Erimus74
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That video was linked on here in November of last year and this is what I wrote at the time - I have linked the original post further below for you to read:
The team that Wilf played in would have destroyed the 1966 team. Unbeaten on English soil and five of the best forwards ever to grace the game - Tom Finney, Tommy Lawton, Raich Carter, Stanley Matthews and Wilf Mannion. Throw into that George Hardwick, Frank Swift, Stan Mortensen to name a few and you have the makings of a great squad that was capable of anything but had their golden years stolen from them due to WW2 and would have gone on to great things.Born just a little bit too early.
He would have walked into the 66 world cup team.
Thanks for that Norman, didnt see it posted last yearThat video was linked on here in November of last year and this is what I wrote at the time - I have linked the original post further below for you to read:
I lived back to back with Mannion and the house he was going into was on Queens Street.
I've mentioned before on here how he would go to the bookies on Redcar Rd and on passing us (playing football) would take the ball off us and boot it up the road to chase. We use to think he was some old gadgy spoiling our game. When we finished playing, we would walk up to Heageny's shop and look at Mannion's trophies and England caps in the shop window and wish we could be like him. We never once thought the old gadgy spoiling our game and the England international was the same person.
Also in the clip, it shows the queen opening his pub. When he met the queen Mannion was having trouble with his feet and couldn't get his shoes on and wore a pair of carpet slippers. There used to be a photo in The Tiger of him shaking hands with the queen, I had looked at this picture on numerous occasions and never once noticed the slippers until he pointed it out one night.
I don't think I've seen this before
fmttmboro.com
Regarding him working on building sites - I feel Wilf was badly advised regarding his investments and put his money into the wrong things. It was rumoured that Wilf's wife liked a drink and he had a lot to put up with from her. We would see her during the day with a dinner dress on and long white gloves. I can remember approaching me like this and my mum dragging me away before going back out to her.
The team that Wilf played in would have destroyed the 1966 team. Unbeaten on English soil and five of the best forwards ever to grace the game - Tom Finney, Tommy Lawton, Raich Carter, Stanley Matthews and Wilf Mannion. Throw into that George Hardwick, Frank Swift, Stan Mortensen to name a few and you have the makings of a great squad that was capable of anything but had their golden years stolen from them due to WW2 and would have gone on to great things.
Erimus - Wilf was a lovely man to talk to and loved talking football of any level, you would have been in your element in his company. Even in his latter days, he was knowledgeable about the game and a smile would cross his face when discussing his football exploits. It was like he wanted to pass his thoughts on to others and was never bitter about the riches modern day footballers earn.Thanks for that Norman, didnt see it posted last year
Nice story about growing backing on Wilfs house & Wilf kicking the ball away, great memories
Yea seen that before Shaun, thats the saddest part of it all for meEnded up as a tea boy at Wilton and Billingham too
i was just about to look for that quote as i heard it years ago. amazing to think how looked up to Stanley was and he says that about our Wilf. Magnificent.From the National Football Museum write up :
"Wilf Mannion at Middlesbrough was the Mozart of football - stylish, graceful, courtly, showing exquisite workmanship with the ball." Stanley Matthews
Blimey