Charlie Billington
- Thread starter 1950canary
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Mark Fotheringham , by a long way!
Turner was a good player but has never reached the same level following injury, hence sold by Sunderland. Some of the errors and lack of pace do not bode well for me.
Sponge and Lupoli were Ok players who did not stand a chance with that idiot Roeder in charge. Lets remember Cureton was beside .Lupoli and he was awful.
Turner was a good player but has never reached the same level following injury, hence sold by Sunderland. Some of the errors and lack of pace do not bode well for me.
Sponge and Lupoli were Ok players who did not stand a chance with that idiot Roeder in charge. Lets remember Cureton was beside .Lupoli and he was awful.
I remember the really bad days 1950 was referring to, although I wasn't allowed to go in those days, before his post was kidnapped by those who can't remember further back than the 90's. And now you are all slagging off other players but supporting Turner. Whats the difference?
You are missing 1950's point. Turner shouldn't be subjected to any abuse, criticism yes. And he has been poor but CH must have seen something in him. Elliot Ward received similar treatment after last years Liverpool game. But 1950 has seen some guys who shouldn't have even been watching City let alone play for them. The gulf then between good and bad was massive. Now, the gulf between Turner and someone like Vidic is narrow in comparison. So in reality, there's not too much to moan about at all.
You are missing 1950's point. Turner shouldn't be subjected to any abuse, criticism yes. And he has been poor but CH must have seen something in him. Elliot Ward received similar treatment after last years Liverpool game. But 1950 has seen some guys who shouldn't have even been watching City let alone play for them. The gulf then between good and bad was massive. Now, the gulf between Turner and someone like Vidic is narrow in comparison. So in reality, there's not too much to moan about at all.
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This is exactly why I think we are lucky to have the likes of 1950's canary, I love the fact that we have people that can tell us stories of our beloved club from actually being there, rather than reading some crap out of an old book.
My first game was our early 90's in the PL, although I was about 8 and can't remember too much other than jumping up on my seat when we scored (was too short to actually see much of the game anyway).
I can't disagree that we have seen much worse times and I still enjoy watching us play. I have always said that I think Turner will come good in the end, I just think he needs to play a few more reserve games before he plays again in the first team. He does looks slow at the moment, and for whatever reason is dropping 3 or so yards deeper than everyone else and playing people onside.
Also important because such a big a proportion of current City fans grew up when we WERE pretty much an established top tier club. In that situation it's easy to believe that the good times are somehow our due (despite the evidence to the contrary provided by clubs up and down the land). Much the same with the economy and the climate. Many today have never experienced really hard economic conditions before, and judging from some of the ridiculous comments one gets from BBC weather persons, they haven't a clue what a hard winter is! 
And yet, he played for (and captained) Leicester during their successful spell under Martin O'Neill, so in his prime he was certainly no mug. According to Wikipedia 'Walsh was a hugely popular figure with Leicester fans, who nicknamed him "Captain Fantastic".' He won various honours, but also has the less than glorious distinction of having amassed the highest number of red cards of any Football League player ever! I guess for those who like their football "no holds barred" and idolise Norman Hunter, that would further increase their admiration.
he was a leicester legend, no question, but by the time he came to us he was over the hill and far away, and as i say, he was a truly obnoxious human being when i encountered him. his record in a city shirt was diabolical, not unlike turner's, but turner has the potential to turn his form around - walsh had no interest in turning his around. he just wanted a final pay cheque.
Was certainly past his best when he came here Dave, but will always be remembered for his deflected goal in a certain Cup Final
Was certainly past his best when he came here Dave, but will always be remembered for his deflected goal in a certain Cup Final
I still can't believe he was credited with that goal, I'm sure it was only the deflection that allowed it in!
I saw Hartford play a couple of times for WBA at the Forest ground in the very early 70's, just before and after his move to Leeds fell through because they discovered the heart problem. I have to say he was best player on the pitch, (perhaps not saying too much there as both WBA and Forest were pretty poor). Sure, he was past his best by the time he came to Norwich, but we obviously can't judge him just by that.
This thread made me think of our worst 'best player' in recent times - Lee Croft. I doubt he would even get near the squad this season.
Sad that so-called fans have such short memories. The only compensation for getting thumped by Liverpool - it's Liverpool! Better that than being beaten by Bristol City, Coventry, Swansea (twice) and the rest just a few seasons ago. No offence to those teams - but we are talking about one of the Great clubs of Europe.
I hate getting beat and would love us to stay in the Premiership forever. But this is real life and we've come so far in such a short space of time. So lets relish watching some of the fantastic players we've currently got at Carrow Rd and enjoy every second of them testing themselves against some of the very best in the world.
OTBC
Sad that so-called fans have such short memories. The only compensation for getting thumped by Liverpool - it's Liverpool! Better that than being beaten by Bristol City, Coventry, Swansea (twice) and the rest just a few seasons ago. No offence to those teams - but we are talking about one of the Great clubs of Europe.
I hate getting beat and would love us to stay in the Premiership forever. But this is real life and we've come so far in such a short space of time. So lets relish watching some of the fantastic players we've currently got at Carrow Rd and enjoy every second of them testing themselves against some of the very best in the world.
OTBC
Welcome EastEnd, good to see a positive new poster! Looking forward to seeing a lot more from you!
Thank you along with others who picked up on the points I was making. Is facing a season of fighting relegation from the best league in the world knowing that if the worst happens you go down with a good squad, good Manager, no debts and millions in parachute payments doom and gloom - no! Being bottom of the lowest league with no money, awful players and days away from going out of existence - thats doom and gloom!! All players go through bad spells but most of our players in the mid 50's were just awful - which is why they were playing for the team at the bottom of the lowest league. It is no exageration to say that the likes of Charlie Billington and Cameron Buchanan wouldn't today get in the first team at Yarmouth - that is what you call a bad player. My Grandad first took me to Carrow Road in 1950. When he first started supporting City they played at Newmarket Road against the likes of Lowestoft and Kings Lynn before we got into the Football League and played at the Nest. We stayed in the lowest league until 1960 when we were promoted to what is now the Championship. My Grandad was then 70 and couldn't believe that he was going to see football at that high level for the first time in his life.
He stopped going in 1962 but did live long enough to see City promoted to the top league in 1972 - he was so proud of his Club that he was in tears the day after City beat Leyton Orient to get promotion. To the end he never wore any scarf in winter except his yellow and green one. That is where our Club came from and what our Club was built on. What we have had in the last 40 years has been wonderful but if people assume that we have always been a top Championship/lower Premiership club they are so wrong. If you had told me in 1957 that in my lifetime I would be watching the likes of Van Persie, Joe Hart, Steven Gerrard etc I would have called for the men in white coats as my Grandad would if you had told him that as he stood on the touchline at Newmarket Road.
My Dad died in 1970 just before City became a 1st Division club. The magic moments for him up until then had been our cup exploits, throughout the 50's when we always seemed to beat one of the big boys and right up until the 67 game against arguably the most entertaining English side of all time. He wouldn't let me go to the Leicester match in 63 when I was 12 as he thought it would be too dangerous. The amount of times we trudged along King Street after a poor performance in the league was only compensated for by the beating of a 1st Division team in the cup.
We must be off our rockers to even think that there is any problem with our football club. We were always in debt, the supporters club always bailed them out. The ground was a tip. And we were never ever going to grace the 1st Division.
Yes you're right 1950. To think I moan about Morison's lack of control when we had the likes of John Manning or Phil Hubbard to watch each week, I must need my bumps felt.
One of the things that used to sustain us in those Division 2 & 3 days was banter with the players during a game. My recollection is that there was a lot more good humour around on a Saturday afternoon, however dire the game or result. It was partly to do with terraces v seats, and being closer to the pitch. But also because people felt closer to the players, part of the family so to speak. I remember leaning on the rails at the front of the South stand ribbing Bill Punton as he ran up and down the left wing. We used to count his runs and call out the numbers each time, chiding him if he wasn't in the game enough for our liking! He always gave us as good as he got, all in good spirit. I guess there is a bit of rose-tinting to my spectacles here, but that's how I remember it. It was certainly a help on freezing winter days with the rain-cum-hail belting down, watching twenty-two mud-caked heroes trying to play football with a sodden lump of filthy leather.
One of the things that used to sustain us in those Division 2 & 3 days was banter with the players during a game. My recollection is that there was a lot more good humour around on a Saturday afternoon, however dire the game or result. It was partly to do with terraces v seats, and being closer to the pitch. But also because people felt closer to the players, part of the family so to speak. I remember leaning on the rails at the front of the South stand ribbing Bill Punton as he ran up and down the left wing. We used to count his runs and call out the numbers each time, chiding him if he wasn't in the game enough for our liking! He always gave us as good as he got, all in good spirit. I guess there is a bit of rose-tinting to my spectacles here, but that's how I remember it. It was certainly a help on freezing winter days with the rain-cum-hail belting down, watching twenty-two mud-caked heroes trying to play football with a sodden lump of filthy leather.
With Bill Punton in the team you didn't want a sunny day, the reflection off his bald pate would dazzle you!
With Bill Punton in the team you didn't want a sunny day, the reflection off his bald pate would dazzle you!
Trouble was dave, when it was raining it was no good trying to strike your match on his scalp! That was another favourite: "Gie us a loight Bill!" Sandy Kennon was a window-cleaner and you can imagine some of the ribaldry that generated from those stood behind the goal.
I stood at the River End when City were playing Charlton and Charlie Wright wass their keeper and he always chatted with the crowd. He saw me wearing a hat saying "Keelan Supreme" and started ribbing me that he was better. Terry Anderson equalised in the last minutes with a spectacular overhead kick and Charlie walked up to him applauding for such a great effort. Happy Days
It was of course the cup run of 1958/59 that pushed us forward. By then we had got over the trauma of 1957 and Archie Macauley was building a half decent side although with the third round of the Cup approaching we were still only mid-table in the old 3rd Div South. We played and beat Man Utd on a iced up pitch which today you wouldn't even been allowed to stand on let alone played football on. The rest of the cup run is well known but what is often forgotten is that also created a push up the league which nearly resulted in promotionthat year. We did get promoted the following year to , what is now, the Championship where we stayed for the next 12 years. Over the years I have often wondered how our Club would have developed if the Man Utd match had been postponed and played on a decent pitch where the result might have been different. Would we be where we are today or still struggling in the lower leagues? There is no doubt that the Man Utd game was a pivotal moment in our history.
That match and probably the whole momentum of that result did change the fortunes of the players. Terry Bly was going nowhere and was even playing full back in the stiffs. Bobby Brennan had left once and had been playing local football!
Of course in those days, we weren't full members of the Football League and had little or no say or voting rights. By getting into the 2nd Division we were able to caary on the momentum and to be honest we have done since apart from the odd dip.
I came across this comment on Charlie Billington when checking through a "Where Are They Now?" Google search. Charlie was transferred from Norwich to Watford at the beginning of the 1957/58 Season and was appointed captain for our first game at Bournemouth. Watford lost 2-1 and Charlie was sent off. As 1950canary correctly states Charlie was unbelievably slow with very little talent, but "being too short" never. My first impression of him at Vicarage was to be amazed how big he was - he towered above everyone on the pitch. Unfortunately in the Watford Team photo of '57/58 he was seated (he only lasted one season) but the Aldershot Achieves have several photos of him and one caption refers to him as "the Shots giant centre half". It is strange how the memory can play tricks as the years pass by, but I'm sure my recollection of Charlie Billington is correct - he was a big man! (see photo link below)
http://www.mselliott.plus.com/Shots Team 50-1.html