Somewhere in my loft I still have the clip of an article that Patrick wrote back in 1980. It was headlined "At last a player to save our national game" I wonder if anybody can guess which player Patrick was eulogising?
A 5 min AGM was held where committee members were re-elected and 2 new members were approved. A minute silence was held for Jean Tindell who was The President of BA.
Patrick Collins is a very unassuming and polite chap. He still goes to Charlton and Crawley 6-1 was his last game. His favourite Charlton player was Alan Campbell. He spoke of Eddie Firmani from his US days and Firmani insisting he had to wear a borrowed jacket at dinner, that was 6 sizes too small (he hadn't brought one as it was 95F).
He spoke of interviews with Muhammad Ali, Brian Clough, Geoff Boycott, Seve Ballesteros, George Best, Don Revie, Jimmy Greaves, Kevin Pietersen, Jake La Motta.
Ian Botham could be the most awkward, although it depended what mood he was in.
All very interesting stories and he could have spoken for hours more.
It was a nice article (elegantly written, as always) but on this occasion he wasn’t really right, was he?
With hindsight no, but he certainly looked very special when he broke through from the academy colts team. Despite a cut price move to poxy Luton he did eventually make it to the great Liverpool side of the 80's. Was probably worthy of a lot more England caps, but he upset Bobby Robson. If my memory is correct he was invited on an England pre-season trip but had domestic commitments. When Robson rang Walsh said something along the lines of "do I have to?". He is the most exciting player I have seen come through our ranks. I idolised him.
Edit: to say, I think Patrick compared him to Paulo Rossi, so he did rather crank up the hyperbole
Read his book and Walsh admits he lived it up too much when at Spurs while his face never really fitted at liverpool - probably coz he weren’t good enough
Walsh was plenty good enough imo. He was in competition with Ian Rush and Kenny Dalglish for a starting place and he also suffered a succession of injuries. His goal return at Liverpool was 1 in 3. Overall though careerwise I would say he underachieved relative to his ability
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A minute silence was held for Jean Tindell who was The President of BA.
Patrick Collins is a very unassuming and polite chap.
He still goes to Charlton and Crawley 6-1 was his last game.
His favourite Charlton player was Alan Campbell.
He spoke of Eddie Firmani from his US days and Firmani insisting he had to wear a borrowed jacket at dinner, that was 6 sizes too small (he hadn't brought one as it was 95F).
He spoke of interviews with Muhammad Ali, Brian Clough, Geoff Boycott, Seve Ballesteros, George Best, Don Revie, Jimmy Greaves, Kevin Pietersen, Jake La Motta.
Ian Botham could be the most awkward, although it depended what mood he was in.
All very interesting stories and he could have spoken for hours more.
Despite a cut price move to poxy Luton he did eventually make it to the great Liverpool side of the 80's.
Was probably worthy of a lot more England caps, but he upset Bobby Robson.
If my memory is correct he was invited on an England pre-season trip but had domestic commitments.
When Robson rang Walsh said something along the lines of "do I have to?".
He is the most exciting player I have seen come through our ranks. I idolised him.
Edit: to say, I think Patrick compared him to Paulo Rossi, so he did rather crank up the hyperbole
He was in competition with Ian Rush and Kenny Dalglish for a starting place and he also suffered a succession of injuries.
His goal return at Liverpool was 1 in 3.
Overall though careerwise I would say he underachieved relative to his ability
Did he give his thoughts about the spivs, RD, etc ?
RD had no interest in Charlton.