My first ever match was Charlton against Blackpool in 1967. In the Blackpool line up that day was Jimmy Armfield. I took the liberty of inviting him to the match I sponsored in 2007 in honour of my father who had passed away shortly before as we were playing Blackpool again, telling him the reasons and that there would be a free dinner in it for him :-) . I sent it to the BBC as he was co-commentating at the time, not really expecting him to receive it.
A little while later I received a slightly shaky hand written letter from the man himself, thanking me for the invitation and that ordinarily he would love to have come, but he was just recovering from a throat problem, (which I later found out was cancer) and sadly not able to travel.
He went on to thank me for thinking of him, wished that my family would have the greatest of days remembering my father and that he would be thinking of us, but hoped I wouldn't be offended if he still wanted Blackpool to win!!
A lovely touch from undoubtedly a proper gentleman and now my thoughts are with his family.
RIP to Jimmy Armfield. What I didn't know until this morning was Jimmy was a close mate of Duncan Edwards and Matt Busby wanted him to join the Busby babes in 1957, a year before the Munich air crash. The fickle finger of fate meant Jimmy didn't go to United and a injure in the spring of 66 meant George Cohen got the right back spot for the finals even thou Jimmy was in the squad. A top footballer, broadcaster and most of all a top man on all accounts.
Thanks for all your kind words. I'll link this thread to our site later. More tributes and discussion on what should happen on Saturday available here - https://fansonline.net/blackpool/mb/index.php.
Jimmy Armfield was certainly a class act. When Keith Peacock was a winger during the 1960's he said that he one of the best full backs he ever played against.
A true gentleman and a great football broadcaster. Earned top honours in the game and was always knowledgeable, thoughtful and honest in his comments. Such a shame he had to witness his proud and famous club became a disaster under the Oystons. RIP
Here is my post from August, not sure if the program is still available but sure to be repeated soon.
"Not many on here would have seen Jimmy Armfield play but all true football fans will know the name and particularly the voice as he's been summerisering on BBC Radio Sport since 1979. On Radio5Live tonight was a wonderful interview with the great man. Just listening to him talk about how he unluckily missed out on not only playing in the '66 World Cup but also being the winning captain is so heartwarming due to it's lack of bitterness and overriding humility. He picked up the pieces after Clough's infamous 44 days at Leeds and appointed the two best England managers since Sir Alf. I urge you to listen." http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b092jsj1
Very sad news. If I wasn't watching Charlton on a Saturday, I;d usually either be home helping my dad a with DIY and chores or, as I got older, he'd be round at my house helping me with DIY. The soundtrack to that would always be the radio and whatever the commentary game was that day. The sound of Jimmy Armfield's voice was as synonymous with those Saturdays at home as the theme tune to sports report. Never saw him play, but he was always a knowledgeable and intelligent pundit and came across as a lovely fella or did well to stay up to date and in love with the game as he aged, which cannot be said of some much younger pundits who are still working (cough..cough..Lawrenson..cough..cough).
Comments
My first ever match was Charlton against Blackpool in 1967. In the Blackpool line up that day was Jimmy Armfield. I took the liberty of inviting him to the match I sponsored in 2007 in honour of my father who had passed away shortly before as we were playing Blackpool again, telling him the reasons and that there would be a free dinner in it for him :-) . I sent it to the BBC as he was co-commentating at the time, not really expecting him to receive it.
A little while later I received a slightly shaky hand written letter from the man himself, thanking me for the invitation and that ordinarily he would love to have come, but he was just recovering from a throat problem, (which I later found out was cancer) and sadly not able to travel.
He went on to thank me for thinking of him, wished that my family would have the greatest of days remembering my father and that he would be thinking of us, but hoped I wouldn't be offended if he still wanted Blackpool to win!!
A lovely touch from undoubtedly a proper gentleman and now my thoughts are with his family.
RIP Jimmy
Rest in peace
Sleep tight, Jimmy.
I never saw him play but he was a constant for me on the radio growing up.
One of those few figures within football whose contribution to the game on and off the field over many years transcended individual club loyalties.
RIP
RIP Jimmy.
RIP
Jimmy Armfield and George Cohen. RIP a true gentleman.
Such a shame he had to witness his proud and famous club became a disaster under the Oystons. RIP
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05vpwq6
This is well worth a listen if you missed it last year. bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05dp72f