RIP Peter 'The Cat' Bonetti. A fine goalkeeper.![]()
RIP Peter 'The Cat' Bonetti. A fine goalkeeper.![]()
One of the racing sites has been recommending books to read and one of the football books recommended is 'The Greatest Footballer You Never Saw'. It charts the career of Robin Friday who was a pro for 4 years with Reading and Cardiff.
Well I did see him. In fact I played with him in a trial for the local district side, Acton Brentford and Chiswick, in 1962. I played against him several times for my school team against his school team, Berymede, in the '61 to '63 years. His twin brother also played alongside him. I don't know if he was the best player I never saw in 1974-6, and he wasn't a bad footballer in 1961-3, but he wasn't the best by a long way. He was always getting into trouble that was certain.
In fact here is the Acton Brentford and Chiswick Under 11s side of December 1962 (the second and last game they played that season as we didn't play any football again until early March). Does anyone recognise any player below? 5 points to anyone who gets someone right. (Robin Friday didn't make the side by the way).You must log in or register to see images
Yes he was a fine goalkeeper. I was at Stamford Bridge the night they secured their return to Div. 1, must have been '63. That was a great side that played exciting football with players like Venables, Tambling and Bridges. I felt their classiest player was Ken Shellitoe, who was right back. Soon after that game he was injured and his career over. I'm sure he would have been in the '66 World cup Squad.
It's amazing to think that with Bonetti that Chelsea bought Alex Stepney in about '67. nobody understood it and Stepney was soon on his way to Manu U. Again amazing to think that by '69 we had 4 of the best goalkeepers in the World available to England, because there was Shilton at Leicester too.
Poor old Peter (Bonetti) is probably best remembered for that 3-2 defeat in Mexico.
By the way I'm not a Chelsea fan. Wash your mouths out. In those days I watched just about everyone.....Fulham, Brentford, Spurs, Chelsea and of course QPR.

OK, the just 11yo boy in the middle of the front row was the captain of that team, and future captain of both QPR and England.....Gerald (Gerry) Francis.Think of someone who's 68 today and would have been 20 in 1971/72 season, and yes they did play for a local side..

Man, I love these guys.
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I bit one sided Cyc, do NSW not score anything in these match ups...![]()
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I bit one sided Cyc, do NSW not score anything in these match ups...![]()
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I support Queens land in these match ups but NSW have been the better side in recent years

Anything to do with that twat Doomcaster is bound to be rotten. He was a right twat when he was with us at NorwichHas anyone got a background knowledge of what's going on with the Scottish football strife? Dundee has something to do with it all. And Patrick Thistle are threatening some sort of legal assault. It seems that Hearts and Rangers are also thinking about the legal side of things.
Any detailed info, especially from the beginning would be appreciated. Thanks.![]()
I avoid the BBC as much as possible but today I will break that by tuning in as they repeat highlights of the 1990 FA cup semi finals. Liverpool v Palace, Oldham v Man U.
I specifically remember watching these live one after the other as a teen, 2 superb games they were.
Its Scottish football Cyc. Which means it doesn't matter a jot.Has anyone got a background knowledge of what's going on with the Scottish football strife? Dundee has something to do with it all. And Patrick Thistle are threatening some sort of legal assault. It seems that Hearts and Rangers are also thinking about the legal side of things.
Any detailed info, especially from the beginning would be appreciated. Thanks.![]()
Has anyone got a background knowledge of what's going on with the Scottish football strife? Dundee has something to do with it all. And Patrick Thistle are threatening some sort of legal assault. It seems that Hearts and Rangers are also thinking about the legal side of things.
Any detailed info, especially from the beginning would be appreciated. Thanks.![]()