Random Stories About Footballers

[aev]

I tend to go the the same holiday spots as footballers (dont judge me) and so have observed many of them round the pool in restaurants etc.

Some observations

Kieron Richardson - is actualy a nice polite guy and very down to earth. We both went for the same item in the breakfast buffet, he clearly got there first with his tongs and deferred to me, I refused and said he should take it, he then insisted. He is also very good at pool volley ball and was quite the star, being on his team equalled winning. That was unitl a tall german guy joined in a few times, he was much better, so good in fact that he was quite obvioulsy playing within himself to not take the piss out of the rest of us - Manuel Neuer that was.

Giggs appears to be a billy no mates, and was often seen drinking in the bar at the One and Only on the Palm Dubai by himself talking to people who sat near him. He nurses budwieser btw.

Alex Curran is loads fitter in real life, especiallly in a bikini, I had to bust out the extra dark shades, so no one could detect my eye movements. The Gerrard party are so scouse though, people have trouble understanding them.

I also spoke to Joe Harte in a lift in Vegas, i was pissed though and cant remember what I said, nor what he said back, but I have a recolection he was a good guy  though.

One of Kieron Richadson's houses is for sale on Rightmove at present.....it is in Sidcup for well over £3m for those that are nosey buggers and can't help themselves.

It is not to my taste fwiw.

[class_of_82]

Used to go to moor green footy club disco on a Saturday night after the villa matches, my mates played for Solihull borough and there manager Chris wright had 2 tickets from a mate for the 80/81 finale at highbury. So I gave mine to my flat mate and I travelled down with him.
Week later we was in moor green football club on the Saturday night and Chris said to me that guy who got us the tickets is up the bar the one with blonde hair I tapped this guy on the back to say thanks and buy him a drink and who should turn round only Gary shaw. I nearly wet my pants chatted to him all night about the villa absolutely diamond geezer and the guy he was with Colin Gibson imagine me a 21 yr old drinking with my idols. I don't get any better

[charlie659]

Ian Taylor's partner gave birth to twins prematurely at the same time my daughter was born, also prematurely, at Good Hope. I saw a fair bit of him over 2-3 weeks and he was very polite and friendly to everyone. We drank a lot of tea in the family room and never discussed football, we were just a pair of worried dads.

[pbavfckuwait]

I had the pleasure of working with Tony Morley and that is exactly what it was a pleasure, but at the same time in the company was Tony (Paddy) Grealish(cockney by birth) Keith Bertchin, (Blue nose poser but nice guy) and also big Cyril Regis who was going through his bible stage, but again a gent.
Good story about Paddys missus, went to the Christmas do and Paddys missus after a gentleman ask (me) to dance refused, Paddy said dont worry Paul look at her feet, which were bandaged, not noticed before, he then explained, silly mare filled the bath up with hot water to clean the tiles , with gloves on her hands to protect from the hot water, but then went and stepped in the bath to reach the tiles out of reach, sorry to say not alot of sympathy from Paddy, but him and Tony Morley what absolute gents .

Also the night spent in the Elbow with Tony and the other gent Gary Shaw having a water soda syphon fight, because there was nothing worth picking up that night.

The day in the barn or the Barley Mow, not from Sutton so dont know the boosers , with God fast asleep at 12.00 in the day, woke at 2 and ready to move on, which we did and he was still going at 1 in the morning (Belfry) the day Ray Houghton got done for D/D after some Blue nose phoned the old bill from another booser in Sutton and got him stopped and again to back other people Ray was a gent of the top class. Good days when players were approachable and real.

[paul_e]

The only football player I've met more than a passing glance is Magnus Hedman (ex-coventry keeper), I worked in a hotel on the edge of Northampton when i was at Uni and he used to be in pretty regularly, really quiet guy but incredibly polite and down to earth.

Much more importantly though, my dad was a local Councillor from the late 70s until the late 90s and has a lot of photos with the league winning team and the European cup winning team, his favourite is one with Peter Withe and the European Cup.  He met Gregory a few times as well and said that he was also a really nice guy.  He also got to meet Pele when Santos came to play again through his council connections (he joined the council after years of working with the local labour MPs).  I'm not in the slightest bit jealous, honest.

[Steve kirk]

One of my best pals worked at a music shop in Brum and Andy Townsend came in and ordered an electric piano, when the keyboard was delivered my pal persuaded Andy to have a kick about on the lawn and said Andy came across as a very down to earth bloke.

[eastie]

Some lovely stories on this thread- very enjoyable read .

[cheltenhamlion]

A very random footballer but there we go.

Not only did we win a summer five side tournament but I also knocked out Martin Devaney in the chnging room after it.

He had an illustrious career as a Cov trainee and played such footballing luminaries as Cheltenham, Watford, Doncaster and, I think, Kiddy.

A tough lad for a fancy ball player but never tough enough to win a scrap with someone seriously pissed off at the world.

Charlton Fucking Rovers indeed.

I also tackled Burnley's Mike Duff and never made it Cheltenham starlet Gareth Hopkins in the same age group.

[dave shelley]

Ian Taylor's partner gave birth to twins prematurely at the same time my daughter was born, also prematurely, at Good Hope. I saw a fair bit of him over 2-3 weeks and he was very polite and friendly to everyone. We drank a lot of tea in the family room and never discussed football, we were just a pair of worried dads.

That just reminded me that Alan Evan's Mrs had their daughter in Good Hope and she was in the same ward as mine when Mrs S had our lad.  I mentioned it to him when I met him but he didn't remember me.  I forgave him.

[olaftab]

  I then randomly spotted him on laybie of M42 Dunston Ireland.

A very strange location!

[olaftab]

I heard from a Brummie girl in met while traveling in India years ago that Steve Staunton has one on him like a babies arm.

I bet you gave up on her after hearing that?

[cheltenhamlion]

Nope. He produced his Hobbit holding a tennis bat...

[brian green]

Here is a very old one.   My mom (1902-2000) in her seventies wrote her autobiography.   She describes the day they had to have the rat catcher into their house, number 7 Blake Lane Bordesley Green (still there).   The rat catcher caught a great number and to amuse my mom and her brothers and sister he hung them in the branches of the cherry tree in the back garden.   My mom relates that unexpectedly Joe Bache and Harry Hampton called to go out for a few beers with her dad and how she attempted to pull down all the dead rats before they saw them.

As for me I did once meet the entire Tottenham team at a restaurant when they engaged me as an after dinner speaker.   It was the Coates, England, Jennings team.   They were a good audience but were very pissed.

I don't think I have ever met a Villa player except my all time hero Peter McP who helped my son and me search for the keys of my son's Audi in the North Stand car park.

[old man villa fan]

At a St Patrick's Day charity function in Bangkok in 2000 I was a guest on a friend's table.  Two of his other guests were Peter Withe and his wife, Kathy.  Both very down to earth people.  Peter was manager of Thailand at the time and is now back there managing a team in the Thai Premier League.  My mate is still in regular contact with him.

[peter w]

He came to our school in fifth year, and we were delighted in the football team to have gained this talent, it was like Villa signing Cristiano Ronaldo.
I'd played against him in the Birmingham Boys league a few times, he played for Erdington Star with Darren Byfield and they were untouchable, Byfield in particular roasted me for 90 minutes when I was up against him at left back once.
He was never as quick as the other rated lads but he had so much skill and time on the ball, and he never gave it the big one despite being as good as he was, he was a proper team player.

I think I mentioned in his own thread that the fact that he is still playing shows hislove for playing the game. that shone through with us and he didn't come across as a big time Charlie on the pitch. Off the pitch he got himself into ridiculous situationswhich ended with a spat withhis own fans.Silly.

But to me he came across as very immature off the pitch but a very good footballer who enjoyed playing at the level he was at, and didn't give it the Billy Big Bollocks when playing. A product of the money in the game going to some too young. I'm really surprised why there is so much enmity towards him when there are far more worthy recipients.