Famous sports people to visit Pembrokeshire: Feature No 3

 

Very small of stature but Nobby belied his size to become a giant in his footballing life

 
When Nobby Stiles visited Pembrokeshire for the first time to speak as guest of honour at a Haverfordwest County Annual Dinner, at the old Queen’s Function Centre, I was lucky to be asked to be MC and question master.
 
I had arranged to meet Nobby at The Mariners’ Hotel, where he had rested after the long drive down from Manchester, all on his own,  and although I knew from televised matches that he was on the small side I was totally dumbfounded when this tiny fellow approached me with big glasses, that made him look a bit owlish, and an even bigger grin. I couldn’t help thinking, ‘How could this fellow play 312 games for Manchester United, plus have spells with Middlesborough and Preston North End?’
 
He outstretched a firm right hand and when I tried telling him how thrilled I was to meet him he would have none of it, asking me about my job and telling me how he was looking forward to the evening but not the long drive back home to Manchester that night!
 
As luck would have it, he mentioned in the evening that he would need a garage because he thought he had a slow puncture and so spent the night in the area and drove home the next morning!
 

A naturally funny speaker – and the audience loved him!

 
The event was organised by former senior policeman John Daniels, who had heard Nobby speak at a dinner with Carmarthen Town and asked him to come to Haverfordwest County, where John was involved at the time, and he had readily agreed.
 
There had been a slight hiccup because Nobby had taken ill but his wife phoned John to say her husband was determined to fulfil the obligation and the dinner was held back for a short while.
 
When we got to the venue a standing ovation seemed to make him smile again and he was brilliant in talking to everyone who wanted to meet him during the function – and there were plenty of those.
 
His speech included moving and humorous memories of being one of only two English players to have a winner’s medal from playing in the World and European Cup Finals (alongside Bobby Charlton), plus two league champions’ medals and 28 caps.
 
But, with his socks round his ankles and his false front teeth left in the dressing room, he was a formidable opponent, a robust tackler and an implacable marker, as he showed in a memorable and crucial performance in the semi-final against Portugal, when he was asked by manager Alf Ramsay he comprehensively – and fairly – squeezed the life out of the great Eusabio in the win over Portugal.
 
He was also very effective in the final, against West Germany, and no-one who watched on TV will forget this little feller with the big heart, dancing a jig and the trophy lid nestled neatly on his head!

And finally . . .

 
I had asked him about the question and answer session and whether any topics were off limits but his answer was typical:
“Let them ask me about anything they want and I’ll answer – but sometimes they might not like what I tell them!”
 
But everyone loved his talking about very moving times, the good and the bad – and I will never forget that moment when I met Nobby Stiles MBE, one of the genuine characters of British Sport; only 5 feet 6 inches tall but a veritable giant of football nonetheless,  before he sadly passed away at the age of 78.