Does anyone remember the Jim'l Fix It episode

[Bootle Buck]

I think the lad's name was Lol Cotterel a local sunday league player. It showed him training with the team and actually coming out for a game. I can't remember for the life of me what type of game it was a friendly or testimonial type game. I just remember he was pretty knackered after.

[Paul B]

I think the lad's name was Lol Cotterel a local sunday league player. It showed him training with the team and actually coming out for a game. I can't remember for the life of me what type of game it was a friendly or testimonial type game. I just remember he was pretty knackered after.

 

It wasn't Jim'll fix it but another "dreams come true"-type programme which was also responsible for launching Sheena Easton to pop stardom. My wife thinks it was called "Big Break" or some such. The game was against Manchester United and Tommy Smith trained the unfit Cotteral who was a smoker and liked a pint much to Smith's disgust. Liverpool were awarded a penalty in the last minute in front of the Kop and Cotteril took it. The pen was saved by Alex Stepney who was villified in the press for denying the lad his dream goal. Stepney defended himself saying that football is football and he always played it competitively and cared nowt for Cotterill's dream.

Edited January 10, 2007 by Paul B

[R A Softlad]

Wasn't Big Break the crap snooker programme with Davidson (nick-nick/chalky) and Virgo (no-dad waistcoats)?

[Paul B]

Just Wikipedia-ed it and it was actually called "The Big Time".

[Koogan]

I remember seeing it. Can't remember much though apart from the peno the lad missed.

[heighway]

I remember seeing it. Can't remember much though apart from the peno the lad missed.

 

Didn't he miss it twice? I seem to recall the ref ordering it to be retaken

[Cam]

I think the lad's name was Lol Cotterel

Just IMDB'd it - turns out it was a P. Crouch.

[Bootle Buck]

It wasn't Jim'll fix it but another "dreams come true"-type programme which was also responsible for launching Sheena Easton to pop stardom. My wife thinks it was called "Big Break" or some such. The game was against Manchester United and Tommy Smith trained the unfit Cotteral who was a smoker and liked a pint much to Smith's disgust. Liverpool were awarded a penalty in the last minute in front of the Kop and Cotteril took it. The pen was saved by Alex Stepney who was villified in the press for denying the lad his dream goal. Stepney defended himself saying that football is football and he always played it competitively and cared nowt for Cotterill's dream.

 

Good memory mate. I couldn't remember much about the game just him training. He was a pretty big fella from what I remember.

[Bootser]

Didn't he miss it twice? I seem to recall the ref ordering it to be retaken

 

While I remember it being taken twice I can't remember if he scored it at the second attempt. I do have a good recall on how hard Tommy Smith made him train

[Paul B]

While I remember it being taken twice I can't remember if he scored it at the second attempt. I do have a good recall on how hard Tommy Smith made him train

 

No, he definitely didn't score as I clearly remember the press criticising Stepney for the save. Last night, I dreamt about Esther Rantzen having a romantic dinner with Tommy Smith! Then I remembered that it was Rantzen who presented the programme and they'd set it up for Smith's testimonial. It was 1977 as well and either just before or just after the tilt at the treble that year.

[badtodabone]

im sure it was jim'll fix it i remember tommy smith trained him making him loose weight wearing plastic bags .

i just kept thinking "you lucky b@stard" playing at Anfield

[Guest Kev]

He played for The Wheatsheaf and was alledgedly a bit of a bad lad.

[Billy Dane]

It was Smith's testimonial game played on a very sunny Sunday, 1st one after we had won the European Cup in 77 (I think).

 

Anfield was packed, Keegan was taking the p1ss out of Joey Jones, mimicking his goal celebration when he scored. Joey wasn't there that day and the Kop were chanting "Joey's gonna get ya" at Keegan.

 

The whole of the kop sat down at one stage and got the old gits in the paddock, the main stand and the kemlyn to stand up. Seem to remember Tommy Smith also showed his a***....

 

Anyway Liverpool were losing 6-5 and Liverpool got a "penalty" in the last minute, which Lol stepped up to take. Stepney saved it to much booing from the kop. The ref said Stepney had moved so ordered it to be retaken (Stepney was not happy). Lol took it again, stepney saved it again, the ref said he had moved again, Tommy got pissed off pushed Lol out of the way and took the third pen himself and scored.

 

Game over. Great day out.

[aka Dus]

Bad form we played the testimonial versus Manchester United.

 

Wouldn't happen in the new days.

[fyds]

He played for The Wheatsheaf and was alledgedly a bit of a bad lad.

During one weekend while training under Smithy - I remember this well - he went out on the pop and pies...monday morning and Smithy nearly killed him telling the cameras to 'go away for a minute so i can have a word with this idiot' or some such.

 

They interviewed Stepney in the changing rooms afterward and he just said 'I have a professional reputation to think of - it's not just a game to me'. It was called 'The Big Time', as mentioned earlier and was hosted by Esther Rancid.

[Will]

Bad form we played the testimonial versus Manchester United.

 

It was actually a "Bobby Charlton Select" side - and the game ended 9-9 with Ray Clemence on target twice!

[smithdown]

Wasn't the testimonial played just a few days after 25/5/77, when they had sobered up a bit?

[Will]

Yep, on the 27th

[Paul B]

Yep, on the 27th

 

'Kinnell, and I thought I remembered a load of useless nonesense!!!

 

im sure it was jim'll fix it i remember tommy smith trained him making him loose weight wearing plastic bags .

i just kept thinking "you lucky b@stard" playing at Anfield

 

Nope, deffo "The Big Time". Amazingly though, it gave Sheeeeeena her first crack at pop stardom and to her credit, she took the chance with both hands. As she did Prince. Allegedly.