[s42blue]

Johnnyspireite7, on 26 January 2021 - 06:24 PM, said:

The Mark 'Bomber' Williams/Sean Dyche partnership for me, closely followed by the Blathers/Breckin one.

Same for me only because they a little more cultured. Bombers free kicks, with a bit of CB nastiness; Dyche because of an ability to turn on the ball.

Blathers/Carr/Breckin all excellent.

Ridley and Green were the first pairing I remember being v impressed by.

[Hoare (400)]

s42blue, on 26 January 2021 - 06:33 PM, said:

Same for me only because they a little more cultured. Bombers free kicks, with a bit of CB nastiness; Dyche because of an ability to turn on the ball.

Blathers/Carr/Breckin all excellent.

Ridley and Green were the first pairing I remember being v impressed by.

And if Ridley or Green was injured, Les Hunter was a very very good understudy.



Hoare (400)

[60s 70s Spireite]

For 12 games, Graham Cross (on loan) and a young Les Hunter made an excellent centre back partnership. Prior to Cross coming in, as the 75/76 season was drawing to a close, we were sat uncomfortably just above the relegation places.

Cross single handedly steadied the previously leaky defence, and helped steer us to 7 wins and 2 draws, in those matches, and a healthy 14th finish. Mind Rod Fern firing on all cylinders up front helped somewhat.

[warfey is a spireite]

60s 70s Spireite, on 26 January 2021 - 06:48 PM, said:

For 12 games, Graham Cross (on loan) and a young Les Hunter made an excellent centre back partnership. Prior to Cross coming in, as the 75/76 season was drawing to a close, we were sat uncomfortably just above the relegation places.

Cross single handedly steadied the previously leaky defence, and helped steer us to 7 wins and 2 draws, in those matches, and a healthy 14th finish. Mind Rod Fern firing on all cylinders up front helped somewhat.

he improved graham cross after he pulled me mum at nottingham palais one night

[boot]

60s 70s Spireite, on 26 January 2021 - 06:48 PM, said:

For 12 games, Graham Cross (on loan) and a young Les Hunter made an excellent centre back partnership. Prior to Cross coming in, as the 75/76 season was drawing to a close, we were sat uncomfortably just above the relegation places.

Cross single handedly steadied the previously leaky defence, and helped steer us to 7 wins and 2 draws, in those matches, and a healthy 14th finish. Mind Rod Fern firing on all cylinders up front helped somewhat.

Now if we are including loans that Graham Cross is miles in front of anybody else mentioned.

[Wooden Spoon]

Freddie said:

1611666097[/url]' post='1557410']
Bill Green and John Ridley the best pairing in my time watching.

Agreed. Bill Green was immense.

[Doctor_Blue]

.

This post has been edited by Doctor_Blue: 26 January 2021 - 09:37 PM

[Bobby Darling]

boot, on 26 January 2021 - 02:52 PM, said:

Why did I remember this kid playing that day amongst the hundreds of others I've seen and instantly forgotten? Because he was a Rolls Royce - not just a head it and kick it centre back. Not to say that most lower League fans who saw Blatherwick will not remember him because he was usually outstanding- but different.

He may have been a Rolls Royce but Kevin Davies made him look silly on the edge of the box at the Cross St end.

[monte]

s42blue, on 26 January 2021 - 06:33 PM, said:

Same for me only because they a little more cultured. Bombers free kicks, with a bit of CB nastiness; Dyche because of an ability to turn on the ball.

Blathers/Carr/Breckin all excellent.

Ridley and Green were the first pairing I remember being v impressed by.

I nearly did bomber too but blathers left the time with multiple defensive partners.

[Siberian Spireite]

Bobby Darling, on 26 January 2021 - 10:11 PM, said:

He may have been a Rolls Royce but Kevin Davies made him look silly on the edge of the box at the Cross St end.

Can’t remember that but the Crooked Spireite’s nickname PFOK (Pocket Full of Kryptonite) was entirely justified. It’s sometimes difficult to explain to people who only saw Davies as a Trotters target man exactly how pacy, precocious and downright dangerous he was as a youngster.He is probably the most outright talented footballer I’ve seen play for us.

[moondog]

Siberian Spireite, on 26 January 2021 - 10:24 PM, said:

Can’t remember that but the Crooked Spireite’s nickname PFOK (Pocket Full of Kryptonite) was entirely justified. It’s sometimes difficult to explain to people who only saw Davies as a Trotters target man exactly how pacy, precocious and downright dangerous he was as a youngster.He is probably the most outright talented footballer I’ve seen play for us.

I agree he was unplayable at times, he almost single handedly won the game at Watford during the cup run season, leading me having a £10 bet with a work mate that he'd play for England, he paid up 13 years later, satisfying to be right but I wish I'd put it on at the bookies instead.

[warfey is a spireite]

moondog, on 26 January 2021 - 10:31 PM, said:

I agree he was unplayable at times, he almost single handedly won the game at Watford during the cup run season, leading me having a £10 bet with a work mate that he'd play for England, he paid up 13 years later, satisfying to be right but I wish I'd put it on at the bookies instead.

Remember it well night game at Watford spot the town fan

[boot]

Bobby Darling, on 26 January 2021 - 10:11 PM, said:

He may have been a Rolls Royce but Kevin Davies made him look silly on the edge of the box at the Cross St end.

I think Kevin was almost a seasoned pro by then - a full 2 years older than Ferdinand who was then as thin as a rake from what I remember - just checked the DOB's. But yes Kevin could upset players when he was only 16 - pace, strength and if he got kicked would wait his chance and the perpetrator would probably get more than he bargained for from a young kid.

[moondog]

warfey is a spireite, on 26 January 2021 - 10:41 PM, said:

Remember it well night game at Watford spot the town fan

Yes we didn't take many, a Thursday night from memory squeezed in due to the fixture backlog.

[Mr Mercury]

moondog, on 26 January 2021 - 10:31 PM, said:

I agree he was unplayable at times, he almost single handedly won the game at Watford during the cup run season, leading me having a £10 bet with a work mate that he'd play for England, he paid up 13 years later, satisfying to be right but I wish I'd put it on at the bookies instead.

Had the great pleasure of being at Wembley that night to see a Spireite play for England. Folk around me must have thought I was a nutter when I was thumping the air and shouting "Come on Kev, once a Spireite always a Spireite" or words to that effect when he came on!!

[Siberian Spireite]

boot, on 26 January 2021 - 10:45 PM, said:

I think Kevin was almost a seasoned pro by then - a full 2 years older than Ferdinand who was then as thin as a rake from what I remember - just checked the DOB's. But yes Kevin could upset players when he was only 16 - pace, strength and if he got kicked would wait his chance and the perpetrator would probably get more than he bargained for from a young kid.

I’ll always recall David Burrows booting the 16-year-old Kevin Davies in what must have been one of his first appearances for us. Davies gave him plenty back, which the veteran Burrows seemed quite surprised by. It showed what character Davies had, to back up his talent.

[boot]

Siberian Spireite, on 27 January 2021 - 05:47 PM, said:

I'll always recall David Burrows booting the 16-year-old Kevin Davies in what must have been one of his first appearances for us. Davies gave him plenty back, which the veteran Burrows seemed quite surprised by. It showed what character Davies had, to back up his talent.

Yes - Davies required trainer on - next time Burrows was on the ball he needed the trainer.

[DIFH]

Siberian Spireite, on 27 January 2021 - 05:47 PM, said:

I’ll always recall David Burrows booting the 16-year-old Kevin Davies in what must have been one of his first appearances for us. Davies gave him plenty back, which the veteran Burrows seemed quite surprised by. It showed what character Davies had, to back up his talent.

I remember him coming on at Field Mill, must have been one of his earliest appearances ?? Even at that young age Mansfield did not like him running at em.


Then that goal of the season for Soton at Goodison, marvellous.

[Siberian Spireite]

DIFH, on 27 January 2021 - 09:48 PM, said:

I remember him coming on at Field Mill, must have been one of his earliest appearances ?? Even at that young age Mansfield did not like him running at em.


Then that goal of the season for Soton at Goodison, marvellous.

The latter caused me to think regretfully of sell-on clauses.

[dazcarrlegend]

I’ve never seen a professional footballer spend more time on their backside in a game than Gerry taggert, when Davies tore him apart away at Bolton in the cup run