Steve smelt


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Johnny Watters was the man.

Legend was Johnny, used to enjoy a bit craic with him in the Grange. He played for Celtic in an old firm derby in front of a then world record crowd.
That’s right. Was a big mate of Sunderland East End boxing promoter Tommy Conroy.

Smoked like a chimney and on one occasion set fire to his white Physio coat when he tried to stub a fag out and hide it when manager Alan Brown, a strict disciplinarian and anti-smoker walked in as he was administering treatment to an injured player.

Lovely bloke who liked a whisky and had time for everyone. There was hardly a Scottish football legend of his era he didn’t know-Shankly (who played for Preston against SAFC in the 37 cup final), Stein etc.
Massive old school character who are in short supply these days.
 
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old news but

Johnny Waters was the man.

Yeah and people think the sun shines out of Brady's arse. Being a massive piss head didn't help his career but it's the club's fault for not spotting it 🙄🙄🙄
Sure he got sued off or club did with Thomas Hauser for an injury he got, as well as Keiron Brady
Brady tried to sue him and the club and lost
 
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My pal went to school with his daughter in middlesbro. Apparently she used her mothers surname. Wise choice I think.
 

old news but

Appreciate that it was a very serious affair for all involved but I couldn’t help wondering what the reaction was in the dressing room when he asked to be substituted because he had cold feet.

Johnny Waters was the man.
 
Johnny Watters was the man.

Legend was Johnny, used to enjoy a bit craic with him in the Grange. He played for Celtic in an old firm derby in front of a then world record crowd.
I was in the Seaburn one afternoon and The King came over to talk to me and my mate, then when he recognised me asked us to come over and talk to Johnny, he soon showed us the newspaper of the Celtic Rangers game when he played at Hampden in front of that record crowd. We spent a couple of hours cracking on with the two of them, never forget it.
Johnny once kept players waiting for treatment whilst he worked on treating his mates greyhound.
 
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Didn't also have something to do with Wearmouth Colliery in a medical capacity? sure my dad knew him from there, top bloke apparently.
Johnny worked like a Trojan to get Cloughie fit again after his Boxing Day injury in 1962. These days a cruciate ligament injury is bad (witness Duncan Watmore x2) but not career-ending. Back then it was because the surgerical techniques had not been developed.
Despite that, Watters and Cloughie worked their socks off to get him fit for the start of the 1964-65 season, our first back in the top flight after 6 years. Cloughie played a few games, and scored, but the game was up and he quit. A tragedy for both of them after the work they put in.
Johnny was also very big pals with Corny O'Donnell, the promotions manager...part of the Gaelic (sone would say Catholic) mafia at the club in the late 60s and the early 70s.
Top man and very popular with the vast majority of players.
 
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