The Mail Bag
Sad, but nice to see Sandy
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When the usual halftime presentation of players from the past was announced, it was nice to see two faces we have not seen for some time, one from fairly recent times, the great Nigel Martin, who served our club with great distinction.
The other was the man who had the heart of lion, when he wore the famous blue shirt, but due to illness has been left in a wheelchair. Sandy Brown reminded me very much of our present defensive king pin Phil Jagielka.
The big heart, and a great clubman, come hand in hand.
The one pity is he is remembered for an own goal.
Nice to see you Sandy, back where you belong, among all the true blues.
Norman Merrill, Posted 15/03/2009 at 08:41:39
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Att: 64,318. Good call, Dave!
Great player, and even got on with it after "that" disastrous own goal where many a player would have let it get to them. Thanks for the memories, Sandy.
His other claim to fame was to put a referee out of the game, believe that was a Stoke match too... (coincidence, eh?).
It was the European Cup at home to Borussia Moenchengladbach. The tie had ended all square and it was penalties at the Street End. Joe Royle missed the first, Bally got the second, then they missed and it was 1-1. Johnny Morrissay scored and then Howie scored and it went to the final penalty. Sandy stepped up to take. The street end all ducked and Sandy buried it in the corner ?but then the bit my Dad remembered. Sandy walked into the goal, picked up the ball, walked back the spot and slammed it down with the attitude of "OK Fritz (remember this was 1971 there was no PC in them days!) miss and you are out". Andy Rankin saved the kick and we went through.
Talk about bottle! Sandy had it and in Spades.
40 years this coming December. I think Sandy is big enough to attend a special dinner in his honour for he had nearly 10 years here and it is worth a special mention and thank you.
Let's say thank you now for all the memories, as out of sight is sometimes out of mind. Fine words are all well and good in an obituary. No Big Yellow Taxi regrets like Brian Harris.
I am sure the Former Players Foundation is, if required, on the job.
If there isn?t one already there, clear a space on the Hall of Fame wall!!
Every time he went near the ball, your heart was in your mouth. To all the young generation of supporters ? think of Tony Thomas, Marc Hottiger etc, ? that was our poor Sandy.
" Sandy Brown and beans-on-toast " ?
I realise people get old and get sick, but because he was such a solid, teak-hard individual, seeing him that way made me go... um, a bit weak I suppose.
(Big tart? Guilty!)
After we won the title in 69-70, there was a squad poster in Shoot (or Goal) at the start of the following season. It was one of those squad pictures with the (fantastic) trophy in the middle (EVERY blue I knew had that poster above the headboard of his bed). In the picture, there seemed to be about 300 in the squad (about 12 keepers) but two players stood out for me: John Hurst and Sandy Brown.
The reason being that they both had the biggest barrel chests you?ve ever seen. John Hurst looked like a VERY well built Indian brave (ie: Native American) from a (bad) 50?s Western ? you know the ones (in colour) when you know they?re not using real ?injuns? but more likely, white actors with a bit of Greek or Italian in them.
Sandy always looked like a military PE instructor (I always imagine him like Harry Andrews character in the movie ?The Hill?). Players playing against us when Sandy Brown was playing must have thought to themselves "Jesus CHRIST! How do I get away from this lunatic!?"
I really really hope he enjoyed the day.
He was shite...my arse, if we hadn’t signed Wilson he would have been a regular, remember what was there before him, Thompson of Meagan.
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1 Posted 15/03/2009 at 16:02:00
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