Just thinking about Bobby Hassells pending and "well deserved" testimonial year.How many of our players have achieved this accolade.I remember going to Phil Chambers,Brian Joicey,Gary Flemings,Eric Winstanley and Johnny Steele's.Is there any that i may have forgot.?
Yes, we played Leeds in 1980 for Rimmo. Eric had two, the first one being a joint one with Eric Brookes in 1967 (against Sheffield Wednesday). We also had one in 1967 for John Short (against a Select XI made up of local players like Alan Woodward and Frank Casper) one in 1968 for Barrie Thomas (against Newcastle) and one in 1964 for Bobby Wood (All Stars opposition featured Bert Trautman, Don Revie, Tommy Docherty and Nat Lofthouse).
Actually, we also played a benefit match in 1956 that wasn't for any specific player, but was to raise money to provide benefits to all our players. This featured our first team against an ex-Reds XI, featuring the likes of Tommy Taylor, Danny Blanchflower, Cec McCormack, Johnny Kelly, Jimmy Baxter and, although he didn't actually play for our first team, Mark Jones. I'm sure those of a certain age would go misty eyed at a forward line of Kelly, Taylor, McCormack, Eddie McMorran and Gavin Smith, supported by Baxter, Jones and Blanchflower. Sounds like an all-time Reds greatest players line up.
I've got the programme for that one in the loft.... and Brian Joiceys (All-Star Sheffield team that day....if any team from there can carry that tag)
Good Lord my memory must be fading.I can't remember the one for John Short,and why did we have one for Barrie Thomas he wasn't with us that long.