Jon
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Post by Jon on Jan 21, 2013 23:44:11 GMT
This one came up a few years ago: Merse seeing the Tom Cobley team being mentioned brought back a few happy memories that was my local from when I moved to Paignton to live in 1968 until recently. Watched them on many an occasion and they had some good players who played for them.One of the busiest pubs in the bay at that time when Bob Jones was landlord. Do you remember when they played a charity sunday match at Plainmoor and George Best played for the select XI against them?Can see him now sat in the longue drinking orange squash! Unforunately the Tom Cobley is no more like a lot of other pubs it is now shut and boarded up.  I lined in that game (anyone got the programme to put up on here?)and actually witnessed his expenses chit with my signature as the money was handed over in cash in our dressing room before the game! Keith Metcalfe reffed and Phil Willer was the other lino. Keith was paranoid that someone would try to make a name for themselves and clatter Bestie and requested Phil and I to look after him and if necessary give any dubious decisions to the great man to which Phil retorted that he wasn't happy getting an instruction that could end up leaving him looking a c**t and I replied in the usual joshing manner of the dressing room that as that what he usually looked when he took a game what was the difference? With that, Best and his manager Bill MacMurdoe knocked on the dressing room door, came in to do the business and Bestie said "don't worry I won't make you look a c**t" ..............he'd heard it all from outside! George Best was brilliant, no airs or graces, full of charm and so polite with it. Happy to stay a while and have a cup of tea. What happened to him was a tragedy and life went full circle for me a while back when I drove his son Callum for MTV. Maybe way past his pinnacle when I got the chance to share a pitch with him, but nevertheless an unforgettable day. I've recently tripped in to a book that attempts to log every game that George Best ever played in - from his debut for Manchester United A as a fifteen year old to charity games in the 90s. The Plainmoor match is logged - Sunday 24 April 1983 Graham Brooking fundraiser Star Rider XI 3 Foxhole United 5. I hadn't realised that this was at the same time as Best was turning out for Bournemouth - he actually played a Football League match at home to Lincoln the day before the Plainmoor match. The Plainmoor game was the seventh friendly game recorded in the book since Best returned from a spell in Hong Kong in November 1982. Five of these were in the South West - at Plymouth, Barnstaple, Falmouth, Bridgwater and Torquay. Did Bestie have some kind of Westcountry connection at the time? A quiz to finish with. Can anyone name three goalkeepers who have played competitive first team football for Torquay United and have played alongside George Best in competitive fixtures? |
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Jon
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Post by Jon on Jan 21, 2013 23:55:43 GMT
since Best returned from a spell in Hong Kong in November 1982. Five of these were in the South West - at Plymouth, Barnstaple, Falmouth, Bridgwater and Torquay. Match report from the Plymouth game here: www.pasoti.co.uk/talk/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=49687Good to see there were a couple of screamers from Ian Gillan. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2013 13:38:32 GMT
I know this is going to be controversial but great player that George was I doubt that he is the finest ever to grace Plainmoor. For longevity as well as brilliance that would have to be the massively under-rated (everywhere except Bramall Lane) Tony Currie, wouldn't it?
When he played for the Blades (and I didn't even like them!) Tony took every free kick and corner and made himself first to every pass and throw in. He was a genius with the ball as well as a great entertainer and if he had played for a more glamorous team (and I don't mean Wednesday) he'd have been more celebrated than he was.
John Motson's most memorable piece of commentary featured TC, of course: "A quality goal from a quality player!"
And since Pele played at Home Park once poor old George was not the best player to grace that ground either. He does sound like a very nice guy though, this tackle notwithstanding:
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sam
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Post by sam on Jan 22, 2013 14:32:46 GMT
I am very interested in Best appearing at Plainmoor and this is the first I knew about it. I was at Tweenaway with Graham Brooking at a time when there were some tremendous local footballers at the school. I was working away when this match took place. Has anyone got a programme of this game in 1983 that they can put on here.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2013 14:55:00 GMT
I know this is going to be controversial but great player that George was I doubt that he is the finest ever to grace Plainmoor. For longevity as well as brilliance that would have to be the massively under-rated (everywhere except Bramall Lane) Tony Currie, wouldn't it? Ah, I just remembered Stanley Matthews. |
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Post by stefano on Jan 22, 2013 15:03:04 GMT
I know this is going to be controversial but great player that George was I doubt that he is the finest ever to grace Plainmoor. For longevity as well as brilliance that would have to be the massively under-rated (everywhere except Bramall Lane) Tony Currie, wouldn't it? Tony Currie! You're having a laugh  Bobby Charlton, Jimmy Greaves, Stanley Matthews, Ruud Gullit, Bobby Moore, Neville Southall, Bruce Rioch, Chris Waddle, Ossie Ardiles, Ray Clemence, Lee Sharpe, John Charles, Paul Gascoigne ... to name but a few in no particular order!  |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2013 16:01:17 GMT
Goerge Best and Martin Wright celebrate a goal for Torquay at Borough Park, Workington, in 1972.  |
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Post by longeatongull on Jan 22, 2013 20:58:14 GMT
I know this is going to be controversial but great player that George was I doubt that he is the finest ever to grace Plainmoor. For longevity as well as brilliance that would have to be the massively under-rated (everywhere except Bramall Lane) Tony Currie, wouldn't it? Tony Currie! You're having a laugh Bobby Charlton, Jimmy Greaves, Stanley Matthews, Ruud Gullit, Bobby Moore, Neville Southall, Bruce Rioch, Chris Waddle, Ossie Ardiles, Ray Clemence, Lee Sharpe, John Charles, Paul Gascoigne ... to name but a few in no particular order! Peter Osgood,Stan Bowles, Frank Worthington and the best I ever saw live many times........... Robin Friday (and I did see Bestie!!)......all bring a smile to my face.....happy days |
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Jon
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Post by Jon on Jan 22, 2013 22:46:20 GMT
Seeing names mentioned by Stefano and longeatongull reminds me of the Chelsea game in 1995. I think it was one of Gullit's first games for Chelsea.
Gullit came over to sign an autograph for a young lad in front of me. His dad said "Just look at his face - he can't believe his luck. Mind you, I was the same when I saw Frank Worthington". Worthington had played in Norman Medhurst's testimonial a couple of months earlier.
Frank famously signed for Liverpool only to fail a medical due to too much loving and boozing. Shankly told him to go on holiday and try again in a fortnight. Frank spent the holiday loving and boozing and failed the medical again.
Anyway, Best, Worthington, Currie, Gullit were all decent players. But the greatest player ever to play at Plainmoor was Mark Loram.
p.s. I'm loving the "language filter"!
p.p.s. For the avoidance of doubt, I did actually put loving that time.
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Jon
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Post by Jon on Jan 22, 2013 22:50:27 GMT
Has anyone got a programme of this game in 1983 that they can put on here. Sorry Sam. I went but I don't think I got a programme. |
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Jon
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Post by Jon on Jan 22, 2013 22:53:49 GMT
George Best ..... at Borough Park, Workington Many a true word is spoken in jest. Bestie did actually play for Workington at Borough Park. A 1-1 draw with a Lancashire Football League XI on 9 April 1986. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2013 7:31:10 GMT
A quiz to finish with. Can anyone name three goalkeepers who have played competitive first team football for Torquay United and have played alongside George Best in competitive fixtures? I know an old fellow named Barton On football hist'ry he's a smart 'un To answer Jon's question He makes this suggestion Ian Leigh, Paddy Roche, John Connaughton Meanwhile, here is a rare picture of Denis Law in his now-forgotten spell at TUFC, celebrating after bagging the winner againt Southport.  |
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Post by longeatongull on Jan 23, 2013 19:18:51 GMT
Seeing names mentioned by Stefano and longeatongull reminds me of the Chelsea game in 1995. I think it was one of Gullit's first games for Chelsea. Gullit came over to sign an autograph for a young lad in front of me. His dad said "Just look at his face - he can't believe his luck. Mind you, I was the same when I saw Frank Worthington". Worthington had played in Norman Medhurst's testimonial a couple of months earlier. Frank famously signed for Liverpool only to fail a medical due to too much loving and boozing. Shankly told him to go on holiday and try again in a fortnight. Frank spent the holiday loving and boozing and failed the medical again. Anyway, Best, Worthington, Currie, Gullit were all decent players. But the greatest player ever to play at Plainmoor was Mark Loram. p.s. I'm loving the "language filter"! p.p.s. For the avoidance of doubt, I did actually put loving that time. Cheers Jon--more happy memories. I went to Norman Medhurst game and still cant believe how lucky Torquay were to have him around. Also think Chelsea had pre-season "tour" 2 years on the trot didnt they? How times have changed and now they go to the Far East/USA. Finally---I will also agree that "Lors" should be added to the above list, on his day he was fantastic and just a great shame he didnt progress further in the game. |
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Jon
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Post by Jon on Jan 23, 2013 19:57:35 GMT
I know an old fellow named Barton On football hist'ry he's a smart 'un To answer Jon's question He makes this suggestion Ian Leigh, Paddy Roche, John Connaughton I don't know whether to be pleased that Barty is showing an interest in this one or gutted that we now have to communicate via an interpreter. Where did it all go wrong?  Could you tell your friend to read the question more carefully - competitive first team football for Torquay United. 67% - could do better. |
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Jon
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Post by Jon on Jan 23, 2013 20:06:55 GMT
Also think Chelsea had pre-season "tour" 2 years on the trot didnt they? We played Chelsea in 1986 and 1995 at Plainmoor and in 1988 at Dawlish - and a "Chelsea XI at Plainmoor in 2008. |
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Merse seeing the Tom Cobley team being mentioned brought back a few happy memories that was my local from when I moved to Paignton to live in 1968 until recently. Watched them on many an occasion and they had some good players who played for them.One of the busiest pubs in the bay at that time when Bob Jones was landlord. Do you remember when they played a charity sunday match at Plainmoor and George Best played for the select XI against them?Can see him now sat in the longue drinking orange squash! Unforunately the Tom Cobley is no more like a lot of other pubs it is now shut and boarded up.
