Big Swifty
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 8 Nov 2011
- Messages
- 4,371
Lovely to hear about the great Len. He was, indeed, "phenomeally talented", and tore City to shreds whaen Bradford P.A. puteight past City at Maine Road.True, true, true.. and something complainers on here ought to bear in mind when having a pop regarding Khaldoon et al's handling of the media and so on.
BTW, one of the lads who used to be in my team of Reps years ago was a nephew of Len Shackleton. He and I used to talk often about 'The Clown Prince of Football', especially as I had read Shackleton's autobiography as a kid (he was also delighted when I told him my Old Man rated Shackleton second only to City's own Peter Doherty)
My colleague used to to tell of how his Uncle Len loved to entertain the kids at family get-togethers such as weddings and christenings by juggling a tennis ball, with his feet doing the 'keepy-uppies' and then heading the tennis ball onto his shoulders, rolling it from side to side.. even in his 'Sunday best' shoes!
Sounds like he was a great bloke, as well as a phenomenally talented player.. and also intelligent enough to recognise 'Board Room Wrong'Uns' when he met them!
He then signed for Neecastle and scored six on his debut in a 13-0 win over Newport County. Six goals on debut!
When I was a lad I saw him for Sunderland when he and Ivor Broadis were their inside-forwards.
Of course he only played a handful of games for England, ass he was something of a rebel, and didn't toe the party line.
England have always mistrusted the mavericks, alas.