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Post by butler64 on Nov 22, 2014 11:06:44 GMT
I mean, I don't know him but know of him but every time I pick up the Sentivale he's in there again. And it just makes me laugh out loud. I read that the latest invite was to St Peter's Academy which naturally included a School dinner and I laugh out loud again. Now I see he's got an invite the to the SPOTY!! What's left? I can only think of front row of the Coronation. To me, this is the best story of this year and may it continue for a long time yet. I flicked through Marvellous again the other day and my new favourite bit was where him and Malcolm Clarke sat down at a Stoke game and the caption came up to say Malcolm and Neil have been friends for over 50 years. Let's hope they'll need a wheel barrier to carry the BAFTA's home in. I can only give you a personal view. I think it is to do with ignoring the labels which the education system or society in general put on him, and just getting on making the most of opportunities, and creating opportunities for himself, partly because he has no self-consciousness or embarrassment whatsoever. "Getting the most out of life " is a bit of a cliche but it certainly applies to Neil. I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that I've never met anyone who is more content with their life than he is. He is certainly the person who has given me more laughs than anyone else. He also puts his faith into practice. The reaction to the film has been extraordinarily positive, much more so than any of us ever really expected. "Uplifting" and "heartwarming" are two of the most common adjectives. It was particularly interesting that organisations which deal with learning disability have praised it. As a result, Neil has had a whole host of invitations, some more appropriate than others, and some of which he has therefore turned down. I think he is turning on 4 sets of xmas lights ( but refused one for tomorrow because he wouldn't miss a Stoke home game), has 5 invitations to visit schools, is giving one of the awards at the BBC Midlands sports awards ceremony, has done filming for the panto., is visiting a church in Northampton which is showing the film .......................etc etc Managing it all has become a bit of challenge for Neil himself and some of the rest of us. The film and its aftermath has been the latest example of what the film itself is all about, extraordinary things happening to someone who, on the face of it, and by normal standards, you would certainly not expect extraordinary things to happen to. I have known him for half a century but freely admit that never in my wildest dreams did I imagine all this would happen. But then, if someone had told me that he would take the field for Stoke City, or be on the official Cambridge boat race launch, or get a Premier League referee to ref. one of his games whilst he was a PL referee................................. At the moment I think we should all just enjoy the ride - I say "we" because I think this is not just about Neil - it's about our club and its wonderful supporters, the great City of Stoke on Trent, not forgetting N-u-L, and God's own University (Keele). No need for a tin hat, univex. If it's not your cup of tea, that's fine. To paraphrase what Neil said in the film, if there's someone who doesn't like it, someone else will come along who does. I think Malcolm has this spot on. The film is about opportunities and how people can make the most of them despite whatever obstacles may have been put in their way. To me the film is about more than football and is very inspirational and uplifting. I don't have any affiliation with "God's own University" but do work for another University and have used this film as an example of what is possible in life. Without exception everyone I have passed on the details to about has commented on what a great film it is irrespective of their own football allegiances. However, if it's not to everyone's taste that's okay. We are all different and all have different ideas and in some ways that is also what the film highlights. Cheers GB
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Post by norman conquest on Nov 22, 2014 11:22:04 GMT
As a teenager, I didn't take seat numbers in case the Internet was invented and I needed to prove a point twenty years on. Besides, 5 or 6 people from the thousands never heard anything, so I must be wrong. No1972, did you skim read what I posted or decided just to reply with something completely different regardless? I'm going back to being anonymous, I've browsed these forums for too long to think I can get anywhere. No seats to take numbers from in the Boothe end
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Post by 2004 on Nov 22, 2014 11:22:41 GMT
He deserves all the attention he gets
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