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Post by misterj on Aug 11, 2015 8:06:47 GMT
A bit belated I know but thought I'd share this. Big Pete was the original, hard-core home and away fan in the 60's and, as my eldest brother, started taking me to away matches by early 70's. Very noticeable in those days how few Stoke fans there were at London matches, there'd be about 50 or so, in fact so few that if you hung around the player's entrance then local lads on the fringes of the team such as Ian Moores or Sean Hazlegrave would walk over and hand out complimentary tickets. Big Pete was a veteran of Stoke's first euro-ventures at Ajax and Kaiserslautern where maybe a couple of hundred fans travelled, how times have changed with 10 times that many having travelled to the friendlies in Cologne. He was a bit old school having preferred the Vic Ground and saw the new stadium being built, commenting that it looked like a space ship had landed in the middle of nowhere. (Some would agree !) I think he'd have been enthralled by the standard of play now as well as Prem status but would have raised an eyebrow at the lack of English lads in the team. (even Liverpool - supposedly bigger than us - had more English players on the pitch last week ?) He was an original Boothen boot-boy usually meeting up at the Wharf pub before it was demolished to make way for the D road. It was surreal that he'd sometimes be involved in a bit of mayhem at the match and then next morning would be saying hello to John Mahoney and Terry Conroy at Stoke's catholic church ! He put all that behind him later and was just as interested in watching cricket, some of you might know him from being a season ticket holder at Staffordshire CCC matches - all good memories !
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Post by njkk on Aug 11, 2015 8:15:11 GMT
I remember Pete from the days I first started going to away games on my own without my dad in the late 70s, lovely chap and used to look out for us young uns. RIP
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Post by The Stubborn Optimist on Aug 11, 2015 8:40:34 GMT
A bit belated I know but thought I'd share this. Big Pete was the original, hard-core home and away fan in the 60's and, as my eldest brother, started taking me to away matches by early 70's. Very noticeable in those days how few Stoke fans there were at London matches, there'd be about 50 or so, in fact so few that if you hung around the player's entrance then local lads on the fringes of the team such as Ian Moores or Sean Hazlegrave would walk over and hand out complimentary tickets. Big Pete was a veteran of Stoke's first euro-ventures at Ajax and Kaiserslautern where maybe a couple of hundred fans travelled, how times have changed with 10 times that many having travelled to the friendlies in Cologne. He was a bit old school having preferred the Vic Ground and saw the new stadium being built, commenting that it looked like a space ship had landed in the middle of nowhere. (Some would agree !) I think he'd have been enthralled by the standard of play now as well as Prem status but would have raised an eyebrow at the lack of English lads in the team. (even Liverpool - supposedly bigger than us - had more English players on the pitch last week ?) He was an original Boothen boot-boy usually meeting up at the Wharf pub before it was demolished to make way for the D road. It was surreal that he'd sometimes be involved in a bit of mayhem at the match and then next morning would be saying hello to John Mahoney and Terry Conroy at Stoke's catholic church ! He put all that behind him later and was just as interested in watching cricket, some of you might know him from being a season ticket holder at Staffordshire CCC matches - all good memories ! I'm assuming it's you Phil who's posted this in memory of your brother Pete Johnson. I've got plenty of memories of Pete, much like Nick has said, when I started to go to aways on my own around 70/71 Pete was always a face I would see, he would always keep an eye out for us young 'uns. At the risk of sounding like some owd codger it was very different in those days. Away games in particular could, very often, be a very scary experience. Although Stoke didn't have massive away followings those lads that did go would look out for each other, much to this young lad's relief. Talk of Pete also brings back memories of some of the other lads of that time, the likes of Joycie, Pat, 'Batch, Scaddy, KP, Froggy, Wilf, Bert, Topsy, to name but a few. Like you rightly say Stoke didn't take many to London back then, certainly not like the 1,500(?) who'll be at Spurs on Saturday. I'll be there with my lad and I'll take a moment to remember Pete Johnson.
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Post by jarvinski on Aug 11, 2015 9:07:09 GMT
I remember PJ very well, lovely bloke but a complete nutter at Stoke games, he worked for my dad at Hartleys engineering in Etruria
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Post by eddyclamp on Aug 11, 2015 9:17:57 GMT
Is this the Pete Johnson who dressed in Roman gear in his later years , seen him in the Sentinel a couple of times?
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Post by misterj on Aug 11, 2015 9:55:05 GMT
Not Roman gear - not that one Eddy ! Thanks for the kind words so far guys !
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Post by misterj on Aug 11, 2015 11:15:31 GMT
Should mention Pete knocked around from time to time with other significant Stokies who've departed from us : Coddy Hughes, Mark Bentley, 'Cockney Steve' Henry. I think examples of his devotion to the club include : missing an O Level exam at Archbishop Macintyre High School, Birches Head to go to a Southampton away match and travelling to Hibernian of all places with maybe a total of a dozen fans to see a friendly. All good stuff.
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yoc
Academy Starlet
Posts: 231
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Post by yoc on Aug 11, 2015 11:53:23 GMT
Pete Johnson(Punky)(PJ) lives over Shropshire way in an old converted station. Big Pete Johnson(Shelton) previously married to Janice(M) RIP Big Man.
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Post by gonk on Aug 11, 2015 17:11:53 GMT
A bit belated I know but thought I'd share this. Big Pete was the original, hard-core home and away fan in the 60's and, as my eldest brother, started taking me to away matches by early 70's. Very noticeable in those days how few Stoke fans there were at London matches, there'd be about 50 or so, in fact so few that if you hung around the player's entrance then local lads on the fringes of the team such as Ian Moores or Sean Hazlegrave would walk over and hand out complimentary tickets. Big Pete was a veteran of Stoke's first euro-ventures at Ajax and Kaiserslautern where maybe a couple of hundred fans travelled, how times have changed with 10 times that many having travelled to the friendlies in Cologne. He was a bit old school having preferred the Vic Ground and saw the new stadium being built, commenting that it looked like a space ship had landed in the middle of nowhere. (Some would agree !) I think he'd have been enthralled by the standard of play now as well as Prem status but would have raised an eyebrow at the lack of English lads in the team. (even Liverpool - supposedly bigger than us - had more English players on the pitch last week ?) He was an original Boothen boot-boy usually meeting up at the Wharf pub before it was demolished to make way for the D road. It was surreal that he'd sometimes be involved in a bit of mayhem at the match and then next morning would be saying hello to John Mahoney and Terry Conroy at Stoke's catholic church ! He put all that behind him later and was just as interested in watching cricket, some of you might know him from being a season ticket holder at Staffordshire CCC matches - all good memories ! I'm assuming it's you Phil who's posted this in memory of your brother Pete Johnson. I've got plenty of memories of Pete, much like Nick has said, when I started to go to aways on my own around 70/71 Pete was always a face I would see, he would always keep an eye out for us young 'uns. At the risk of sounding like some owd codger it was very different in those days. Away games in particular could, very often, be a very scary experience. Although Stoke didn't have massive away followings those lads that did go would look out for each other, much to this young lad's relief. Talk of Pete also brings back memories of some of the other lads of that time, the likes of Joycie, Pat, 'Batch, Scaddy, KP, Froggy, Wilf, Bert, Topsy, to name but a few. Like you rightly say Stoke didn't take many to London back then, certainly not like the 1,500(?) who'll be at Spurs on Saturday. I'll be there with my lad and I'll take a moment to remember Pete Johnson. Hi mate I must of known him has I used to knock about at matches and go to collage with some of the lads you have spoke of.AS time gone by it's hard putting a name to faces and for a lot of us we are in the home run of life.RIP Pete .
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Post by castlelad on Aug 11, 2015 18:04:59 GMT
Yes Phil. I remember driving up to Hibs for that evening friendly in my old Rover with you, Pete and your mum in the car!
Had some great home and away days with Pete especially when going to London games and staying with Froggy and Pat Gallagher.
Many unforgettable memories which I think of often when visiting his grave in Hartshill along with the famous Kenny Lowe of Stoke!
Great days indeed spent with great people using such watering holes as the Sea Lion, Phoenix, Prince of Wales and the Star, not forgetting the Inset of course.
We grew up fast in the 70's didn't we mate but what an era that was when people showed true respect to each other.
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Post by kbillyh on Aug 11, 2015 18:39:39 GMT
Great bloke was Pete, total respect due. Always had time for a young whippersnapper such as i was myself back in the day.
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Post by newsteadst3 on Aug 11, 2015 18:53:56 GMT
Didn't the program or the oatcake give him a little write up after he passed?? Maybe a different Pete but remember reading bout him somewhere before
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Post by misterj on Aug 11, 2015 19:25:13 GMT
You're right newstead, there was a feature in the Oatcake. castle lad - any clues to your identity mate ? ha ha - PHIL
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Post by misterj on Aug 11, 2015 19:28:47 GMT
Just worked it out .......................Mr Rigby I presume !!
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Post by newsteadst3 on Aug 11, 2015 19:48:26 GMT
You're right newstead, there was a feature in the Oatcake. castle lad - any clues to your identity mate ? ha ha - PHIL Dunno how I remembered that
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Post by castlelad on Aug 11, 2015 19:49:28 GMT
You got it Phil! I conna believe it's just over 17 years ago m8 and many of Pete's mates have joined him since such as Joycie who was with him at the time. A great set of lads in the good old days. Remember our famous Friday night pub crawls through Shelton-most of which are closed now- before ending up at the flowerpot! Gone are the mail coach, welsh harp, Sneyd, bell and bear, Norfolk, black lion etc with the Williams clan, Phil wagstaff, kev Williams, stan Pearce, Azo & co,
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Post by misterj on Aug 12, 2015 8:29:36 GMT
Two more things I remember about Pete - he could dish it out but he could take it as well. Man City fan battered him after match, police arrested him and wanted Pete to identify him, Pete said he 'couldn't remember' - didn't want to get anyone in trouble. Years later a Man City fan from Tunstall, Anton, got the message from this lad delivered to Pete - "nice one mate - appreciate that" Another time Pete had lot of teeth knocked out by a 'Hanley Mafia' skinhead using a weapon (what a w***er - you know who you are !!) Again, Pete - against my parents' advice - wouldn't go to the police and just let it drop. Rigger !!!....Saw most of the old Shelton lads at Janice's 60th a few weeks ago. Our Dave wanted to remind you that Mum got train back from Hibs and it was our Dave, our Pete and maybe Marty Cocker in your Rover. (The same automobile which drove us to the Old Bailey in the rain one day - can't remember who was up in court - and we were singing the theme from 'Sweeney' as we approached the capital) Hazo - what a legend, used to tell everyone he was my brother for some reason.......scary guy but how comical was he ?
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Post by The Stubborn Optimist on Aug 12, 2015 10:16:35 GMT
You got it Phil! I conna believe it's just over 17 years ago m8 and many of Pete's mates have joined him since such as Joycie who was with him at the time. A great set of lads in the good old days. Remember our famous Friday night pub crawls through Shelton-most of which are closed now- before ending up at the flowerpot! Gone are the mail coach, welsh harp, Sneyd, bell and bear, Norfolk, black lion etc with the Williams clan, Phil wagstaff, kev Williams, stan Pearce, Azo & co, Rigger! It's Pep. Just seen that about Joycie, really sad to hear, absolute top bloke was Joycie, always made sure the young 'uns were safe and sound. Never forget him saving me from a real hiding at Leeds, early 70's outside the Peacock before the game. Massive respect to Joycie and Pete
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Post by mickc on Aug 12, 2015 11:16:31 GMT
A bit belated I know but thought I'd share this. Big Pete was the original, hard-core home and away fan in the 60's and, as my eldest brother, started taking me to away matches by early 70's. Very noticeable in those days how few Stoke fans there were at London matches, there'd be about 50 or so, in fact so few that if you hung around the player's entrance then local lads on the fringes of the team such as Ian Moores or Sean Hazlegrave would walk over and hand out complimentary tickets. Big Pete was a veteran of Stoke's first euro-ventures at Ajax and Kaiserslautern where maybe a couple of hundred fans travelled, how times have changed with 10 times that many having travelled to the friendlies in Cologne. He was a bit old school having preferred the Vic Ground and saw the new stadium being built, commenting that it looked like a space ship had landed in the middle of nowhere. (Some would agree !) I think he'd have been enthralled by the standard of play now as well as Prem status but would have raised an eyebrow at the lack of English lads in the team. (even Liverpool - supposedly bigger than us - had more English players on the pitch last week ?) He was an original Boothen boot-boy usually meeting up at the Wharf pub before it was demolished to make way for the D road. It was surreal that he'd sometimes be involved in a bit of mayhem at the match and then next morning would be saying hello to John Mahoney and Terry Conroy at Stoke's catholic church ! He put all that behind him later and was just as interested in watching cricket, some of you might know him from being a season ticket holder at Staffordshire CCC matches - all good memories !
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Post by mickc on Aug 12, 2015 11:17:25 GMT
A bit belated I know but thought I'd share this. Big Pete was the original, hard-core home and away fan in the 60's and, as my eldest brother, started taking me to away matches by early 70's. Very noticeable in those days how few Stoke fans there were at London matches, there'd be about 50 or so, in fact so few that if you hung around the player's entrance then local lads on the fringes of the team such as Ian Moores or Sean Hazlegrave would walk over and hand out complimentary tickets. Big Pete was a veteran of Stoke's first euro-ventures at Ajax and Kaiserslautern where maybe a couple of hundred fans travelled, how times have changed with 10 times that many having travelled to the friendlies in Cologne. He was a bit old school having preferred the Vic Ground and saw the new stadium being built, commenting that it looked like a space ship had landed in the middle of nowhere. (Some would agree !) I think he'd have been enthralled by the standard of play now as well as Prem status but would have raised an eyebrow at the lack of English lads in the team. (even Liverpool - supposedly bigger than us - had more English players on the pitch last week ?) He was an original Boothen boot-boy usually meeting up at the Wharf pub before it was demolished to make way for the D road. It was surreal that he'd sometimes be involved in a bit of mayhem at the match and then next morning would be saying hello to John Mahoney and Terry Conroy at Stoke's catholic church ! He put all that behind him later and was just as interested in watching cricket, some of you might know him from being a season ticket holder at Staffordshire CCC matches - all good memories !
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Post by castlelad on Aug 12, 2015 22:09:28 GMT
You got it Phil! I conna believe it's just over 17 years ago m8 and many of Pete's mates have joined him since such as Joycie who was with him at the time. A great set of lads in the good old days. Remember our famous Friday night pub crawls through Shelton-most of which are closed now- before ending up at the flowerpot! Gone are the mail coach, welsh harp, Sneyd, bell and bear, Norfolk, black lion etc with the Williams clan, Phil wagstaff, kev Williams, stan Pearce, Azo & co, Rigger! It's Pep. Just seen that about Joycie, really sad to hear, absolute top bloke was Joycie, always made sure the young 'uns were safe and sound. Never forget him saving me from a real hiding at Leeds, early 70's outside the Peacock before the game. Massive respect to Joycie and Pete
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Post by castlelad on Aug 12, 2015 22:18:04 GMT
I knew it was you Pep. Remember the Leeds match but also when we went there a couple of years later with Drewie and Bentley-not so hard on that occasion were Leeds as they had to run for cover!! I still see Bambers from that old group and sometimes Steve Allen but mainly lost touch now as we enter old age mate, Phil-yes Dave's right about the Hibs trip- I think it was just my car load and Zigger ther from Stoke!
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Post by castlelad on Aug 12, 2015 22:22:07 GMT
Phil--it was Kev Williams in court for a previous incident in the West End following a Stoke game-the same night Pete lost his false teeth!!
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Post by Gods on Aug 12, 2015 23:10:11 GMT
Keep it going fellas, I love this shit even though I don't know a single person involved, the names are great, so evocative, a real slice of social history, there is a film in there somewhere!
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Post by wokka59 on Aug 13, 2015 21:33:00 GMT
Hey up Phil, you may or may not remember me, Mark (Wokka) from Cobridge, Pete was my mentor for a couple of brief years in the mid seventies, Top o the World,Inset, Flower Pot, The Verdict, and of course Stoke, -he really did take me under his wing and introduced me not only to some great people, but also to "the ropes" at matches, and without sounding stupid to how to behave, and values in life,- hope you and your family are well, and how is Dave doing?
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Post by misterj on Aug 16, 2015 19:05:41 GMT
hi Wokka, family doing great thanks, Dave - as you know - supports Robbie's team and is absolutely fine, hope you are too. To the fella who wanted us to keep the thread going, one last story then better put this to bed ! There was a period (prob mid 70's) Stoke had become a bit of a glamour club (bit like now really) and we used to catch the 'nutter buses' run by a guy named Russ. Anyway, long haul trips would see the buses pull up at the Inset nightclub Stoke (aka 'The Incest') and we'd begin the journey about 2:30 a.m. en route, on this occasion, to Norwich. Big Pete had one of his, shall we say, misunderstandings, with opposition fans and was promptly arrested outside Carrow Road ground. My Mum, proving what a legend she was, wrote the the Chief of Norfolk Constabulary asking "Are you sure your officers weren't picking on our Pete, with him being 6 feet 4 and standing out in a crowd ?" ......hhmmmm Pete had this uncanny knack of, when surrounded by a gang of opposition, going into Charles Bronson/Bruce Willis/Rambo mode and think he could take 20 men on, quite funny !
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Post by NassauDave on Aug 16, 2015 19:13:44 GMT
I remember Big Pete very well too.
Anyone hear anything of Wilfy and the Williams bros from Shelton these days?
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Post by misterj on Aug 17, 2015 8:55:07 GMT
Ay up NassauDave, hope the caribbean climate's being good to you. (was working at a school with your Sean's daughter recently) Wilfy still DJ's at birthdays, weddings etc - great fella. Alan Williams now lives Hartshill, Paul (I think) works on the railways and Mick still somewhere close to Shelton. I was recently told about a Shelton & Etruria facebook fage with hundreds of members of ex-residents (and current residents) but haven't been able to locate it just yet. Here's a Sentinel article on the topic : www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Neighbours-reunite-remember-past/story-16734155-detail/story.html
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Post by The Stubborn Optimist on Aug 17, 2015 11:23:27 GMT
hi Wokka, family doing great thanks, Dave - as you know - supports Robbie's team and is absolutely fine, hope you are too. To the fella who wanted us to keep the thread going, one last story then better put this to bed ! There was a period (prob mid 70's) Stoke had become a bit of a glamour club (bit like now really) and we used to catch the 'nutter buses' run by a guy named Russ. Anyway, long haul trips would see the buses pull up at the Inset nightclub Stoke (aka 'The Incest') and we'd begin the journey about 2:30 a.m. en route, on this occasion, to Norwich. Big Pete had one of his, shall we say, misunderstandings, with opposition fans and was promptly arrested outside Carrow Road ground. My Mum, proving what a legend she was, wrote the the Chief of Norfolk Constabulary asking "Are you sure your officers weren't picking on our Pete, with him being 6 feet 4 and standing out in a crowd ?" ......hhmmmm Pete had this uncanny knack of, when surrounded by a gang of opposition, going into Charles Bronson/Bruce Willis/Rambo mode and think he could take 20 men on, quite funny ! Remember the Norwich trip well, we were in Norwich for about 7.30 am. I was at college with Russ at the time, quite an enterprising chap was Russ, he used to get his missus to print the "tickets" for his away trips whilst she was at work in the offices at Spode. The other reason I particularly remember that trip was because I also ended up in court, with Drewie. Saw Marty and Skiddo on Saturday at Spurs, he told me that the trip up to Hibs you mentioned was the day it was announced Jimmy Greenhoff had been sold to The Shit. The saddest day of my life as a Stoke fan.
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Post by NassauDave on Aug 17, 2015 12:52:46 GMT
Ay up NassauDave, hope the caribbean climate's being good to you. (was working at a school with your Sean's daughter recently) Wilfy still DJ's at birthdays, weddings etc - great fella. Alan Williams now lives Hartshill, Paul (I think) works on the railways and Mick still somewhere close to Shelton. I was recently told about a Shelton & Etruria facebook fage with hundreds of members of ex-residents (and current residents) but haven't been able to locate it just yet. Here's a Sentinel article on the topic : www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Neighbours-reunite-remember-past/story-16734155-detail/story.htmlThanks Phil. I would be interested in the Shelton article but Facebook is something that I have managed to dodge so far! Glad to see that you are still in education.
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