mr terry paine- maker of forwards

by billy boy
(devon uk)

football is only about comparisons. compare yesterdays pitches with the snooker table tops of today.

the main difference between todays "god like" crosser of the ball and the deadly accuracy of mr terry paine is the television camera but i still have the memories.

of course in mtp's era the game was played by real men (yes, a cliche i know).

i remember walking from shirley high st down archers towards the dell at about 2.30.on a saturday afternoon, and you would occasionally get a nod or a half smile from mtp (if the takings were good in the fruit and veg shop i suppose), and from other players of course.

men of the calibre and skill of mtp loved the game and appreciated all they earned.

unfortunately, only in my humble opinion, money and sky tv will eventually kill the game as we knew it. the s.a.a.a, or "saturday afternoon armchair assassins", or the r.r, the "replay referees" will soon knock all of the fun and discussion by the ordinary fan on the head(son).

so,(after my winge for which i don't apologise) i would just say to you, mr terry paine wherever you are, that you were one of the best footballers i have ever seen grace the hallowed turf of the dell and the real wembley stadium. i wish you well sir.