Vale hardmen from yesteryear

[Smallthorne clampet]

My Hardest x1 for what its worth 

Ball , Brodie Aspin Hazell Wilson , Mclaren Horton , Morgan Wright Newton Moss . 

[andy jones]

On 04/09/2023 at 17:10, Bycarsbill said:

In addition to those listed, what about Selwyn Whalley?  One of the hardest defenders I've seen at Vale Park.  Right back during the late 50's and early 60's.

Teacher at Hanley High School.

I can remember a game at the old Shrewsbury ground adjacent to the river. Vale winning as time ticked on and Selwyn wellying every ball that came anywhere near him as far as possible into the river.

The poor sod that used that coracle to go and fetch them must have been nackered.

[andy jones]

As I recollect.

Vale V Peterborough

Jim Iley, Peterborough seriously clatters Tommy Mac (Big mate of Vale's John 'Jesse' James)

At resumption of match Jesse runs full pelt across the pitch to the Hamil side, goes in with everything on Jim Iley.

Iley is stretchered off. John 'Jesse' James doesn't wait for referee he just storms off down the tunnel.

Suspect this will have been late 1960s

Amazing what you can remember when remembering last week is a struggle.

[DazFred]

Bill Bentley

That is all

[smithie]

If hard = brave I'll go Enoch Andoh. Despite his size he never bottled taking or making a challenge and for me was one of very few players that caused a buzz when he had the ball. I was gutted when he had to give up with us.

[Aguar61]

2 hours ago, DazFred said:

Bill Bentley

That is all

I live two doors away from Bill and though he's in his 70s I wouldn't want a punch off him...and his sons are right brick outhouses too!...no mither on our little corner of Trentham 👍

 

[Bycarsbill]

10 hours ago, andy jones said:

Teacher at Hanley High School.

I can remember a game at the old Shrewsbury ground adjacent to the river. Vale winning as time ticked on and Selwyn wellying every ball that came anywhere near him as far as possible into the river.

The poor sod that used that coracle to go and fetch them must have been nackered.

Love it.  I wished our defenders had taken a leaf out of Selwyn's book instead of conceding some of those injury-time goals we have during the last couple of seasons!

[darren1810]

11 hours ago, Smallthorne clampet said:

My Hardest x1 for what its worth 

Ball , Brodie Aspin Hazell Wilson , Mclaren Horton , Morgan Wright Newton Moss . 

Is that Lawrie Wilson 🤪

[captain scarlet]

Big bad Bob Hazel 

remember him and Gary Bennett at Chester 

Bob was sent off think Bennett learned then who the hard man was 

[Aguar61]

17 hours ago, aspin for england said:

Heard a couple of stories that Bernie Wright used to wear Docs and a Crombie .

Makes him sound like a flasher if that's all he wore.

[hamilboy]

On 07/09/2023 at 07:25, sheffield61 said:

Agreed.....

 

Testing my old memory here but I think it was HE MANY moons ago who "accidentally" stood on a crewe players head at Gresty road back in the day.....😁

 

THINK we won 2-5.?.....😁💖

He also scored a hat-trick that match.

[TJHValiant]

I think Smudge is a genuine hard man. Ok he looks slight but is always committed to a challenge, always brave and is never injured. Tough as nails. These “Vinnie Jones” type guys are usually all just show, making up for a lack of ability. 

[Loggerheads Sage]

13 hours ago, captain scarlet said:

Big bad Bob Hazel 

remember him and Gary Bennett at Chester 

Bob was sent off think Bennett learned then who the hard man was 

I remember that,  lol. Remember hanging over a barrier screaming abuse at Bennett as he was stretchered off,  lol. Took a cheap shot at Bob from behind,  Bob absolutely polaxed him.

Wife didn't come another game with me fir about 15 years, lol

[fuzzyvalefan]

Can we do a powder puff eleven too?

[smithie]

1 hour ago, fuzzyvalefan said:

Can we do a powder puff eleven too?
 

Dan Jones

JJ Hooper