Now playing regularly in the Premiership for Brighton. Don't suppose you saw him play much in Chris Powell's promotion season and year after. Class midfield better than any of our present lot!!!
Never really set the world on fire for us though did he.....there wasn’t much gnashing of teeth and wails of despair when he left us. Unlike Yann and Morrison......I personally wouldn’t put his contribution to our cause in the same bracket. He won’t go down as a ‘much loved’ and missed ex player. As for saying he’s better than anything we have now......well, that wouldn’t be too hard would it but hardly a good analogy by which to support your view on him as things were when he was playing for us. As an Addick I personally didn’t rate him that much, a good squad player is how I viewed him. I would also take a bet with you that I saw him play, home and away, more times than you. Admittedly, he seems to have done much better at Brighton than many might have expected.....but for us, he didn’t do that much, IMHO. Incidentally.....sorry Theo for taking the thread off subject, hadn’t really realised it...... it was football related though, so I’m sure you’ll forgive me!
Now playing regularly in the Premiership for Brighton. Don't suppose you saw him play much in Chris Powell's promotion season and year after. Class midfield better than any of our present lot!!!
Never really set the world on fire for us though did he.....there wasn’t much gnashing of teeth and wails of despair when he left us. Unlike Yann and Morrison......I personally wouldn’t put his contribution to our cause in the same bracket. He won’t go down as a ‘much loved’ and missed ex player. As for saying he’s better than anything we have now......well, that wouldn’t be too hard would it but hardly a good analogy by which to support your view on him as things were when he was playing for us. As an Addick I personally didn’t rate him that much, a good squad player is how I viewed him. I would also take a bet with you that I saw him play, home and away, more times than you. Admittedly, he seems to have done much better at Brighton than many might have expected.....but for us, he didn’t do that much, IMHO. Incidentally.....sorry Theo for taking the thread off subject, hadn’t really realised it...... it was football related though, so I’m sure you’ll forgive me!
Agree with you. Stephens was flaky: used to try to shield the ball but wasn't strong enough and would get dispossessed. A bottler. Evidently he has come good at Brighton - just as Simon Francis was weak for us yet has done well at Bournemouth.
I always felt that Stephens uneccessarily slowed down our attacks ..... he'd invariably kill the ball, turn back to face his own goal and hold on to the ball too long, before passing sideways .... by then our movement off the ball had stopped and our attacking players closed down.
But he had great technique and control and was capable of threading through a killer pass to split the defence, on the rare occasion he played the ball quickly. And there were times when he produced great shooting ability.
He was a bit lightweight for us and drifted in and out of the game .... but it should not be forgotten that he was only 21 when he moved to us, a northerner moving down south for the first time and very soon to become a father - lots of change and challenges for a young man of that age.
And he's since matured into a very decent Prem player.
I was brought a kindle as a birthday present and have now found a good reason for using it. I have hardly put it down all weekend.
I read the Charlton bits and skimmed most of the book now.
I think his son Paul deserves great credit for writing this in an informal style. It felt like I was in Crossbars before a game talking to Theo about his career and life .
I worked out that as a player Theo came in as Billy Bonds had been sold. Was he Bonzo's replacement? An insurance policy had Bob Curtis not made it . He never won a match playing for Charlton .
Interesting stories about his time at the Valley . For example Dave Shipperley and the Xmas drink .
I was interested that he felt he never really replaced Charlie Wright in goal until Graham Tutt came along. He regretted not bringing in another keeper in this period .
Also interesting to hear his Millwall stories about players we later signed Brisley, Johns, Mehmet and Walker as well as Mike Flanagan popping up again at QPR .
Met Paul whilst doing my degree years ago - nice bloke - said the dinner table was literally like a tactics board - salt and pepper pot used as wingers, tomato sauce the holding midfielder etc
Lovely guy. I asked him once who his favourite Charlton player was - he replied "Alan Campbell." Yes, I know, a little before most of the Lifer's on here - but he was a great little footballer, part of the famous squad that nearly got promoted back in the late 60's.
Lovely guy. I asked him once who his favourite Charlton player was - he replied "Alan Campbell." Yes, I know, a little before most of the Lifer's on here - but he was a great little footballer, part of the famous squad that nearly got promoted back in the late 60's.
Theo almost made the 92 club as a player ,fell just one short. Never played at Chesterfields ground but was Charltons manager when we played them in the league.
Theo is our first Manager that I can remember. Watching Hales, Flanagan, Peacock and, my favourite, Powell, was always a thrill.
I remember absolutely hating Andy Nelson when he replaced Theo, although as I got older I know this was unfair on Nelson. I never warmed to him and the near disastrous deal with New England Tea Men didn’t help.
Went to quite a few of the Q&A sessions a few years back when there was always a mix of Theo, Keith, Paddy and Killer. Theo was always the genial host and had some brilliant stories. Looking forward to reading the book.
Lovely guy. I asked him once who his favourite Charlton player was - he replied "Alan Campbell." Yes, I know, a little before most of the Lifer's on here - but he was a great little footballer, part of the famous squad that nearly got promoted back in the late 60's.
I’ve just finished Theo’s book and must say I found it a captivating read from start to finish.
It covers his early life in Dublin, right through to the end of his outstanding 40 odd year managing and coaching career. All his clubs, from the smallest to the biggest, get equal billing, which is right and fitting and just what you’d expect from the man. As football autobiographies go, this one is most certainly a cut above - not surprising, given Theo’s 60 or so years in the game and the wealth of material he can therefore draw upon. Something of a contrast to books ghosted for certain young players in the Premier League era, who have only been in the game a short while - a paradigm example being ‘Wayne Rooney: My Story So Far’ - published when our Wayne had reached the ripe old age of............(ahem).........20.
Most football supporters are broadly aware of how the game has changed over the decades but, given its scope, Theo’s story really helps to put flesh on the bones. It’s well written, really captures his voice and personality and is packed with interesting and humorous anecdotes, which are always the best way to illustrate a point.
I found the chapters on his time with each and every one of his clubs very interesting. The backcloth to the one on his period as Charlton manager is Michael Gliksten’s renowned lack of football ambition. With the exception of the legendary trio of Hales, Flanagan and Powell (combined purchase price £14,000), plus a few other notable successes like Arthur Horsfield, this section of the book did remind me, with a slight shudder, of how many poor, bargain basement players we signed in the early 70s.
I’ve chatted to Theo on a number of occasions, whether in his capacity as a corporate host or simply bumping into him around the ground. He’s always more than willing to take the time talk to supporters about the game and impart a nugget of football wisdom. A lovely guy, one of life’s enthusiasts and a great football man - I’m so pleased that he and his son, Paul, got it all down on paper.
Comments
Unlike Yann and Morrison......I personally wouldn’t put his contribution to our cause in the same bracket.
He won’t go down as a ‘much loved’ and missed ex player.
As for saying he’s better than anything we have now......well, that wouldn’t be too hard would it but hardly a good analogy by which to support your view on him as things were when he was playing for us.
As an Addick I personally didn’t rate him that much, a good squad player is how I viewed him.
I would also take a bet with you that I saw him play, home and away, more times than you.
Admittedly, he seems to have done much better at Brighton than many might have expected.....but for us, he didn’t do that much, IMHO.
Incidentally.....sorry Theo for taking the thread off subject, hadn’t really realised it...... it was football related though, so I’m sure you’ll forgive me!
But he had great technique and control and was capable of threading through a killer pass to split the defence, on the rare occasion he played the ball quickly. And there were times when he produced great shooting ability.
He was a bit lightweight for us and drifted in and out of the game .... but it should not be forgotten that he was only 21 when he moved to us, a northerner moving down south for the first time and very soon to become a father - lots of change and challenges for a young man of that age.
And he's since matured into a very decent Prem player.
I read the Charlton bits and skimmed most of the book now.
I think his son Paul deserves great credit for writing this in an informal style. It felt like I was in Crossbars before a game talking to Theo about his career and life .
I worked out that as a player Theo came in as Billy Bonds had been sold. Was he Bonzo's replacement? An insurance policy had Bob Curtis not made it . He never won a match playing for Charlton .
Interesting stories about his time at the Valley . For example Dave Shipperley and the Xmas drink .
I was interested that he felt he never really replaced Charlie Wright in goal until Graham Tutt came along. He regretted not bringing in another keeper in this period .
Also interesting to hear his Millwall stories about players we later signed Brisley, Johns, Mehmet and Walker as well as Mike Flanagan popping up again at QPR .
I remember absolutely hating Andy Nelson when he replaced Theo, although as I got older I know this was unfair on Nelson. I never warmed to him and the near disastrous deal with New England Tea Men didn’t help.
Went to quite a few of the Q&A sessions a few years back when there was always a mix of Theo, Keith, Paddy and Killer. Theo was always the genial host and had some brilliant stories. Looking forward to reading the book.
Should be out end of November
Now out in paperback
It covers his early life in Dublin, right through to the end of his outstanding 40 odd year managing and coaching career. All his clubs, from the smallest to the biggest, get equal billing, which is right and fitting and just what you’d expect from the man. As football autobiographies go, this one is most certainly a cut above - not surprising, given Theo’s 60 or so years in the game and the wealth of material he can therefore draw upon. Something of a contrast to books ghosted for certain young players in the Premier League era, who have only been in the game a short while - a paradigm example being ‘Wayne Rooney: My Story So Far’ - published when our Wayne had reached the ripe old age of............(ahem).........20.
Most football supporters are broadly aware of how the game has changed over the decades but, given its scope, Theo’s story really helps to put flesh on the bones. It’s well written, really captures his voice and personality and is packed with interesting and humorous anecdotes, which are always the best way to illustrate a point.
I found the chapters on his time with each and every one of his clubs very interesting. The backcloth to the one on his period as Charlton manager is Michael Gliksten’s renowned lack of football ambition. With the exception of the legendary trio of Hales, Flanagan and Powell (combined purchase price £14,000), plus a few other notable successes like Arthur Horsfield, this section of the book did remind me, with a slight shudder, of how many poor, bargain basement players we signed in the early 70s.
I’ve chatted to Theo on a number of occasions, whether in his capacity as a corporate host or simply bumping into him around the ground. He’s always more than willing to take the time talk to supporters about the game and impart a nugget of football wisdom. A lovely guy, one of life’s enthusiasts and a great football man - I’m so pleased that he and his son, Paul, got it all down on paper.