Outside of Hull City, who is your favourite football player, manager or team? Your guilty secret? And why? My own favourite was the late Bill Shankly. I never cared for Liverpool; in fact I would probably say that I dislike the city and the team but they were merely the vehicle for Shankly to become the football giant he became! He was a wholehearted football fanatic, a man of passion with an aptitude for classic one liners. People will point out that Bob Paisley was the more successful manager in terms of trophies won but Shankly was the pioneer, the founder of the dynasty. Without Shankly there would have been no Paisley. If he was around today, he would be an anachronism. He was more a motivator, a leader, an inspirer than a coach. But he would srill possess the fire and flair and fanaticism to be a powerhouse in the modern game. So, that's my guilty football secret. What's yours?
I suppose I'm a bit boring as it's always been City for me but yes I can appreciate and admire others such as the marvellous Shanks, and then there are the obvious modern times ones like Messi. That's about it for me, if it's not City it don't count
I like watching Messi. I watch SJ because its the local club (3 hours away though) and as its always on a different time it doesn't effect watching our games. Im not really a fan, I just watch all the games, it doesnt bother me in the least if they win or lose. I dont really care for managers beyond whatever one we have.
FC and Gareth Raynor. They are my favourite team and player in sport. City and Geovanni a close-but-not-too-close second.
I have a few other teams I like to follow the results of abroad: B36 Torshavn: I have family over there and they're the club my cousin supports. The league they play in is very similar to Ferriby's league (as are the grounds), but B36 are probably more League 2 standard (and they're the best club in the division). Likewise, I follow the Faroes over England, it's just a nice change of pace and it just feels right. I still watch and cheer on England, but if the two ever came up against each other I know which side I'd be on (the one getting thumped 8-0). CD Tenerife: My other cousin used to live out there and had a beautiful villa we used to go and stay in. As it happened, the guy who was the facilities manager at the Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez (their ground) was a friend of theirs so they used to get free tickets and so we went to watch them a few times. I actually had the pleasure of meeting Rafa Benitez (albeit breifly) when we had a stadium tour, as he was manager there at the turn of the century (2000, not 1900, I'm not that old...). I'm not ashamed to say I had no idea who he was at the time, I don't suppose I could have known as he wasn't really famous for anything. But they're a neat little side who have fallen on hard times recently. They were relegated to the third tier the season before last, which was harsh but they instantly bounced back and are having a less than decent time of it this year, currently sitting 19th.
Always admired the way Mark Hughes played. He was tough as and scored some spectacular and important goals. Does anyone else remember the time the hull daily mail published a picture of Gareth Raynor with his nob dangling out the side of his shorts. This deffo happened, but it's never talked about.
I'm gonna get killed for this I realize, but when I emigrated to Leeds in 65, because Don Revie's wife used to teach at my junior school in Hessle around '56, I used to watch TWS @ Elland Rd when I couldn't get over to Hull to watch City. They were a fantastic team (TWS) at that time, as were City, so I suppose I had the best of both worlds. I've had the pleasure of playing in the same team with an ex-TWS first-teamer (late 70's, early 80's vintage )over here in Canada - a great lad - he's now a City fan, following Yorkshire's No 1 club. Always loved watching Best & Law playing for United, and Jimmy Johnston of Celtic.
Brian Clough. Even through all the drinking and other stuff, he just seemed to be larger than life. For some reason back then, my favourite non-City player was Franz Carr. Not sure why. I think I just like the entertainment of mazy dribblers (Barnes was another I use to enjoy watching).
Current ones, Stevie G of course. Past players, Chopper Harris, Zola and Henry. Clubs, soft spot for a few tbh, linked to old mates from the armed forces. Mostly its just a laugh when TWS loses though.
Berwick Rangers....always looked out for them purely because back in the early 80's there was a football magazine called 'Shoot' , sure a few here will remember it. Well Shoot produced a piece of card that had all the English and Scottish divisions with t-cards of each team and Berwick had the same colour t-card as Hull City. Players, well outside of Hull City, Ian Rush....just so natural in front of goal.
Yeah that's just reminded me, my cousin and I used to look out for the result of Montrose in the green mail every Saturday, simply because we lived down Montrose Avenue. So yeah they were our second team, and they were always a bit ****.
True, although I had plenty of mates at that time that must have spent at least some of their lives living down either Manchester Street or Liverpool Street!
Always had a soft spot for Nottm Forest and all they achieved under Cloughie in the halcyon days in the late 1970's & 1980's. I still look out for their results and like to see them do well but certainly not at Hull City's expense. I looked forward to our away trips to The City Ground during our Championship days ( 1-0 & 2-1 wins ) and realised that was the place the great Brian Clough not once but twice ruled the footballing world from with his two European Cup victories.
I used to look out for Glasgow Rangers only because when i was little i had an action man with a Rangers kit...... Could have been worse, my brother had a TWS kit for his. Also used to look for Burnleys results, as my uncle was one of their team doctors at the time. I never wanted them to win just be in the same division as us.
Growing up I had a soft spot for Jueventus. They where the best team in Europe when I really got into football(around Euro 96). Always use to love Alessandro Del Piero. I still have a couple of Jueventus shirts at my mums. I once bought a Bayern Munich shirt and granddad wouldn't speak to me.
Definitely Cloughie - What was not to like? Derby mainly because their fans are the least obnoxious in the East Midlands and deserve bragging rights over Forest and Leicester. Messi because although he's the best in the world he somehow manages to seem down to earth and not big-headed (take note Ronaldo).
Brazil national team 1970, loved the flair and genius, especially Rivellino and Carlos Alberto (his goal in the final is my favorite ever). Favorite UK player other than City was Eddie Gray.
