A business acquaintance of mine used to played with Terry Hurlock in non-league days (Enfield) and in the last meeting I actually had with him last month he was recounted he hard he was. From what I was told, I don't believe that he has changed although the comment was made that this was not only limited to the football pitch. I believe that he still drives around in a pick-up truck. Jimmy case was my favouroite "hard nut" Saints player and , as I said before, someone who would get my vote as the best England player never to receive a cap. Ruddock was also a bit physical but was a rugged pllayer in the way that Dave Watson was for us too.
Pompey, late eighties was almost a full eleven of ne'er do wells. Tait Kennedy Blake Daish Ball Fatty Horne etc; This lot, quite often used to go out for the night in Southsea, after the game and woe betide anyone foolish enough to cast doubts over their performance earlier that afternoon.
I definitely heard somewhere that many of the McGrath era team would have a brandy before the game. McGrath would be out late because he would have a couple! Or did I just make that up? I wouldn't put Terry Paine down as hard, quite the opposite I'd have thought. Had to have his hair just right! How about "Docker" Walker and Jim Steele?
The muscles on Mcgrath had to be seen to be believed. Not only did he roll the waist line of his shorts up so that the muscles in his legs were exagerated he also used to roll the sleeves of his shirt right up so that they were taut over his bulging biceps. He used to frighten me and I was stood to the back of the Milton Road End. I believe he was responsible for the youth team for a while and that his appearance on the pitch belied an intelligent and articulate speaker who was popular on the after dinner speaker circuit.
I think when Bill Shankly labelled the Dell " Hell House" Our team contained players such as, Walker, McGrath, Hollywood,Tony Bryan and Joe Kirkup With Brain O'Neil and Jimmy Gabriel Now thats Hard
What was the real name of the Danish right back we had quite recently, who caused the Northam to sing "Jesus is our right back"? Looked more like a Hells Angel than our Lord and Saviour, I remember him running the width of the field to put a tackle in, long long after the ball had gone.
Here's a little story about Jim Steele and his team mates from those days. http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/more-scottish-football/balls-of-steele-1.1028014
What a great read, it's only a game. Hard men indeed. I remember Jim Steel used to drink in the Flemming Arms and the Drummond Arms with drinking buddies of Jim Mc, Osgood and Eric Martin to name a couple.
Fantastic article. The best I can come up with is an article in my Topical Times Football Book 1965/66 which shows McGrath swinging a sledge hammer at a scrap metal yard where he used to work.
Hard men! - just watch the Chelsea vs Leeds FA Cup Final and replay - I happened to see the highlights when bored in a sports bar in Dubai a couple of years ago (think it was the Chelsea football channel) - Hunter, Charlton, Bremner, Giles for Leeds, whilst Chelsea had Harris and even Osgood was no angel! Seriously - it was warfare!
Why has no one mention Tomas Repka yet? I think a lot of people forget his disciplinary record at West Ham
Good call! As soon as I read this I thought of Killer and that he was hard as nails. I also thought he was a superb CB and was gutted when we lost him to injury when he still had a few good years still ahead of him.
Chelsea,s Eddie McCreadie hit Bremner with which can only described as a drop kick to the chest in the replay oh how i cheered hated that Leeds team and loved that Chelsea team with Ossie , Hutchinson, Cooke and Hudson they could play but were a hard side
