If you can access BBC i-player, then tune into “Marvellous”
a drama shown on BBC2 about the life of Neil Baldwin, from Westlands in
Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire. Baldwin, who is an honorary graduate of
Keele University, was appointed as Stoke City Football Club's kit-man by the
manager Lou Macari in the 1990s. A man tagged at school with the “learning
difficulties”, he then went on to become a Circus Clown, Lay Preacher,
unofficial student greeter at Keele University and Stoke City kit man. Stoke City has Carthusian connections, so I am
not going to let that slip past, but this is a moving drama worth seeing.
In a previous blog, I mentioned Norman Rimmington from
Barnsley who was the “kit man” at Oakwell for 69 years. Recognised by the Queen
and having attended one of the royal garden parties, he was Barnsley’s goalkeeper in the Wartime league and then
became first team coach, assistant manager, groundsman, physio and laundry man.
Malcolm Stedman is 72 and does for Gillingham’s laundry as
Norman does, but has also been called into help with team talks and even to be
the fourth official when needed.
Jack Northover, at 61, is at Rochdale a hero, who has fought
cancer, sky-dived to raise money for charities and been there through thick and
thin at Spotland.
Finally, Harry Parsons at Cardiff City deserves a special
mention, for he forgot the team jock straps (athletic supports) when the club
visited Sporting Lisbon in the European Cup Winners Cup in 1964-5. Harry went
down town, could not find a suitable sports’ shop and had to buy from a ladies’
lingerie pairs of knickers. No frills there then? Bless!
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