Supporters Trivia and Anecdotes

Tommy Smith was on team 'one' given that he was already an 'up and comer' at Liverpool. I daren't go anywhere near him, he was absolutely fearsome; huge thighs, snarling countenance; he didn't need to tackle any other 16 year olds, just look at them!

The hit of the canteen, even in those days was Barry Fry, at that time he was a United' babe, but I remember him intriguing everyone with his patter about life at Utd. and football in general the whole of the 2 days. Little surprise to me that he went on to become a larger than life manager.

Allan Ball's squeacky voice competed with Barry's but was a bit more egotistical, even in those days. He had recently made his debut with Blackpool but if I recall correctly he never got higher than team 4 in the trials, ( strange that 4 short years later he was to become a hero of the world cup.)

George Jones who played for Bury about the same time as I played at Oldham was also in the trial but I don't remember which team he made. (Ed’s comment - How about Oldham!)

The Cliff had other memories in that in one Oldham A game I played against George Best who was about a year younger than me. I don't remember how he played that day but I recall my dad singing the praises of 'that little, black haired winger playing for Utd."

Dave Hodkinson (ex-Latics player 1961-64)

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