West Ham, of course, have a much loved Trevor. Mr Brooking remains the third best player I have ever seen in a West Ham shirt, only narrowly squeezed out of second place by Martin Peters. But as good as that TB was, even he falls some way short of the greatest Trevor ever.
Today, sadly, the greatest Trevor of all time was run out, dying horribly in a house fire aged 86. How ironic that the man who featured in three Ashes series victories should die in a fire. The great Trevor Bailey graced the game of cricket, as a player, as a man and as a wonderful commentator. I will never forget him. He was so special that some foolish Essex & West Ham supporting men even named their sons after him!
RIP Trevor, I'm glad the boys brought home the Ashes for you before you said your final goodbyes.
8 comments:
Well said that man! Mind you, I reckon anyone who named their son Trevor would quickly realise their mistake and leave him in a cardboard box outside East Ham tube station!
If you're giving it away, why bother to give it a name?
Might have been something to do with the 666 that appeared on the forehead as the holy water evaporated!
tut tut HF why did you give your kid away?
LOL Marty
Yes a great sportsman HF. I remember seeing him battle away with unbelievable concentration and determination hour after hour, probably the best all rounder we have ever had.Your article has brought back many pleasant memories when I was a young man. One of which was listening to Trevor Bailey recount his experiences of the ashes tour of Australia he had recently returned from, at the Romford YMCA. Those were the days as us old timers like to say.
I never saw him play John, I'm too young, but I understand he was an obdurate sod, giving away his wicket like a Scotsman gives away a tenner!
I thought he was a brilliant commentator. He didn't dress things up, he said it how he saw it! Perhaps the only criticism I would have was his clear affiliation with South Africa pre Mandella. But he was from a different generation - like you it seems - and it is too simplistic to condemn without taking into account how attitudes were indoctrianated and all pervading.
His irritation when a flash batsman gave away his wicket was a joy to hear. I don't think I ever heard him commentate on a certain Mr Pietersen. I suspect his teeth would have bitten very deep indeed!
looks like west ham could be playing the next couple of weeks with da costa and reid in center back
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