Exclusive interview with Ian St John

[Arnie]

Ian St John may be a controversial figure among Liverpool fans today considering his views of the Liverpool teams in the past decade, but older fans remember him as one of the biggest warriors they have ever seen play for Liverpool. He was certainly one of Shankly's favourite players, if not THE favourite, and will always be remembered as the man who scored the winning goal when Liverpool won the FA Cup for the first time in 1965.

 

LFChistory's exclusive interview with the "Saint" focuses on the past glories of Ian St John, his special relationship with Bill Shankly and his greatest asset, his fighting ability which sometimes got the better of him. Rarely have we seen a player enjoy as much telling stories from his past and they were highly entertaining.

 

Bill Shankly on Ian St John: "My first great buy. St John and Ronnie Yeats started it all. Clever, canny, bags of skill, made things happen. Liked a scrap too. Jesus, did he like a scrap. I sometimes wanted to tie his fists behind his back. Great player though. Gave you everything on the pitch. Mind you, a lazy bugger at training. He hated it. Always trying to pull one on us. But what a player."

 

Click here to read LFChistory's exclusive interview with Ian St John >>

http://www.lfchistory.net/redcorner_articl...article_id=2475

Edited April 7, 2009 by Arnie

[The Hitman]

Love that first sentence.

"Basically,everybody today thinks he's a real knob.He used to be a great player though."

[Crazy Horse]

Thanks Arnie, fantastic job. It's great that you're increasing the awareness of the exploits of our previous generations of players. Well done.

Edited April 7, 2009 by Crazy Horse

[Red_Rob]

Never quite forgiven him for the poison he spewed during Houllier's time.

[Arnie]

Love that first sentence.

"Basically,everybody today thinks he's a real knob.He used to be a great player though."

 

Well, it didn't exactly say that, but it' hard not to notice that he's not exactly won the hearts of Liverpool supporterts in recent years with his opinions.

Edited April 8, 2009 by Arnie

[Arnie]

Thanks Arnie, fantastic job. It's great that you're increasing the awareness of the exploits of our previous generations of players. Well done.

 

Thank you, Crazy horse... I think the 50' and 60's players are the most interesting to talk to as their experiences are quite unique and they have much more of a story to tell.

Edited April 8, 2009 by Arnie

[jimmylibel]

Can't bring myself to read anything by or about him I'm afraid. Thought he was completely odious during the GH era and just can't abide him now as a result.

[Boca]

Thank you, Crazy horse... I think the 50' and 60's players are the most interesting to talk to as their experiences are quite unique and they have much more of a story to tell.

 

 

Did you interview him Arnie? I was wondering if you were tempted to ask his attitude towards Houllier?

[Arnie]

Did you interview him Arnie? I was wondering if you were tempted to ask his attitude towards Houllier?

 

Yes, I did interview him. First and foremost I wanted to focus on his career at Liverpool... incidentally a mate of mine had a Liverpool book where a picture of Houllier was on the cover and let's just say St John's remark when he saw that was less than complimentary. I think everybody has grown weary of his anti-Houllier stance (he's said some things in the past that have pissed me off to) and I wanted just everyone to focus on what a wonderful player he was. Some say he's arrogant, but he came across as a very entertaining fella who was constantly joking and laughing when reminiscing especially about Shanks and I left him with nothing but good memories of him.

Edited April 8, 2009 by Arnie

[Spiblish]

The fact he would only refer to GH as "the Frenchman" was enough for me - Xenophobic idiot IMO

[The Hitman]

The man's a total w*nker.

[Snookie]

I like some skillful players who have come from around the world. Marvellous players. I wish they were all like little Zola. He was terrific. He was the littlest guy and if you whacked him he'd get knocked over, get up and play on. I used to look at him and say: 'Son, you are really a British player.'

 

By all accounts a wonderful player, but as a human being he is xenophobic t*** as someone has already said. I can't forgive him for his partnership with Jimmy Greaves. As far as I'm concerned they are the the fore-fathers as Tim Lovejoy and his ilk.

[Tommok]

By all accounts a wonderful player, but as a human being he is xenophobic t*** as someone has already said. I can't forgive him for his partnership with Jimmy Greaves. As far as I'm concerned they are the the fore-fathers as Tim Lovejoy and his ilk.

 

True but then a xenophobic t**t and a mumbling alcoholic ignoramus are probably vastly more preferable than that t**t Lovejoy.

 

Saint and Greavsie were both incredible players and so at least they had some reason to be arrogant, Lovejoy is a talentless idiot and probably only really started following Chelsea when he (wrongly) thought it was "cool".

[Snookie]

True but then a xenophobic t**t and a mumbling alcoholic ignoramus are probably vastly more preferable than that t**t Lovejoy.

 

Saint and Greavsie were both incredible players and so at least they had some reason to be arrogant, Lovejoy is a talentless idiot and probably only really started following Chelsea when he (wrongly) thought it was "cool".

 

 

You're absolutely right. Greaves was an though a reasonably interesting character before that programme. There was an excellent documentary made about his alcoholism. There was a great conversation between Peter Cook and himself sitting on a park bench. Greaves more than held his own in a very funny discussion about the impact of drink on their respective lives.