Who is the quickest player to ever wear the Blue & White stripes?

[Questions]

Franco Massimo. Played about 10 minutes in the 80's - was a 100m sprint champion, but not much of a footballer sadly.

English schools 100 medalist . His son Joe is a national champion as well.

 

[trueblue]

Not suggesting he was the fastest but Neil Smillie must have been pretty rapid as his main strength was just knock it past the full back and run like buggery. As I remember it - it was a long time ago.

 

[Medwayseagull]

Yes that was my thinking too, at the time we were gobsmacked at his speed, was like nothing I'd ever seen and was always topic of conversation regarding no end product!

My recollection of him was that he would get ball on the wing, knock it past the defender , chase after it, get there first and then balloon his cross over the bar.

 

[Eric Youngs Contact Lense]

English schools 100 medalist . His son Joe is a national champion as well.

I am no benchmark for pace, but I played against Franco (he went to Forest School in Horsham) and as a Full-back it was terrifying to have ball put over your head knowing you had 5 yards on him, but it wasn't going to be enough!!

 

[Berty23]

When Michael Owen signs in the next transfer window this thread will close.

 

[The Birdman]

Are we talking about with the ball or without it

 

[Bring back Bryan wade!!]

Are we talking about with the ball or without it

Always with

 

[Rogero]

Dave Armstrong. I thought he trained with GB sprinters?

 

[TWOCHOICEStom]

Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Gary Hart officially one of the quickest players in the entire league over 100m.

 

[Questions]

I am no benchmark for pace, but I played against Franco (he went to Forest School in Horsham) and as a Full-back it was terrifying to have ball put over your head knowing you had 5 yards on him, but it wasn't going to be enough!!

I think he ran around 10.7 ish when he was young. He is a smashing fellow as well. Our paths cross because my son is a county sprinter although a bit older than his boy. He is a slightly bit heavier now though than when he whizzed past you I think. Trains his boy well though.

 

[Grassman]

David Bellotti could sprint out of the box faster than anyone. The directors box, that is.

 

[kevtherev]

Darren Hughes.

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

Gerry Fell/Tony Towner

With the ball KLL?

 

[BigGully]

Certainly in the early 80's Neil Smillie was the quickest in the squad at the time, I got told that there was a 'race off' at the time between the two quickest, youngster Michael Ring and Neil Smillie and Smillie won it.

 

[beakyburn]

Dave Armstrong. I thought he trained with GB sprinters?

I worked on the ground staff and dear old Frankie Howard was my guvnor. Dave Armstrong arrived at the club and whilst they were training Frank said "Christ he is quick".

 

[Seagull on the wing]

We've had a few in the 70's/80's who could do the hundred pub sprint in under 10.2 pints

I seem to recall a winger in the 60s named Armstrong who I think we got from Millwall who was a sprint ace.

 

[rool]

I seem to recall a winger in the 60s named Armstrong who I think we got from Millwall who was a sprint ace.

Was it David?

 

[Puppet Master]

Andrei Kanchelskis, obvs.

 

[Alex Alex Dawson oo! oo!]

My recollection of him was that he would get ball on the wing, knock it past the defender , chase after it, get there first and then balloon his cross over the bar.

From memory, his other variant was to over-run the ball.

 

[Medwayseagull]

From memory, his other variant was to over-run the ball.

Yes or kick it too far ahead so it went out of play.