I went for a diving header from a corner

[1finny]

I think it was 1967
Missed the ball by a mile
I did it because my dad was on the touch line - it was the first time he came to watch me play for Thorntree. It was difficult for him working shifts at ICI.
At the end of the game he held my hand and told me it was a great effort.
I felt proud.

He died this week
Its a bit weird

Me mum and dad split up shortly after.
I idolised him. He was a footy player for cargo fleet. I remember his nickmame twakka finn. We played together all the time when I was a nipper. My new dad was rubbish (although I learned to love him dearly for me mum)

Anyway, lost touch for 6 years before we went to stay with him in London with his new wife. Didn’t see him for a further 27 years after he emigrated to Aussie. My good lady, in her wisdom, thought it would be great if she surprised me on me 40th by asking him to visit. Really tricky, a stranger staying with us for a week who I hardly knew. He was dreadfully selfish.

He came back a few years later for my younger brothers funeral which was really sad.

Sadly succumbed to Alzheimer’s (Footy?)- and after many years of struggling passed away.

My lovely lady said ‘how do you feel’? I said, ‘I don’t feel anything’
That, alone, feels strange

 

[B17er]

Sorry for your loss 1finny. Also, thanks for sharing this. It has made me think about my relationship with my dad and my son.

 

[Erimus74]

I think it was 1967
Missed the ball by a mile
I did it because my dad was on the touch line - it was the first time he came to watch me play for Thorntree. It was difficult for him working shifts at ICI.
At the end of the game he held my hand and told me it was a great effort.
I felt proud.

He died this week
Its a bit weird

Me mum and dad split up shortly after.
I idolised him. He was a footy player for cargo fleet. I remember his nickmame twakka finn. We played together all the time when I was a nipper. My new dad was rubbish (although I learned to love him dearly for me mum)

Anyway, lost touch for 6 years before we went to stay with him in London with his new wife. Didn’t see him for a further 27 years after he emigrated to Aussie. My good lady, in her wisdom, thought it would be great if she surprised me on me 40th by asking him to visit. Really tricky, a stranger staying with us for a week who I hardly knew. He was dreadfully selfish.

He came back a few years later for my younger brothers funeral which was really sad.

Sadly succumbed to Alzheimer’s (Footy?)- and after many years of struggling passed away.

My lovely lady said ‘how do you feel’? I said, ‘I don’t feel anything’
That, alone, feels strange

Sorry to hear that finny, love your 1st sentence, condolences mate x

Just read it again, got a lump in my throat again, thats what dads do

 

[Yearbyred]

Very touching post.

 

[red_harrington]

Diving headers are notoriously difficult

Writing posts like that aren't easy either

 

[1finny]

Diving headers are notoriously difficult

Writing posts like that aren't easy either

You are right fella
but
I got better at diving headers - but nowhere near as good as Mowbray v Villa

 

[atypical_boro]

Sorry to hear that finny

 

[Juninho10]

Sorry about your loss Finny

 

[Subbuteo_171]

I think it was 1967
Missed the ball by a mile
I did it because my dad was on the touch line - it was the first time he came to watch me play for Thorntree. It was difficult for him working shifts at ICI.
At the end of the game he held my hand and told me it was a great effort.
I felt proud.

He died this week
Its a bit weird

Me mum and dad split up shortly after.
I idolised him. He was a footy player for cargo fleet. I remember his nickmame twakka finn. We played together all the time when I was a nipper. My new dad was rubbish (although I learned to love him dearly for me mum)

Anyway, lost touch for 6 years before we went to stay with him in London with his new wife. Didn’t see him for a further 27 years after he emigrated to Aussie. My good lady, in her wisdom, thought it would be great if she surprised me on me 40th by asking him to visit. Really tricky, a stranger staying with us for a week who I hardly knew. He was dreadfully selfish.

He came back a few years later for my younger brothers funeral which was really sad.

Sadly succumbed to Alzheimer’s (Footy?)- and after many years of struggling passed away.

My lovely lady said ‘how do you feel’? I said, ‘I don’t feel anything’
That, alone, feels strange

Families are strange. What’s the old saying, you can choose your friends but you can’t choose your family.

Condolences.

 

[FabioPorkpie]

Thought that first paragraph was very moving finny. Condolences to you.

 

[red_harrington]

You are right fella
but
I got better at diving headers - but nowhere near as good as Mowbray v Villa

Made me smile

 

[1finny]

Thought that first paragraph was very moving finny. Condolences to you.

So after the first para it was sh1t

 

[SmallTown]

Sorry for your loss finny. Don't think that it feels strange to feel nothing in a case like this. People cope with these things in a different way.

 

[Heam44]

Sorry to hear this.

Very touching post for many reasons.

 

[NoloBoro]

You are right fella
but
I got better at diving headers - but nowhere near as good as Mowbray v Villa

It was the cross from Laws that made it though!
Sorry for your loss mate.

 

[FabioPorkpie]

So after the first para it was sh1t

Well.........yeah.

Not really, obviously I’m joking!
Just found that sentence about him holding your hand and telling you it was a good effort very moving.

 

[HolgateCorner]

I agree with the post above that it certainly is not strange to feel nothing at times like this. I had an emptiness immediately after losing both my parents.

Your Dad clearly meant a lot to you even though circumstances separated you.

Condolences on the sad loss of your father.

 

[Ex Footy Legs]

I think it was 1967
Missed the ball by a mile
I did it because my dad was on the touch line - it was the first time he came to watch me play for Thorntree. It was difficult for him working shifts at ICI.
At the end of the game he held my hand and told me it was a great effort.
I felt proud.

He died this week
Its a bit weird

Me mum and dad split up shortly after.
I idolised him. He was a footy player for cargo fleet. I remember his nickmame twakka finn. We played together all the time when I was a nipper. My new dad was rubbish (although I learned to love him dearly for me mum)

Anyway, lost touch for 6 years before we went to stay with him in London with his new wife. Didn’t see him for a further 27 years after he emigrated to Aussie. My good lady, in her wisdom, thought it would be great if she surprised me on me 40th by asking him to visit. Really tricky, a stranger staying with us for a week who I hardly knew. He was dreadfully selfish.

He came back a few years later for my younger brothers funeral which was really sad.

Sadly succumbed to Alzheimer’s (Footy?)- and after many years of struggling passed away.

My lovely lady said ‘how do you feel’? I said, ‘I don’t feel anything’
That, alone, feels strange

What a wonderful poignant read that was Finny
Thanks so much for sharing!
I’m so glad I opened the post to read what I wasn’t expecting.

your dads words ‘it was a great effort’ must of been super to hear!
Kinda makes me think about NW with the players now. We all have an inner child within us and Neil Uniquely taps Into each players inner child like a dad drawing great things from them saying things that players dads would’ve said with encouraging words but including some honesty when necessary

Alll the best mate and thanks again for this

 

[BernieisGod]

You are right fella
but
I got better at diving headers - but nowhere near as good as Mowbray v Villa

Sorry to read about your loss.

Bought this painting of that header from a guy in Hartburn a couple of months back. It was a classic moment.

 

[indeedido]

One of the board's top posters with a classic thread.
Thoughts obviously with you as its a complex set of circumstances. Your wife sounds a smasher.