gruffskyblue
Well-Known Member
No, but I’m glad you got to see the legend. What a crazy game that was today!
Tommy Hutchison Book (9 Viewers)
- Thread starter The Philosopher
- Start date
The Philosopher
Well-Known Member
Spoiler alert
Look away if you don’t want to read a spoiler of the book.
Never knew that Sillett offered him a player-coach role at 39. So that would have been 1986/7?
Look away if you don’t want to read a spoiler of the book.
Never knew that Sillett offered him a player-coach role at 39. So that would have been 1986/7?
Irish Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
It’s brilliant Gareth! Thank you very much!
Irish Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
Just to say anyone heading to the book signing at the Sphinx, we have a limited amount of books left after the weekend which was manic.
You can still come down and say say hello to Tommy and get a picture taken. If we do run out of books, you can order one from us and take a slip to Tommy to get your message written and then put it in your book when it arrives. (More books arriving tomorrow hopefully)
Books ordered on line through the link will be sent out this week.
Thank you to everyone who has bought a book.
You can still order through the link below but the books will not be signed.
Hutch' order form
You can still come down and say say hello to Tommy and get a picture taken. If we do run out of books, you can order one from us and take a slip to Tommy to get your message written and then put it in your book when it arrives. (More books arriving tomorrow hopefully)
Books ordered on line through the link will be sent out this week.
Thank you to everyone who has bought a book.
You can still order through the link below but the books will not be signed.
Hutch' order form
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Irish Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
Tommy will be down in Coventry again in Dec 7 with the Nuneaton and Bedworth Sky Blues Supporters Club and then with the Diamond Club on December 8. I will be able to get more signed copies then.
Irish Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
When Tommy met Barry!
Hutch and Barry Powell are reunited!
Hutch and Barry Powell are reunited!
Irish Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
Hadn’t seen each other for 25 years apparently
Irish Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
Apologies, this post is very long. However I have been so impressed by TH over the last few days that I felt I had to let others know the sort of person he is.
One of the things Tommy said to me when he was telling me his story was how delighted he was that Dennis Law, who was his footballing hero, turned out to not only a great footballer but more importantly, a really nice bloke.
I knew already from working with him over the past 13 months that Tommy was a good person. Even so, the past few days have emphasised this even more. Watching him interact with fans has been an eye opener. He refused no request. Autographs, photos conversations he did them all. His feeling is that if anyone has been good enough to come out and meet him then the least he can do is to give them his time. He is a real down to earth, humble chap.
On Friday it took him nine hours to get down from Fife to Coventry. He had no time to eat before he did an interview with CWR and then went on to do another 3 hours at the JagClub Q and A session.
Saturday started with him being picked up at 8am and finishing his last event in the Casino at 7:30 pm. The only break he had in that time was 20 minutes to eat his dinner( not enough time to finish it) and the chance to sit down when the game was on. This is a guy who is 75.
Where ever we went around the stadium he was respectfully mobbed by fans. In the club shop one chap in his 60s was so overcome to be meeting his hero that he was shaking, almost crying with emotion. Tommy was great with him.
On Sunday he travelled to Lincolnshire to stay with one of his sons. But on Monday morning he was back at the Sphinx Club for a session with the SBitC walking footballers. He phoned me as I was on the way there and I was thinking he was going to tell it was too much for him and that he wasn’t going to make it. I should have known better as he announced as I answered the phone, ‘Kevin, the eagle has landed!’
The walking football session was for me the best one of the weekend. The sense of excitement amongst the guys who play was clear to see and feel. That Tommy was there was exciting enough, but the fact he was going to play on the same pitch as them was even better. We had a full house of players there who were delighted when he took the mickey in a good natured way out of Dave Bennett. We had an impromptu chorus of ‘Oh Tommy, Tommy, Tommy, Tommy, Tommy, Tommy Hutchison.’
Despite not having kicked a ball for ten years, and quite a few heavy falls, he completed an hours football. He then spent over an hour meeting and chatting and signing books.
When all the guys had gone, he was Sat signing the few books we had left ready to send out to people who had bought online. The manager of the Sphinx came over to him and asked if he would speak to a friend of hers via FaceTime, an elderly man with terminal cancer who had been confined in doors since the outbreak of Covid.This chap was a big City and Tommy fan.
You could hear that this man was a bit annoyed that he was being asked to talk to someone that he thought he didn’t know, but when the lady turned the phone around, he was totally transformed when he saw who he was talking to. Tommy was fantastic, making this chap laugh and being totally at ease talking to him. Again this poor chap was in tears at the end, thrilled he’d been able to have a chat with Hutch. I have never seen someone who is so at ease talking to anyone and everyone and who has the knack of saying exactly the right thing.
We had a problem. Despite ordering extra books, we now only had a few left to send out to those who had ordered on line. We had more books arriving in Coventry the following day but these would be unsigned as Tommy returning to Fife that afternoon, couldn’t sign these and we had promised signed books.
The only solution that I could see was that I would take the recently arrived books up to Fife for him to sign. I didn’t tell him this until yesterday when he was back in Fife.
After a bit of discussion he agreed the books needed to be signed. He agreed that people needed to be given exactly what they had been promised and had paid for.However, he wouldn’t hear of me travelling all the way to Fife. So today, while I travelled up to Gretna from Coventry with six boxes of books. He travelled another 120 miles down from Fife. I have to say I was very grateful for this.
The upshot of this trip was that I saved five hours of travelling time and 240 miles of diesel but that tomorrow all the remaining signed copies of the book will be sent out or delivered. ( apologies for the slight delay). We also now have signed books for anyone else who wants one.
I had a phone call while we were signing books today from someone in Coventry who owns a memorabilia shop asking if Tommy would sign some prints of himself for which he would be paid. I gave the phone to Tommy and once he had established the guy was selling these things, told him he didn’t want any money but he was to give what he was going to be paid to a charity of his choice.
Tommy was delighted that his hero Dennis Law was a great person as well as a great footballer. Well, I have to say I feel exactly the same!
One of the things Tommy said to me when he was telling me his story was how delighted he was that Dennis Law, who was his footballing hero, turned out to not only a great footballer but more importantly, a really nice bloke.
I knew already from working with him over the past 13 months that Tommy was a good person. Even so, the past few days have emphasised this even more. Watching him interact with fans has been an eye opener. He refused no request. Autographs, photos conversations he did them all. His feeling is that if anyone has been good enough to come out and meet him then the least he can do is to give them his time. He is a real down to earth, humble chap.
On Friday it took him nine hours to get down from Fife to Coventry. He had no time to eat before he did an interview with CWR and then went on to do another 3 hours at the JagClub Q and A session.
Saturday started with him being picked up at 8am and finishing his last event in the Casino at 7:30 pm. The only break he had in that time was 20 minutes to eat his dinner( not enough time to finish it) and the chance to sit down when the game was on. This is a guy who is 75.
Where ever we went around the stadium he was respectfully mobbed by fans. In the club shop one chap in his 60s was so overcome to be meeting his hero that he was shaking, almost crying with emotion. Tommy was great with him.
On Sunday he travelled to Lincolnshire to stay with one of his sons. But on Monday morning he was back at the Sphinx Club for a session with the SBitC walking footballers. He phoned me as I was on the way there and I was thinking he was going to tell it was too much for him and that he wasn’t going to make it. I should have known better as he announced as I answered the phone, ‘Kevin, the eagle has landed!’
The walking football session was for me the best one of the weekend. The sense of excitement amongst the guys who play was clear to see and feel. That Tommy was there was exciting enough, but the fact he was going to play on the same pitch as them was even better. We had a full house of players there who were delighted when he took the mickey in a good natured way out of Dave Bennett. We had an impromptu chorus of ‘Oh Tommy, Tommy, Tommy, Tommy, Tommy, Tommy Hutchison.’
Despite not having kicked a ball for ten years, and quite a few heavy falls, he completed an hours football. He then spent over an hour meeting and chatting and signing books.
When all the guys had gone, he was Sat signing the few books we had left ready to send out to people who had bought online. The manager of the Sphinx came over to him and asked if he would speak to a friend of hers via FaceTime, an elderly man with terminal cancer who had been confined in doors since the outbreak of Covid.This chap was a big City and Tommy fan.
You could hear that this man was a bit annoyed that he was being asked to talk to someone that he thought he didn’t know, but when the lady turned the phone around, he was totally transformed when he saw who he was talking to. Tommy was fantastic, making this chap laugh and being totally at ease talking to him. Again this poor chap was in tears at the end, thrilled he’d been able to have a chat with Hutch. I have never seen someone who is so at ease talking to anyone and everyone and who has the knack of saying exactly the right thing.
We had a problem. Despite ordering extra books, we now only had a few left to send out to those who had ordered on line. We had more books arriving in Coventry the following day but these would be unsigned as Tommy returning to Fife that afternoon, couldn’t sign these and we had promised signed books.
The only solution that I could see was that I would take the recently arrived books up to Fife for him to sign. I didn’t tell him this until yesterday when he was back in Fife.
After a bit of discussion he agreed the books needed to be signed. He agreed that people needed to be given exactly what they had been promised and had paid for.However, he wouldn’t hear of me travelling all the way to Fife. So today, while I travelled up to Gretna from Coventry with six boxes of books. He travelled another 120 miles down from Fife. I have to say I was very grateful for this.
The upshot of this trip was that I saved five hours of travelling time and 240 miles of diesel but that tomorrow all the remaining signed copies of the book will be sent out or delivered. ( apologies for the slight delay). We also now have signed books for anyone else who wants one.
I had a phone call while we were signing books today from someone in Coventry who owns a memorabilia shop asking if Tommy would sign some prints of himself for which he would be paid. I gave the phone to Tommy and once he had established the guy was selling these things, told him he didn’t want any money but he was to give what he was going to be paid to a charity of his choice.
Tommy was delighted that his hero Dennis Law was a great person as well as a great footballer. Well, I have to say I feel exactly the same!
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Johhny Blue
Well-Known Member
The legend, the player, the hero, the gentleman. We love you Tommy
Peter Billing Eyes
Well-Known Member
Tommy Hutchison, the reason for me why the team of the late 70’s should always be regarded as the best ever. Gutted when him and Bobby McDonald left for Manchester City.
ovduk78
Well-Known Member
Is Tommy still in touch with Colin Stein, maybe through CCFCFPA? I was talking to a Hibs fan at work about how we bought them both at the same time & he was telling me that Stein also played for Hibs and was alive & kicking and now living in Linlithgow & he knows where he lives.
Irish Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
He is still in touch with Colin Stein. I think Colin is a match day host at Rangers where he is a true legend for their fans. I think they see each other occasionally. I know Hutch also meets up sometimes with Roy Barry.
Nick
Administrator
Love that!
NortonSkyBlue
Well-Known Member
You know my opinion of the player and I am really delighted that the man is the equal of the player. Was Tommy aware of the reception that awaited him and did he receive a warm response from the Blackpool fans of a certain vintage?
Johhny Blue
Well-Known Member
Hope he wears his shin pads
Didi1987
New Member
How can i get a signed copy please
Irish Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
If you read the book you will know th
If you go to the link below, you can order a signed copy.
Hutch' order form
Johhny Blue
Well-Known Member
Do you have an ear at the club? Any chance they could offer Tommy a one day contract so he could retire with us?
Irish Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
That was meant to say, if you read the book you’ll know why he never wore shin pads.
His sister bought him a pair of shin pads when he was at Dundonald Bluebell. However his legs were so thin that the pads didn’t fit.
If I could ‘like’ this 10 times…
Arrived back in Cov yesterday to my dad holding a small brown packet which had just arrived in the morning. Perfect timing @Irish Sky Blue thanks so much and based on what I’ve read above, I can’t wait to get stuck in. Takes care of what to do on my long flight home next week!
As an aside, heard a snippet from the Denis Mortimer interview in CWR last night. Love listening to these legends.
As an aside, heard a snippet from the Denis Mortimer interview in CWR last night. Love listening to these legends.
GIMOC
Well-Known Member
@Irish Sky Blue thanks for dropping off mate. Much appreciated
olderskyblue
Well-Known Member
Irish Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
Thanks! Just needed to get them delivered after the delay caused by running out of books.
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ovduk78
Well-Known Member
When I got back from game yesterday my book had arrived although it was addressed to Kevin Shannon
Irish Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
That’s the consequence of having the same first name as me!When I got back from game yesterday my book had arrived although it was addressed to Kevin Shannon
Thanks for buying the book
North York’s Blue
Well-Known Member
Finally finished reading the book last week, one of the best I‘ve read for some time. 
Danceswithhorses
Well-Known Member
Broke my young heart
Irish Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
Thank you, it’s kind of you to say that. It would be useful, if you had the time, to leave a review on Amazon as this helps sales so the publisher has told me.Finally finished reading the book last week, one of the best I‘ve read for some time.