What was it like to be a footballer in the 70s?
Read this and find out? Part 2
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Getting on to the 78-79 season, Durban brought in Mike Doyle from Man. City and together with Howard Kendall and Denis Smith were the experience of the side. How did you find these players and did they help you a lot?
The guy’s were great I roomed with Howard on away trips he was brilliant for me and had a lot of time for the younger members of the team always encouraging us. He again re-iterated what George had told me and felt that I was a natural captain and would go on to captain the side which was my intention. He felt that Alan Dodd and I would make a great central defensive partnering. Centre half was my preferred position.
Stoke were a top team the whole season, however, there was a couple of home defeats on the trot caused some concern. How did the players take this stumble?
The manager took us away for a week in the Derbyshire hillside it was freezing cold we trained as normal but he took us to the pub a few times and we were encouraged to speak our mind. I was the representative for the younger players. We came back and one the next game and went on to promotion as you know.
On to the last game at Notts. Co., did Stoke enter the game going for a draw, which seemed to be enough to gain promotion? Did you feel extra nervous beforehand?
I was very excited great day and a fantastic Stoke following. The older guy’s froze to a certain extent and the younger players all played well. I remember clearing off the line with an overhead kick when it was 0-0
Suddenly with 2 minutes left, it became obvious that Stoke needed to win the game, what are you memories of finding out this and the following 15 minutes?
The manager sent a message on that we needed to win. I think the next attack we scored. Great feeling and great day. I was completely naked apart from my jock strap when I eventually got back to the changing room.
How did you Stoke players celebrate that evening?
Sammy, Brendan, Paul Randall and I went to the Place in Hanley until it closed. We then went back to the Werrington Hotel where I stayed. The following day we went to Majorca. I can’t remember much about it at all.
I suppose all teams have their characters, who in your opinion was the comedian? Who was the moaner? Who was the quiet one? Who was the bright one? and who was often the butt of the jokes?
I tended to get everyone going as I was and still am a good mimic. Sammy was extremely funny along with Jackie Marsh. Mike Doyle was the moaner. Alan Dodd was the quiet one. Myself and Paul Richardson were the bright ones. Paul is a top engineer at BT and I went on to gain a PhD at University.
One question I must ask, is why do you think Paul Randall (Durban’s main signing that season) struggled to make his mark at Stoke?
I don’t think he played him enough. Great lad natural goal scorer, quick and could finish a mystery to me.
The following season saw Stoke City back in the first division, were the players confident of survival?
We never really discussed it. I and Howard agreed that the team needed to be changed and that perhaps we had some old players in key positions.
You played 16 matches for Stoke that year in division 1, when suddenly, in February 1980, you left for Leicester City. How did this become about? Was it sad to leave Stoke and how did you get on with the fans?
The saddest day of my football career. I love the club the fans and the area. I had picked up a bad thigh injury a couple of months before I left and played with the injury taking cortisone injections which made it worse. I fell out with the manager after we played Crystal Palace when he accused me of something that I had not done and he left me out. It was a terrible time. I had a great relationship with the fans and still do today. The best in my opinion.
Is it strange to find yourself in a new club, do the players (your new team mates) greet you warmly or are they wary of you?
The manager at Leicester City was Jock Wallace a real hard man but fantastic probably the best manager I played for made me very welcome and stated that he would have me in the Scotland team by the end of the season. He was disappointed when I told him that I had already played for England at under 23 levels. But he made me captain after Eddie Kelly left.
With Leicester you gain promotion again and 2 years later you are transferred to Birmingham City. Is it true that in your last game for Leicester, you scored an own goal against Birmingham?
We were promoted as Champions. Yes I did score an own goal for Birmingham against Leicester in my last game for them.
I should never have joined Birmingham in the circumstances that I did. The manager at the time was Jim Smith a great guy I like him a lot. He wanted to make me captain and I played in a really good back 4 alongside Colin Todd who is still a great friend. However Jim was sacked two weeks in to my loan period and Ron Saunders took over. A horrible man who broke up the side. He played me in the big games when the centre forward was useful but left me out against lesser teams. I hate being left out and could not wait to get away. I practically ran to Charlton Athletic
Is it at Birmingham you suffer a really bad injury? What happened?
I suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament of my right knee against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge 67 minute after a poor tackle from David Speedie. It took an operation to re-position the bottom part of my leg the right way round before the surgeon could perform the operation to try to repair the ligament.
I battled back was extremely fit. I went to RAF Headley Court to rehabilitate at the time people were coming back from the Falklands I witnessed some horrible sights. I my first game back I did the same injury to my left leg. There was no way back for me.
So you are 26 years old, more or less a football invalid, you have to think of a life without football. Were there many sleepless nights and what did you decide to do?
I had a young family to support. But after a while I decided to complete my degree. No sleepless nights I am a very positive person and never look back only forward.
Did players have any insurance policies that can be cashed-in, in case of a bad injury? Did you get any advice of what you could do in the future or must you fix it yourself?
Not in them days there was no support mechanism in place. I had a Testimonial that when all the figures were added up cost me £5,000 !!
I read somewhere that you never saw a live football game for over 20 years, is this true and why?
I never watched any football live or otherwise for 28 years. I immersed myself in business and building a new career. I was not bitter but to be forced to retire at 26 was hard to take.
You became involved with Stoke City old boys a couple of years ago, just what do you do?
Terry Conroy invited me to a game. I enquired with Terry about some of my ex-team mates. Generally it appeared that many were not in a good shape. We decided to form SCOBA (Stoke City Old Boys Association). Mainly to get everyone together. We hold dinners, golf days and if anyone is in trouble support them.
You are also involved in something called Xpro. Can you tell something about it?
Xpro is a charity set up to provide assistance to ex-professional footballers from a medical, welfare and financial point. Please see www.xpro.org we plan to conduct research into debilitating conditions that ex-players live with today osteoarthritis, Alzheimer’s disease and the effects of excessive use of cortisone.
4 out of 5 former players suffer from osteoarthritis and yet there is no support for this condition.
You have done well after your career was cut short, however, you feel there are many ex-players out there, who struggle from injuries obtained through football, and have financial problems?
The most common call we receive at Xpro is where an ex-player has depression. This can lead to many forms of addiction. Many are in a poor medical state and have financial difficulties. There are 60-70,000 ex-players living in the UK and Ireland and only a very small percentage are OK; we estimate that 50,000 plus either have a medical problem or a financial issue.
Did clubs try to encourage players to get an education in your time or were they only interested in the playing side?
No education encouragement was given. Clubs were only interested if you were fit. Even if you carried an injury cortisone injections were administered to get you on the pitch.
Unfortunately, I read that you have a health issue yourself, what exactly happened to you and how are you today?
Unfortunately I was diagnosed with a terminal cancer condition 3 years ago. It was Terry Conroy who found out and invited me to Stoke City, which is indirectly how I became involved with SCOBA and Xpro, having not seen a game in 28 years.
My cancer is responding to the treatment and is suppressed but I will unfortunately succumb at some point. In the meantime I look forward not back and Channel my energy into help ex-players.
But you still seem to be living life to the full…………..what is you motto?
Look forward. Xpro are bringing out a range of T-shirts my logo on the shirt is attached to this mail although the number will be 3
Final question Geoff, are you surprised Stoke have a following in Sweden, and what do you know about the country?
I was actually born in Landskrona........ I bet that surprised you? I have been there many times. I find Sweden and Swedish people to be fantastic. Practical, straightforward. My type.
Geoff, sorry for so many questions, it is just that you have done and been through so much. I know that Swedes will really appreciate your answers. And last but not least, thanks for the memories.
