Winters World

by Scott Thornberry - 23rd November 2009

I had gratefully accepted the invitation to attend the Thistle Hotel in Glasgow for the launch of former Rangers goalkeeper Andy Goram’s new book.

The £75 per head Sportsman’s Dinner attracted 640 people, who all crammed into the banqueting suite. It was an accolade to the man who was voted as the greatest ever shot-stopper in the club’s famous history.

The evening had been arranged in the main by my good friend Scott McMillan and what a great job he did.

The room was packed with fans but also many illustrious names from past and present. Legends such as Rino Gattusta and Brian Laudrup had made special journeys to honour the man who is universally known as “The Goalie”, which was also the name of his autobiography.

I was surprised and honoured to be on the top table for the event and whilst not officially speaking on this occasion, I was asked to say a few words and introduce a fundraising section of the evening.

It is unusual to be applauded when I am introduced as refs wherever you go are not exactly popular.

But here, I was amongst friends. The Rangers family extends far and wide and many had travelled the length and breadth of the UK to be present.

I met a lot of old faces from the events I have spoken at in the last few years, including Bill Pedon and his friends from Bangor who had made the special trip to honour the controversial and colourful goalkeeping legend.

As usual, the boys from Fife were present, doing what they do best; drinking for Scotland!!!

The official speakers were former Rangers vice chairman Donald Findlay and the best Scottish comic around, John Gahagan. The evening finished with an auction of some fantastic memorabilia and most bids went into the thousands.

It got me thinking, such is the world wide appeal of clubs such as Rangers, and indeed Celtic, the clubs should utilise this magnificent support.

It has been well documented that Rangers are in financial difficulties and owe the banks £30million. Well, correct me if my maths is wrong, but 500,000 shares of £100 each would raise £50million and wipe out the deficit and hand the club to the fans. Is that too simple or what?

As part of the admission fee, everyone got a copy of the book and Andy was there until the early hours signing them for the never ending queue of punters.

Mind you, Brian Laudrup had to sign them all as well. The fans never forget a hero up there.

Andy grabbed my book and when he returned it to me a few minutes later, I looked inside the sleeve. He had written “Mr. Winter, I thank you so much. All the Respect in the world for you. The Goalie. Andy Goram.”

Well, I tell you something. It’s moments like these that you treasure for the rest of your life. The Soccer AM skits, the message board posts are what they are - insignificant in comparison.

Whilst at the dinner, I received many enquiries to go north and speak at forthcoming functions. I can’t wait, working amongst friends is not work at all!!

Aware of the distinct possibility of a late night, I had travelled by train and the following morning, I got stuck into “The Goalie”. What an interesting read it is, even if you are not a Rangers fan. I can thoroughly recommend it for a Christmas gift unless you have not read mine yet!!!

TUESDAY

Tuesday morning saw another spot on TalkSPORT, talking about Gary Neville’s comments about referees. I covered this aspect in greater detail in last week’s ComeOnBoro.com article on my site.

After my slots on radio and TV, as well as answering the criticism I get from biased fans who perceive that my comments are just anti their club, I found it more rewarding to get messages from people in the game who support my views.

A regular texter, who was obviously travelling into work, is Hartlepool chief executive, Russ Green. He commented favourably on the shows that I am doing on Radio Hartlepool.

In the early days, like when I first went to Alpha, the locals did not take too kindly to a Boro supporting ex-ref presenting shows about their team. In the end though, I won many of them over.

I will do the same at Hartlepool as it is not about me but about providing media coverage outside of the North-East’s three biggest clubs.

One problem has been that the Pools show has only been on after Saturday home games. I must admit that this is my fault as I want to be able to go to games when Pools are not at home.

We are looking at changing that though in the New Year with a regular weekly Monday night show.

Okay, we will be competing against BBC Tees and the Legends on Real Radio, but Poolies rarely get a look in there, so the show will just be for the town and the team. This is what local radio is all about.

I want to do a show on Alpha/Star that is similar to my former very successful “Soccer Saturday” show on TFM. Time will tell if this will happen.

WEDNESDAY

After a day of chasing round the country attending meetings, I settled down to watch Ireland play France, fearing the worst after Saturday’s poor performance.

Ireland were magnificent and had they taken any one of their gilt-edged chances in the second half, they would have been on their way to South Africa.

The longer the game went on though, the more I feared that a defeat on penalties or going out on a dubious decision was on the cards.

I was not to be disappointed and another act of blatant cheating brought about the Republic’s demise.

Cue more calls for video technology. Thursday morning was going to be busy!!

I have covered the subject in greater detail in this week's Villain of the Week.

THURSDAY AND FRIDAY

When I said that Thursday was going to be busy, it turned out to be the understatement of the year.

The phone started going before 8am. I did a piece on BBC Radio Ireland shortly after 9am. Before they asked me my opinion, I listened to Ireland’s assistant manager, Liam Brady, who blamed everybody but the Pope. He also refused to lay any criticism at the feet, or should I say hands, of Thierry Henry.

This was to be a recurring theme. I listened to Boro’s Sean St. Ledger and he pretty much admitted that they would have done the same thing at the other end of the field.

After the press conference at Durham with Hartlepool boss, Chris Turner, I detoured to Sky’s offices in Durham and was asked what my reaction was, not only to the incident, but to Henry’s claim that he had not done it deliberately.

My responses may not have been politically correct but it was exactly how I felt; “He’s a liar as well as a cheat”.

I had to drive to a function in Birmingham and all day I was being contacted to give opinions. The Sun, TalkSPORT, RTE Radio and TV, and News Talk requested my views. I also turned down the BBC for their evening news, Channel Four and numerous other regional stations.

I was happy to turn my phone off when reaching Birmingham. I was at a social evening for St. Anne’s FC at their social club.

With no auction, I was happy to get a flier and was away from the club by 11pm. This meant that I got to bed for 2am to snatch five hours kip, before shooting up to Newcastle airport to catch the Dublin flight.

The timing of the function in Ireland could not have been better, coming so soon after “The Hand of Frog”.

I was picked up at the airport and whisked to the radio studios near Drogheda, initially to promote the evening's gig at the local football club.

However, as you can imagine, there was another emotive subject to discuss. The switchboard was jammed and it was evident that the evening’s event was going to be well supported.

Mid-afternoon and I enjoyed my first pint of the black stuff. I was being ferried around by a guy called Paul and so I was not driving for once. Heaven.

We all nipped up to Dundalk to my mate Padraig’s house to freshen up and get something to eat.

In Ireland, a lot of the functions are more informal than they are over here. They don’t start until 9pm or later and they prefer just to drink rather than eat.

It was a pay on the door do and it was also being used as their Player of the Year awards ceremony, with the Irish League running from March to November.

The room was packed to capacity. I did my act and then later on did a Q&A session.

The Irish love their football and are very passionate people, so it was no holds barred. I fought for the ref's corner and, in fairness, they, unlike the players, firmly blamed Henry.

A nice early night saw me in bed by 2am.

SATURDAY

Saturday saw me up at 7am again and off to the airport to catch the 9.30am flight back to Newcastle.

On landing at the airport, I received a call from Nobby Stiles’s son, John, who is a top comedian. He said; “Jeff, you have really made it when Soccer AM is taking the piss”. You see, not everybody looks at their sketches in the same light!!!

BBC World Service wanted to do a piece with myself and former Arsenal player Perry Groves. At last a footballer who did not condone what Henry had done.

After a quick visit to home, it was then off to the Riverside.

For some bizarre reason, I actually fancied Boro today and after five minutes, I thought I was going to be correct.

I was listening to Kauto Star’s thrilling finale in the race at Haydock on the phone so I was a little peeved when the ground erupted after Lita had scored.

At least the horse won. The rest of the afternoon - Rangers' victory apart - was to turn for the worse.

Darlington got thumped whilst Hartlepool, despite taking the lead and playing very well, finally succumbed to Huddersfield’s pressure and lost 2-1.

As for the Boro, they were desperately fortunate to hang on for a point. Forest were much the better side and should have got all three points but for a couple of excellent saves from Brad Jones.

Post-match, Gordon Strachan sounded philosophical, realising the size of his task at the Riverside.

I then set off for Elland Road to attend a dinner for Aberford Albion FC.

On arriving, I created amusement for the stewards by going over one of those plastic cones which duly got stuck under my car. The power of the mobile phone - by the time I had parked up, I think everybody in Leeds knew what had happened.

Still, how to make an entrance.

By now, I was running on empty. A couple of Red Bulls set me up and we had another good evening. At £45 a ticket, they hopefully got value for money.

I was working with my mate Gary Marshall again, you really have to try and see him - he is the best comedian around in my humble opinion.

I had to laugh as when I visited the toilets, it appeared that my old “mate” Graham Poll had been speaking at an event the previous weekend. It described him as the greatest referee England has ever produced!!!

Well, excuse me. Jack Taylor, George Courtney and many more spring to mind, but Poll probably wrote those words himself!!!

A very successful auction rounded off an enjoyable evening and I was in bed by 1.30am - an early night!!!

SUNDAY

At least Sunday’s football did not spark any controversy.

Despite our results over the weekend, it could have been worse. We could be Wigan fans!!!

Celtic losing and Gary Marshall giving me a 7/1 winner at Aintree made the day okay though.

I also popped out to see a good mate of mine, Andy Himsworth. He is a fit lad and a serving policeman. Two weeks earlier, he had had a cold which had turned into pneumonia and nearly killed him. Fortunately, he is on the mend.

It was also good to see Mark Halsey in the crowd on TV at Bolton as he continues his fight against cancer.

These two refs are proving that there are more important things in life than football!!!

THE WEEK AHEAD

Tuesday night I am off to Ibrox for Rangers' must win Champions League game with Stuttgart. It could be not only my last CL game this season, but possibly my last European game. Anything less than a victory would probably mean losing out even on the Europa League.

Later on this week, I have dinners in Burnley and Darlington.

The local one is for Middleton Rangers JFC and is at the Darlington Arena on Friday night. If you fancy a good night out, give Mark Hunter a ring on 07532372783.

I am still undecided as to what I am doing on Saturday. With both Darlo and Pools out of the FA Cup, I might go to Peterborough or maybe go and watch my son play for Northallerton in the Northern League.