Nick Barmby was in the year between me and my brother at school. I have played with Tim Stimpson for Yorkshire Schools Rugby Union and he went on to play for England. Had a boot like nuclear bomb.
When i played alongside Pat Heard at school The Everton Scout who had come down to deal with him came into the changing rooms after the game to talk to us all.He told us that Bob Latchford was the most gifted forward of that era and Martin Dobson the best midfielder.He then took us outside and told us to hit crossfield balls from one side of the pitch to the other onto your colleagues chest.Pat was not there but needless to say i think most of us hit the corner flag or the drain.The dream of professional football came and went in an instant.
Aye played with him, forgot till you mentioned it. Des Harrison both football and cricket. good lad Des, had a good career at RL but always wanted to be a footballer. Brilliant cricketer too. Garry Clark ex Rovers winger at football with. Dave Plange with for football, he went on to play pro RL as well. Shows how easy it is/was to play RL. Played against Deanno, Saville, Skip. Ken Houghton and Steve Deere and a few others played for some County League team cant remember who. Ian Davies. Rob Palmer(Sky Sports presenter) a really good goalie. Played a few games staying with my mate in America played with Clyde Best and quite a few other ex pro's the great Gerry Ingram being one of them. There may be more but i cant remember at the moment
Another was Stu Gray, his house backed onto ours (still does, only I don't live there anymore neither does he, but his mum & my old man & lady do), we used to kick about on the greens, brilliant boxer too.
Withernsea?? Anyone remember Andy Wray. Captain of England and Hull Schoolboys, signed for Man United at 16. He got released by them at 20/21 and played a few games for a local team. I was only 15 and playing for my brothers mens team. There was supposedly scouts from all over watching him. I was like a ****ing whippet back then. Marked him out the game!! He went and signed for a team in Sth Africa or Australia, I went to the pub. meh
Ha ha I've been gone a long time, going back 22nd Dec for annual pub crawl around the villages though.
Haven't been living there since 2004, I was so bloody happy I was going even though I was 9. Even if it was only 4 miles down the road to Roos.
I played as centreback once against Paul Fewings. Think he's still in my back pocket. Played centre mid against Paul Heaton (Out of that there Beautiful Sarf)- dirty bastard needs his nails trimming! Nipping and jabbing = stamping and raking.
