st johns fc

Team-mates

st johns fc

paul drake 13/01/2004, 10:00 PM
i would like to thank the commitee and all related to norwich st johns fc.

After 10 very memorable years with the club i have finally decided to move on,something that i thought that i would never do. I have seen many players come and go in my time there and have made some very good friends along the way. I would like to give a mention to many people but i dont have the time. so these are the ones that had a big influence on my footballing days. Ricky Gathergood, a great player in his time and then a very good manager a great friend on and of the field. Alan Goodyear, this was the man who i believed in, he gave me a different sight to the game. i was always known to be a very hard player (act first think later as many a ref will remember) but alan taught me so much and made me into a much better player. and finally to mr st johns himself TONY FRANKLIN. a truly wonderful man. if it was not for tony there would be no st johns. A man i am proud to say is a great friend. and finally all the players that i have met hope to play against some of you in the future, as i am now a player for poringland wanderers.

Re: st johns fc

Kevin Marten 08/02/2004, 5:40 AM
Hi Paul. How could you leave the Saints? You have already referred to the memorable years and the great friends you made along the way. Whatever the reason, I endorse your sentiments of the club, Tony, and other influences within the club. I too had many great years with the Saints but not at the same level the side has enjoyed in recent years. Probably because players kept leaving. Look at the Saints now!
Regardless of league position, they are a club I will alway be proud to be associated with and still managed (after 27 years) to meet up with some of the boys when visiting Norwich last year. And wouldn't you know, Tony organised the reunion. Come on! Get back there!

RE: st johns fc

Fluff 05/11/2004, 8:56 PM
Seems like you liked the saints so much, you decided to tap a few up to play for Newton res!! Dont think so matey, keep trying!!! Gary

Damned if you do. Damned if you dont

RE: st johns fc

Budgie 26/03/2005, 10:13 AM

Couldn't believe this one! Tony Franklin STILL at the club?

I played for St John's between 1960-1966, then 1970 to about 1975 (after returning to Norwich) and Tony was with the club when I first joined. And, I believe, he is a former player! He used to be our sponge man but as he was dousing you down would insist: 'Come on, you can carry on!'

No substitutes in those days.

In my era we were playing in the Business Houses League and went on to the Anglian Combination Division Four (where we stayed until after I left the club! Shame on us!)

We had great times with some players who must be legendary in the history of the club: Neville Armstrong (something like 460 goals in 400 games), Roger McMahon (6 goals in the first half against Gothic and then sent off a minute after the restart!), Boogey Howman (leave that nickname to the imagination) and Mick Hawes (he was BIIIIG - and round).

I remember the trainer of an opposing player shouting to his forwards about Mick: 'Treat him like a roundabout!'

We never really took the game seriously outside the 90 minutes and discovered very early on that we would play like demons with three or four pints inside us!

Most of us went to the same Catholic schools together and just seem to drift into the team together.

I vividly remember the team playing in an inter-diocesan cup one year against an Italian team at Peterborough. I think the game was 4-2 to us (in stretcher cases that is!)

That was the most riotous game I was ever involved in.

Now I am approaching 60 memories still flood back of my great times with St John's (I have plenty of scars that ache now and then!) and I have religiously followed their progress all these years.

I might look darf but I ain't stuput!

Re: RE: st johns fc

mally armstrong 09/10/2007, 9:13 PM
bugie me and my brother neville both injoyed the italin game tony played as well great food after the battle, and dont foget the itie ref malcolm armstrong