Not trying to steal Loko the Tyke's thunder but here are a few words from an old player

Discussion in 'Bulletin Board' started by Prince of Risborough, Jul 2, 2020.

  1. Prince of Risborough

    Prince of Risborough Well-Known Member

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    Willie Ferry. Who? some of you may ask. Unless you were a fan from the 1980s you won't remember him and, in truth, I barely do because he only played four games for us, but scored his one goal for us at Portsmouth (so he told me). While browsing Facebook this afternoon I was reading a post from the "Football in the 1980s" group and spotted an entry from one William Ferry who was saying that the best player he played against at that time was Frank Worthington. The former England international was eking out his football days as player manager at Tranmere, and still showing his class. Willie was playing for Scunthorpe then and, apparently, Frank new who Willie was!

    He came to us from Scunthorpe during Allan Clarke's second spell at Oakwell and although Clarkie tried to talk him up a bit he was never really up to the standards needed in the Second Division. (See, it's always been like this :)). He had played for England at Under 19 level and was a big unit so maybe he could do it for us, seeing as we like a big centre forward, don't we. Unfortunately, although many saw likable characteristics in the player I have not found anyone in a post from 2012 that had anything good to say about his ability. I'll maybe embarrass @JLWBL here by quoting what he said about him:

    Played for us during the 1986/87 season. At the end of which, he was given a free transfer. He then drifted into non-league football. In my opinion, he was the worst player I have ever seen play for Barnsley & I've been going since the 1960's. He was so out of his depth, it was almost cruel to watch. However, most fans realised this and didn't give him much stick that others before and since have had to put up with. Truth be told, in my view, the blame rested with Allan Clarke for selecting him, when it was so obvious Ferry wasn't up to it. The lad gave everything he had, but simply wasn't good enough.​

    Anyway, for those interested, and with Willie's permission here is how the short conversation went today:

    ME Well there’s a name I’ve not heard in a long time. You are, presumably, the Willie Ferry that was briefly at Oakwell, signed by Allan Clarke?

    WF aye its me

    ME hi Willie! Do you remember much about that time?

    WF Aye it was good time i snapped my achilles made my debut against sunderland we won 1 nil scored at portsmouth lovely people at the club and supporters

    ME William Ferry we’ve been hearing from a lot of ex players recently in a twice weekly series of interviews on YouTube run by a member of the supporters club. He even got Mick McCarthy to talk for an hour in one. Every single one has said how much they enjoyed their time at the club and what a great bunch of supporters we have.

    ME I did a search on our fans bulletin board this afternoon for mentions of Willie Ferry and a few said what a lovely lad you were

    WF i enjoyed every minute great set of lads met some people I'm still freinds with now

    ME Shame it didn’t work out for you. It would have been a great learning experience for you working under Clarkie.

    ME Barry Murphy still at the club, running hospitality

    WF Aye he was ok

    WF I always look for the results david preece is a good freind

    ME Sadly we lost Norman Rimmington a couple of years ago. All the old players gave him an affectionate mention

    WF Class rimmo great man funny new the game

    ME Yes, Rimmo was Mr Barnsley alright. Mick did a brilliant eulogy for him at his funeral

    ME Tricky time right now fighting off another relegation but the lads have come back from the long break absolutely on fire and given themselves a great chance of staying up

    WF I hope they do stay up . Mick is a good lad paul futcher god bless him was a great player and a lad sadly gone

    ME Rolls Royce of a centre half Paul! One of my all time favourites

    ME Willie, do you mind if I copy and paste these lines into our fans bulletin board? There are plenty of older supporters on there who will remember you and will be interested to hear a few words from you

    WF he was quality bud great lad larry was top drawer as well

    ME oh yes Larry May. Couldn’t believe we let him go to Wednesday

    WF no problem anyting ican do to help i will

    ME thanks for that. I’ll do it tonight. Great talking to you. If anyone had anything interesting to say I’ll pass it on

    WF no bother been my pleasure stay safe ⚽️⚽️

    ME you too Willie

    Thoroughly nice fellow by the sound of it and yet another that holds the club in high esteem. There must be something about us that footballers like. Anyway, just as a reminder here is a page from the programme at the time he signed:

    106490088_1224169227937235_8165821339572090090_o.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jul 3, 2020
  2. LiverpoolRed

    LiverpoolRed Well-Known Member

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    I remember him as you say didn't play that many. Wasn't the best player to pull on a shirt but we had a few decent ones in front of him
     
  3. Prince of Risborough

    Prince of Risborough Well-Known Member

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    I was living down south at that time so didn't see as many games as I would have liked and don't recall seeing him play at all. Another one of those lower league signings that might have come off, but didn't. He was just out of his depth sadly.
     
  4. LiverpoolRed

    LiverpoolRed Well-Known Member

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    Looked a bit ungainly to be a footballer
     
  5. Ome

    Omen Well-Known Member

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    Hes lowest scoring bfc top trumps card but dead handy when you play hi lo!
     
  6. Jul

    Julian Broddle's Perm Well-Known Member

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    I was watching, as a youngster in that era. But I only associate him with when my lad had BFC Top Trumps card game and poor old Willie was the low scoring bogey card.
     
  7. Andy Mac

    Andy Mac Well-Known Member

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    Watching him in the penalty area was like watching the QE2 trying to navigate Southampton docks.
     
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  8. Andy Mac

    Andy Mac Well-Known Member

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    Did we call him The Refigerator after the American Footballer of the time?
     
  9. Prince of Risborough

    Prince of Risborough Well-Known Member

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    Yes I believe so
     
  10. Prince of Risborough

    Prince of Risborough Well-Known Member

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    That’s what the original post from July 2012 was all about, started by a BBS member called Chorley
     
  11. pompey_red

    pompey_red Well-Known Member

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    The worst player I’ve seen. that thread from 2012 wasn’t wrong
     
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  12. Stephen Dawson

    Stephen Dawson Well-Known Member

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    Did he get a word in? Dint say alot :)
     
  13. onemickybutler

    onemickybutler Well-Known Member

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    I remember him being not very good at all. Not sure about him being the worst player to turn out for us but I guess he’s up there. Dave Regis also springs to mind...
     
  14. Andy Mac

    Andy Mac Well-Known Member

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    Connor Wilkinson for me
     
  15. Gimson&theBarnsleys

    Gimson&theBarnsleys Well-Known Member

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    Mounir El Haimour - werner both those two.
     
  16. Merde Tete

    Merde Tete Well-Known Member

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    He was a year or two before I started watching. @Jimmy viz always insists that he was "a lot, lot worse than Dave Regis", which I find very hard to believe, but others on here have said similar.

    I guess anyone who saw Tom Kennedy play could easily rate him as our worst ever full-back, had they never seen Paul Gibbs.
     
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  17. Merde Tete

    Merde Tete Well-Known Member

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    What about Tony Bedeau? We're in a relegation scrap in one of the toughest leagues in the world, so we decide to sign a Torquay reserve striker to help get us out of the mess. Why?
     
  18. onemickybutler

    onemickybutler Well-Known Member

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    Paul Gibbs, aka Barry Chuckle, I’d forgot about him! Shocking left back who made Tom Kennedy look like Roberto Carlos.
     
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  19. Prince of Risborough

    Prince of Risborough Well-Known Member

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    The list is endless and nobody can really nominate THE worst ever striker. We’ve had plenty of contenders over the years. In recent times what about Brek Shea and his equally useless colleague the big German who I think cost his parent club millions to buy. I’ve already forgotten his name
     
  20. Jimmy viz

    Jimmy viz Well-Known Member

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    he made Dave Regis look like a younger better Gary Lineker.
     

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