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Meeting footballers in unexpected places.


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In the early 80s post tearing up his contract, I met Geoff Merrick walking down the street in Johannesburg. He had joined a 'rebel' tour playing a few games against local club sides. He appeared well taken aback to be recognised so far away and by a City fan to boot. Lovely man who subsequently had a long chat with the then 16 year old me. He had a few choice words for ex manager Bobby Houghton, one which rhymed with Hunt as I recall! As Geoff along with Tom Ritchie was my hero, I walked on air for weeks afterwards!!

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2 hours ago, Bcfctommy said:

Lee  Tomlin in benidorm couple weeks ago..found out his version of what happened..said Johnson falls out with loads of players then apologises he said..said at forest game they made up and said let's put it all in the past.

He would blame LJ though wouldn't he? Doesn't explain what happened at almost every other club he has played for mind...............

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I met some friends for drinks, back in my London days, and noticed a tall, brown-skinned bloke sitting with them who looked like a supersized Morph from Take Hart!

The clay featured person turned out to be a young Rio Ferdinand - long before he had a media pundit role. One of the lads knew him.

He sat with us for about an hour while everyone talked and said not a word, but maintained a slightly goofy grin throughout.

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Do we have anyone from the OTIB community currently serving time on B-wing at HM Moorland? Perhaps you might have bumped into Adam Johnson in the showers, or chatted all things football before burying a rusty shiv in his harris?

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Well if we're overlooking "unexpected" then :)

Alan Pardew flying out of Lyon on the early morning Easyjet the day after Portugal-Hungary at the last Euros. Has always been made out that he is a big time charlie but he waited patiently at the back of several queues, made polite conversation to anyone who spoke to him, and ended up sat right at the back of the plane. Never once gave it the big I am. Crystal Palace not stretching to speedy boarding is pretty poor though.

Paul Elliott, ex Chelsea, was drinking and seemed to be struggling with his balance and walked straight into me on the Eurostar on the day of the Euro 2016 final in Paris. I wouldn't have minded but it was 7 hours before kick off, no idea if he made it. Weirdly, he suddenly started appearing on my office floor a few months later. To this day I have no idea why but I now keep look out for rogue Paul Elliott appearances in case.

A company I know had a footballer cancel on them at the last minute for appearing on their stand at the UK's biggest gambling trade show. They were sent Paul Merson as a replacement :facepalm:, and not being English they didn't realise how poor a choice it was. He seemed pleasant enough and signed a football for me, but didn't have much to say, was probably trying to control himself, surrounded by pop up bookmakers and casinos. Viv Anderson was often at the same event as he runs a gambling business now, he was very engaging and knows his football, City included.

Tony Adams, I posted about this before, but a year ago he was on a train from London to Bristol on the day of the CL Final in Cardiff. He wasn't going, he was getting off at Swindon to go to his cottage in the Cotswolds and then to a book festival (!). He carried on a 25 minute conversation with a student sat next to him, taking in all the milestones of his life, without ever once mentioning he was actually a footballer. She was completely oblivious until he got off and everyone around told her. He was extremely well spoken, very very humble and seemed to enjoy the anonymity.

Totally unknown one this: flight from Munich to Malta and an entire team in tracksuits got on and sat at the back singing. They looked quite young but I had no idea who they were until bloke next to me introduced himself as their coach. Was the Malta Under-21 squad on a connecting flight home from a qualifier in Lithuania, having won away for the first time in their entire history, and on the Maltese national holiday for Malta's uprising against the British. For the entire flight the coach (whoever he was) recounted his team talk (shades of Independence Day) and the entire match. :clap:

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42 minutes ago, Mad Cyril said:

Do we have anyone from the OTIB community currently serving time on B-wing at HM Moorland? Perhaps you might have bumped into Adam Johnson in the showers, or chatted all things football before burying a rusty shiv in his harris?

I find it unlikely that anyone on a forum, will own up to be being a convicted sex offender somehow. 

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3 hours ago, Andy Horsman said:

In the early 80s post tearing up his contract, I met Geoff Merrick walking down the street in Johannesburg. He had joined a 'rebel' tour playing a few games against local club sides. He appeared well taken aback to be recognised so far away and by a City fan to boot. Lovely man who subsequently had a long chat with the then 16 year old me. He had a few choice words for ex manager Bobby Houghton, one which rhymed with Hunt as I recall! As Geoff along with Tom Ritchie was my hero, I walked on air for weeks afterwards!!

Punt ??

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3 hours ago, Olé said:

Well if we're overlooking "unexpected" then :)

 

If we're overlooking "unexpected" I met Lee Peacock at Ashton Gate during an open day.

I also asked Adomah if he fancied a race in the car park, also at Ashton Gate after the open training session at the start of the season following relegation- he left about 2 weeks later.

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On 22/05/2018 at 16:20, bobbyhutchscurlymullet said:

Met Alan Walsh at the top of the pineapple slide at wsm tropicana way back when. 

Also swear we saw Frank Rijkaard cycling the streets of Amsterdam few years back. Though our minds might have been doing funny things due to additional 'help'! 

I've also pissed in Glyn rileys toilet. I didn't meet him in there though. That would be wierd. 

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12 hours ago, Cheesleysmate said:

Aside from City players I have actually been on the piss with George Best.

He turned up 3 weeks late for an event. Fortunately I was there when he got out of the  car. 

I ran to the beach, told my mates and we proceeded to spend the next couple of hours in his exclusive company downing Whiskey like it was water before the word got round that Bestie was in town and then it was chaos.

Got him to sign my shirt before I left. Absolute quality day and **** me his ability to drink was frightening!

43AD8DEB-EEA1-4F89-9848-63155629BF37.jpeg

There have been some legendary names in this thread (Nesta, Clough, Bobby Reid) but then there is this, Ballon D'Or winning George Best. Nice one.

I was taught by David Rodgers. He was my football and cricket coach at various stages. Lovely guy, shame he was such a huge Liverpool fan!

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12 hours ago, Cheesleysmate said:

Aside from City players I have actually been on the piss with George Best.

He turned up 3 weeks late for an event. Fortunately I was there when he got out of the  car. 

I ran to the beach, told my mates and we proceeded to spend the next couple of hours in his exclusive company downing Whiskey like it was water before the word got round that Bestie was in town and then it was chaos.

Got him to sign my shirt before I left. Absolute quality day and **** me his ability to drink was frightening!

43AD8DEB-EEA1-4F89-9848-63155629BF37.jpeg

Can I swap the entire Juventus squad for this one. Quality! RIP George!!

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Not football but I sat next to Jimmy White on a flight from Luton to Lanzarote. Mrs RRH thought he was Alex Higgins and I had to stop her introducing herself!

Strangely it was the same day the England squad flew out to some tournament or other and I watched them boarding their private jet from the departure lounge - could have been the World Cup in France.

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Played 1 card turnover with Vinny Jones at Cheltenham races. He gave us a tip which nobody bet and told us Wimbledon would win FA Cup. The horse won and Dons won the cup. About 5 years ago met Ben Foster in pub at Cheltenham races again, he was absolutely bladdered. We all bet on West Brom to lose on the Saturday after. They got dicked 4-0 and Ben was at fault for at least 2.

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2 minutes ago, Moor2Sea said:

David James on an escalator in Tesco’s Newton Abbot and at the Muse concert in Teignmouth.

His hands were bloody massive!

Whatever happened, you can tell us.

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57 minutes ago, Moor2Sea said:

David James on an escalator in Tesco’s Newton Abbot and at the Muse concert in Teignmouth.

His hands were bloody massive!

Didn't help when he was playing for us!!

Louis Carey getting into his/partners car at Temple Meads car park a few years ago. Possibly the GJ promotion season.

David Beckham driving into a side entrance to "Beckingham Palace" when they lived there.

Ray Winstone lives near us...

About it really....

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In the late 70s I once stayed at the Liverpool Holiday Inn.  After a swim I went into the sauna.  The only other occupant was Graham Souness who was reading The Sun.   (A tiddler since you ask.)  In the evening at dinner he was at the next table with Steve Heighway.  I gained the impression that GS was a miserable sod but SH was a lively, friendly cove.  I also saw GS at the Grand National Dinner at The Adelphi - he was well pissed - but then so was everyone else.

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On 22/05/2018 at 19:01, Olé said:

I think we're stretching the definition of "unexpected" a little when mentioning them in pubs, bars, holiday resorts or planes...

 

Frankie in the gents at the top of House of Fraser in Cabot Circus. Not sure how unexpected that is though as we're both blokes and it is Bristol. Didn't strike up conversation though as it was only him and me in there at the urinals and it may have seemed a bit weird.

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Funnily enough, exactly 10 years ago today we were having a weekend away in Centre Parks, which meant missing the playoff final, and who should sit at the table next to us when we were watching the game?.. Only Paul Trollope who was there with his family! Nice guy and seemed genuinely disappointed that we didn’t win that day!

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