Pat Bateman wrote:
I was in a pub with my dad a couple of years back having food when Ian Brooke and neil fox walked in with their partners. I’m in my early 30’s but recognised both obviously straight away as both are legends of the club. I went over to grab there autographs for my dad as we were leaving and Ian Brooke was like “you won’t know my name” he seemed humbled a younger generation fan knew who he was. Genuine superstars in their own right and what great people to boot.
When I first started watching Trinity in 1988 I had very little idea who anyone was apart from the current team. I wasn’t long before people pointed out Neil Fox and some other bloke sat with him. I think Fox registered because even then he still looked like he could play a game, he had an aura.
The other guy didn’t, he looked more like a teacher or a bank clerk, he just did. This was if you recall the era when the first giant Aussie/Kiwi centres were appearing in our game.
Over the years the jigsaw of that era started to piece together and I found out he was Ian Brooke. What I recall is that people who watched that great team were very quick to point out that although Foxy was the star Brooke wasn’t far behind especially in their affections.
Takes some doing to be that well remembered and thought of when you had the finest centre of all time as your partner.
Two really nice approachable men who love the game and given a lot back. If the stadium rebuild happens I sincerely hope both of those men will still be around and I will enjoy watching them be the first to take there seats. They deserve it, not for playing but for hanging around afterwards for 40 years in a glorified bus shelter watching on occasions some pretty poor performances.