Random Times you’ve bumped into a Footballer

[Polaroid Saint]

James Ward Prowse in Tesco Car Park, Aldershot.

He was a rather nervous and shy lad - must of only just passed his driving test at the time so I wasn't too surprised by his slightly naff and beat-up looking red Fiesta (or similar small hatch).

I then (completely by coincidence as we were obviously leaving the car park at the same time and heading in the same direct) proceeded to follow him, first slowly round the car park before exiting, equally slowly round the roundabout, and then quite closely for about three miles down winding country road towards Fleet.

He was driving somewhat erratically.

Although, that might have had something to do with the overly enthusiastic waving and constant thumbs-up coming from the grinning idiot driving the car behind him.

[die Mannyschaft]

17 hours ago, OldNick said:

I used to play tennis with Chris Nicholl there and at other venues

Wow, brilliant.  Chris Nicholl one of the best players Saints have had and in the quality packed 77-78 squad. I played a few tennis matches for Fleming Park at Hampshire tennis club and Saints players were always in there. I did some tennis coaching for Reg Wilkinson in 90s and had some tickets for the players' lounge. 

[die Mannyschaft]

Played in a SCC v ex Saints football match for stroke charity. I marked Francis Benali and he was too fast as I spent too much time chatting to him than concentrating on football tactics. 

[die Mannyschaft]

18 hours ago, OldNick said:

I played six a side with him , I ribbed him a lot for missing a penalty in a game lol

I went to a 50th party and Dave Peach was there. Great bloke chatted to him for a while. 

[leesaint88]

I pass Steve Wigley most mornings between Hedge End & Botley, he's normally decked out in full Fulham training kit....even though he's now left them. 

[Secret Site Agent]

On 15/06/2025 at 07:44, Tamesaint said:

Aston Villa on a plane going to Hong Kong for pre season. I was going there for work. 

Aston Villa on a plane going to Philadelphia one year later. They were going for pre season. I was going there for work. 

In Hong Kong the team was whisked through immigration. In Philadelphia they had to queue like everyone else in one of those long customs snake like queues. Paul Lambert, the manager at the time, spent most of his time waiting on the phone. 

I'm just wondering.

Do you work for the Aston Villa Pre-Season backroom squad?

[OldNick]

6 hours ago, die Mannyschaft said:

Wow, brilliant.  Chris Nicholl one of the best players Saints have had and in the quality packed 77-78 squad. I played a few tennis matches for Fleming Park at Hampshire tennis club and Saints players were always in there. I did some tennis coaching for Reg Wilkinson in 90s and had some tickets for the players' lounge. 

Was Reg , Chris Wilkinsons and Martins father. I played against their mum on a few occasions when she played for Plesseys (?) at Eastleigh 

[die Mannyschaft]

1 hour ago, OldNick said:

Was Reg , Chris Wilkinsons and Martins father. I played against their mum on a few occasions when she played for Plesseys (?) at Eastleigh 

Yes that's right. I used to play at Fleming park for 1 hour to go over to Bishopstoke tennis club for hour. At evening mix in Chris used to turn up sometimes. Martin was also a very good player. 

[Leighsterrr]

I was ice skating at Brighton, early 80s and Jimmy Case was there, the only other person on the ice with my mate and I!

 

Met the Wimbledon 88 cup winning squad when they played at my local club who I regularly watched back then. Vinny Jones got sent off that day and it made the big papers 😂

 

Also bumped into Neil Ruddock at West Quay a few years ago too

 

We had Chris McMenemy stay at our hotel when he was doing summer school sessions on the Isle of Wight

 

I was also good mates with Lee Probert the former referee but that was always worth a mention as nobody liked him when he was on the pitch and it usually got me a load of swear words! 😂

[Sidney Fudpucker the 3rd]

Iain Dowie sat at the table next to me in Pizza Hut on Middlebrook Retail Park, which is right next to Bolton's ground. He was Oldham manager at the time. 

[derry]

I sometimes flew Saints teams to matches like Norwich and a pre season friendly in Amsterdam. Lawrie got a Peter East History of Saints signed by everybody including Keegan etc. Often saw Saints players at airports.

Friendly with Ian White played with him at Stoneham. George O'Brien, Chris Nicholl, Dave Merrington, at Wellow, Played with David Peach the day after he had a snip. We laughed our way round as he was walking like a jockey. Ball and Keegan at Stoneham.

Dean Saunders then at Liverpool at Manchester. I was flying a full aircraft to Orlando, annoyingly we had some late passengers. Dean Saunders and family entourage. They thought they were VIPs. His mother in law was kicking off because they thought their seats were reserved so checked in late and weren't sitting together. I told the handling agent to tell them to either sit where they were allocated or get off. I didn't believe in delaying nervous passengers who'd made the effort to be early. They sat down but were a bloody entitled nuisance most of the flight. About an hour out I got a request for Dean Saunders to sit in one of the jump seats for the landing. My response was tell him to F*** off. I don't think they repeated it.

Over the years I carried or met lots of interesting people.

Edited 16 hours ago by derry