Just a few random quotes, some well known, others not so much ....

1) Kenny Dalglish on his Celtic debut, " Aye, 25th September 1968, League Cup quarter final away at Hamilton Accies, came on as a sub with 20 minutes to go, when we were leading 3-1 ..... we were 10-0 up from the 1st leg, " Big Jock " wasna' taking too many chances with me ! "

2) Post match interview with Ron Atkinson, " I never comment on a Referee's performance, and I'm not breaking my rule for that pratt ! "

3) Tommy Doherty, on asked to name his post-war British XI, " I'd have Tom Finney on the left wing, but I'd have to think about the other 10 " !

4) Sir Stan Matthews in one of his auto-biographies, " They say some players can make the ball talk, Jimmy McIlroy could make it recite Shakespeare "

5) Brian Clough, on rumours that he was about to be offered the Republic of Ireland job, on a p/t basis, " i've had no approach, but the travel wouldn't be a problem, just a short walk across the Irish sea " !

6) Stan Ternent " Of course it was a penalty, a stonewaller, a blind man on a galloping horse could see that " !

7) Jack Charlton at a press conference, amidst rumours of a fall out with Roy Keane, " Nonsense, he's a lovely lad, Roy ... we're going out dancing together later "

8) Howard Wilkinson " There are two types of Manager in the game, ones that have been sacked, and ones that will be sacked in the future "

9) Gordon Strachan on Scotland taking a surprise lead against Brazil in 1982, " I thought " Oh S**t, we've really annoyed them now ! "

10) Hamilton manager, Ian Munro, during a losing streak, " I'd hang myself, but we can't afford the rope ! "


I'm sure others have plenty of contenders ...

On the subject of Tommy Doc and Tom Finney.

When both were at Preston, Doc was called in at the end of the season to be told he was being retained with a wage of £8 per week during the season and £6 per week during the close season. He protested and said Finney was getting £8 all year round only to be told that Finney was a better player than him. "Not in the bloody summer he isn't," said Docherty.

I'd never heard the Jimmy Mac one, but I shall point it out to my Stoke supporting mate.

“Whichever team scores more goals usually wins.” - Michael Clueless Owen

Yes, like the Jimmy Mac one.
“I spent a lot of money on booze, birds, and fast cars. The rest I just squandered.” - George Best

Kevin Keegan- “I know what is around the corner – I just don’t know where the corner is.”

David May-“Apparently, when you head a football, you lose brain cells, but it doesn’t bother me. I’m a horse. No one’s proved it yet have they?”

Tony Adams-“It’s a no-win game for us. Although I suppose we can win by winning.”

Mark Hateley-“I would not be bothered if we lost every game as long as we won the league.”

Ian Rush-“I’d like to play for an Italian club, like Barcelona.”

Playing for Hatfield Town in the London Metropolitan League, during one Tuesday night training session then manager Ron Catlin told us to "spread out in a bunch". A few weeks later he came out with "you four form a triangle" for another training exercise!

Gordon Strachan when, I think, he was managing Coventry. “Can we have a quick word, Gordon.” “Velocity” he replied and walked off.

Stan Ternent re Arthur Gnohere "He's got an injury between the ears"
then there's Gordon Strachan

Reporter: So, Gordon, in what areas do you think Middlesbrough were better than you today?
Strachan: What areas? Mainly that big green one out there...


there's a list of them here

http://www.thecelticwiki.com/page/Gordo ... n+-+Quotes

Didn't Ian Rush also come back from Juventus complaining that it had been like living in a foreign country?

Love this one from Bobby Robson:

"It’s a small boy clambering up stadium steps for the very first time, gripping his father’s hand, gawping at that hallowed stretch of turf beneath him and, without being able to do a thing about it, falling in love."

Another from Strachan (talking about Wayne Rooneys first England call up :

"It's an incredible rise to stardom, at 17 you're more likely to get a call from Michael Jackson than Sven Goran Erikson"


Kevin Keegan :

"They are the 2nd best team in the world, and you can't get higher praise than that"

Vintage Claret wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 30, 2020 3:09 pm

Another from Strachan (talking about Wayne Rooneys first England call up :

"It's an incredible rise to stardom, at 17 you're more likely to get a call from Michael Jackson than Sven Goran Erikson"


Kevin Keegan :

"They are the 2nd best team in the world, and you can't get higher praise than that"

Yep there's plenty of KK ones,he often suffered from foot in mouth moments.

I'm not sure the Michael Jackson comment has aged well considering all the news coverage since.

tiger76 wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 30, 2020 4:05 pm

Yep there's plenty of KK ones,he often suffered from foot in mouth moments.

True, though my favourite quote of his is actually a nice post match remark he made about Burnley.

It was just after he's been confirmed as England manager for their next fixture away against Hungary.

He was still Fulham manager at the time and when he bought them to The Turf he received a fantastic welcome from the Burnley fans which I think genuinely moved him.

After the game the interviewer remarked on the supportive reception he'd received and then inevitably asked about his upcoming first game as England Manager.

He replied "football is more about places like Burnley than Budapest"

I kinda got what he meant and I think it was meant as a compliment..

..and one from Shanks:

We beat them four nil and they were lucky to get nil.

“Have it...”

Kevin Ball to fatty Dunn.

Another from Stan after the 4-2 defeat at Sheffield United on the Wednesday after the cup defeat at Watford. We were awful that night and Stan changed the formation at half time. He was asked about it after the game and he said: "We went from sixes and sevens to sevens and eights."

Strahan was always quit-witted when interviewed. Some very funny replies.

Big Ron Atkinson took WBA on a football tournament to China. When he got back he was interviewed by local TV and was asked "Did you get time to see the Great Wall of China". "See it ?" he replied "we used to practice our free kicks around it"

Tommy Docherty was being interviewed and Darren Anderton came up in the chat, and was asked about his chances of playing for England . Anderson as you know was always getting injured . Tommy replied "he could get injured doing Question Of Sport"

Tommy Docherty was once asked about John Bond , and his successes. Tommy replied "hes had more clubs than Arnold Palmer"

Lord Baden Powell on football spectators in scouting for boys 1908:

"Miserable specimens.....learning to be hysterical as they groan or cheer in panic unison with their neighbours,worst of all being the hysterical scream of laughter that greets any trip or fall by a player".

Always remember Stan's plum duff comment, whatever plum duff is ?

"We're training tomorrow. Those players are having a laugh. I've stuck up for them but they are having a jolly, I'm so angry and I've told them. They've had too much turkey and too much plum duff and they have no desire. Christmas is cancelled. Everything's cancelled. There'll be no more time off until I get a better performance than that.”

Not quite a quote but worthy of mention was the phone in when a caller thought Niemi should be playing for Scotland. When told he was told of Niemi's nationality , the caller replied "no way he's finished"

Kevin Davies after Bolton were beaten 5-0 by Stoke in the FA cup semi final .... I wanted it to be a day to remember but it turned into a day I will never forget ... or something like that.

Bill Shankly.
“Of course I didn’t take my wife to see Rochdale as an anniversary present. It was her birthday. Would I have got married in the football season? Anyway, it was Rochdale reserves.”

“The trouble with referees is that they know the rules, but they do not know the game.”

“If a player is not interfering with play or seeking to gain an advantage, then he should be.”

“At a football club, there’s a holy trinity – the players, the manager and the supporters. Directors don’t come into it. They are only there to sign the cheques”

“If you are first you are first. If you are second you are nothing.”

“I know this is a sad occasion but I think that Dixie would be amazed to know that even in death, he could draw a bigger crowd than Everton can on a Saturday afternoon.”

“Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.”

If you can’t make decisions in life, you’re a bloody menace. You’d be better becoming an MP!

I remember Kindon being interviewed by Gerald Sinstadt (I think) on his return to Burnley. Asked why he went to Wolves only to return to Burnley he said his doctor had advised him to give up football for awhile. It made Sinstadt laugh.

Bobby Robson was always good for a quote, eg

“I’d have given my right arm to be able to play the piano.”

“What can I say about Peter Shilton? Peter Shilton is Peter Shilton, and he has been Peter Shilton since the year dot.”

“Nobody’s going to just hand you a cup on a plate”

“I’m not looking beyond the semi-final, but we’d love to play in the final”

“The first ninety minutes of a football match are the most important.”

“We don't want our players to be monks. We want them to be better football players because a monk doesn't play football at this level.”

“If we start counting our chickens before they hatch, they won't lay any eggs in the basket”

“Don't ask me what a typical Brazilian is because I don't know what a typical Brazilian is. But Romario was a typical Brazilian.”

“Gary Speed is irreplaceable. Where do you get an experienced player like him with a left foot and a head?”

“Titus (Bramble) looks like Tyson when he strips off in the dressing-room, except he doesn't bite. And he has a great tackle.”

“Andy O'Brien has a horrendous nose, the poor lad. It is massive, it is black and blue and it is awful.”

“We didn’t underestimate Cameroon. They were just a lot better than we thought.”

To Bryan Robson: “Morning, Bobby”
Bryan: “You’re Bobby. I’m Bryan.”

Reporter to Shola Ameobi: “Do you have a nickname?”
Ameobi: “No, not really”
Reporter: “So what does Bobby Robson call you?”
Ameobi: “Carl Cort”

Bolton are 10 years ahead.......Owen Coyle

Them bobby Robson ones had me in stitches...

There are a few good John Lambie ones. The best is when the physio told him a player was so badly concussed that he didn't know who he was - "tell him he's Pele and get him back on".

https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/sport/foo ... g-14513532

Sproggy wrote: ↑

Fri May 01, 2020 7:59 am

There are a few good John Lambie ones. The best is when the physio told him a player was so badly concussed that he didn't know who he was - "tell him he's Pele and get him back on".

https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/sport/foo ... g-14513532

Sproggy wrote: ↑

Fri May 01, 2020 7:59 am

There are a few good John Lambie ones. The best is when the physio told him a player was so badly concussed that he didn't know who he was - "tell him he's Pele and get him back on".

https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/sport/foo ... g-14513532

That made me laugh out loud