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WILLIE MADDREN- INSPIRATION FROM A LEGEND 22-3-06
Time eventually catches up with all mere mortals and even folk perceived as immortal. Just recently a couple of real bona-fide superstars of the sixties and seventies in Peter 'Ossie' Osgood and 'Jinky' Jimmy Johnstone gave in to illness and sadly passed away.
Both, at a fairly young age in these days of healthy Octogenarians, Osgood at 59 and Johnstone at 61. Although vastly different in looks, character, style and skill, they had one thing in common. They were that rare item, local boys who managed to make the grade and play for their local team.
Osgood spent the majority of his career with his team Chelsea, while Johnstone was Celtic forever, with green and white coursing through his tartan clad veins. In their era, their time with their club, they both justifiably progressed into the hallowed ranks of untouchable folk hero status now emboldened by what only could be described as popular martyrdom.
Osgood, the epitome of swinging sixties Chelsea and was the darling of the Shed throughout his Stamford Bridge career. Johnstone, born within a whisper of Parkhead, was the archetypal gritty, nuggetty Scotsman, an awesomely talented wizard of the wing who became a European cup-winning God for the Hoops faithful. The respect shown to both of these fulsome characters by their public, the real fans, was overwhelming and very moving. In Johnstone's case, he was even given tributes from the blue side of Glasgow, a rare occurrence indeed.
While Chelsea and England's Osgood died from a heart-attack, it was the sad news this past week that Celtic and Scotland's Johnstone had died at the age of 61 from MND (motor neurone disease) which caused me more reaction with a bout of memory dredging and soul searching.
You see, MND was the very same debilitating disease that prematurely and insidiously took the life from the wonderful Willie Maddren, one of my all time Boro heroes. Like the careers of the other two stars there were parallels, as he too was a local one club lad, who was a terrace favourite and a veritable under-rated superstar of the back four.
My reflective mood and thoughts prompted me to re-read some passages of the great Willie Maddren's autobiographical masterpiece, 'Extra Time', a tome I have already read on two previous occasions.
I find it very inspirational, the story of a local Haverton Hill lad who simply possessed the skills to make him one of Britain's classiest and most consistent performers in his home position of central defence. A player of silken pure-class and a rare unflustered quality that had pundits comparing his marvellous qualities with the great Bobby Moore.
He was so naturally talented and had the ability to play anywhere on the park and at times did just that. I believe that in the new melting pot of the EPL with it's conflagration of styles and tactics melded from the mixing of creeds from all of the planet's footballing nations and cultures, that Willie Maddren would be even more at home than he was in his heyday. In essence, he was ahead of his time, he was that good.
My over-riding vision is of the great man clad in the Jackie Charlton era definitive Boro kit of, all red with the white chest hoop, the red lion, him and big Stuey Boam the immovable wall of Holgate. Maddren's sheer class, the powerful demeanour, head up taking the game in, the floating gait, the timing, the vision, the presence, the tousled mane of brown, number six emblazoned on the shirt and shorts. The Number Six, a player who had it all.
Anyone who reads the book or was lucky enough to know the man would also accept that there was a hell of a lot more to Willie Maddren than a career as a top class footballer cut short by a recurrence of a knee injury. That was at the age of 27 when normally, a player is just beginning to approach his peak period. When you see the consummate and extremely professional skills of the excellent Gareth Southgate, still holding our back four together at 34, you can easily deduce that we were prematurely robbed of the best years of Willie Maddren on the field of Ayresome dreams.
Willie's tale of Middlesbrough life and real life, ghosted brilliantly and very patiently by Dave Allen, culminating in his eventual decline due to motor neurone disease, really helps me to focus on what really matters. The fact that life should be seized by the throat and lived to the full. Cuddle the wife and kids more, laugh, be more positive, enjoy the moment, embrace your circle of friends and see that what you have you must make the most of and don't let negativity drag you off to a darker more sinister place.
I personally believe that when we reflect over a few ales and throw open the conversation to the greats of the game, true legends who pulled on the red and white shirt of Middlesbrough, Willie Maddren will always be there in my eye as one of the best, possessing as he did class, skill, power and the pre-requisite for true greatness, unerring consistency. He was fiercely loyal to Middlesbrough football club and played his whole career, 354 games, with the red lion of Erimus emblazoned proudly on his chest. As a bona fide Boro hero in his own right and an inspiration to all because of the dignified manner he handled himself during his days as Boro manager and his subsequent decline into debilitating ill health.
It's time the great man was honoured I think. It's time we gave Willie his own memorial a bronze statue outside our own Theatre of Smogs. Willie should be held up as an inspirational outstanding example of a one-club player who put his own team at the forefront of his own career, even when other suitors came knocking.
At present we have some outstanding local talent within and on the periphery of the first team squad, to the point that I sometimes can't believe how good these guys are and will get. They would all do well to follow the outstanding example of Willie Maddren.
If you haven't read this inspirational story of a Teesside legend well do yourself the greatest favour, maybe the greatest deed you will carry out this year and buy the book. Then find a quiet corner and read it from cover to cover and weep. It's power and passion will help you in your life, and the money you hand over for your purchase will carry out some greater good as the proceeds from every sale go directly to the MND society.
Willie's family and in particular his lovely wife Hilary still carry out fund raising work for the MND society. As I say, by buying the book they and you will profit.
As you are all aware, Willie Maddren sadly died of the effects of MND at the tender age of 49 in August 2000 with wife Hilary and his four children Steven, Lucy, Laura and David by his side. Bringing to a premature end, a great life, and robbing the world of a great man.
Quoting from the last paragraph of the last chapter of the book, chapter 21, entitled, 'A Game I Can't Win'.
"This is one game I can't win but I will go down fighting. I pray to God that he will give me more and more Extra Time. And yet even on the day they die many people look back upon their life and wonder what it was all for. When I go, I will do so in the knowledge that I lived life to the full and, through my wife and children, I found total happiness. No man could ask for more."
Willie Maddren, Boro legend, January 11th. 1951 - August 29th. 2000, a star who still shines brilliantly in every Boro soul.
Enough Said.
ErimusRed.
'Extra-time' can be purchased online from the official club store
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