I am going to pull one old programme out of the pile, a totally random pick, and see what we come out with. Here goes; Ha ha, how topical, two teams at the opposite ends of the Premier League table. The cover picture is from a game against Ipswich Town and is from 1985, just by a few days, and is 6 months after the end of my 10 year spell with The Town. Do you recognise the players pictured on the front, pretty easy this one? Team line ups; Well that looks like a pretty strong Villa team to me, still not got over them winning he Championship in 1981 after we had beaten the 3 times that season. I digress, back to this programme. Two quick stories of the number 8's, for Leicester Laurie Cunningham, the most stylish, elegant and talented player that I ever had the pleasure to play with. Laurie would shape up to control a long high pass with his chest then suddenly spin around so that the ball hit him on the back so that then it would drop over his head infront of him ready to pass or shoot. Sadly Laurie was killed in 1989 in a car crash in Madrid. The last time I played against the Villa number 8, Simon Stainrod, ( who thought he was the most stylish, elegant and talented player to ever play the game), before this game, we were both sent off for fighting after 5 minutes of the league cup quarter final replay at QPR. My wife and Rita Butcher had not even made it to their seats and we were already down the tunnel. Mrs O sat there, not realising what had happened, turned to person on the other side of her, who had been there from the start, and asked ''is Russell Osman not playing''? And the reply was ''well he was when they kicked off''. Ipswich won that game but then went on to lose the semi final to Norwich, and my suspension after the sending off played a part in me missing both legs of the semi-final. It also signalled the end of my career at Ipswich Town. Getting back to this programme, check out the kick off time,,,11.30 on Boxing Day! Inside there is some interesting stuff, apart from Alan Birchenall's column, like this Happy New Year photo. I must have been on the missing that day! A great shame to have lost John McVey recently, the Physio back left on photo, a great fella who always took time out to help Steve Moran do the telegraph crossword during treatment sessions!!! By the way, the 3 players on the cover are (l-r) Mark Brennan, Gary McAllister and Kevin Steggles
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AuthorRussell Osman is a former England & Ipswich Footballer, 4 Handicap Golfer and Father of 3. Archives
April 2018
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