Ron Strickland

by RON STRICKLAND
(LONGTON LANCS)

Imagine this today ! I was 16 years of age and lived in a pub in Penwortham near Preston. It's a long story but I was lucky enough to have two seven and sixpenny final tickets. After watching Preston training one morning I managed to get Dave Wilson's autograph. He was my hero. As he was signing he asked me where I lived. I told him I lived at the Fleece Inn in Penwortham. To my astonishment he said as he lived nearby he would give me a lift home in his little white VW Beetle!

One Sunday afternoon whilst my family were resting ( Pubs closed at 2.00 in those days and reopened at 7.00)there was a noise in the yard. Thinking it was an intruder my parents went to look. A person had climbed over the large double gate and into the yard.

That person was Dave Wilson !! He had heard from someone that I had two tickets for the final and would I be prepared to sell him one as he needed just one more for a member of his family so they could come and see him playing in a Wembly Final !

Thrilled to bits I said you can have one for nothing but he insisted on paying me £5.00.

I thought all my Christmases had come at once.

How things have changed and not for the better. Top players can no longer relate to fans as they live in a different world. How sad.