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Post by butlerstbob on Oct 9, 2020 19:40:52 GMT
Didn't know him personally but knew who he was, remember him as a shortish bloke with a tash and sheepskin coat, mostly remember away games in the 80s and 90s and the sight of him and what seemed to be 20-30 lads piling out of an old Bedford ish van on away games was a sight and always felt safe when they turned up!
RIP Stokie
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Post by Gods on Oct 9, 2020 20:15:58 GMT
I think I can picture him now with that description
RIP
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Post by benjaminbiscuit on Oct 9, 2020 20:33:12 GMT
Didn't know Tony personally but one memory sticks in my mind. Must have been early/mid seventies. I was sat with a couple of mates in the seats in the old Park Lane End at Spurs keeping ourselves quiet! When a shout of GREEEEEEEEENHOFF went out and there was Tony on the terracing below in the middle of a very large empty circle! Also who could forget his antics on that great night in Amsterdam? Ha Ha ..... RIP Stokie arsenal away for me , it’s hard to articulate but these guys were actually great protectors for us I’m very very different times
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Post by Squeekster on Oct 9, 2020 20:45:14 GMT
I think I can picture him now with that description RIP I didn't know him personally but I had a few words with over something in the early days of the Brit, something and nothing and my mate said he's called the axe man for a reason mate, and I just laughed but after that we saw him all over the place.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 9, 2020 20:49:17 GMT
I think I can picture him now with that description RIP
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Post by theteacher on Oct 9, 2020 21:15:40 GMT
Knew Tony and such sad sad news again. RIP fella.
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Post by maninasuitcase on Oct 9, 2020 21:33:31 GMT
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Post by NG4POTTERS on Oct 9, 2020 21:36:44 GMT
I neither did know him personally but can remember seeing him about a lot at away games back in the 90's. Gillingham away is my particular memory. At some random boozer in the town early doors. Him and his van load of lads bounding in. RIP man.
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Post by str8outtahampton on Oct 9, 2020 21:38:29 GMT
RIP Tony, sad news. Used to enjoy trips away with him and the crew back in the 80's, Sue driving the van Never spoke to him, but anyone that went away in those days considered him to be family. Those vans, blimey. Not sure if Tony was there that day. Bristol Rovers in the late 70s. A couple of my oldest friends were thumbing a lift and were picked up by one of those legendary vans. I think Randy was present. Interesting interlude in Worcester. I think it was a tour of the cathedral cities of SW England.
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Post by NassauDave on Oct 9, 2020 22:01:45 GMT
RIP Tony, sad news. Used to enjoy trips away with him and the crew back in the 80's, Sue driving the van Never spoke to him, but anyone that went away in those days considered him to be family. Those vans, blimey. Not sure if Tony was there that day. Bristol Rovers in the late 70s. A couple of my oldest friends were thumbing a lift and were picked up by one of those legendary vans. I think Randy was present. Interesting interlude in Worcester. I think it was a tour of the cathedral cities of SW England. I was at that game at Bristol Rovers, and in Worcester that night. Travelled in a VW van with about twelve others. Worcester was fucking mayhem, especially a below street level pub. I got hit by a flying pool ball that night.
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Post by NassauDave on Oct 9, 2020 22:03:20 GMT
Proper gutted to lose a football mate. Gone to the bar in the sky with his good friend Zinah. RIP Axe man. Was he a small chap with a tash and wore a leather jacket? Usually a sheepskin coat.
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Post by elystokie on Oct 9, 2020 22:10:45 GMT
RIP Tony, didn't know him well, just on nodding terms really, he used the Sea Lion at times years ago, last saw him in the Marquis after a funeral.
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Post by riproaringagain on Oct 9, 2020 22:43:15 GMT
Little legs !!!!! had many of day out with him and few of lads RIP
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Post by murphyd on Oct 9, 2020 22:50:53 GMT
Never spoke to him, but anyone that went away in those days considered him to be family. Those vans, blimey. Not sure if Tony was there that day. Bristol Rovers in the late 70s. A couple of my oldest friends were thumbing a lift and were picked up by one of those legendary vans. I think Randy was present. Interesting interlude in Worcester. I think it was a tour of the cathedral cities of SW England. I was at that game at Bristol Rovers, and in Worcester that night. Travelled in a VW van with about twelve others. Worcester was fucking mayhem, especially a below street level pub. I got hit by a flying pool ball that night. I think I was on that van(Indian lad driving?)as you say mayhem in that pub,Dive Bomber it might of been called
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Post by Silkystoke on Oct 9, 2020 22:54:38 GMT
Cardiff away late 90s, bloody hell, before the game I got smacked and decided to leave 2 mins before the end, bad decision, firstly missed the goal and secondly my mate and I got jumped on, my nose ain’t been the same since and the poor car stayed in Cardiff, well and truely trashed..!!!! The police stood there laughing..!!!!
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Post by questionable on Oct 9, 2020 23:15:47 GMT
Did a few away trips with his “crew”, eye opening, I was a few years younger but they always looked after me and made me feel welcome.
Proper full on mental but they didn’t give a shit...
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Post by NassauDave on Oct 9, 2020 23:47:04 GMT
I was at that game at Bristol Rovers, and in Worcester that night. Travelled in a VW van with about twelve others. Worcester was fucking mayhem, especially a below street level pub. I got hit by a flying pool ball that night. I think I was on that van(Indian lad driving?)as you say mayhem in that pub,Dive Bomber it might of been called That was the one. His brother was in the van too. Jesus H small world. We must know each other?
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Post by pottersrule on Oct 10, 2020 5:50:32 GMT
Proper gutted to lose a football mate. Gone to the bar in the sky with his good friend Zinah. RIP Axe man. When did Zinah die? His Mrs (Julie) died a while back but I didn't know he had died.
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Post by maninasuitcase on Oct 10, 2020 6:27:35 GMT
Proper gutted to lose a football mate. Gone to the bar in the sky with his good friend Zinah. RIP Axe man. When did Zinah die? His Mrs (Julie) died a while back but I didn't know he had died. Last year mate.
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Post by stokie63 on Oct 10, 2020 7:26:49 GMT
Sad news when a fellow stokie dies, didn't no tony but remember seeing him many times home and away back in the days, the sheepskin gave it away for me, Rest in peace fellow stokie.
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Post by bubbleblower on Oct 10, 2020 8:56:00 GMT
He saved my brother and I from a good beating at Shrewsbury away in the 80s we were 15 & 16 years, about six of there fans surrounded us and it kicked off. Luckily Tony and his mate I think his name was piggy waded in the they legged it, he looked after me and our Kid that day. I bumped into him a lot after that one night in 92 we were outside the Talbot waiting to welcome Fail fans when the old bill turned up, I young copper who knew Tony said stop encouraging the young one and get in the pub how old are you my dad used to arrest you and he’s retired.
RIP Tony Top Man
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Post by pottersrule on Oct 10, 2020 11:50:22 GMT
When did Zinah die? His Mrs (Julie) died a while back but I didn't know he had died. Last year mate. 👍
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Post by crapslinger on Oct 10, 2020 11:53:30 GMT
RIP Tony, sad news. Used to enjoy trips away with him and the crew back in the 80's, Sue driving the van Never spoke to him, but anyone that went away in those days considered him to be family. Those vans, blimey. Not sure if Tony was there that day. Bristol Rovers in the late 70s. A couple of my oldest friends were thumbing a lift and were picked up by one of those legendary vans. I think Randy was present. Interesting interlude in Worcester. I think it was a tour of the cathedral cities of SW England. different times RIP Axe Man God bless.
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Post by pottersrule on Oct 10, 2020 12:04:59 GMT
They were all outside mate and were angry about our late goal and earlier in the day 😊 I took a couple of Derby mates that night and one of them talks about this until this day having parked his car in the middle of that council estate😮🤣Absolutely shit himsen😂 The twats bricked our coach and put out one of the big side windows.I was nearly hypothermic by the time we got home,but very happy. Started milking early that morning,as I didn't dare go to to bed as I was totally knackered,and wouldn't have got up. I was so fucked I think I tried to milk the bull that morning!
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Post by neckender78 on Oct 10, 2020 12:05:21 GMT
RIP Tony a character of Stoke through generations. Late 90s for away games that trains weren't great for used to go on a coach that Tony and co went on. Some crazy times, Tony and Zina were a pair together. May you rest in peace gents and hope you are reunited at the pearly gates
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Post by Caerwrangonpotter on Oct 10, 2020 12:06:37 GMT
The chapter in Naughty for someone who was only a nipper in the 70s is like...."wow" The image of Stokies in Amsterdam is something I was told about, but could never comprehend.
Again I never met the gentleman personally, but the sheepskin & presence Im pretty sure at Chesterfield in a cup game sticks to mind
RIP Tony
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Post by leader9 on Oct 10, 2020 13:43:18 GMT
Such sad news about Tony, but not totally unexpected as he hadn't been well for some time. I have known Tony for about 50 years and one of the first matches that I went to with him was Ipswich Town in 1970/71, when we were hitch hiking, as in those days there were no away coaches and trains were far too expensive for us young lads. Myself and Shirley departed on the Friday night at 9pm to thumb our way to Portman Road, passing Tony and his girlfriend Ann en route three times. Tony was a regular until about twenty years ago and the memories that I have are many, but not always pleasant. One of my favourite stories was from the mid seventies, when returning to the Potteries from Euston, there were about 20 Stoke fans on the Manchester bound inter city and roughly 400 shit fans, we soon got sussed and it was agreed amongst ourselves that when the train pulled into Stoke station we would open the doors and bail out as the train slowed down (something that is impossible to do now) as we hit the platform and rolled over hundreds of jeering shit fans were hurling abuse at us, it was then that Tony stood up and then went down his trouser leg and out came his trusty axe, he then approached the carriage and hit the shit fans one by one on the head. In a state of panic, we called him over and shouted let's get out of here, or words to that effect, I then said you could have killed them, Tony replied with a smile, no I couldn't I only hit them with the blunt end! Incredible - Tony
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Post by ab61 on Oct 10, 2020 14:04:56 GMT
When did cockney Steve die ?
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Post by superalexneil on Oct 10, 2020 15:32:07 GMT
When did cockney Steve die ? Steve henry?
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Post by dave1 on Oct 10, 2020 16:24:05 GMT
Such sad news about Tony, but not totally unexpected as he hadn't been well for some time. I have known Tony for about 50 years and one of the first matches that I went to with him was Ipswich Town in 1970/71, when we were hitch hiking, as in those days there were no away coaches and trains were far too expensive for us young lads. Myself and Shirley departed on the Friday night at 9pm to thumb our way to Portman Road, passing Tony and his girlfriend Ann en route three times. Tony was a regular until about twenty years ago and the memories that I have are many, but not always pleasant. One of my favourite stories was from the mid seventies, when returning to the Potteries from Euston, there were about 20 Stoke fans on the Manchester bound inter city and roughly 400 shit fans, we soon got sussed and it was agreed amongst ourselves that when the train pulled into Stoke station we would open the doors and bail out as the train slowed down (something that is impossible to do now) as we hit the platform and rolled over hundreds of jeering shit fans were hurling abuse at us, it was then that Tony stood up and then went down his trouser leg and out came his trusty axe, he then approached the carriage and hit the shit fans one by one on the head. In a state of panic, we called him over and shouted let's get out of here, or words to that effect, I then said you could have killed them, Tony replied with a smile, no I couldn't I only hit them with the blunt end! Incredible - Tony Class story that mate...
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