A West Ham United footballing legend was the special guest at the King’s Lynn Irons Club’s 2018 Christmas meal on Friday. (See a gallery of our pictures from the night below. If you require a higher resolution image, please email [email protected])
Tony Cottee posed for pictures with members of KLIC at Titchwell Manor, signed West Ham memorabilia and recounted countless stories of his time playing for his home club over two spells, the first ending in 1988 before returning to the team in 1994 after time at Everton.
Cottee also made seven appearances for Norwich City in 2000 before managing Barnet and going on to be a TV commentator for Sky Sports.
The 53-year-old played for the Hammers 212 times, scoring 92 goals, after making his debut with the team in 1983 at the age of 17 and he was the PFA Young Player of the Year in 1986 when West Ham finished third in the then Division One.
His international career saw him win seven caps after his debut for England against Sweden in 1986 and just this year he made a cameo appearance in the film Final Score in which he was murdered!
Mark Steele, KLIC's secretary, said: “Having Tony as the guest at our Christmas meal was a very special occasion in the history of the King’s Lynn Irons Club.
“As well as signing all whole host of things, including football boots and matchday programmes, he also embraced the more unusual request from one member of FaceTiming a family friend!
“The boys of ‘86 with Tony and Frank playing up front was a fantastic era for the club and it was wonderful that Tony came to West Norfolk to meet our members and chat to them about the great times he had with the team.
“One story he did tell from that time was going on a pre-season tour to Amsterdam where John Lyall let the boys go out with an 11pm curfew. He was impressed when Tony and Frank returned at 10.45pm but then they left via the fire escape and stayed out until 3am.
“The next morning at breakfast John said he knew some had been out but asked that the guilty parties anonymously place a fine of £50 on the table. He left the room for a short time and returned expecting to see a couple of hundred only to find £1,200 as the whole squad had been out!
"Another anecdote from that 1985/86 season is that so prolific were Tony and Frank that against Aston Villa Frank offered Tony a bet of £100 as to who could score the best goal. Tony struck a beauty from about 25 yards out, Frank joked you little so and so, a little later Frank scores with a sublime lob, they won 4-1 scoring two each and were arguing long after who scored the best.
"On Monday morning John Lyall called them both into his office, 'now then lads I’ve heard that you two had a bet between on Saturday, is that right?' They owned and John Lyall fined them both £1000. Tony lambasted Frank for the idea!
"Tony also spoke about his spell in Malaysia, where he was the target man as he was tallest player in the team. He said he was also pleased to hear the crowds signing 'Cottee, Cottee, Cottee', until someone said it meant ‘little prick’ in Malaysian.
"Later in the evening Tony did a long Q&A session where Paul Harvey asked who was the biggest influence on his career, to which he replied: 'Professionally John Lyall and personally my Dad'. As for the best players Tony had played with, he said: Parkes, Stewart, Dicks, Bonds, Martin, Gale, Ward, Beardsley, Brooking, McAvennie and lastly he put himself in!
"As for his regrets, he said not remaining a one-club player like Trevor Brooking did, not scoring for England, and playing for Millwall!"
Tony Cottee posed for pictures with members of KLIC at Titchwell Manor, signed West Ham memorabilia and recounted countless stories of his time playing for his home club over two spells, the first ending in 1988 before returning to the team in 1994 after time at Everton.
Cottee also made seven appearances for Norwich City in 2000 before managing Barnet and going on to be a TV commentator for Sky Sports.
The 53-year-old played for the Hammers 212 times, scoring 92 goals, after making his debut with the team in 1983 at the age of 17 and he was the PFA Young Player of the Year in 1986 when West Ham finished third in the then Division One.
His international career saw him win seven caps after his debut for England against Sweden in 1986 and just this year he made a cameo appearance in the film Final Score in which he was murdered!
Mark Steele, KLIC's secretary, said: “Having Tony as the guest at our Christmas meal was a very special occasion in the history of the King’s Lynn Irons Club.
“As well as signing all whole host of things, including football boots and matchday programmes, he also embraced the more unusual request from one member of FaceTiming a family friend!
“The boys of ‘86 with Tony and Frank playing up front was a fantastic era for the club and it was wonderful that Tony came to West Norfolk to meet our members and chat to them about the great times he had with the team.
“One story he did tell from that time was going on a pre-season tour to Amsterdam where John Lyall let the boys go out with an 11pm curfew. He was impressed when Tony and Frank returned at 10.45pm but then they left via the fire escape and stayed out until 3am.
“The next morning at breakfast John said he knew some had been out but asked that the guilty parties anonymously place a fine of £50 on the table. He left the room for a short time and returned expecting to see a couple of hundred only to find £1,200 as the whole squad had been out!
"Another anecdote from that 1985/86 season is that so prolific were Tony and Frank that against Aston Villa Frank offered Tony a bet of £100 as to who could score the best goal. Tony struck a beauty from about 25 yards out, Frank joked you little so and so, a little later Frank scores with a sublime lob, they won 4-1 scoring two each and were arguing long after who scored the best.
"On Monday morning John Lyall called them both into his office, 'now then lads I’ve heard that you two had a bet between on Saturday, is that right?' They owned and John Lyall fined them both £1000. Tony lambasted Frank for the idea!
"Tony also spoke about his spell in Malaysia, where he was the target man as he was tallest player in the team. He said he was also pleased to hear the crowds signing 'Cottee, Cottee, Cottee', until someone said it meant ‘little prick’ in Malaysian.
"Later in the evening Tony did a long Q&A session where Paul Harvey asked who was the biggest influence on his career, to which he replied: 'Professionally John Lyall and personally my Dad'. As for the best players Tony had played with, he said: Parkes, Stewart, Dicks, Bonds, Martin, Gale, Ward, Beardsley, Brooking, McAvennie and lastly he put himself in!
"As for his regrets, he said not remaining a one-club player like Trevor Brooking did, not scoring for England, and playing for Millwall!"