September means we are ready to start a new season and over the coming months we have many exciting things to look forwards to. Our regular and always popular meetings at the KCOM, those fabulous outings organised by our Barbara and the encouragement to try something different – like ‘Walking Football’. The Senior Tigers are ready for it!
Once again the football club very kindly offered to provide us all with a Buffet Lunch to mark the new season and with approx 150 members gathered they all received a truly excellent and most generous lunch in the Circle Restaurant. A rapturous round of applause was sent back to the Events Team and Club.
David, our Chair, reported that following our AGM he and two other members of the Committee had met with Tom Rowell & Luke Cash. It was a good meeting at which we were thanked for our willingness to change our planned speaker at the August meeting. Having David Burns was considered to be too close to the change of Media partners. The Club have promised to provide speakers for four of our meetings during the coming season. They also confirmed that arrangements would continue as last season with regards to room hire, provision of tea & coffee and website hosting. They informed us, however, that they want us to change our logo which currently uses the official Tiger’s head. This was, of course, offered to us but they are now trying to secure the use of the image for the football club only. They have not pressured us to change immediately, appreciating that this would be difficult. They also offered us the free support of their Graphic Design Team to help us, should we request.
Given the assurances about our expenses with the football club the Chair told the meeting that we were now happy to release £500 to support some of the young boys of the Academy who have difficulty in providing basic equipment or travel expenses. As last year we will direct this gift through the Tiger’s Executive Club. The meeting was unanimous in supporting that proposal.
The Chair mentioned that, having taken advice, the Committee have taken out Insurance Cover to ensure that members are always fully covered on our activities.
Acklams have once again agreed to sponsor the Senior Tigers. They will be joined this season by new sponsors, Tucker Mechanical & Electrical Building Services. These sponsors have offered us generous donations.
The forthcoming trips were set to be great occasions. Manchester City (Oct) & Sheffield United (Nov) are already fully booked, although members can ask to be put on a reserve list should places become available. There were just 5 places left for the Grimsby trip later in the month.
Ernie introduced the idea of a Senior Tiger’s Walking Club and members are encouraged to let him know if they would be interested. Contact him via the website Contacts page.
Preambles over we were now ready to welcome our special guest, Andy Saville. Now working as a postman his arrival was delayed through work commitments but once with us we all received full value. Andy grew up in Hull and learnt the basics of football skills at Malet Lambert School, giving praise to his early mentor, Mr Huckstep. He was drafted into the City Minors at 16 years, encouraged by Pete Sissons, Arthur Perry & Mike Rawding, but no offer of an apprenticeship would be offered. From school he joined Reckitts and played as much football as was possible and at the mature age he was invited to join the professional ranks – albeit taking a pay cut to do so! He signed on and the rest is history.
He made his City debut in 1983 whilst still only registered as part-time. City beat Port Vale 1-0. His first goal for the club would not arrive until 1985 when Billy Whitehurst flick a ball through for Andy to round the Cambridge United goalie and score. He eventually made 101 appearances for the club scoring 18 goals. His highlight game was a ‘derby’ against Grimsby Town when he was introduced as a 2nd half substitute and the Tigers trailing by 2 goals. His two goals that afternoon would earn the Tigers a point and help the Mariners towards relegation!
He admits to being gutted when his time with City came to an end but life after the Tigers saw him play for Wallsall, Barnsley, Hartlepool, Birmingham City, PNE, Wigan, Cardiff & Scarboro. At the ‘Pool he banged in 20 goals in a season which then saw him transferred to B’rum and add a further 9 goals in just 10 games. Andy was top scorer that season for two different teams. At Preston he scored 30 goals in his first season and promotion. That was the first of three successive promotions, the other two being with Wigan. His colleagues at Preston included David Moyes, Russ Wilcox & Graham Atkinson.
Best team mate: Gary Parker
Best Captain: Ian Bryson (PNE)
Best Manager: Gary Peters (PNE)
Biggest ‘nutter’: Barry Fry!
Asked about today’s football he felt that players had rather lost touch with the supporters, they had become like film stars and were beyond the reach of the average fan. He expressed some hopes for the current City side although realised that they would take some time to ‘bed in’. He wqas disappointed to see the lack of local lads in the team – 6/8 when he was playing.
On match days Andy is often around the club as part of Dean Windass’ squad to entertain the Corporate Guests.
