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Hot in the heels of the 28th anniversary of our European Cup triumph in Rotterdam, which was on Wednesday by the way, it’s emerged that Gordon Cowans and Colin Gibson have been keeping a little secret…
It’s a scene you couldn’t possibly imagine happening today; the midfielder and left back apparently chucked the trophy in the back of their car and headed over to the Fox in Hopwas, near Tamworth, for a few cold ones and a game or two of arrows. You know, like you do when you’re the European Champions.
I doubt they had to buy too many of their own beers, but somehow still managed to put someone’s nose out of joint. No doubt a bitter bluenose*… so the scoundrel did what any scoundrel would do… they made off into the night with our silverware!
Fortunately it was tracked down the same evening in Sheffield of all places.
One of the funniest parts of the story is that West Midlands Police rushed up to Sheffield to get the trophy back, but the opportunity was too good to pass up, so they organised an impromptu game for the trophy, in full uniform, in a garage out the back of the police station.
The story has only come to light since the police station in Sheffield is being closed and old photos from that night have been discovered. You can read the full story at BBC.
* No one knows who really stole the trophy and blaming it on a City fan is just me exercising a little artistic license. Besides, we all know that there’s no way a bluenose could negotiate his or her way from Tamworth to Sheffield in one night!
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5 Comments to “The Case Of The Missing European Cup”
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“headed over to the Fox in Hopwas, near Tamworth, for a few cold ones and a game or two of arrows. You know, like you do when you’re the European Champions”.
Haha, that’s great!
Just goes to show how things have changed.
During the pre-season when we won the league, because the Midland Red only ran every two hours, I was asking round for a lift from BMH to Minworth after a training session.
Dennis Mortimer (God mk2 to me) heard me and offered to take me in his Ferrari.
Actually I’m lying.
It was a Ford Escort estate, which if you don’t know was a mediocre rep’s car at the time.
I kid you not.
Players were still proper people then.
Dennis Mortimer gave you a lift? that’s great!
i bet there were a few capris and cortinas among the players’ fleet too. no wonder players had to open a pub when they retired… can you see ashley young, pub landlord? haha, me neither!
Dead true.
I watched the team train (you used to be able to watch from the touchline of the pitch then, as opposed to being kept a quarter of a mile away now) and they looked fine.
When it came to shooting practise, they were abysmal.
I’m talking 8 out of 10 shots off target!
Hence I didn’t hold out much hope for the season.
Anyway, Sir Mortimer gave me a lift and we had a bit of a chat about how he thought we would do.
He thought we’d do OK, but I could tell he was thinking “but nothing special”
Anyway, the point is, he was a really genuine nice bloke and very down to earth.
That’s my biggest claim to fame (haha) and I absolutely love the bloke.
I can’t remember what the cars were then, but I’m pretty sure they were all Fords.
I recall they drove them round the edge of the pitch at VP at one stage, as part of the advertising.
But why DM went for an estate, I don’t know.
I always thought they were horrible, but I guess he was being practical.
I’m rattling on, but it’s a nice memory for me.
I believe Robbie Savage did similar for a Derby fan, so perhaps all is not quite lost.
You don’t need to apologize for the Bluenose line, that clearly could happen.
And I can’t see Ash opening a pub, but maybe a Wifi ready cafe……
Great stuff I love those stories. Back in the day the players might not have been set up for life after their playing career finished but what an enjoyable time to play football. Play in front of the packed terraces on a muddy pitch on a Saturday afternoon and then go on the lash on a Saturday night do a bit of training during the week and probably have a midweek booze up as well.
The players today look so far removed from reality it is sad. They are finely honed athletes now and when you see footage of them coming off the team bus before a game with ipods on they look like robots in a trance. The personalities are gone but that’s the price of progression.