Sadly Geoff has also passed away

One of the sports heroes, RIP Piggy, thoughts and prayers with those left behind at this sad time

A great bloke. RIP Piggy

RIP tough owd bugger

Rugby League through and through ! as a kid, always remember him for Huyton, Runcorn etc....

Never took a backward step. RIP

My old boss at work was one of his friends and played rugby with him. He had some great stories. I never met him but he was obviously quite the character. RIP

I remember being told of Geoff’s first training session
At Huyton.
He told the players to take up their usual positions and they all ran behind the goal posts waiting for the conversion to be taken.

His wake will have a few tails of the great man, always liked the one about his wig in the dressing room

I just watched “Another Bloody Sunday” again. Brilliant stuff, with Geoff shouting at the ref the classic line “he’s pullin’ his ur’ sur” when it kicks off at a scrum in a game.

This seemingly worthy gentleman was no longer on the scene at Leythe when Bongser first wended his way to former HQ. But after all the short but unanimously approving eulogies hereupon, he thinks that, tomorrow, he may very well watch the Youtube version of "Another Bloody Sunday" that he's located after VL's impliance that it was still available somewhere. Might fill a nice half hour after the England v France game.

Amazing the pain and toil they put themselves through for £12 a week (losing pay). Great comment by the narrator when a player comes into the dressing room after a loss, mouth bleeding and minus 2 teeth, “That’s £6 pound a tooth”
Hard as nails doesn’t do them justice. And Geoff was about 40 yrs old at the time of the show.

Thanks again VL. Enjoyed it thoroughly though the mired pitches back then, when juxtaposed with the pristine, modern ones viewed earlier in the England v France game, followed by highlights of the two earlier WCup games and then The Pumas at Twickenham highlights, looked to be from a different planet rather than just a different age. Bongser for one doesn't miss those swamps (from either side of the touchline).

His two highlights (barring the grit and grime being accompanied by ballet music):

Doncaster's laundress (called Mme de Bongseur in to watch that bit as she is from o'er t'ill)
Fletcher: "I want you all to work as 'ard as me..."

Somebody earlier in the thread (or was it Woods' eulogy?) mentioned that he was a straight talker!

Remember him well when we went to Huyton where he did everything. We used to joke that he was the one who directed you on the car park, took your money at the turnstile, sold you the programme and served you at the bar - and then turned out for the team. What a guy.

RIP Geoff and thanks for the memories - a true character, and awesome RL man, through and through.

Condolences to family and friends.