More in the Sam Moa mould.

I remeber him scoring a try at Warrington in a cup game at the time it was a close game Hull just won thanks to Tony

I remember playing amateur soccer for Paull Wanderers in the early 80's - We turned up at Costello and started getting changed in a white wooden hut which was meant for a certain rugby team, but we thought we were "tough". When the rugby team turned up and told us to shift we said jokingly "we were here first" until we saw TB amongst them and decided we'd probably be better getting changed outside!!

Tony also played football for a local club although I forget which one but they played on Frome Road playing fields on Longhill. I was a referee and Tony was in goal one day, he called me sir all the way through the game.

Tony also used to take his family in Bay Horse on Wincolmlee for Sunday Dinner when Colin Cooper was the landlord. He was a perfect gentleman in such surroundings, but still commanded respect.

As Cod'ead suggested earlier watch all about Tony on the video site and search Another Bloody Sunday. You'll learn a lot about him from that!

Tremendous piece of film making.

Would recommend anyone who has never seen it before to take an hour out and watch it.....you won't regret it

I played against Tony once and think I still have the stud marks on my chest where he ran over me as I stupidly tried to tackle hiim.

Nice guy though.

As stated a very good programme.
IIRC in it they refer to winning the game for Dave Hossell , who was in hospital after an incident in Star of The West.

Try Bill Dalton - he is the man who has all stats on every man who ever played for Hull - the club will help you to find him as he recently gave an interview on Hulls official site.

Nearly got his head taken off IIRC and wasn't that by another well-known local league player?

A bit off subject but what was the name of the Pub which he was Landlord of - Cleveland Street - Now closed down -
Sorry if it has been mentioned

I thought it was Hastings?

I played against Tony a few times, his 'party piece' was to run at wingers and frighten the life out of them or trample over them. I played wing on the 1st occasion and he did both.

I learned a valuable lesson (the hard way), not to try to tackle him anywhere above the bootlaces.
The next game I was playing centre and I anticipated “his” ball as he used to shout, “My ball” I shot out from the defensive line and snapped at his ankles as he caught the ball, he dropped it in the tackle and I thought he was going to stamp me into the mud with anger, he was screaming at the ref, complaining I was “fecking offside” I have never been so glad that he only did his 20minutes a game.

Don Robson tells some great tales from his time coaching Donny, in the old Tattersfield days. A couple that spring to mind were:

On his first training session, he got them all out on the pitch and said, "right lads, I don't really know any of you and how you play, so can you take up your usual positions on the field".

They all ran behind the sticks, waiting for the conversion.

The other tale is of a young local lad who had quite a bit of talent (a rarity in Donny in those days). They used to train on Tuesdays & Thursdays and he was always there at the 7.00 pm start on a Tuesday but couldn't make until 8.10 pm on a Thursday. Don stuck this for a couple of weeks and then pulled him to one side to enquire what the problem was. The lad's answer was "well it's Thursday Don". When Don asked what was so special about Thursdays, the lad replied, "Top of the Pops innit?"

Full Measure - just come to me - I am sure he was there when he died !!

Tony was a hard man but a good lad.

He used to do about 4 runs a game and it usually took 4 men to tackle him each time. If you got him down by yourself you were rewarded with the ultimate Banham accolade "facking good tackle mate".

Tony's (de)motivational cry to his Shire Horse team was "cam on you facking lazy kents" which was a bit rich given Tony's work rate.

Never saw him foul anyone when I played against him, always good for a laugh and a pint after, a real character sadly missed.