Colin Tartt

[DickDale]

I'm meeting up with Colin Tartt on wednesday for an interview.

Anyone got any memories or questions you'd like me to bring up?

[SourceOfTheTrent]

How about his feelings towards the old Bycars song, "He shot, he missed, it must be Colin Tartt, Colin Tartt, Colin Tartt...."

 

Or what was going through his head when he decided to chip the ball back to the keeper over Bryan Robson's head at Old Trafford? He actually did it TWICE, although I can't remember if it was Robson both times. I do remember Colin thought it was funny though, unless he was laughing at something else.

[snowdrifter]

What does he remember about his goal in his last ever Vale game at Scunthorpe? Cross gone wrong or genuine attempt?

[Howjy04]

How about his feelings towards the old Bycars song, "He shot, he missed, it must be Colin Tartt, Colin Tartt, Colin Tartt...."

 

Or what was going through his head when he decided to chip the ball back to the keeper over Bryan Robson's head at Old Trafford? He actually did it TWICE, although I can't remember if it was Robson both times. I do remember Colin thought it was funny though, unless he was laughing at something else.

I think the other one was Frank Stapleton SOTT.Stunner.

[Tone]

My memory may be poor, but I have a picture in my mind of him once hitting a shot and clearing the Bycars roof from about 40 yards. Did I dream that?

 

I've said for many years that I was born a Colin Tartt free kick away from Vale Park (the Haywood) and went to school the same distance away (Stanfield Tech).

[Lornelounger]

Ask him whether those 1970s "friendlies" between Us and the laddies really were all that friendly.....

[bycars rob]

How about his feelings towards the old Bycars song, "He shot, he missed, it must be Colin Tartt, Colin Tartt, Colin Tartt...."

 

Or what was going through his head when he decided to chip the ball back to the keeper over Bryan Robson's head at Old Trafford? He actually did it TWICE, although I can't remember if it was Robson both times. I do remember Colin thought it was funny though, unless he was laughing at something else.

 

One was over Frank Stapletons head if I remember correctly.

[davidatpreston]

One was over Frank Stapletons head if I remember correctly.

 

March 9th, 1976 ....just before I moved north, I trekked across London with my Crystal Palace supporting mate who had seen his team rise to the top placings in the old 3rd Division on the back of huge crowds and the obnoxious stifling arrogance of the fedora-wearing faceache called Malcolm Allison.

Palace had beaten Chelsea, Sunderland and Leeds (3rd in the top flight at the time) as part of a sensational cup run that saw them reach the semi-finals, joining a small band of elite Division 3 clubs to get that far.

Their home form in the league had faltered though, and Vale gave them a hell of a game, and who should pop up with the equaliser that had 20,000 or more Sarf Londoners cringing than our own majestic Colin Tartt.

Colin's reward was the never to be forgotten Sun backpage headline the following morning -

 

'PALACE HIT BY JAMMY TARTT'

 

It cost motormouth promotion - romantically, Hereford United pipped them in only their fourth season as a league club and John Sillett found himself in charge of a 'Championship' team.

 

Sadly, the immediate aftermath was that Vale accepted an absurdly low bid of £30,000 for Brian Horton, who was sold and whisked away to Brighton an hour after the Palace (night) game, and the sparkling side that could produce a few shocks lost one of its best ever midfielders. The club claimed they had no choice to accept the bid, but perhaps in the money of the day £100-£150k would have been a fairer price - especially as Horton went on to have a very successful career at a higher level.