Singapore, UK Football Memories. Are Soccer Stars Overpaid Actors? Part Two

The Singapore, UK 1960s Football Memory Trail. 
Inspired by FIFA World Cup Brazil, 2014. 

I would like to thank Allan Thompson (UK) and Happy Tay (Canada) for this week's posting. 

1. A note from Allan about football fakes:

Dear Andy, 

Soccer? Football? The Beautiful game? Bah!Humbug!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  A bunch of overpaid prima donnas with the pain threshold of an exposed nerve. They trip on a blade of grass and lie there, writhing and groaning like spoilt brats. 

Compare them with most other sportsmen who dust themselves down and play on. Especially jump jockeys who sometimes have horrific falls and suffer very painful injuries but are back in the saddle for the next race.  

2. Happy Tay rebuts:

I'm an ardent soccer player and fan (or rather football, as we all knew during our childhood days in the 60's), and have to concur with some of the comments made against these so called "overpaid" stars. They're better "actors" then those from Hollywood. They could all learn how to play real soccer from the Women Soccer Players, who are true professionals, although they are not as well paid as those actors. 

They never curse, rant, scream at the referees, or act like overpaid stars and fake injury, by rolling and grimacing as though one of their limbs had been torn apart, but are immediately able to run after the ball, as soon as their "victim" (opponent) had been penalized by the Referee. When I was refereeing as a Class 1 Referee, I would either ignore such acts or caution these "actors" with a yellow card! 

         

Frank Coulston

Being a soccer player myself has helped, as I had the experience to judge between an actual foul, or just an act. Hopefully, FIFA (the World Soccer Body) will think again about this problem. 

Anyway Andy, keep up the great work for bringing forward the "Beautiful Game" during this World Cup, fittingly held in Brazil, where soccer is like a religion to them. 

Cheers!! 

3. Allan's reply and soccer trail:

Dear Andy,

I thoroughly agree with Guru's views and comments.  Incidentally, I was quite a good 'playground footballer' when I was at primary school and I played, briefly, in a five-a-side competition.  Sadly, my Dad thought that sport was a waste of time and that I should work hard at the academic subjects instead.  

He refused to buy me a decent pair of boots and I had to make do with an old pair which he bought cheaply from one of his employees.  They were too big for me and I had to stuff rolled-up newspaper in the toes!  Later, as my feet grew, the boots became too tight and he would not buy me another pair.  End of promising career.  

One of my best friends, Frank Coulston, became a semi-professional player and was in the Partick Thistle team which thrashed the mighty Celtic 4-1 in the Scottish League Cup Final in October 1971. Another friend, Ernest Yard, played for Reading and Crystal Palace.

Best wishes,   

Allan.

        Nancy Sinatra - These Boots Are Made for Walkin' Video by: weissebrauen

4. Happy's Soccer Memory Trail:

Thanks Andy and also to Allan. 

Perhaps Allan and I have something similar to touch on, especially those days when we had the RAF personnel and their families stationed in Singapore.  

There are stories about Roti John (now they call it Subway) and my episodes at RAF Changi during the Indonesian Confrontation and when I was with the RAF Police since we did not have our own armed forces then.

Jalan Besar Stadium - 1960s

During my short career with the RAF, I was also picked to play for the RAF Changi Team during the 60's.  I was the only Singaporean selected to play for them. During my interaction with these footballers I remember a great soccer star called Hussein Hashim who went on to play for the Singapore Malays F.C. and the national team!

Those days, Singapore had a very strong Joint Services Team with players from RAF Changi, Tengah and Seletar.  Some of them played for the English or Scottish 1st and 2nd Division Clubs before being called for duty.  Those were the good old days of legendary Sir Stanley Matthews, Tom Finney, Johnny Haines and others.  

Football at Jalan Besar Stadium

Singapore footballers from the Joint Services, Singapore Chinese, Singapore Malays, and Singapore Indians, played together for the Annual Challenge Trophy; there was always a full house at Jalan Besar Stadium.  I was also selected for the local Combined School Teams.  We had a really strong team those days, with some moving on to represent the Singapore Team.

As you can see I also have some stories from the good old days of Singapore soccer!

Cheers, and keep up with the great work Andy!

Guru Happy.

One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you... Anyone has something to say?

 
Images from: Singapore Heritage Board Archives and Google.

Singer/ Songwriter: Lee Hazelwood.

Copyright: Lyrics from Michael H. Goldsen Inc.
Letters are original and copyrighted.