Billy Walker

[Chico Hamilton III]

Just read My Father and Other Working Class Football Heroes by Gary Imlach ( William Hill sports book of the year, 2005). A really good read, I'd recommend it. Imlach's dad dies of cancer and he traces his playing career back to fill in the gaps in his father's life.

Anyway, Imlach's dad won the cup with Forest in 1959 when Billy Walker was the manager.

Walker is painted in a terrible light in the book - not corrupt exactly, but money-obsessed and quite unpleasant.

Not what you'd want to read Villa's greatest ever player

[PeterWithe]

Quite interesting that the book describes a world renowned player, Dave Mackay maybe, I forget,  having to paint the ground during the close season in order to make up his money.

[Chico Hamilton III]

Yep.

And when Alan Hardaker, Chairman of the football league, phoned a plumbing firm to get a new toilet fitted, Tom Finney turned up on his doorstep in overalls and carrying his tools.

They were slaves in those days.

Imagine Tevez earning £8 a week

[darren woolley]

I will have to have a read of that book.

[dave.woodhall]

Just read My Father and Other Working Class Football Heroes by Gary Imlach ( William Hill sports book of the year, 2005). A really good read, I'd recommend it. Imlach's dad dies of cancer and he traces his playing career back to fill in the gaps in his father's life.

Anyway, Imlach's dad won the cup with Forest in 1959 when Billy Walker was the manager.

Walker is painted in a terrible light in the book - not corrupt exactly, but money-obsessed and quite unpleasant.

Not what you'd want to read Villa's greatest ever player

With the money they earned as players, I don't blame him. And some of our own managers haven't exactly been Snow White.

[Chico Hamilton III]

With the money they earned as players, I don't blame him

That's the thing though, the book suggests that Walker was fleecing his own players. Envelopes stuffed with money, skimming wages, insiting on being in charge of the players' "pool", trying to undermine the fledgling players' union, claiming that footballers were well paid and didn't need the power of collective bargaining....

Any road up, it doesn't change his scoring stats for the Villa

[AlexAlexCropley]

Yep.

And when Alan Hardaker, Chairman of the football league, phoned a plumbing firm to get a new toilet fitted, Tom Finney turned up on his doorstep in overalls and carrying his tools.

They were slaves in those days.

Imagine Tevez earning £8 a week

Sounds like Confessions of a 50s footballer!

[The Left Side]

Is that the same Gary Imlach who used to present the American Football?

[Chico Hamilton III]

Is that the same Gary Imlach who used to present the American Football?

Yep

[The Left Side]

Is that the same Gary Imlach who used to present the American Football?

Yep

Hmmm interesting!

[ADVILLAFAN]

Forest knocked us out in the semis of the FA Cup in 1959, on the way to winning it.

Just checked soccerbase and they beat us in both league matches that season too