Time for some good old fashioned name dropping

[Whitey Grandad]

Someone mentioned Kevin Moore earlier on - sadly he's not too well these days with a quite advanced form of alzheimers. I met him a couple of years ago and he was struggling then but I hear it is quite serious now. A nice man and a good servant.

That is sad news. I spoke to him a couple of times after matches in the Dell car park and he is a true gentleman. My last memory of him was at White Hart Lane after whe had been well beaten (3-0 I think) and as he left the pitch he had one last wistful look around the stadium, knowing that it was the last time that he would play there.

 

Please pass on all our best wishes. Once a Saint, always a Saint.

[Fitzhugh Fella]

Yes good lad indeed Duncan, Mick was known as "Irish", for obvious resons, never forget a very late night in Dunkirk after we had just won a Youth tournament and L.Mac took us out to celebrate at this Whiskey club.When asked what he wanted to drink Mick said I'll have a pint of Guinness. We all fell about laughing,but Mick didn't see the funny side.Still i guess you had to be there.

 

Hi Colin - I had a chat with L. Mac prior to the AGM recently. I must admit I have had a few spats with the big man over the years but you can't knock the passion he has for the club.

 

In the 90s I had a part-time job working for the BBC as a liaison officer on "Match of the Day". Basically my job entailed being the commentators eyes and ears in the tunnel area, dressing rooms, dugouts etc. I had to get the players they wanted for interviews, find out the team changes, liase with the refs and during the match watch out for substitutions etc. Obviously it was pretty interesting watching what went on behind the scenes although it could be stressful as it was usually me that got the blame if things went wrong.

 

Motty was the worst to work for as he was always panicking. The most laid back was Barry Davies. Once at Everton after a Merseyside derby I was despatched to the Liverpool dressing room to fetch Julian Dicks for a post match interview (he had made his debut that day). I messed up big time and grabbed Steve Nichol by mistake. You should have seen Davies's face when I turned up with the wrong player. All his prepared questions went for a ball of chalk but he ad libbed brilliantly.

 

I covered a few Saints matches. The Cup-tie at Luton where I swear I heard punches being thrown in the half-time Saints dressing room. We certainly bucked our ideas up in the 2nd half. One particular Saints match I worked on I had cause to fall foul with L Mac though. 19th November 1994 - Saints v Arsenal. That was the week when the Grobbelaar revelations were published in the media and of course all the cameras (including MoTD) were at the Dell to see how Grobbelaar would react. I wasn't due to be working but the day before the BBC asked if I would help out so I gave my ticket for the Milton Rd to my wife. I told her to stay in her seat after the game and wait while we did the post match interviews so we could travel home together. What I didn't know was L Mac had issued strict instructions that the ground was to be cleared immediately after the game with only the BBC MoTD personel allowed to stay and do interviews. So I told the steward that Louise was with the BBC and she sat in on the interview with Alan Ball. L Mac suddenly saw her and started shouting and swearing "get that effin woman out of here" and went to grab her. I had to get in between and for a moment I thought he was going to whack me. Eventually Motson (I think it was) intervened and L Mac calmed down but he glared at me throughout the interview.

 

I must admit I never cared for Grobbelaar. Earlier when he had been playing for Liverpool, at Chelsea, Motson had sent me down to the away dressing room with a question for the Zimbabwean. Immediately after the match he was due to catch a plane to Africa to appear in an international match but Motson - wanting to use this in commentary - did not know who Zimbabwe were playing. I never liked going into the dressing rooms mainly because I knew the managers did not like guests but the BBC were always given special privileges. I knocked on the Liverpool door and walked in to be met by 15 or so Liverpool players faces staring at my intrusion. I set my eyes on Grobbelaar and said "excuse me Bruce but John Motson wants to know who Zimbabwe are playing against". He said something like "Motson's an arse, get stuffed" and all the players laughed. I felt a bit foolish standing there but fortunately Graeme Souness, then Liverpool's manager, came to my rescue and gave me the correct info.

 

The truth behind the Grobbelaar accusations never really emerged and I must admit at the time I thought there was a strong possibility some were near the truth despite his acquital.

[Rational Rich]

Can I just say that this is the best thread we have had on this board for absolutely ages, great tales, great memories. Everyone involved should give themselves a pat on the back!

 

Also, message for Teddy Nutkins, any chance of reprising your old Saints Forever column on the Saintsweb website? Always a great read in a similar vein to this thread

 

Cheers

 

Rich

[West End Saint]

Yes thats the fella John Burke, No dont think so cannot remember Peachy living in close. David Armstrong still lives in the close, Justin, Kate and Chris all flown the nest. Chris and Robin Smith the Hants cricketers lived in the close when they first came over from South Africa.

 

My Mum & Dad bought the House from Robin Smith Cedar Wood close Fair Oak

I can clearly remember my Mum going Mental saying the dirty Cricketers didn't

clean it was hanging inside when we got the keys she was not a happy camper.

 

I have met Drew Surman a couple of times recently and he is a really nice lad very down to earth his girlfriend was nice looking but mental in a nice blonde ditsy kid of way but Drew is a cracking lad

[SFC1906]

Until recently my missus used to sort out Jimmy Case and his daughter's car insurance - she says he is one of the nicest blokes she has ever met, always polite and chatty with loads of funny stories.

 

Jason Dodd tried to pull my missus one night in what is now Reflex (was The Venue at the time I think) until I 'politely' informed him that although I was a massive Saints fan I would still royally kick his head in!

 

Remember seeing Claus and Van Gobbel in New Yorks on a Sat night after we'd beat Manure (can't remember if it was the 6-3 or the infamous grey shirt 3-1) and Ulrich was tongueing every bird in sight. This in itself isn't too outrageous but I'm sure there'd been a huge article in the Sun that morning about his personal life and how he adored his wife and kids (kid was ill/had some sort of desease or something?).

 

I worked at the Old Oriental nightclub when I was at college and one night after we'd closed and cleaned up my boss told me to go outside and tell these 2 p#ssheads who were loitering around to move on. I duly obliged and found that they were both p#ssing all over the windows/door etc so I started to give them a right mouthful until I realised it was Claus and Doddsy!

 

Can you imagine the uproar if that was now and 2 pro footballers were caught doing that by the NOTW? How times have changed eh, and that was only about 14yrs ago

[Guest Dark Sotonic Mills]

Does Kevin Moore still live in Otterbourne? I remember drinking with him and his wife many a time in the White Horse around the same time as Mark Dennis was a regular.

 

I haven't seen him around recently and this is now explained.

[Fitzhugh Fella]

Does Kevin Moore still live in Otterbourne? I remember drinking with him and his wife many a time in the White Horse around the same time as Mark Dennis was a regular.

 

I haven't seen him around recently and this is now explained.

 

I am pretty sure Kevin's family still live in Otterbourne but I am not even sure Kevin is well enough to live at home. I will try and find out more as I know one of his neighbours.

[John B]

Does Kevin Moore still live in Otterbourne? I remember drinking with him and his wife many a time in the White Horse around the same time as Mark Dennis was a regular.

 

I haven't seen him around recently and this is now explained.

 

How many pubs did Mark Dennis drink in regularly

[EastleighSoulBoy]

How many pubs did Mark Dennis drink in regularly

 

Not sure, I suppose 'As many as possible' might be a fair answer?

[Toomer]

Roy Beazley lives round the road from me and I often have the odd chat with him and Brian O'Neil who Roy plays golf with.

[Dimond Geezer]

How many pubs did Mark Dennis drink in regularly

 

I believe he now frequents "The Bosuns Locker" - formerly the Juniper Berry

[exit2]

Another story of mine, is when my best mates brother who was 13 at the time was diagnosed with a brain tumour (hes ok now 6yrs on) He was in Soton general and had been for a couple of months and really low.

 

His fav player was Chris Marsden, and as I knew Chris, I went around to see him and he agreed to sort something out.

 

Well after several more ops my mates brother was semi fit for visitors so I arranged for Mazza to pay him a visit. Well if you every wanted to me choked that was the day.

In walked Chris with a bag of goodies from the club and I have never seen a young lad who was serioulsy ill smile so much. He spent a couple of hours with him talking about football etc and then went to see the 3 or 4 other kids that was also serioulsy ill in the same ward.

 

When I speak to Chris even now hes asks about him to see if ok etc.

 

Also to add to that, we also arranged when better for him to come into the players lounge. Again Maz stood out a mile that day but a certain James Beattie won the day. He took the lad into the changing rooms, onto the pitch and the gave him his shirt and made a real fuss.

[exit2]

With FF talking about Brucie, I will never forget the day we had to sneek him into the Dell!

 

I was working as a steward in a team which is now the repsonse team, so we didnt really have normaly stewarding duties, it was mainly players and officals we looked after.

 

We had a call to say goto (i think) 3 gate in the archers road. So off we trundled, we then had a call to open it. With that Brian Truscotts car came blazing down Archers Road stopped outside 3 gate and in dived Brucie! He also went out the same way and the press never got close to him.

[Fitzhugh Fella]

Another story of mine, is when my best mates brother who was 13 at the time was diagnosed with a brain tumour (hes ok now 6yrs on) He was in Soton general and had been for a couple of months and really low.

 

His fav player was Chris Marsden, and as I knew Chris, I went around to see him and he agreed to sort something out.

 

Well after several more ops my mates brother was semi fit for visitors so I arranged for Mazza to pay him a visit. Well if you every wanted to me choked that was the day.

In walked Chris with a bag of goodies from the club and I have never seen a young lad who was serioulsy ill smile so much. He spent a couple of hours with him talking about football etc and then went to see the 3 or 4 other kids that was also serioulsy ill in the same ward.

 

When I speak to Chris even now hes asks about him to see if ok etc.

 

Also to add to that, we also arranged when better for him to come into the players lounge. Again Maz stood out a mile that day but a certain James Beattie won the day. He took the lad into the changing rooms, onto the pitch and the gave him his shirt and made a real fuss.

 

I think JB got a bad press from some. Every story I heard about him was that off the pitch he was a really decent bloke. Rob, that day they smuggled Bruce in I knew who was driving the car - a bloke who also worked for BA - do you know who I am talking about? He was a big mate of Bruce's.

[exit2]

Sorry I might get boring now, I have loads

 

My missus used to help run the Saints Supporters Club at the Dell with Betty with those of you who remember her. Well she was working one Saturday and there was a reserve game and in walked Nicky Banger, Perry Groves and Terry Hurlock. They were going to have a couple of beers, few games of pool and then go into watch the game. Well me and my mate hammering them at pool and about 5 pints later we went to the winston and stayed until about 9. I dont remember much but I woke up in the morning with a hang over and not very well!

[exit2]

I think JB got a bad press from some. Every story I heard about him was that off the pitch he was a really decent bloke. Rob, that day they smuggled Bruce in I knew who was driving the car - a bloke who also worked for BA - do you know who I am talking about? He was a big mate of Bruce's.

 

Yeah your right about JB, decent guy, and have loads of footy takes about him which Ill say later as Im hogging the board now!

 

I think I remember the guy used to come in the player lounge quite a laugh

[Belgiansaint]

When he was a manager at Wolves, Dave Jones came over to Belgium to watch a Wolves player on loan at my local club. I was then writing a column for the match programme and as I speak English I was asked to serve as an interpreter for DJ. Had a beer and a bit of Saints' chat with him after the game. Very dry sense of humour and a rather pleasant man.

[Fitzhugh Fella]

Yeah your right about JB, decent guy, and have loads of footy takes about him which Ill say later as Im hogging the board now!

 

I think I remember the guy used to come in the player lounge quite a laugh

 

 

His name was Jimmy Welsh - a scouser and he was no friend of mine but it is a long story - the fact that Bruce was so matey with him put me off Bruce - judge a man by his friends and all that.

 

Another story I've remembered. I went to the Ted Bates dinner at the Dell back in the early 1990s. I was actually on the same table as Guy Askham then our chairman but didn't realise until half was through who he was.

 

I had got to know a lot of the old players since my book had come out and met up with a few before the meal at the Wessex Hotel bar for a drink. Charlie Wayman was there so I brought my Dad who was dying to meet his boyhood idol. Charlie was great to my Dad - it was the first time he had been back in Southampton for decades and there was much beer being drunk as all the old stories came back. After the meal I was entrusted to escort all the old footballers back to the Wessex where they were staying but most were absolutely rat-arsed. Some could hardly stand. I got them in a sort of line as we crossed Archers Rd but one (Eddy Brown) slipped as we got to the pavement and pulled others with him including Charlie and Frank Dudley and Jimmy Shields into the gutter. Just then a cop car turned up and pulled up alongside all these p*ssed old boys lying in the street. The policeman wound his window down and addressing me said - what the hell is going on here? I replied "that is the Southampton FC forward line circa 1950-51 officer and they are just discussing tactics" (I was more than a bit p*ssed myself). He smiled and drove on and somehow I managed to get them on the feet and home to the Wessex 100 yards up Northlands Avenue.

[exit2]

When he was a manager at Wolves, Dave Jones came over to Belgium to watch a Wolves player on loan at my local club. I was then writing a column for the match programme and as I speak English I was asked to serve as an interpreter for DJ. Had a beer and a bit of Saints' chat with him after the game. Very dry sense of humour and a rather pleasant man.

 

 

See i told I would hog the board!

 

Dave Jones is one of the most down to earth nicest guys I have met. I did some IT consultancy for Dave at his house in Chilworth and ever since have seen him maybe a few times a year. When we played Wolves in the cup in 2003, one of the lads I coached football was a big Wolves fan. His dad had promised to take him to the game in the Wolves end but was quickly whipped off to Iraq as he was in the forces. The young lad was heart broken about his Dad going to Iraq and was even more upset about missing the wolves game

 

So I rang Dave and spoke to his secretary explained who I was and he rang me back 20 mins later. I took the lad to the De Vere where I was greeted by Dave Jones, was introudec to the coaching staff and a few of the players. They gave him a shirt and also gave him a pair of tickets for him and his mum!

 

Again an absolute gent of man.

[dubai_phil]

Not an "I met" story but a strange co-incidence jusat now...

 

Local Satellite channel had a fill-in about a Morroccan Player who made it "big" in the CL & World Cup. he left home to Portugal, played in the CL and then in France '98 was the highest rated passer in the tournament.... Tahar El Khalej no less..

 

It showed him joining Saints and some of his best moments and he went on about how much he loved it there, how he was upset when he went to Charlton and still watched their games live, how he watched the Man U game when we went down and cried.

 

He returned to Morrocco, and with the money he earnt, bought his home town 2nd Division Club that his dad used to play for. They had run down facilities and staff and yet he led them to promotion to the First Division.

 

He has now "swopped the Boardroom" and is doing his coaching badges and would love to come back and manage in Europe in about 5 years time when he thinks he'll be experienced enough.

 

Anyway nice to see Saints getting a mini-documentary slot and good to see Tahar looking fit and well on tv. Not ALL modern players blow their money on fast cars, and gambling!

 

Now why the heck did he buy a 2nd division club THERE when he could have done all that here!

[Fitzhugh Fella]

Not an "I met" story but a strange co-incidence jusat now...

 

Local Satellite channel had a fill-in about a Morroccan Player who made it "big" in the CL & World Cup. he left home to Portugal, played in the CL and then in France '98 was the highest rated passer in the tournament.... Tahar El Khalej no less..

 

It showed him joining Saints and some of his best moments and he went on about how much he loved it there, how he was upset when he went to Charlton and still watched their games live, how he watched the Man U game when we went down and cried.

 

He returned to Morrocco, and with the money he earnt, bought his home town 2nd Division Club that his dad used to play for. They had run down facilities and staff and yet he led them to promotion to the First Division.

 

He has now "swopped the Boardroom" and is doing his coaching badges and would love to come back and manage in Europe in about 5 years time when he thinks he'll be experienced enough.

 

Anyway nice to see Saints getting a mini-documentary slot and good to see Tahar looking fit and well on tv. Not ALL modern players blow their money on fast cars, and gambling!

 

Now why the heck did he buy a 2nd division club THERE when he could have done all that here!

 

Nice story, Phil and one I have made a note of by way of updating his bio in ITN.

[exit2]

Talking about Morroccans! CMFG currently resides in Cyprus and has loved the place for many years. In 2001 we were there and flew up to Aiy Napa to meet Dean Richards and Hassan Kachoul. Had a night there and Hassan was happy because he had verbally agreed a contract with Ipswich on about 8 times his salary that he got from Saints. In the morning Hassan received a call from his agent Eric to say Villa had renewed their interest and formally offered a new deal. Now Im not mentioning figures on here but this was 2001 and wages were silly, this deal was worth nearly 15 times his weekly wage at Saints! and even todays standards a frigging good wage with a nice hefty signing on fee as he was a free agent. So you can imagine he was chuffed very chuffed. Well on the way back to airport the taxi driver was a complete loon, driving like Lewis Hamilton through small one way streets, cutting people up etc.

 

So Hassan perks up and says slow down you you fool! We are in no rush, Im enjoying and savouring being a poor man, because when I and back in the UK Im a millionaire!

[ericofarabia]

Some could hardly stand. I got them in a sort of line as we crossed Archers Rd but one (Eddy Brown) slipped as we got to the pavement and pulled others with him including Charlie and Frank Dudley and Jimmy Shields into the gutter. Just then a cop car turned up and pulled up alongside all these p*ssed old boys lying in the street. The policeman wound his window down and addressing me said - what the hell is going on here? I replied "that is the Southampton FC forward line circa 1950-51 officer and they are just discussing tactics" (I was more than a bit p*ssed myself). He smiled and drove on and somehow I managed to get them on the feet and home to the Wessex 100 yards up Northlands Avenue.

 

That really does conjure up a fantastic picture .... :smt044. Puts me in mind of Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest (in a nice sort of way, if you know what I mean )

 

You should have said they were doing Ronaldo impersonations :yawinkle:

 

Keep them coming, haven't had so much fun reading freds on here since another of SB's favs The Soul Cellar

[View From The Top]

Mark Dennis and I were drinking buddies when he lived in Portswood.

 

I was with him that famous day that his wife brought his Sunday lunch to the pub and he then proceeded to wear the lunch.

[The Majestic Channon]

I've just met a few players in the pubs and clubs , nothing on par with some of the above stories but..

 

used to chat with all 3 wallaces in new york new york in the late 80,s, on the day we murdered liverpool 4-1 in 89 , the wallaces, franny, andy cooke were all in there and happy to chat to us all night

london saints end of season do at ' dicks bar' in tottenham lane london after we were thrashed by the gooners was a good night, chatted to all the team, shearer was a miserable sod though, ruddock mooned at us from the coach as it pulled away

 

last game of season against leicester ( 93? ) we spent the afternoon drinking in the bedford with dodd, richard hall, neil heaney , nicky banger and his oldham team mate Darren beckford .

Dodd was a top bloke,being completly ****ted i spilt almost a whole pint over his back as i stood behind him, luckily he saw the funny side, darren beckford was great, bought us loads of beer

heaney and banger though seemed very up their own arses.

met flash gordon at the ugly inside do in the maple leaf club, dodgy waistcoat but one of the nicest blokes ive met.

anyway mine are a bit boring but was bored and thought i'd share them .

[INFLUENCED.COM]

My mate became quite friendly with Mark Draper whilst here, I know he did nothing for us but in all fairness is a nice guy, anyway, after the Borough match in 03(i think) went back to the De Vere and was sat on the sofa's with Draper, Davies and was then joined by Marsden, he was speaking on how solid Southgate and Ehiogu were whilst drinking his Becks(I believe), a guy came over with his son for an autograph which he duly signed at which point the young lad asks "how come your drinking beer ?" after a slight pause the reply was that it was non alcoholic, Marsden then asked if he wanted Kevin and Mark to sign his book, the kid knew who Kevin was but was unsure about Mark, not suprising really.

[Pilchards]

I just love this thread....

 

Fitzy I cant believe you carried on letting everyone know you was Channon...haha.

 

Anyway, My son was a mascot for us and was led out by James Beattie.

While in the tunnel James asked him if he knew who he was...

 

My son having that F A Cup song replayed to him a thousand times replied 'Me name, me name is James Beattie...!'

[Hatch]

I was in a strip club in Magaluf a few years back.

While enjoying the hospitality I glanced across and Brett Ormerod was in the booth alongside me.

Top Bloke.

[Fitzhugh Fella]

I was in a strip club in Magaluf a few years back.

While enjoying the hospitality I glanced across and Brett Ormerod was in the booth alongside me.

Top Bloke.

 

Pure class!

 

Iain Dowie married a stewardess so through her all the local Southampton based BA crew arranged a night out at the Concorde Club. We had a great night and he was a top bloke. This was during the heady days of Thatcher and I remember him telling us the only two players who voted Labour at the club were himself and Micky Adams!

[warsash saint]

Great thread.

 

So sad to hear about the illness of Kevin Moore. Will always remember him rising majestically to head in (the equaliser ?) against Forest in the ZDS final.

[instinct]

Met Le Tiss, he was friendly

 

Met Alan Hansen on holiday when I was a kid, spoke to him and got his autograph but completley blanked Kenny Dalgleish standing next to him - didn't realise till my dad asked me if I'd got his autograph too

[tommi]

Great thread.

 

So sad to hear about the illness of Kevin Moore. Will always remember him rising majestically to head in (the equaliser ?) against Forest in the ZDS final.

 

So true, what a goal that was - he was literally three feet higher than anyone else!

 

Terrible terrible news, my heart goes out to him and his family.

[fareham saint phil]

I know its not ex-saint related, but being involved in a youth football club in Fareham, and as fareham is mainly blue i had asked port*mouth if we could have one of their players to present our kids with their footie trophies and raffle prizes, in response they said no and if we brought a shirt i could have it signed!!! (Saints sent a signed shirt for nothing) we were going to be stuck, someone mentioned that Lee Bradbury, current Bournmouth and ex-skate, lived nearby. Through a few people i managed to get hold of him and he came along for the evening and was fantastic, had a word with all the kids and shook more hands than a politician. For an ex-skate hes a top bloke

[Lowestoft-Saint]

There have been some fantastic stories on this thread, so thanks to all of you that have contributed and given us a lot of pleasure reading them.

 

Now my story is nowhere near as interesting as some but I thought I would share it anyway, and it goes back to the eighties.

 

I guess most Saints fans will remember that Nick Holmes had a Testimonial game against Benfica, which in itself was a terrific event for such a good servant to the club.

However Nick actually had a Testimonial season, in which he and other players from the club travelled around for social events.

It was one of these events that i was lucky enough to get a ticket for, the players came to a small Snooker & Squash club in Alton Hants for an evening of fun.

 

The players that I remember from the evening are obviously Nick himself, Steve Moran, Reuben Agboola, and others that slip from my memory (Age lol).

During the evening I played Snooker against both Steve & Reuben with plenty of drink flowing and plenty of fooling around.

All in all a great night with a great set of blokes who made everyone feel comfortable, not big headed or stuck up at all.

[Whitey Grandad]

I'd just like to give an honourable mention to Tim Flowers. When my daughter first got interested in football as a 14-year old she wrote to loads of players in several different clubs asking for a photograph. Most wrote back, usually with a printed letter and a stock photograph. Tim took the time to send her a full-sized photo and a long hand-written letter. It was a lovely gesture and much appreciated.

[stanthemanfairoak]

I've forgotten - was it David Armstrong or David Peach who lived in Fair Oak?

he still lives up ere in fair oak nice guy.

[lenwilkins]

Absolutely brilliant thread - thanks Duncan for thinking of it.

 

I haven't got any stories to match those above but I can reiterate that James Beattie is brilliant with kids. He presented a Friends Provident fair play award to my daughter and her friend at SMS (they played football for Saints Girls at the time.) He couldn't have been more pleasant, nothing was too much for him. Nothing at all like the image that has been portrayed elsewhere.

 

Franny Benali was also involved with the Saints girls teams through his daughter who also played. Another terrific and genuine guy - I chatted to him several times at the bar on social evenings.

[Guest Dark Sotonic Mills]

Absolutely brilliant thread - thanks Duncan for thinking of it.

 

I haven't got any stories to match those above but I can reiterate that James Beattie is brilliant with kids. He presented a Friends Provident fair play award to my daughter and her friend at SMS (they played football for Saints Girls at the time.) He couldn't have been more pleasant, nothing was too much for him. Nothing at all like the image that has been portrayed elsewhere.

 

Franny Benali was also involved with the Saints girls teams through his daughter who also played. Another terrific and genuine guy - I chatted to him several times at the bar on social evenings.

 

The gorgeous pouting Karen was also wonderful to talk to, and so much better when she went back to brunette after her WAG blonde job.

[ottery st mary]

Wayne Bridge and James Beattie

 

Invited into the Players lounge, with a very young lad, who had the same initial and Surname as Wayne.

So, on his Saints shirt he obviously had W. Bridge, although his surname was Woodbridge. He was so excited and his parents could not believe the reception from Saints players.

When introduced to Wayne, I expected just a quick signature on the young lads Shirt and programme and away. But Wayne took the time to talk to the lad and then introduced him to other players including James Beattie, who also gave him time and attention....All the stick these players take and these two James and Wayne spent time talking to this lad as if he was an old friend.

There is obviously more to the story, but suffice to say the two footballers in question are superstars, to this young lad, who will live with the memory forever.

Met Mr Bridge senior and given him a lift home to Winchester and taken to his local pub and his local club. He introduced me to friends and family and made me feel special..Should be the other way round as I had idolised (like most Saints players...its what we do) his son. More to the point , Wayne has supplied on numerous occasions, Saints, Chelsea and England, signed shirts for various charities etc at his own expense.

Mr Bridge senior is still a great fan of Saints and still watches them when he can..Brought up on Saints as a Vospers worker...like most of us, its in the blood.

[Fitzhugh Fella]

Growing up in Archers Rd I spent my school holidays in the Dell car park playing football and collecting autographs. One ambitious project was to get a whole Saints squad photograph that featured in a Coventry v Saints programme autographed, but ambitiously, I decided to get the first team to sign in red and the reserve players in black. Why I did this I have no idea but it took a great deal of skill, dexterity in swopping biros and tact so the reserve players didn't cotton on about their status. All went brilliantly to plan and considering 23 players had signed it the programme was still in almost pristine condition which was very important, of course. One player had yet to sign - John McGrath or Big Jake as he was commonly known. Thighs like tree trunks and as fearsome a sight a centre-forward could see. Off the pitch he was a gentle giant and when he emerged from training one morning I made a beeline for him with of course my red biro, for swarthy John was the king pin of our defence and one of the original alehouse lads.

 

I delicately handed the programme and biro to him and he took it and signed his name thus completing my task. He was about to hand my programme back to my eager grasp when a couple of other players, Jimmy Gabriel and Mick Channon emerged having a bit of a row because Mick had opened his car door onto Jimmy's blue Rover causing a bit of a dent. There was a bit of a commotion going on and Jake thought he'd join the throng of players/small boys watching the ongoing debate as to who's fault the damage to the car had been. Trouble is he took my programme with him and before I knew it had rolled it up and was slapping against his thigh and palm as he laughed heartedly at the fracas. By now he was surrounded and I had no chance of reclaiming my programme and I had to watch from afar as my pristine programme got more and more mangled whilst in John's sweaty hands. When all had quitened down and I eventually reclaimed my prized possesion it had a tear in the cover and was all bent and creased. I was gutted.

[Mark Mywords]

Southampton used to have a floodlit 5-aside youth league and I played in the same team as Martin Chivers. Martin was unstoppable, scored over 100 goals in that season and we won the league comfortably. At the end-of-year awards ceremony, the trophies were presented by Terry Paine who turned up wearing a gold lame suit, very much living up to his nickname of Elvis.

 

Martin never seems to be remembered as much as some of his contemporaries and yet his scoring record was excellent - 106 goals in 190 games for Saints, 174 in 367 for Spurs and 13 in 24 for England.

[ottery st mary]

I hope you looked him right in the eye and gave him a right telling off.

Met him a few times and Gentle Giant sums him up very aptly.

 

Really enjoying all the various posters anecdotes.

Edited 17 January, 2009 by ottery st mary
spelling slip

[proevosaints]

Thought I'd put my two bob in.

Went to a charity pro am the first year we were in the championship at a local golf club, and found Redknapp, Scw and Le tiss all playing. Harry was brilliant i unfortuantely have to say, talking to us for about 6 holes straight, all about how and why he signed belmadi etc and told us he hoped we enjoyed the weekends game, and that he was confident we'd win. Despite the fact i now hate him, noone can fault his charity work, or his people skills. Lovely bloke.

Had a nice chat back then with le tiss, saying he got back as much as he could, and asked him if he knew about the youth set up and who to watch. Mentioned lallana and said if he can bulk up his touch and skill are fantastic and could be great... so not a bad scouting from le tiss. Unfortuantely only got a few words with scw, who said he was looking forward to getting into football.

 

And to add to the wayne bridge story. First game at sms in the league agaisnt chelsea, and i was about 12/13 and decided to stand by the side of the tunnel waiting for autogrpahs, well most of the players had gone in but a few were still running around. Jogging towards the tunnel came bridge, so i started furiously shouting for his attention and yet he gave a quick wave and said something and went back in. Back he came a minute later and this time had changed his boots and was out clearly checking they were more comfortable, i had given up shouting as we had decided he was rude and couldnt be assed. Well he came back jogging over, took me over the barriers and led me down the tunnel. Once inside he apologised and went to sign my programme, but the pen was crap. So even then he went to a policeman borrowed a pen and signed it then said bye, and went off down the tunnel. Couldnt believe id been down the tunnel at the first game...Top Bloke.

[Huntingdon]

Met Alan Ball a few years back at Goodwood races

 

I was really nervous about approaching him and saying hello, but once I did he was great.

He talked passionately about football and Saints in particular, and even told me a couple of amusing stories about his days as team mates with Channon.

He even thanked me for coming over for a chat and bought my missus and me a drink

 

A lovely guy and a truly sad loss

 

A fantastic man and a

[Huntingdon]

Met Alan Ball a few years back at Goodwood races

 

I was really nervous about approaching him and saying hello, but once I did he was great.

He talked passionately about football and Saints in particular, and even told me a couple of amusing stories about his days as team mates with Channon.

He even thanked me for coming over for a chat and bought my missus and me a drink

 

A lovely guy and a truly sad loss

 

 

Not sure what happened at the bottom

[HertsSaint]

Last I heard, Keith was a Police Officer in Herts.

 

True - in my younger days I was mugged (embarassing to admit), and Keith was an officer who came round our house.

 

Parents were away on holiday at the time and gutted not to meet him and have a chat about Saints.

[RichardNZ]

I am pretty sure Kevin's family still live in Otterbourne but I am not even sure Kevin is well enough to live at home. I will try and find out more as I know one of his neighbours.

 

Duncan - Great idea for a topic, and terrific escapism from the current reality. I lived next door to Kevin in Otterbourne from 1993 to 1998; lovely friendly bloke, never name-dropped or played on his (relative) fame. On my last trip home last UK summer heard from friends in Otterbourne that he wasn't too well. Great shame, especially as he went to the effort of preparing properly for a career post-football by qualifying as a surveyor.

[Fitzhugh Fella]

Duncan - Great idea for a topic, and terrific escapism from the current reality. I lived next door to Kevin in Otterbourne from 1993 to 1998; lovely friendly bloke, never name-dropped or played on his (relative) fame. On my last trip home last UK summer heard from friends in Otterbourne that he wasn't too well. Great shame, especially as he went to the effort of preparing properly for a career post-football by qualifying as a surveyor.

 

Hi Richard - I have since heard he does still live in Otterbourne but does spend quite a few days being looked after elsewhere to give his family some respite. I do not know his wife or family but I know someone who does and I have asked if she is happy for me to pass on more details of his condition and if there is anything us fans can do, in the meantime. I am awaiting an answer later this week.