Fred Perry - three times Wimbledon and Table tennis champion and he wasn't a toff. Still last Englishman to win it.
Stanley Matthews - First European footballer of the year and still playing at 50
CB Fry - World long jump record holder, Captain of England at Cricket and scored over 30,000 first class runs (av . over 50), played football for Southampton and England and Rugby for Blackheath
[cite]Posted By: Rothko[/cite]I heard a pretty convincing arguement by Matthew Syed last night, that Redgrave is a massively overrated sports man, big fish in a fish bowl.
That sounds extremely harsh to me, can we hear that anywhere Rothko?
[cite]Posted By: Rothko[/cite]I heard a pretty convincing arguement by Matthew Syed last night, that Redgrave is a massively overrated sports man, big fish in a fish bowl.
That sounds extremely harsh to me, can we hear that anywhere Rothko?
[cite]Posted By: mart77[/cite]daley thompson
steve redgrave
david beckham
Beckham??
tell me you're having a laugh?
Not at all. He carried the england team for years. He's been a top footballer for much of his career. With the exception of his fling he's an excellent role model. Since he became a star he's been a leading figure for many charities.
I think the undisputable top two are Botham and Redgrave, leagues ahead of others. Strong argument the third should be Pinsent, but i also think there are arguments for many others.
We've had a similar debate on sportsman of our generation here:
I think you could make an arguement for there being greater cricketers let alone all sports. WG Grace, Hobbs, Hutton, Willis and I don't even follow cricket. Was Botham a great captain?
Redgrave and Thompson would be neck and neck for me as greatest Olympian but I'd give it to Daley as it is a bigger and more and competative demanding sport. Redgrave was also a part of teams where as Thompson did it on his own.
Botham is indisputable to me as he was at the top of his game with both the bat and the ball over a long career, and is without doubt the finest all-rounder to have played the game ever. Add to that he also featured professionally in another physical sport, 30 years after other people flitted between summer and winter sports, plus the gruelling trek of the country on behalf of the leukaemia charity, and I see no one else who can compete with that.
I wouldn't question that he was a fine all rounder but I think a few games for Scunthorpe is hardly worthy of mention. His charity work is worthy of great praise
As I said I'm no cricket expert but how about Colin Cowdrey as he was a Charlton director, took Kent to the championship, was Chair of the MCC, a Lord and a great captain for many years as well as great run getter
From the golf world i'll put forward J H Taylor who won the Open five times, was a member of the 'Great Triumvirate', and was a co-founder of the Professional Golf Association. A very interesting character whose grandaughter is a friend of mine.
[quote][cite]Posted By: mart77[/cite][quote][cite]Posted By: kinveachyaddick[/cite][quote][cite]Posted By: mart77[/cite]daley thompson steve redgrave david beckham[/quote]
Beckham?? tell me you're having a laugh?[/quote]
Not at all. He carried the england team for years. He's been a top footballer for much of his career. With the exception of his fling he's an excellent role model. Since he became a star he's been a leading figure for many charities.[/quote]
I was assuming it was for on-pitch achievements not charity work etc. which nobody can deny Becks has been superb at. On the pitch he got sent-off in 1998 when we were going well against a good argentine side. He was anonymous in 2002 and not much better in 2004 and 2006. For England I'd say he's been a good player but certainly no better than that.
Tend to be of the belief that Beckham has been the scapegoat for the poor performances, 2002 I thought he played well considering he played injuried, 2004 he did ok, 2006 he created a lot.
I've always felt that Beckham gave 100% when he turned out in an England shirt. i'm Irish and from a non bias view i'm shocked that he hasn't recieved the plaudits that he deserves, which i feel is mainly due to a massively underperforming England team who should have easily won the 2002 World Cup and done much better in other tournaments.
Comments
steve redgrave
david beckham
Ian Botham
Phil Taylor
Stanley Matthews - First European footballer of the year and still playing at 50
CB Fry - World long jump record holder, Captain of England at Cricket and scored over 30,000 first class runs (av . over 50), played football for Southampton and England and Rugby for Blackheath
Alternatively it would be
Alf Tupper
Wilson
Roy Race
anyway
George Best
Ian Botham
Daley Thompson
steve redgrave
david beckham[/quote]
Beckham??
tell me you're having a laugh?
That sounds extremely harsh to me, can we hear that anywhere Rothko?
Might be available on the Five Live website
nick faldo
jonathan edwards
Not at all. He carried the england team for years. He's been a top footballer for much of his career. With the exception of his fling he's an excellent role model. Since he became a star he's been a leading figure for many charities.
Carl Fogerty
Ian Botham
We've had a similar debate on sportsman of our generation here:
http://www.charltonlife.com/forum/comments.php?DiscussionID=63&page=1#Item_1
Sterling Moss
Seb Coe
I think you could make an arguement for there being greater cricketers let alone all sports. WG Grace, Hobbs, Hutton, Willis and I don't even follow cricket. Was Botham a great captain?
Redgrave and Thompson would be neck and neck for me as greatest Olympian but I'd give it to Daley as it is a bigger and more and competative demanding sport. Redgrave was also a part of teams where as Thompson did it on his own.
Only kidding!
As I said I'm no cricket expert but how about Colin Cowdrey as he was a Charlton director, took Kent to the championship, was Chair of the MCC, a Lord and a great captain for many years as well as great run getter
steve redgrave
david beckham[/quote]
Beckham??
tell me you're having a laugh?[/quote]
Not at all. He carried the england team for years. He's been a top footballer for much of his career. With the exception of his fling he's an excellent role model. Since he became a star he's been a leading figure for many charities.[/quote]
I was assuming it was for on-pitch achievements not charity work etc. which nobody can deny Becks has been superb at.
On the pitch he got sent-off in 1998 when we were going well against a good argentine side.
He was anonymous in 2002 and not much better in 2004 and 2006.
For England I'd say he's been a good player but certainly no better than that.
Steve Redgrave.
Martin Johnson.
For the lenght of time he was at the top of his game.
Mark Kinsella
Clive Mendonca
Am I biased do you think????