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Solve a mystery for me
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During the sixties, I used to stand about half way back and slightly left of centre on the Gwladys Street. At every game, there was the constant chanting of "Simmo the 'Omo"!
Q1. Who was Simmo?
Q2. Was he an 'omo'?
Q3. Where is he now?
Trevor Powell, Posted 13/02/2010 at 08:35:48
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There was a song in the 60s to ’I saw a mouse where there on the stair’ wasn’t there? What was the rest of it?
Re Simmo, sorry, I haven’t a clue.
Re Simmo, sorry, I haven’t a clue.
Oh for goodness sake, Mike Mclean. Leave it alone, and don't turn this thread into another excuse for the good and the righetous to come on here and start spouting all this political correctness shite.
Mike McLean, I gotta take you to task for that comment: there is no ’celebration’ here. However, communication on this website is primarily through the use of words... language, primarily the English language, and I make no apology for protecting full use of the language. Sorry but, we don’t subscribe to the censorship of words themselves, which means we generally aren’t on board with the PC bullshit that has demonized some words of the English language to the point where they cannot be used for their primary function — communication.
That said, the original post seemed to me to be a reasonable enquiry; what was the origin of the chant? If it’s a celebration of anything, it’s the tremendous shared history of thousands of Evertonians and their shared memories of standing on the Gwladys Street terraces... Behave!
That said, the original post seemed to me to be a reasonable enquiry; what was the origin of the chant? If it’s a celebration of anything, it’s the tremendous shared history of thousands of Evertonians and their shared memories of standing on the Gwladys Street terraces... Behave!
I think he was one of a group of seven or eight lads who used to take up residence immediately behind the goal. As I recall, one of them was called "Browner". I believe the lads used to chant this as a way of taking the proverbial out of their friend.
It was around the time one Joe Royle made his debut and scored with a header. Was he only sixteen at the time? I can still see the goal going in, but then again my memory might be fading (Roy Vernon gets even better as the years go by).
It was around the time one Joe Royle made his debut and scored with a header. Was he only sixteen at the time? I can still see the goal going in, but then again my memory might be fading (Roy Vernon gets even better as the years go by).
It's amazing really, considering that this site could easily turn into your average YouTube message board rant, the contributors know where to stop.
Mike
I preferred the ’67 Gwladys St version...
"St John is a monkey
He’s always fuckin’ around
We’re gonna buy a bunch of bananas
And throw them on Liverpool’s ground"
Presumably you’d take me to task on behalf on the Plantain Correctness movement for abuse of the genus Musa?
I preferred the ’67 Gwladys St version...
"St John is a monkey
He’s always fuckin’ around
We’re gonna buy a bunch of bananas
And throw them on Liverpool’s ground"
Presumably you’d take me to task on behalf on the Plantain Correctness movement for abuse of the genus Musa?
Simmo was one of the first bus drivers who also collected fares when the one-man buses were introduced in the 60s. In those days, they were called OMO’s (one-man operation). He often stood on Gwladys Street with his mates who used to chant this as there were very few people who drove these buses then and it was a prestigious job.
Phil Bellis, I unfortunately remember that from when he scored against us for Coventry!
What was that other one "There was a Scottish forward... he came from Motherwell...?
It was a parody on Liverpool’s song about Ian St John?
What was that other one "There was a Scottish forward... he came from Motherwell...?
It was a parody on Liverpool’s song about Ian St John?
There is a new short film aimed at raising the ugly issue of homophobia on the terraces. Here is the Youtube link for those interested in why football grounds are one of the last places to accept that homophobic abuse is not acceptable:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1270cn0YxSo
I don’t understand the type of political correctness that Shaun Sparke refers to. I’m certainly not good, nor am I righteous. I only know that homophobia is so rife in football that not one single player dares to declare his sexuality publicly. How fucked up is that?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1270cn0YxSo
I don’t understand the type of political correctness that Shaun Sparke refers to. I’m certainly not good, nor am I righteous. I only know that homophobia is so rife in football that not one single player dares to declare his sexuality publicly. How fucked up is that?
Why do some people turn a bit of nostalgia into a political correctness campaign.
I’ve been called a white honky, slimey limey and all sorts of names by friends and/or aquaintances. Get a life and become a scouser for god’s sake you guys.
I’ve been called a white honky, slimey limey and all sorts of names by friends and/or aquaintances. Get a life and become a scouser for god’s sake you guys.
As I recall there was also a lad called Trev who used to coordinate all the chants..... bit of a forerunner to the guy who supportd Portsmouth.
Congrats, Mike McLean, you have become Knobhead of the Year with that comment, get off your soap box and lighten up.
I wonder if anyone has bothered to get a PhD or place in history with creating a new law similar to Godwin. I claim the right to call any debate with the slightest sniff of upsetting anyone and suffering the wrath of the PC brigade from a tenuous debate Ramejkis’s Law... thus destroying the initial debate. I might even write a paper on it...
Jay Harris, who was Trev you mention was this in the 60s was it? Did he write a few of them or just start them off?
Paul Webster, I understand and hear what you say, but surely the homophobic debate would be better highlighted in a relevant thread, or preferably on another website. I come on here to read about football and all things related to my club. My frustration arises when people jump on any hint of sexism, racism, homophobia or any other sensitive subject and take the moral high ground, when it is quite clear from the author that this was not his intent. So instead of talking about the original subject we end up opening up a can of worms and create a platform for the pc brigade to remind us what horrible people we all are for daring to use humour around sensitive areas.
There is a world of difference between intentional hateful comments and good natured banter.
There is a world of difference between intentional hateful comments and good natured banter.
David, he was a lad who used to stand on the barriers in the rear raised section of Gwladys Street, right behind the goals in the mid-sixties to get the chanting started.
He used to go to all the away games too and got into a bit of bother now and again but was a well known character amongst "the gladiators".
He used to go to all the away games too and got into a bit of bother now and again but was a well known character amongst "the gladiators".
Paul Webster - John Terry has been outed recently as straight.
The reason there’s not been any players publicly coming out is that we have a media that is not comfortable dealing with the issue - especially when there’s a million other trivial things with the sport they can spout bullshit about.
In Rugby, Gareth Thomas was lauded for his open-ness, and the way his team mates reacted made him openly question whether they already knew. I’m sure within the sport it would be the same in football. I’m not sure the bigots who read the tabloids would be as understanding, and therein I think lies the answer. Not even the Street of Shame would want to showcase what an intolerant bunch of neanderthals the UK has become.
(But not people on this website, who I am sure are bastions of tolerance of all views - pro and anti BK!)
The reason there’s not been any players publicly coming out is that we have a media that is not comfortable dealing with the issue - especially when there’s a million other trivial things with the sport they can spout bullshit about.
In Rugby, Gareth Thomas was lauded for his open-ness, and the way his team mates reacted made him openly question whether they already knew. I’m sure within the sport it would be the same in football. I’m not sure the bigots who read the tabloids would be as understanding, and therein I think lies the answer. Not even the Street of Shame would want to showcase what an intolerant bunch of neanderthals the UK has become.
(But not people on this website, who I am sure are bastions of tolerance of all views - pro and anti BK!)
Jay, sounds a character!I always wonder if the older characters still go.
I’ve always thought that a good book to read would be about the ’infamous Evertonians’, with fellas like him sharing their tales and of course their knowledge of Eveton at that time.
I always enjoy fan stories and their old songs more than the players stories tbh.
I’ve always thought that a good book to read would be about the ’infamous Evertonians’, with fellas like him sharing their tales and of course their knowledge of Eveton at that time.
I always enjoy fan stories and their old songs more than the players stories tbh.
One Freddie Armstrong... QED
I don’t want to 'come out' sort of thing, but I have a secret dating back to the sixties that I have hidden away for far too long.
I don’t know the correct pronunciation of Gwladys.
I usually mumble ’Gwadliss’ or something like ’Gladys’ and when I’m ordering tickets on the phone I live in dread of having to repeat it.
When you consider that I used to stand by the lad with the Lily The Pink leg, this is a shameful state of affairs.
What should it be?
I don’t know the correct pronunciation of Gwladys.
I usually mumble ’Gwadliss’ or something like ’Gladys’ and when I’m ordering tickets on the phone I live in dread of having to repeat it.
When you consider that I used to stand by the lad with the Lily The Pink leg, this is a shameful state of affairs.
What should it be?
All I asked was about the origin of this chant which seemed to drawl on for ages at every game, especially when the action on the oitch was lacklustre! I wrote recently on a BBC forum to do with some histoirc research about Chepstow and all I got was a load of crap from Welsh Nationalists denying Chepstow’s right to be called Welsh!
Some people need to get a life or at least put it into proportion. Simmo was obviously an in-joke at the game in the sixties. I was not "in" but remembered its constant chanting!
Ah, 'get a life'. The constant cry of the bloke caught out.
If YOU had a life, perhaps your mind would be turning to things other than 45-year-old chants in an obscure corner of the globe.
If YOU had a life, perhaps your mind would be turning to things other than 45-year-old chants in an obscure corner of the globe.
What a queer thread!
Since when was Gwladys Street an obscure corner of the globe?
Cheek!!!
Cheek!!!
Old Chants are a part of our history just as much as old players. It is an expression and a statement of the culture of that period in time. Fans should always look to pass on old songs to the younger.
When I was younger I’d ask about stories and songs from the lads who went in the 30s you always had a few arrogant ones who wouldn’t give you the time of day and part of our history was not passed down.
It’s would be a shame of the lads of the 60s had the same arrogant attitude of ’who the hell are you’ or ’it was 45 years ago who cares’.
When I was younger I’d ask about stories and songs from the lads who went in the 30s you always had a few arrogant ones who wouldn’t give you the time of day and part of our history was not passed down.
It’s would be a shame of the lads of the 60s had the same arrogant attitude of ’who the hell are you’ or ’it was 45 years ago who cares’.
Mike McLean
Quit while you’re behind
The lady doth protest too much, methinks.
Quit while you’re behind
The lady doth protest too much, methinks.
Phil Bellis, it rings a bell that name, Freddie Shepherd... a dark coloured chap?
Talking of old songs, do you remember the one about our ’reserve’ team putting 4 in the net at the pit? It was about/mentions the speedy wing play of our hard man Morrissey?
Mike McLean, I think you need to chill out mate. There are more important things to worry about than ’alledged’ homophobia on Toffeeweb. As stated earlier, you really do need to get a life.....
Fred Armstrong is the gentle giant black lad who was a hero in the Street and a great character home and away through the 60s/70s. He was always coming up with ditties inspired by popular songs of the day.
I last saw him outside the Church a couple of seasons ago; I’ve heard he was very poorly not so long back and had to have a leg amputated. Does anyone have any info at all?
Apologies Armstrong not Shepherd I amalgamated his name, he sounds like a very interesting man to meet. What Everton songs did he write Phil?
Get a grip, all footballers expect abuse when they play against their rivals. Terry deserves all he gets... as does Ashley Cole, as neither of them seem to be nice characters. I despise Ashley Cole with a passion so Leighton can book his plane ticket.
Hopefully, this will be the end of this thread.
As a lad, Omo was a washing powder which my mother used down at the canal bank slapping the dhobi against a flat rock.
As I became a man, I was informed that there were others, 'not like us’, called ’homos’.
It was only many years later, as I learned how to wash my own socks, that I noticed that Omo had completely disappeared from the supermarket shelves.
Imagine my surprise when I entered a supermercado in Spain ten years back to see a packet of Omo staring me brazenly in the face.
Fortunately, it still has the power to clean socks — unless my mates are being altogether too kind.
As a lad, Omo was a washing powder which my mother used down at the canal bank slapping the dhobi against a flat rock.
As I became a man, I was informed that there were others, 'not like us’, called ’homos’.
It was only many years later, as I learned how to wash my own socks, that I noticed that Omo had completely disappeared from the supermarket shelves.
Imagine my surprise when I entered a supermercado in Spain ten years back to see a packet of Omo staring me brazenly in the face.
Fortunately, it still has the power to clean socks — unless my mates are being altogether too kind.
Keith: "slapping one’s dhobi against a flat rock"... is this some sort of euphemism?
I must get out more
Mike Mclean, chill out. Simmo was not some obscure bus driver, he was one of the lads who used to go to all the games home and away and it was just something funny to chant in those far-off non-pc non-anal retentive days.
Jay, don't know any ’Trev’ but Paddy Geelagher used to be the front man for Everton’s crew in the late 60s early 70s.
Jay, don't know any ’Trev’ but Paddy Geelagher used to be the front man for Everton’s crew in the late 60s early 70s.
Freddie Armstrong, may he RIP, was a great Evertonian and an old friend of mine from Margaret St School. He was a very capable goalkeeper as well. Always a big laugh to be around him at the games home and away.
Phil, Freddie is alive and well. He did get one of his legs amputated, but he still goes to every game in a wheelchair.
To people who don’t know Freddie, I’d just like to say he is probably the greatest Evertonian off all time. You can count on one hand the number of games Freddie has missed in the last 50 years. He still goes for a drink on Walton Road after every home game.
You are likely to see him in The Salutation or Weatherspoons. He is currently living in sheltered accomodation in the Anfield area.
Cheers, Tony... made up to hear he’s OK — he used to try out his new songs on me!
He was a gentle soul and a real hero to us teenagers in the mid-late 60s; he always looked out for us on away games
I remember Alec the police sergeant and Bernie (Leo) from Birkenhead and Gerry who used to play rock ’n’ roll on the old joanna in the Winslow...
I’ll check out the pubs you’ve named to see if I can catch up with Freddie — man’s a legend in my book.
Many years back, I was told the following, by a bullshitting, bladdered squaddie (on a train from Euston to Liverpool).
"...mate there’s loads o’ fuckin’ shaggin’ goes on in the married quarters" (in whichever hell-hole of a gaff he was stationed in - can’t recall).
He continued "All the married tarts wanna bit o’ ’young’, so me and the lads, we’re round there all the time".
"But hold on, if you’re in barracks and you’re seen near the married quarters, wouldn’t the fellers there KNOW you’re up to no good.
"Oh aye yeah" he said "that’s why you only go where there’s a packet of Omo in the winder like".
A fuckin’ WHAT?""
"A packet of Omo - stands for ’old man out’ lad, you see that and yer know that your arse is goin’ to be goin’ like a fucking bees wings lad"
(Looks out window... only at bleeding Northampton!!!?? Oh lord, take me now!)
"...mate there’s loads o’ fuckin’ shaggin’ goes on in the married quarters" (in whichever hell-hole of a gaff he was stationed in - can’t recall).
He continued "All the married tarts wanna bit o’ ’young’, so me and the lads, we’re round there all the time".
"But hold on, if you’re in barracks and you’re seen near the married quarters, wouldn’t the fellers there KNOW you’re up to no good.
"Oh aye yeah" he said "that’s why you only go where there’s a packet of Omo in the winder like".
A fuckin’ WHAT?""
"A packet of Omo - stands for ’old man out’ lad, you see that and yer know that your arse is goin’ to be goin’ like a fucking bees wings lad"
(Looks out window... only at bleeding Northampton!!!?? Oh lord, take me now!)
John, I’m with you on this, I remember Simmo and Paddy Geeleher, he was a tough character, anybody know what happened to him? They were crazy times travelling up and down the country fighting for the blues, not proud of it now but at the time...........
John, you’re right. I remember Paddy well and I was confusing Trev with him. Trev was another lad from the Street End.
A lot of us came up together in the Boys Pen and graduated to the rear of Gladwys St.
There was also a lad cally Billy (White I think) and Charlie (from over the water).
They used to do the famous "Boot walk", especially away from home.
A lot of us came up together in the Boys Pen and graduated to the rear of Gladwys St.
There was also a lad cally Billy (White I think) and Charlie (from over the water).
They used to do the famous "Boot walk", especially away from home.
What Everton songs did Freddie write Phil?
He’d be happy for them to be remembered and shared years on won’t he?
He’d be happy for them to be remembered and shared years on won’t he?
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1 Posted 13/02/2010 at 16:49:43
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