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The day Jimmy Greaves came to Walsall.
January 4th 1969, it was the 3rd round of the FA cup and Jimmy Greaves came to town playing for Tottenham Hotspurs.
I was a just a tiny whippersnapper at the time so I wasn’t at the game.
I bet you, like me, recognise more than a couple of his fellow team mates for Tottenham Hotspurs, the line-up was…
Pat Jennings.
Phil Beal.
Mike England.
Joe Kinnear.
Cyril Knowles.
Peter Collin.
Alan Mullery.
Terry Venables.
Alan Gilzean.
Jimmy Greaves.
David Jenkins.
By all accounts, Walsall, who was playing in the old 3rd division (league one now) at the time, had more than their fair share of the game and could have won it, maybe Spurs just had an off day.
Apparently, Jimmy Greaves had one of his very rare off days, they reckon he only touched the ball once all game.
Well, Spurs ended up winning 0-1.
OK, go on, guess who scored, yes I know you have guessed correct.
Jimmy Greaves was the dog’s bollocks.
As a kid playing football, from my earliest memories, all I ever remember trying to do was score goals.
You see, I was Jimmy Greaves, the trouble was, every other kid, no matter if they were on your side or the opposition, they all thought they were Jimmy Greaves.
In the school playground, any patch of grass or empty garages to smash a ball against, we were all Jimmy Greaves.
I suppose it was a bit like if someone was imitating riding a horse, in my generation, we were always Lester Piggott.
I know football has changed and the game is a completely different product these days, and in my maturing years, I realise that you cannot compare today’s game with days gone by (although we old un’s always do) but, I also realise that it’s ok to contradict myself now and again, so…
If Jimmy Greaves had played on the snooker table like pitches of today, his ridiculous amazing goal scoring records would be even more off the scale.
And…
If like today, tackling was not allowed, well, with Greavies touch on the ball, it’s frightening to think what the records would read.
He played in the days before pink footy boots and pony tails, and before snowflake commentators invented words to describe very average players as being sumptuous, glorious, sensational, scintillating, amazing and out of this world.
He played in the days when there was no need to go sliding on one’s knee’s to a corner flag or ripping your shirt off after scoring a goal and thinking that the crowd look at you as some kind of god.
He played in the days that when you had a shot on target for goal, it was seen as a normal part of the game, never mind if the keeper saved it or it went in the net.
Not like today’s game, because when someone shoots and hits the target they are called world class and someone adds a couple of million on their worth.
By the way, he also played in the days when goalkeepers actually used to catch the ball without gloves.
If Jimmy was around today when keepers “flap” at the ball and “push” it away, he would have had a field day every week.
He played in the days when a ruffle of the hair and a handshake from his team mates (maybe a little embarrassing skip of excitement with an arm in the air), was enough to recognise that he had done what he was paid for…score a goal.
I’ve read in his books where he says he would be getting stuck into his beef and Yorkshire pudding dinner before some games, and in the pubs after the game chatting and having a pint with fans.
RIP Jimmy Greaves,
A proper footballer if ever there was one.
Comments
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Definitely.
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Was lucky enough to see him live a couple of times at the Victoria Ground, he scored straight from a corner in one of them, but he was known has a great corner taker, his touch was really good and had the Stoke players doubling up on him, great player has his record shows, and on Saint and Greavsey he came over has a great bloke too.
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What a fantastic piece.
I'm an Arsenal supporter that goes back a long way. An oldun as you say. I can honestly say I think Jimmy Greaves is the best finisher I've ever seen. The youngsters that hero worship Harry Kane and all should take a look at Greavsie. They played for the love of the game back then too, not how much you could hold the club to ransom for to sign another contract because £200,000 per week just isn't enough to live on!. Not sure where I heard this but I heard a story once. West Ham were playing Tottenham at Upton Park. Tottenham got a corner early on. Greavesie was in the penalty area waiting for it to be taken and was being marked by Bobby Moore and apparently Greavesie said to him 'you going down the coach and horses after the game Bob, see you in there'!. I nay have got the name of the pub wrong but that was how the story went. Real characters back then. He was even a better pundit than today's are. Saint and Greavesie was one of the funniest and best football programmes ever. Jimmy Greaves(mainly) and Ian St John were hilarious together. Sadly missed. -
G'day Paul.
Apt comments as usual, thanks.
Without doubt an exceptional talent with a goal scoring record to boot... yes... pun intended... which still stands and looks unlikely to be beaten for some time.
Strikers over the years have come and gone... mostly showing brief glimpses of talent... but falling short in the main of such consistent raw natural talent of JG.
Interesting to note Ronaldo's return to Man Utd has already produced instantly... whether one likes him or not... he too just wants to score goals... and by his own admission still has a few years left in him to produce at the "highest" level.
The comparison between past and present players and the game in general needs to be made.
Much has changed particularly crowd participation, though that now is clearly affected by so many games now being televised... which really has been the contributing factor to the demise of lower level clubs facing ruin and extinction... mainly due to the disproportionate allocation of TV revenue funds acquired by the FA... which really is an appropriate acronym for such an incompetent outfit...
However... I digress as is my usual way...
Alas... the departing from this life by JG is sad... a talent mostly unknown to the present generation other than the record books... however... to those in the know and from the lucky ones fortunate enough to have witnessed his talent... memories aplenty to warm the cockles and help pass the moments stuck at a match in the pouring rain and cold chill of winter... longing for their players to do a Jimmy Greaves... R.I.P -
Very enjoyable interesting read
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A great player .As a kid saw him play at Old Trafford. Marvellous to watch, and lovely bloke.
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