Things that have disappeared from football matches

[Silly Hat]

All-British/Irish teams, where someone who happened to have been born in Jersey or Australia etc was seen as exotic.

I remember being amazed and proud when John Buttigieg played for us - not only was he from a place called Malta, but he was an International player too!!!

 

[SydneySwansBee]

Brian Turner was a full current international for New Zealand with the Bees a decade before John Buttegieg but he wasn't born anywhere exotic. Unless you include East Ham in that description.

 

[ruislip bee]

Brian Turner was a full current international for New Zealand with the Bees a decade before John Buttegieg but he wasn't born anywhere exotic. Unless you include East Ham in that description.

He was indeed. sh*tbag should have buried that chance at Hull when put clear through but hit the post.

 

[TW3Bee]

He was indeed. sh*tbag should have buried that chance at Hull when put clear through but hit the post.

Not that you hold a grudge.

 

[TW1Bee]

He was indeed. sh*tbag should have buried that chance at Hull when put clear through but hit the post.

OMG how time plays games with ones memory. I was convinced it was Roger Cross.

 

[WARFIELD BEE]

Players catching the bus to get to the game.

 

[Bungy Bee]

Giving Higgy a lift to the ground from Bush corner....not sure if he wanted one though...You Reds..

 

[Andrelux]

Players getting injured and not being out for months!

 

[Wise old Bee]

I remember being amazed and proud when John Buttigieg played for us - not only was he from a place called Malta, but he was an International player too!!!

I felt the same when Gerry Baker played for us in the late 60s. A USA international no less, although his brother played for Scotland.

 

[LboroBee]

Tubby footballers...

 

[nick logan]

Tubby footballers...

Matt Tubbs ?

 

[ruislip bee]

Tubby footballers...

It was a while ago that's true but Shipperley fitted the bill if not the shirt or shorts.

 

[Ealing Bee]

I know it's only temporarily gone, but does anyone else still open the sports section of their Sunday paper, and when they get to the classified football results, when looking to the first score, automatically glances to the bottom left corner to see what the attendance was?

Doh!

 

[Paul O'Brien]

I know it's only temporarily gone, but does anyone else still open the sports section of their Sunday paper, and when they get to the classified football results, when looking to the first score, automatically glances to the bottom left corner to see what the attendance was?

Doh!

Yes, I do.

 

[plymouthbee]

Bricklayers Arms.

 

[Bungy Bee]

Pod cast...cant find it anywhere...You Reds..

 

[Castleview]

You

 

[Castleview]

Giving Higgy a lift to the ground from Bush corner....not sure if he wanted one though...You Reds..

When Higgy finished pro football he carried on in Sunday football for Syon Villa (I think) Can't see any of today's players dropping back to that level.

 

[GP200]

When Higgy finished pro football he carried on in Sunday football for Syon Villa (I think) Can't see any of today's players dropping back to that level.

...................Jonathon Douglas????...............

 

[Ealing Bee]

Footballers who were also professional cricketers.

Brentford's finest was (Chiswick-born) Patsy Hendren, and the Compton brothers were very notable.

Amongst the last who couldn't quite accommodate both were Steve Ogizovic and Sir Geoff Hurst. More recently, Phil Neville had to choose between the two, while Gary Lineker was said to be a decent cricketer too (also snooker)

 

[TW3Bee]

Footballers who were also professional cricketers.

Brentford's finest was (Chiswick-born) Patsy Hendren, and the Compton brothers were very notable.

Amongst the last who couldn't quite accommodate both were Steve Ogizovic and Sir Geoff Hurst. More recently, Phil Neville had to choose between the two, while Gary Lineker was said to be a decent cricketer too (also snooker)

Arnie Sidebottom.

Pretty sure he played both sports on the same day, may have even been against us.

Arnie Sidebottom - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[kewbee]

Footballers who were also professional cricketers.

Brentford's finest was (Chiswick-born) Patsy Hendren, and the Compton brothers were very notable.

Amongst the last who couldn't quite accommodate both were Steve Ogizovic and Sir Geoff Hurst. More recently, Phil Neville had to choose between the two, while Gary Lineker was said to be a decent cricketer too (also snooker)

Sid Russell played left back for the Bees in the late fifties,and opened the batting for Middlesex with Eric Russell who went on to play for England.As a young lad it was the reason I have always supported Middlesex despite living in Surrey.

 

[Brain-dead Bee]

Arnie Sidebottom.

Pretty sure he played both sports on the same day, may have even been against us.

Arnie Sidebottom - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Chris Balderstone - Carlisle football and (IIRC) Leics cricket... early 70s?

 

[Ealing Bee]

Chris Balderstone - Carlisle football and (IIRC) Leics cricket... early 70s?

Good shout.

Though as his Wiki page says: "John Christopher Balderstone (16 November 1940 – 6 March 2000) was an English professional in cricket and football, and one of the last sportsmen to combine both sports over a prolonged period."

His career lasted from 1958 to 1978 (football), his cricket career carried on to 1986 (with Leicestershire, as you say).

Subsequently umpired to a high level, too.

 

[TW3Bee]

Chris Balderstone - Carlisle football and (IIRC) Leics cricket... early 70s?

That may have been who I was thinking of.

 

[ruislip bee]

Chris Balderstone - Carlisle football and (IIRC) Leics cricket... early 70s?

I remember a Football League Review which used to be included free with the match day programme having him on the front cover leaning against a goalpost in football kit one side and cricket kit the other. Some clever picture enhancing!

 

[TW3Bee]

I remember a Football League Review which used to be included free with the match day programme having him on the front cover leaning against a goalpost in football kit one side and cricket kit the other. Some clever picture enhancing!

Remember that.

Got several of them, with my programme collection.

I loved the ground picture they used to have in them, which would make very interesting reading now.

 

[TW1Bee]

Jim Cumbes. WBA keeper and fast bowler for Worcester (IIRC). Think he still works for WBA in some capacity or did until recently.

 

[SydneySwansBee]

My understanding is that there have only been three men who have played both football for Brentford and cricket for Middlesex. Hendren and Russell as previously mentioned and also Jack Durston.

 

[Denway]

Jim Standen: goalkeeper, and played for Worcestershire

 

[wanderer paul]

My understanding is that there have only been three men who have played both football for Brentford and cricket for Middlesex. Hendren and Russell as previously mentioned and also Jack Durston.

There have been at least four: Patsy Hendren, Jack Durston, Sid Russell and John Murray - who have all played for Brentford and Middlesex.

 

[wanderer paul]

There have been at least 15, that I know of, who have appeared for Brentford FC - first XI, reserves or youth - who went on to appear in First Class cricket. Can anyone add anymore former Bees?!

• Harry Pennington - Lancashire
• Arnold Warren - Derbyshire
• John Moulder - Surrey
• Bill Caesar - Surrey & Somerset
• Fred Gamble - Surrey
• Edward Nash - Wiltshire
• Sid Russell - Middlesex
• John Murray - Middlesex
• Fred Durston - Middlesex
• Patsy Hendren - Middlesex
• Bill Athey - Yorkshire
• Dennis Hendren - Durham
• Tommy Kent - Buckinghamshire
• Harry White - Warwickshire & Hertfordshire
• John Morrison - Northumberland & Somerset & MCC

 

[TW1Bee]

Ian Botham

 

[Lionel Bart-At]

Chris Balderstone - Carlisle football and (IIRC) Leics cricket... early 70s?

Yes. Was a mate of my dad's and a fellow Huddersfield Town Junior.

 

[moorbee]

There have been at least 15, that I know of, who have appeared for Brentford FC - first XI, reserves or youth - who went on to appear in First Class cricket. Can anyone add anymore former Bees?!

• Harry Pennington - Lancashire
• Arnold Warren - Derbyshire
• John Moulder - Surrey
• Bill Caesar - Surrey & Somerset
• Fred Gamble - Surrey
• Edward Nash - Wiltshire
• Sid Russell - Middlesex
• John Murray - Middlesex
• Fred Durston - Middlesex
• Patsy Hendren - Middlesex
• Bill Athey - Yorkshire
• Dennis Hendren - Durham
• Tommy Kent - Buckinghamshire
• Harry White - Warwickshire & Hertfordshire
• John Morrison - Northumberland & Somerset & MCC

Pedants' alert!
That's interesting information, but...Wiltshire (Edward Nash) and Buckinghamshire (Tommy Kent) are not "First Class" counties, and Durham only after Hendren's time.

 

[Lionel Bart-At]

Alan Ramage. Yorkshire pace man, Middlesborough and Derby centre-half. Late 70's, early '80's.

 

[wanderer paul]

Pedants' alert!
That's interesting information, but...Wiltshire (Edward Nash) and Buckinghamshire (Tommy Kent) are not "First Class" counties, and Durham only after Hendren's time.

Cricinfo refers to Nash's and Hendren's appearances as First Class. That'll do for me.

Ed Nash - Edward Nash

Dennis Hendren - Denis Hendren

 

[Ealing Bee]

Following on from the "Footballers who also played Cricket" theme, you occasionally used to get amateur footballers playing in the professional game. One of the most prominent of these was Irishman Dr. Kevin O'Flanagan, a GP who as well as football, was outstanding at several other sports. While living and practising in Ruislip, he played a few games for Arsenal, Barnet and Brentford:

Kevin Patrick O'Flanagan (10 June 1919 in Dublin, Ireland – 26 May 2006 in Dublin, Ireland), also referred to as Dr. Kevin O'Flanagan, is an Irish former sportsman, physician and sports administrator. An outstanding all-rounder, he represented his country at both soccer and rugby union. He was also a noted sprinter and long jumper and as a youth played Gaelic football. In his spare time he also played golf and tennis at a decent level. O'Flanagan played soccer for among others, Bohemian and Arsenal, and as an international he played for both Ireland teams – the FAI XI and the IFA XI. O'Flanagan also played rugby union for UCD, London Irish and Ireland.
Kevin O'Flanagan - Wikipedia

The home countries also used to play regular amateur internationals until the 1970's, as well as entering an amateur "Great Britain" team into the Olympics. However, they ceased doing this when it became obvious that many other teams, esp from Eastern Europe, weren't truly amateur, only resuming in the Olympics more recently when the "amateur" designation was dropped by the IOC.

 

[rodders]

The last person who won international caps for both Football and cricket was Arthur Milton , prior to that Willy Watson. Denis Compton missed out as his football cap did not count as it was war time international

 

[Ealing Bee]

Players (both teams) not ganging up on the edge of the box and encroaching at penalties, eg:

 

[Scobee]

Doing your own FA cup draw. Teams scibbbled on a tiny bit of paper and screwed up into a carrier bag. If Bees got a sh*t draw I'd do it again.

Wow I thought that was only me!!

 

[beenthere]

Chucking bog rolls?

 

[HaylingBee74]

Chucking bog rolls?

I saw one thrown in Palace v Brighton finale

 

[Alex]

Chucking bog rolls?

Check the palace fans video in the Neal Maupay thread

 

[Scobee]

CHOMP BARS!!!

 

[Humblebee]

Seeing the Bees lose.

 

[Bengeo Bee]

Sitting here watching West Ham v Bolton from October 1980 on The Big Match Revisited. During the first half Mike Walsh takes out Pat Holland with a "robust" challenge that results in a WHU free kick.

No histrionics or theatrics from PH, in fact Walsh goes over and offers his hand, which Holland accepts, and the game goes on within seconds. The referee has a quiet word with Walsh and that's it.

Imagine the scene today with several minutes rolling around, followed by players surrounding anyone who they thought could influence the game waving imaginary cards of differing hues or aggressively offering the opposite viewpoint.

Add to that physios tending the grievously assaulted Holland, him leaving the pitch and the resultant addition of 17 minutes added time.

I don't miss driving around in an F reg Vauxhall Viva, sporting one if the haircuts visible in the crowd, or Brentford being generally crap during this period.

But I do miss the time when football was just two teams going at each other and those who gave it out not whinging when they got it back.
Oh, and the 49p pint, of course.

As a footnote: Later in the programme Andy McCulloch scores for Wednesday against Orient. A bittersweet moment if ever there was one.

 

[Nickabee]

Also watching the big match - They always said where the ref was from don’t know why but it has stopped now

 

[sonofabee]

Rosettes and badges sold on a big board outside the ground.
Rattles I had a brilliant wooden one

 

[Hippobee]

Sitting here watching West Ham v Bolton from October 1980 on The Big Match Revisited. During the first half Mike Walsh takes out Pat Holland with a "robust" challenge that results in a WHU free kick.

No histrionics or theatrics from PH, in fact Walsh goes over and offers his hand, which Holland accepts, and the game goes on within seconds. The referee has a quiet word with Walsh and that's it.

Yes - and this continued into the early nineties as well. It's generally accepted that the import of continental players started the theatricals and it just spread from there. Some call it gamesmanship. I call it what it is - cheating.

Although the modern player is fitter and faster, I think some would have run off crying to their mum if they had to play professional football 30-40 years ago.