Jump to content
I am no longer developing resources for Invision Community Suite ×
By fans, for fans. By fans, for fans. By fans, for fans.

Stuart Hall

Sir Tokyo Sexwale

By Sir Tokyo Sexwale
in Liverpool FC

 Share

Recommended Posts

Sir Tokyo Sexwale

Sir Tokyo Sexwale

Posted
Posted

And other comentary stuff

 

When Stuart Hall was awarded the OBE at the close of 2011, we were reminded that forty years had passed since his prolonged detonation of a laugh launched It’s A Knockout. That famous laugh has lost none of its infectious lustre in the intervening years. Nor has his way with words lost any of its giddy appeal.

 

In 1999, fifty Members of Parliament signed a Commons motion, congratulating Hall on his, “inspirational use of the English language.” Too right. At the ripe old age of 82, Hall continues to astonish and delight with his Shakespeare-in-Vegas match reports for Radio 5 Live.

 

Here, Jon Wilde recalls a memorable visit to the great man’s Cheshire home in 1995.

 

“The greatest day of my life,” says Stuart Hall, “was the 1977 European Cup Final between Liverpool and Borussia Monchengladbach. A marvellous experience. I couldn’t breathe, it was so exciting. The Olympic Stadium in Rome. The Coliseum in all its glory. Liverpool fans took over the place. Rank after rank of blood-red infantry. But a peaceful occupation. What a day! I’ll take it to the grave with me.

 

“They had to smuggle me in. I couldn’t get the right pass although palms had been liberally greased. Forty pieces of silver to be exact. Bob Paisley, a saint to the last, sorted me out with a tracksuit and I went in with the team, sandwiched between Steve Heighway and Joey Jones. The atmosphere in the dressing-room: electric. The players’ breath, creating the kind of fog you’d expect from a row of Victorian chimneys. The nerve ends – you could hear them vibrate from a mile away. All the players had monumental craps. There was no running water in the toilets. Sheer mountains of s*** almost reaching the ceiling.

 

“Haaaargh. Scarves wrapped tightly around faces. I thought we were going to choke to death. Tommy Smith just crapped like an African elephant. You could see the steam rising. Haaaaargh. Extraordinary. Never seen anything like it before or since. Meanwhile, Paisley is giving a pep talk to Keegan who’s got two black eyes. Jimmy Case thumped him one when he heard he was buggering off to Hamburg. Five minutes to kick-off. The nerves stretched like violin strings. The players start stamping on the floor with their studs. A crescendo of noise. It was just like a cavalry charge. It was like bloody Balaclava in there. Then Tommy Smith went off and took another s***. We couldn’t stand it another moment longer.

 

“Paisley realised I didn’t have a seat. ‘Nae problem,’ he said. ‘You can be one of the substitutes and sit on the bench.’ I had the number 15 on my back. Sat next to Toshack for the whole game. They won, of course. 3-1. Goals from McDermott, Smith and Neal. The Jerries didn’t know what had hit them. When the victors trooped back into the dressing-room after the match they were pissing on the floor with excitement. Berti Vogts, the Borussia captain, strolled in. The golden boy of German football was in tears. He handed me his shirt and said, ‘Keep it, you played a blinder.’ I protested. ‘Berti,’ I said, ‘I’m Stuart Hall. I’m a nobody.’ He was sobbing like a small child who’d lost his favourite toy soldier. ‘Please keep the shirt,’ he said. So I did. Haaaaaaaargh.”

 

The rest isn't LFC related

Ibby

Ibby

Posted
Posted

He still calls anfield 'the coliseum' when ever he does our match reports on five live. Absolutely top bloke. That OBE was long overdue.

Nebraska Red

Nebraska Red

Posted
Posted

Met him a few times on the League One/Two circuit, genuinely mad as a bag of badgers

When I worked in mancland, i saw him do a couple of after dinner things, certainly very entertaining. his best stories always seemed to come from away trips in It's a Knockout!!

Molby

Molby

Posted
Posted

Met him a few times on the League One/Two circuit, genuinely mad as a bag of badgers

 

ha, you wouldn't think so would you? he reminds me of Tony Wilson

 

town tomorrow pre-match btw

shopping,tapas,wine

Sir Tokyo Sexwale

Sir Tokyo Sexwale

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Whenever I'm back in England I listen out for his match reports, he's a law unto himself. If the game was crap he'll harp on about unrelated stuff. He's fecking ace

 

ha, you wouldn't think so would you? he reminds me of Tony Wilson

 

town tomorrow pre-match btw

shopping,tapas,wine

Pre match? Fecking hell Molby....

Molby

Molby

Posted
Posted

Whenever I'm back in England I listen out for his match reports, he's a law unto himself. If the game was crap he'll harp on about unrelated stuff. He's fecking ace

 

 

Pre match? Fecking hell Molby....

 

yep

 

told youz, I'm preparing for life when we decamp to La Liga

New York Red

New York Red

Posted
Posted

Whenever I'm back in England I listen out for his match reports, he's a law unto himself. If the game was crap he'll harp on about unrelated stuff. He's fecking ace

 

 

Pre match? Fecking hell Molby....

 

He's on every Saturday morning mate on the World Service. I can comfortably listen to him while driving on the LIE. Isn't life wonderful? :)

aka Dus

aka Dus

Posted
Posted

He covered us against Swansea (IIRC) this season. He said it was the first Liverpool home game he'd done in 3½ years or something. He mentioned it himself, he was that pissed off.

Swan Red

Swan Red

Posted
Posted

Worked with him at Granada and the BBC - top bloke. He looks a bit rough now though.

 

I met him once at the Granada studio's where he used to host that pub quiz show late. We were in the audience for the recording of the halloween show when this clown dressed as a ghost fell off the stage at my feet and completely star struck had no idea wtf to do.

 

Fortunately it was the rehersal

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.

Home

Notifications

PMs
×
×
  • Create New...