Devastating news, even though he had been ill for some time and it is not totally unexpected news. Simply the greatest goal scorer ever, an absolute legend and by all accounts a top bloke. Imagine how many goals he would score if he were playing in today`s game, with bowling green pitches, protection from referees and penalties being handed out like confetti. RIP Greavsie
Agreed. But that last one is breathtaking. Can you imagine how good he would have been on today's pitches. Glides over mud baths, over pristine grass he would have been even greater.
An utter privilege and honour to have had most of the best playing hours of Englands' (to date) greatest striker in the shirt of the club I support. As to the on-pitch prowess of the man himself, I will leave it to the words of my father years ago : Greavsie didn't so much shoot as pass the ball into the net.
Like many, I am too young to have ever seen Jimmy play live. From everything I’ve heard, and footage I’ve seen, I wish I could have experienced what other witnessed. Absolute legend of the game. RIP.
I've just seen on SM some cockwomble say because Greaves did not play in the premiership era his stats do not count Greaves 357 Steve Bloomer 314 Dixie Dean 310 Gordon Hodgson 288 Alan Shearer 283 Who knew football did not exist before 1992
Apart from anything else, those players played in an era when defenders could scythe you down without a foul being given, let alone the sending off that they would get now. Greaves would be a legend today, no doubt.
I am one of the lucky ones who saw Jimmy play from day one with us. Over 75+ years I've seen many great players come & go but Jim has always been my favourite of all time. His first match was Plymouth away with the reserves & we went all the way down there just to see him!. I seem to remember it was a full house! It is so nice seeing all the many clips of him & knowing I am one of the dots in the crowd! As he has had no quality of life for some time I look on his passing as a blessing. Rest In Peace Jim, you were the GREATEST.
Was a bit past his prime when I first went to a live match in 1968 but was still clearly the best player on the pitch. Could do with him today. RIP you legend.
Me too. December 68, 1-1 v City. Mike England for us, Franny Lee for them. I was disappointed Greaves didn't score, but now so glad I saw him play. Spurs: Jennings, Kinnear, Knowles, Mullery, Collins, Beal, Jenkins, Greaves, England, Venables, Gilzean Citeh: Dowd, Pardoe, Mann, Doyle, Booth, Oakes, Owen, Bell, Lee, Young, Coleman – sub Bowles(unused)
On his desk, my old man had a picture of him and Jimmy Greaves, taken at a meet and greet after a show he did with Gazza. No picture of his wife, nor me or any of my 3 brothers or 2 sisters, Jimmy Greaves. RIP
It's difficult to compare players across different eras - especially when you never saw them play! In many ways, Greavsie was not typically English; he wasn't a big, strong forward, good in the air and hard to muscle off the ball. He was more like a modern day forward - fast over a short distance, good close control, able to find pockets of space, quick thinking and very clinical.