Dave
TFF member
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Post by Dave on Apr 5, 2009 9:28:50 GMT
It goes without saying that I'm touched by so many kind words that have been written, but you see my real thanks go to all my fellow members who made it happen really, I could not have done any of the things without the friendship and support you all gave.
The one thing that made me the most happiest was the real positive thoughts the Starkie family now have for the future and I'm so pleased that we could all show that we cared and making the day really special for Lewis was so important to us all.
The day that I talked with Grahame shortly after he leaned the news about Lewis was the start of trying to help him see that while he was in such a dark tunnel and could not see a light at the end of it, that by dealing with all the fears and finding the real fighting spirit and the strength to stand together as a family, slowly but surely a time would come when they all could walk out of the darkness.
It is far to easy at times for people to feel alone in times of trouble and what so often can make a real big difference is knowing others care and a great deal of strength can come from that one knowledge and we as members of this forum showed this dear family that we did care and that we have played a part in helping them to continue in the battles that still lie ahead.
The important thing is we can all make the difference in someones life and it may just come down at times to being there and giving just a bit of our time to listen and talk.The day Grahame needed that person I was there and having had to have face all the fears he was on that day was something that was not knew to me.
I promised myself a long time ago that no matter what was on in my life at any given time, If I came across anyone who may just need someone to talk to, someone to show they cared, then I would stop what ever I was doing and be there for them. I know the feeling all too well when I needed that myself and found that some people just walked on by and believe me it is such a lonely feeling and one that can push you over the edge.
I received a PM in the week, one that shocked me and saddened me so much, but one that made me feel that by telling me about the tragic lose of his son, that this forum really has brought such good and kind people together, as the member felt he could share the very sad event with me.
I intend to reply to the PM, but I will confess I was lost for words as this member has been one who has kindly given to the Lewis appeal and a man I now proudly call a friend.
The mascot day was a great day, but not the end as far as the forum is concerned, as we have more things we will be doing for Lewis. Firstly we are now sorting out his drum lessons and I will keep you all updated on his progress. Crooky has a special surprise that I won't say to much about just yet, but watch this space.
If pats on the back are required, then please give yourselves one, I could not have done any of this without you all, I'm just proud to be a member on this forum and proud to know you all.
Dave R
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 5, 2009 9:37:07 GMT
OUR CLUBAfter the dark days of two years ago, I felt a real sense of pride and joy just being in and around OUR football club. I loved looking at the old photos on the walls – even if I shamefully failed to identify Kevin Lane and Johnny Martin in that 1976 team picture. The refurbished restaurant and the Gulls Nest really have the feel of a club on the up. Alex Rowe and Mark Boyce both took the trouble to come and have a chat with us – and what nice genuine blokes they are. OUR club could not possibly be in better hands. Jon, I think you can be forgiven for not recognising Johnny Martin. Who? Kevin Lane was an earlier version of David Byng - two goals on his debut and not much afterwards (although he did score a few more goals than Byng). |
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Post by ohtobeatplainmoor on Apr 5, 2009 9:58:09 GMT
I'm really pleased to read the heart-warming accounts from everyone who made it to the carvery.
Seeing Lewis walk along the Pop to great applause before the game and seeing his smile was very much a highlight of the day for me and would have made it a great day even if we hadn't have seen such a comprehensive team performance.
Well done again to all involved -and I echo the thanks to Dave for bringing it together. Despite telling us he is short on stature, it is without doubt that he is a very big-hearted man.
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merse
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Post by merse on Apr 5, 2009 12:50:12 GMT
Jon, I think you can be forgiven for not recognising Johnny Martin. Who? Kevin Lane was an earlier version of David Byng - two goals on his debut and not much afterwards (although he did score a few more goals than Byng).  Johnny Martin came to Plainmoor on either a short contract or trial under Malcolm Musgrove. I seem to recall Southport and possibly Aston Villa on his CV, and he DID manage a few first team appearances for the Gulls...................perhaps Jon could confirm the actual facts. Kevin Lane was a 16 year old debutante when he came on as a sub in a League Cup tie and sensationally hit an equalizer and then the winner according to my dim and distant memory. We were talking about the Cox family earlier, and Kevin; a Black Country lad used to lodge at the Cox's home in Moor Lane Watcombe and maintained a long standing friendship with the family over the years. I think he had arrived after a failed apprenticeship at Walsall and later went home to the Midlands to play for Nuneaton Borough. I can recall him being the subject of the same sort of Popside popularity that Elliot Benyon enjoys now, with the fans having more enthusiasm for his inclusion in the side than the professional know how of the management allowing. David Byng was another teen-aged debutante who began with a bang hitting a couple of goals at Walsall on the opening day of the season and his football "career" was all down hill from thereon! The last I heard of him was that he was the club mate of a fellow Capital Gull's partner at Maidstone RFC.............yes, Rugby Football Club and had a good job in the City of London. At the time the CG's still had a Sunday football team and efforts were made for Byng to play for us but it never came to pass somehow. The only time this aged and creaking bunch of reprobates "perform" now is in the end of season Orientear CHAOS Cup in which we manage to "express ourselves" with distinction annually (including winning the damned thing once!) and fully intend to do so again this season.    |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 5, 2009 20:04:23 GMT
Johnny Martin came to Plainmoor on either a short contract or trial under Malcolm Musgrove. I seem to recall Southport and possibly Aston Villa on his CV, and he DID manage a few first team appearances for the Gulls...................perhaps Jon could confirm the actual facts. Well-remembered, Merse. It says here...Ashington-born, one first team game for Villa (in the mid 1960s making him a contemporary of Dave Rudge); then on to Colchester followed by 200 games at Workington and a couple of seasons at Southport. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 5, 2009 21:01:31 GMT
At the time the CG's still had a Sunday football team and efforts were made for Byng to play for us but it never came to pass somehow. The only time this aged and creaking bunch of reprobates "perform" now is in the end of season Orientear CHAOS Cup in which we manage to "express ourselves" with distinction annually (including winning the damned thing once!) and fully intend to do so again this season. Have you ever come across an Orientear known as Whoosh - or to give him his real name - Rowland Lyons? Lives in Taunton, works on admiralty charts, never misses an Orient game. He's the biggest bloody lunatic imaginable. And talking of nutters - he's a mental health social worker actually - I had a answerphone message this weekend from an old friend who, as well as being an Old Trafford season ticketholder, is prepared to watch anything which involves people kicking a ball (he's got the European Partially-Sighted Cup and the World Learning Disability Cup neatly ticked off on his list which, I guess, also serves the purpose of fitting the Wirral Social Services inclusiveness and diversity agenda and counting towards his continuing professional development). Today he passed on his ticket for Man Utd v Villa so he could watch the Welsh League Cup final on the grounds that he's watched the previous 16 finals. Why not indeed? Indeed he rang to say he was looking out for me at the recent Wales U21 game at Parc y Scarlets, the new Llanelli rugby stadium. I'm afraid that one was off my radar entirely and I'm now worried about my reputation - as well as the people I know - even more than I was. As I was saying to Andygulls yesterday - pleased to meet you, Andy, by the way - at least some of these characters serve the purpose of making you feel relatively normal. |
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Post by Budleigh on Apr 5, 2009 21:09:02 GMT
Having bumped into a number of fellow forum members yesterday i'm pleased to say that normality is in wonderful short supply amongst us all... whether mild, relative or acute...
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 5, 2009 21:25:36 GMT
Having bumped into a number of fellow forum members yesterday i'm pleased to say that normality is in wonderful short supply amongst us all... whether mild, relative or acute... Indeed. Wales v Kazakhstan on 29 May (provisional) at Parc y Scarlets? Well, I've already got one person interested....I mean there's a difference between an U21 international and a full one, isn't there? |
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Jon
Admin
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Post by Jon on Apr 5, 2009 22:15:37 GMT
Johnny Martin came to Plainmoor on either a short contract or trial under Malcolm Musgrove. I seem to recall Southport and possibly Aston Villa on his CV, and he DID manage a few first team appearances for the Gulls...................perhaps Jon could confirm the actual facts. Kevin Lane was a 16 year old debutante when he came on as a sub in a League Cup tie and sensationally hit an equalizer and then the winner according to my dim and distant memory. We were talking about the Cox family earlier, and Kevin; a Black Country lad used to lodge at the Cox's home in Moor Lane Watcombe and maintained a long standing friendship with the family over the years. I think he had arrived after a failed apprenticeship at Walsall and later went home to the Midlands to play for Nuneaton Borough. I can recall him being the subject of the same sort of Popside popularity that Elliot Benyon enjoys now, with the fans having more enthusiasm for his inclusion in the side than the professional know how of the management allowing. Good stuff Merse. I am a "rolling board" reader myself, but for the sake of those who read as threads I'll start a separate one on this. |
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merse
TFF member
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Post by merse on Apr 6, 2009 3:04:20 GMT
Have you ever come across an Orientear known as Whoosh - or to give him his real name - Rowland Lyons? Lives in Taunton, works on admiralty charts, never misses an Orient game. He's the biggest bloody lunatic imaginable. Don't talk to me about Roland Ruddy "Whoosh"...................playing against the 'Ears once on Hackney Marshes, I was taking a ball from OUR keeper in OUR half when I was flattened from behind and half bloody killed by an apparent express train from the nearby marshaling yards only to find it was the said "Whoosh" - the opposition goalkeeper. Getting to my feet and removing the clod of turf from between my teeth, I was not best pleased to hear the ref shout "play on" in response to the general cacophony and uproar explaining to my polite enquiry as to why he had played on with the retort "oh is he THEIR keeper?"What with "Whoosh" and the visually impaired Volney - the Human Refrigerator - in their team, playing against the 'Ear was never anything but rather surreal to put it politely; if not downright suicidal ~ to pre-book a bed at nearby Homerton Hospital was the thing to do really. Give Rowland Merse's regards please Bartie, every respect to the guy ~ a true English Eccentric of the highest order and I can't wait for us to get back in the same division as the O's so that "hostilities" can be resumed. I can just see me coming out of retirement at the age of 60 (not) well getting along to the Birkbeck afterwards at least !  |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 6, 2009 7:31:38 GMT
Give Rowland Merse's regards please Bartie, every respect to the guy ~ a true English Eccentric of the highest order Will do, Merse. I last saw Whoosh at Uxbridge when he was acting as Taunton's stand-in, emergency kit man. He was like a kid at Christmas going around saying " can't tell you anything, lads. What happens on the coach, stays on the coach!" Prior to that I'd seen him making his debut as a steward at Taunton Town the night after he'd been watching the Os at Carlisle. There's a rumour he allowed a minibus load of Totton supporters into the car park without them paying.... A true character. |
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Post by ospelgull on Apr 6, 2009 7:47:52 GMT
Good to read that Lewis and family had a fantastic day out at Plainmoor, just as the rest of you who were there!
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Fonda
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Talking absolute football...
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Post by Fonda on Apr 6, 2009 9:54:04 GMT
Well done to Dave, and indeed everyone else involved in organising what was clearly a great day. Good to see you all had such a good time, and most specifically the real star of the day, Lewis. Well done to all concerned.
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Post by romfordkev on Apr 6, 2009 13:06:17 GMT
Looks like you all had a day to be proud of and in return did young Lewis proud too.......................well done Dave, you're a real star! We were talking about the Grand National during today's match and I've learned tonight that someone who posts on here has pulled off a 397/1 footballer accumulator tonight........pity he only put a fiver down as stake money but that couple of grand he won should see him OK over the weekend eh? I think he should come clean and spill the beans don't you? Anyway, my begging letter's gone in already; so you lot have had it! After problems logging on with AOL this weekend (a problem experienced by over 50,000 internet users in the East London area), I can finally "spill the beans" with regards to Merse's post above. Thanks to the efforts of Southend, Peterborough, Rotherham, Kidderminster, Inverness CT, Livingston AND East Stirlingshire this weekend, my humble £5 note turned into a wallet - bursting £1989.85!!  That works out at odds of 397.97/1!!  (Its early days......but I think I can sense a camera upgrade coming on)!!  |
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Post by khilllegend on Apr 6, 2009 13:12:53 GMT
well done hun drinks on you then x
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