Lightning might strike more than once, goes the saying and when I was at the Birkdale Open yesterday I thought that this venue would be a perfect spot for a lightning storm to upset a lot of people. Being there was the reason for me disappointing you all by not writing a Blog yesterday. now, let's get down to business, while I show you a horrific clip from a footy match affected by lightning. This is not for the faint hearted.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNJRPOltifI
Right so you have got over that. My reason for upsetting you is to prepare you for lightning strike should you happen to be on a golf course or indeed a football pitch or in fact any other exposed area. Don't keep hold of your clubs, don't run to the nearest tree for shelter (or pylon), curl up on the floor in a ball and wait for the storm to pass.
So who has been injured or killed by lightning strike; well today is the anniversary of the death of Johnny White in July 1964 when the 27 year old Tottenham and Scottish international was playing golf with his team mate Dave Mackay at Crews Hill Golf Club, Enfield. A storm started late afternoon (which if you know your O Level (GCSE) Geography or Science, you will know why thunderstorms tend to build up in the late afternoon.....why??) around 4pm. The two golfers took refuge under a tree, a lightning bolt hit the tree and White was killed.
White was slight in build (The Ghost) and a wonderful inside left (number 10) who had much influence on the famous Spurs 1960-61 Double winning side. They also won the FA Cup again in 1962 and the European Cup Winners Cup in 1963 thumping Athletico Madrid 5-1, a game in which White scored. If you watch the video you will see why Spurs won! Who was MOTM?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONrBO_-FXnA
Mackay knew White from Falkirk in the Scottish League and persuaded manager Bill Nicholson to sign the Scot. During his time at Tottenham, Spurs never came lower than fourth in Division One and in fifteen matches that White missed, Spurs only won one.
When Nicholson had found out that White was a cross country champion in the Army, so his mind was made up. White is next to cup (on HIS left)....name the rest of the side.
An entire team, between 20-35 years old, in Kasai, Congo were killed when lightning struck during a match, with their opposition leaving the pitch unscathed.
There are many examples of similar events, the nearest to home being at Highagte United in the Midlands where Tony Allden was killed in an FA Amateur Cup tie v Enfield Town in 1967.
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