Tommy Hutchison Book (9 Viewers)

[Irish Sky Blue]

I thought I would place another extract from the book here just to keep the thread ticking along.

Tommy played with many legendary football characters during his career. In the excerpt below he tells the story of lining up alongside George Curtis in a friendly charity match at Lichfield City. George showed those in attendance that he didn’t do friendlies.


“Just before we went out on the pitch before the game, Ron Wylie told us that Trevor Francis had turned up to play for the all-stars team and was going off after the game to join up with the England squad. We were to be particularly careful around Trevor as England needed him in one piece.
Well, the game began at the usual slow pace, typical of games like this. When I got the ball, I would take on and try to beat my full-back in just the same way I did in any other game. Trevor Francis was up for taking on our defence too. The first time he got the ball he was racing through when George Curtis tripped him up and brought him down. This brought Ron to the touchline and he shouted, ‘George, remember what we said, take it easy.’ George gave him a cheery wave.”

If you want to know what state Trevor was in by the end of the game, read the book!

Excerpt From
Hutch, Hard Work and Belief
Tommy Hutchison and Kevin Shannon
This material may be protected by copyright.

If you would like to buy the book please click on the link below.

Hutch' order form

 

---

[Torquay Sky Blue]

Don’t want to be too pedantic but you’re only close on that one too. His name is John O’ Rourke

How about "You're going home in a fucking ambulance " is that close enough

 

[Stafford_SkBlue]

I remember working a few months in Cardiff, I think 1996, anyway picked up a local paper in the office one lunch time and Tommy was mentioned in the sports page playing for a non league side in S Wales, quick calculation said he must be well into for forties at the time - a True Legend.

 

[Irish Sky Blue]

I remember working a few months in Cardiff, I think 1996, anyway picked up a local paper in the office one lunch time and Tommy was mentioned in the sports page playing for a non league side in S Wales, quick calculation said he must be well into for forties at the time - a True Legend.

He played three seasons for Merthyr Tydfil after leaving Swansea

 

[GIMOC]

Purchase the book through your link @Irish Sky Blue keep us up on the Jag Club night please mate

 

[CDK]

Me too. Hutch's debut and Colin Stein's home debut.

Tony Book would have been sent off about 7 or 8 times on today's referring standards, for his somewhat cynical attempts to stop Hutch taking him apart.

What away to announce yourselves hutch for a tall player genius with the ball and true city legend,also was a big fan of Colin stien .

 

[Irish Sky Blue]

Many of you have mentioned being at Tommy’s debut for the club, a 3-2 win over Man City. Joe Mercer and Gordon Milne had taken over as managers in the close season and were dubbed the “M Men” by the Telegraph. Mercer had left Man City at the end of the previous season, refusing to be ‘moved upstairs’ as the his arrogant assistant Malcolm Allison had manoeuvred him out of, and himself into, the team manager’s chair.

“My debut for Coventry came after only one training session for my new club. I barely knew the names of my new team-mates as we took to the Highfield Road pitch for a game against Manchester City. The match was being billed as Mercer v Allison. It was the first time that the two had faced each other since Allison’s acrimonious rise to the Maine Road hot seat. Mercer, a humble and kindly figure, was a popular character with both his old fans at Manchester City and with people nationally.
Allison, by contrast, was seen as brash, opinionated and a bit big-headed. It felt that a lot of people outside of Coventry as well as in the city wanted to see us win and Big Mal get his comeuppance. I had already met Allison in Blackpool and I got on okay with him. However, his son Dave, a nice lad, was an apprentice at Blackpool when I was there and he would have nothing to do with his dad. It did seem as if he had a way of rubbing people up the wrong way. This turned out to be Mercer’s day as, despite Man City coming back from two goals down, we put on a sparkling performance to win 3-2. The ‘M’ Men were finally up and running.
I settled in quickly at my new club. I was helped by playing with a number of my fellow countrymen. As well as Stein and myself, Coventry had three other Scots who were first-team regulars: Willie Carr, Brian Alderson and Roy Barry. I knew very little about the team before I joined but I quickly realised we had some high-quality players. It would have been hard to find a better midfield pairing than Carr and Dennis Mortimer. They were tremendously skilful attacking footballers.”

Excerpt From
Hutch, Hard Work and Belief
Tommy Hutchison and Kevin Shannon
This material may be protected by copyright.

To read more of the story, buy the book from the link below.

Hutch' order form

 

[Irish Sky Blue]

Purchase the book through your link @Irish Sky Blue keep us up on the Jag Club night please mate

Should have the info for this tomorrow.

 

[Irish Sky Blue]

Below are details for an evening with Tommy Hutchison and Barry Powell.


Chance to meet and have a chat and a photo with Tommy and to buy a signed book too!

 

[skybluepm2]

Below are details for an evening with Tommy Hutchison and Barry Powell.

View attachment 26413
Chance to meet and have a chat and a photo with Tommy and to buy a signed book too!

great listening to you on the phone in tonight if Clive can get you on each week instead of Nick the Brummie, I’m sure the number of listeners would increase significantly

 

[Irish Sky Blue]

Ha! That’s kind of you to take the time to come on and say that. It was my first time on the radio so just pleased I was even vaguely making sense!

 

[Irish Sky Blue]

Just to bump the thread

Here is Tommy’s description of that famous goal at Highbury in 1972


“By the time we went to Highbury in my fourth game for the club, I had already scored my first Coventry goal, a 25-yarder in a 3-1 win against West Ham. I didn’t think I would score a better goal that season. I was wrong! We were already winning 1-0 against Arsenal and were cutting them to pieces when, in the second period, I picked the ball up just inside our half and set off towards their goal. In my mind’s eye, I can remember beating Alan Ball about three times on that run. Funny how your memory plays tricks, as match reports reveal that I beat him only the once, although he did try to bring me down. I dribbled past McLintock and Rice and then rounded the goalkeeper Barnett before slipping the ball between two defenders on the line and into the net.
As I ran away celebrating, Colin Stein caught me up and shouted, ‘Why did you go and panic?’ It
was an ironic comment as my finish was so cool! A goal like that is pure instinct. When I set off on the run, I wasn’t thinking I would score. The goal simply happened because I beat so many opponents and had no team-mate better placed for me to pass to. Steiny said to me later, ‘If the goal hadn’t been there, you’d have carried on with the ball into the crowd and up the terrace at the Clock End.’ I didn’t even realise that it was such a special goal until I saw the reaction later. In fact, one minute after my goal, I almost repeated the feat but Barnett saved after a long mazy dribble. There are a few grainy seconds of the goal available to see on YouTube and I think that the London Weekend Television cameras were there to cover the game, but for some reason they didn’t release footage of the complete move, which is a shame.”

Excerpt From
Hutch, Hard Work and Belief
Tommy Hutchison and Kevin Shannon
This material may be protected by copyright

Joe Mercer described the goal as the finest he had ever seen, some accolade coming from a man who had spent a lifetime in football.

if you would like to read more, the book can be bought using the link below.

Hutch' order form

 

[Fergusons_Beard]

Kevin tried to order but getting this bounce back at PayPal stage.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Irish Sky Blue]

Kevin tried to order but getting this bounce back at PayPal stage.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Sorry about that mate. I will get the technical department ( my son) to have a look at it. I’ll let you know when he’s fixed it!

 

[Irish Sky Blue]

Kevin tried to order but getting this bounce back at PayPal stage.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

My son has found out there was a problem at the PayPal end of things. If you try again now it should work. Any problems please let me know.

I’m pleased you sent this message as when my son looked, there were a few people who have tried to buy the book but had the same problem as yourself. I am emailing them now so you will probably get an email too.
Thanks again!

 

[Fergusons_Beard]

My son has found out there was a problem at the PayPal end of things. If you try again now it should work. Any problems please let me know.

I’m pleased you sent this message as when my son looked, there were a few people who have tried to buy the book but had the same problem as yourself. I am emailing them now so you will probably get an email too.
Thanks again!

No worries-ordered now and working fine.

Cheers


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Irish Sky Blue]

No worries-ordered now and working fine.

Cheers


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Thanks mate. I hope you enjoy the book.

 

[Irish Sky Blue]

Just bumping this again.

In this extract Tommy reflects on how luck can play a huge part in life. He tells the story of being very close by when the Birmingham pub bombs went off.


“The fickleness of fate was brought home to me a week after the German game. I had been to see my family in Fife and was returning to Coventry by train. I had to change at New Street station in Birmingham to complete the last leg of my journey. By the time I got home, the news was filtering through of explosions in two pubs resulting in a huge loss of life. The pubs that were bombed were only a few yards from the station, but I had been totally unaware of the mayhem happening above my head as I waited for my train on the station concourse.
That news certainly put into context the importance or otherwise of the results of any football match. It also made me think of how lucky I was to be completely safe, when someone who was just as blissfully innocent as I was, but who was 50 yards up the road in the wrong direction, had their life ended in a brutal manner. Two innocent people in virtually the same location: one carries on with his life unaltered, the other had his life violently curtailed. These events certainly made me stop and think.”

Excerpt From
Hutch, Hard Work and Belief
Tommy Hutchison and Kevin Shannon
This material may be protected by copyright.


if you would like to read more, the book can be bought using the link below.

Hutch' order form

 

[SkyblueDad]

Just to bump the thread

Here is Tommy’s description of that famous goal at Highbury in 1972


“By the time we went to Highbury in my fourth game for the club, I had already scored my first Coventry goal, a 25-yarder in a 3-1 win against West Ham. I didn’t think I would score a better goal that season. I was wrong! We were already winning 1-0 against Arsenal and were cutting them to pieces when, in the second period, I picked the ball up just inside our half and set off towards their goal. In my mind’s eye, I can remember beating Alan Ball about three times on that run. Funny how your memory plays tricks, as match reports reveal that I beat him only the once, although he did try to bring me down. I dribbled past McLintock and Rice and then rounded the goalkeeper Barnett before slipping the ball between two defenders on the line and into the net.
As I ran away celebrating, Colin Stein caught me up and shouted, ‘Why did you go and panic?’ It
was an ironic comment as my finish was so cool! A goal like that is pure instinct. When I set off on the run, I wasn’t thinking I would score. The goal simply happened because I beat so many opponents and had no team-mate better placed for me to pass to. Steiny said to me later, ‘If the goal hadn’t been there, you’d have carried on with the ball into the crowd and up the terrace at the Clock End.’ I didn’t even realise that it was such a special goal until I saw the reaction later. In fact, one minute after my goal, I almost repeated the feat but Barnett saved after a long mazy dribble. There are a few grainy seconds of the goal available to see on YouTube and I think that the London Weekend Television cameras were there to cover the game, but for some reason they didn’t release footage of the complete move, which is a shame.”

Excerpt From
Hutch, Hard Work and Belief
Tommy Hutchison and Kevin Shannon
This material may be protected by copyright

Joe Mercer described the goal as the finest he had ever seen, some accolade coming from a man who had spent a lifetime in football.

if you would like to read more, the book can be bought using the link below.

Hutch' order form

I was at that game stood in the Clock End with about 50 London based Glasgow Rangers fans who had come to watch their idol Colin Stein.

 

[Razzle Dazzle Dean Gordon]

Any news on whether you'll be doing the book signings on the morning of the Blackpool game? I've only just spotted the thread and think this could be a great present for one of my uncles, would love to get him a signed copy

 

[NortonSkyBlue]

I was at that game stood in the Clock End with about 50 London based Glasgow Rangers fans who had come to watch their idol Colin Stein.

Me too!

 

[SkyblueDad]

Me too!

As an add on killing two birds with one stone I went to the Manor House hospital that morning to visit my mum and next bed to her was Jimmy Greaves ma and low and behold in came Jimmy to visit her, a real gent.

 

[Irish Sky Blue]

Hutch on CWR at about 11.30 today if anyone wants to listen.

 

[Johhny Blue]

Hutch on CWR at about 11.30 today if anyone wants to listen.

Will there be a translator?

 

[MalcSB]

Will there be a translator?

Unnecessary, he speaks better English than many a sassenach.

 

[Irish Sky Blue]

Recording of Hutch on yesterday’s show. Starts at about 1h 39mins.
Just to say that it was Jim Brown who advised me on the book and put me in touch with Hutch. The club haven’t been involved at all. (No need for them to be)

Vic Minett - 17/10/2022 - BBC Sounds

Vic has your stories, and the Mystery Year. Call 0800 75 65 200.

www.bbc.co.uk

if you would like to read more, the book can be bought using the link below.

Hutch' order form

 

[North York’s Blue]

Had it delivered yesterday, it’s a good read!

 

[Irish Sky Blue]

Had it delivered yesterday, it’s a good read!

That’s kind of you to say, thank you!

 

[NortonSkyBlue]

just finished the book, bravo Irishskyblue. Captured the pride of a scotsman, the career of a great and very well thought of man. I knew it would be a great read because of the subject matter and that is down to your handling of the subject.
my favourite anecdote was from the Bristol City contingent. That Policeman has my respect.
I have also just finished reading the Dennis Mortimer book who was my favourite before Tommy usurped him,
the author has allowed Dennis to focus on some of his unpleasant traits and I was left unsympathetic to them.

 

[Irish Sky Blue]

just finished the book, bravo Irishskyblue. Captured the pride of a scotsman, the career of a great and very well thought of man. I knew it would be a great read because of the subject matter and that is down to your handling of the subject.
my favourite anecdote was from the Bristol City contingent. That Policeman has my respect.
I have also just finished reading the Dennis Mortimer book who was my favourite before Tommy usurped him,
the author has allowed Dennis to focus on some of his unpleasant traits and I was left unsympathetic to them.

You read that quick!
Thank you for the great review! I hope everyone feels the same once they have read it. I did feel the same as you; if you are writing about someone like Hutch, then how can you fail?
I loved that story about the policeman! It was told by a lady called Mandy Gardener who worked with Tommy in his role as a football development officer in Bristol. She came to a game in Coventry with him and couldn’t believe the reception he got.
I have to say my favourite story overall was the one about the chimney sweep back in Dundonald.
I am going to buy Dennis Mortimer’s book so will be interesting to see how I feel about him once I’ve read it.
Thanks again for buying the book and for the nice comments!

 

[Irish Sky Blue]

A bit cheeky I know, but if you don’t ask……
If any of you have read the book and enjoyed it, it would be good if you could give it a positive review on Amazon as this really boost sales apparently.
I’ve never written anything before so I am genuinely interested in what people feel about the book.

 

[Irish Sky Blue]

Any news on whether you'll be doing the book signings on the morning of the Blackpool game? I've only just spotted the thread and think this could be a great present for one of my uncles, would love to get him a signed copy

Hello mate thanks for the enquiry and sorry for the delay. I wanted to confirm all of the events first.

Hutch and Barry Powell (a big pal from his Coventry days) will be taking part in a Q and A session at the Jag Club, 7.30 Oct 28. Tickets are £15 and can be bought from the Jag Club, Pops Barbers Shop Wallace Road Radford, or by calling Dave on
07595 249718. Books will be priced at £20

There will be a signing session at Waterstones in the precinct 9.15 to 10am on Saturday 29 Oct. (day of the Blackpool game). (Books will be £25 as they are from Waterstones).

The club shop at the CBS will be the venue for a signing session from 11am to 11.45, before the Blackpool game, Saturday Oct 29. Books will be £20.

Tommy will be in the corporate lounges before and after the game as a guest of the former player’s association and will again be available to sign books.

After the match he will be in the casino and again will be signing books priced £20.

On Monday 31 October Tommy will be playing walking football alongside the Sky Blues in the Community walking football group at the Sphinx Club. He will be signing books after the session from 11.45am

If anyone has bought the book elsewhere you are welcome to come and get it signed at one of these sessions. Tommy is a very friendly chap and enjoys having a chat!

 

[GIMOC]

Hi @Irish Sky Blue ordered the book on the 1st October but still hasn’t arrived mate

 

[Irish Sky Blue]

Hi Mate
I’ve only sent out books where people have said they weren’t bothered about having a signed copy. All those wanting signed copies will have the books sent out on Nov 1 (after Tommy has had the chance to sign the books).If you would like your copy unsigned I can get it out today. Im sending you a PM.

 

[Irish Sky Blue]

Thank you to all of the City fans who sent in their memories of meeting Hutch. Unfortunately, I couldn’t put all of them in the book as there wasn’t room, however, a big thank you to every who contributed.
Those who appear in the book are; Dave Mander, Stephen Quinn, Greg Kenny, Roger Gurney, Ian Collins, Philip Gardner, Mark Ryder, David Ward, Bernard Bourke and Mark Eardley. Thank you to them in particular.

Obviously a big weekend for Tommy as he is down for the Blackpool game from Friday onwards. I will put the details on here again before the weekend as to where you can come and meet him and have a chat.

If you can’t make any of those events but want to get a signed copy use the link below.

Hutch' order form