Kerry W

Writer, dreamer and a lover of Chips!

[TV Football 1968-92 @1968Tv]

It's 36 years ago today since the tragic events at Hillsborough.
If you listen to one thing today listen to this.
Commentator Peter Jones with his final report on BBC Sport On 2.
Simple, but very powerful words

No one should go to a football match and not come home!

RIP The 97

[Kerry W @KerryInTheCity]

@SianThymes @bossholt this clip! It’s got the argument in the boxes 😂 x

[Henry Winter @henrywinter]

Toto Schillaci – a tribute. Schillaci, who has passed away aged 59, was the comet that tore across Italia 90, helping light up an unforgettable World Cup. The Sicilian’s eyes burned with intensity, and his whole body exuded a passion for goals, for the game and for his country.

Schillaci scored six times to take the Golden Boot and Golden Ball and what made the fairy-tale even more special was that it was largely a tale of the unexpected. It didn't simply feel that Schillaci stepped from the substitutes' bench, but from the terraces such was his utter determination to make an impact. He was a good player for Juventus, but down the Azzurri pecking order.

he made his debut for Italy only on March 31, 1990 and 70 days later he was rescuing his country against Austria in Rome. Within three minutes of coming on, Schillaci headed in a wonderful cross from Gianluca Vialli, another taken from us far too early. Schillaci’s eyes-aflame, arms-aloft celebration carried echoes of Marco Tardelli, Italy was smitten and the world began to fall in love with this whole-hearted goal poacher with his uncanny knack of taking up the right positions.

Italia 90 is a tournament indelibly etched in English hearts and minds. Gazza’s skills and tears, Platt’s volley, Lineker’s finishing, penalty heartache, proud Bobby, and Nessun Dorma and that’s why there’s been such grief on these shores at today’s sad news. Schillaci will forever be associated with a tournament where England’s world was in motion. Italia 90 and Schillaci glamourised football in many English eyes, helped by ground-breaking TV coverage which seemed to treat every game in Italy as a night at the opera. Within two years, the mood was right for the Premier League.

Schillaci’s story transcended sport. He was the understudy who seized his chance to become the star on the grand stage. Yet he never behaved as an egotistical star. Humility defined him and that came across in interviews. That’s why he was so liked and loved. And also he kept scoring and settling games. He started Italy’s third group game against Czechoslovakia and scored within nine minutes. He scored against Uruguay in the round of 16. These were Italy’s “Notti Magiche”, the nights of magic and Schillaci was the international apprentice who became the sorcerer.

He knocked out the Republic of Ireland in the quarters, following up clinically after Packie Bonner pushed out Roberto Donadoni’s shot, yet their nemesis was admired in the Emerald Isle. When news emerged of Schillaci’s passing, the Irish national team posted their condolences to his family and friends, adding that Schillaci “will always be a part of Irish football folklore’’. That shows the sporting nature of the Irish as well as how widely liked Schillaci was.

He even appeared in a 2002 ad for the Kilkenny beer, Smithwick’s. Two Irish drinkers in a pub pretended to be Ray Houghton and David O’Leary to show off to a couple of Italian visitors. One of the two Italians says, “Sorry, I forgot to introduce my other friend, Toto, Toto Schillaci”. And the great man appears, much to the shock of the Irish duo. “It was a good goal,” one eventually mumbles. Schillaci flashes his famous smile. “Thank you very much,” he says politely.

It was a good goal, capturing his confidence, and he then scored against Argentina in the Naples semi-final before Italy succumbed in the shootout. Schillaci sat in the dressing-room afterwards, smoking and crying. His summer adventure hadn’t quite finished, as he put a penalty past Peter Shilton, four minutes from time to settle the third-place play-off against England in Bari.

There were still some special club moments, not least a majestic overhead kick for Juventus against Verona in 1992. He went on to Inter Milan, then Japan, before retiring and heading back to Palermo where he ran an academy, giving hope to young players, just as he gave hope to a nation one summer. Rest In Peace, Toto Schillaci.

[Seán Fay @Sean_Fay]

Very sad to learn of the death of Toto Schillaci

While he might have scored against us, Irish people have great affection for Toto because he was arguably THE iconic name from the best summer of our lives

Here he is starring in a 2002 ad for Irish ale Smithwick’s

RIP Toto!

[BBC Sport @BBCSport]

Some sad news to bring you.

Italian icon Salvatore Schillaci, the top scorer at the 1990 World Cup, has died aged 59.

[Kerry W @KerryInTheCity]

@Lucy_Worsley @NPGLondon @SpankeeSpangler how fab are these x

[BladeoftheSun @BladeoftheS]

Rik Mayall, the tribute he would have wanted.

[Fernando Torres @Torres]

Great to be back

@LFC @LFCFoundation

[Liam Thorp @LiamThorpECHO]

So moving

[Liverpool FC @LFC]

A message to Liverpool supporters from Jürgen Klopp.

[PuNk and Stuff @PunKandStuff]

It was Christmas Eve babe
In the drunk tank
An old man said to me, won't see another one
And then he sang a song
The Rare Old Mountain Dew
I turned my face away
And dreamed about you..

[The Redmen TV @TheRedmenTV]

The best 87 seconds of your day is here https://t.co/xgXYAbFuWh

[The Tower of London @TowerOfLondon]

We will remember them.

📍 Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red, Tower of London, 2014

#RemembranceSunday

[Historic Vids @historyinmemes]

In 1997, Roberto Carlos made the greatest free kick in all of football history

[All The Right Movies @ATRightMovies]

When filming wrapped on THE GOONIES (1985), director Richard Donner was desperate to get away from the noise on set and went home to Hawaii. Steven Spielberg sent the cast to Hawaii to surprise Donner on his birthday. Here's the amazing footage.

[80s Kidz @80s_Kidz]

When Freddie ruled #LiveAid 38 years ago today

[Lady Janey @JaneyRhodesy]

#CastingCall for #Liverpool #Play #ProfitShare. Some great roles up for grabs in #Caged. Auditions are on 18 and 22 of July with performances in November on 15 and 16.