Frank Barson - article in The Guardian

[Tokyo Sexwhale]

Quite an interesting read.


http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/dec/16/forgotten-story-frank-barson-aston-villa-manchester-united

He was made captain and scored a celebrated 30-yard header against Sheffield United. He was particularly skilful with his head and once, in a match against Tottenham, dribbled the ball from one end to the other without once using his feet. It was estimated that he headed the ball 86 times during the run, which ended within yards of the Spurs goal.

Now, that's something I'd have liked to have seen!

[Bernie]

Fascinating.

[PeterWithesShin]

Splendid stuff. Isn't Barson rumoured to have taken a gun with him to contract talks?

The Tommy Ball one should be interesting as well. The only league player to ever be murdered.

[PeterWithesShin]

This has been moved into here as it's a splendid piece.

[Legion]

Superb stuff.

[ChicagoLion]

They don't make them like that any more.

Great piece.

[Flamingo Lane]

What a fantastic article.  Laughed out loud several times.  Though the story of his headed dribble surely belongs in a Road Runner cartoon.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Though the story of his headed dribble surely belongs in a Road Runner cartoon.

Am I the only one that thought the opposition must have been shit scared to challenge him as he strolled up the pitch heading the ball?

Great read.

[DrGonzo]

2 month ban for fighting in a pre-season friendly (!sic) with the Knucledraggers??  Should have got the Victoria Cross.  And people still bang on about Pearce and Dicks!

[berneboy]

The follow up - the story of Tommy Ball - contains details I haven't seen before, particularly that his murderer only died in 1966 at Highcroft where I worked as a student.

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2014/dec/17/forgotten-story-tommy-ball-aston-villa-life-death?

[Ron Manager]

Splendid stuff. Isn't Barson rumoured to have taken a gun with him to contract talks?

The Tommy Ball one should be interesting as well. The only league player to ever be murdered.

Frank was one of our two greatest centre halves. He had a reputation not unlike Roy Keane,s. You didnt mess with him in any way. The story about the gun is more than likely true as he didnt suffer fools on or off the pitch. The only player (as far as I know) that was warned about his behaviour by the ref before stepping out on the turf....in the 1920 Cup Final!!...which we won. Spent the last years of his life in Winson Green. The district that is.

[Dave]

The Tommy Ball one should be interesting as well. The only league player to ever be murdered.

Enjoy