Sporting Heroes
Get ready, here's the first story from Jack !
3 Jan 2007
Jack Charlton is one of the North-East's favourite sons--even though he played for Leeds!!--and he has agreed to share some of the experiences of his long and varied career by giving us an occasional "Jackanory Jack" story, mostly humorous, occasionally serious.
I cannot deny that I am a bit of a celebrity in Ireland--something to do with The World Cup, I believe. I always pay by cheque in the pubs if I can because rather than cash them, they prefer to keep the autograph and pin it on the wall!! Free Guinness al night lang!
I have a cottage there and I was asked if I would officially open the salmon season at the local river--best salmon river in Britain incidentally.
I agreed and it is a massive day where everybody in and around the village congregate for va day of festivities. They have all sorts of races, big lads on little horses, little lads on big horses, pig races, even geese races where you have to slap them up the arse to get them gannin. I won that one!
Then came the finale and I was asked as guest-of-honourto start the blind man's race. Of course I will and there they are, five of them, led towards the start-line and standing with their guide-dogs at the ready.
Now we sometimes have a go at the Irish a bit unfairly, but,I kid you not, the little man in charge couldn't thank me enough, then proceeded to hand me a flag to start the race!!
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