Asking footballers for autograph thread.
Discussion
Last week on holiday in Dubai , Steven Gerrard was staying in the same hotel.
The two boys who live next door to me are massive Liverpool / Gerrard fans , so I said to my wife I would love to get his autograph for them.
That gave me a bit of a dilemma , I did not really want to spoil his holiday and certainly had no intention of interrupting him when he was with his family . Anyway later on I noticed him training on the grass near the beach ,so off I went to get a pen and notepaper, when I came back he was nowhere to be seen , b
ks I've missed my chance I thought. I was walking back to my room when I literally bumped into him and his trainer/ mate , so took my chance and asked him politely
No bother , he signed two autographs , one for each boy , it took about a minute tops, we then all went our separate ways.
Last night , I gave the boys the autographs in a small frame each , If you had see their faces it was a priceless moment , they are genuinely over the moon and could not stop smiling all night , no doubt I'm their best mate at the moment either.
Definitely would not have asked if he had been with his family and felt reluctant to ask anyway , but so glad I did .
Top man.
The two boys who live next door to me are massive Liverpool / Gerrard fans , so I said to my wife I would love to get his autograph for them.
That gave me a bit of a dilemma , I did not really want to spoil his holiday and certainly had no intention of interrupting him when he was with his family . Anyway later on I noticed him training on the grass near the beach ,so off I went to get a pen and notepaper, when I came back he was nowhere to be seen , b
ks I've missed my chance I thought. I was walking back to my room when I literally bumped into him and his trainer/ mate , so took my chance and asked him politelyNo bother , he signed two autographs , one for each boy , it took about a minute tops, we then all went our separate ways.
Last night , I gave the boys the autographs in a small frame each , If you had see their faces it was a priceless moment , they are genuinely over the moon and could not stop smiling all night , no doubt I'm their best mate at the moment either.
Definitely would not have asked if he had been with his family and felt reluctant to ask anyway , but so glad I did .
Top man.
Nice story, well done Steven Gerrard, but anybody who condems celebrities who are reluctant to sign must realise to get asked maybe hundreds of times a day it must be a real pain.
I have first hand experience of this. About 20 years ago on a weekday afternoon Bobby Charlton pulled up on the car park outside Old Trafford..(He is a director there)..there were a LOT of schoolkids mooching around, plus a few school parties probably on the way to the museum.
He hardly had time to step out of his BMW when he was surrounded, and I mean surounded by around 100 kids all demanding his autograph.
This was around 20 years AFTER he had stopped playing......to be fair he obliged (He didn't have any choice)..but he was delayed over 15 minutes, I couldn't believe it.
He must have had fifty years of this.
I have first hand experience of this. About 20 years ago on a weekday afternoon Bobby Charlton pulled up on the car park outside Old Trafford..(He is a director there)..there were a LOT of schoolkids mooching around, plus a few school parties probably on the way to the museum.
He hardly had time to step out of his BMW when he was surrounded, and I mean surounded by around 100 kids all demanding his autograph.
This was around 20 years AFTER he had stopped playing......to be fair he obliged (He didn't have any choice)..but he was delayed over 15 minutes, I couldn't believe it.
He must have had fifty years of this.
When I worked for Sharp Electronics I got quite a few opps to meet the United players. This is quite ironic as I am the most 'non football' sort of bloke there is.
Anyway, I got Ferguson's autograph on the back of my business card (chief bog cleaner) and later Cantona's. Gave them to my sister over in Oz whose husband is a massive Man U fan.
Anyway, I got Ferguson's autograph on the back of my business card (chief bog cleaner) and later Cantona's. Gave them to my sister over in Oz whose husband is a massive Man U fan.
My parents used to provide digs for young Chelsea players that Tommy doc had brought down from scotland when they used to train at Mitcham , Every season the family was granted a pair of season tickets , players lounge etc
It must have Everton they were playing & in walked Alan ball , i was desperate for his Autograph & asked him politely , he told me to bugger off , five minute later big Dave Webb came up to me with Ball's signature , nobody argued with him
great days
It must have Everton they were playing & in walked Alan ball , i was desperate for his Autograph & asked him politely , he told me to bugger off , five minute later big Dave Webb came up to me with Ball's signature , nobody argued with him
great days
I went to the training ground at London Colney (is it Arsenal?) and it was a training day so the car was full of Lincoln Navigators, Ferrari's, Merc etc.
Just wondered around the main building delivering water cooler bottles. The place was packed with what I can only assume, by the way they were either smartly dressed or wearing kit, were the teams players. Couldn't for the life of me recognise any of them but one foreign chap showed me the way to a cooler I couldn't find!
Nice chap.
Oh and he signed the paperwork!
Just wondered around the main building delivering water cooler bottles. The place was packed with what I can only assume, by the way they were either smartly dressed or wearing kit, were the teams players. Couldn't for the life of me recognise any of them but one foreign chap showed me the way to a cooler I couldn't find!
Nice chap.
Oh and he signed the paperwork!
As a kid I went to Tottenham back in the early 90's and was in a box. At half time Gazza was in the bar watching the horse racing. I got his autograph after he made me say please!!!
Went to watch England B team play at Watford one day after school. Just before kick off the England first team say down in front of us. Managed to get the whole team autograph's on the match programme. I have since looked for that programme and cannot find it anywhere!
Went to watch England B team play at Watford one day after school. Just before kick off the England first team say down in front of us. Managed to get the whole team autograph's on the match programme. I have since looked for that programme and cannot find it anywhere!
Black can man said:
My parents used to provide digs for young Chelsea players that Tommy doc had brought down from scotland when they used to train at Mitcham , Every season the family was granted a pair of season tickets , players lounge etc
It must have Everton they were playing & in walked Alan ball , i was desperate for his Autograph & asked him politely , he told me to bugger off , five minute later big Dave Webb came up to me with Ball's signature , nobody argued with him
great days
I met Alan Ball when I was a kid, asked for his autograph, and he just glared at me and walked on. At least you got the benefit of a verbal reply! It must have Everton they were playing & in walked Alan ball , i was desperate for his Autograph & asked him politely , he told me to bugger off , five minute later big Dave Webb came up to me with Ball's signature , nobody argued with him
great days
Puggit said:
GTIR said:
I went to the training ground at London Colney (is it Arsenal?)
Might have been Watford 
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Colney#secti...
Under "Local Features"
"Arsenal F.C. has its training ground on Bell Lane, London Colney, comprising a high-tech indoor training and fitness facility with outdoor football pitches. The training ground is also occasionally used by the England football squad, which regularly stay at the nearby The Grove Hotel during home matches at Wembley Stadium. Watford F.C. also train in London Colney on Arsenal F.C.'s old training ground which is situated next to their current one."
Don't ask Jason Plato outside a Dry Cleaners - I hear he's a bit touchy 
When I was racing motorbikes, well after I stopped actually, my team mate (who was way wealthier than me!) progressed to doing British Super Stocks in the BSB series, and I kinda ran the little team for him, did all the logistics, and spannered the bike.
Suddenly I was sharing a race paddock at weekends alongside all the BSB stars I used to watch and cheer along on TV. And they're big faces too - a lot of them have ended up in World Superbikes and MOTO GP - and a lot of them were ex World series international riders, coming to BSB to finish up their careers.
As I was official 'staff' now, with a team shirt and an 'access all areas' pass, I would literally get loads of opportunities to stand alongside and chat idly to some of these boys. So the dilemma was, as I now looked like a professional, official part of the whole 'circus,' and not just a fan who'd got into the paddock - how would they react if, after spending 10 minutes chatting on the pitlane wall, I then said 'anyway, before you go - can you sign this please - I'm a huge fan of yours!!!'
But actually - that's what I did. I thought fk it - this might be the only chance I'll ever get - so I'm pleased to say, each and every one of them happily signed all the st I put in front of them - and to my delight, since then, one or two have become friends and I'm still in touch with them.
Then because of my connections through racing, I've been lucky enough to have an access all areas pass to some of the world MOTO GP events at Donington. I'm lucky enough to have had access to the likes of Valentine Rossi etc. and get shirts and all kinds of memorabilia signed. Even from people like the BBC commentators too - Steve Parrish etc., and Dr. Costa, the famous travelling GP Doctor.
Back in the early 80's too, my Dad was friends with the caretaker of Fulham FC at Craven Cottage. He invited us along to a training day once. Maybe a bit wasted on us, as we've never been huge footie fans, but still, we went along.
The whole squad were absolutely great! I was only about 10 years old - but the team invited me onto the pitch side to watch the training. After that, some of the players came over and chatted to me, asking me if I was gonna be a footballer when I grew up, all that kinda thing! I got lots of smiles and 'ruffled hair' from them, which was great. Before we went, one of the trainers got hold of a big poster of the squad, and the whole team took the time to line up while each one of them took their turn to sign their signature over themselves onto the poster!
So in my experience - I think that most people who become famous recognise the responsibility that goes with it - and the fact that they might not even be there if it wasn't for the backing of ordinary Joes like us.
When I was racing motorbikes, well after I stopped actually, my team mate (who was way wealthier than me!) progressed to doing British Super Stocks in the BSB series, and I kinda ran the little team for him, did all the logistics, and spannered the bike.
Suddenly I was sharing a race paddock at weekends alongside all the BSB stars I used to watch and cheer along on TV. And they're big faces too - a lot of them have ended up in World Superbikes and MOTO GP - and a lot of them were ex World series international riders, coming to BSB to finish up their careers.
As I was official 'staff' now, with a team shirt and an 'access all areas' pass, I would literally get loads of opportunities to stand alongside and chat idly to some of these boys. So the dilemma was, as I now looked like a professional, official part of the whole 'circus,' and not just a fan who'd got into the paddock - how would they react if, after spending 10 minutes chatting on the pitlane wall, I then said 'anyway, before you go - can you sign this please - I'm a huge fan of yours!!!'
But actually - that's what I did. I thought f
k it - this might be the only chance I'll ever get - so I'm pleased to say, each and every one of them happily signed all the st I put in front of them - and to my delight, since then, one or two have become friends and I'm still in touch with them.Then because of my connections through racing, I've been lucky enough to have an access all areas pass to some of the world MOTO GP events at Donington. I'm lucky enough to have had access to the likes of Valentine Rossi etc. and get shirts and all kinds of memorabilia signed. Even from people like the BBC commentators too - Steve Parrish etc., and Dr. Costa, the famous travelling GP Doctor.
Back in the early 80's too, my Dad was friends with the caretaker of Fulham FC at Craven Cottage. He invited us along to a training day once. Maybe a bit wasted on us, as we've never been huge footie fans, but still, we went along.
The whole squad were absolutely great! I was only about 10 years old - but the team invited me onto the pitch side to watch the training. After that, some of the players came over and chatted to me, asking me if I was gonna be a footballer when I grew up, all that kinda thing! I got lots of smiles and 'ruffled hair' from them, which was great. Before we went, one of the trainers got hold of a big poster of the squad, and the whole team took the time to line up while each one of them took their turn to sign their signature over themselves onto the poster!
So in my experience - I think that most people who become famous recognise the responsibility that goes with it - and the fact that they might not even be there if it wasn't for the backing of ordinary Joes like us.
I used to work in a well known high street mobile phone retailer. A couple of the lads I used to work with are massive Stoke fans so they were understandably quite chuffed when Ricardo Fuller (Stoke City Striker) came in one day. One of them served him, spent quite a while helping him with a few things and showing him various stuff. he came in a couple of days later to give him a shirt signed by the whole team and a Jamaica shirt signed by him as a thank you for taking the time to help him out. All round top bloke to be fair, was always quite funny seeing other people when he came in.
GTIR said:
I went to the training ground at London Colney (is it Arsenal?) and it was a training day so the car was full of Lincoln Navigators, Ferrari's, Merc etc.
Just wondered around the main building delivering water cooler bottles. The place was packed with what I can only assume, by the way they were either smartly dressed or wearing kit, were the teams players. Couldn't for the life of me recognise any of them but one foreign chap showed me the way to a cooler I couldn't find!
Nice chap.
Oh and he signed the paperwork!
Complete sJust wondered around the main building delivering water cooler bottles. The place was packed with what I can only assume, by the way they were either smartly dressed or wearing kit, were the teams players. Couldn't for the life of me recognise any of them but one foreign chap showed me the way to a cooler I couldn't find!
Nice chap.
Oh and he signed the paperwork!
thole full of aholes I imagine 
I used to be happy to sign autographs during my rugby days, figured that without fans coming to games I'd be out of a job 
but also I knew I'd feel crappy if I asked someone for their autograph and they refused, plus that little faux signature can inspire young kids.
I do remember harassing other rugby players when I was younger for their autographs, most were happy to do so apart from Rob Andrew who was a complete cock and wanted money for signing an England jersey that was to be auctioned to help the youth section.
but also I knew I'd feel crappy if I asked someone for their autograph and they refused, plus that little faux signature can inspire young kids. I do remember harassing other rugby players when I was younger for their autographs, most were happy to do so apart from Rob Andrew who was a complete cock and wanted money for signing an England jersey that was to be auctioned to help the youth section.
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