John Byrne

[Oxford Bee]

I'm at a wedding reception where John Byrne (ex QPR/Sunderland/Brighton/ROI) is the best man. Anyone got any helpful anecdotes that I could use as an icebreaker?

 

[North London Bee]

Ask him about our league cup tie back v Brighton in 1991/92. They wore that awful Tesco Carrier bag kit and we murdered them at home and Ashley Bates did his best to throw away the second leg.

 

[wibs]

My mate is a Brighton fan.

I remember going to Goldstone Ground with him one day and John Byrne (a Brighton legend) was playing for Oxford.

He missed a sitter right in front of the Brighton home end and as he lay on the floor in the six yard box he winked at the Brighton fans as if he'd done it on purpose. Brilliant!

He probably doesnt remember it but my mate absolutely loved it, as still talks about it.

I dont think footballers realise the effect the tiniest thing they do can have on a fellow human being.

 

[sonofabee]

I'm at a wedding reception where John Byrne (ex QPR/Sunderland/Brighton/ROI) is the best man. Anyone got any helpful anecdotes that I could use as an icebreaker?

Quality player and showman in the mould of Marsh, Bowles, Currie, Stainrod, Wegerlie and Tarabt.

 

[Oxford Bee]

"So, John. I don't think I've seen you play - or if I did, I don't remember - but I understand that you were something like a poor man's Adel Taarabt. Good to meet you."

 

[North London Bee]

He used to partner a massive striker at York called Keith Walwyn. Great personality.

 

[Downbeat Bee]

Good player at Brighton

 

[Chorlton Bee]

My mate is a Brighton fan.

I remember going to Goldstone Ground with him one day and John Byrne (a Brighton legend) was playing for Oxford.

He missed a sitter right in front of the Brighton home end and as he lay on the floor in the six yard box he winked at the Brighton fans as if he'd done it on purpose. Brilliant!

He probably doesnt remember it but my mate absolutely loved it, as still talks about it.

I dont think footballers realise the effect the tiniest thing they do can have on a fellow human being.

Bill Roffey who would go on to play for us a few seasons later, was taking a thrown in by New Road in a game v Orient, we were losing at the time,.my mate Russell said to him "oi let us win mate" quick as flash Roffey replied "we're trying to honest"

Loved that and was chuffed when signed him.

 

[Streetboy]

I remember loads of fuss being made about him in the run up to the 1992 FA Cup final as he'd scored in every round from the third onwards, but then came nowhere near in the final itself. In those days, when the cup final build up was worth watching, there used to be a segment where each player in both squads would introduce themselves to camera, along the lines of "John Byrne, striker, 33, etc..." Byrne started out saying something like 25, then 26 in the next take, then 27 in the next and so on, as his team-mates howled behind him. Found it quite amusing at the time, especially as they kept all the takes in until he reached about the mid-30s.

 

[hairman]

Quality player and showman in the mould of Marsh, Bowles, Currie, Stainrod, Wegerlie and Tarabt.

Have you crossed over to the dark side?

 

[sonofabee]

Have you crossed over to the dark side?

How very dare you! lol

I did used to be envious that we didn't have many "entertainers" over the years but that's changed.

 

[ruislip bee]

How very dare you! lol

I did used to be envious that we didn't have many "entertainers" over the years but that's changed.

No entertainers? What about Paul Bence and Mickey Allen? We'll they made me laugh.

 

[seanrs]

For a short time I was a part time sports reporter for the Weekend Recorder newspaper. QPR v Ipswich first game of the season 85/86 was the one and only top flight game I covered. Dire match remembered only for Byrne coming on and getting a second half winner.

Two things I remember:
1. Thinking how bad Ipswich were and that they were bound to get relegated. They did.
2. Wishing I was covering the Brentford game. From memory I think we beat Wolves that day