Shirty

[4evaowl]

Was a good young player when he broke through to the first team but came back from Charlton an even better player - certainly a player who got better with age. Excellent in the 1991 League Cup Final.

[@owlstalk]

 

 

 

Zero ego too

[Guest Garryswfcowl72]

10 hours ago, goldensmoke said:

Shirty was a magnificent defender. Now all this time on in the 2020s, it’s 30-45 years ago we’re talking, you can see the timespan of his incredible career with us.

Other than going away to Charlton in 86 then to return in 89, that period from 1979-1993 was the rise of SWFC and he was synonymous with it. That was my young life from age 9 to 23 and it’s clear now was the greatest era in the last 50 years for Wednesday. For that association alone I love him. 
 

I remember seeing him against Watford at home in 78-79 and at the end against Liverpool in the amazing Spring of 1993, when I think he got injured. 

 

I don’t remember him ever putting a foot wrong, he must have done but I don’t recall.To play in 270 games under the 3 great Wednesday managers of my lifetime is incredible. Most of Jack Charlton, the best of Wilkinson and bar the end of 88-89, all of Atkinson. Then the best of Francis, Good things happened when Shirty was around. 
 

Yet he didn’t play in anything like the number of games he could have done. Wasn’t in the 79-80 promotion team much, didn’t play in the 83 FA Cup semi Final and much of that era. Was allowed to leave in 86 but not to a bigger club. No fanfare when we signed him back for £500k in 89. That all seems odd now.

 

I would rank Shirtliff as one of our finest ever defenders. And if you’re too young to have seen him play, watch the 91 League Cup Final. The slow motion sequences of him and Pearson up against Hughes and the rest epitomise the man he was. 
 

Now in the fullness of time, it’s really true, he was underrated. I’d have him in that mural instead of Des Walker. 
 

Thanks for the memories Shirty.
 

 

 

Instead of Walker lol 

[sexpistol]

I always preferred him as a player to Pearson.

[sexpistol]

5 minutes ago, Garryswfcowl72 said:

Instead of Walker

I liked Shirty but I had to gasp at the comment regarding Walker.

[Screen Door Slams]

Great centre half for us who rarely dropped below 7/10.

 

Not much fanfare when Big Ron re-signed him for us but I was delighted as I never wanted him to leave in the first place , and Ron himself said it was a "no brainer" to bring him back for the price we paid.

 

Should have won MOTM for the league cup final win as he was faultless but Pearson was a bit of a media darling at the time.