Dave Merrington Retires

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Dum Spiro Spero
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Dave Merrington Retires

Post by Dum Spiro Spero » Tue May 17, 2022 12:17 pm

Dave Merrington is retiring as a BBC Radio Solent pundit after Sunday's match. Many on here will remember him from his playing days.

https://www.southamptonfc.com/news/2022 ... ry-feature

evensteadiereddie
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Re: Dave Merrington Retires

Post by evensteadiereddie » Tue May 17, 2022 12:37 pm

A very useful player and a nice bloke too.
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The Enclosure
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Re: Dave Merrington Retires

Post by The Enclosure » Tue May 17, 2022 1:00 pm

Did he go to Southampton from Burnley?

Quicknick
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Re: Dave Merrington Retires

Post by Quicknick » Tue May 17, 2022 1:36 pm

Only 98 league games for Burnley, then he went to Bristol City, where he didn't maske a league appearance. Source: Google.

beddie
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Re: Dave Merrington Retires

Post by beddie » Tue May 17, 2022 1:44 pm

Now he could tackle. A good player for us back in the 60/70s. There was no mention of his Ministerial duties, just wondered if he’s retired from that.

evensteadiereddie
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Re: Dave Merrington Retires

Post by evensteadiereddie » Tue May 17, 2022 1:58 pm

Indeed, he came Edge End to talk about his experience as a footballer and - of more relevance to our RE teacher who invited him- his work as a, I think Methodist lay preacher.
It's hard to imagine a pro footballer being in that position these days.
Imagine the headline..." Footballer comes out as a Methodist."

Petersa
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Re: Dave Merrington Retires

Post by Petersa » Tue May 17, 2022 2:09 pm

Memories of a half back line of Merrington, Waldron and Blant still brings a shudder down my spine. Burnley could definitely be physical in THOSE days! Always liked Dave Merrington.

If memories serve me correct he was a lay preacher in Burnley when he finished playing, he finished early due to dodgy ankles. He combined it with being 2IC to Jimmy Adamson when he was manager of Leeds. Something of a conflict of interests in more ways than one I always thought!

Suratclaret
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Re: Dave Merrington Retires

Post by Suratclaret » Tue May 17, 2022 2:33 pm

I can’t remember the exact year…late 70s early 80s probably, but he worked for the Probation Service as a community service supervisor and he was very good at dealing with offenders…the attendance rate exceeded by far previous rates. We spent many lunch hours talking football. I don’t think he was a Methodist lay preacher but was involved with a local Pentecostal church.

Hipper
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Re: Dave Merrington Retires

Post by Hipper » Tue May 17, 2022 2:40 pm

I was never too impressed with Merrington the defender.

Doug Collins and Alan West from that era also became involved in church work. Perhaps they felt they must continue working for the Lord after they left Turf Moor.
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Tricky Trevor
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Re: Dave Merrington Retires

Post by Tricky Trevor » Tue May 17, 2022 3:01 pm

Coached under Jimmy Adamson at both Sunderland and Leeds. In both jobs he took temporary managerial duties after Adamsons’ dismissal.
Managed Saints for one full season and kept them up with two vital late season wins but was still dismissed to be replaced by Souness.
At 77 he’s earned a long healthy retirement.

ClaretTony
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Re: Dave Merrington Retires

Post by ClaretTony » Tue May 17, 2022 3:55 pm

The Enclosure wrote:
Tue May 17, 2022 1:00 pm
Did he go to Southampton from Burnley?
Went to Bristol City from Burnley but got an injury before he'd played for them that ended his career. He returned to Burnley as reserve team coach under Adamson and then went to both Sunderland and Leeds with Adamson.

He then went to Southampton to work in the youth department and was there for the rest of his career. Matt Le Tissier speaks very highly of him.
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ClaretTony
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Re: Dave Merrington Retires

Post by ClaretTony » Tue May 17, 2022 3:58 pm

Dave Merrington was one of the answers to a question about Premier League managers that I was asked on Sunday on the way to Spurs. The others in the car were astounded when I got him because they'd never heard of him.

Bordeauxclaret
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Re: Dave Merrington Retires

Post by Bordeauxclaret » Tue May 17, 2022 4:06 pm

ClaretTony wrote:
Tue May 17, 2022 3:55 pm
Matt Le Tissier speaks very highly of him.
He’s probably worried about that now.

the_magic_rat
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Re: Dave Merrington Retires

Post by the_magic_rat » Tue May 17, 2022 4:12 pm

evensteadiereddie wrote:
Tue May 17, 2022 1:58 pm
Indeed, he came Edge End to talk about his experience as a footballer and - of more relevance to our RE teacher who invited him- his work as a, I think Methodist lay preacher.
It's hard to imagine a pro footballer being in that position these days.
Imagine the headline..." Footballer comes out as a Methodist."
That's correct Eddie. Dave was a Methodist lay preacher. I recall him coming to speak at my local Methodist church when I couldn't have been older than 10.

Dave's off-field persona couldn't have been more different from his on-field image of a hard-as-nails tough-tackling defender. I remember vividly the second leg of the Eintracht Fairs Cup quarter final. My dad had managed to break his foot in a work accident, which as a result was in plaster. He somehow wangled it for me, my mum and him, to sit on a bench in front of the perimeter wall on the old Brunshaw Road stand side. (Could you imagine that nowadays?) The Eintracht great, Juergen Grabowski was away down the right wing and Dave came across to stop him in his tracks with a shuddering challenge right in front of us, which cut him off at thigh height. I can still hear the thud as he took him out! I don't think Dave even got booked. :o :D
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lakedistrictclaret
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Re: Dave Merrington Retires

Post by lakedistrictclaret » Tue May 17, 2022 4:59 pm

The day I became a Claret was 4th December 1965, when we drew 1-1 at home to Tottenham.

My memory may well be playing tricks, but I think Frank Saul may have been sent off for smacking Dave Merrington in the face.

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Re: Dave Merrington Retires

Post by ClaretTony » Tue May 17, 2022 5:07 pm

lakedistrictclaret wrote:
Tue May 17, 2022 4:59 pm
The day I became a Claret was 4th December 1965, when we drew 1-1 at home to Tottenham.

My memory may well be playing tricks, but I think Frank Saul may have been sent off for smacking Dave Merrington in the face.
I think your memory is fine lakedistrict
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ClaretTony
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Re: Dave Merrington Retires

Post by ClaretTony » Tue May 17, 2022 5:11 pm

the_magic_rat wrote:
Tue May 17, 2022 4:12 pm
That's correct Eddie. Dave was a Methodist lay preacher. I recall him coming to speak at my local Methodist church when I couldn't have been older than 10.

Dave's off-field persona couldn't have been more different from his on-field image of a hard-as-nails tough-tackling defender. I remember vividly the second leg of the Eintracht Fairs Cup quarter final. My dad had managed to break his foot in a work accident, which as a result was in plaster. He somehow wangled it for me, my mum and him, to sit on a bench in front of the perimeter wall on the old Brunshaw Road stand side. (Could you imagine that nowadays?) The Eintracht great, Juergen Grabowski was away down the right wing and Dave came across to stop him in his tracks with a shuddering challenge right in front of us, which cut him off at thigh height. I can still hear the thud as he took him out! I don't think Dave even got booked. :o :D
I knew he was a lay preacher but always thought he went to the church on Colne Road where Joe Brown was a lay preacher. He came to our school too to give a talk and someone asked him how he could go preaching on a Sunday having kicked **** out of someone the day before. He just said that the football was his job.

And he cost us in that aforementioned Fairs Cup tie against Eintracht, he gave both goals away.

IanMcL
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Re: Dave Merrington Retires

Post by IanMcL » Tue May 17, 2022 7:55 pm

Much work done for Southampton Youth set up. They made a few quid, as a result!

Cirrus_Minor
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Re: Dave Merrington Retires

Post by Cirrus_Minor » Wed May 18, 2022 7:49 pm

I went to a Methodist Sunday school in the mid sixties and we were awarded a book prize if you had a good attendance. The prizes were presented usually by Burnley players and once this was Joe Brown and Dave Merrington, Joe I think was a lay preacher and gave a long religious speech, but Dave Merrington was happy to chat with us kids about football. Always had my respect after that, guy.

warksclaret
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Re: Dave Merrington Retires

Post by warksclaret » Wed May 18, 2022 7:59 pm

He will no doubt have kept i n touch with one of my favorirte players Brian O Neil who went to play for the Saints

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