Quote Originally Posted by abbobrom View Post
Over the years we have had more than our share of hard players, Eddie Clamp springs to mind. I think I am correct in saying that the late great Sir Stanley Matthews refused to play against Wolves if Clamp was in the team. Clamp was an England International so he could play a bit, but he took no prisoners.

However, modern day players have become, not only more skillfull but they have become more expensive to purchase. They help to put bums on seats, they are entertainers, and as such they need some protection from less able players. Play it hard by all means, but play it fair. I recall an incident when one of our most skillfull ever players Peter Knowles had a run in with a certain Dennis Smith who played for Stoke. Knowles was about eigh**** at the time and had just twisted and turned Smith untill the Stoke player was almost giddy. Smith was far from happy that this young upstart had made him look a fool. As Peter walked back past him Smith was reported to have hurled some obsenities at him along the lines of "do that again and I will break your fu..ing legs", befors spitting into the Wolves players face.

Nice if you like that sort of thuggery, but no supporter wants to see the game detioriate to this level.. That sort of thing went out prior to the millenium.
I remember Peter Knowles, he had some great skill. Am I right in saying that he found religion and retired early from the game? And was his brother Cyril, of Spurs?