MAD MARTY AND WBA

Mad Marty Wilson has died at the young age of 62 from pancreatic cancer. He was a professional poker player and he starred in the Channel 4 Late Night Poker Show, a series from the late 1990s. I did occasionally watch bits of this. It was like watching paint dry!

He took risks of course and as Wolverhampton born lad, he supported his local team Wolverhampton Wanderers from a young age. He gained his nickname from a "mad" moment that he experienced; finding himself being chased by local rival supporters from West Bromwich Albion FC. At 17 years old he was energetic enough to start his escape through the nearby Dudley Zoo, when he jumped into the bear pit, made it through the llama cage and off into the night. The local paper reported the event and he was known as "Mad Marty" from then on!

Linking WBA to Mad Marty wont be an obvious thing but Wilson ended up as a consultant for Matchroom Sports and an online player for Noble Poker....any link Bob? Charlie? you Baggie fans.

WBA of course brings me to Whaley Bridge FC, on the telly because today's news item about the potential failure of the local reservoir dam feeding the local canal system, threatens the settlement of nearly 7,000, that spans the River Goyt.
The town, 14 miles south-east of Manchester, has been evacuated. News' items show the club's pitch in the shadow of the dodgy dam.

WBAFC first played in 1890, at Hog's Yard, now Tescos!
Latest manager Jamie Kay has played for Liverpool, Stockport Cty, Stalybridge C, Curzon A and Glossop NE, winning the FA Vase in 2009.
More famous is Bill Jones of Liverpool (277 apps-17 goals) and England who won the Military Medal in 1921 and won two England caps against Portugal and Belgium in May 1950. Having made his Liverpool debut in 1946, he helped the Reds win the First Division championship and was in the runners up team in the FA Cup, losing the Arsenal, after the war.
Bill's grandson, Rob Jones, also played for Liverpool and England.

In 1950 the Compton brothers (also cricketers) played for Arsenal in the Cup Final. A number of brothers have played in the finals;
1876-Hubert and Frank Heron played for the Wanderers and on opposite side, the Old Etonians, Alfred and Edward Lyttleton.
The most recent example is the Neville brothers in 1996.