RIP Denis Law

[chaddyrovers]

 

True Football legend 

 

 

 

[simongarnerisgod]

was the greatest header of a football ever,according to my late father

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

1 hour ago, simongarnerisgod said:

was the greatest header of a football ever,according to my late father

I wouldn’t exactly say that but for a player his height he was very, very good. He had a really tremendous spring. He was a constant threat whenever Rovers played Utd back then. Bobby Charlton had off days, George Best had off days, but Denis never seemed to have an off day. On his day a truly brilliant player. He played for The Rest Of The World  when they played England.

Thanks for the memories Denis.

Edited January 17 by Tyrone Shoelaces

[DeeCee]

R.I.P. Great player.

[RevidgeBlue]

True legend of the game.

Not surprisingly my favourite memory of him was the back heel for City that sent the Red Scum down in 1974.

He scored the winner and looked absolutely distraught poor chap. Had to be consoled by his team mates.

Ballon D'Or winner in the days when they didn't make a fuss about it.

RIP.

[rigger]

Worth the entry money.

[Upside Down]

Will forever be a legend of the game for this single moment of absolutely sublime football.

https://youtu.be/xRrdD5RpIU0?feature=shared

[ageoftherover]

33 minutes ago, Upside Down said:

Will forever be a legend of the game for this single moment of absolutely sublime football.

https://youtu.be/xRrdD5RpIU0?feature=shared

Proper celebration too. None of this modern callsign, showboating, shirtless nonsense.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

I have three vivid memories of him as a player. The first was him leaping like a salmon to head in a corner for Scotland against England. He got up so high it looked like he was heading the ball down into the top corner. For a relatively small guy he could really jump.

The second is they were playing Wolves at Molineux in the FA Cup. Law had been  sprinting away when he was brought down about 30 yards out from goal.  Without really getting fully stood up again he spotted the Wolves keeper off his line and he chipped him from 30 yards out from a crouching position !

The other one was in a European Cup game at Old Trafford. He’d chased a through ball up to the opposing keeper. The ball bounced off the keeper back towards the penalty spot. Law set off running after the ball with his back to goal. There were other Utd  players coming into the box and 99 out of 100:players would have laid the ball off so they could have a shot at goal. Law reached the ball and calmly back heeled it into the far corner. 

A truly brilliant player on his day. I can’t think of a similar player playing today. He was unique.

Edited January 18 by Tyrone Shoelaces

[jim mk2]

39 minutes ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

A truly brilliant player on his day. I can’t think of a similar player playing today. He was unique.

Agree. I was thinking when news came through of his death of an modern equivalent and there isn't one

He was spring heeled, a livewire jack in the box. Saw him score a few times at Ewood, including IIRC the 5-0 defeat the season we went down. A devastating player and brilliant in a different way to the brilliance of Best and Charlton.

Lots of stories about him. My favourite was he played golf on the day of the 1966 World Cup final and threw his golf bag around in anger when he heard England had won.

He grew up 2 miles from Pittodrie. How did Aberdeen miss him?

 

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

There’s a good photo of him playing against England in 1960 in today’s “ Guardian “. Ronnie Clayton, who was captaining England that day, is blocking a Law shot with Jimmy Armfield looking on. 

130,000 on Hampden Park that day.

An interesting fact regarding the game -

Bobby Charlton, who had already scored an equalising penalty, was given another penalty very late in the game. The keeper ( Frank Haffey, remember “ What time is it ? “  - “ 9 past Haffey “ ) saved the first pen but the ref ordered it to be re-taken. Charlton put that attempt wide, becoming the only England player ever to take three penalties in a game.

[wilsdenrover]

1 hour ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

There’s a good photo of him playing against England in 1960 in today’s “ Guardian “. Ronnie Clayton, who was captaining England that day, is blocking a Law shot with Jimmy Armfield looking on. 

130,000 on Hampden Park that day.

An interesting fact regarding the game -

Bobby Charlton, who had already scored an equalising penalty, was given another penalty very late in the game. The keeper ( Frank Haffey, remember “ What time is it ? “  - “ 9 past Haffey “ ) saved the first pen but the ref ordered it to be re-taken. Charlton put that attempt wide, becoming the only England player ever to take three penalties in a game.

Is this the photo?:

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

28 minutes ago, wilsdenrover said:

Is this the photo?:

Yep, Ronnie moving in to block the shot.

[aletheia]

Loved Law as a player (and all such players of his type). Scrawny, skilful, looked like his shirt would fall off him (‘weak and puny’ they said LOL), the long sleeves, cuffs in hand, dodging reducers and defenders who wanted to kill him on terrible pitches, the simple goal celebration, two footed, great leap for not the tallest. Learned on the streets of Aberdeen with a tennis ball.

Great player on the pitch, gentleman and humble off it.
RIP Denis

 

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

2 minutes ago, aletheia said:

Loved Law as a player (and all such players of his type). Scrawny, skilful, looked like his shirt would fall off him (‘weak and puny’ they said LOL), the long sleeves, cuffs in hand, dodging reducers and defenders who wanted to kill him on terrible pitches, the simple goal celebration, two footed, great leap for not the tallest. Learned on the streets of Aberdeen with a tennis ball.

Great player on the pitch, gentleman and humble off it.
RIP Denis

 

Although he wasn’t very big you kicked him at your peril. He could look after himself.

[broadsword]

Never saw him play, but have seen some highlights, looked like he had a grand technique and deft touch. 

But what has struck with me through the TV footage is what a really nice fellow he seemed to be.

 

[Andy]

Way before my time, but we've all seen the clips and highlights - clearly some player.

That finish for City, against United, in that pivotal game is iconic.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

1 hour ago, broadsword said:

Never saw him play, but have seen some highlights, looked like he had a grand technique and deft touch. 

But what has struck with me through the TV footage is what a really nice fellow he seemed to be.

 

Nearly all the old time players are. No big time Charlie’s in Ferrari’s then.

[broadsword]

Well, not Billy Bremner from what I've read 

 

As Jimmy Graves once said, they were lining up in a tunnel and Bremner booted him. Why did you do that bill? Because I effing felt like it. 

 

I know he hated the photo but Dave Mackay had the right idea when he grabbed hold of him by the scruff 

[aletheia]

I think if you find a wider pic, El Tel is in the background on the left.

Edited January 19 by aletheia

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

53 minutes ago, aletheia said:

I think if you find a wider pic, El Tel is in the background on the left.

Johnny Giles looking on in the background. 

[Ianrally]

Mackay should have strangled the dirty ginger shitbag. 

[DeeCee]

You forgot Jock out of your summary.

[broadsword]

4 hours ago, Ianrally said:

Mackay should have strangled the dirty ginger shitbag. 

Poetic

[bluebruce]

On 17/01/2025 at 20:32, simongarnerisgod said:

was the greatest header of a football ever,according to my late father

Surely Dixie Dean has him beat. When he scored 60 top flight league goals in a season, 21 of them were headers. Don't think anyone is ever beating that.