Had a cracking day today with Henry in the company of Matt Tees and his wife May (Charlie Wright's sister).
He keeps himself fit playing golf a few times a week and still looks out for the results of us, St Mitten and Grimsby.
He shared many happy memories about his days at the Valley from the feeling of awe when running out to a packed East Terrace on matchday to learning how to hold the ball up from Eddie Firmani.
We spoke at length about his heading ability and how running onto the ball as opposed to jumping with the defender were the secret of his success alongside "not trying anything too fancy, just hit the ball low and hard".
We also spoke about the game against Coventry when he was assaulted by George Curtis, helped up by the Valley faithful pitchsude whilst Bob Stokoe took up the fight in his absence!
A different world back then, training by running up and down the East Terrace to keep fit, shooting practice in the West Stand car park, the team coach being 20+ years old and sharing a drink with supporters post game on a Saturday in the Cons club!
He has very real fone memories of the Club, ground and most of all us and was kind enough to sign some items for the museum, attached is a picture of him holding a momento from Charlton V Roma in the Olympic Stadium in 1969. He is a real gent and it was a privilege to spend some time with him today.
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He wasn't that tall, 5'10'' or so I would guess but he was a fantastic header of a ball. Over Easter 1969 I remember him scoring two headed goals from free kicks on consecutive days against Cardiff and Middleborough.
We sold him for peanuts a few weeks into the following season and he went on to twenty five goals in a season for Grimsby.
By the way SE7, was it you I met at Pigeon Ravine near Epehy a few days after the Swindon play off game a few years ago?
He told us he got £4 for a win, £2 for a draw and he and his wife lived in a Club house in Zangwill Rd.
He still gets people coming up to him in the street in Grimsby as he is a legend up there.
Got some signed copies of his book if anyone wants one. Donation to the museum welcome.
I was as upset about his departure as Yann's - with potentially (hopefully) the same outcome (narrow escape from D3). So on that basis Reza = Gordon Riddick
Did you travel to Grimsby to meet him ? I presume not ?
: - )
I will celebrating our escape from relegation by walking around Flesquieres, Ribecourt and Villers-Plouich in May.
I recall a very early black and white edition of 'When Saturday Comes' including an excellent article on Matt entitled 'Cream Tees', written by an ardent Grimsby supporter. As Henry says, he's revered up there.
That medal. Still with Matt but good to have a photo for the museum
It was a benefit match and we lost 2 - 0. Would love to have more info especially on who played.
fourthree copies (Stig just grabbed one) of this 30 page booklet signed by Matt for sale. One other is going into the museum.Minimum donation £5 plus £1.50 to the museum. Inbox me if you want one.
Interesting stuff.
On the face of it, it seems surprising Roma would invite a second tier English club over for a benefit fixture, a game against a top flight club would surely raise more money.
The connection, that may have brought about the fixture, appears to be at management level. Eddie Firmani had played for the Roma manager (Herrara) whilst at Inter.
By way of background info Roma were top flight at the time and had won the Coppa Italia in '69.
No idea on the teams for Roma v Charlton but Cappello was a Roma player at that time.