Football people who you met who have since died

swordtrombonefish said:
Wilf Mannion - he was a good friend of my grandad's on my mothers side and when he visited they would sit in my grandads garden and chat - this would have been in the early 70's when Wilf was in his 50's I'd guess but he would sometimes do keepy ups for us kids if we were around. His parents were immigrants who came from Ireland and lived in South Bank at the same time as my great grandparents.
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Had the privilege of buying the legend a few pints on a couple of occasions. He never refused a pint and quite right too.
 
Wilf Manion and George Hardwick came to my son's school to present them with a new sponsored set of kits. Both absolute gents and great with the kids. Loads of photographs were taken and the photographer f*cked up and lost them (predigital photography of course)

Still annoys when I think about it.
 
In '92 I had dinner with Harold Shepherdson and his wife at my school.
I had just done a presentation on history of the Boro (basically just summarising Harry Glasper's complete Middlesbrough history book) and my english teacher knew him so invited him to the school, my mate and I were in awe at his stories.
12 year old me felt like a king
 
Met Willie Madden with my late father after we beat SheffU 3-0. He got my dad to hold his player of the year trophy while he signed an autograph for me and chatted to us
An absolute gent - lovely bloke
 
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George Hardwick presented the trophies at our cub presentation night. Paul Willis, brother of Jimmy, on a night out in Darlington.
 
Willie Maddren at a football presentation night.
John Hope ex Sheff Utd keeper ran a team I played for for a couple of seasons.
 
An ex Boro player used to run the paper shop near where I grew up(Clynes Road, Grangetown), I'm sure his name was Ray Yeoman?
My Grandad used to take me to the shop for a 10p mix up and I can't remember much about the ex Boro player but he used to wind me up(jokingly) about Boro.
 
My dad was pals with Pat Partridge, seemed like a nice guy to my very young self when I met him. Gave me an Fa cup finals and a World Cup pin badge that refs get/got for officiating those games.
 
Pat partridge refereed a 5 a side tournament I was in during the late 80s sometime over at Darlington.

Very down to earth man.
 
Bobby Moore at an agricultural show in the S.E. when I was in an Army Display team, lovely fella, loads of time for everybody, no ego and very humble!
 
Jack Charlton and Alan Peacock

I took my Grandad to a match in the hospitality end when we played Leeds a while ago now. Game was 0-0 boring game.

My Grandad walked up to Big Jack and said "I've got a bone to pick with you" then told Big Jack that he wrote a letter to him many
years ago about his getting a trial for his son (my uncle obviously). Big Jack being the gentleman he is asked what his son's name is to
which my Grandad replied "Brian Clough" The confusion on Big Jack's face was a picture, I had to tell Big Jack that it's not that Brian Clough.
At this point I took my Grandad to his seat and sat him down.

Big Jack came over and had a long chat about football with my Grandad and I've never seen my Grandad so happy, they chatted about the boro
from many years ago and Harold Sheperdson (my Grandads friend).
When we walked out of the ground my grandad said that was the best day of his life, even better than when he married my nanna.

I was over the moon to see my Grandad looking so happy, he isn't around anymore but to be able to give him that experience and see him
with such a big smile on his face made my day and also for me to meet Big Jack was an honor.
 
Sheriff_John_Bunnell_ret said:
Did big mal settle in the area after he managed us? Always remember him doing the co commentating with Ali under Robson.
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I think he settled in Yarm. He famously got fired twice (I think) from local radio for swearing during the commentary. I saw him at the top of Yarm High Street, waiting at a bus stop. He looked a bit down on his look, and as I remember him in his pomp with City and Palace, it was a little sad to see. Also, he sat behind me once in the North Stand at Ayresome Park, he was late for the kick off, and I made a tongue in cheek remark about his timekeeping, he gave me a wry smile.
 
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