A long serving and really quality ex-right back of ours from the 70s (for those too young to remember). He's featured on the news this week with his daughter Chloe speaking out about her Dad's dementia and the wider subject of ex footballers and dementia.

I only saw the tail end of his career and my main memory of him wasn't his defensive but game but the fact he had a very powerful shot. I'm sure there are others out there who will have longer memories of him.

Chloe Ritson: Dementia care is so expensive | 'Funding has to be there for ex-players' | Football News | Sky Sports 

Here's his Wikipedia page for those who want his stats and some detail. He's 74 years old now and clearly has a good family around him.

John Ritson - Wikipedia

7 hours ago, FrancisFogarty said:

It was

Hopkinson

Ritson Farimond

Rimmer Hulme and……..

Bromley Byrom Hill Davies and…….

In no particular order for my first games. 
I sort of remember that line up from the 70s but I can’t remember what I had for my tea last night.

Terry Wharton

1 hour ago, Zico said:

The point was the headline of the article saying dementia care is expensive so funding should be made available to ex footballers 

I agree with the last sentence, but that's not the point either

It should be available to them, as with everyone. 

Don't know what earnings have to do with it. 

8 hours ago, FrancisFogarty said:

It was

Hopkinson

Ritson Farimond

Rimmer Hulme and……..

Bromley Byrom Hill Davies and…….

In no particular order for my first games. 
I sort of remember that line up from the 70s but I can’t remember what I had for my tea last night.

Wasn’t Roy Greaves part of that midfield and would it have been too early for a young Franny Lee?

So sorry to hear stories like this but as has been said it’s just so common now as people live longer.

Edited May 24, 20242 yr by Whitesince63

2 hours ago, paulhanley said:

Peter Jones was the best there was or is every likely to be. There were others in his day like Bryon Butler and Larry Canning but he was the best of the lot. Would have loved to have heard his commentary on Ritson's goal. It would have been Radio 2 in those days. Two commentators and one co-commentator, often Dennis Law.

Me and my old fella used to listen on the radio to Peter Jones in the 70s, you’re right he was the best.

1 hour ago, woolli said:

Dont think he played in the team after we got promoted, think he went to Bury. Think your right about the Mansfield goal.

Checked on his wiki and he had contract dispute and left for bury, I was behind the goal at Mansfield think it was a dipping shot that went under the bar. 2 days before my 14th Birthday, rocked up at Moor lane bus station without coach ticket, all coaches rammed looked like was gonna miss it until Ribble request rated a 584 bus and off we went at about 40mph. Happy days. 

when you think how sports coverage has come on, the midweek comms on radio 2 say it all

 

the programme would come on at 5 past 8 and you would just get the last hour

now its wall to wall in glorious HD

coverage is much better but the commentators have gone backwards, probably cos the talent is spread so thinly

1 minute ago, Mounts Kipper said:

Checked on his wiki and he had contract dispute and left for bury, I was behind the goal at Mansfield think it was a dipping shot that went under the bar. 2 days before my 14th Birthday, rocked up at Moor lane bus station without coach ticket, all coaches rammed looked like was gonna miss it until Ribble request rated a 584 bus and off we went at about 40mph. Happy days. 

Great days! Was the " posher " coach company who went from Moor Lane Hargreaves?

1 hour ago, paulhanley said:

Maybe we need to make a distinction between many modern day footballers who will make huge wealth over the course of their careers and the likes of John Ritson who made little more than blokes who did other jobs during their era. 

The NHS doesn't provide social care - that's provided by councils. And if you've got more than about £25K in savings that are vast charges.

yeah i know, my dad has carers come 3 times a day and it's basically eating away at my inheritance his savings at a rapid rate

1 hour ago, Whitesince63 said:

Wasn’t Roy Greaves part of that midfield and would it have been too early for a young Franny Lee?

So sorry to hear stories like this but as has been said it’s just so common now as people live longer.

To late for Franny Lee

1 hour ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

It should be available to them, as with everyone. 

Don't know what earnings have to do with it. 

if Alladyce developed it I wouldn't expect "football" to pay for the additioanl care he requires on top of what the NHS provides for free

maybe I'm coming across as a twat, I don't mean to, and I know some 70s footballers aren't as minted as others

but 1 in 3 people get dementia, it might have something to do with heading a ball, it might not, but it's expensive for everyone to get additional treatment

anyway

as casino said, get the PFA to pay for it through current footballers contributions

but not for goalkeepers, because they don't head it

Since various posters have mentioned the two subjects of our cup games v Tottenham in early 1978 and the defenders John Ritson would have lined up with, let's combine the two and give Don McCallister a mention. A centre back who came through the ranks with Allardyce and Jones. Would have played with JR in the early 70s before we sold him to Tottenham for decent money. 

1 hour ago, Whitesince63 said:

Wasn’t Roy Greaves part of that midfield and would it have been too early for a young Franny Lee?

So sorry to hear stories like this but as has been said it’s just so common now as people live longer.

Ritson took the no.7 jersey on his debut after Lee had gone to City. 
He converted to right-back & played his part in Armfield’s title winning team (Div 3).His main competition for the first team was Peter Nicholson , this continued up until we got promoted to the first division after which he went to Bury along with Alan Waldron.

I always preferred him to Nicho mainly because of his powerful tackling & ferocious shot.

Anyway dementia is a nasty reality for many ageing people & not just ex footballers. If his family can get support from the FA good luck to them.

Edited May 24, 20242 yr by Take Hunt Off
Correction

49 minutes ago, Casino said:

when you think how sports coverage has come on, the midweek comms on radio 2 say it all

 

the programme would come on at 5 past 8 and you would just get the last hour

now its wall to wall in glorious HD

coverage is much better but the commentators have gone backwards, probably cos the talent is spread so thinly

Yes that'll be the issue, in those days you had Radio 2 and not much else. Even local radio was in its infancy. 

You did only get second half commentary. Usually book-ended on Radio 2 by programmes devoted to easy listening/brass band/big band music. You don't hear that type of music much anywhere these days, When I do I'm reminded of Radio 2 in the 70s and 80s waiting for a football commentary or the midweek results. Often with imperfect/crackly reception. 

That's my only real recollection of Ritson. Listening to that commentary from the Spurs game with my dad going berserk when he scored.  For some reason, time probably, I thought he'd scored the 1st and Gary Jones(?) got the winner in ET. 

1 hour ago, Take Hunt Off said:

Ritson took the no.7 jersey on his debut after Lee had gone to City. 
He converted to right-back & played his part in Armfield’s title winning team (Div 3).His main competition for the first team was Peter Nicholson , this continued up until we got promoted to the first division after which he went to Bury along with Alan Waldron.

I always preferred him to Nicho mainly because of his powerful tackling & ferocious shot.

Anyway dementia is a nasty reality for many ageing people & not just ex footballers. If his family can get support from the FA good luck to them.

Cheers for that I must have got my timings wrong. 🙂

Piccadilly radio ... it's a goooooaaaaaallll

and hoping to fcuk it's us.

3 hours ago, woolli said:

Terry Wharton

Terry Wharton, Roy, and Gareth Williams were all around the same time I think, like Alan Waldron and maybe Alan Boswell Charlie Cooper. 
I was very young remember, even me.

6 minutes ago, FrancisFogarty said:

Terry Wharton, Roy, and Gareth Williams were all around the same time I think, like Alan Waldron and maybe Alan Boswell Charlie Cooper. 
I was very young remember, even me.

Alan Boswell took over from Eddie Hopkinson, yes Terry, Roy, and Gareth from around 68/69, Alan Waldron later, Charlie Cooper just before. And Paul Marsh i think it was who took over the left back spot from Syd Farrimond.

3 hours ago, woolli said:

Great days! Was the " posher " coach company who went from Moor Lane Hargreaves?

It was Hargreaves, think it was 50p cheaper on Ribble so they usually got my business.

2 minutes ago, Mounts Kipper said:

It was Hargreaves, think it was 50p cheaper on Ribble so they usually got my business.

i was a Ribble lad! Different class on them Hargreaves lol!

42 minutes ago, wakey said:

Piccadilly radio ... it's a goooooaaaaaallll

and hoping to fcuk it's us.

That second season in the first division the year we got relegated we conceded loads of late goals and when its a goal! rang out you just knew we had conceded and lost... the Chelsea defeat from 3 up was the killer for my mate as we played football in the street listening to the events at Stamford Bridge when the 4th went in he chased another mate who was a red down the street for taking the piss... then on his return smashed up his radio!!

  

51 minutes ago, wakey said:

Piccadilly radio ... it's a goooooaaaaaallll

and hoping to fcuk it's us.

Gawd, that takes me back!

17 minutes ago, Mounts Kipper said:

It was Hargreaves, think it was 50p cheaper on Ribble so they usually got my business.

Was it not ten bob in those days? 

32 minutes ago, SatanGreavsie said:

Gawd, that takes me back!

oh noooooooooooo

37 minutes ago, Mounts Kipper said:

That second season in the first division the year we got relegated we conceded loads of late goals and when its a goal! rang out you just knew we had conceded and lost... the Chelsea defeat from 3 up was the killer for my mate as we played football in the street listening to the events at Stamford Bridge when the 4th went in he chased another mate who was a red down the street for taking the piss... then on his return smashed up his radio!!

  

I was thinking of that Chelsea game earlier.

Would have been "ooooohhhhhh nooooooo" when we conceded (unless we were playing another local team).