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Gil Merrick

I used to stand behind the goals Tilton Rd. end, in the late 40s early 50s when Gill Merrick was Blues greatest ever goalie, and Jacky Wheeler was the reserve goalie, used to go every week then, first team one week , reserves the next. Gill Merrick has lived in Shirley for years, and still does I believe,
 
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Gill Merrick is signing his book at W.H.Smiths, Mell Square next week not sure of the date, he only missed 3 games at Bham City and it was injury
opening a tin of Salmon at home and he cut his thumb. Len.
 
I sat just a few yards from Gil today at the game. Still recognisable without a moustache. Looks in good shape for 87 too! Received his book from Amazon last week. A good read - especially the revelations about his sacking.

I bought his first book 'I See It All' in 1954 and still have it somewhere. I bought a second copy in 1956 for my mate in Manchester, a Man City fan. He reciprocated by sending me a copy of Bert Trautmann's autobiograhy, 'Steppes To Wembley'. Also have a photo of Gil and Bert together on the pitch at Wembley, signed by both.

Pity he wasn't in goal today! :-)
 
Icarus, Could you put your put your photos on the thread please?, i bought Gills book "I See It All" the copy i had was before it was withdrawn after a complaint from Trevor Ford to a reference about him, the book can not be found now sorry to say. Len.
 
[ame="https://www.amazon.co.uk/I-See-All-Gil-Merrick/dp/B001W65FSI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1240738286&sr=8-2"]I See It All: Gil Merrick: Amazon.co.uk: Books[/ame]

odd copies still come up for sale
 
Gil was one of my favourite players and a great keeper,when he played for England in 1953 i think they played Hungary at wembley and lost 6-3 Puskas got a hat trick Billy Wright was centre half the smallest center half England ever had and Gil said that he could not see Puskas coming because Wright was always in the way,i did not rate Billy Wright one bit

Mossy
 
dwilly said:
https://www.bcfc.com/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10412~1639014,00.html

Blues will rename the Railway Stand the Gil Merrick Stand for the start of the 2009/10 season. Any memories from any members for those of us too young to remember when he played/managed down the Blues.
Click to expand...

Gilbert Merrick

The first football match I ever saw was around '52, '53.
Blues were playing West Brom at St. Andrews andI was in the Railway Stand, which I think was called then, the Tipton Road Stand.
Smoke not withstanding.
West Brom won, about 5 something, Ronnie Allen scored a goal with an amazing over head kick from about 10 yards with his back to Gil Merrick.

Gil Merrick with his pencil moustache and P B H May with his plastered down hair, were my heros.
Gil, was made I think a scapegoat for the two losses to Hungary in 53 and 54, which was ludicrous, when the whole England team was totally out played by one of the finest football teams that has ever played.
I remember a film clip on the BBC, it could have been Puskas [or Hidegkuti] running at full pelt toward the England goal with Billy Wright in tow.
Puskas just stopped dead, Billy Wrights legs went into full reverse but his momentum carried him off into the spectators behind the England goal.
From 20 yards Puskas blasted the ball passed Gil into the goal.
England were simply out classed at every level, but Gil paid the price.

I never felt happier than when I saw G. Merrick in his yellow jersey turn out as the Birmingham City goalkeeper.

ladywood
 
Ladywood when i was a kid iused to go the blues matches with my older brother and i can only remember Gil with a green top on not yellow


Mossy
 
Mossy said:
Ladywood when i was a kid iused to go the blues matches with my older brother and i can only remember Gil with a green top on not yellow


Mossy
Click to expand...

Yes he did wear a green jersey, perhaps the yellow was when he played for England.
I never saw him play for England, but in my head I remember him at least once in yellow.

Ladywood
 
Ladywood i think you are right about the yellow one when he played for England

Off topic which part of Ladwood are you from i am fom Shakespeare Rd 1947 -1963

Mossy
 
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgOs_m5bXCs"]YouTube - England - Hungary 3:6 1953. november 25[/ame]

not his best memories I would guess!
 
lencops said:
Gill Merrick is signing his book at W.H.Smiths, Mell Square next week not sure of the date, he only missed 3 games at Bham City and it was injury
opening a tin of Salmon at home and he cut his thumb. Len.
Click to expand...
I phoned Smiths in Mell Sq. and he was there yesterday but they still have some signed copies left for sale.
 
I too used watch Gil Merrick week after week in the late
1940s and I think he was of greatest keepers I ever saw.He very unlucky as far as England was concerned,at
least at St Andrews he had Arther Turner in front of him.


You take a horse to water but a pencil must be lead!!
 
Gil was a great goalkeeper and at his best would even shine today. I think that by the time he was chosen for England he may have been past his best playing days but maybe I am wrong. The team that I remember best was Gil, Len Boyd, Smith/Newman, Warhurst, Astall, Murphy, Eddy Brown, Noel Kinsey, Govan/Jackie Stewart. The full backs slip my memory at the moment...one was also capped and sadly died of cancer at a very young age. I can't remember the left back in that team but Jack Badham was in from time to time. Gosh it all seems like yesterday. Johny Schofield was back/up to Gil in goal and was also very good but I think he was injured badly one time which may have affected his performance. I used to prefer the stand...about half way up at about midfield. Yeah of course Geof. Hall. Now who played left back on that team...hmmm. Was it Ken...Got it Green.
 
I know this thread is about Gil. but there was other great talent on the above team. The dour looking Len Boyd was a tower of strength in mid field and I remember him scoring the winning goal by sheer willpower in the dying seconds of the win that elevated them to the first division I think. Who could not remember the shear football artistry of Warhurst. His flick of the ball up over the closely attending opposition players head and quick run around and tear off back up the field was legendary amongst my friends and performed often on the field. Trevor Smith at centrehalf was a very good and stylish player at the time and though he became the regular centrehalf the man he replaced Newman was by no means second class and always delighted with a steady performance. Those were the days.
 
I've got a couple of old photos given to me by Alex Govan (I stay in touch with him) but they're up in the loft. As it's pouring here I'll get up there and sort them out this afternoon.
 
Rupert,

Len Boyd was a very good half back but he let the Blues down very badly at the 1956 cup final. He declared himself fit when he obviously was not and he struggled throughout the game. They lost 3-1.

There were no substitutes in those days.

Old Boy
 
Thanks David. It's a pity he did that Old Boy. I am sure that Newman would have been able to fill that position with credit. I take it Trevor Smith was playing that day. Ah well, it's all water under the bridge...over the wheel...er..through the leat now. This forum gets to you. Len deserved a medal for his services to the team but still. Yeah, no substitutes; what a pity.
Rupert
 
I knew Roy Warhurst when he had a scrap yard in Aston Church Rd he spent his last days living with his dog in a carvan how sad was that but he was always happy,and what a brilliant foot baller oh and yes the caravan was on the scrap site R I P Roy

Mossy
 
was thinking that you wouldn't see premier league footballers living like that these days, but then thinking about it they rise much higher these days, monetary wise, but the fall is greater, Gazza for one, One thing that is noticeable is that in "them days" it seems it was local lads playing for local teams, and they stayed local, my mother-in-law was telling me that when Gil Merrick finished he ran an antique shop in the green that was sold onto an ex-Villa player.
 
Dwilly you mention '' the green'' which green are you refering to

Mossy
 
Oh gosh Mossy, that has ruined my day. I lived very close to there in the old days and yes he was a super footballer and a very clean player.
 
Yes Rupert he was always round Nechells and when the kids were playing football in the street he used to join in and let me tell you he still had it,he was a smashing bloke

He told me a story when blues were in the Inter City Fairs Cup and they were in Italy or some where like that and they were all sat outside some cafe and Eddy Brown came walking down the street with a lady on each arm they were ladys of the night LOL

Mossy
 
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