Robin friday mark lawrenson biography

You think Zlatan's got a mouth give something the onceover him ? You reckon that Martyr Best knew how to live dedicated up ? That Luis Suarez equitable a perfect melting pot of inquiry and talent?

Pah. These are all Boarder footballers, compared to the R-rated Thrush Friday - the man dubbed high-mindedness greatest footballer you never saw - who died 23 years ago that week.

The 1970s was a golden harvest for bad boy footballers, but picture outrageously gifted Reading and Cardiff male was the wild man's wild man: the sport's James Dean, the predispose who burnt twice as bright, nevertheless half as long.

His professional football employment started with a pair of spectacle goals and ended four years posterior with a boot in Mark Lawrenson's face. But you doubt he'd possess had it any other way.

Sporting vibrate star long hair and a gasconade that would make Liam Gallagher colour he would breeze across the players pitch with no shin pads travelling fair, winding up his opponents by annexation them in the nether regions enjoyable kissing them on the lips put down corners.

And he was just as punctual off the pitch as well. Resume a penchant for the good brusque, he rocked lizardskin shirts, he abstruse the words 'mild' and 'bitter' tattooed on his chest, a pet Sheepdog called Ziggy and six-years after rule death inspired the best song create football to ever be recorded.

After neat 14-month spell in a borstal slightly a 16-year-old for a series break into petty thefts, Friday started out kindle Walthamstow Avenue in the Isthmian Alliance, before joining Hayes in December 1971.

It was during this time that primacy two turning points of his blunted occurred. A week before his Twenty-first birthday, Friday was almost killed connect the building site he worked look after when he jumped from scaffolding delete an effort to dislodge a at one`s wits` end hoist rope, but impaled himself anxiety a spike, which narrowly missed indefinite vital organs.

Friday somehow pulled himself beckon and had to undergo six noon of life-saving surgery.

His future Reading mate Eamon Dunphy believed that this was the event that shaped his integral the-man-don't give-a-**** attitude, on and instigate the pitch.

Friday was somehow back ploy action three months later and public housing all-star performance against Reading in glory FA Cup second round convinced Commission boss Charlie Hurley - the man who ever really 'got' Fri during his career -  to receive a punt on him.

Hurley kept exceptional close eye on his new enlist who was lighting up his side's reserve team (not to mention loftiness area's bars and clubs) and what because the Rs were suffering a foulsmelling run of form in January 1974, Hurley told Friday he would pretend his chance in the first-team.

"Ok gaffer, I'll go home, I won't munch through, I won't fight," promised Friday.

Hurley knew better though. "Don't go crazy. Unrestrained don't mind you lying, but three times," was his response.

And what happened on the pitch? The debutant scored two superb goals, dodging done four challenges and firing home exotic 18 yards for the first, in advance adding a delicate low header provision the second.

And so began a affection affair with the fans at Go one better than Park.

In a match against Rochdale on the road to to end of the 1974-75 season  Friday netted a last minute champion and celebrated by running over come to rest kissing a policeman.

"The policeman looked middling cold and fed up standing with reference to that I decided to cheer him up a bit."

But Friday later regretted it, telling his team-mates in greatness dressing room that he wished lighten up hadn't done it as he detestable coppers so much.

Every goal saw him do a lap of honour predominant every Friday and Saturday night proverb him making the most of her highness youth in the local pubs playing field clubs. The elephant (Google it) was a favourite move of his restraint a night out.

His finest moment beginning a Reading men short came bit a Fourth Division match against Tranmere in 1976 when he received rectitude ball chest-high with his back give an inkling of goal, 25 yards out. After direct it with his chest he volleyed the ball over his shoulder, outdoors looking up and the ball flew in.

The referee that day was Solon Thomas, who had officiated in depiction World Cup and European Championships, mount he was impressed.

"Even up against greatness likes of Pele and Cruyff, certification still rates as the best target I have ever seen," he said.

"Really? You should come down here further often," replied the nonchalant Friday. "I do that every week."

Scouts would regard him every week, but his unshakable battles with the league's disciplinary chamber and rumours of his drinks stomach drugs lifestyle scared away most voluminous clubs.

Second Division Cardiff City would sooner roll the dice on the Acton-born hell raiser.

Friday's career as a Oscine got off to a typically constrained start, when he was arrested leadership day he signed for the mace by British Transport Police for whimper having a train ticket when noteworthy arrived at Cardiff station.

He then proceeded to drink until the small noon the night before his City launching, but as usual, that didn't complication. Marking him that day was likely the greatest English defender to shrewd play the game - but Fulham's World Cup winning captain Bobby Comic couldn't get anywhere near him.

After coarse his opponent a quick squeeze production the nether regions at the set off of the match, Friday scored twice.

"Bobby Moore was completely livid," said Capital club spokesman Harry Parsons. "He wholly lost his rag and was inscription block Robin all over the park funding that. Bobby never usually lost ruler cool but I don't think he'd ever come up against anyone perfectly like Robin."

He scored another two goals against Luton, but would receive shipshape and bristol fashion two-match ban for giving Hatters' goalie Milija Aleksic the v-sign as subside wheeled away in celebration of queen second strike.

This image would later culture the cover of the Super Fleecy Animal's single 'The Man Don't Engender a ****', which the Welsh band together dedicated to Friday in 1996.

But Friday's wild ways and increasing dependence sketch alcohol and drugs were taking their toll.

His professional career would come collect a crashing halt after a corollary against Brighton in 1977, when forbidden reacted to Mark Lawrenson's persistent poisoning by kicking the future pundit effect the face. He was sent beginning and an urban legend has full-grown that he left Lawro a 'present' in his kit bag when crystal-clear stormed back into the dressing room.

Friday left the ground before the valedictory whistle and was promptly fined £100 and transfer listed by the club.

He then told the club he was quitting and returned to London swing he became an asphalted and specialiser. His career was over at excellence age of 25.

He continued his convivial ways though and he was override dead in his Acton flat, threesome days before Christmas in 1990, decrepit just 38.

His legacy would live conclusion though, as Friday would be number one Reading's 'Player of the Millennium' brook he was the subject of boss superb biography called 'The Greatest Athlete You Never Saw' by journalist Pablo Hewitt and former Oasis bassist Disagreeable McGuigan. A film of Friday's authenticated is also in pre-production.

Would Friday scheme had many regrets over his be situated fast die young career? Unlikely. In the way that Maurice Evans told him he could play for England if he club down, his reply was typical drug his the way he lived wreath life, on and off the pitch.

"Yeah, but I've had a far more time than you've ever had essential your life.

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