A get well soon note to England's World Cup winner Nobby Stiles after he suffers minor stroke
Nobby Stiles, 68, is recovering at home after a ‘very minor stroke’ and here STEVE CURRY sends the 1966 World Cup winner a personal get-well message
Dear Nobby,
It’s that time of year again, a World Cup in progress, and expectations sky-high with lots of debate about holding midfielders.
In ’66 we didn’t use those fancy phrases, did we? We called you the plug, a little chap guarding those two defenders Bobby and Jack behind you.
Our generation remember you for the toothless grin. They didn’t see the way you cemented the spirit of the lads. They saw you as a little terrier, a no-fuss player who won the ball and delivered it to those lads with more artistic skills.
Not many remember that you played for England schoolboys because you were creative, not because you could tackle. Like a lot of people, Bobby (Charlton) believed you were the most underrated player in the side. But you did say that if you weren’t getting booed then you weren’t doing your job.
I think you would agree your best game in the ’66 competition was in the semi against Portugal when you played the great Eusebio out of the game, not by tackling him but by getting between him and the goal and making him play off his weaker left foot.
It made us smile when you said you could knock over bigger opponents because your height gave you better balance. But you were a pussycat off the field.
And what about you being so accident-prone? Remember when you and Bobby had a shunt in your car and the only injury you got was cutting your forehead on the other driver’s head as you both bent down to inspect the damage.
My favourite memory will be your jig of delight in front of an ecstatic Wembley crowd when a lot of us there were in tears at winning the trophy.
I hear you’ve been off colour, Nobby, and we all hope you recover soon and hopefully see England in the final again.
It’s been a long time.
Regards,
Steve
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