PaulC Posted September 19, 2021 Share Posted September 19, 2021 One of Englands finest strikers with an amazing goal scoring record at Chelsea and Spurs has died. Never took himself too seriously! Its fitting that Chelsea play spurs today. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutByEaster? Posted September 19, 2021 Moderator Share Posted September 19, 2021 I never saw him play, but am aware by reputation of how sharp a player he was. None of the Villa players yesterday were born when Saint and Greavsie finished being on the TV. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robby b Posted September 19, 2021 Share Posted September 19, 2021 I loved watching Saint and Greavsie on TV every Saturday (late morning/lunchtime), it was a part of my childhood. It ran from 1985 to 1992. And I've often thought of him saying "It's a funny old game" in his London accent. Incredible goal scoring ratios for England and his clubs. And if he hadn't got injured in the group stage of the 66 World Cup then it may well have been him scoring for England in the final rather than Hurst. But Hurst did so well in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wainy316 Posted September 19, 2021 Share Posted September 19, 2021 35 minutes ago, OutByEaster? said: I never saw him play, but am aware by reputation of how sharp a player he was. None of the Villa players yesterday were born when Saint and Greavsie finished being on the TV. Apart from Ashley Young. He’s the same age as me and I remember it being on. After that he used to be on the Central match live on a Sunday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutByEaster? Posted September 19, 2021 Moderator Share Posted September 19, 2021 5 minutes ago, Wainy316 said: Apart from Ashley Young. He’s the same age as me and I remember it being on. After that he used to be on the Central match live on a Sunday. I forgot Young came on It's a pity in a way that he'll be remembered more by description than by anyone that saw him, for me, my memories of him are as a pundit and TV personality and he was pretty good at that, albeit a peculiar commentator, but he was by all accounts an outstanding player and an amazing goalscorer in an era that we don't really see. I'd imagine there aren't many still around that were lucky enough to have watched him and that there are a lot of people who won't recall him being on the TV either. Such is time I suppose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulC Posted September 19, 2021 Author Share Posted September 19, 2021 He used to be on central or atv during the 80/81 season and described that Villa team as "a pack of wolves, if one doesn't get you the other will". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rds1983 Posted September 19, 2021 VT Supporter Share Posted September 19, 2021 Unbelievable goal scoring record (especially for England). World Cup winner having played (and been injured) during the group stages. Always seemed a nice guy when you saw him on TV. Rip. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robby b Posted September 19, 2021 Share Posted September 19, 2021 8 minutes ago, Rds1983 said: Unbelievable goal scoring record (especially for England). World Cup winner having played (and been injured) during the group stages. Always seemed a nice guy when you saw him on TV. Rip. Yes I agree, he was a nice guy, and entertaining too... I remember how he used to make Ian St John laugh so much! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted September 20, 2021 Share Posted September 20, 2021 I did have the pleasure of seeing Jimmy play. He always seemed to score against us, but there again he scored against everyone didn't he? He would make my all-time England every time, I thought about picking one. A great player and such a laugh on the box. Should have had a knighthood, as should have Bobby Moore, but what they both had was the respect of those that really mattered the football fans themselves. Jim will be much missed. RIP Jimmy and thanks for the memories. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jono62 Posted September 20, 2021 Share Posted September 20, 2021 Funny how these happen. Greaves would have had legend status if he wasn't injured during the 66 world cup group stages as he was a better striker than Hurst. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PussEKatt Posted September 20, 2021 Share Posted September 20, 2021 Saw Hurst play when here toured with Bobby Charltons 11 also read his book about getting to the FA Cup.He starts at a nonleague club and follows them till they lose then he follows the winners and so on till he gets to the final which was Liverpool against someone and he takes the captain of that first non league team to the FA Cup final to meet the Liverpool captain.A great read. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulC Posted September 20, 2021 Author Share Posted September 20, 2021 2 hours ago, Jono62 said: Funny how these happen. Greaves would have had legend status if he wasn't injured during the 66 world cup group stages as he was a better striker than Hurst. I think he was fit to play in the final but he hadn't done anything in the first three games and Hurst had done well so he kept the same team. Not sure Greaves was Ramsey's type of player as he was purely a goalscorer, didnt tackle or chase back and if he wasn't scoring goals he had no value to the team. Post world cup he never got a look in and the london media didn't like it one bit but Greaves said he didnt want to be selected for England if he wasn't going to play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjw63 Posted September 21, 2021 Share Posted September 21, 2021 (edited) Just heard a program on radio about Greavsie. Didn't Know he'd scored on his debut for every team he played for. Also he had a five inch gash in his leg after the France game in '66, that's why he missed out on the Argentina game, Hurst came in and the rest is history. Another great story about him being a rally driver whilst still playing, at West Ham. He was driving a Ford Escort over to Mexico on some promotion rally and his best mate Bobby Moore had been arrested in Colombia on trumped up theft charges. Greaves did a detour and managed to get to Bogota and break into where Moore was under house arrest just to see him Edited September 21, 2021 by rjw63 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8pints Posted September 21, 2021 Share Posted September 21, 2021 https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/jimmy-greaves-how-helped-aston-4562503 Quote I watched Aston Villa a lot in the ’80s after joining Central Television and I can’t help wondering if those who are still packing the Holte End must be looking at Southampton and West Ham and thinking: “That really ought to be us up there.” Villa won the European Cup in 1982 with a good group of players, including Dennis Mortimer, Gordon Cowans and Peter Withe, although I like to think that success was also partly down to yours truly! In goal for much of that final against Bayern Munich was Nigel Spink, who came on after 10 minutes to replace the injured Jimmy Rimmer. I helped play a major role in the making of Spinky when we were together at Chelmsford City in 1976-77. The rest of us were so bad that Nigel got about 10 years’ worth of experience and practice that season when we were relegated from the Southern League premier division. That European crown should have been the catalyst for Villa to dominate English football for years to come, or at least remain one of the top teams, but there has been little other than disappointment ever since. Doug Ellis worked his socks off to get it right there and I wonder how many fans would rather he were still in charge these days? He was a character, Doug, and I always laugh about Tommy Docherty getting the dreaded vote of confidence. “Don’t worry, Tommy, I’m right behind you,” Deadly once told him. To which the Doc replied: “I’d rather you were in front of me where I can see you.” When Ron Atkinson took over at Villa the Central boys had a major dilemma. Gary Newbon, Trevor East, Alan Parry, me and one or two others would be invited to Doug’s room – Deadly’s Disco, we called it – but also to the manager’s room, which we’d dubbed Ron’s Bistro. We didn’t dare upset them so in the end we worked out we were better splitting into two groups and doing half an hour in one room then half an hour in the other before making our excuses that we all had to get back to the studio. When I was at Tottenham, we always seemed to have trouble against Villa. They had some very good players over the years – Nigel Sims, the keeper, Stan Crowther, Derek Dougan, Peter McParland and Phil Woosnam – and I remember one game at White Hart Lane in 1966 when we were 5-1 up but drew 5-5. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davkaus Posted September 21, 2021 Share Posted September 21, 2021 Quote Doug Ellis worked his socks off to get it right there and I wonder how many fans would rather he were still in charge these days? I don't think I wished that even at our lowest ebb. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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