[Archived] Close Encounters

[DamienTC]

I've never been in Blackburn, and I've never met a Rovers player up close. But I'd love to hear if any of you, have had some close encounters with any of the players when buying milk, bingedrinking on a pub or shopping womens' underwear. Blackburn being a small city, it should be highly possible - I know I run into the local Danish players here in Århus all the time...

Speak up and share your stories...

(don't know if this has been brought up earlier. If so: ban or spam me...)

[McClarky]

In the 80s you couldn't go for a beer in town without running into a group of Rovers players. I remember Saturday nights in Manhatton Heights when you would get Scott Sellars, Howard Gale & Andy kennedy in there every week. They just used to have a good drink and didn't mind chatting with anyone, probably because they were hammered. I think ost of them are too professional for all that now.

[G Somerset Rover]

Apologies for not being Blackburn, but around 7 years ago I was at Majorca airport on the way home and bumped into the entire Real Madrid squad. Got all the autographs and stuff-even though I was wearing a Barca shirt (hey I was a naive 13 year old at the time). Two funny stories from that meeting: 1) Caught Manuel Sanchis browsing the pornos and then purchasing one. and 2) When reading back through the autogrpahs under one of the names (cant read who it was, but quite possibly Raul/Hierro/Redondo or another of the big names whom I got) it reads "p*** off in almost perfect English...the Barca shirt had come back to haunt me, and despite my threats at the time to do the club over this childish behaviour I never followed up my threat!!

[The1mattjansen]

To be honest, i doubt any rovers player within the last 5 years has ever even driven through Blackburn town centre, never mind been out shopping/drinking.

[DamienTC]

1) Caught Manuel Sanchis browsing the pornos and then purchasing one.

That's what I call a close encounter!

[Uddersfelt Blue]

Met the whole team on the plane to Washington in 2003. It was the day that the Duff transfer was going through and Souness didn't understand why his mobile wouldn't work in the US!!!. Full credit to the players who talked to us and showed some concern when my son was feeling unwell. Particularly Thommo who tried to cheer him up with his typical Scouse wit.

[brfcshabba]

Ray Harford RIP used to live across the road from me in Blackburn. Drove round in his K reg light blue BMW. Saw him packing all his belongings up when he left. Sad ending really

Edited September 14, 2005 by Cookiemonster

[cletus]

To be honest, i doubt any rovers player within the last 5 years has ever even driven through Blackburn town centre, never mind been out shopping/drinking.

I`ll second that!!

In the late 80s, Colin Hendry used to catch the bus from the stops outside Blackburn market, in his Rovers tracksuit. He always had loads of schoolgirls talking to him....probably asking him who i was!

Ahhh, the days before footballers thought we were all 5hit!

[Gamst]

Met full team before start of premiership winning title. I had never been to Blackburn before and saw stadium and this guy came up to my dad and said that the players were about to arrive to have club photo for next season taken at the stadium and that we could meet them. Remember getting signatures from Le Saux, shearer and flowers but got to speak with Sutton who asked me whether we would win the league, I replied 'yes' and as if by magic we won it.

I see Hull city players most days as they train near my house. Also met Paul Robinson on many occasions as he is from area and went to my school and golf club.

Also met numerous random Norwegian players (not including MGP) whilst staying at La Manga. A team named Honefoss stayed in the appartment block opposite mine and they were really friendly lads.

If anyone is interested in rugby league my mum is the midwife foe the kids of kiwi Richard Swain who plays for Hull FC!

[FourLaneBlue]

Once saw Shay Given up Cav (Peppermint Place it was then i think) trying it on with a girl before getting told where to go and then trying it on with another girl all of five seconds later before receiving the same response.

Tony Parkes came to our school (St James' CE near St Mary's College) to hand out some football awards. Unfortunately he was about half an hour late and so missed the assembly. Instead the football team were dragged out of their lessons but at least he talked to us for a while afterwards. This was about spring 1988 so we talked about whether Rovers would finally go up that season or not. They of course didn't.

Mark Atkins was once spotted by my good self outside Blakey's bar/restaurant next to King George's Hall in a worse state for wear. Sat on the steps with his head in his hands looking p1ssed out of his face. It was the summer of 1995 though so he had a right to be.

David Mail and Chris Sulley gave out some football awards to local teams. Both were very nice and David had an incredibly bushy perm, as was his trademark. Didn't mind posing for pics with the dozens of kids there and were very patient. They weren't my favourite players at the time but after then I forgave any stray passes much more easily.

Favourite player as a kid was Scott Sellars who really should have been playing at a higher level, as he did when starring in the free-scoring Keegan inspired Newcastle. Cruelly injured (with David Thompson and Matt Jansenesque bad luck) when called up to the England squad. Didn't forget the Rovers though as I saw him outside Cardiff after our Worthy Cup win in a long trenchcoat. Admittedly only said 'Hello' to him but it was nice that he still had a soft spot for the club after all these years.

Seen David Dunn out drinking as well. Loads of times. Sometimes with Martin Taylor. Big lad that one.

Finally...a friend of mine once went to the toilet in Utopia to relieve himself. Upon looking up from the urinal who did he see using the urinal facilities next to him but Damien Duff. Now...that's a close encounter if ever there was one!

[Paul]

Met the first team at the ground on several occassions when doing mascot and other stuff but that doesn't realy count.

Seen Paul Warhurst, Colin Hendry, Kevin Gallagher and David Dunn in Next Generation, Chorley at various times. Also the whole Bolton squad at same place but that was training so is a bit different. Razor Ruddock in Wheelton Village Hall at the local PTA disco - fish, water, out! Ken Beamish leaving the Millenium Stadium, had a quick chat, he was beaming! Terry Venables sat behind me in the Family Stand when it first opened and he was England manager. Nicky Reid lives in our village, see him frequently, good bloke.

My wife has met numerous player's wives through her job, and a number of players from years back.

Edited September 15, 2005 by Paul

[SAS]

I met amoruso in the vodaphone shop in town, he stopped and talked so he was ok, his brother/agent wasnt though.

Coiln hendry is often at originals in west end ossy, hes a good bloke, stops to chat.

Seen david dunn driving through ossy in his silver porshe.

[jim mk2]

Used to live near Ronnie Clayton. Quite often he would sit for hours in his Mini on the driveway. Always thought he was thinking about his football but it was probably because his wife wouldn't let him in.

[Cheshireblue]

Tugay shops in the same Tesco's as I do. He is incredibly short and ugly.

Andy Cole used to live next door to me. Nice bloke, shocking taste.

I've met Colin Hendrya few times, and he is a cracking bloke. Very friendly, very honest and entirely unpretentious.

Spoke to Micheal Owen and Scott Parker on monday - they are living in the Malmaison in Newcastle at the moment, where I was staying. Both also very very short.

Saw MGP at the airport at the end of last season. He is also not the biggest bloke you'll ever meet.

Played golf with Mark Hughes last season on the Bentley Manchester golf day. He is pretty handy with a set of golf bats, as you might expect. Played off 7 I think, and was also a very decent bloke, who was quiet but pleasent enough.

Spoke to Brad Friedal after one of the games last season. He is a bloody large bloke, with unfeasably long arms, and is extremely modest.

[Ronin]

Not in Blackburn, never been, as from Midlands, but have met a few players with Rovers connections.

Ray Harford (when he was West Brom Manager) nice bloke

Kevin Gallagher (when he was at Cov City) again a nice bloke

Mark Hughes (when he was at Chelsea) top bloke.

Met them all when I used to work on a Motorway service station, many moons ago.

Met loads of other players, personalities there too. Bobby Charlton, Geoff Hurst etc etc.

[Paul]

Followed Alan Wright up the M6 in an enormous Mercedes X5 - reckon he was sitting on at least three cushions.

[LeftWinger]

Met Jon Douglas in a club in Preston one Wednesday night just after we'd appointed Hughes. He was very happy we'd gone for Hughes and was really down to earth. He wouldn't tell anyone that he was a footballer, and just wanted to have a normal night out.

[eddiewac]

I was up in Newcastle last week in tescos metro when Ameobi walked in! As for rovers players, Georgias Donis used to live around the corner from me so I used to see him driving in his VW golf

[Blackpool_Rover]

Met Dwight Yorke and Greame Souness in Washington in 2003, thats about it i think.

[DaveyB]

I was once nearly run over by Kevin Gallacher as he was pulling out of Kwick Fit and I was walking to college in Blackburn.

Also met Souness in a gym just outside Derby when he was still our manager - we'd just played Derby in the FA Cup and were playing Nottingham Forest at the weekend - he had legs like tree trunks!!

And I still live across the road from Kevin Davies - I think he's recently become a father as I see him pushing a pram around a lot. I remember that in the close season just after we'd been relegated I was stood at the bus stop and watched him flicking the ball up and volleying it into the goals that he has in his garden. I saw him do it 7 times, but he only scored once - I knew we were in for a bad season that year!!!

Also, not Rovers but hey, I used to play in the same pub team as Carlo Nash (Prestons keeper) before he signed for Clitheroe and then a year later for Palace. Also went out with his sister for a short time when I was young.

Edited September 15, 2005 by DaveyB

[mjs]

Tugay shops in the same Tesco's as I do. He is incredibly short and ugly.

347094[/snapback]

His wife aint too shabby though. Saw them both in Trafford Centre.

[CAPT KAYOS]

Being an Bash/Accy Lad now langushing (eek) in Wigan

Numerous meetings with Gillespie /Duff/ Tosser Sherwood and his playmate Fox around the Accy hostelries as well as many a Dingle player inc Peyton.

Had a few Sherberts with Dunn and Jansen few years back sub the Palace (I think) game start of Season.

Not a player but met the great man himself Mr Walker in the toilets of all places in the what I think is called the Railway Hotel prior to the FA Cup game at Crewe some years back.

Also non footballer - but topical at the moment Shane Warne (arrogant sod) when he was doing the rounds (lasses) at Accy in his earlier years.

Played football also with Martin Chivers whilst on holiday in my youngster days.

[andy82]

Remember meeting Sherearer, Flowers and Newell at Birch servioces when i was 13 or 14. Made my day.

Think my father knows Super Atko as well for some reason.

Outside of Rovers i used to bump into quite a few of the Leeds Utd and Newcastle Utd squads as they are often at clubnights run by friends/acquaintances. Also went to school (very briefly) with a certain Michael Owen.

[G Somerset Rover]

Just remembered a funny Rovers encounter. The WBA away players entrance holds room enough for just one player to walk through at a time. My old man started talking to Souey at the entrance, congratulating him on our rise up the div 1 table (at the time), with the rest of the squad unable to get past for like 2 minutes...I honestly thought Tiny Taylor was going to nut me Dad!

[T4E]

I saw Mubbs from Holby City in St Ives last week.