spyinthesky Posted 20 February, 2016 Share Posted 20 February, 2016 Reading the piece in the Echo website about Shane Long being a 'nuisance' reminded me of George Kirby I disliked both players when they were playing for other teams but when George arrived (in 1962?) with Stuart Williams and David Burnside, a struggling Saints team was transformed. George was not a great player but he caused mayhem in opposition defences with challenges (more niggly than dirty) which would not be tolerated nowadays Goalkeepers were a prime target and who can forget the terror Peter Grummitt, the Forest 'keeper suffered, in that fantastic 3-3 draw in the 6th Rd 1st replay when 2nd Division Saints came back from 3-0 down with 12 mins left in one of the best atmospheres I ever experienced at the Dell. Apparently George was a gent off the field and in some respect it is disappointing that I remember him for his antics rather than his goals but he was definitely a 'character'!! Let's hope that Shane Long will continue to do a similar job for the modern Saints Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david in sweden Posted 20 February, 2016 Share Posted 20 February, 2016 (edited) no-one who saw George playing could ever forget him, although they would only had a season or so to do so, as he moved clubs so often in his 17 year career. " Journeyman " would have been a good phrase to use about George - who played for 8 league clubs in his time, and arrived at The Dell in Sept. 1962 at the age of 29. George looked very imposing,(at a time when a 6 foot tall striker was a rarity) and his mere presence in the penalty box would often deter both defenders and goalies. With Saints starting a disasterous season (1962-63) and only one win in the opening 8 games, George scored on his debut and helped give Saints a deserved win (2-1) against a Tommy Docherty Chelsea side which included youngsters like Osgood, Venables, Tambling and Bridges who would go on to get promotion and greater glories. Few fans ever forgot a game v. Middlesboro some weeks later when...after a dull 0-0 first half, Saints blitzed 'Boro 6-0 with George netting a hat-trick in 4 mins. I was present at the now legendary 3-3 FA Cup Dell replay (that is mentioned in the OP) and remember George's barnstorming style and, at a time when "shoulder charging" was legal in the game, and taking advantage of that ,George terrorised the somewhat shorter 20 year-old Forest keeper Peter Grummit, and scored a goal that ended with both of them and the ball in the back of the net. Fellow "Scouser" Rickie Lambert 's career might have been a carbon copy of George's although - without the level of success that Rickie had late on in the Prem. In George's first season, he scored 16 goals in 38 League / Cup games, plus a bonus, when returning after an injury, he netted 7 goals in 2 games for the Reserves. After the age of 30, his decline came fast and although he scored 15 goals in 30 games in the following season, Manager Ted Bates re-couped his much of his fee and made a shrewd deal, letting him move onto Coventry for £12,000. (a very good deal for a 30 y.o.), whilst knowing that the young Martin Chivers was coming on song and was a part of the Saints forward line that netted 32 goals in the last 10 games that season (after George's departure). After only a season at Coventry, he moved onto Swansea, then Walsall and even had a season in the fledgling US Soccer League before ending his playing career back at Brentford (aged 36). He didn't had the pace anymore, but still managed to score goals at a good average return wherever he went. In later years, he managed lower level clubs like Halifax and Watford to whom survival was always a victory over bankruptcy. Although, barely 18 months as a Saints player, he's not forgotten by older fans of that generation who would probably smile a little ... just at the mention of his name. George died in 2000 in Halifax. aged 67. Edited 20 February, 2016 by david in sweden Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spyinthesky Posted 20 February, 2016 Author Share Posted 20 February, 2016 David I guess there cant be too many of us who can still remember the 3 games v Forest in 1963 including the 5-0 win in the second replay at White Hart Lane I reckon there were well over 30,000 Saints fans in the 42,000 crowd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david in sweden Posted 20 February, 2016 Share Posted 20 February, 2016 David I guess there cant be too many of us who can still remember the 3 games v Forest in 1963 including the 5-0 win in the second replay at White Hart Lane I reckon there were well over 30,000 Saints fans in the 42,000 crowd AND several thousands others who were locked out - as Spurs personnel hadn't opened up the whole ground and not everyone could get in. I heard stories of fans (inside) shouting over the wall (to those locked out) ....with the score as our goals went in ...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panda Posted 20 February, 2016 Share Posted 20 February, 2016 David I guess there cant be too many of us who can still remember the 3 games v Forest in 1963 including the 5-0 win in the second replay at White Hart Lane I reckon there were well over 30,000 Saints fans in the 42,000 crowd There were another 32,000 of us stuck in traffic on the way there, it was all over by the time we arrived! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spyinthesky Posted 20 February, 2016 Author Share Posted 20 February, 2016 There were another 32,000 of us stuck in traffic on the way there, it was all over by the time we arrived! Remember that we were comfortably stood behind one goal then there seemed to be a mass influx around half time when loads of late arrivals turned up Great night Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miserableoldgit Posted 20 February, 2016 Share Posted 20 February, 2016 David I guess there cant be too many of us who can still remember the 3 games v Forest in 1963 including the 5-0 win in the second replay at White Hart Lane I reckon there were well over 30,000 Saints fans in the 42,000 crowd I remember those games....great days! Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miserableoldgit Posted 20 February, 2016 Share Posted 20 February, 2016 I used to love watching George Kirby. As has been said he wasn't a great player but he was one that you were glad played for us and not against us!! Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted 20 February, 2016 Share Posted 20 February, 2016 I was at both Nottm Forest games at the Dell and White Hart Lane and the 6 0 thrashing of Middlesborough where Kirby scored a hat trick He was one of my all time favorite Saints players along with Osgood who did not play in that 1962 fixture he started playing for Chelsea in 1964 when I was at Uni in London he was a wonderful player despite breaking his leg badly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted 20 February, 2016 Share Posted 20 February, 2016 I used to love watching George Kirby. As has been said he wasn't a great player but he was one that you were glad played for us and not against us!! Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk I remember one game v Swansea at the Dell where George Kirby had caused havoc with three Swansea players down and receiving medical attention Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spyinthesky Posted 21 February, 2016 Author Share Posted 21 February, 2016 Anyone remember the Norman Deeley incident Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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