Memory Lane Billy Hamilton

[Ulsterox]

Whilst looking through some old programs, I stumbled on Billy Hamilton's Testimonial v Northern Ireland Eleven. March 1987. I wasn't at the game but have wondered if George Best did actually play. At that stage of his career George did get a reputation for not turning up.

 

[Colin B]

Thank God for that.

I saw the thread heading and feared the worst.

 

[SteMerritt]

I'm pretty sure he didn't play, although can't remember for sure. I would have been there however.

 

[SteMerritt]

Thank God for that.

I saw the thread heading and feared the worst.

That was my first thought, had to double-check what forum section it was posted in.

 

[Marked Ox]

I was there and can remember the crowd but can't remember any of the game.

As an aside, I found the boxed Oxford United Subbuteo team of that vintage.

 

[Older Shotts]

From memory, Best didn't play... but I could be wrong..

I've still got my copy of Billy Hamiltons Football Academy board game

 

[Foley]

From memory, Best didn't play... but I could be wrong..

I seem to remember that as well.
I think at the time George Best was in his unreliable phase ( apologies if I am wrong)

 

[oxfordkits]

Yep - Best either wasn't there - or he remained in the player's lounge. Certainly wasn't on the pitch.

 

[Ulsterox]

Thank God for that.

I saw the thread heading and feared the worst.

Hope I didn't get your blood pressure up Colin. I had heard that Billy had moved to Canada. However , a good friend of his told me he hadn't moved but he has a place in Canada and goes over for some fishing. ( Eat your heart out Cam Bran. ) That photo on front of the program has to be what Billy was about as a player. 100% effort. An example to players today.

 

[ThatSlopesATwelfthMan]

Yep - Best either wasn't there - or he remained in the player's lounge. Certainly wasn't on the pitch.

Yeah. Almost certain he was at the ground and even have a vague memory of him showing his face and getting mobbed for autographs but definitely didn't play.

 

[Andy Stroud]

I've still got my copy of Billy Hamiltons Football Academy board game

Me too

 

[Stranger]

Me too

And me. Never played it, mind

 

[Beech Road Bokelberg]

Billy Hamilton was my Dad's favourite OUFC player. At the time of this he wrote him a letter with a donation to his testimonial.

My Dad received a letter in response thanking him and a copy of the mentioned programme (think it was when we were living in Germany).

In the letter it said 'The testimonial game was a great success, the score being Oxford 6 N.Ireland 4. I even managed to score a hat trick so that in itself was a fitting end to my career'.

Legend.

 

[stokeu]

I’m not Bokelberg’s dad but Billy was my favourite ever player too. Cat named after him, so no higher honour available and like Colin I had a heart in the mouth moment.

Edit: also our best kit ever on the programme cover.

 

[SteMerritt]

I’m not Bokelberg’s dad but Billy was my favourite ever player too. Cat named after him, so no higher honour available and like Colin I had a heart in the mouth moment.

Edit: also our best kit ever on the programme cover.

Good that another player had the ultimate honour of being a pet name inspiration, and it's not just my cockatiel Brockey. We also had 2 guinea pigs called Joey and Lager in the early 90s.

Any more OUFC pets?

 

[MJB]

Good that another player had the ultimate honour of being a pet name inspiration, and it's not just my cockatiel Brockey. We also had 2 guinea pigs called Joey and Lager in the early 90s.

Any more OUFC pets?

Do children count as pets?

 

[Pgyellow]

My dog was called Georgie after George Lawrence and more recently I had an Indian runner duck called Kemar!

 

[stokeu]

Good that another player had the ultimate honour of being a pet name inspiration, and it's not just my cockatiel Brockey. We also had 2 guinea pigs called Joey and Lager in the early 90s.

Any more OUFC pets?

Here’s Brannagan….

 

[Thomas/Brock/Jones]

Hamsters called Kevin ( after Brock ) and later on Joey !

 

[SteMerritt]

Do children count as pets?

Depends how feral they are I guess.

 

[Stranger]

I used to have a cat called Ripley, but not after our oh so famous goalie Connor, she was named after Sigourney Weaver's character in the Alien movies

 

[Thomas/Brock/Jones]

I used to have a cat called Ripley, but not after our oh so famous goalie Connor, she was named after Sigourney Weaver's character in the Alien movies

Was it a male cat who was rather talented?

 

[Stranger]

Was it a male cat who was rather talented?

A female cat whose only talent was getting stuck behind cupboards

 

[MJB]

Depends how feral they are I guess.

Well one’s named Durnin and the other is named after David Rush, so…

 

[stokeu]

Artha Turna

 

[Cass63]

My kids had a couple of budgies that I named Sid and Nancy. My ex mrs thought the names were quite sweet, straight over her head.

 

[Stranger]

Hope Sid didn't peck Nancy to death

 

[Wallop]

Good that another player had the ultimate honour of being a pet name inspiration, and it's not just my cockatiel Brockey. We also had 2 guinea pigs called Joey and Lager in the early 90s.

Any more OUFC pets?

We had Maurice the hamster. My Dad insisted on this name as a condition of purchase so that he could shout at the poor rodent if we lost. That hamster had a lot to deal with.

 

[Wallop]

My dog was called Georgie after George Lawrence and more recently I had an Indian runner duck called Kemar!

Very exotic.

 

[Cass63]

Hope Sid didn't peck Nancy to death

Sid died first, weird hey.