The Old Boys Network: Latest News

RIP Ray Clemence

Mon, 16 Nov 2020 13:55:45 +0000

It is with real sadness that we received the message advising of the passing of Ray. Ray joined our agency in 1996. He offered advice to us re the junior goal keepers at Tottenham as he was doing some “talent spotting” for the England youth teams. The last job he did for us was his last ever job just before lockdown. He had been fighting cancer for many years and said to David our boss “I’m going to keep fighting this and it hasn’t got me yet”! David said one of Rays best stories was about the day Ray was taken to stand/sit the KOP when Liverpool were playing a game he said the atmosphere was amazing hairs on the back of the neck and he did not realise even from his playing days the amazing atmosphere actually being in the KOP for a match.

Rip Nobby & big Jack

Mon, 09 Nov 2020 16:50:27 +0000

Rip Nobby & big Jack It is with great sadness that we have lost 2 more of our clients. Both part of the 1966 story and worked for the agency from 1995 until 2007 ish. Both had been ill the last few years. When thinking of favourite memories with either. David our boss said with Nobby it was the day he got his MBE David was instrumental wit the celebrations & Nobby just was so grateful and I saw a totally different side to him. With Jack Dave said my best memory was after Jack had done an after dinner in Liverpool & he was “holding court” at the bar the best stories ever not the after dinner ones and he was in full flow! A great night.

RIP Norman Hunter

Fri, 17 Apr 2020 12:30:09 +0000

Rip Norman Hunter When we asked David our boss how he first came across Norman he said Norman was a boyhood hero legend who was such a hard-man in the Leeds team. Norman joined us in 1996 and worked on the after dinner circuit, Theatre shows, and recently worked on some promotions for us. He retired from the circuit earlier this year due to his deafness.

RIP Peter Bonetti "The CAT"

Fri, 17 Apr 2020 12:29:01 +0000

Rip Peter Bonetti Peter joined us in 1996 and did a number of events for us during Euro 96 he asked us to put together a script for an after dinner show which one of our comics did I shall quote his best lines “I played 700 games for Chelsea, represented my country on 7 occasions was the reserve goal keeper for the 1966 world Cup, won the FA Cup, League Cup, cup winners cup, but people remember me for 1 game only! The World Cup 1970 quarter final against Germany” Peter did a variety of work for us including many TV’s lots of dinners and was a pleasure to work with. Sadly he contacted Alzheimer’s a few years ago and had to stop working.

Martin Peters RIP

Mon, 23 Dec 2019 13:41:27 +0000

It is with great sadness that we have lost one of our oldest celebrity clients. Martin joined us in 1995. He just rolled up at the office unannounced one day and said, “Your giving my mate Geoff Hurst lots of work can I have some as well?” From there he worked for us until about 4 years ago when his dementia took over. David our boss last saw him about 3 years ago. He said “I took Martin over a Royal Mail presentation and some 1966 photos that the family wanted. He really did not have a clue who I was but was chatting away and showing me his garden. When I left, I was really struggling to hold back the tears as Martin would pop into our office most weeks for breakfast always the same toast and he liked his tea a certain way from a particular cup/mug. I spent a lot of time with him when he was director of Spurs as I was his plus one for several matches. His driving made me nervous as he did not hang about! He will be sadly missed if I had to sum him up in 2 words it would be A Gentleman”

Tommy Smith RIP

Sat, 13 Apr 2019 10:28:36 +0000

Tommy Smith sadly died 13/4/19 although he only did a few jobs for our agency when we asked our boss Dave Davies what memories he had of Tommy he said “When I first met Tommy I was a bit scared of the man I had only seen him on the pitch and I imagined he was going to be a bit of a handful but nothing was further from the truth he was good fun to be with” “I remember I was comparing a Hardmen of Football show with Tommy and Norman Hunter, at the time the then manager of Liverpool was using a rotational system on the pitch and a number of the Liverpool footballers houses had been broken into. So I did the gag “Of course Liverpool are currently using the rotational system at the moment its nothing to do with the football its just to confuse the Burglars” well Tommy put his head round the curtain of the stage and chased me round the stage much to the amusement of the audience”. Type the details of your news item here...

Gordon Banks RIP

Wed, 06 Mar 2019 13:35:57 +0000

It is with great sadness that we have lost another one of our clients. Gordon started working with TOBN in 1995 our boss David received a phone call one day. “Hello is that David? My names Gordon Banks you might have heard of me I played football in the 1960’s and 1970’s. I wonder if you could get me some work Geoff Hurst says you’re getting him loads and I could do with a bit.” David told Gordon that as a boy in 1975 he queued up outside a sports shop for 2 hours to get his autograph and Gordon had to leave to go to another job so he never got the autograph. 2 days later David received a signed photo saying “sorry it’s a bit late”. That started our relationship with the great man there’s many stories we could tell of his wicked sense of humour. Sadly the last year he has been unable to do any jobs for us due to his illness and it is with great sadness but fond memories we say to Gordon “Rest in Peace”.

New names to TOBN Ledley King and Teddy Sherringham

Fri, 01 Feb 2019 16:22:30 +0000

2 great new names for the agency Ledley King former Spurs and England defender, and Teddy Sherringham Manchester Utd, West Ham, Spurs and England.

Reflections on 2018 and looking forward to 2019

Fri, 01 Feb 2019 16:19:38 +0000

What an amazing year Frank Bruno was out most of the year all over the World, there was particular football fever with the World Cup and we were delighted Gareth Southgate could do a few jobs for us. Harry Redknapp who has worked with us for over 20 years winning "I'm a celebrity" really capped off a wonderful year. There was a tinge of sadness with the passing of Peter Stringfellow, Ray Wilkins, & Ray Wilson all who had great relationships with our company. So looking forward to 2019 with a Rugby World Cup and some new names to the agency.

Ray Wilkins RIP

Thu, 05 Apr 2018 11:48:07 +0000

Very sad news on the passing of Ray. He did a number of jobs for us over the years always popular with the audiences honest on his views and a great footballer in his time.