yogi bear up the cagire
Life President⭐
I've got a whole series of ideas for threads that I had planned to unload on you unfortunates during the quiet period of time leading up the transfer window. Sadly for me, probably not for you, this month has been anything but quiet and I've hesitated, fearing that my efforts will drop like a stone in the pool of transfer speculation. Anyway here we go with the first......
I've always noticed, with interest, peoples encounters with players, from the mundane, in the local supermarket, to sightings in wine bars, casinos, restaurants and nightclubs. So I thought I'd throw in my first live encounter with a couple of Blues players......you'll understand shortly why I don't mention their names.
It must have been a morning in the late fifties, early sixties, when my brother, knowing that I was barmy on on football and especially Southend, told me that he knew where I could get some of our players autographs and asked me whether I'd be interested. You can imagine the reply of a young and naive supporter.......the chance to actually meet some of my heroes!
He took me in his car to a large house near Porters' Grange that I remember being painted the Green and Yellow colours of Norwich City. I was led into a large hall and sat impatiently with my autograph book in hand. I can't remember whether it occured to me exactly what the team would be doing in this house.......perhaps they were there for a tactical meeting (I think it was Saturday morning). More than likely I was too excited to be concerned. Perhaps one of the players was pre-warned as he gave me a signed photograph.
Sometime later, when I was a little bit more knowledgeable about the ways of the world, I remember the Southend Standard reporting a police raid on this same house and its owner ending up in prison. Perhaps he revealed tactical information before a Blues match!
So, is there anyone else on here that has viewed players in other compromising situations (no names of course!)......next time I'm around to dinner with my brother and his wife I shall have to ask him what his interest was in this house?
I've always noticed, with interest, peoples encounters with players, from the mundane, in the local supermarket, to sightings in wine bars, casinos, restaurants and nightclubs. So I thought I'd throw in my first live encounter with a couple of Blues players......you'll understand shortly why I don't mention their names.
It must have been a morning in the late fifties, early sixties, when my brother, knowing that I was barmy on on football and especially Southend, told me that he knew where I could get some of our players autographs and asked me whether I'd be interested. You can imagine the reply of a young and naive supporter.......the chance to actually meet some of my heroes!
He took me in his car to a large house near Porters' Grange that I remember being painted the Green and Yellow colours of Norwich City. I was led into a large hall and sat impatiently with my autograph book in hand. I can't remember whether it occured to me exactly what the team would be doing in this house.......perhaps they were there for a tactical meeting (I think it was Saturday morning). More than likely I was too excited to be concerned. Perhaps one of the players was pre-warned as he gave me a signed photograph.
Sometime later, when I was a little bit more knowledgeable about the ways of the world, I remember the Southend Standard reporting a police raid on this same house and its owner ending up in prison. Perhaps he revealed tactical information before a Blues match!
So, is there anyone else on here that has viewed players in other compromising situations (no names of course!)......next time I'm around to dinner with my brother and his wife I shall have to ask him what his interest was in this house?
