Eccentric and loveable rogue? Or a nasty piece of work?

A real character and when he was darlo’s chairman we had some real battles.

Definitely a lovable rogue, had a kind heart and was generous with his money. When he made a lot from his kitchen worktop business he paid a lot of his loyal workers house mortgages off, also I recently read a book by Mike Amos (lent to me by Mr.Horden) who devotes a whole chapter to him, he befriended the guy and said he once was approached by a local cricket team for a cash donation to which George agreed, but the cricket club committee refused due to his dubious past, a few years later the same club was about to fold but when asked again he still wrote a cheque out to help them survive without malice.

'WE DON'T EVER WANT TO BE LIKE HARTLEPOOL'...





Raffles the Gentleman thug...

Met him once at the Crab & Lobster Asenby when a group of us went there for Sunday lunch (read all day drinking session). The staff said we would have to wait until ordering food and this went on for a couple of hours. Eventually when we had racked up a drinks bill of several hundred pounds a side door of the pub burst open and a red faced chef ran out jumped into a car and to the smell of burning rubber he headed down the carpark at great speed. He had a argument with the owner.
By then we had lost interest in food and kept on drinking. Eventually my mates wife who was pissed paid the whole bill of some £400. She went bankrupt a year later.
As we were about to leave George (plus wives)and his mate who was known to one of our group pulled up in a Bentley or Rolls Royce and we started chatting.George tried to buy my mates car registration plate which had football connections.
An unforgettable day!!!
RIP

I remember when he turned up at the Centenary gig at the Borough Hall. Treated like an absolute hero !
"Georgie Reynolds is our friend, he f###s Darlo".

Just to balance it out, lets not forget that he wasn't averse to turning up on peoples doorsteps with a bunch of heavies.

to say he was a complex character is a bit of an understatement. most of us are in some ways but george brought it up to another level. never met him but i imagine he would have been interesting if he had took to you.

Read his auto biography, Cracked It!, ironically from a discount Book shop in Darlington. Great read, very funny.

Did a lot of good for loyal people to him, but anyone who crossed him had a rough time.

Funniest Chairman ever? Entertaining, though more generous to poor, Boris Johnson of his day.

Went into Waterstones in Northallerton to buy Cracked it. Searched the Sports section to no avail so asked if it was in stock - yes came the reply, look in Crime. Decent read - had heard many of the stories from his lips - and this is where I agree with Mr I - I was one who suffered his bullying tactics. And the mortgage story? Wasn't it his three most loyal mates only?

Read Mike Amos's book too - his stories about George are phenomenally one sided - no mention of George bugging and door stepping various Echo journalists.

Most rich people, especially men will be controversial. By people theyve worked with or worked for, they'll usually be described as nasty pieces of work or an even stronger expletive. By their friends, they'll be eccentric jovial jokers who are always a good laugh.

Brooks Mileson is the best example of that.

Indeed the mortgage story was apparently the 3 most loyal workers... and what's more he retained the deeds to their houses.

This blog from ex-Darlow keeper Preece tells you everything you need to know about George, it's a fascinating read: https://ipreece.wordpress.com/category/football/page/2/

I once saw him in the cafe in Ikea, it was shortly after his prison release. I said to him "You'll be used to eating from a tray, hey George?" - thankfully he had a mouthful of meatballs, but the look he gave me spoke a thousand words

Heard similar stories of players signing for Darlo and then being summoned to see George - to be told that they would not be receiving all that they thought that they had signed for. I'm expecting a flurry of stories coming out of Darlo now - and remember, Mrs Reynolds announcing that all players throw matches.....

[quote="Brian Honour's Left Fo

- and remember, Mrs Reynolds announcing that all players throw matches.....[/quote]
mind you thats been thrown at pools in the 50,s when they missed out on promotion. remember my old man going on and on about it with his brothers at the time.

Only met him once, in the Black Bull in Yarm. He had a heavy in tow - and a young lass who by the look of her had come straight from work over the border in Middlesbrough Docks.

[quote="Flying Hogans"

Only met him once, in the Black Bull in Yarm. He had a heavy in tow - and a young lass who by the look of her had come straight from work over the border in Middlesbrough Docks.[/quote]
without his dosh he,d have been lucky to get an old retired lass from that area who had the pox. no matter how much money you have i can never see the need for a heavy with you unless your dealings are either illegal or the people you deal with are.