| What is the Best Stan Bowles Story? 13:52 - Aug 6 with 3084 views | DylanP |
Stan’s life and career was littered with great stories, like the time Sunderland were proudly displaying their recently won FA Cup on the sideline and Stan knocked it off its pedestal with a sweeping ball from the other side of the pitch, or the various escapades that nearly landed him in jail.
So what is your favorite Stan Bowles story? |  |
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| What is the Best Stan Bowles Story? on 14:07 - Aug 6 with 2709 views | FDC |
I always like the one about when he signed sponsorship deals with two different boot companies, leading him to wear one boot from each brand during the same match. |  | | |
| What is the Best Stan Bowles Story? on 14:30 - Aug 6 with 2640 views | Pikey |
I used to work part time for a bookies on North End riad and Stan was in one day and doing rather well on the dogs ( about a grand up) . I had to phone the guvnorvat tKilburn shop for some money to pay him out. Guvnor said he'd be over in 25 minutes with the cash. 25 minutes later he rang and asked what the situation was and untold him stan now owed us £400. He said tell him to f off and bring the money in the morning. Fair play to Bowles he did just that. |  | | |
| What is the Best Stan Bowles Story? on 14:30 - Aug 6 with 2633 views | stowmarketrange |
The one where his landlord came knocking and said “I’m here looking for the rent.”Stan supposedly replied “come on in and we can look for it together.” |  | | |
| What is the Best Stan Bowles Story? on 14:37 - Aug 6 with 2611 views | Paddyhoops |
| What is the Best Stan Bowles Story? on 14:07 - Aug 6 by FDC |
I always like the one about when he signed sponsorship deals with two different boot companies, leading him to wear one boot from each brand during the same match. |
Knocking the Fa cup off its stand at Roker park.
He was never back since. | | | |
| What is the Best Stan Bowles Story? on 14:56 - Aug 6 with 2546 views | DannyPaddox |
Pretty sure it was Tony Hazell that up-ended the FA Cup at Roker Park. But a story from the same neck of the woods I saw with my own eyes albeit on Match of the Day when I was a kid. The Rs were playing Middlesbrough (on their way to a rare away win that season) at a windy Ayresome Park and as Stan is about to take a corner a match day programme blows onto the pitch. Or maybe it was a throw in. Anyway Stan picks the programme up, and possibly with Don Shanks, spends a few moments looking at the team line-ups (presumably) whilst pointing out the Middlesbrough players. Stan is studiously stroking his chin as if gaining some tactical knowledge from reading the programme. My memory recalls Stan gives the programme to a Middlesbrough fan in the crowd and we then score from the corner. Of course I may have remembered that all wrong. [Post edited 6 Aug 15:02]
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| What is the Best Stan Bowles Story? on 15:06 - Aug 6 with 2487 views | CroydonCaptJack |
I had the pleasure of meeting Stan when he helped do a stadium tour (about 15 years ago I would think). I knew he was going to be there so I took my copy of his autobiography.
Near the end of the tour we ended up on the pitch and they said feel free to talk to Stan. I went up to him and told him how I had been going since 1975 etc and got out the book and asked him if he wouldn't mind signing it. 'Of course' he said and then asked where I had got it. He said he had lent his to Bradley Orr and the bar-steward hadn't given it back! When I told him I had picked it up on E-Bay he asked if there were any others on there. I said I thought there were and he said he might bid for them. I said he would be like J R Hartley trying to buy his Fly Fishing book (a joke for the oldies here). That really made him laugh which of course made my day!
He was so happy to chat and reminisce and it really was a fantastic privilege to meet my idol.
One other Stan related story was that my wife ordered a cake for my 60th last year and got it with a QPR theme. The cake was topped off with an icing Stan. She came to the match with me that day along with my other son (who doesn't come very often now). We met a few of the usual suspects in the Defectors pre match, won the game against Rotherham after being one nil down then returned home to get ready to meet the rest of the family at a restaurant. Imagine our dismay as we made our way out of the front door carrying that cake and discovered the sad news of Stan passing. Poor old icing Stan was taken from the cake and placed horizontally in the most symbolic gesture we could manage.
Bitter sweet memories. [Post edited 6 Aug 15:08]
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| What is the Best Stan Bowles Story? on 15:40 - Aug 6 with 2421 views | qpr1976 |
| What is the Best Stan Bowles Story? on 14:07 - Aug 6 by FDC |
I always like the one about when he signed sponsorship deals with two different boot companies, leading him to wear one boot from each brand during the same match. |
Pretty sure that was when he played for England, possibly his debut ?
I think his usual boot sponsors upped his boot deal when selected (to £100 ?) and then a rival company offered him same to switch, so he took both offers !!
Also, think in dressing room for England he asked how much England players get paid and Emlyn Hughes (the Captain) said, we shouldn’t get paid, it’s about playing for your Country, to which Stan allegedly replied “I’ll have yours as well then….!” | | | |
| What is the Best Stan Bowles Story? on 17:05 - Aug 6 with 2314 views | qpr1976 |
Also, love the time in the 70’s he was on Superstars (70’s TV) which was filmed over 2 days, 5 events each day, he went out with James Hunt on the fizz/pull the night inbetween. Allegedly got back to Hotel around 4am and finished last over the 10 events. Hunt, stayed out, didn’t go back to hotel, went straight to the venue for last 5 events and finished up as the overall Winner !!! Fair play. | | | |
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| What is the Best Stan Bowles Story? on 17:16 - Aug 6 with 2293 views | richranger |
| What is the Best Stan Bowles Story? on 17:05 - Aug 6 by qpr1976 |
Also, love the time in the 70’s he was on Superstars (70’s TV) which was filmed over 2 days, 5 events each day, he went out with James Hunt on the fizz/pull the night inbetween. Allegedly got back to Hotel around 4am and finished last over the 10 events. Hunt, stayed out, didn’t go back to hotel, went straight to the venue for last 5 events and finished up as the overall Winner !!! Fair play. |
Ah Stan :)
My fave story is the club ringing up his fan club secretary, Marilyn, to ask Stan to return the Player of the Year trophy - to which Stan said - 'oh that cup - I lost it in a bet'!! | | | |
| What is the Best Stan Bowles Story? on 17:19 - Aug 6 with 2284 views | BazzaInTheLoft |
I like the one about Jim Gregory getting sick of him coming into the boardroom for some gambling readies, so he popped something into Stan’s top pocket, patted it, and said ‘have a drink on me’ before ushering him out.
When Stan checked his pocket he found a teabag in there. |  | | |
| What is the Best Stan Bowles Story? on 17:28 - Aug 6 with 2261 views | Boston |
When Gerry Francis and Dave Thomas stopped by his flat in Neasden - they're sitting down shooting the breeze when there's a knock on the door. Stan answers and a bunch of lads come in and introduce themselves as repo men, whereupon they took the tv, chairs, couch and coffee table the three Rangers had been lounging on. | |
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| What is the Best Stan Bowles Story? on 17:53 - Aug 6 with 2196 views | Discodroids |
My memory is a bit hazy on this but i recall reading something about Gerry and Dave Thomas dropping Stan off after training to his Mother in laws Gaff.
I got the Gist that Dave was, in life outside of Football, Florian Schneider to Stans Syd Barrett so to speak...
Dave was having a cup of tea and noted the fine Greenhouse in the mother in laws Garden and said in passing he was going to the garden center and buying one that weekend for his prize kumquats or whatever..
On the spot Stans eyes lit up and Offered Dave his (absent)mother in laws Greenhouse for a Pony. Which Dave Readily accepted.
Thus Gerry and Dave set about dismantling the Greenhouse with the posi-drive and stacked it up to take home.
No mundane manual labour for Stan of course, he left sharpish with the cash on the nail Pony to invest in a 3.40 point to point at Weatherby races.
I think that was a Gerry Francis tale now i come to think about it..
Anyway, Fantastique! [Post edited 6 Aug 17:55]
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| What is the Best Stan Bowles Story? on 18:32 - Aug 6 with 2156 views | hantssi |
| What is the Best Stan Bowles Story? on 17:28 - Aug 6 by Boston |
When Gerry Francis and Dave Thomas stopped by his flat in Neasden - they're sitting down shooting the breeze when there's a knock on the door. Stan answers and a bunch of lads come in and introduce themselves as repo men, whereupon they took the tv, chairs, couch and coffee table the three Rangers had been lounging on. |
Neasden!
Can you imagine a top pro living there now?! | | | |
| What is the Best Stan Bowles Story? on 20:11 - Aug 6 with 2047 views | colinallcars |
No stories but bought him a drink in the Queen of England once. |  | | |
| What is the Best Stan Bowles Story? on 20:22 - Aug 6 with 2015 views | jeffranger50 |
Read his book loads of great stories & what a character he was as well as great player | | | |
| What is the Best Stan Bowles Story? on 20:26 - Aug 6 with 1997 views | NewBee |
| What is the Best Stan Bowles Story? on 17:05 - Aug 6 by qpr1976 |
Also, love the time in the 70’s he was on Superstars (70’s TV) which was filmed over 2 days, 5 events each day, he went out with James Hunt on the fizz/pull the night inbetween. Allegedly got back to Hotel around 4am and finished last over the 10 events. Hunt, stayed out, didn’t go back to hotel, went straight to the venue for last 5 events and finished up as the overall Winner !!! Fair play. |
From Stan The Man's autobiography:
I have the worst record on Superstars: seven points. It still stands to this day. We filmed it down in Northampton at an army base. They were disgusted with me right the way through. I wouldn't do any weights. I told them I had a bad back. I was like farking Arthur Daley: "No, no, that's not for me." The only points I got were in swimming. I dead-heated with JPR Williams, the rugby player. He was about 16 stone and I was about 11.
I did the canoeing; the canoe overturned. In the shooting I shot the table. You had to fire at a target with real ammunition. I had never fired a gun in my life. Fark it: I missed the target I don't know how many times. You were supposed to lift the gun up, put it back down on the table, lift it up again and then fire. But when I put it down again it nearly blew the table in half.
I'd been out with James Hunt the night before and I had a right hangover and it just went off. A hair trigger, you see? I know what that is now. I didn't know that at that time and I won't forget it either.
The presenter David Vine was interviewed on Parkinson and he was asked who was the best athlete to ever compete on Superstars. He said, "Well, that's debatable. But I can tell you who was the worst, Stan Bowles." I did it as a joke. It was just a farking day out. You had to do a bit of training there, three days. It was a joke to me. But the army were really disgusted."
Read somewhere that he only went on it for the Fee - needed to pay off a bill at the bookies I think.
P.S. He didn't actually say "Fark" - I had to get round the swear filter. [Post edited 6 Aug 20:28]
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| What is the Best Stan Bowles Story? on 21:24 - Aug 6 with 1930 views | Boston |
| What is the Best Stan Bowles Story? on 18:32 - Aug 6 by hantssi |
Neasden!
Can you imagine a top pro living there now?! |
...not only that, but a small house that had been converted into two flats on a very ordinary street, easy walk from Blackbird Cross.
Edit - might have been the same street Twiggy grew up on, if not, then the next one along. [Post edited 6 Aug 21:27]
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| What is the Best Stan Bowles Story? on 21:32 - Aug 6 with 1899 views | richranger |
| What is the Best Stan Bowles Story? on 21:24 - Aug 6 by Boston |
...not only that, but a small house that had been converted into two flats on a very ordinary street, easy walk from Blackbird Cross.
Edit - might have been the same street Twiggy grew up on, if not, then the next one along. [Post edited 6 Aug 21:27]
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Just done some 'detective work' and discovered Stan lived at 17 Elm Lane - just off the North Circular Road!
https://www.newslicensing.co.uk/asset/1412863/
I wish I knew before - I live a 10 minute walk away!
[Post edited 6 Aug 21:39]
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| What is the Best Stan Bowles Story? on 21:40 - Aug 6 with 1867 views | DylanP |
| What is the Best Stan Bowles Story? on 15:40 - Aug 6 by qpr1976 |
Pretty sure that was when he played for England, possibly his debut ?
I think his usual boot sponsors upped his boot deal when selected (to £100 ?) and then a rival company offered him same to switch, so he took both offers !!
Also, think in dressing room for England he asked how much England players get paid and Emlyn Hughes (the Captain) said, we shouldn’t get paid, it’s about playing for your Country, to which Stan allegedly replied “I’ll have yours as well then….!” |
It wasn’t his debut. It was against Wales and the first game that Mercer was the interim England Manager. Bowles scored his one and only goal for England with his left foot that day | |
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| What is the Best Stan Bowles Story? on 23:01 - Aug 6 with 1751 views | numptydumpty |
Probably the worst ever contestant on Superstars...
Dont ever give that man a gun...
It was lucky, it was just the table that took the hit !!!
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/19vcCvFFuW/ [Post edited 6 Aug 23:11]
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| What is the Best Stan Bowles Story? on 09:18 - Aug 7 with 1476 views | Michael_Hunt2 |
Surely the one where during a match he said to the ref; “Ref, if I called you a c@@t, what would you do?”. The ref replies “well I’d send you off!” So Stan says “ well what if Was thinking that you’re a c@@t?”
The ref replies “well there’s not a lot I could do about that.
Stan goes “ OK in that case I think you’re a c@@t” | | | |
| What is the Best Stan Bowles Story? on 09:37 - Aug 7 with 1447 views | PeterHucker |
| What is the Best Stan Bowles Story? on 09:18 - Aug 7 by Michael_Hunt2 |
Surely the one where during a match he said to the ref; “Ref, if I called you a c@@t, what would you do?”. The ref replies “well I’d send you off!” So Stan says “ well what if Was thinking that you’re a c@@t?”
The ref replies “well there’s not a lot I could do about that.
Stan goes “ OK in that case I think you’re a c@@t” |
came into the thread to type that one. |  | | |
| What is the Best Stan Bowles Story? on 10:22 - Aug 7 with 1349 views | stowmarketrange |
| What is the Best Stan Bowles Story? on 14:30 - Aug 6 by Pikey |
I used to work part time for a bookies on North End riad and Stan was in one day and doing rather well on the dogs ( about a grand up) . I had to phone the guvnorvat tKilburn shop for some money to pay him out. Guvnor said he'd be over in 25 minutes with the cash. 25 minutes later he rang and asked what the situation was and untold him stan now owed us £400. He said tell him to f off and bring the money in the morning. Fair play to Bowles he did just that. |
My nephew has a similar problem with gambling.He was £30k up after gambling in Vegas,but lost it all the following night.I break out in a cold sweat putting the lottery on. | | | |
| What is the Best Stan Bowles Story? on 14:53 - Aug 8 with 972 views | DTIG |
From what I was told, after most home games he'd get a taxi to the Crown and Sceptre and never having any money, the landlord would have to go out and give the cabby the £1 or so for his fare.
One Saturday he came in a bit later than usual....."can you go and square the cab" he asked, and out went the landlord as usual, only to find the fare was some astronomical amout...because Stan was now playing for Forest! |  | | |
| What is the Best Stan Bowles Story? on 11:12 - Aug 9 with 710 views | PlanetHonneywood |
I used to sit with his manager and the morning of the FA Cup game when we were playing Chelsea at the Bridge, Stan calls my mate at 9am asking if he can get him two tickets for the match.
He's ringing, and ringing and trying to call in all sorts of favours. Nothing. Meanwhile, Stan's ringing and ringing asking for updates and expressing urgency to get the tickets. We all meet in the pub, and my mate isn't off the phone until he eventually strikes gold: two tickets, whereupon he calls Stan with the news.
His look of relief quickly turns to one of total exasperation. Upon calling Stan he got this reply: 'This line is no longer active' Stan hadn't paid his phone bill and had just been cut off!!!
God bless Stan, he lived life on his terms and didn't give a monkeys!! |  |
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