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Post by spitthedog on Nov 25, 2023 12:37:52 GMT
It was something I never understood. John became a rep after football and I used to chat to him at work when he visited. We talked football but I never had the courage to ask why he retired at an age when he should have been approaching his peak. If John had a "fault", he didn't push himself enough. He was very laid back. He played for England at basketball when he was at Wolstanton Grammar and was an excellent cricketer who could gave gone far if he had chosen that route. He seemed happy to accept whatever life brought him, which isn't really a fault and leads to fewer disappointments in life. He was a very decent bloke, just quiet and not ambitious. This is what I had picked up too. Those were very different times, when the culture around football was not as it is today.
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Post by march4 on Nov 25, 2023 13:06:31 GMT
This begs the question, if John Farmer was so good why do you think he was not taken on by any club when Shilton came to Stoke? I know he went to Leicester, but basically as No.2 keeper behind a young and inexperienced Mark Wallington, and only played 2 games for them in the season he was there, then went to Northwich in non-League. Strange turn of events for someone so well regarded. I agree it gives food for thought as to why Farmer never attracted any interest from other clubs. I read somewhere that Setters had no confidence in the young Farmer and this one reason why Waddo bought Banks in 67. Farmer was happy to be Banks understudy for 5 years until he stepped up to the plate again in 72. Imo Farmer was one of the best shot stoppers of his time but he was fallible with crosses into the goalmouth and he didn’t command his defenders the way Banks or Shilton could. I think that’s spot on but he seemed to suit our defenders better than Shilton and we were a better team with him in goal even though Shilton had fewer goalkeeping weaknesses.
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Post by mrcoke on Nov 25, 2023 17:21:19 GMT
Just now it seems an awful long time ago.
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Post by bobbyh on Nov 25, 2023 17:55:01 GMT
Even when we lost we usually scored a goal or two and with Hudson in the side at least the football was entertaining.
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