My Brother in law passed away 2 days ago, Married my eldest sister 50 years ago or more. He played for Bolton Wanderers, Tranmere Rovers then Runcorn. My sister June and Richard took me on Holidays with them when I was a young boy. Richard took me to some matches when he was injured and could not play. R.I.P. Richard Rest in Peace: Richard Oxtoby [1939-2020] - News - Bolton ...
We are all getting to that kind of age. A university “batch mate” of mine as Filipinos seem to call them, died yesterday. He was a couple of years younger than me. Same goes for people I have known that are or were the same age as me.
Sorry to hear of your sad news, Jim. I hope you keep fond memories of Richard like the ones you mentioned. Kindness is never forgotten.
I know what you mean, JohnAsh. I have missed some funerals over the past few years as my old stomping ground is too far to get to and I cannot take time off work. If we have lots of friends in our lives, people passing away happens a lot. Life is for the living and friends come and go.
@Jim How Bolton Wanderers have commented https://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/2020/june/rest-in-peace-richard-oxtoby-1939-2020/
He played mostly in the reserves at Bolton my dad use to take me watching him I was only a young kid at the time. He played center half, John Hulme kept Richard out of the first team. He played first team at Tranmere and Runcorn. Then when he retired from professional football, he took up coaching amateur teams. that's when my brother and I played for him. Then later on he coached youngsters. He had Dementia, his last few years, don't know if that killed him! But his daughters recon heading the ball may have caused dementia, being a center back.
Did you play Jim. I often passed Burnden Park when I worked in 2 locations at Farnworth and Black burn on the A666. Burnden Park was a good old football ground.
My cousin played serious football. I used to go and watch West Ham with him and his older brother and Matthew Lorenzo, his cousin. Both of my cousins played football all the time as kids. Then Paul had an apprenticeship with QPR as a right back. He then started playing for QPR reserves and at the club at the time were players like Stan Bowles and Gerry Francis and Rodney Marsh - an exciting club to be at. He never got a first team place though I seem to remember he sat on the bench a couple of times. He had some games with England schoolboys playing with Kevin Mabbut and Kenny Sansom. He eventually played for Wimbledon a number of times in the lower leagues. And then some years later worked as club scout at various clubs including with Alan Pardew. It was his cousin that made a massive career out of football but not as a player. Matthew worked initially as a football journalist for the local newspaper reporting on West Ham. Then was one of the new Sky News sports reporters when they first started. He appeared on TV as a sports and football presenter for many years anchoring the World Cup in the USA in 1994. One of his most recent pieces of work was the production of the movie Bo66y. So a similar story @Jim mostly in the reserves. Injuries shortened his playing career. Here Matt Lorenzo interviews Ray Winstone. Both West Ham crazy...
Only local amateur teams. Farnworth is where I come from. Shame they moved from Burnden park. Alan ball was from Farnworth and Tommy banks.
