Great read - thanks for posting it. Have some great memories of the 80's when I was a ballboy. Crane in the modern game would have been fantastic - his deft chips over the top were just sublime in ankle deep mud - on todays dry hard pitches he would have been a revelation - well he would if it wasn't for all day drinking and online bookies !

Love it

Good article, The name rings a bell, The guy who writes and performs with cathrine tate is called darren litten i believe and he's from the Hull area, wonder if he's a relation?

I doubt he ever saw Craney with a B&H or Embassy in his gob. Parkies all the way for our Mick

Great read, really enjoyed it! Never experience RL in 80's, but can relate to all me Dad's told me!

Russ is Derren Littens brother, Derren is the man behind 'Benidorm' and Russ' first novel 'Scream if You Wanna Go Faster' has just been published. Got rave reviews as well.

Oh for the likes of Mick Crane to entertain us.Great article but it makes me sad as well because I really don't think we'll see that sort of artistry again. Just reading some of the names mentioned makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Maybe someone will be looking back on the current players with similar fondness in a few years time? I doubt it though.

I loved watching Crane , He was a absolute magician with the ball.

also worked with Guy Richie...very talented man, his book has received some very good reviews, a read I am certainly looking forward to

Great spot Mosher, those were the days, favourite Mick Crane display was the Yorkshire Cup win at Elland Road, absolutely brilliant throughout and took the man of the match. Think he vanished not soon after.

Iamagine Agar having Knocker and Crane in his team....he wouldnt have a clue what to do with them.........Crane was a joy to watch but Norton was a Magician with the ball in his hand and could put the tackles in and be a dirty sod as well....the complete number 13....none of this 3rd 2nd rower b0lloxs we have now.

Had the joy or was it misfortune to play against knocker in a warm up match at the boulevard some years ago(late 90's i believe) even though it was just a bit of fun he was still up to his old tricks then. Even though it was a half touch/tackle game i still came away with a few bruises, mostly inflicted by Knocker.

He wouldn't have to deal with them, they wouldn't be at the club. They would have been booted out with all the other bad boys!!

I read this after Spooky put it up on Twitter. Fantastic read and made me realise just how sterile RL / SL is now compared to then.
Off the cuff plays, especially Mick Crane's deft chips (as someone has mentioned). The conditions are so much better to play in now and yet the style and quality of play is so much poorer.
And thats before we get onto the subject of playing the game when it should be played on a Sunday afternoon.

Great memories, great times. www.sabotagetimes.com/football-s ... -of-steel/

Great memories, great times. www.sabotagetimes.com/football-s ... -of-steel/