Once I overheard a conversation as to whether or not John McGovern who had recently lifted the European Cup for the second
Once, I overheard a conversation as to whether or not John McGovern, who had recently lifted the European Cup for the second time, was good enough for Eastwood Town, but my award for the all-time-daft-comment has to go to: “Well, of course, I never did rate John Robertson!”The truth is that the moaner’s chief inspiration is ignorance. Here, we met the real McCoy; a genuine, full-grown, mega-moaner. On account of his swarthy, weather-beaten complexion, his ankle-length oilskins and sailor’s cap, we nicknamed him “The Captain”.The Captain grumbled at everything but the particular victim of his bile was the young striker, Geoff Vowden. It was this ability which propelled Imlach into the Scotland team.
Imagine our shock, then, when reading an article “written” by our hero, in discovering that Imlach credited Eddie Baily with his sudden success.When we grew too tall to remain in our favoured spot in the front row by the tunnel, we relocated to the Bridgford End. The sight of him racing down the touchline, picking up the ball without breaking stride and surging past opponents with that blistering pace, was the most exhilarating sight in football. Those con artists of the press tried to convince us that Baily was 30-ish. With his balding head, an incipient paunch and an apparent inability to raise anything more than a steady jog, he had to be at least 60 We loathed Eddie Baily. Every time another Forester passed to him, one of us would snap: “He’s given it to Grandpa!’At the other extreme of our passion, our hero was the 5ft 5in fleet- footed flyer from Lossimouth, Stewart Imlach. In his prime, he had played for Spurs and England and, after a short stay at Port Vale, he had been bought by Nottingham Forest.To the wider football world, Baily was known as “The Cheeky Chappie.” To us, he was “Grandpa”.
And there is always one player he can’t stand.
My friends and I soon discovered our anti-hero His name was Eddie Baily. My wife never ceases to marvel at the air of expectation that greeted the news that Martin O’Neill had entered the building before speaking at our local league’s anniversary dinner
There is a reverse side to this Adding spice to every crowd is the moaner He seems to revel in his team’s misfortunes. WHEN FOOTBALL fans are young boys they regard their favourites with an almost supernatural awe. On Saturday afternoons these spiritual beings assume a temporal form before ascending again to their Olympian homes. As the fan becomes an adult he acquires a job, a wife and children, as well as assuming grown-up responsibilities Yet his regard for footballers remains exactly the same. His century came off 209 balls and included one six and 17 fours.
He shared a fifth- wicket stand of 115 with his captain, Arjuna Ranatunga, who was 66 not out at the close.Third day; Sri Lanka won tossINDIA – First Innings 518 for 7 dec (S Ramesh 143, R S Dravid 107).SRI LANKA – First Innings(Overnight: 121 for 2)M S Atapattu lbw b Nehra 6R R Arnold run out 34D P M Jayawardene not out 128U C Hathurusingha lbw b Prasad 14P A De Silva b H Singh 23*A Ranatunga not out 66Extras (b1 lb9 w4 nb8) 22Total (for 4, 95.2 overs) 293Fall (cont): 3-129, 4-178.To bat: H P Tillakaratne, R S Kaluwitharana, W P U J C Vass, K E A Upushantha, R L Perera.Bowling (to date): Venkatesh Prasad 21-6-67-1 (1nb, 4w); Nehra 19.2-2- 64-1 (7nb); Kumble 31-7-69-0; Harbajan Singh 22-6-77-1; Tendulkar 2-0- 6-0.Umpires: R E Koertzen (SA); R B Tiffin (Zim).. He was unbeaten on 128 at the close having been dropped three times before he reached his hundred with a six off the off-spinner Harbajan Singh. Resuming at 121 for 2, they lost Chandika Hathurusingha and Aravinda de Silva during the morning session but made the Indian bowlers work hard for the rest of the day.
Jayawardene, who was on 59 overnight, made India pay for missed catches to complete his second Test century. AN UNBEATEN century by Mahela Jayawardene frustrated India’s attempt to take charge of the Asian Test Championship match against Sri Lanka in Colombo yesterday.