Just skimming through a book by Maurice Bamford and found a letter from him in reply to some info I'd sent him for one of his books.
He included in the letter a tale about Geoff Fletcher when he was player/coach at Huyton. The ref. stopped play when one of Geoff's moves broke down and someone knocked on.
The ref ruled a scrum, but Geoff said, 'Could you just hang on a bit ref?'
The ref nodded and Geoff proceeded to demonstrate to his team why the move had failed! After a couple of minutes chat Geoff just nodded to the ref and said 'Thanks!' and play resumed!
Real character !!!
Your post reminds me of Piggy when he was guest of honour at Swinton's presentation evening around (at a guess) twenty five years ago, during the time when he was the "everything man" at Huyton.
The room was rammed, and his first words when he stepped on stage were "Biggest crowd I've seen all season!"
Everyone roared with laughter, and he had the audience captivated from then on!
Top guy, and..............
As Sandgroper said - What a character!
Spelly.
Didn't someone nick and hide his wig from the dressing room at one game ?
Bamford's book runs that story!
Geoff was not amused that his topper had been nicked by an opposition prop. He was in the bar wearing it when Geoff walked in, spotted it, walked over and planted the visitor with one punch, catching the wig on the way as it left the bloke's head.
Geoff put it in its rightful place in a flash and carried on to get his pint!
He did a bit of boxing, including taking on Cassius Clay's sparring partner.
So many tales about Fletch!!!!
Bamford’s book runs that story! Geoff was not amused that his topper had been nicked by an opposition prop. He was in the bar wearing it when Geoff walked in, spotted it, walked over and planted the visitor with one punch, catching the wig on the way as it left the bloke’s head. Geoff put it in its rightful place in a flash and carried on to get his pint!
Sounds like a good book story.
Bamford was a genuine lover of the game and the epilogue stresses that he just didn't want the tales to die with him.
He has written several, The Second Half, More Funny Stories in RL, and Play with a Smile. He also did one on Vinty - A Rugby League Legend. All good stocking fillers at Christmas!
Recently read Maurice's book about Vinty and one of the things that was an eye-opener was how Vinty was years ahead of the times with training techniques and conditioning.
And great at team bonding