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Footballers in the wild


Smack

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Ever met a footballer in their civilian role? What were they like?

 

Stories are better than just saying 'I met Obua once and he was nice'. Much more interesting if you care to provide intimate details. Please remember the terms alleged, possibly happened and maybe did. 

 

Hearts players preferably but it's not up to me ?

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Met a fair few but nothing particularly interesting to note. 

 

When I was younger, I used to hang about Riccarton to catch the players for autographs. Mikey Stewart was a bit of a welt (quelle surprise) and Clum looked genuinely shocked that someone asked for his autograph.

 

As I've said here many times, I've met Robbo in town once and had a brief chat. Utter gentleman.

 

Used to meet a lot in town in my old job, John Collins and Pat Nevin were 2 who surprsingly were really good guys who had a chat with me. Paul Kane talks and looks as thick as you'd imagine.

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Was staying at the Marriot in Gosforth just outside Newcastle on a lad's jaunt to the horse racing and the Arsenal team were also staying there prior to playing at St Jame's Park.

Me and my mate got into the lift pissed at the same time as a couple of the Arsenal players and the conversation went thus - 

 

Me - "Are you Robert Pires?"

Him - "Yes"

Me - "You're shite"

 

To be fair to him he laughed.

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Was in hospitality once and Henry Smith asked to borrow a pen to sign an autograph for someone. I thought it would be funny to say "watch and not drop it Henry" Was duly told to Fu** Off by our ex goalkeeper.

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In an Edinburgh pub and pal went over to Donald park and asked for his autograph (this was about 3 years ago). Totally made his night - don’t think he was used to it. Lovely guy

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Michael Tonge of Sheffield United was my next door neighbour when I lived in Sheffield and his best mate was Phil Jagielka.  Both nice guys.

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4 minutes ago, Barack said:

Met Gazza once.

 

He was going somewhere with lager, & some chicken. Mumbled something about fishing.

 

Didn't think anymore of it.

Rauol Moat never seemed like a proper name anyway, more of an anagram. Glad you are alive and well mate. 

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As I’ve posted many times before, had many, many pints with Robbo. Quite a few with Big Slim too. Both (the wee man in particular) have an incredible knowledge of the game and both really good guys with it.

 

There’s a Gazza and Alan McLaren story too that involves Chinese food!

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I met Mo Johnston in a club in town when he played for Hearts. The one off queensferry road. Was it the lane? 

 

Anyway, he was a really nice guy. Chatted away about football and Hearts. Hearts were doing ok at the time but he said someone would punch Tommy McLean before the end of the season and not long after that, Tommy McLean got sacked! Had a few stunning girls in his area. 

 

Neil pointon was good to chat to as well. We got beat away to dunfermline and he said it was the usual players letting us down. He was asking me who I thought it was but I kept guessing wrong then he starting laying into the ones he meant!! Can't remember who it was now. It wasn't any of the younger players, like Ritchie etc.   

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William H. Bonney
28 minutes ago, graygo said:

Was in hospitality once and Henry Smith asked to borrow a pen to sign an autograph for someone. I thought it would be funny to say "watch and not drop it Henry" Was duly told to Fu** Off by our ex goalkeeper.

 

Funny. I got told to bolt by Henry when asking for his autograph as a 10 year old. 

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Met Robbo up town last year. He was a gentleman and say and talked to me for a while. Even shared a taxi up the road with my mates and myself.

 

Met Mark De Vries years ago in what was Gaia. He still had the cardboard in the collar of his shirt. I never told him. 

 

From the other side of the road, I met Ivan Sproule down the shore one night. We had just skelped them and he was very gracious in defeat. Actually complimenting us.

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36 minutes ago, Baxfee said:

In an Edinburgh pub and pal went over to Donald park and asked for his autograph (this was about 3 years ago). Totally made his night - don’t think he was used to it. Lovely guy

Done a scouting course at Hampden a year or 2 ago taken by Donald Park. Told a good few stories that night. Seemed a really good, knowledgeable guy.

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21 minutes ago, Morgan said:

As I’ve posted many times before, had many, many pints with Robbo. Quite a few with Big Slim too. Both (the wee man in particular) have an incredible knowledge of the game and both really good guys with it.

 

There’s a Gazza and Alan McLaren story too that involves Chinese food!

Had the privilege of chatting in the pub with Jimmy Sandison after the Livi game. Aye, that one. Another diamond.

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Big Slim Stylee

My wife worked with Kevin Keegan for a while and he’s a lovely bloke. She also worked with Garth Crooks who’s so full of himself it’s embarrassing.

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Knew Paul Ritchie reasonably well and he was a good guy. 

 

Also had an evening in the company of David Johnston (some of the older guys on here may remember him) who also played for Scotland.....at rugby. He was a great guy with lots of stories. Shared a taxi with him and it was only then he owned up to being a Hibby. 

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13 minutes ago, Big Slim Stylee said:

My wife worked with Kevin Keegan for a while and he’s a lovely bloke. She also worked with Garth Crooks who’s so full of himself it’s embarrassing.

for some reason that does not surprise me

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21 minutes ago, Locky said:

Had the privilege of chatting in the pub with Jimmy Sandison after the Livi game. Aye, that one. Another diamond.

Met Jimmy Sandison in the George Hotel on a Christmas night out.  Lovely bloke and very down to Earth.

 

Which is surprising for a guy who was part of one of Hearts best ever goal celebrations!

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Bazzas right boot

Sure Robbo was trying to batter Into my wife when in hospitality once. 

 

I was so jealous of her for it. 

 

 

Edited by Olly Lee's left boot
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1 hour ago, Locky said:

Met a fair few but nothing particularly interesting to note. 

 

When I was younger, I used to hang about Riccarton to catch the players for autographs. Mikey Stewart was a bit of a welt (quelle surprise) and Clum looked genuinely shocked that someone asked for his autograph.

 

As I've said here many times, I've met Robbo in town once and had a brief chat. Utter gentleman.

 

Used to meet a lot in town in my old job, John Collins and Pat Nevin were 2 who surprsingly were really good guys who had a chat with me. Paul Kane talks and looks as thick as you'd imagine.

 

Hilarious that he was shocked to be asked for an autograph ??

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3 minutes ago, Olly Lee's left boot said:

Sure Robbo was trying to batter Into my wife when in hospitality once. 

 

I was so jealous of her for it. 

 

 

Tried to ride my mum too on a Hearts juniors day.

 

Worked at Livi stadium for a while and he was as good with the hospitality ladies as he was at putting the ball in the net. Wished I was Robbo then, wish I was Robbo now. 

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1 hour ago, Locky said:

Met a fair few but nothing particularly interesting to note. 

 

When I was younger, I used to hang about Riccarton to catch the players for autographs. Mikey Stewart was a bit of a welt (quelle surprise) and Clum looked genuinely shocked that someone asked for his autograph.

 

As I've said here many times, I've met Robbo in town once and had a brief chat. Utter gentleman.

 

Used to meet a lot in town in my old job, John Collins and Pat Nevin were 2 who surprsingly were really good guys who had a chat with me. Paul Kane talks and looks as thick as you'd imagine.

Paul Kane?  Thick?

 

You've surely just made that up?  Surely.  ::troll::

 

 

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Met Jamie MacDonald in the Bathgate Morrisons a year or so ago, he was in with another Killie player and I asked him how he felt about the drive to Ayrshire and he replied "shite"

 

Told him he was a cup winning hero who can have a pint on me anytime. Then he drove away in a big flashy range rover. He's never taken me up on that pint bizarrely.

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Met Kevin Keegan  a couple of times when I worked for the brewery in newcastle; they were sponsoring his wages so he spent quite a bit of time doing pr stuff there.  Came across really well. I also played pool against the Newcastle first team as my pal was Peter Beardsley's brother and captain of our pool team.

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Worked at the airport for 3 years on the private side. Michael Owen arrives on his maroon helicopter with Shay Given, Alan Smith, Nicky Butt and one other. It’s Newcastle’s  Xmas night out in Edinburgh. Next day they fly back to Newcastle and Butt comes into the office ****in hammered still. Heads straight to the shunkie and spews his ring all over the floor! ?? the boy I’m on shift with asks him if we can put it on eBay ??? i do recall that Shay Given stunk like a whores handbag too

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Henry Smith played cricket at Corstorphine one year.  He was a good guy and brought Fozzie, Neil Berry and their partners to a disco at the club.  

Hearts actually played cricket at Penicuik during the 70's, Robbo was a useful player.

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Big Hans and the unforgettable Pasquale Bruno.

 

Stephane Paille.

 

Had a meal with George ‘the drinker’ Wright after the 1996 LCF.

 

 

 

 

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1 hour ago, ShedBoy said:

Worked at the airport for 3 years on the private side. Michael Owen arrives on his maroon helicopter with Shay Given, Alan Smith, Nicky Butt and one other. It’s Newcastle’s  Xmas night out in Edinburgh. Next day they fly back to Newcastle and Butt comes into the office ****in hammered still. Heads straight to the shunkie and spews his ring all over the floor! ?? the boy I’m on shift with asks him if we can put it on eBay ??? i do recall that Shay Given stunk like a whores handbag too

That's more like it! 

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1 hour ago, jambosdad said:

Henry Smith played cricket at Corstorphine one year.  He was a good guy and brought Fozzie, Neil Berry and their partners to a disco at the club.  

Hearts actually played cricket at Penicuik during the 70's, Robbo was a useful player.

 

That must have been the 80's mate.

 

Edit: Just seen someone else on another thread saying it was 1976 but that would make Robbo 12 years old so can't be right.

 

Double edit: I think I get it now, the game was in 1976, your comment about Robbo being a useful player wasn't connected to this game.  :thumbsup:

Edited by graygo
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Strangely enough I was talking to Pat Stanton who was in hospitality at the St 

Johnstone game and a nicer guy is harder to meet, Hibbie or otherwise. Sandy Clark was there too with his son Nicky and he is a really goodto chat too and still loves the Hearts. He said he'd always hoped that Nicky would sign for us. And Gary Locke was a really great ambassador for the club as was Christophe and had a word and a laugh with everyone.

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millerjames398

Spoke to and sung the hearts song with kenny black outside the martell nite spot in falkirk at the back of 2 a good few years back, absolutely wired for sound,, had a brief chat about the bayern game in 89? then he left heading towards stenhousemuir direction with an attractive middle aged blonde, i kept walking towards falkirk..minus a tidy blonde milf??

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Quite a well timed thread this. I work in a cinema, showed up for my shift this evening and was (un)fortunate enough to get pumped on barrier duty (ripping tickets etc) about an hour into my shift two lads start walking towards me, one with a birth mark(?) id recognise anywhere. My usual greeting of "hi there how you doing?" goes straight out the window as I shat myself and just shouted "SEAN CLARE?!" 

 

He was really quite humble in admitting it was him, so I took him and his pals tickets (Spiderman into the spider verse) for anyone who needs to know and just said "unlucky last night huh?" he agreed and quite fairly just said "Yeah, we're just gonna have to do better next time."

"Im sure we will, enjoy your movie" I responded. 

 

Naturally I messaged a few pals to mention and was encouraged to get a photo if I saw him again. I was in the same position when he got out so I took my chance and he was more than happy to take a moment. Just as he agreed about 3 couples came to get in so I gave them as little attention as possible in order to get them away. Got the photo with Sean, shook his hand and wished him the best for Sunday. 

 

Really nice guy tbh, just hope he brings the big felly next time 

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Met Erich Schaedler. 

 

Late '84 he came up from Shades to Dizzy Lizzies to do the honours with the charity bottle. Actually cut his hand, quite badly as I recall, whilst smashing it. Sat at our table for 5/10 mins and was good company, despite the bloodstained towel around his hand. 

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6 hours ago, Big Slim Stylee said:

My wife worked with Kevin Keegan for a while and he’s a lovely bloke. She also worked with Garth Crooks who’s so full of himself it’s embarrassing.

 

He hides it well on TV.  

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Салатные палочки

I held the door open for in the Piazza shopping centre in Paisley yesterday for none other than cup winning legend Andy Webster. He had a young child on his shoulders. He must have found the lure of Paisley's culture and nightlife too much to leave. 

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Met big Uche with leg brace in Vapiannos two months ago.  He found the ordering system quite complex.  As there was a huge queue we talked through all things Hearts.  Said he was buzzing to get back playing and missed the buzz of scoring goals.  Told me Levein bollocked him for the offside fiasco at Ibrox.  And that McGregors save from him that day was the best he had seen.  He had no idea when I mentioned it how good a player the gaffer was.  He did though mention that the players hearts have coming through are scarily good.  Great big guy

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12 hours ago, graygo said:

Was in hospitality once and Henry Smith asked to borrow a pen to sign an autograph for someone. I thought it would be funny to say "watch and not drop it Henry" Was duly told to Fu** Off by our ex goalkeeper.

 

Smith told a story that he was on a cruise ship and this woman kept tuening round to look at him.   She finally said 'excuse me but i know your face from somewhere'    Smith said he proudly replied that he was the ex hearts goalkeeper'.     Its not that she replied,  'thats it your my postman'

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Spoke with Paul Sturrock a few times years ago.  He used to come up to our village to play golf and my mates dad was the club steward.  Always had time for a chat about football

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At Mark's and Spencer during my uni years had the displeasure to serve Neil McCann and another time Elvis. Both players I loved at Hearts but were totally ramjets when I met them. They weren't even provoked by this fanboy, fanboying either.

 

Gary Locke in my taxi gets filled under ramjet also. Merchy Hearts to Dalkeith and after a bad tempered journey, chucked about £40 of smash from his pockets all over my cab, just being an ass. Fare was much less, anyway without legend status he'd have been booted out somewhere near Cameron toll.

 

Had Austin MacPhee in taxi one time. Great guy, fascinating conversation.

 

Had 6 players in the after poty awards including Lockey. Not as bad as the first time but he's a total loudmouth gadgey lol

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14 hours ago, Smack said:

Ever met a footballer in their civilian role? What were they like?

 

Stories are better than just saying 'I met Obua once and he was nice'. Much more interesting if you care to provide intimate details. Please remember the terms alleged, possibly happened and maybe did. 

 

Hearts players preferably but it's not up to me ?

 

I met yer man Obua once in a club up town. He actually was a very nice chap. We got to talking about hip hop as we were both fans of the genre, but we couldn't agree on who the greatest of all time was. I suggested that was De La Soul or A Tribe Called Quest, but he kept insisting, "That's Gang Starr".

 

 

Edited by Ray Gin
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Met Nicky Walker when I was installing equipment in his factory in Elgin. My mate was a hibby so after I told him I was a season ticket  holder at tynie and used to watch him he proceeded to rattle off the hibs side of the 70s to my amazement. Said he was a closet hibby in his young days. But a great guy for his football stories and always gave us a bag of shortbead away with us whenever we were there.

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13 hours ago, Morgan said:

Paul Kane?  Thick?

 

You've surely just made that up?  Surely.  ::troll::

 

 

Honestly mate, words fail me how thick that **** looked in the flesh.

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13 hours ago, Morgan said:

Met Jimmy Sandison in the George Hotel on a Christmas night out.  Lovely bloke and very down to Earth.

 

Which is surprising for a guy who was part of one of Hearts best ever goal celebrations!

 

Is this the celebration vs Aberdeen? Well before me. What did it entail as I've seen it frequently mentioned. Marmite by the sounds of it.

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Couple of stories about Gascoigne. I was in the Fire Service and worked in Paisley for a while. On a night out with the Watch and as I was talking to one of the lads two feet appeared on his shoulders. Gazza had been trying to do a handstand in the middle of a heaving pub, he was out with Charlie Miller and McCoist, and as he was losing balance had used my mate to steady himself. Bought us a round to say thanks.

My grandparents were in a care home in Ayrshire and the manageress was a Geordie lass. She and most of the staff were on their Christmas night out in the old casino boat that was docked near the Kingston Bridge in Glasgow. Gazza and some others were at the next table, hearing her accent he started chatting to her about Newcastle and asked her what she was doing on the boat. When he heard they all worked in the care home he arranged for their entire bill for the night, whatever they spent on the boat to be put on his tab.

He's done a lot of wrong things but he's not all bad.

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Jim Leishman - Mr Dunfermline, not only in football but now as a public figure in Fife.  Always has the time of day to speak to you and has some great dits.

 

More importantly, hate Hibs with a passion.  First thing he would do at Easter Road, gob on the pitch.  Career ending tackle against them

 

Also met him at Contalmaison a couple of years ago and after 30 years, the first thing he asked how my old man was doing

 

Top man

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Chatting to rudi at a club night amd my recently married mrs comes over and tells him i love him more than her and i had wanted to invite him to the wedding.   Rudi replied 'when is it and will see if i can make it for him'     gutted and wanted a divorce just to remarry so he coukd attend.

 

Met him 3 times and each he couldnt be nicer and chatted away.  

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Not a footballer, but about 30 years ago I was interviewed for a job by Brian McGinlay - the greyer among you will remember him as the Hugh Dallas of his day.

 

I didn't get the job.

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2 hours ago, Locky said:

 

Is this the celebration vs Aberdeen? Well before me. What did it entail as I've seen it frequently mentioned. Marmite by the sounds of it.

Think it was early 1990.  JS opened the scoring and did an amazing wee dance routine with Scott Crabbe.  Think the game maybe finished 2-2.

 

 

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2 hours ago, BelgeJambo said:

Jim Leishman - Mr Dunfermline, not only in football but now as a public figure in Fife.  Always has the time of day to speak to you and has some great dits.

 

More importantly, hate Hibs with a passion.  First thing he would do at Easter Road, gob on the pitch.  Career ending tackle against them

 

Also met him at Contalmaison a couple of years ago and after 30 years, the first thing he asked how my old man was doing

 

Top man

Leishman is a top guy. Had the pleasure of his company a few years ago at East End Park for a Dunfermline v Hearts game. Very nice chap.

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