Superfan - comp winner

The winner of this here book competition for The Amazing life of Morris Keston goes to lilywhite73 for this wonderful winning anecdote.

I used to work at the old training ground in mill hill, I was 16. One day I was told (by Chris Houghton I think) that there was a phone call for me and that I could take it in the managers office, as I walked in there was Terry Venables, Doug Livermore, Ray Clemence and the rest of the management team all chatting away. Obviously I felt out of place and extremley apologetic for not only getting a call at work, but also having to bother the management in the process. Anyway, I picked up the phone ( on Terry's desk!) and this guy on the line started to tell me how he'd see me about, and how he'd like to meet up. I was mortified! I was in a room with footballing greats and some bloke I'd never met was trying to chat me up!! Being quite a shy bloke back then, and seeing who was in the room, I was trying my best to get this guy off the phone without giving away the gist of the conversation to everyone else. Then I happened to glance over at Terry and I saw something, a cheeky glint if you will, in his eyes. Then it clicked. It was one of those voice activated phone jokes! The fuckers were winding me up!! Terry knew i'd susssed it and he pissed himself, big time, so did everyone else. By this time I was bright red, but smiling. I politely told them all they were bastards and they could now fuck right off, which only made them laugh more. that was a great day!

COYS
May 2, 2010 at 7:29 PM | lilywhite73

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The Amazing Life of Morris Keston - Win the book

Happy Birthday DML. Three years today. Look, I'm not much good at big speeches, and I know I haven't always been an easy guy to get on with. And I know that, given the choice, I probably wouldn't have chosen you as friends. But, I just want to say... that over the years... I have come to regard you... as... people... I met.

So, er, to celebrate this momentous occasion and the countless court injunctions and community service served stalking Daniel Levy, it's competition time. Nope, sadly I won't be giving away Chirpy's head (it's exhibit 4 I'm afraid) but I've got something better. Superfan: The Amazing Life of Morris Keston.

Get on this. Cracking read for several reasons. If you don't know who this esteemed Spurs fan is (he's only missed two games in 70 years - beat that) then you've probably never read The Glory Game (shame on you). He's got a chapter to himself in that classic, and now we have the pleasure of reading his stories and anecdotes in this essential publication.

Morris, bless him, befriended Spurs players by following them around, sitting next to them on the bus (the irony being that later on the players chased him around and wanted to befriend him). I've tried that myself, although, obviously Spurs players no longer use buses, and it's a bit difficult to explain to a modern day footballer what you're doing laying across the back seat of their car or welcoming them into their own home whilst sat on their sofa.

There's nothing quaint and innocent about modern day football I'm afraid. What this book illustrates best is a chapter in time when things were a little more accessible. Not that Morris and company didn't know how to party. 60's being the 60's. And to think he even flirted with the position of chairman at WHL.

And if the glory days and the World Cup is not enough for you, add Muhammad Ali and Sinatra to the mix. Yes, Morris Keston. Businessman. Fund-raiser. Spurs fan. Massive personality. Story-teller. Just like our beloved club, never a dull moment.

Damn it, imagine how good his blog would have been had the internet been around back then? But don't fret, this is the next best thing.

So, I'm thinking rather than a caption competition we try 'best footballing anecdote'. Doesn't have to be something related to you having met someone famous within the game, but I'm sure all of you have a story to tell yourselves having gone to the Lane and beyond in your lifetimes.

So post your entry in the comments section. I'll let it run for a week, then announce the winner and get the book sent out. Good luck.

COYS.

Superfan is published by Vision Sports Publishing on the 3rd May 2010, RRP £12.99.

Morris Keston on Twitter.