ony Hately, who has died aged 72, was the archetypal “big lad up front” of English football, making his mark at Chelsea and Liverpool among many other clubs.
He was highly effective in the air, notably for Notts County, for whom he became the first player to score 100 goals. Such was his prowess off the ground that both Chelsea and Liverpool broke their transfer records to sign him; at ground level, however, Hateley was considerably less effective. At Liverpool he was cited as the subject of two of Bill Shankly’s (possibly apocryphal) one-liners. The first came after Hateley suffered a head injury and the physio reported that “he doesn’t know who he is” – to which Shankly responded: “Tell him he’s Pele.”
The second came after the Chelsea manager Tommy Docherty (who had sold Hateley to Liverpool) defended the player’s performances with the line: “You have to admit, Bill, he was good in the air”; Shankly supposedly replied: “Aye, so was Douglas Bader, and he had a wooden leg.”
Inot sure how many of the forum readers remember him, R.I.P TONY
Many people on the forum will have a broader take on sporting matters. I remember Tony Hateley well-he was a free scoring old fashioned centre forward of the type we used to see and cheer at our local soccer venues. The news of his death is another stark reminder of how all our heroes will fade and die as we shall ourselves.It's a human interest angle filled with a certain poignancy. I feel a similar pang when the great pop idols of my youth age and pass on. Thank goodness we're not all as narrow minded as you.
Many people on the forum will have a broader take on sporting matters.I remember Tony Hateley well-he was a free scoring old fashioned centre forward of the type we used to see and cheer at our local soccer venues. The news of his death is another st
Sorry to hear of his death , but in reality he would not be on anyones super footballers list ( neither would his son) . In 1966 he would have been 24 or 25 , not sure if he was near getting in that squad . Just remember him as a " bustling type " centre forward which was largely the style up to then . Good header of a ball as chronicled above , that was his main asset . Bobby Charlton was playing centre forward then , no one else would get a look in against him selection or playing wise .
Sorry to hear of his death , but in reality he would not be on anyones super footballers list ( neither would his son) . In 1966 he would have been 24 or 25 , not sure if he was near getting in that squad . Just remember him as a " bustling type " c