The
first time I became aware of Nobby Stiles I was a young boy of ten and it was
the world cup finals of 1966.
It
would probably seem odd to many football fans that out of all the talent on
show in England that summer, players like Pele, Beckenbauer or Eusabio, I was
most impressed by the diminutive Manchester man, Nobby.
I
have often wondered myself and I think that the great players had been much
heralded in the lead up to the finals and they merely did what was expected of
them but Nobby I had not heard of before he was different.
He
tackled hard and was a tough no nonsense player who could read the game so well
being blessed with great tactical awareness but my most enduring image’s of him
was the toothless grin and his jig of joy after England won the world cup.
It
was that victory dance showing his excitement and obvious love for the game.
It
was seeing Nobby play that led me to support United as I still do today.
Norbert
Peter Stiles was born in Collyhurst Manchester 18th may 1942 and he
stood at the Stretford End like many a young lad and dreamt of playing for
United but for him it came true.
For
eleven years he played his Club football for Manchester United making his debut
for them away at Bolton on 1st of October 1960.
Apart
from winning the world cup with England in 1966 he won two League Championship
medals with United and as In the 1966 World Cup Semi-Final against Portugal it
was his job to stop Eusebio “the Black Panther” when united met Benfica in the
1968 European Cup Final which he did and added a European Cup winner's medal to
his collection.
Nobby
Stiles was and still is Man United through and through he returned to United in
the 80’s as youth team coach were he brought on the likes of Giggs, Beckham and
the Neville’s.
In
2000 his contribution to the game was finally recognized when he received an
O.B.E. along with his other previously unrecognized England teammates from
1966.
Not
before time.
