Off Topic February RIP

Johnny was a great fellow, kind and thoughtful. He could engage in a discussion on any sport. His record as a player and coach was remarkable by any standards. I asked him to take a couple of sessions when I coached university RL and later RU, and the lads - even the non-Hull born or traditional RL lads were in awe of him within no time at all. I learnt more about how to read a game in 10 minutes with him than from 10 years of playing and coaching. RIP to a great Hullensian, sportsman and gentleman.

 

Sad day for the city. Never heard a bad word about Johnny Whitely.

 

Very Sad news...
A true sporting icon and Hull lad.
RIP

 

RIP Johnny. A true gentleman in every sense of the word. Condolences to the family. He will be sadly missed.

 

I'm hearing that ex-Tiger Geoff Barker also died over the weekend. He had been unwell for some time.

 

I never got into rugby despite playing for my school and apparently being good at it, so I don't know much about Johnny.

It is clear there was a lot of love for him though. RIP Johnny

 

I got to know Geoff quite well when he finished his career. Lovely, lovely man. Proper gentleman. He told me a story of his debut for City at Cardiff, if not his debut it was one of his very early games for us. Nov 1st 1969. Geoff said it was Terry Neill who was our manager but I doubted that because Neill didn't come until a bit later ( could be wrong) Up front for Cardiff was John Toshack and he was on fire and he'd already scored 11 goals. Geoff took the field wearing number 11 and his instructions were, line up for the kick off as if you are a forward as they won't know, then follow Toshack everywhere, don't let him out of your sight. City were 2 down at half time and we ended up losing 6-0, Toshack scoring two of them. I believe Geoff once scored for City at Cardiff in another 6-1 thrashing, that was under Neill, I'm sure.
Last memory of Geoff was at the Chris Chilton fund raiser at Walton Club a couple of years ago, Geoff was ill in hospital with Parkinsons Disease but still got a pass out to attend in his wheelchair. I believe his son brought him. His voice was going by then but he still thanked me 'for what you are doing for Chris' ( I'd helped in organising the night). He went straight back to hospital from the club. He will be remembered at Grimsby and Reading too. As he will be fondly by all those who knew him. RIP Tiger.

 

....and nationally. I saw it reported on the national news bulletins.

 

RIP Johnny, as others have said not only a true sporting icon, but an absolute gentleman.

 

I mentioned Johnny's passing to Mz Kemptons stepfather earlier today and to my surprise, he didn't know.

Well he was absolutely shocked and upset.

He used to play squash with him and they were very good friends years ago.

I'll say it again. Johnny was such a popular man. Mz Kemptons stepfather repeated a line that's been said here....

Such a Gentleman.

 

I worked with Geoff 30 years ago along with Sammy Stewart at Pearl Assurance, he was a humble and unassuming fella, I had a lot of time for him.

RIP Geoff Barker

 

I was at that 6-0. And at the one under Terry Neill the season after. That was 5-1. Think that was Toshack's last game before joining Liverpool and he got a hat trick. Freezing coming back with most of the windows smashed in.

 

In the early days, as kids, we went to City one week and then Hull FC when City was away. Watch Johnny Whiteley in the late 50's, wonderful player and by all accounts a true gentlemen RIP. Johnny.

Also watch Geoff Barker a lot, again a really nice guy. RIP Geoff

 

Johnny Whiteley. An appropriate time to use the word Legend. He was, he is and always will be. RIP.

 

Love Thy Neighbour’s Jack Smethurst has died aged 89.

The actor, who was best known for playing Eddie Booth, in the sitcom, is reported to have been surrounded by loved ones when he died peacefully.

 

I saw him interviewed once a few years ago
Not sure how old it was
But I expected him to be a bit down to earth etc
But he was a right luvvy

bet we’ve all repeated his ok s***o line hearing of his death

 

Love thy neighbour must be the most politically incorrect program you could ever watch now ,the full 8 series are all available on my iptv .
And I recently showed my children aged 31&29 they were totally shocked that it was ever peak time viewing ,but like I said that was the world I grew up in and never knew any other.It really hasn’t stood the test of time but is really evocative of the seventies with the internal shots of the house and the cars especially.

 

One of the best sitcoms of all time....up there with till death us do part....much better than the namby pamby ****e that's about now

 

Arsenal, QPR, Sheffield Wednesday and Everton pay tribute to Steve Burtenshaw after former coach dies aged 86

• Steve Burtenshaw spent his entire playing career with Brighton and Hove Albion
• As a manager, he had spells in charge at Sheffield Wednesday, Everton and QPR
• Burtenshaw also had a short stint as caretaker manager at Arsenal in 1986

 

PJ O’Rourke
Conservative American humorist, political satirist and writer who took aim at his own generation – the baby boomers