Fastest centre backs?

[NW USA Bee]

No he wasnt

He was a centre back for most of his Bees career, but IIRC he played a few games at full back initially, and was put back there towards the end of his time with us.
I was never a great fan of his, but, yes, I reckon he was pretty quick.

Nelmes played in my era of being at GP, he rarely played anywhere other tham FB

 

[Wise old Bee]

Nelmes played in my era of being at GP, he rarely played anywhere other tham FB

I don't recollect Spider playing anywhere other than CB except for that glorious day when he played as an emergency centre forward at Notts County and scored the opening goal. Danis Salman made his debut as a full back and and played there in the promotion season 77-78 when it was Kruse and Shrubb at CB. He was a better CB and played there later in his time with us. He also played in midfield.

 

[vcmazz]

Strange. I also always thought of Alan Nelmes as a full back too, although I was very young then. He seems to be playing at right back in the 1971 Aldershot game on Youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5YaPV-xXFo

It was different then though wasn't it? The term 'centre back' didn't exist. You had your left back, right back and centre half, which I think was Peter Gelson at the time?

 

[blunstone]

he joined us from chelsea as a full back but was converted to centre back ---- and it was about the time that sides finally adopted the 'back four' thingy! good player even if, yes, a bit spiderman -ish!!!

was alan hawley the first choice right back at that time? i think so.

 

[Inappropriate Smilies Bee]

Strange. I also always thought of Alan Nelmes as a full back too, although I was very young then. He seems to be playing at right back in the 1971 Aldershot game on Youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5YaPV-xXFo

It was different then though wasn't it? The term 'centre back' didn't exist. You had your left back, right back and centre half, which I think was Peter Gelson at the time?

great clip cheers. and quality freekick routine on 3:10 of the clip. :kiss:

 

[blunstone]

Many thanks for the clips - memories or what! Any more lurking anywhere????

Nelmes looked tidy and classy in the little he did on tv.

Always good battles against the 'old' shots home or away. They used to do well against us.

John O'Mara didn't have much skill on the ground did he? Awesome in the air in several matches though.

John Docherty had resigned for us on transfer deadline day from (i think) Reading at the end of the previous season for just £1,000. Roger Cross, who had plenty of skill on the ground but didn't like to get his hair dirty, cost £12,500 from West Ham.

Decent crowd for the old 4th Division - and a squad of just 14! How many there I wonder?

 

[Brain-dead Bee]

Strange. I also always thought of Alan Nelmes as a full back too, although I was very young then. He seems to be playing at right back in the 1971 Aldershot game on Youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5YaPV-xXFo

It was different then though wasn't it? The term 'centre back' didn't exist. You had your left back, right back and centre half, which I think was Peter Gelson at the time?

I think the concept of "back 4" was pretty established by then - even by the 66 World Cup. Not sure if we spoke of "central defenders" but it was clear that Nelmes (except for a few games at RB) played alongside Gelson in the mddle rather than him and Higginson being "half backs" or "wing halves"

 

[blunstone]

I think the concept of "back 4" was pretty established by then - even by the 66 World Cup. Not sure if we spoke of "central defenders" but it was clear that Nelmes (except for a few games at RB) played alongside Gelson in the mddle rather than him and Higginson being "half backs" or "wing halves"

yes. nelmes sometimes mopped up behind gelson (a couple of yards quicker!) but they were both centre backs for sure.

higginson was what is today called a defensive midfielder or end to end midfielder. he seldom tackled below the waist! he wouldn't stay on the pitch for fifteen minutes these days. but neither would norman hunter, nobby stiles or a few others! but this thread is about quick defenders and nelmes was the fastest in our colours in his day.

 

[vcmazz]

Many thanks for the clips - memories or what! Any more lurking anywhere????
Nelmes looked tidy and classy in the little he did on tv.

Always good battles against the 'old' shots home or away. They used to do well against us.

John O'Mara didn't have much skill on the ground did he? Awesome in the air in several matches though.

John Docherty had resigned for us on transfer deadline day from (i think) Reading at the end of the previous season for just £1,000. Roger Cross, who had plenty of skill on the ground but didn't like to get his hair dirty, cost £12,500 from West Ham.

Decent crowd for the old 4th Division - and a squad of just 14! How many there I wonder?

The full SP of 'TheBeelist is here mate...... https://griffinpark.org/forums/showthread.php?t=78265

With regards to adding more to it, post 155 on page 7 sums up the current state of play .

Re - the Aldershot gate, I think I read somewhere that is was 8,800? People say are gates are poor these days, but they haven't changed in forty years as far as I'm concerned :shrug:.

 

[blunstone]

ta ever so -------- great!

power to your vid machine - put 2/6 in the slot pdq

 

[KGB]

VC,

O'Mara was actually a lot better on the ground than he was given credit for! Those who can remember a brilliant goal at home in a loss v Southend, and also a fantastic shot in an end-to-end goal against Darlington, will vouch for that.

 

[KGB]

Sorry VC, that should have been addressed to Blunstone.

Btw, Spider Nelmes was defo a centre half who could play at full back. He looked particularly clumsy when he joined us from Chelsea - hence his nickname - but he developed into a very sound & reasonably quick central defender. A much underrated player.

 

[oldashbee]

What about Paul Shrubb? He wasn;t tall - so he must have been quick

 

[Les Beeavinu]

Shrubb was a full back wasn't he?

 

[North London Bee]

Shrubb was a full back wasn't he?

He was the classic utility player. He started as a midfielder but also played centrehalf with Pat Kruse in the promotion season and could play fullback.

I have a vague memory (probably erroneous) of him playing as a striker at Southend too and scoring in a 3-2 defeat.

 

[GEOFFBEE]

He was the classic utility player. He started as a midfielder but also played centrehalf with Pat Kruse in the promotion season and could play fullback.

I have a vague memory (probably erroneous) of him playing as a striker at Southend too and scoring in a 3-2 defeat.

Yes, he had a very good season as a centre-back. Probably the smallest centre-back in our history?
He made up for his lack of height , by his quick inteceptions and tenacity. He read the game well and was also very quick.

 

[Les Beeavinu]

He was the classic utility player. He started as a midfielder but also played centrehalf with Pat Kruse in the promotion season and could play fullback.

I have a vague memory (probably erroneous) of him playing as a striker at Southend too and scoring in a 3-2 defeat.

Yes, he had a very good season as a centre-back. Probably the smallest centre-back in our history?
He made up for his lack of height , by his quick inteceptions and tenacity. He read the game well and was also very quick.

Thanks for this. I didn't recall this but then I have, let's say, less experience than you good gentlemen.

 

[North London Bee]

Thanks for this. I didn't recall this but then I have, let's say, less experience than you good gentlemen.

Bollox - you're just as much an Old Fart as us!!!!

 

[Les Beeavinu]

Bollox - you're just as much an Old Fart as us!!!!

Listen - I only read about rationing ......

 

[North London Bee]

Listen - I only read about rationing ......

I heard you had to have a bloke walking in front of your car with a red flag when you learned to drive.

 

[GEOFFBEE]

Thanks for this. I didn't recall this but then I have, let's say, less experience than you good gentlemen.

Well I never!
You young whippersnapper you!
I am not as ancient as you think I am.
Any more totally untrue allegations like that and I will get out of my bathchair and give you a clip around the chops with my ear-trumpet!
Anyway, back to topic. I once saw Patsy Hendren play centre-back, and I thought he looked pretty darn quick...

 

[KGB]

Sadly I seem to recall that Paul Shrubb had contracted a serious illness recently. Was it MS? He was a very good club servant who, despite his lack of height, did a great job for us. A free xfer from Fulham I think (?) who proved to be an excellent signing for us.

 

[blunstone]

Sadly I seem to recall that Paul Shrubb had contracted a serious illness recently. Was it MS? He was a very good club servant who, despite his lack of height, did a great job for us. A free xfer from Fulham I think (?) who proved to be an excellent signing for us.

possibly the wrong thread but i do hope not.

 

[KGB]

Just checked Blunstone, & unfortunately he contracted Motor Neurone Disease. Very sad to hear & apparently Aldershot granted him a testimonial -a nice gesture.

Included here as he did play alongside Pat Kruse in our promotion season - not our fastest c/half but he did do a good job for us and as he was only 5'8" ish was surprisingly effective in that position.