"Big Billy Whitehurst, the striker, was an absolute legend at Hull and the hardest man I have ever come across inside or outside football. He was about 15 stone built like a brick s*** house and was rock hard. I was s*** scared of him but when I played up front with him, it was great because he’d create havoc and make space for me and I’d pick up the pieces. On this occasion, we’d had a really hard training session and I’d got in the big communal bath we used to use and I was just laid there. Billy and a couple of the other players had got in and I had my eyes shut because I was just so knackered. Billy came alongside me and had a s*** right next to me. I didn’t know as I still had my eyes shut as this big log floated up alongside me. Everyone had got out of the bath by this stage and Billy was just sat there when I opened my eyes and turned to look at this log. “What the f****** hell is that?” I shouted as jumped out of bath. Billy was so hard I just had to laugh it off, because to be honest he would have t***** me if I hadn’t a started laughing. Looking back now, it was quite funny I suppose but it just shows what it was like with Billy. When I played alongside him, he was so hard if he made a mistake I always had to agree it was my fault. When he went to Newcastle, he played in the same team as Paul Gascoigne and I think Gazza wrote in his book that he once nutmeged him in training and thought: “F****** hell, what have I just done?” because Billy was after lynching him for that. He is a legend in Hull and he was a brilliant striker as well. He was hard but 100% wholehearted and he’d get you goals. He was a battering ram but brilliant for a young striker to play alongside." http://www.clitheroeadvertiser.co.u...striker-andy-payton-s-upcoming-book-1-3947418
Slightly off topic but it does get a mention - I was in Clitheroe on Saturday for the food festival, which was really good and it's also a very nice little town. Moved over here a few months ago due to a change in circumstances and sampling a few of the delights of the local area, so to speak.
I tried to model my game on him especially the one on ones, he was so cool. One of my favourite moments actually was when he missed one without realising and ran off celebrating, he was that good he thought it was in without checking. Hoping he is OK as I am always reading he has a lot of issues after football (edit Andy Payton I am on about)
you tried to model your game on Billy??? in his own words, "My first touch was crap & the second was a foul"..
http://talksport.com/radio/richard-...6/billy-whitehurst-joins-keys-and-gray-185470 His talksport interview he did a while back.
Thing is later in his career he really developed his touch and actually played some good football. Often saw him downing pints in the Priory after games, never summoned the strength to speak to him though as I was ****ting myself in case I said something wrong. I heard he met Darren France off a plane when playing in Hong Kong, apparently it was 2 days later before Darren checked into his hotel
the price of payton's book might be a bit much for some pockets. Books, priced £15m can be ordered from www.andypayton.com Read more at: http://www.clitheroeadvertiser.co.u...striker-andy-payton-s-upcoming-book-1-3947418
It was great watching Big Billy frighten the opposition witless. I remember a game in the early 80's against Bury- we were winning 1- 0 with about 5 minutes left and Billy had been knocking their centre halves all over the place all game. Tony Norman launched a goal kick down the middle of their half, and Billy chased it along with two Bury defenders. Well, they must've had enough because they parted like the red sea and let Billy in between them, and smash in a second for a 2-0 win. Priceless
