Remembering Bert Trautmann

[The Lightbowne Cowboy]

Similar experience, introduced to Bert my Bill Leivers, got him to sign my QPR programme. Not a bad day (in the end) Agueroooooooooooooooo and Bert !

WOW!! That's another belter!

 

[johnevans]

My first ever City hero.

 

[yeah whatever !!]

Such a great story to his life. legend.

 

[Shirley]

I attended Bert's testimonial in 1964. He was a veteran and playing in the reserves that season as Harry Dowd had taken over. The teams were a combined City/United side versus an all England X1 (Matthews, Finney, Lofthouse, Moore, Banks etc). The result didn't matter as Bert pulled off a series of stunning saves. The game didn't finish though as after 80 minutes a ten year old urchin evaded the police cordon, ran up to Bert, and embraced him. Seconds later the crowd engulfed the pitch. Bert gave a tearful farewell address on the tannoy and many others were in tears too.

I was actually a thirteen year old at the time, one of the first on the pitch but not the urchin as you describe.

Still have the program somewhere

 

[Gary James]

Today’s the anniversary of a day when Bert lost his temper somewhat! Story here (free read):

Trautmann Off!

It was a miserable day all round as Manchester City’s Bert Trautmann was sent off for booting the ball at the referee on this day (8 September 1962). City lost the game with West Ham 6-1 with…

gjfootballarchive.com

Anyone at that game?

 

[Shirley]

Today’s the anniversary of a day when Bert lost his temper somewhat! Story here (free read):

Trautmann Off!

It was a miserable day all round as Manchester City’s Bert Trautmann was sent off for booting the ball at the referee on this day (8 September 1962). City lost the game with West Ham 6-1 with…

gjfootballarchive.com

Anyone at that game?

I would have been there but unfortunately only have vague memories of it.
Didn't Joe Corrigan also kick the ball at a referee during a game or am I confusing it all.

 

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

His statue should be outside the ground for everyone to see

 

[KS55]

I attended Bert's testimonial in 1964. He was a veteran and playing in the reserves that season as Harry Dowd had taken over. The teams were a combined City/United side versus an all England X1 (Matthews, Finney, Lofthouse, Moore, Banks etc). The result didn't matter as Bert pulled off a series of stunning saves. The game didn't finish though as after 80 minutes a ten year old urchin evaded the police cordon, ran up to Bert, and embraced him. Seconds later the crowd engulfed the pitch. Bert gave a tearful farewell address on the tannoy and many others were in tears too.

Bert was my first City hero. He gave me his autograph when I chanced upon him at a garage in Northenden.
I too was at his testimonial, a great night. City ripped him off pretending the crowd was 45,000 when it was near to 65’000. They gave him some extra some years later.
During that game Maurice Setters, iirc, scored an own goal against him and claimed years later that it was deliberate “As I could never score against him in my career.”

 

[KS55]

I would have been there but unfortunately only have vague memories of it.
Didn't Joe Corrigan also kick the ball at a referee during a game or am I confusing it all.

Joe got sent off for protesting that the ref had put the penalty spot in the wrong place. The original had sunk under the Maine Road mud. When they finally measured it, Joe was quite right, but had already departed then. Against Derby?

 

[Fred_Quimby]

I still think that one end of the ground should be named the Swift/Trautman stand after two hero goalkeepers.

 

[Blue Lorry]

Not just a fantastic keeper and City legend but an amazing man. Refused repatriation and fought the discrimination and demonstrations against him, he almost certainly would have won the world cup in 1954 if he took the easy option and returned to Germany. I think playing with a broken neck wasn’t the hardest thing he did after everything he had been through which tells you everything you need to know about this truly great man. An absolute legend of a man and it makes me so proud that he played for us and I’m sure he appreciated every fan who grew to support and admire him and made him feel a hero for his strength and loyalty - definitely a one off and his talent means he will be remembered forever, what more can anyone ask for.

 

[Colin Bells Boots]

Not just a fantastic keeper and City legend but an amazing man. Refused repatriation and fought the discrimination and demonstrations against him, he almost certainly would have won the world cup in 1954 if he took the easy option and returned to Germany. I think playing with a broken neck wasn’t the hardest thing he did after everything he had been through which tells you everything you need to know about this truly great man. An absolute legend of a man and it makes me so proud that he played for us and I’m sure he appreciated every fan who grew to support and admire him and made him feel a hero for his strength and loyalty - definitely a one off and his talent means he will be remembered forever, what more can anyone ask for.

Got my first sight of this giant of a man and goalkeeper in 1954 , and I was totally hooked.

Been a brilliant legend for the club throughout the years.