Back in the day professional footballers at the top level were like you and me. Don’t get me wrong they were still paid more than the average bloke on the street but they were still accessible to the public unlike the multi millionaire superstars of todays game whose involvement with the fans seems limited to a few hurried autographs signed after the game and in the odd exception a Twitter account.
Steve Whitton, a local lad, had been a summer signing from Coventry City in 1983 and this was a dream move for him to play for the club that he had supported as a boy.
And for a brief period, circa 1983-85, I was able to go to work on a Monday morning and talk about Saturday nights with my mate Steve.
You see after a home game, and as I recall a few of the more local away games too, Mr Whitton was a frequent visitor to the Hammers pub in East Ham. A small, friendly and traditional East End boozer opposite the Town Hall and East Ham baths.
Steve would be stood at the bar with what would be described as a motley collection of supporters and aquaintances all eager for news of that afternoons game, or some insider information which they could advise their mates the next day. Such snippets were rarely forthcoming! I referred to him as a mate although it was unlikely he would have recalled any conversation between us but such details were unimportant to me at that time.
This you see was before the technology driven era we live in today. It was a time when we relied on newspapers and the lunchtime or evening news on television for news of our team. And so to be able to stand in the presence of one of the team and offer our opinions and glean some information not yet mainstream was a luxury that few would experience.
As I recall Steve was able to supplement his wages with pints bought for him from us fans and I cant actually recall a pint being bought back in return! But we didn`t care. We were young fellas spending time in the presence of one of our own. And if he wanted a pint and packet of Pork Scratchings from our hard earned wage then that would be what he would get.
Sadly his visits to the pub began to dwindle as time went by. And for us locals we were left with the memories of spending time with one of our heroes. Personally it was a great time to be growing up and for all things claret and blue. An exciting team to watch on match days and for that brief period time with one of that team.
And of course empty pockets after a night out – with my mate Steve!
