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Post by Malcolm Clarke on Jun 30, 2011 11:23:33 GMT
Shocking news. We have lost a great author and friend of Stoke - the City and the Club. I had a brief chat with him outside Wembley about a hour after the final, when he was reflecting on what might have been if Joe Hart hadn't stopped Kenwyn in that one on one. But he will live on in his writing.
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Post by lythampotter on Jun 30, 2011 11:34:42 GMT
Really shocked by this news. Very much enjoyed She Stood There Laughing and the sequel. Never met the guy but his passion and humour shone through his writing.
Rest in Peace Winger
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Post by sufolkstokie on Jun 30, 2011 11:37:40 GMT
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Post by stone6 on Jun 30, 2011 11:44:10 GMT
R.I.P. Stephen. Thank you for entertaining me with the books you wrote.
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Post by lordb on Jun 30, 2011 11:44:51 GMT
Jeremy Gwylt.Margaret Kirkland & now Stephen Foster
horrendous summer for the Stoke City family
RIP
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Post by Lightwood on Jun 30, 2011 11:45:26 GMT
RIP, very sad news
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Post by Lesalanos on Jun 30, 2011 11:52:13 GMT
Just heard the news, condolences to the family. He will be sadly missed, one of the old school posters, and a genuinely nice person.
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Post by Will_75 on Jun 30, 2011 11:54:29 GMT
i'm simply choked Vile, abusive pricks like me were never supposed to get on with arty twats like winger the one thing i will treasure more than ever are my personally signed books from wingeri will miss our random calls to each other, our occasional half time meets, our frequent abusive texting. thank God i saw you at Wembley final mate Jack - i'm fucking choked for you and your Dad was fucking brilliant. I'll miss you authorcunt. Pulis Out! indeed. he sent me a copy of "and she laughed no more" for my birthday last year, in to which he had taken the time to pritt-stick a picture of animal from the muppets, along with his usual scrawl.
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Post by ChrisEvans on Jun 30, 2011 12:05:40 GMT
I can't believe it! Shocked isn't the word.
I didn't know him as well as many on here, but met him a few times and he was just someone you couldn't dislike! An excellent sence of humour, an excellent author and basically, one of the good guys.
I was only looking up his new book last night on amazon as well, couldn't wait to read it but now it will have even more meaning.
Goodbye Winger, sleep well and make sure you watch us in the final next year!
Thoughts and prayers with all family and friends.
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Post by ihaveadream on Jun 30, 2011 12:09:24 GMT
RIP Winger x
Condolences to all the family
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Post by madasasnake on Jun 30, 2011 12:10:03 GMT
This is very sad news. He was a wonderful writer and a much valued contributor to The Oatcake. I didn't know him personally but having read his books and his posts, it felt like I did. You will be sadly missed Winger. My condolences to all his family and friends.
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Post by Danstoke82 on Jun 30, 2011 12:12:57 GMT
R.I.P Winger.
Very sad news.
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Post by ST5-POTTER on Jun 30, 2011 12:16:29 GMT
Met him once years ago. Top bloke great author RIP Winger
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Post by PotteringThrough on Jun 30, 2011 12:39:58 GMT
Absolute tragedy, RIP Winger.
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Post by dobber on Jun 30, 2011 12:40:10 GMT
Just been reflecting and picked up "She Stood There Laughing" for a quick flick through. Towards the back there is one paragraph that shows just what this message board meant to Winger, and this thread shows how much Winger meant to everyone on here. I'm sure to the final day that this held true:
"Oatcake messageboard contributors have, knowingly and unknowingly, helped me through my mood swing, depressions, and suicidal feelings via the exchange of crap jokes, bad attitudes, temper tantrums, hissy fits, mis-information and wholly erroneous transfer/loan speculation. Rumour, hearsay, gossip, slander, defamation, character assassination and libellous comment have all been of great assistance. Interlectewal and emergancy spelins should also be acknowledged alongside ludicrous claims, nonsensical asides, insane suggestions, utter and total bollocks [ERROR: Bad Language], outright horsesh!t and not forgetting informed opinion, critical analysis and sometimes, even, actual boring facts and stuff like that"
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Post by Cupid Stunt on Jun 30, 2011 12:42:18 GMT
Very sad news. I met Stephen in November, as I went to UEA in Norwich and wanted to get back up for the Stoke match. He agreed to take me, with Graham and Matty, and he got me back in time to even go out on the piss that night. He refused to take petrol money and I felt a bit guilty that I'd got back to Stoke for free. He then took me down to London for the away game at Arsenal, again, free of charge, despite him having to pay a ridiculous amount to park up. He was kind, helpful, funny and made my two trips to those particular Stoke games extremely enjoyable, especially the Man City home game because of the exciting finish. R.I.P. Winger, you'll be missed by the Stoke City family. My thoughts of with your family and Graham (NorwichStokie?) and Matty who went to most games with you.
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Post by fauntleroyesq on Jun 30, 2011 12:42:46 GMT
Tin hats on here but I'm a Sunderland fan - and wanted to add my own tribute. Stephen was my partner Diane’s brother (would soon have been my brother-in-law). We live in Hartlepool, with our family. Stephen really was an inspirational chap, totally charming, witty and intelligent. We shared some great footballing memories together and shared an intense dislike of Newcastle. One of my favourite football supporting memories was joining the Stoke throngs at Sid James Park a couple of seasons back (when you lot equalised in the last seconds). The noise and passion from your fans was incredible and really put to bed any of those old myths about Tha Toon being the best fans in the universe (there’s a chapter about this match in And She Laughed No More). Stephen didn’t enjoy as much the time we took him to Victoria Park to watch Hartlepool demolish Stoke 2-0 in the cup – Stoke were awful that day and as we were sat just a few rows behind Pulis - Stephen took great joy in giving him dog's abuse throughout. I never did quite get why he had it in for Pulis!. I also sat with him when you beat us 1-0 at the start of 2009/10 season – he’s the only bloke I know ever to have pulled out home-baked banana bread at half-time. But that sums Stephen up – very cool, very sophisticated and could not give a toss about what anyone thought about his fancy ways! We will all truly miss him and it has come as a real shock and a tragedy for his family. Bless you all in Stoke. PS. Thanks for introducing oatcakes to my life!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2011 12:46:42 GMT
Tin hats on here but I'm a Sunderland fan - and wanted to add my own tribute. Stephen was my partner Diane’s brother (would soon have been my brother-in-law). We live in Hartlepool, with our family. Stephen really was an inspirational chap, totally charming, witty and intelligent. We shared some great footballing memories together and shared an intense dislike of Newcastle. One of my favourite football supporting memories was joining the Stoke throngs at Sid James Park a couple of seasons back (when you lot equalised in the last seconds). The noise and passion from your fans was incredible and really put to bed any of those old myths about Tha Toon being the best fans in the universe (there’s a chapter about this match in And She Laughed No More). Stephen didn’t enjoy as much the time we took him to Victoria Park to watch Hartlepool demolish Stoke 2-0 in the cup – Stoke were awful that day and as we were sat just a few rows behind Pulis - Stephen took great joy in giving him dog's abuse throughout. I never did quite get why he had it in for Pulis!. I also sat with him when you beat us 1-0 at the start of 2009/10 season – he’s the only bloke I know ever to have pulled out home-baked banana bread at half-time. But that sums Stephen up – very cool, very sophisticated and could not give a toss about what anyone thought about his fancy ways! We will all truly miss him and it has come as a real shock and a tragedy for his family. Bless you all in Stoke. PS. Thanks for introducing oatcakes to my life! Nice touch mate. WD
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Post by The Stubborn Optimist on Jun 30, 2011 12:47:08 GMT
So sad to hear the news.
Really enjoyed reading his books, From Working Class Hero To Absolute Disgrace is a gem of a book.
Stephen had a wonderful ability to eloquently express in words what all of us feel about Stoke and Stoke City and for that I thank him.
Night God Bless Stephen.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2011 12:53:33 GMT
Oh dear - I am so very sad at this news I (finally) met Whinger down at Wembley ... I have a photo of him, Big-Joe (thanks for the introduction, Joe) and njkk, just by the Bobby Moore statue He seemed as lovely a fella in RL as he always came across on here. I'll miss the banter with you on here, Whinger. Taken from us far too soon. Sincere condolences and best wishes to his family and friends. Andy
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Post by Cyprusdelilah on Jun 30, 2011 13:01:30 GMT
Sad news
RIP Winger.
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Post by y_oh_y_delilah on Jun 30, 2011 13:01:32 GMT
Just wanted to add my tribute.
Sad, sad news indeed and our thoughts are with his family and friends.
RIP Stephen.
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Post by StokieSC on Jun 30, 2011 13:07:19 GMT
Just received a text telling me.
Gutted.
Spoke to him on a couple of occasions in Delilahs bar a few years back, a thoroughly nice bloke.
I know he had pretty close friendships with some of the posters here. My thought's go out to you, his family and most Importantly his son Jack.
Rest in Peace Stephen.
We'll be with you.
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Post by pez75 on Jun 30, 2011 13:17:31 GMT
What tragic news - i honestly thought this was some sort of wind-up when I first opened the thread - if only.... One of the 'old guard' Winger was always good value for money, and due to us sharing a few opinions, he was good enough to back me up on the odd occasion. One of my Oatcake highlights was when he had "She stood there..." published and a few expectant people picked up on the fact that he had acknowledged a long list of posters and put them in his book - the disappointment for some of those not mentioned was too much to bear and was the cause of some cracking banter on here. I do not mind admitting I was proud to make it onto his list... He will truly be missed.
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Post by TheWiseMaster on Jun 30, 2011 13:22:03 GMT
What a shock! Great bloke great Stokie. An unusual man who is aptly described above by his friend (John) as quirky. he had a wry sense of humour such that sometimes it was hard to tell if he was joking or not Winger wrote some of the best ever books about his beloved Stoke - good because they were written from the heart He played many times for the OO's and never forgave me when I dropped him from the starting line up against Crewe - years later his posts would bring it up lol I too remember his son Jack breaking an arm playing in the dome. We warned him before the game (Jack was 14) that he was playing against oafs but we hadn't counted on the biggest oaf of all (mcf ) flattening him No complaints from Winger - off to hospital without a murmur I was going to ask him if he wanted to play in the forthcoming game against Ramblers - we will have to remember him specially on the day I had to spell check this - he was always pulling me up for spelling mistakes RIP Stephen and sincere condolences to the family
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Post by staliondal on Jun 30, 2011 13:26:42 GMT
Really enjoyed his books. Very sad news I can't say i've ever met Stephen but reading this thread, it's obvious that he was a top bloke and will be sadly missed, and this thread is tribute to that. As it happens, i have just finished my latest book, and I think i'll give 'She Stood There Laughing' and 'She Laughed No More' another read. RIP
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Post by rhodesy on Jun 30, 2011 13:28:11 GMT
Got a text before gutted, a true gent whenever I met him, couldn't have been more of a gentleman. The world has lost a great man and a master of the english language. Thoughts go to his partner and his son, and obviously to everyone on here who were good mates like OS and Dad His books were brilliant and I particularly loved walking olly, he was the type of man who answered to PMs telling more about his literature, a true Stokie and a gent. RIP Winger.
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Post by mermaidsal on Jun 30, 2011 13:31:33 GMT
RIP Stephen, what awful news. Love and all good wishes to those left behind and all those on here lucky enough to know him personally.
xxxx
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Post by koshatnik on Jun 30, 2011 13:33:28 GMT
Terrible news. She Laughed No More is a cracking read, as was his banter on here. Condolences to those he left behind.
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Post by steino72 on Jun 30, 2011 13:43:56 GMT
Very sad news, RIP Winger
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