Post by gazz on Dec 3, 2013 11:58:09 GMT
Julian SPERONI
hatter in macc
Every one of us is thought to have a Doppelganger somewhere in the world, and Crystal
Palace's current Number One is apparently - and once the Argentinian got his hair cut - that of
hatter_in_macc!
So, in honour of the twin I never knew I had...:
You've heard of the 'keeper, Speroni;
He's Macc's likeness, though slightly more bony.
But if you should meet;
Him on Castle Street;
The chances are that he's a phoney
Sword, Tommy
Sir Roger
At the end of October 1979 and lying in 21st place in Division four, for County the 1970s were coming to an end as they had begun - dismally. As a result of the failure to replace striker Stuart Lee following his move to Manchester City, the club's leading scorer was central defender, Mike Czuczman.
When centre-forward Tommy Sword signed for managerless County at the beginning of November, he was an unknown non-league player with Bishop Auckland, albeit one who had scored 50 goals for the Northern Football League club.
The blond 6ft 2in striker could not be described as a saviour but his enthusiasm and total commitment were major factors in at least a 'mini-revival'.
His full debut saw him return to the North-East to play at Hartlepool in a game which typified the man. With County trailing 1-0, Sword scored twice to give his new team a 2-1 win.
Never a player to accept defeat, his passion for the game inspired others around him, bringing both respect and affection from supporters and fellow professionals.
Within five months of Sword's arrival, an injury to centre-half, Les Bradd, himself a converted striker, led to the new centre-forward moving back to central defence.
The towering striker enjoyed a successful transition to towering defender, whilst still scoring regularly.
After missing only three matches in his first full season, the following season saw him sustain a serious leg fracture in an FA Cup tie against non-League Mossley. Typical of Sword, although his team were winning 3-1, he continued to tackle as if County were losing and was out of the side for 12 months.
His character helped make him a successful comeback, missing only nine games in the three seasons following his return.
Seven seasons after he had joined County, he was transferred to Hartlepool United for £5,000 but, a little over six months later, Sword returned, playing his last game in November 1987. He had made 270 League and Cup appearances and of his 55 goals, 25 had been penalties. By far the most successful penalty-taker in County's history, 24 of his conversions had been in League games.
The only cup success being one which gave the Hatters a famous 2-1 aggregate League Cup win at Roker Park against Sunderland, which created another piece of County history; the first club from Division Four to beat a top-flight team - Sunderland were then in the (old) First Division - over two legs.
When Tommy Sword retired from football in 1988, moving back to the North East to run a pub in Newcastle, he was granted a well-deserved testimonial that August against Manchester City.
This enabled County fans to show their appreciation for the magnificent service he had given to the club who seven years later, voted the Pop Side icon into the Stockport County Hall of Fame.
I had the pleasure of meeting the man in 1985.
A true County Legend.
Sandbach Hatter
SandbachHatter
Hello. My name is Sandbach Hatter. Not a lot of people know this but I got the name from the fact I live in Sandbach and I’m a Hatter.
I was born in February 1980 at Stepping Hill. Despite the fact I was my parents first born, rumour has it Calliope nipped off shortly afterwards to catch the second half of County v York and I was very nearly named Prudham after our winning goal scorer on the night. That probably explains why I’m so County mad and why Sandy Jnr’s middle name is “Demontagnac”.
I grew up in Poynton and went to Poynton High where, after some pleasing GCSE results (even if I do say so myself) I stayed on to study English, Economics and Biology at A-Level. Sadly my A-level results weren’t as good as I had hoped so I missed out on my planned Uni of Warwick and ended up reading Law at Lancaster for 3 years instead. Turned out to be the best 3 years of my life.
As it happens, I lived in County college in First Year (took me all of 2 seconds to pick that college from the 8 available) and opposite me in halls were two rooms. In one of them was a guy called Meta who spent all day drinking Heineken (other p*ss poor lagers are available) and who tried to kill me a couple of months into the academic year for stealing his English essay. He was actually found wandering campus looking for me with a knife. Turns out he didn’t even study English and was later ‘disappeared’ by the Uni.
In the other room was the girl who was to become Mrs Sandy.
I miss Meta.
Anyway, after Uni Mrs Sandy moved to Stockport from the wilds of Norfolk to be near to the love of her life. As any sane man would under such circumstances, I promptly legged it to to go to Chester to go to Law School. But, I realised my avoidance tactics were fruitless and proposed during that year at Chester. I think the amount of studying had frazzled my brain by that point.
As I then accepted my fate and moved back to Stockport at the end of that academic year, the tease promptly left for Bradford to study teacher training. She then got a job at Sandbach School and, since we couldn’t avoid each other any longer, we bought a house in Middlewich. We wanted to move to Sandbach but couldn't afford it. For some reason Middlewich, which is twinned with Dale Farm, was more affordable.
Eventually when I qualified as a solicitor we moved up the property ladder to Sandbach and have been there around 5 years.
Our son, Oliver Demontagnac Sandbach was born on 15th May 2010. He’ll be two next week. And before one of my quiz-pendants starts looking into when Demontagnac played for us, I have no idea. It’s a joke.
Oh yes, that means Sandy Jnr is two on Tuesday by the way, so make sure you buy him a present or you’re not coming to the party.
I could say a lot more and, hopefully one day I’ll write this into a proper book (with a quiz section at the back), but for now, that’s me.
I love you all. You complete me.
Sandy.
Stockport Georgians
downunderhatter
From what I can remember we only ever played this team once. It was a cup game and they were at least a couple of divisions above us.
Our manager decided to have a Sunday off, as did our captain. We found out later that the captain had been picked to play in the inter-league team. As we didn't have a hope in hell of winning this particular cup, our manager had decided to go and watch that game.
So without any visible leader our goalie turned up with a scratty piece of paper with the team on it. A few adjustments later due to missing, late and quite frankly hopeless players being picked, the game began.
Half-time: Stockport Georgians 3 My team 0.
An uninspiring team-talk wasn't going to help. The ref had other ideas. He came over to us and asked how we were getting beat by this lot. He said they hadn't won a game all year and couldn't believe their luck.
The goalie put our left-back in goals and pushed himself up front.
90 minutes: Stockport Georgians 3 My team 3.
Neither team wanted to lose in extra-time and the most boring 30 minutes of my life finally came to an end.
I took my boots off not realising that I might have to take part in a penalty shoot-out. I would be way down the list anyway. Penalty taker number 8 as it turned out.
After 5 penalties from the home side and 4 penalties from us, it was 4-4. All our guy had to do was score and we were in the next round. As he'd been advising all of our players to pick a spot and stick to it, I was quietly confident he would tuck it away and we could all go for a pint.
He blasted it miles over the bar onto the cricket pitch behind the goal mumbling to himself as he walked back to the halfway line, "I changed my mind..."
Both teams were scoring in sudden death and I had to put my boots back on. My turn came and I smashed it hard and low (I thought) into the bottom right hand corner. Up it flew into the top right hand corner like a missile giving the keeper no chance. It looked brilliant (if only I'd meant it!)
Anyway, all the penalties were scored right through both teams until it came to our regular penalty-taker who was taking the 26th penalty of the shoot-out.
The keeper saved it and we went home and out of the cup. We got the headline in the Stockport Express for the SDSFL that weekend "Georgians Through After 24 Penalty Thriller". Unfortunately, Keith Coates thought there was only 24 penalties as we'd lost 12-11 forgetting about the 2 that were missed in the first 10, but it's a claim to fame and I'd played my part.
Losing again.
Superman
sandbachhatter
I can't tell you the season, and certainly not the game, but from my youth I recall an extremely funny incident in UT1, probably not long after the Cheadle End was opened.
I don't even know the guy involved but still see him around EP occasionally.
Basically, he was sat at the very back of UT1, and my brother and I were about half way down. He'd been singing (drunkenly) for most of the game but we hadn't realised how drunk he was until he got everyone's attention from the top of the steps, shouted "Superman" with one arm out in front of him, and then tried to fly.
Needless to say, he tumbled down the entire flight of steps and slammed into those red railings at the bottom left of the upper tier. Fortunately, he was so drunk that he didn't hurt himself, got up and dusted himself down, before lapping up the cheers from the relieved onlookers.
I wonder if that's why the stewards now insist on everyone sitting down during the game? Surely "don't try to fly" would be a more appropriate warning. I might have a word with Kenny and see if he can do an announcement next season.
Stockport County F.C.
Sir Roger
Well, it would be wrong not include Stockport County F. C. within this Section as it is, after all, the reason why we are all here and part of this Forum.
When I think of County, I think of all those custodians, good and bad, who have held such an honoured position, I think of players, great, good, bad or indifferent, I think of the excitement as a kid, eager to get to the Ground, with scarf and rattle in hand. I think how proud I am that when am dead and gone, my son and my grandkids will continue the tradition of supporting County as I have for all these years. I think of our home and wish we had it back, but not having ownership will never take away those memories of being there, for example, getting p*ssed wet through stood on the Railway End, it didn’t matter, it’s a memory, a smile to the face, a memory to be stored away with all the others.
As well as the past, there’s the present and the future. The Phoenix is rising from the ashes of what was a bleak period in our history. The rebuilding programme is under way and it’s great to see. The “suits“, Jim, and the players are the latest custodians to lead us into the next chapter of County’s history and I feel confident that yet again, County will show to the football world, that we are alive and kicking.
.Like all of us, I care about County, a care about County a lot. Outside of the family circle, County is pretty much next in line for me, I don’t have a “second” team and it’s unlikely I ever will. I enjoy football, but my priority is and always has been County and as I’ve said before and I’ll repeat it again “it’s in the blood”
S*d S*le Sh*rks!
hatter in macc
Sufficient Said, Surely?
hatter in macc
Every one of us is thought to have a Doppelganger somewhere in the world, and Crystal
Palace's current Number One is apparently - and once the Argentinian got his hair cut - that of
hatter_in_macc!
So, in honour of the twin I never knew I had...:
You've heard of the 'keeper, Speroni;
He's Macc's likeness, though slightly more bony.
But if you should meet;
Him on Castle Street;
The chances are that he's a phoney
Sword, Tommy
Sir Roger
At the end of October 1979 and lying in 21st place in Division four, for County the 1970s were coming to an end as they had begun - dismally. As a result of the failure to replace striker Stuart Lee following his move to Manchester City, the club's leading scorer was central defender, Mike Czuczman.
When centre-forward Tommy Sword signed for managerless County at the beginning of November, he was an unknown non-league player with Bishop Auckland, albeit one who had scored 50 goals for the Northern Football League club.
The blond 6ft 2in striker could not be described as a saviour but his enthusiasm and total commitment were major factors in at least a 'mini-revival'.
His full debut saw him return to the North-East to play at Hartlepool in a game which typified the man. With County trailing 1-0, Sword scored twice to give his new team a 2-1 win.
Never a player to accept defeat, his passion for the game inspired others around him, bringing both respect and affection from supporters and fellow professionals.
Within five months of Sword's arrival, an injury to centre-half, Les Bradd, himself a converted striker, led to the new centre-forward moving back to central defence.
The towering striker enjoyed a successful transition to towering defender, whilst still scoring regularly.
After missing only three matches in his first full season, the following season saw him sustain a serious leg fracture in an FA Cup tie against non-League Mossley. Typical of Sword, although his team were winning 3-1, he continued to tackle as if County were losing and was out of the side for 12 months.
His character helped make him a successful comeback, missing only nine games in the three seasons following his return.
Seven seasons after he had joined County, he was transferred to Hartlepool United for £5,000 but, a little over six months later, Sword returned, playing his last game in November 1987. He had made 270 League and Cup appearances and of his 55 goals, 25 had been penalties. By far the most successful penalty-taker in County's history, 24 of his conversions had been in League games.
The only cup success being one which gave the Hatters a famous 2-1 aggregate League Cup win at Roker Park against Sunderland, which created another piece of County history; the first club from Division Four to beat a top-flight team - Sunderland were then in the (old) First Division - over two legs.
When Tommy Sword retired from football in 1988, moving back to the North East to run a pub in Newcastle, he was granted a well-deserved testimonial that August against Manchester City.
This enabled County fans to show their appreciation for the magnificent service he had given to the club who seven years later, voted the Pop Side icon into the Stockport County Hall of Fame.
I had the pleasure of meeting the man in 1985.
A true County Legend.
Sandbach Hatter
SandbachHatter
Hello. My name is Sandbach Hatter. Not a lot of people know this but I got the name from the fact I live in Sandbach and I’m a Hatter.
I was born in February 1980 at Stepping Hill. Despite the fact I was my parents first born, rumour has it Calliope nipped off shortly afterwards to catch the second half of County v York and I was very nearly named Prudham after our winning goal scorer on the night. That probably explains why I’m so County mad and why Sandy Jnr’s middle name is “Demontagnac”.
I grew up in Poynton and went to Poynton High where, after some pleasing GCSE results (even if I do say so myself) I stayed on to study English, Economics and Biology at A-Level. Sadly my A-level results weren’t as good as I had hoped so I missed out on my planned Uni of Warwick and ended up reading Law at Lancaster for 3 years instead. Turned out to be the best 3 years of my life.
As it happens, I lived in County college in First Year (took me all of 2 seconds to pick that college from the 8 available) and opposite me in halls were two rooms. In one of them was a guy called Meta who spent all day drinking Heineken (other p*ss poor lagers are available) and who tried to kill me a couple of months into the academic year for stealing his English essay. He was actually found wandering campus looking for me with a knife. Turns out he didn’t even study English and was later ‘disappeared’ by the Uni.
In the other room was the girl who was to become Mrs Sandy.
I miss Meta.
Anyway, after Uni Mrs Sandy moved to Stockport from the wilds of Norfolk to be near to the love of her life. As any sane man would under such circumstances, I promptly legged it to to go to Chester to go to Law School. But, I realised my avoidance tactics were fruitless and proposed during that year at Chester. I think the amount of studying had frazzled my brain by that point.
As I then accepted my fate and moved back to Stockport at the end of that academic year, the tease promptly left for Bradford to study teacher training. She then got a job at Sandbach School and, since we couldn’t avoid each other any longer, we bought a house in Middlewich. We wanted to move to Sandbach but couldn't afford it. For some reason Middlewich, which is twinned with Dale Farm, was more affordable.
Eventually when I qualified as a solicitor we moved up the property ladder to Sandbach and have been there around 5 years.
Our son, Oliver Demontagnac Sandbach was born on 15th May 2010. He’ll be two next week. And before one of my quiz-pendants starts looking into when Demontagnac played for us, I have no idea. It’s a joke.
Oh yes, that means Sandy Jnr is two on Tuesday by the way, so make sure you buy him a present or you’re not coming to the party.
I could say a lot more and, hopefully one day I’ll write this into a proper book (with a quiz section at the back), but for now, that’s me.
I love you all. You complete me.
Sandy.
Stockport Georgians
downunderhatter
From what I can remember we only ever played this team once. It was a cup game and they were at least a couple of divisions above us.
Our manager decided to have a Sunday off, as did our captain. We found out later that the captain had been picked to play in the inter-league team. As we didn't have a hope in hell of winning this particular cup, our manager had decided to go and watch that game.
So without any visible leader our goalie turned up with a scratty piece of paper with the team on it. A few adjustments later due to missing, late and quite frankly hopeless players being picked, the game began.
Half-time: Stockport Georgians 3 My team 0.
An uninspiring team-talk wasn't going to help. The ref had other ideas. He came over to us and asked how we were getting beat by this lot. He said they hadn't won a game all year and couldn't believe their luck.
The goalie put our left-back in goals and pushed himself up front.
90 minutes: Stockport Georgians 3 My team 3.
Neither team wanted to lose in extra-time and the most boring 30 minutes of my life finally came to an end.
I took my boots off not realising that I might have to take part in a penalty shoot-out. I would be way down the list anyway. Penalty taker number 8 as it turned out.
After 5 penalties from the home side and 4 penalties from us, it was 4-4. All our guy had to do was score and we were in the next round. As he'd been advising all of our players to pick a spot and stick to it, I was quietly confident he would tuck it away and we could all go for a pint.
He blasted it miles over the bar onto the cricket pitch behind the goal mumbling to himself as he walked back to the halfway line, "I changed my mind..."
Both teams were scoring in sudden death and I had to put my boots back on. My turn came and I smashed it hard and low (I thought) into the bottom right hand corner. Up it flew into the top right hand corner like a missile giving the keeper no chance. It looked brilliant (if only I'd meant it!)
Anyway, all the penalties were scored right through both teams until it came to our regular penalty-taker who was taking the 26th penalty of the shoot-out.
The keeper saved it and we went home and out of the cup. We got the headline in the Stockport Express for the SDSFL that weekend "Georgians Through After 24 Penalty Thriller". Unfortunately, Keith Coates thought there was only 24 penalties as we'd lost 12-11 forgetting about the 2 that were missed in the first 10, but it's a claim to fame and I'd played my part.
Losing again.
Superman
sandbachhatter
I can't tell you the season, and certainly not the game, but from my youth I recall an extremely funny incident in UT1, probably not long after the Cheadle End was opened.
I don't even know the guy involved but still see him around EP occasionally.
Basically, he was sat at the very back of UT1, and my brother and I were about half way down. He'd been singing (drunkenly) for most of the game but we hadn't realised how drunk he was until he got everyone's attention from the top of the steps, shouted "Superman" with one arm out in front of him, and then tried to fly.
Needless to say, he tumbled down the entire flight of steps and slammed into those red railings at the bottom left of the upper tier. Fortunately, he was so drunk that he didn't hurt himself, got up and dusted himself down, before lapping up the cheers from the relieved onlookers.
I wonder if that's why the stewards now insist on everyone sitting down during the game? Surely "don't try to fly" would be a more appropriate warning. I might have a word with Kenny and see if he can do an announcement next season.
Stockport County F.C.
Sir Roger
Well, it would be wrong not include Stockport County F. C. within this Section as it is, after all, the reason why we are all here and part of this Forum.
When I think of County, I think of all those custodians, good and bad, who have held such an honoured position, I think of players, great, good, bad or indifferent, I think of the excitement as a kid, eager to get to the Ground, with scarf and rattle in hand. I think how proud I am that when am dead and gone, my son and my grandkids will continue the tradition of supporting County as I have for all these years. I think of our home and wish we had it back, but not having ownership will never take away those memories of being there, for example, getting p*ssed wet through stood on the Railway End, it didn’t matter, it’s a memory, a smile to the face, a memory to be stored away with all the others.
As well as the past, there’s the present and the future. The Phoenix is rising from the ashes of what was a bleak period in our history. The rebuilding programme is under way and it’s great to see. The “suits“, Jim, and the players are the latest custodians to lead us into the next chapter of County’s history and I feel confident that yet again, County will show to the football world, that we are alive and kicking.
.Like all of us, I care about County, a care about County a lot. Outside of the family circle, County is pretty much next in line for me, I don’t have a “second” team and it’s unlikely I ever will. I enjoy football, but my priority is and always has been County and as I’ve said before and I’ll repeat it again “it’s in the blood”
S*d S*le Sh*rks!
hatter in macc
Sufficient Said, Surely?