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Gazelle, times have changed. Do you remember coming with me to Bangor on a bitterly cold Boxing Day in the late 70's ?
We stopped on the way there at my Auntie's local in Deganwy. There were no Pubs open near the ground. On the way back it was well after Chester before we found a Pub that was open. You may not remember as you slept most of the way there, and all the way home, in the back of my car as we collected you to go to the game straight from an all-night bender. Fair play to you - you didnt miss the match, the bitterly cold wind from the Irish sea kept us awake that day (I only recall York and Buxton being colder places).  Alty won 5-4 that day and I think JR got 4 that day.

 No.1  - and by miles "six foot 2 eyes are blue GERRY CASEY's after you. Tony Saunder's wrote an article in a National Sunday paper before the Tottenham game saying Gerry was the hardenst nut he ever met in Football. There was a standing joke that an Everton player made a prematch treat to Gerry that he would break his leg. Gerry's reaction was "son, I'm 36 and have seen blokes that would eat you for dinner, but if you want to mix it, you dont have to come looking for me". Sure he wasnt the quickest defender, but he was a very good Centre Half, and not much went past him. Challenged for everything - a great competitor. Compared to Gerry, Liverpool's legendry Toomy Smith was a fairy.

2. Joe Pritchard - Gerry Casey's partner on the pitch and on building sites. A lot quieter verbally than Gerry, but a real tuogh nut - also our leading scorer one season.

3. Johnny King - hard and loved to mix it. However, got as much as he gave, probably because he wound up opponents even before the match started.

4. Les Campbell - the hardman of the Jackie Swindells era. Was there also another player of that era that had a reputation and got lengthy suspensions, or was it just Les ?

5. Lennie Dickenson - I also remember that incident again Macc at Stockport which as good as cost us the match. If I am correct it was on Ian Morris who Alty later signed from Macc ?

Longman, you are wrong as a Scotsman has actually been Assistant Manager of England - John Gorman was Glenn Hoddle's second in command. He was also entitled to sing that song that England teams persist in using as an anthem, as its not the English Anthem but officially the British National Anthem. I have heard that Anthem sung by Scotsmen, albiet Rangers Supporters who were described by their own club Captain as "moronic".

and, redhill alty, what was the best?

An almighty righthand slap thrown by a stunningly beautifull blond bird, in a Pub in Market Harborough, after we won the APL Cup at Kettering in 1981.
She nearly took the Gazelle's head off !!!!!

I started watching Alty 5 years later in 1963 when Johnny Mitten was our striker. I remember the season our pitch looked like Southport beach. Goals were leaking in so next season Freddie Pye signed a great goalkeeper, Mick Smyth who went on to play for the Republic of Ireland. That was before the roof was put on the Golf Road End.

The Jackie Swindells era were the first glory years. Crowds were fantastic. I remember teems of Supporters walking down Clover Road in Timperley in Red and White scalves on their way to Moss Lane via the Golf course footpath. Jack's goalscoring record disguises the fact we had a great team not just Jack - Pat Connolly, Neil Dewar, Les Campbell, Derek Halliwell, Neal Peters. The hype in the town when we beat Rochdale 3-1 away in the FA Cup was fantastic.

The team that played Everton was loveable - full of characters such as Gerry Casey, Peter Eales, Joey Pritchard ect. John Hughes was a great goalscorer and GH could put a ball on a sixpence.

Got to agree that Kingy comes out on top. 2 Championship titles, FATrophy, League Cup and round 3 of the FA Cup on 4 successive seasons all in the space of 5 years while he was team leader. Jackie Swindells goal record will never be broken and Derek Halliwell wa a great captain.

Yes Alty Dave I was on that Special train to Rotherham. I have been reminded about that game a lot recently as I am working with a Barnsley supporter and there was a big gang of Barnsley supporters with us behind that goal that day. I went with an old BTH schoolmate of mine, Tony Deane, a 6'6"" lanky fruitcase of a City supporter from the Grange Estate who went to Alty games where things were likely to kick off on the terraces - he once nearly got me lynched at Wigan when we won one evening in the 1970's. That Barry Howard goal rates as one of the best in Alty history.