Graham Tutt

mattaddick

I'm interviewing Graham Tutt tomorrow and I was wondering if anyone on the forum recalls seeing him play. Obviously I know all about the terrible injury at Sunderland which finished his career in Feb '76 when he was kicked in the face by Tom Finney and the fact there was a testimonial at The Valley against Sunderland the following year. But if anyone has anyone specific information, memories of him, please post. Thanks.

gilbertfilbert

Where will the interview be published?

I remember GT as a very, very good keeper for one so young. We were all sickened by the injury -- he would have had a great career without it.

SoundAsa£

Remember him leaving the pitch in floods of tears at his testimonial....lovely lad and a superb talent.
Very unfortunate way to end such a promising career.

mattaddick

gilbertfilbert said:

Where will the interview be published?

Thanks - Backpass magazine - www.backpassmagazine.co.uk

I remember GT as a very, very good keeper for one so young. We were all sickened by the injury -- he would have had a great career without it.

Paddy7

Not sure it's interview material but I remember going to see him in the now defunct Hither Green hospital, I think a few days after it happened at Sunderland. I was 9 at the time and I think I made him a card! I might just've been a bit young to make a balanced judgement but felt sure he'd play for England! All the best Graham; a horrendous fate for any young athlete.

LenGlover

Even though still a teenager he was a physically imposing keeper and particularly decent with crosses from what I remember.

I can't remember any real weaknesses and definitely a very sad tale of a largely unfulfilled talent.

Tom Finney has a lot to answer for.

mattaddick

Paddy7 said:

Not sure it's interview material but I remember going to see him in the now defunct Hither Green hospital, I think a few days after it happened at Sunderland. I was 9 at the time and I think I made him a card! I might just've been a bit young to make a balanced judgement but felt sure he'd play for England! All the best Graham; a horrendous fate for any young athlete.

Great memory - thanks!

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mattaddick

LenGlover said:

Even though still a teenager he was a physically imposing keeper and particularly decent with crosses from what I remember.

I can't remember any real weaknesses and definitely a very sad tale of a largely unfulfilled talent.

Tom Finney has a lot to answer for.

Thanks - yes, apparently Finney played at The Valley for Cambridge reserves a few years later and revenge was meted out in no uncertain fashion

Harry Gregory

Ask him if he still goes to Aunt Charlies pub in Atlanta? I met him in there once in 1990 as he was mates with my Charlton supporting friend who also lived there.

mattaddick

Harry Gregory said:

Ask him if he still goes to Aunt Charlies pub in Atlanta? I met him in there once in 1990 as he was mates with my Charlton supporting friend who also lived there.

Thanks - will do

Tutt-Tutt

Mattaddick - pass on my best wishes. He was three years above me at Primary School (Turnham Road) and one of the bigger boys, before moving onto Roger Manwood. Ask him if he remembers the teacher who took football - Mr Pigden - & the Invicta Cup final against Marvels Lane in 1967, which I think he played in. Turnham School was a mini football factory with it's after school football organised by Mr Mitchell in what was called the Play Centre. Ian Wright, Steve Anthrobus and David Rocastle also came through the same route.
I recall Graham lived in the St Norberts Road area in Brockley, rather than on the Honor Oak Estate. He was very similar in style to Bryan King, the Millwall keeper at the time.
Probably not interview material - but there you go.

Derek1952

I know memory plays tricks but I think Graham Tutt carried on playing in what was The Southern League,in the Kent area,I used to follow Sheppey United,and I think he was playing for Maidstone Utd.

Covered End

Did he/the players feel Finney did it deliberately ?

I remember watching MOTD as a 14 year old & I was convinced that he did.

Disgraceful. Should have received a very lengthy ban.

guinnessaddick

Covered End said:

Did he/the players feel Finney did it deliberately ?

I remember watching MOTD as a 14 year old & I was convinced that he did.

Disgraceful. Should have received a very lengthy ban.

I dont't think he every played for Sunderland after that match and he may have been subbed after the incident.

Bryan_Kynsie

Classy player and very unfortunate what happened. Thought he had a big future. Would probably have been sold though as we were pot less back then.

March51

Remember his home debut well, 3-0 v. Oldham, and thinking what a great prospect he was. Finney's was a terrible foul and we didn't even get a free kick let alone any punishment for him. I also remember reading somewhere that Millwall didn't sign Graham as a youngster as they thought he was too tall! Is that true?
Also, in the promotion game against Preston in '75, after Bob Curtis missed a penalty and they went ahead 0-1, did Mr. Nelson have some words to say at half time?

Kap10

He still keeps in touch with Richard Sheppard who drinks pre match at the Rose of Denmark and was in the same class at school as Brian Kinsey (Richard not Graham), I think he is very appreciative of Richard keeping him in touch with all things charlton

TelMc32

Used to speak of him regularly with a former client & good friend - David Barker - who was related by marriage to Graham. David told me all about Graham's soccer schools in America and of his fond memories of Charlton. As a young fan at the time, I remember a very young lad, with blond(ish) curly hair, who was a huge talent.

Have heard the story of Finney being kicked to pieces in the reserve game some time later. I believe that Bob Stokoe, the Sunderland manager at the time of Graham's injury, and a former Charlton player, subbed Finney and refused to ever play him again.

Lost touch with David some time go. Appreciate they are former in-laws and probably not in touch these days, but know David always had very fond memories of Graham & hope both are well & enjoying life.

Kap10

Stokoe was former manager, who before winning the FA Cup said his favourite game as a manger was when Blackpool stuck 5 past charlton to relegate us .. not tha he was bitter about his sacking

kevtherev

Finney got boo,s everytime he played against Charlton post GT,s assault I remember him playing for Cambridge utd.

pettgra

I remember that Malcolm Macdonald guested for Charlton for GT's testimonial.He was only supposed to play one half but played both.Finney is so lucky that Derek Hales went in goal.

Addickted

kevtherev said:

Finney got boo,s everytime he played against Charlton post GT,s assault I remember him playing for Cambridge utd.

Remember Finney playing for Cambridge at The Abbey and scoring aginst us directly in front of the away following.

We went mad and the piece of shit milked it in front of us.

Miserableoldgit

Send him my regards, and Thank Him for supporting The George Boys.......
Abuse him because He's a spanner !
:-)

GoldthorpesHeel

I was at Newcastle University and was at Roker Park that day - so sad - he was a great young keeper.

Hastingsaddick

I was only 10 when he had the injury, so can't really remember him playing though obviously saw him play as I started going to watch Charlton from the age of 5-6..1970-71. I do remember the day he was injured though. My father said to me that he had some terrible news after I came home from playing out (as if someone had died) and told me that Graham had sustained a career threatening injury....which of course it was. I new we had a great keeper but being a bit on the young side didn't realise how great....my dad was really upset about the incident. Finney certainly got plenty of stick whenever he came up against us...right to the end of his playing days.

Hastingsaddick

How did the interview go Matt?

bingaddick

March51 said:

Remember his home debut well, 3-0 v. Oldham, and thinking what a great prospect he was. Finney's was a terrible foul and we didn't even get a free kick let alone any punishment for him. I also remember reading somewhere that Millwall didn't sign Graham as a youngster as they thought he was too tall! Is that true?
Also, in the promotion game against Preston in '75, after Bob Curtis missed a penalty and they went ahead 0-1, did Mr. Nelson have some words to say at half time?

I thought it was the opposite, he was thought of as too small for a keeper but just kept growing.

I have great memories of watching him play. He was inexperienced as a keeper when he broke into the team but was a key member of the 74/5 promotion team. I really can't remember him making handling errors. He was pretty decent positionally and tall enough to make him difficult to pass.

I am sure he would have gone on to bigger and better things but for the injury.

daveaddick

The thing I remember most about GT was the distance he could throw the ball rather than kick it many times he hit a player on the half way line at the time it was quite a conversation piece.

I also recall that when he got injured one of the Sunderland playesr said it was by far and away the worst injury he had ever seen on a Football pitch. Great shame as he had the makings of a very, very good keeper.