I've never waited in such anticipation for a game as that one on 29th October 1983 when we played Newcastle. I've never felt so down either after that result. It was worse than the Luton game the season before and countless other defeats since.
The hype in the press and on TV that week was imense. The poster earlier was right about the Tolmie v Keegan showdown. But the our boys never turned up and it was the game that really brought Beardsley and waddle onto the national stage. I've never liked those chumps Newcastle since then.
Even though we were in the second division back then, MOTD was able to show second tier games and no wonder, as the biggest crowds were not in the first, but the second with City, Sheff Wed, Chelsea, Leeds and to a lesser extent Newcastle pulling in 25,000 plus per game. (City v Sheff Wed &Newcastle pulled in over 41,000 !!).
Back to Jim Tolmie, The Barnsley free kick into the Platt lane end was so immense, 3 of us tried to perfect the technique for months on end on some fields in South Reddish, with the trailing left foot dragging along the grass revealing the classic Adidas champions logo. No doubt the pre-pubescent Beckham saw & stole Jim Tolmies beautiful free kick technique and claimed it his own. Utterly disgusting.
Other memorable moments was his one off radio show with Neil Mcnab and Derek Parlane on new years eve 1983 on piccadilly radio. Really funny guy had us in stitches. (sounds of tinnies being openened while claiming to be teetotal andsong requests for Ray Ranson such as 'Please release me' by Engelbert.
Without doubt, an inspiring city player for me and my mates during that time. I'll never forget him. A real hero.
Please go and raise a toast to the enigma that is Jim Tolmie, A fine footballer, and to me at least, easily worth a top fifty greatest city players of all time for his creative footballing inspiration and not letting me lose the City faith in those darkest of times when all looked lost.
