Top 5 Toughest Wednesday Players

[Elvin Parsnip]

Reda is a bit of a wimp at times - Karl robinson incident and that throw in on Sunday. Iknow he was trying to get the opposition booked etc but cant imagine Pearson doing that sort of thing.

[acquiescefc]

Zico

[steelowl]

As people have mentioned Megson Lyons and Mobley couple more to throw in the Mix

Derek Dooley -saw him every other week in the development office which was a shed in them days . My old man used to tell tales of him smashing his way thro defences. For his day a big hard barsteward the like we'll never see again

+

one of my favs was Alan Warboys once saw him do a swan dive heading the Kop goalpost the bugger was still shaking 5 mins later

[Guest Stereophonics]

Recent players, Rob Jones and Semedo

[Guest Buxtonian]

Without doubt it's got to be Norman Curtis. Only time I ever saw him fail to rise immediately after a tackle was when he suffered a broken leg.

Don't forget, though, we had a Goalkeeper who always held his own.- Ron Springett.

I well remember Owls v leeds once. leeds had a corner and 'tough man' Jack Charlton came and stood immediately in front of Springett. Swanny came over to try and balance the threat. The corner came across into the 6 yard area. There was a yell wich could be heard around the ground - 'Mine!!!' When Springett came out of the melee with the ball, he left Charlton in the back of one corner of the net, and Swanny in the other. Springett 'bossed' the 6 yard box like no one else, and wasn't afraid to physically shift or trample his own defenders if he went for the ball.

[owler66]

Didn't Andy Pearce once threaten Vinnie Jones down at their place? Vinne locked himself in changing rooms. Damn. Where is that story?

Edit. Found it.

Wimbledon versus Sheffield Wednesday.

Picture the scene.

A midfield 'battle' has developed between the young Graham Hyde of Wednesday and Vinnie Jones of Wimbledon's Crazy Gang. Turf flying in the heat of battle as the clash unfolds.

The event was a mis-match if ever there was one. The diminutive frame of the young Hyde up against the self proclaimed hardman of football, Vinnie Jones.

As the game drew to a close, it was clear that hardman Vinnie had become the victor of the day. The youngster Hyde was kicked and bruised, bitten and scratched. Vinnie was then to announce on the field that he was going to "knock Hyde's teeth out in the tunnel after the game."

Now it is time to bring to the fold a certain Andy Pearce. A real cult hero of a man. The real fans' player, not at all blessed with skill but the kind of player who had the East Bank faithful's admiration after every shift. Good or bad, you just knew Pearce had put everything into it.

The Bradford-on-Avon product stood a menacing 6'5" tall, a former hod carrier in the building trade, covered in tatoos, long flowing locks and hard as nails. Pearce was not a man to be taken lightly. He would not have looked out of place in a rowdy working man's club on a drunken Friday evening. You could say not your typical gentleman central defender of yesteryear.

Now back to the event.

Pearce, looking out for one of his own was rather upset by Jones' uncalled for threats and was going to stick up for his team mate. So, after the game an annoyed Pearce went to knock on the Wimbledon changing room door to have a quiet word with Vinnie. The door was quickly bolted shut and Vinnie refused to come out and chat with Pearce. Nobody else from the Crazy Gang was eager to open it either.

This was red rag to a bull to Pearce who then started banging on the door, shouting for Vinnie to get himself out and explain himself. At this point it was clear that the attention had been diverted to this little episode, media and officials from both teams gathered around as the warrior like Pearce kicked open the door, lunging forward into enemy territory Pearce had to be held back from the cowering and rather sheepish looking Jones by a good number of brave and hardy men.

Hardman of football?

He lost his crown that day.

Andy Pearce. The last of a generation of old school, down the pub footballer.

i remember when pearce played for coventry him and hirst squaring up not for the faint hearted.

[Himble]

Bywater

[fatzooma]

Bullen

[full fathom five]

Ryan Jones one of hardest midfielders i have seen

i remember Ryan Jones absolutely smashing Vinnie Jones at Hillsborough early on and he continued to bully Vinnie all the game and he was only about 20 at the time.

A real warrior of a midfielder and such a shame his career was cut short by injury.

[full fathom five]

Mick Lyons - hardest player ive ever seen anywhere!!!

David Hirst - no respect to anyones reputation, even as a youngster. The toughest defenders new they had had a game when Hirsty was about!

Tony Cunningham - a tough illegitimate

Nigel Pearson - captain courageous

Viv Anderson - always went in where it hurts even at though he was coming to the end of his career.

Lee Chapman - brave, always put his head in even when the boots were flying.

Mel Sterland - always fought his own and team mates corner.

Reda - going to be a legend.