Hi Brendan,
Just seen your post from many years ago. Hope you are still able to respond to this message.
Freddie Steadman scouted me and arranged for me to go to Burnley on trial August 1966. Unfortunately I came back homesick.
Freddie holds a special place in my life as he was responsible for me experiencing many things few 15 year olds get the chance to do.
I trained with the stars of Burnley first team on my first day playing 11 a side, spent 2 1/2 weeks chuming around with Ralph Coates who was a terrific human being, played 5 a side with Dave Thomas, Pete Jones, Willie Morgan, met Willie Irvine and had a long conversation with him at the Gawthorpe training ground.
Was in digs 118 Todmorden Road, Burnley with Ralph Coates, Len Kinsella and Willie Brown.
Burnley played Sheffield Utd first day of the 1966-67 season and I walked to the ground from the digs with Ralph via the entries of the row houses of Burnley and then fought our way through the crowds at the ground. Ralph then took me into the dressing room and introduced me individually to each member of the first team Adam Blacklaw, Alex Elder, Sam Todd, Brian O'Neill, Andy Lockhead etc. This was the first English game I ever seen live. Burnley won 4-0.
As you can see Freddie gave me special memories.
Can you tell me when Freddie died.
Brendan thanks for the opportunity to reminisce.

Tommy McAuley

would Fred have had anything to do with that "Great Goalie" from Grove st. who went on to play for Blackburn Rovers? Anyone remember him.

G.I.

Would you be thinking of a goalie named Matier.? I heard my Father & uncles talking about him. Brendan would know all about him & tell his story. A lot of good footballers came from Low Rd. & Lambeg, not so many from the Co. Down.!!!!!!!. What a club Hilden Rec.

Pat

gerry matier i worked with him a long time ago him and another fellow called joe were shuttering joiners or so they said,joe was a dillutie joiner

PAT, I am awaiting delivery of a reconditioned scrapbook detailing the career of GERRY. It is very informative and I imagine that Dabbler will be the most surprised and appreciative reader in the Forum NUF SAID. Cheers Brendan.

Gerry had a son Kevin a joiner i believe he died suddenly when very young

That is correct Barney, Kevin was just 34 when he died, Gerry also had two daughters as well, I am one of them.

Hi G1 I mind Kevin going with a girl very good looking she was, cannot remember her name now, when we used to go to the dances in Hendys minibus Hendy was married to Hessi Moore,it was her 2nd marriage cannot recall her former husbands name now may have been Fraser but he was named in earlier posts by Frank i think,Terry (Bunny) Crossey ring a bell with you G1, Kevin and he were pals maybe Brendan Mulholland Gerald McGurnaghan also just can,t get my memory round that time

G1

Are you the daughter in Australia.?

Pat?

Hi Pat, no I am the one that you know, clue is in the initial. Hope you are well.

Hi Barney, could the girl in question be Maura McConnell, Kevin was married to her, sadly Maura died suddenly last year,her family used to live on the Longstone beside Gerry McDonalds shop. There were two houses right next door to what used to be I believe, the "Swiss embroidery" factory, or possibly Caldwells bar. The other guys names aren't familiar, as Kevin was quite a bit older than me, I don't recall any of his friends other than Brian Lavery.

Dabbler, You're way off. Answer me; Which English team do you support? Brendan

Brendan
I am, of course, interested in all things Arsenal. I was expecting a Lisburn connection. I watched live many times at Highbury both Sammy Nelson and Pat Rice of Northern Ireland. Some great memories of those days.

I'm off in a minute, but thinking about football, and Gerry; I can never hear The Wild Rover without thinking of Gerry Armstrong. He was belting it out in a hotel room after going through in the World Cup, 1982 I believe. I wouldn't have swapped him for John MacCormack. There yiz go, bringin' a lump to my throat again. Goodnight and may your gods go with you.

That's the answer I wanted, be in touch later. Brendan

Hi Barney, could the girl in question be Maura McConnell, Kevin was married to her, sadly Maura died suddenly last year,her family used to live on the Longstone beside Gerry McDonalds shop. There were two houses right next door to what used to be I believe, the "Swiss embroidery" factory, or possibly Caldwells bar. The other guys names aren't familiar, as Kevin was quite a bit older than me, I don't recall any of his friends other than Brian
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That is correct now i recall you mention a name and it all falls into place for me,everything is as you say it was, my cousin Billy Bell ran that wee factory.
Yes Desi Caldwell had the bar next door to the factory, Desi Paddy Swail and Mick McKinney used to play snooker for money then Paddy lay down till it got serious then he cleaned them, sorry to hear about Maura.so young like Kevin to be taken away so quick,i remember them well going to to Portadown St Marys,the LCA in Lurgan also,what did i do right to be still here my God im stuck for an answer

Hi G1. I know now who you are and Pat should too. Saw you in town a couple of weeks ago. You're as young and good-looking as ever. How do you do it? Keep posting.

Hi Ann, knew that you would catch on sooner or later, might see you at M@S some day sprawled out on one of those comfy sofas, hope you all enjoy the "reading" on the 3rd

Hi Barney

I am Gerry's other daughter and G1's sister (in Australia). I remember Bunny Crossey and Gerald McGurnaghan. We also used to go to the dances in Lurgan and Portdown in Hendy's mini bus, there was Evelyn and Maura McConnell, Noreen Blakely and myself.

Hi G1 & pat S,


Two more sisters on the Forum, Welcom G1.

You bring back some good memories of our times in Barbour's. Those were the days, some of wine & roses, some others "hairy" when things went wrong & an important customer waiting abroad.

Do you ever think of those days, glad you remember me.? BUT then again ccould you ever forget.? Pat

Pat.s was Noreen Blakley a relative of Hubert Blakley who I knew well...frank sunshine coast

Hi Pat, yes I think of those days many times, how lucky we were to have such a good boss, don't know how you stuck us, we were obnoxious teenagers who always knew best.

You should tell them all about the time Hendy's mini bus broke down, somewhere outside of Lisburn, and you all had to walk home. Kevin insisted that you removed your high heels so as not to waken everyone in Tonagh at 5.00 in the morning

Pat S, I knew Bunny Crossey too. He was another Low Roader, as was Hopper Rooney and the late Dermot Dornan. Remember walking down the road with them on my way home from the Tech.

Gerald McGurnaghan died about a year ago. I see wee Noreen Blakely every week. She's a great girl, a good laugh and I like to tease her about her shoes. She wears great big high heels.

Sisters, Sisters, who'd have one???????

Hi G1, that day you saw me sprawled all over a comfy sofa in M&S was in the bad old days before my hip replacement. I couldn't stand for any length of time then. Isn't it funny how you can get used to pain and discomfort?

Of course, now I'm running about like a spring chicken!!!!!!!!!!!! (well, maybe a broiler).

G1, stop crawling!!!!!!!!!!

Frank,

Ann speaks to Noreen every Sunday after Mass, she will answer that one.

Enjoyed the one about the apron. Very true. I still wear one cleaning & cooking. Very useful when peeling onions.

Pat