John Vinicombe RIP

[portlock seagull]

Just reading this late evening on Friday. Can't believe it. Like many others, John's reports were part of my reason for supporting the Albion. Shocked and saddened to hear this news, he'll be fondly remembered indeed. RIP.

 

[fleet]

Part of my youth was reading John in the Argus. Very sad news. RIP John.

 

[South Stand Bonfire]

Minutes silence/clapping at the Hull game then?

 

[kevo]

Very sad news - used to buy the Argus after the game on Saturdays to read his reports (which were about 3/4 about the first half. If there was a late goal, he just managed to squeeze in a mention!). I have all three of his books on the Albion from the late 70s/early 80s too... Glad he was still around to see us move in to our fantastic new home.

 

[Pumba04]

Just reading this after a long day, again part of my youth and growing up following the Albion

I remember as a kid sneaking into the hallway and dialling the 'Albion line' to listen to his commentary on a mid-week away game, making sure that as soon as he said the score I put the phone straight down hoping that the call length was so short that my parents wouldn't be charged !! (I soon learnt that this wasn't the case...)

RIP

 

[Brownstuff]

The Daddy of Albion reporting
There was always a grainy picture of him accompanying his pieces
I used to keep cutouts of his reports of Brighton games but unfortunately binned them all at some stage

 

[getreal1]

I have all his reports from our glory years in scrapbooks and several of his Albion books. Glad he lived to see the glory years start again. RIP John.

The first book, the real authoritative history was a must read then and if it were capable of being updated in the same Vinicombe style would be shifting copies still. Different times but more class than Naylor will ever have.

RIP John Vinicombe.

 

[rocker959]

RIP John, a major part of the heritage of BHAFC lost but never to be forgotten.

 

[Landgull]

What can I say that hasn't already been said. Very sad news. RIP

 

[Withdean and I]

Oh that's so sad to hear. As others have said - a part of my growing up as an Albion fan and he will always be a part of Albion history. R I P John.

 

[TJx]

God bless x

 

[RowleyBirkinQ.C(deceased)]

Just reading this after a long day, again part of my youth and growing up following the Albion

I remember as a kid sneaking into the hallway and dialling the 'Albion line' to listen to his commentary on a mid-week away game, making sure that as soon as he said the score I put the phone straight down hoping that the call length was so short that my parents wouldn't be charged !! (I soon learnt that this wasn't the case...)

RIP

So it wasn't just me then doing this with the Albionline, fantastic stuff and made me chuckle. Vinners was a true legend of the club and it was a sad day when he retired and handed over the reigns to bloody Naylor.
God bless you vinners, definitely deserving of a minutes silence/applause before Hull.

 

[jezzer]

Used to stand in the west at the back of the wall directly below the press box when i was a kid with my dad and Pete Martin, who was a friend of his, and John used to smoke his cigar and tell us all and sundry about the backroom shenanigans during the glorious 70s and early 80s.

People moaned about the odd report or man of the match choice he made but in comparison Naylor isnt fit to lick his boots, a legend, a proper journalist from the old school and great to listen to, RIP John, my Dad will be sad when I tell him he`s passed for one.

 

[Working class pride]

JV was the reason I bought the argus as a kid. I used to like his Albion pages on a Thursday I think when he was building up to the weekend.

 

[GoldWithFalmer]

His writings in the Argus was a major factor to why i started going in 1988-from the tail end of 1987 when we were on an 17 match unbeaten run JV would have on the back page,from another Brighton match unbeaten,the title........"Albion escape the hangman Again".......Brilliant!!

Have been to Albion matches from the late 70's through family,and remember distinctively,standing on the East terrace in 1981 aged 8,watching Brighton,Old Division 1,midweek,losing 1-2 to Swansea......however my reading of the Argus,a touch of relative success at that stage for the Seagulls and John's accomplished style was the reason i became a fan,for proper-in 1988

GOD BLESS YOU JV

 

[desprateseagull]

A sad loss, inded. Master of the football reporting Universe.

And Brighton, natch.

 

[GT49er]

Also used to be an avid reader of JV in the Argus; got one of his books, too. A sad loss. RIP, John