Sidney Canham Remembers John Budgie Byrne

by Sid Canham
(Norfolk, England)

I remember "Budgie" very well. I also came out of the forces after playing for the RAF 2nd Taf team in Germany and was signed by Cyril Spears,Manager of Crystal Palace,in 1957.

I also played on the left wing and played my first game against Fulham reserves at Craven Cottage,who was marking me, none other than George Cohen!!! Unfortunately there was this cheeky little chappy who was also playing on the left wing at the time, of course it was "Budgie" and he kept on getting the spot ahead of me.

We got on very well together although he always seem to beat myself and every other player onto the snooker table after training.

No one ever really found out how he managed it all the time. He certainly was a great character and was always the life and soul on the team bus, always in the middle of the card schools on away games.

I was very sorry to read a few years ago that he had passed away in South Africa. His was a short life, but I believe he had a very enjoyable one living it to the full and the way that he would have wanted to.