rickster wrote:
The stobarts sponsorship was just one of many crazy decisions taken and probably initiated by Wood. From naming our club "blue sox " to having coaches pick , having a challenge cup draw at the top of Emley Moor , scrapping p and r etc etc . He and the top end of the game seem to think having gimmicks and different crazy ideas are the way forward and to get publicity that will make rugby league better .
There's a funny story doing the rounds with regards to the Emley mast challenge cup draw stunt, & it's a true story too.
Ex referee Billy Thompson, Huddersfield chappie & well known on the sportsmans dinner circuit amongst other things was invited to be one of the silky bag dippers on that occassion. On the day in question, it happened to be rather poor weather conditions & things weren't exactly going to schedule & our man "Thommo" wasn't exactly comfortable with heights by his own admissions. Anyway, after much faffing about & generally falling behind time they get all the dignitaries & camera crew etc to the top of the mast via the lifts inside the monstosity of a tower when Thommo throws a spanner in the works & reveals he's left his spectacles in his car, which obviously is on the car park many metres below & he insists that he needs them to continue, so off he toddles back down in the rickety-rackety lift, enhancing & multiplying his fear of heights once again on the way down to retrieve them before making himself available again to continue in his role correctly. There was some sort of bull£hit excuse given at the time like "poor reception due to adverse weather conditions" when they were actually at the best point in the district for receiving a signal. True story.....
Anyone who's ever been in the legend Billy Thomson's company may very well be able to relate to his behaviour
lovely fellow though & fantastic referee, took no crap from anyone. Or was that the police horse escort from the pitch to dressing rooms at Odsal story ????
