Good tv doc last night about ‘the Giraffe’. An affectionate portrayal of the man, his family and life, and how he helped Ireland find a new, independent identity in the 80s and 90s.
In spite of his clumsy style and bad attitude with the ‘little black book’, I found a new respect for him last night. He was authentic, a rare quality these days.
I bet Barrie Thomas from Winterton Iron can remember Jack playing in the Leeds team at Elland Road that got stuffed 4-1 by the Iron back in day. Come on Barrie refresh our memories.
As I said last year I saw him just before he died looking frail and confused.
Once got chatting to him in a curtain warehouse! When our respective wives were looking at blinds! As he said in the documentary he’d talk to anyone about anything.
I was at the Leeds v Scunny game which we won 4-1, but although Jackie was the Leeds centre half, I am sure that in that particular match, he was playing in a different position.
I do remember a cracking match at Eland Road which ended 0-0, but was an outstanding game that could easily have been 3-3 if not for two brilliant goalkeeping performances by Ken Jones and the other Welsh international keeper Garry Sprake, both these games where stick in the memory matches.
This is one reason why I am not very impressed with todays Scunthorpe playing system, we are lucky if we get three shots on target in our games, never mind three or four goals, we normally just sit in the Cluggy in hope of a corner, or a shot on target!!!
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