Meet a former world champion
....whose a huge Stoke City supporter
Under min semester in Teneriffa, träffade jag en underbar dam som heter Angela Smith. Angela är något som en dold kändis i England. Angela var nämligen världsmästare i squash och tillhörde världseliten på 80 talet. Senare har hon tränat många kändisar över hela världen. Inte nog med detta är hon en inbiten Stoke fan som sällan missar en hemmamatch trots att hon bor en heldel på den spanska ön.
Angela var mer än glad att svara på några frågor.
Could you tell us your earliest memories when it comes to Stoke City?
I was taken to the Stoke games on my dad's shoulders from about 12 months I believe. He went to Stoke one week and Vale the next, (which I will not forgive him for as I am not a fan of Vale) My earliest memories are of players like Bill Robertson in goal and that was when I was 5. I can remember running around the old wooden Butler Street stand (we graduated to
seats as I became older, probably too heavy for my Dad's shoulders by then!)
After one game, my mum (who also went to all the games) said the next match, you will have to sit still because Stan Matthews is coming back and the following Saturday, the great man played and you couldn't move!
Was it usual in those days that females showed an interest in football?
Actually, a lot of women went to Stoke in those days
Who were your heroes as a young girl?
My first hero was actually Big John Ritchie and I was gutted when he left for Sheffield Wednesday and delighted when he returned. My all time hero was Jimmy Greenhoff, but the 72 team was full of heroes, Banks, Smith, Conroy, Marsh, Bloor, Pejic you could go on and on.
Were you at Wembley in ´72 and what are your memories from that day?
I certainly was and when Chelsea equalized I was sure we would lose, but we didn't though my heart almost stopped after that backpass, but Banksy saved the day. I was, like ever Stoke fan very proud, we had a great team then and the return to the City of the team with the cup showed what it meant to Stoke on Trent. I was one of the hundreds of thousands who turned out to welcome the team back. It was great to see a class side from unfashionable
Stoke win the first piece of major silverware
For me one of the saddest days of my life was when Arsenal equalized in the last minute of the FA-cup semi-final the year before, were you at the Hillsborough game?
I was, and I still believe in the two cup semi's v Arsenal Stoke were robbed by very bad decisions, (something which still happens too often today)It's all very well saying these things even out, but tell that to the Stoke players who were robbed!
The team of the mid-seventies was outstanding, do you ever meet any of the old players and how are they getting on?
I am very lucky that I know and see some of the players from that era often and can count some as my friends. Terry Conroy for example is still loved by fans; in fact some Irish fans came to Stoke on Saturday were keen to meet him. Gordon Banks and Dennis Smith still attend many matches and Marsh and Greenhoff get to loads too. Marsh had a lucky escape with a heart problem recently but has recovered well. Hudson, whilst still unwell, spends most of his time locally and is another friend. It is interesting that nearly all the players of that era still live around here and are still held in great esteem by the local public. Stoke City Old Boys held a dinner in November, it was packed and it was great to see the likes of Tony Allen, Don Ratcliffe and Calvin Palmer still applauded by today's fans.
A Swedish friend of mine became a Stokie, thanks to Peter Fox, have you ever met him and any idea what he is doing nowadays?
I know Peter Fox well; his son is quite a decent player. Peter is still goalkeeping coach at Blackpool and one of his sons is a player at Colchester
Do any old players watch today’s team?
Yes Hudson, Smith, Marsh, Banks, Greenhoff, Dodd, Maskery, Ratcliffe, Blake, Conroy to name a few
You were an elite sportsman yourself, in the game of squash. Can you tell us a little about your carrier?
My career was pretty interesting; I played at the right time in terms of squash's popularity in the UK. I was lucky to represent GB and England many times and travel the world. In fact due to sport I met many of the players, you attend functions and get to know people so it was an honour for me to meet such great players, people whom I admired and who played for the club I support.
I know from my time in England in the late 70´s and early 80´s that squash was a very popular sport, is it still as popular now in England?
Squash is not as popular now sadly because many courts have been converted into gyms. However in the rest of the world it is doing well and TV has raised its profile.
People from the Stoke-on-Trent area have a reputation (maybe unfair) of bad eating habits, lack of exercise, heart disease etc. what are your opinions and how can it be bettered?
Sadly that is true, the City is a working class area and historically many people have worked in industries where smoking was rife, entertainment was working men’s clubs and pies and beer. It can only be changed by education and Stoke City are trying to help by holding stopping smoking sessions, walking trips to the match etc.
I read that you have coached several well-known personalities, is this true?
Yes that is true. Actually another of my heroes was Tommy Steele (when I was around 5) and I had the honour of helping him and becoming a friend.
You have lived in several places in the world, where is home just now?
I split my time between Tenerife and Stoke on Trent.
How many Stoke games do you see in a season, do you travel from Tenerife for a game?
I see all Stoke's home games and it is quite expensive.
You do some reporting on Stoke for the Spanish media, what do you actually do?
I report on Stoke's games and the Premiership in general for sections of the media. I have also reported on games for certain South American networks
Do Stoke have a Spanish following?
They do especially in Tenerife, the Canary Isles and on the Costa del Sol
Your husband is Scottish; does he show any interest in the Potters?
Sadly, he supports Hibernian. He does watch the games on TV in Tenerife and is quite good at casting an impartial eye on matters when the red and white mist descends for me!
Are you involved in the club at all?
Well I have spoken with the club and passed on ideas in the past and have been asked to be on the fans' forum so from that point of view, I suppose that I am.
Were you aware that Stoke has a healthy following here in Scandinavia?
Yes I was, due to Midland Sport in the 70's I think.
What were your thoughts about leaving Victoria Ground at the time?
I was against it, because I loved the place. Since we have been in the Premier L the atmosphere has been great, but it will not match that of the Vic until the sides are closed in.
Stokes achievements over the past few years have been amazing, considering where we were 10 years ago, why has it gone so well do you think?
Peter Coates came back and saved our club from going the route of many clubs at present. The club is run on a sound financial footing and the return of Tony P who has spent wisely and built a team that we all feel works 100% for us and has bound the supporters to the club has been the secret. Potteries’s people have always worked hard and expect the team to do
the same. They will accept faults if you work.
What are your hopes for club over the next 10 years? Are you confident about the clubs future?
I think if we stay in the Premier league for this year and the next we will go up another level, but the club is doing things in the correct way. I believe the club is safe and healthy so long as we have local interest at the helm. You need to be part of this areas culture to realize what this club means to the local people. I would hate us to be run in the way
Liverpool and Man U are at present, the fans clearly mean little, if anything to the owner.
Finally a question I always ask is have you ever been to Sweden and what do you know about the country?
I have been to Sweden; I found it a lovely country and was amazed at the amount of inlets with boats around. It was cold and expensive though when I was around, but I loved it and will hopefully visit again someday.
För att ta reda på mer om Angelas liv, kicka på länken;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angela_Smith_(squash)
