Even when we were bad in the 80s we had lads who really got stuck in. I guess times have changed.

John Bird
Roy Hogan not blessed with skill but never shirked a tackle.
Pussies nowadays

Never a flier, but he was top-class on a muddy pitch when everyone was moving at the same speed Barnet like a guardsman's bearskin

Aye remember that timid lad who played CB, Used to pull his shirt sleeves up under his armpits in the middle of January
Even further if it was blowing a blizzard.

Called John Gill, Lived up Rift House non of this fancy Durham crap.

Lived round the corner, a gentleman off the pitch, a rock on the pitch.

Roy Hogan among the least skilled midfielders we've had imo but great attitude and effort.
John Honour was another.

Roy scored a few belters from distance. John Honour was the proverbial "midfielder with a good engine" before the term was invented.

Used to jump over the fence at Brierton school when we where having a kickabout.
Trying to get a game, Er nobody said no.

exactly. the game has changed but not for the better unless you like soft players, sideways passing and cautions for sneezing. Can anyone really imagine john gill coming into the ground with earphones on and trying his best to ignore kids. not just him but the rest. remember one old pro telling me that one of the best things about being a footballer is seeing how kids get excited in meating them and being asked to sign your name. now its ivory towers miles away from the town with blacked out car windows and doing there best to blank fans. might not have reached pools yet but it will before the old days return across the game.

He travelled home on the No6 bus after every home game, got off at Tyrnbrooke, because if I was late you’d see him always sat on the long seats near the bus platform.
Every Sunday on the Rec with his Yorkshire Terrier watching the matches when it was full….you could set your watch by him.