Footballers' names

[Lady Whistledown]

I agree heartily with Reading Posh's suggestion, players should be listed with more initials like they do on cricket scorecards, or in 1890's match reports. Old match programmes used to refer to the team's manager by title too.

"Brighton were fortunate that goalkeeper B.C. Roberts was on hand to parry a shot which deflected off defender K.P. Mayo following a move in which G.F.B. Butters was outpaced by speedy attacker L.J. Beckett. The Seagulls manager Mr S. Coppell said he was delighted with his team's splendid efforts despite the disappointing score"

None of this "Wayne" and "Jermaine" rubbish, bring back proper footballers' names. I'd suggest we should also throw our hats in the air when we score but at the current rate of events, we probably won't hit the net until March.


God I sound old....

 

[Trigger]

G.F.B. Butters

Quality

 

[Tooting Gull]

And lets not forget at this difficult time Stacy Caldicott of Grimsby. As Alan Partridge might say, 'can be a boy's name too' - but mainly one for the chicks. And as if that wasn't bad enough, he's had to watch the woman he's going through a painful divorce with embarrassing herself nightly on BB, throwing herself at the virginal Orkney dork bible-basher who - let's be careful here - doesn't appear 'that interested'. The dressing room banter is going to be uncomfortable for Mr Caldicott for some considerable time. Still, silver lining - it could be one of us.

 

[Everest]

G.F.B.?

Great Fat B'stard?

 

[Simster]

I met a bloke called Tracey once. I bet he had a cracking time at school.

 

[The Large One]

In the olden days, not all the players were referred to by their initials. It depended on their social standing.

For instance, when Stanley Matthews was selected to play for England by the selection committee (in the days before an England manager), his letter was always addressed 'Dear Matthews...', right up until he became a knight. None of this 'Dear Stanley' or 'Dear Mr Matthews'

Bunch of wankers. Bit of respect required.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Bring back the Stanleys, Georges, Potter Smiths and Skinner Normantons of this world!

All sounding like characters out of 1950s comics it must be said.

 

[Brovion]

Edan you are quite right, but I blame the parents. As you say it's nowadays its all Jermaines, Clintons and Tiffanys (just wait, it'll be a popular boys' name in 5 years). Parents have got to start giving their boys proper names again like Victor, Stanley and Arthur. Then we'll be a force in world football again.

BTW one of the best things about Zamora is that he called himself 'Bobby'. None of that 'Rob' nonsense.

 

[Herne Hill Seagull]

Stanley Collymore is a genuine throwback name. If he'd ever teamed up with Jeffrey Thompson-Minton, we'd have had the start of something big.

Peter Rhoades-Brown could have been manager.