Pre Munich 2

Bill Foulkes. Every one remembers him as a centre half, but in those days he was a fullback. Bill was one of those people that made the best of everything he had, and was very determined. So he stayed very fit, very focused, very good in the air, but not a ton of natural ability. But to give a clue of his apatitude, when he took up gold he practised until he was of scratch.

Jeff Whitefoot . Nobody thinks of him or talks about him, that's because of the winghalves that followed. He was a really good player, and had a modern style about him. He was a good tackler and a great passer. I particularly remember him because one game he seemed to play right in front of me, he just seemed to do everything right and it all appeared easy.

Just a side note, I once saw Harry McShane, the father of Lovejoy. In the 60s he was the compere at OT;

Duncan Edwards. I'm going to surprise a few by saying he wasn't my hero. The reason being, for me at any rate I had to imagine being them, and I couldn't with Duncan. Was he great, was he as good as they say ? your asking the wrong person. So here's what I remember, he was very very fit, very strong and very hard. Not hard as in aggressive like Keano, but if he tackled you it was normally fair but you needed oxygen after. He had a style all of his own, he bounded onto the pitch, when he ran he leaned forward but his back was straight, when opposition players tried to tackle him they bounced off him, I've never seen it before or since. He was good in the air, had good control, a thumping shot. He didn't score many, but winghalves didn't then, think Nobby Stiles, Bobby Moore, Pat Crerand. But mostly he has supreme confidence, he knew what he was doing, and did it, no hesitations. As the old saying goes if you were in the trenches, he is the one you wanted next to you, and you would try and copy him to get his praise.

Ian Greaves. Fullback. Ungainly but effective, not the player you wanted to be when you were young, so I never really liked him: But of course I was wrong and Matt was right, came more into the team after Munich. Had a good career as manager, especially of Bolton.

Eddie Colman. Swivel hips. My hero. Was he a great player ?
No, but he had a great body swerve, was a good passer, and a kind of cheeky presence, he liked showing off a little, Jack the Lad. Also he had a quiff, and he walked to the ground. He lived ,I think, on Archie Street, that became Coronation Street in the opening credits. Now him I could imagine being like, and the crowd loved him.

Coffee now, more later.