Football Programmes Centre

SeasideMark · Joined: 24 Oct 2014 Posts: 612

I was asked this week if I had a Rhyl programme with the 'legendary' Scouse comedian Stan Boardman playing for the Lilywhites.
He did turn out in the white shirt a few times in the late 60s and here is documentary evidence of him donning the number 10 kit for a Cheshire League match with Stalybridge Celtic in 67/8.
We all know about Charlie Williams playing for Donny Rovers and Des O'Connor and Rod Stewart being on league club's books but have any other bona fide entertainers played pro or semi-pro football at a decent level as unknowns and gone on to be household names?
My mate Les in the Central Beach Club (my local) says John Bishop had a stint with Runcorn (?) and as a Chester supporter I well remember his brother Eddie the Elvis impersonator turning out for the Blues.
Over to you folks...

Wullie · Joined: 10 Jun 2009 Posts: 3423

manchesterunitedman1 · Joined: 17 Jan 2010 Posts: 3352 Location: United Kingdom

SeasideMark wrote:

I was asked this week if I had a Rhyl programme with the 'legendary' Scouse comedian Stan Boardman playing for the Lilywhites.
He did turn out in the white shirt a few times in the late 60s and here is documentary evidence of him donning the number 10 kit for a Cheshire League match with Stalybridge Celtic in 67/8.
We all know about Charlie Williams playing for Donny Rovers and Des O'Connor and Rod Stewart being on league club's books but have any other bona fide entertainers played pro or semi-pro football at a decent level as unknowns and gone on to be household names?
My mate Les in the Central Beach Club (my local) says John Bishop had a stint with Runcorn (?) and as a Chester supporter I well remember his brother Eddie the Elvis impersonator turning out for the Blues.
Over to you folks...

Des O'Connor I think was on the books of Arsenal and Northampton Town?-is that a fact-he was a professional footballer for 100% certain.
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Karb · Joined: 21 Jan 2015 Posts: 462

Bradley Walsh at Brentford

Gorgie Guest · Joined: 02 Apr 2015 Posts: 23

Bradley Walsh played for Brentford.

Musical Hall entertainer Sir George Robey played semi pro football for Millwall as well as guesting for clubs such as Chelsea and Fulham.

Pete’s Picture Palace · Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2015 7:52 pm Post subject:

I think of quite a few comedians who've played for my club over the years. Not many lately though.

derby1884 · Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2015 7:59 pm Post subject:

There's a photo of Des O'Connor running out of the tunnel in his Northampton Town strip in the 1969 (I think) Topical Times annual.
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tackler7 · Joined: 26 May 2011 Posts: 256

A great thread!

Wullie · Joined: 10 Jun 2009 Posts: 3423

I heard somewhere once that ...........

BarnsleyCollector · Joined: 30 Nov 2010 Posts: 200 Location: Barnsley

Charlie Williams played for Monckton Colliery at centre half in this 1966/67 West Yorkshire League fixture at Guiseley when he was almost 40 after he had retired from full time professional football

https://www.flickr.com/photos/barnsleycollector/15651404862/in/album-72157630012468246/

markb9060 · Joined: 29 Jan 2012 Posts: 234

Now then, Now then !! Read It

nozer · Joined: 24 Mar 2011 Posts: 1109 Location: Liverpool

The late Rory Storm extream right with John Lennon and Paul MCcartney.
In the early 60s i trained twice a week with my local Non-League team Prescot Cables who at the time played in the Lancs Combination, and thay had on there books no other than Rory Storm who at the time was bigger on Merseyside on the Pop scean than the Beatles.
Alan (Rory) always picked me up at home for training and had a guy who he referd to as Richard driving him , it was not till months later that i realised that the Richard was no other than Ringo Starr who was drummer in his band Rory Storm and the Huricanes.

Was a really nice and friendly guy was Alan a very good footballer and athlete also who sadly comitted suiside a few years later.

derby1884

nozer wrote:

[img]http://football

Was a really nice and friendly guy was Alan a very good footballer and athlete also who sadly comitted suiside a few years later.

It's alleged that his mother found his body and, not able to cope, took her own life there and then. The bodies were found next to one another. Hell of a thing.

I have the "At The Cavern" LP - from memory, I think there's a couple of Rory Storm tracks on there. I'll need to check.
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pafcprogs · Joined: 24 Dec 2008 Posts: 1009 Location: Westerham Kent

Not quite the same thing but Stans son Paul played for Argyle and then became a stand up after injury forced him to retire

http://www.greensonscreen.co.uk/gosdb-players2.asp?pid=82&scp=1,2,3,4,5,6,7
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Most Plymouth post 1959 but plenty of others including reserves, friendlies, Cup Finals Internationals and Club issues, handbooks and other sports.

Paul Johnson · Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2015 1:32 pm Post subject:

Wullie wrote:

I heard somewhere once that ...........

that actually madfe me spit my cornflakes over the keyboard Laughing

Ruud Van Driver · Joined: 16 Feb 2011 Posts: 1265

Paul Johnson wrote:

Wullie wrote:

I heard somewhere once that ...........

that actually madfe me spit my cornflakes over the keyboard Laughing

I think one of your cornflakes is now stuck between the D and the F on your keyboard Paul

Laughing

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bisphamseasider · Joined: 02 Jun 2009 Posts: 2731 Location: Blackpool

Ruud Van Driver wrote:

Paul Johnson wrote:

Wullie wrote:

I heard somewhere once that ...........

that actually madfe me spit my cornflakes over the keyboard Laughing

I think one of your cornflakes is now stuck between the D and the F on your keyboard Paul

Laughing

You are certainly on form lately ruud with some of your responses. Laughing

Great observation that.

Ruud Van Driver · Joined: 16 Feb 2011 Posts: 1265

bisphamseasider wrote:

You are certainly on form lately ruud with some of your responses. Laughing

Great observation that.

Thank you - Clearly too much time on my hands!
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bisphamseasider · Joined: 02 Jun 2009 Posts: 2731 Location: Blackpool

Ruud Van Driver wrote:

bisphamseasider wrote:

You are certainly on form lately ruud with some of your responses. Laughing

Great observation that.

Thank you - Clearly too much time on my hands!

Yes and no fixture today for either of our teams.

I recall Easter weekends when we played Friday, Saturday, Monday or Saturday, Monday, Tuesday.

Even our Monday afternoon game has been switiched to the Tuesday night for some reason.

Ruud Van Driver · Joined: 16 Feb 2011 Posts: 1265

....and we play Saturday and then Monday - Wolves who play today have an extra day to prepare for the TV game on Monday so at least we have an excuse!

Yes, Easter used to be 3 games in 4 days with 2 of the games against the same club which occasionally fell on successive days home and away

And the players used to walk to the games

And you try and tell the young people of today that - they won't believe you
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