From: The Scrutineer on
> No problem
>
> I was born and raised in Manchester England and moved to the USA
> with my job (Engineering) in the late 70s. I am now retired and living
> with my wife of 40 years in South Carolina. I had a brief stint as a
> player with Port Vale, Stoke City and Macclesfield Town that was
> finished by an pretty bad ankle injury, I did play some first team
> with Vale and Macc but only made it as far as the Stoke reserves (at
> that time central league). I then qualified as a ref and later took my
> FA coaching badges and later United States Soccer Federation license.
> After coaching around 15 years (Mostly Youth, but some College and
> High school) I retired. I first started watching United over 50 years
> ago as a youngster (with my parents). My first matches were in the
> mid fifties and I was lucky enough to have caught some of the Busby
> Babes. When I wasn't playing I was at Old Trafford and still manage to
> get back to Manchester several times each year to watch them play.
> I've been fortunate enough to attend four World Cups, three
> Champions League finals and seven FA Cup Finals. My favourite player
> of all time is George Best and believe the 60s Real Madrid team
> (Puskas, DiStefano) was the best side I have ever seen in person
> (although the Busby babes push them close). Other players that I
> admired were Garrincha, Van Basten, Pele and of course Puskas and
> Distefano.

Thank you for being courteous, shall I begin with your marriage, 40 years,
congratulations, as a local amateur player with a no-name Australian club, I
can now respect your opinion even higher knowing the very decent level you
have played, and express my frustrations for your shortened career, and sure
hope it wasn't an opponent!!!

Also congratulations on life during/after football. as an engineer and
finding time to obtain your badges and coaching, some achievement. 50 years
of football experience is something I hope to have one day, and to have
attended such high profile matches and seen legendary players, more
importantly people is inspiring to hear.

Best would be high on pretty much every football lovers list, just
effortless wasn't he!!! Great list you have there, and thank you for the
brief introduction. It gets me to know people a little better, and
appreciate some facts that I consider good to know about.

Jusr out of curiosity, were you a defensive player, a centre half by any
chance?

From: REDDEVIL6 on
On Tue, 06 Apr 2010 18:24:32 GMT, "The Scrutineer"
<vlade4(a)bigpond.com> wrote:

>> No problem
>>
>> I was born and raised in Manchester England and moved to the USA
>> with my job (Engineering) in the late 70s. I am now retired and living
>> with my wife of 40 years in South Carolina. I had a brief stint as a
>> player with Port Vale, Stoke City and Macclesfield Town that was
>> finished by an pretty bad ankle injury, I did play some first team
>> with Vale and Macc but only made it as far as the Stoke reserves (at
>> that time central league). I then qualified as a ref and later took my
>> FA coaching badges and later United States Soccer Federation license.
>> After coaching around 15 years (Mostly Youth, but some College and
>> High school) I retired. I first started watching United over 50 years
>> ago as a youngster (with my parents). My first matches were in the
>> mid fifties and I was lucky enough to have caught some of the Busby
>> Babes. When I wasn't playing I was at Old Trafford and still manage to
>> get back to Manchester several times each year to watch them play.
>> I've been fortunate enough to attend four World Cups, three
>> Champions League finals and seven FA Cup Finals. My favourite player
>> of all time is George Best and believe the 60s Real Madrid team
>> (Puskas, DiStefano) was the best side I have ever seen in person
>> (although the Busby babes push them close). Other players that I
>> admired were Garrincha, Van Basten, Pele and of course Puskas and
>> Distefano.
>
>Thank you for being courteous, shall I begin with your marriage, 40 years,
>congratulations, as a local amateur player with a no-name Australian club, I
>can now respect your opinion even higher knowing the very decent level you
>have played, and express my frustrations for your shortened career, and sure
>hope it wasn't an opponent!!!
>

No, it was a broken ankle caused by stepping in a hole that wouldn't
mend, I think with today's medical tech they would have probably been
able to fix it better, as it is I have three metal pins in it.

>Also congratulations on life during/after football. as an engineer and
>finding time to obtain your badges and coaching, some achievement. 50 years
>of football experience is something I hope to have one day, and to have
>attended such high profile matches and seen legendary players, more
>importantly people is inspiring to hear.
>
>Best would be high on pretty much every football lovers list, just
>effortless wasn't he!!! Great list you have there, and thank you for the
>brief introduction. It gets me to know people a little better, and
>appreciate some facts that I consider good to know about.
>

I guess everyone chooses their favourites based upon what they've
seen, I was lucky enough to be living in Manchester when Bestie
started his career and watched him every week live. If i'd have grown
up watching someone like Maradona or Pele they probably would be the
players I'd have chosen. I did get to play one match against Best, he
had been injured and was turning out for the reserves to get his
fitness back and I was playing for Stoke reserves. I seem to recall a
'blur' going past me that seemed to resemble George anyway...lol

>Jusr out of curiosity, were you a defensive player, a centre half by any
>chance?

I played mostly as a right back, did get some matches in midfield
(halfback in those days). At 5' 9" I didn't have the height required
to play centre half in England. Actually I enjoyed the centre mid
position more than anywhere else, you feel the pulse of the match more
there. My biggest problem trying to make it in the leagues was my lack
of true turn of speed.
From: Benny on
My name is Mohammed Mehdi, I'm 37, born in England, married and have 2
boys who both support Chelsea, If they supported Manchester United or
Liverpool I would have sent them back. I support Milan.

My favourite three players are Van Basten, Savicevic, Rijkaard and
Inzaghi, in that order. I was also a big fan of Tony Adams, Mr Perfect
Dennis Bergkamp and Robbie Savage who I feel would have shone at ANY
big club given the chance. World Cup tip? Predictably Brazil.

Outside of football I enjoy MMA and BAKING!


--
http://soccer-europe.com
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From: Google Beta User on
On Apr 6, 3:51 pm, Benny <Be...(a)soccer-europe.com> wrote:

> Outside of football I enjoy MMA and BAKING!

Still watch wrestling? I stopped watching regularly. I check it out
occasionally.


From: Deeppe on
On Apr 6, 5:29 am, "The Scrutineer" <vla...(a)bigpond.com> wrote:

Dale here, native to San Francisco Bay Area, late 40s, married, two
boys. Lived in Germany for a few years, both civvy and with the Army.
Munich as a civvy, Stuttgart with the Army.

As typical of my place and age grew up a baseball fan and thought of
football, if I thought of it all as "that foreigners' sport". Then my
first son started playing youth leagues, I volunterred to referee and
the hook was placed. Refereed for over a decade before they started
replacing the fields with plastic which my legs don't like at all so
gave it up, but miss it.

No particular favorites, and enjoy a good match. For the WC I support
my Federation, but as an American I don't have high expectations.
Though was giddy at the win over Spain last year.

I know I don't know much of the traditions and history of the game and
mostly lurk.