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Teslim ‘Thunder’ Balogun: What Nigerians never knew about him, exploits home and abroad
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By Hon (Barr) Femi Kehinde
In this season of an omie and atrophy, it is better to remember with fondest and affectionate memory those people who had made us happy, and had impacted into our lives and essence, through their God given talents.
Tesilimi Olawale Ayinde Balogun was one. He lived a 45 years that was laced and filled with soccer. After all, the Nigerian firmament is replete with stories of unsung heroes in commerce, politics, law, enterprise, education, sports, medicine, traditional institutions and so on.
The Watford Observer has again teamed up with its friends at The Watford Treasury to share stories from previous issues.
David Harrison recalls Cliff Holton, a man who really was entitled to be called a true Watford great You’ll need to bear with me. This is a tricky assignment. I’m in no doubt I collected the Big Fella brief as the only member of the Treasury editorial group old enough to have seen Cliff Holton in his prime. And yes, I saw him play on a good few occasions. Probably 20-odd times while in his majestic pomp and another half-dozen or so when he returned, for a six-month cameo, at the twilight of his career. By then Cliff was 36, a little thicker around the midriff and, while still a prolific scorer, no longer the player he’d been five years earlier.
Big-hearted World Cup goalkeeper remembered
It is ten years since we lost talented World Cup goalkeeper Norman Uprichard, a crowd pleaser and entertainer of the highest order.
Thursday, 28th January 2021, 5:40 pm
Portsmouth Football Club players and fans joined in a minute’s applause at Fratton Park on February 5, 2011, after Norman suffered a massive stroke and died on January 30, 2011, at the age of 82.
At 5ft 9in tall, Norman was a small goalkeeper but he had a big heart and won the crowds’ admiration for his bravery.
Norman represented his native Northern Ireland 18 times during a successful career which saw him play 182 times for Portsmouth and 73 games at Swindon Town, before he settled in Hastings.