Craig "Shez" Shennan (sadly passed today 01/06)

First time I ever met Shez was on September 28th 1992. It was a Monday night match away at Arsenal in the early weeks of the first season of Sky’s TV deal with the Premier League. The North Bank was being converted to all-seater so Highbury’s capacity was reduced to around 20,000 and we only got about 900 tickets. Shez had his Grover puppet and we were drinking outside The Drayton Park pub. It’s now the designated away pub for matches at the Emirates but in the Highbury days it was a mixture of home and away fans. I’d only known Shez about half an hour at the point when his attention was drawn to a car that was about to pull out of a side street nearby:

“Gillian!” he shouted, whilst waving and smiling at the driver as though he’d known her for years. Loads of us - blues and Gooners - turned round to see none other than Gillian Taylforth (aka Kathy Beale) fully reciprocate and smile and wave back at him! It baffles me how he could be in a crowd of people talking and having necked a fair few pints at that point but also be so switched on to clock her coming out of the side street!
 
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M18CTID said:
Great post mate. I was up there around teatime tonight so I think it was after you’d been. Went with @whp.blue who headed over at really short notice from Sheffield after I told him today. He was very drowsy when we saw him but he still acknowledged us after what must’ve been a very long day of comings and goings.

Spot on about Jordan and Alisha - they’re both an absolute credit to their dad.

Yep, the Karren Brady story. I told Jordan while we there but didn’t get chance to tell Alisha. Anyway, about 12 years ago at Fulham away some of us were in The Bricklayers Arms in Putney. It just so happened that they had a beer festival on that day out at the back. We bumped into Shez in the beer garden. There were dozens of different ales for sale and right at the far end there was one called Rhubarb and Riches (IIRC). After getting served, we wondered why there were TV cameras there. My mate then spotted something on one of the cameramen and it turns out that the people serving that particular beer were only off The Apprentice and this was their task. To be honest, their beer tasted absolutely rank and it seemed only us blues were stupid enough to drink it! Anyway, a short while later the side gate opened and another camera crew entered followed by Karren Brady. Shez being Shez then shouted:

“Hey Karren! Do you remember back in 1993 after you got the job at Birmingham City I wrote to you and asked if you wanted to pop round my house for a brew”. It’s difficult to describe the look on Brady’s face but I think it was a mixture of disbelief and disdain. To this day, I don’t actually know whether Shez did write to her or not but knowing what he’s like he probably did!
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I was with the Mrs that day we still laugh about it to this day, I thought the security guys were going to section Shez Absolute character!
 
M18CTID said:
First time I ever met Shez was on September 28th 1992. It was a Monday night match away at Arsenal in the early weeks of the first season of Sky’s TV deal with the Premier League. The North Bank was being converted to all-seater so Highbury’s capacity was reduced to around 20,000 and we only got about 900 tickets. Shez had his Grover puppet and we were drinking outside The Drayton Park pub. It’s now the designated away pub for matches at the Emirates but in the Highbury days it was a mixture of home and away fans. I’d only known Shez about half an hour at the point when his attention was drawn to a car that was about to pull out of a side street nearby:

“Gillian!” he shouted, whilst waving and smiling at the driver as though he’d known her for years. Loads of us - blues and Gooners - turned round to see none other than Gillian Taylforth (aka Kathy Beale) fully reciprocate and smile and wave back at him! It baffles me how he could be in a crowd of people talking and having necked a fair few pints at that point but also be so switched on to clock her coming out of the side street.
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Love it mate.

Question is though...did he invite her round for a brew?
 
GOULDYBOBS said:
I've never met Shez that I know of but what gives me hope is how this club can come together.

You saw me standing alone, without a dream in my heart without a love of my own. Blue moon
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This is what being a City fan is all about. The football itself (and all the politics that go with it) are all a minor part of football culture. Fuck the premier league, UEFA, the charges etc…

Ultimately, it’s the community that’s important. Whether we’re playing Real Madrid or Macclesfield, it’s the people stood on the terrace next to you that matter.
 
Citizen Green said:
Guilty as charged mate
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Thought so lol.

Hope you're good mate, despite What's going on with Shez.

Coming up with Mel on Monday. Picking up Jack from Ashton. Then Ian. Then Graham. Grahams having a tough time dealing with whats happening with his bessie Shez and hasnt been able to face going in, but talked him into it.

Be at the ward about 6ish. Be good to see you if you're planning on going in? Maybe have a beer after?

Let me know mate.
 
Manchester33 said:
This is what being a City fan is all about. The football itself (and all the politics that go with it) are all a minor part of football culture. Fuck the premier league, UEFA, the charges etc…

Ultimately, it’s the community that’s important. Whether we’re playing Real Madrid or Macclesfield, it’s the people stood on the terrace next to you that matter.
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Fucking bang on mate.
 
Some great stories to read through. Known Shez a long time now more so through my brother who he is good mates with. Such awful news. Always been chatty and friendly to me when I’ve seen him. And always looked out for my two when they started going away with the chicken hut last two seasons. Legend of a bloke and just devastating to hear. Sending love to his family. The donations say it all. What a family we are when it comes to things like this. Thinking of you Shez mate keep on fighting
 
Known Shezza for donkeys years . You`ll never meet a nicer guy . Did many games in Scotland with him over the years . Gutted when i heard the news of his illness . Even more so when i heard it was terminal . We expect guys like Shezza to live for ever . Gonna miss the big fella . A larger than life character with a heart of gold . Good to hear the Tillicoultry lads made the journey down from Scotland to see him Dodge . Donated .
 
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Dodge said:
Thought so lol.

Hope you're good mate, despite What's going on with Shez.

Coming up with Mel on Monday. Picking up Jack from Ashton. Then Ian. Then Graham. Grahams having a tough time dealing with whats happening with his bessie Shez and hasnt been able to face going in, but talked him into it.

Be at the ward about 6ish. Be good to see you if you're planning on going in? Maybe have a beer after?

Let me know mate.
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You’re clearly a good man Dodge, I know your Brentford thing is coming up soon and you deserve a good result, it would be the best result of a very difficult season
 
Terrible news. Sits in my block so see him at most home games.
I've know him since he was a kid. Was my brother's mate at school and our postman for years.
 
M18CTID said:
First time I ever met Shez was on September 28th 1992. It was a Monday night match away at Arsenal in the early weeks of the first season of Sky’s TV deal with the Premier League. The North Bank was being converted to all-seater so Highbury’s capacity was reduced to around 20,000 and we only got about 900 tickets. Shez had his Grover puppet and we were drinking outside The Drayton Park pub. It’s now the designated away pub for matches at the Emirates but in the Highbury days it was a mixture of home and away fans. I’d only known Shez about half an hour at the point when his attention was drawn to a car that was about to pull out of a side street nearby:

“Gillian!” he shouted, whilst waving and smiling at the driver as though he’d known her for years. Loads of us - blues and Gooners - turned round to see none other than Gillian Taylforth (aka Kathy Beale) fully reciprocate and smile and wave back at him! It baffles me how he could be in a crowd of people talking and having necked a fair few pints at that point but also be so switched on to clock her coming out of the side street.
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Is that you spike?
 
My younger brother used to go Maine Road with him back when they were teens. He's gutted for him.
 
Clearly a well loved and respected chap. I think in life with all we want and all we want to achieve sometimes it’s more than enough to have the love and admiration that this lad is receiving.
I don’t know him but like others have seen him at the aways.

I hope his friends and family can take comfort in the love and support he is and will continue to support.

Some people just make a mark on other peoples lives. And they probably didn’t even have to try it’s just the way they are.

All the best to everyone associated with shez (sorry if a bit informal as I don’t know him)
 
I ho
wearethesouthstand said:
He was one of the Faroes trawler twelve- organising the fishermen to let the City fans use the boat from Shetland. They were rescued obviously and the story became big news.

Moscow away he was one of a handful of Blues who got in despite the ban but who were chucked out by City’s own security team.

Millwall away with away fans banned he got in - obviously.

Dortmund friendly years ago got adopted by a load of Germans who took him to a karaoke bar, 12 hours solid 8pm til 8am then straight on a plane.

Thousands of other stories too.

Shez is an example of what a home and away Blue is , done it all seen it all, talks to everyone, a character a personality- held down 4 or 5 jobs at one time, postie, scrap metal, gardening, delivery driver, anything and everything to get the funds together to watch City.

A level of fanatical support that is hard to beat.

But every day with a smile on his face.

And an amazing role model for his kids.
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I Hope the club aknowledge
Eds said:
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Class
 
I've probably been in his presence back in the day at away matches, unfortuntely I've never met him but I feel I know him a little through all these wonderful trubutes. My heart goes out to him and all of his family at this sad time. We all need characters like him in our lives.

Typical of Jack to post that BTW. Such a wonderful human being.
 
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citymad said:
I've probably been in his presence back in the day at away matches, unfortuntely I've never met him but I feel I know him a little through all these wonderful trubutes. My heart goes out to him and all of his family at this sad time. We call need characters like him in our lives.

Typical of Jack to post that BTW. Such a wonderful human being.
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Cole Palmers doing one for him as well.

You can take the lad out of Wythy...
 
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