the difference between runners-up and champions.

[Toon Saint]

reminds me of what a nasty piece of work his brother is (John) - when his brother needed support he disowned him and made it all about John Fashanu. Wonder if Justin would have had more support/help in this era: he was pretty good for Saints in the short time here

 

This. Absolutely disgraceful the way his brother disowned him when he was at his most vulnerable.

 

But the fact that another PL player has yet to come out since hardly suggests that things have improved.

Edited 7 September, 2013 by Toon Saint

[Colinjb]

This. Absolutely disgraceful the way his brother disowned him when he was at his most vulnerable.

 

But the fact that another PL player has yet to come out since hardly suggests that things have improved.

 

The story of Robbie Rogers is heartening (ex Leeds, Stevenage.) He came out after being released by Leeds United and immediately retired after feeling that he couldn't continue as a footballer with his sexuality out in the open.

 

He has however since revived his career and now plays for L.A. Galaxy. Small steps are being made.

[Toon Saint]

The story of Robbie Rogers is heartening (ex Leeds, Stevenage.) He came out after being released by Leeds United and immediately retired after feeling that he couldn't continue as a footballer with his sexuality out in the open.

 

He has however since revived his career and now plays for L.A. Galaxy. Small steps are being made.

 

True. Disheartening that he felt he couldn't continue his career in England though, where terrace banter is a lot more 'unforgiving' (for want of a better word) than in the States. At least we have some clubs (Liverpool) looking to address that.

 

Bit more of a public movement in the US as well with active sports stars coming out - Jason Collins, the NBA basketballer, for instance - so that sort of progressive environment, and attendant support on social media, has probably helped Rogers.

 

I still can't believe that Fashanu, who came out in 1990, is the only English footballer to have done so - though his personal tragedy has hardly encouraged others to do the same.

 

Ignorance of the issue among some football fans in this country is incredible and it would help if we had some high profile PL footballers throwing their weight behind anti-homophobia campaigns.

 

My lasting impression of PL footballers interventions on gay rights is Robbie Fowler bending over and bating Graeme Le Saux (labelled as gay because he read the Guardian,) to do him up the arse.

 

The ref did absolutely nothing.