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Topic: Blast From an even Further Past

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Bandit
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005.jpgTTTT



-- Edited by Bandit on Sunday 3rd of November 2013 12:53:12 PM

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Bandit
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An Old Photo I Found which is the old Hastings United Playing away at Poole Town on 23rd August 1980.

As can be seen Gerry Armstrong is taking a goal kick with Mickey Crowe and possibly Chris Hamshare in the background and you can just make out Peter Sillett in the dugout.

I cant remember what the score was though.001.JPG



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Bandit
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002.JPGAnother Picture from the same game again you can see Mickey Crowe at number 5 and Matt Stock in the centre circle and Peter petkovic at left back.

Sorry the quality is not that good as it is 33 years old!



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Pat
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I love these threads and the Pic quality is surprisingly good Bandit.

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SS
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Tremendous. Poole's old stadium is pretty close to the railway station and like the Pilot Field - used to host Speedway. Indeed there is still a top British team there to this day while the football club have re-emerged from the Wessex League and this season are in the Southern Premier but playing at a new stadium - managed by Tommy Killick who was in the Wimborne side that Vanker Vosper night of infamy at the Pilot Field back in 1991-92.

Look at that programme - one substitute! Kevin Wallis's son played for us in recent-ish years - Jon I think it was. Must consult Phil Donaldson on that.

We last played Poole Town in 89/90 - 5 December at the Pilot Field, 2-2 (Paul Giles, Matt Stock) att 247. Poole went up with Bashley that season and they can't have lasted long at Premier Division level cos they weren't there when Town got there for the 92/93 season.

Nice one Bandit - come on y'all, there have to be other photos waiting to be scanned into that pc! And I must disect my old hard drives because I'm sure I have more recent stuff myself.

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Lenny The Lion
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I know a couple of 30 year olds on here whose quality isn't that good Bandit. Love seeing old photos like this, reminds me of when I was a kid and used to watch Hayes Town ( now Hayes and Yeading). At kick off the ball used to sit on the centre spot and I always used to look at the new ball, thinking that the brilliant white made it look as if it was hovering above the freshly painted white line. AAAh nostalgia !

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Mick
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Some great memories here guys !
When I was little I used to love Gus Honeyman's pre match routine.
He would start from the dug out and run to the road end and tap the left post, the bar and the right post with his 'wand'. He would then put his claret and blue top hat on the penalty spot and make a spell over it.
He'd then run the length of the pitch ringing his bell and waving his topper in the other hand and then perform the same routine at the wood end before retuning, panting, to the dug out. Bloody brilliant !
Sadly I'm sure we lost Gus many, many years ago and I can confirm the bell ringer now is certainly not Gus......because its my dad. I think he's now on about his fourth bell, for God's sake !
On the subject of mascots, does anyone remember us having a knight in armour on horseback for a season...or maybe it was only a few games ?
Other than Leonard (who always seemed inappropriately named to me), have we had any others ? Personally I'd like to see the dancing girls back again...... but then again I'm at a difficult age.
Anyway...looking forward to the nostalgic music on Saturday....nice work, Pat !
And finally....what a team that was in the Poole program ! I would suggest that this team is stronger by a country mile in just about every position relative to what we have today. Happy days !



-- Edited by Mick on Sunday 3rd of November 2013 11:05:36 PM

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Windy
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Great pictures Bandit ...love seeing stuff like this...I must get up my Dad's and have a look what he's got ....mind you I think they may all be on slides .I know you can get them converted to jpeg files but the convertors are quite expensive.
I think he has some black and white pictures back in the 60's somewhere too ...I will have a look sometime

Nice to see Gerry Armstrong in action.He was my school boy hero and I told him that , much to his embarassment, when I saw him watching the U' last year....well watching Matt actually !

Thanks again

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rev59
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Has anyone got any from late 60`s early 70`s with the like of John Cowan, Chris Clarke, Ian Thompson etc.
When they used to play " The theme to the power game" when the United players came on to the pitch, infact would `nt it be good to hear that again? ah , nostalgia not like it used to be.

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Lenny The Lion
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Is this the one rev?


m.youtube.com/watch%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DFFrqbfiFlQQ

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rev59
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It most certainly is, I can hear it now blasting out over the speakers, such great memories.

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Lenny The Lion
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Sounds similar to the theme tune to The World of sport don't you think?


m.youtube.com/watch%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DCmqU0I1LzQA


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rev59
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Definitely similar, another great theme though, and programme, same it had to end.

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Lenny The Lion
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Yeah I much preferred The World of sport to Grandstand. I used to love on The Ball too.

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MrLiamWillis
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Does anyone have a record on the appearances and goals by Keith Miles?

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Speak to Sean Adams , do you have his number?

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Windy
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rev59 wrote:

Has anyone got any from late 60`s early 70`s with the like of John Cowan, Chris Clarke, Ian Thompson etc.
When they used to play " The theme to the power game" when the United players came on to the pitch, infact would `nt it be good to hear that again? ah , nostalgia not like it used to be.

 I will have a look im sure my Dad has some somewhere ...I certainly remember the tune and had it on vinyl ,Cyril Stapleton ! Remember Bobby Nash ,Bobby Houghton and  Bobby Drake  ??? The three Bobbys !! And if course Kevin Barry ,legend !!!! I can even taste Mrs Deeprose's tea !!!



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MrLiamWillis
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Lenny The Lion wrote:

Speak to Sean Adams , do you have his number?

 I shall email him :)



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Liam Willis
Lenny The Lion
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He may be able to help you out.

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rev59
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Windy wrote:

 

 I will have a look im sure my Dad has some somewhere ...I certainly remember the tune and had it on vinyl ,Cyril Stapleton ! Remember Bobby Nash ,Bobby Houghton and  Bobby Drake  ??? The three Bobbys !! And if course Kevin Barry ,legend !!!! I can even taste Mrs Deeprose's tea !!!

 Vinyl, now there`s a thing, yer Kevin Barry, The North bank, and Gus Honeycutt, was that his name? used to dress head to toe in a Claret and Blue suit and ring that bell.



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Windy
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I think it was Gus Hunneyman,,,my brother went to school with his grandson Mark,,,,yeah he was a real character...I expect these days someone would moan about the bell !



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Lenny The Lion
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Someone rings a bell next to us when we're sitting in the match day control room,

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Lenny The Lion
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rev59 wrote:

It most certainly is, I can hear it now blasting out over the speakers, such great memories.

 Rev after a lengthy evening of  hunting high and low Pat has found your long time favourite and the teams will be coming out to it next Saturday. 

Hope it brings back some good memories for you. 



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rev59
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O.M.G. I cant wait. Thank you very very much, I`ll have a tear in my eye..

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Lenny The Lion
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Its Pat who has made it possible Rev, I just suggested it he's been busy searching for it. Hope you enjoy it. Its a pleasure to be of help.

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Windy
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Just found this on eBay ,any idea how we got on ? It's a bit before my time for once 



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Windy
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Apparently we lost 6-0 but won the 2nd leg 1-0 on 25/4/59...thanks to @ChelseaChadder via twitter



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I read about that knight somewhere recently mick and apparently the idea was to fight a dual with the visiting teams own knight on horseback ( cos obviously it was taken for granted every team would be able to bring one!! ) of course the first match he was used the other team shockingly didn't have a knight available and the Hastings knight got rusty in the pelting rain and never appeared again!

True story or myth?! Not sure but pretty cool either way!



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philg
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Certainly remember Gus Hunneman. He was a retired bus driver, well into his sixties who carried out the routine that Mick described. He wore top hat and tails in Claret and Blue. The only slight difference to Mick's account was that I thought that once he got to the penalty spot he would put the bell on it and doff his hat. Gus was also a great sport and win,lose or draw would shake the hands of all opponents. If any of you have a copy of Philip Elm's 'Claret and Blue' Book there is a picture of him on Page 24 with Bobby Moore.
Dan, I'm sure that the knight in armour story is correct. I have vague,very vague memories that the idea was to have a jousting tournament as pre match entertainment. As you say it never took off. I think it would be late 1960's when all sorts of things went on. I certainly remember a rock concert in 1968. Not saying it was loud but woke up all the deceased in the cemetery. Did anybody else go? The only act I can remember was 'The crazy World of Arthur Brown'...who had a number one in 1968 called 'Fire'. As Mick says 'happy days'


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Windy
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philg wrote:

Blimey windy.....where did you dig that up from? That was it, the great Ray Davies and the Kinks,Dave Dee etc.It was a hot day and there were thousands of us there, swarming all over the pitch,Simon would have definately pulled his hair out.
I think the Chairman at the time was Jim Humphries who hailed from London and had lots of show biz connections. Rumour was that he was also friendly with a nice couple of brothers called Ronnie and Reggie, can't remember their last name !!!!!!

 I wish I could say it was my Dads ,but he was more of a Sinatra ,Glenn Miller man than the Kinks ,sadly...Apparently it was 28th August 1967,,,,Ive just found this too ...... http://ninebattles.com/2013/09/09/hastings-stadium-festival-of-music-1967/........I pulled it off some website ages ago ,,,,it was all connected with the pier and famous groups that had played in Hastings over the years etc....but it has made me think,,,What other uses has the Pilot Field had over the years? I know they used it for boot fairs,caravan clubs ,speedway of course, Hastings Bonfire use to be held there until about 15 years ago. Can anyone remember there being an Evil Knievel style bike stunt jump in the late 70's ? I sold loads of tickets when I use to collect for the Hastings United 3 n' easy draw for that event ,,,must have been 76' I reckon,,,,,,,,,,any other uses anyone ?



-- Edited by Windy on Monday 4th of November 2013 05:46:19 PM



-- Edited by Windy on Monday 4th of November 2013 05:52:27 PM



-- Edited by Windy on Monday 4th of November 2013 05:57:56 PM

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rev59
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I wasn't there Philg. but I know my brother was, did he not do a concert in the WitchDoctor at the same time?
for a time Gus looked after the ball boys, as well I know because I was one, what a character. Any volunteers as to someone doing something like that now?

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It's a shame no-one got back to him Barry . I would have definitely been in touch if I had known as I don't think we can have too much historical memorabilia. If he reconsiders please let me know. Rogers books are indeed on the club shop and are a very good read even for relative newcomers like me.



-- Edited by Pat on Monday 4th of November 2013 07:11:19 PM

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Windy
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philg wrote:

I certainly remember a rock concert in 1968. Not saying it was loud but woke up all the deceased in the cemetery. Did anybody else go? The only act I can remember was 'The crazy World of Arthur Brown'...who had a number one in 1968 called 'Fire'. As Mick says 'happy days'

 Is this the concert that you can remember Phil ? Imagine that now Simon Rudkins would have a fit ! ))))



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Mick
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Phil,
Your memory of Gus's penalty spot routine may well be more accurate than mine (I was very VERY young)....but I'm sure I can picture him doing an 'Izzy Wizzy let's get bizzy' type spell at one point in the process !
At my tender years, I thought this whole routine was just utterly brilliant and always made sure we arrived in time to see it.
I don't think I ever heard the story of the knight with no-one to fight before. I'm pretty sure he appeared more than once though but the whole thing was rather surreal....even for the sixties.
As for that Rock Concert.....far too young, Phil !

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philg
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Blimey windy.....where did you dig that up from? That was it, the great Ray Davies and the Kinks,Dave Dee etc.It was a hot day and there were thousands of us there, swarming all over the pitch,Simon would have definately pulled his hair out.
I think the Chairman at the time was Jim Humphries who hailed from London and had lots of show biz connections. Rumour was that he was also friendly with a nice couple of brothers called Ronnie and Reggie, can't remember their last name !!!!!!

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rev59
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philg wrote:


  Rumour was that he was also friendly with a nice couple of brothers called Ronnie and Reggie, can't remember their last name !!!!!!

 I think it was Chuckle!



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I have for a number of years played golf most weekends with Gus Hunneman's son Roy.

A couple seasons ago he he contacted the club not sure how either in person or by email as he had some goods bits of memorabilia but nobody seemed interested and he was quite upset by it.

I will ask him what else he has but he may not be willing to hand it over now.

 



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Great to see the reawakening of interest in the posts Blasts from the Past

Just to remind supporters that my two books are on sale in the Club Shop ( Hastings ReUnited and Hastings United through Time) which flesh out the distant years

All proceeds to the club .

You may also want to follow the listed link on the Club website to Hastings United Extra Time. Although I do not update it now ( having moved to Cornwall) there are also historical articles which are relevant to the above discussion



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Barry wrote:

I have for a number of years played golf most weekends with Gus Hunneman's son Roy.

A couple seasons ago he he contacted the club not sure how either in person or by email as he had some goods bits of memorabilia but nobody seemed interested and he was quite upset by it.

I will ask him what else he has but he may not be willing to hand it over now.

 

 Here's the picture of Gus that Phil previously mentioned ...,look at that bank too !!!!



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MrLiamWillis
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If someone could find a picture of that Knight on horseback at the Pilot Field that would be like finding the Holy Grail!

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Windy wrote:

Just found this on eBay ,any idea how we got on ? It's a bit before my time for once 

 A quick search on Wiki/Google shows that must have been our reserve team against Chelsea 'A' (Their 3rd/Youth team?) back when there was a metropolitan league, which Hastings won a couple of seasons before this cup game.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_League

Quite an interesting read of your nerdy enough like me ;)



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bookworm
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Knight was present at home game against Weymouth, which we lost 4-2 in 1966/67
Heavy rain restricted his movement on the pitch
Observer had a photographer there but it's a challenge of their archives

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We certainly had a reserve team in the Metropolitan League for a number of seasons. We would play against other Southern League reserve teams but league clubs ,Chelsea ,Spurs ,West Ham etc would play their 'A' side which equated to their 3rd team. I think Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters all played for West Ham at the Pilot Field in one game. I've no doubt that Bookworm will have the programme. Reserve attendances regularly topped 1000 in those days.

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There's this article from Rogers excellent extra time website

Hopefully junior mascots look upon their pre match appearance as a memorable experience , helped perhaps by keeping some photographs, an autographed programme, a replica shirt and even the referee’s coin after the toss up. The experience primarily is for personal enjoyment, perhaps to mark a birthday or special occasion. Some Premiership clubs charge several hundred pounds for proud parents to pay for this one day privilege.
Contrast this with regular team mascots, usually adults and often in bizarre costumes. A review of the history of senior Hastings football shows that there have been only a few examples of this nature. Since 1948 it would seem that there have only been three full time mascots. Two of these will be familiar to long standing Hastings supporters but the identity of the third might be a good Pub Quiz tiebreaker.
Gus Hunneman was the first United mascot and fulfilled the role for many years. A distinguished bearded gentleman, resembling Colonel Sanders of KFC, he ran onto the pitch dressed in a claret and blue jacket, bow tie and top hat carrying a bell and claret and blue walking stick. The pre match ritual would involve tapping the posts and bar of each goal frame with the walking stick and a blessing of each penalty spot before joining the captains and referee for the toss up. Perhaps one of the last appearances was at Bobby Drake’s testimonial in the 1970s when he joined England Captain Bobby Moore, Hastings United captain John Jefferson and referee Howard Withers for the toss up. Arthritis reduced the frequency and activity of appearances made by Gus prior to his retirement. I am sure that Gus would have described his role as a motivational cheer leader as well as helping the more superstitious supporters who believed that United would not convert penalty kicks unless the penalty spot had been blessed.
The 1967/68 season saw United back in the Southern League Premier Division and United chairman James Humphreys introduced the idea of jousting events before home matches. United now had their own armoured knight on horseback and away teams had the option of bringing their own armoured knight and horse to respond to the pre match challenge. The opening match of the season saw Weymouth visit the Pilot Field and heavy rain both prior to the game and during the match prevented the horse from galloping on the pitch. Weymouth, who incidentally won 4-2, surprisingly did not bring an armoured knight and horse in the travelling party so the new Hastings mascot sat on his horse on the running track with rain pouring off his chainmail. He was never seen at the ground again. Rust in peace!
The third mascot seen at the Pilot Field is of course Leonard the Seagull. Research on the internet reveals the following information “The mascot of Hastings United is the wise bird Leonard the Seagull, who is majestic.” His background is aptly summarised by the Hastings Borough Council press release. “ Leonard the Seagull, Hastings Borough Council's feathered mascot, has been looking for a new home after being abandoned by the department that first adopted him. But luckily for Leonard, Hastings United football club took pity on the bird and offered him the prestigious position of official team mascot.  He will attend all home matches, parading the pitch and greeting the crowd before kick-off.  The team had been looking for a mascot for some time and thought Hastings’ most famous seagull would be a perfect companion for a seaside club.
Leonard headed up the Passport to Leisure scheme for more than five years and did a great job promoting the leisure discount scheme.  The time came, however, to drop Leonard and move on with the scheme, which has now transferred to Freedom Leisure (the Council’s leisure contractor).  Since his early retirement, Leonard has been waiting for a new job to come along and this one is just perfect.” 
Leonard made an immediate impact at the Pilot Field with his yellow prominent beak, light blue base ball hat and claret shirt and seemed to strike up a rapport with the Hotshots.
The Supporters club website confirms that Leonard is out and about and that courtesy of Fancy Pants of Bexhill “he is improved this season having had a good clean, but the womanising and chip stealing continues unfortunately.” There remain a number of unanswered questions in relation to Leonard if he is to compete with the memory of Gus Hunneman. Certainly scavenging behaviour is excusable as Seagulls are renowned for this but they are also able to fly over a thousand miles, so why is he absent from away matches? He is also not an ever present for home matches, so what is it that he does that keeps him from the Pilot Field? Has he found another team? I think that we need to be told.

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MrLiamWillis
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Simon Newstead is going to have a dig through the Observer photo archives for this knight, would you have even a rough idea of the date Bookworm?

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bookworm
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First home game of season in August 1967 versus Weymouth. Observer also featured the week before the fact that away teams would be challenged to bring their own knight and horse with them for pre match joust,
In these days players travel to away matches by cars.then we were thinking of coaches and horse boxes making the journey. That's progress

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As Pat says, what a shame we didn't take Gus's son up on his offer.....some of his accessories would have been an excellent centrepiece for a memorabilia display in the clubhouse. I'm sure someone must have a good colour picture of this great gentleman.
As for the 'rainy knight'...well what a bizarre idea ! Can't believe he only made one soggy appearance...obviously made a big impression on this ten year old.

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Surprised no-one seems to remember Harol the Hastings Hamster, who was the mascot in the late 70s/early 80s when I started watching United. He looked like a crusader (albeit a rodent one), with a tabard with the George Cross on it, and was meant to have come over on the "Hamsterdam". Am sure I have some old programmes at my parents house in Hastings with him on the cover so will try to get a pic. I am pretty sure I still have a poster of exactly that squad in the Poole programme, ah happy days. Chris Keys would come on for the last 10 minutes, which in fairness was probably all he could manage. I had such a major teenage crush on Ernie Batten, my mum did a painting of him and got him to sign it - I still have it!

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Radioheadjen wrote:

Surprised no-one seems to remember Harol the Hastings Hamster, who was the mascot in the late 70s/early 80s when I started watching United. He looked like a crusader (albeit a rodent one), with a tabard with the George Cross on it, and was meant to have come over on the "Hamsterdam". Am sure I have some old programmes at my parents house in Hastings with him on the cover so will try to get a pic. I am pretty sure I still have a poster of exactly that squad in the Poole programme, ah happy days. Chris Keys would come on for the last 10 minutes, which in fairness was probably all he could manage. I had such a major teenage crush on Ernie Batten, my mum did a painting of him and got him to sign it - I still have it!

 a hamster has still got to be better than that  6 inch half rat half bear that was being touted around the PF on Saturday . Mimin or something - seriously give me strength! 



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bookworm
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Whilst Harrol the hamster is remembered and revered he cannot be included in the same list as Gus, the Knight and the Seagull as the trio were alive whilst Harrol was inanimate and only appeared on posters and on the programme cover.
I do not believe that a lifeless entity can be a mascot, in the sAme way as a coat of arms could not possibly qualify.
We must not cheapen the role

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I of course defer to your greater knowledge - though in my head this hamster lived and breathed! Was he really never made flesh/fur??!!

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Radioheadjen wrote:

I of course defer to your greater knowledge - though in my head this hamster lived and breathed! Was he really never made flesh/fur??!!

 This is really serious stuff, if this keeps up it might appear on the front page of Sunday Sport (god help us)



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rev59
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Not that a man of the cloth would read such rubbish I hasten to add !

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Bandit
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Is This the Hamster we have all been talking about on the front cover of the 1980/81 Programme.004.jpg



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bookworm
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A welcome picture of the Hamster but probable confirmation that he is fictional and inaminate rather than living. Sorry to be blunt, but there is no other way to share this difficult truth. Even if living, the life span of a hamster is so short that he is unlikely still to be around, and would certainly fail to benefit from the club's brave concession strategy

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Roger Sinden
Radioheadjen
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Yep, I accept defeat. Also can see he was presumably a Norman invader rather than a crusader! But I was very young, the memory plays tricks!! Please don't shatter any more of my dreams though...next thing you'll be telling me that Matt Stock wasn't really a brain surgeon or Micky Westburgh a ballet dancer.

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rev59
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Or that the Programme was`nt really 10P !

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Windy
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image.jpgRadioheadjen wrote:

Yep, I accept defeat. Also can see he was presumably a Norman invader rather than a crusader! But I was very young, the memory plays tricks!! Please don't shatter any more of my dreams though...next thing you'll be telling me that Matt Stock wasn't really a brain surgeon or Micky Westburgh a ballet dancer.

 This'll make your day ....Courtesy of Lord Vernon Couchman.....apparently there are others around ...last seen watching Hampster & Richmond no doubt



-- Edited by Windy on Sunday 17th of November 2013 11:19:08 PM

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Windy
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image.jpgRadioheadjen wrote:

Yep, I accept defeat. Also can see he was presumably a Norman invader rather than a crusader! But I was very young, the memory plays tricks!! Please don't shatter any more of my dreams though...next thing you'll be telling me that Matt Stock wasn't really a brain surgeon or Micky Westburgh a ballet dancer.

 .... He  appeared on 3 different programmes  that we know of



-- Edited by Windy on Sunday 17th of November 2013 11:19:33 PM

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Windy
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DSC00634.JPGOf course this Hampster was actually called Harol not Harold ......but there was a Harold as well ,not too many years ago....last seen drunk in the club bar next to the inflatable sheep....if anybody knows of his whereabouts please can he be returned to his rightful owner...Sir Kev Towner



-- Edited by Windy on Sunday 17th of November 2013 11:20:00 PM

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rev59
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Pat.
I thank you from the bottom of my bathroom cabinet, that was totally awesome, and yes there was just a little tear in the corner of my eye,remembering a lot of people, but it was great being 14 again!
Thanks again

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Pat
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No problem at all Rev. I will be doing it one more time on Saturday for those who couldn't get there last night, so there's another chance to hear it

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Gooaaaalllllllll

 
maninboat
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Evening all

 

Continuing with Harol The Hamster here is one of the original version of him, notice he is a lot bigger the other one.

 

There are rumored to be hand puppets of him as well, does anybody have one?

 

Mark



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Lenny The Lion
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I'd be interested to see if we could get a few of Harol's and see if we could sell them in the club shop, any idea where or if you can buy them?

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Radioheadjen
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Windy, belated thanks for tracking down a picture of Harol! Also good to see the programmes from the early 80s, that was the fantastic team which I started watching as a teenager, will try to dig out my poster next time am at my parents' in Hastings (live in north London now).

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