Hardest and wimpiest Town players?

Funny that there has been a lot of mention of Childs. I remember him jumping out of 50-50 challenges but then he was pretty slight and it was back in the day when defenders could go in two-footed with impunity. I don't recall him being a chicken at all. On the other hand, during the same era, I remember Gilbert being booted out of many a game - if he got a whack early on, he never seemed to be interested in that game.

In a similar vein, I remember Till (never exactly a tough nut) playing on at Hereford after basically being knocked out in a clash of heads. He carried on after coming round and had to pull up during the game once or twice to throw up but still kept going.

I'd say there are very few players we remember as good who were 'wimps'. Plenty of talented ones who couldn't be arsed most of the time (Neilson an example).

The 'hardest' player I remember? Groves. Won everything in the air, never ducked a challenge or missed a game through injury. Not a dirty player in the slightest, however.

To fracture your skull and return to playing makes you pretty hard in my eyes.

Other than Livvo, the hardest I've seen was probably Santos or Whittle.

Scott Nielson springs to mind as being weak. Boshell always struck me as being a bit weak in midfield too.

Quoted from 140067

Hardest Ron Cockerill and Geoff bonehead Barker Scott McGarvey was a hard case, could argue with his own shadow.
Whimp Tony Daws. Open goal at Derby pulled out of header because keeper was coming in on him.

Oh I've forgot, Dave Moore, came up against as a 14 Yr old. Scared me to death. Don't think I ever saw him go down.

Quoted from Maringer

Funny that there has been a lot of mention of Childs. I remember him jumping out of 50-50 challenges but then he was pretty slight and it was back in the day when defenders could go in two-footed with impunity. I don't recall him being a chicken at all. On the other hand, during the same era, I remember Gilbert being booted out of many a game - if he got a whack early on, he never seemed to be interested in that game.

In a similar vein, I remember Till (never exactly a tough nut) playing on at Hereford after basically being knocked out in a clash of heads. He carried on after coming round and had to pull up during the game once or twice to throw up but still kept going.

I'd say there are very few players we remember as good who were 'wimps'. Plenty of talented ones who couldn't be arsed most of the time (Neilson an example).

The 'hardest' player I remember? Groves. Won everything in the air, never ducked a challenge or missed a game through injury. Not a dirty player in the slightest, however.

Got to disagree about Childs. Very talented but the heart the size of a pea. Would duck out of 90/10 tackles in his favour! Would rarely even challenge in the air as well. The leniency of refs. worked both ways. He would actually give sly kicks. I agree about Gilbert though. Would imagine Buckley tolerated both due to their sheer ability.

I seem to remember Chris Grocock was a bit of a wuss and a pretty boy in his day. Would roll around like he had been hit by a Panzer tank if he snapped a bootlace.

I'm surprised nobody has mention Wilko in the list of hardmen. He wouldn't think twice about going in where it hurts with his head.

I remember one playoff semi final against Eastleigh josh gowling was literally throwing himself in front of every shot, he even took a couple to the face....I dont remember him doing it very often but on that day he had definitely had his weetabix

Quoted from thefish

Alan Pouton/ Steve Livingstone (hardest)

Nick 'I'm Ducking Out Of That Header' Hegarty (wimpiest)- who I've just discovered is managing an Australian second-tier side called Hume City FC!

Give me Nick Hegarty over half the no marks we e had over the last decade. Never gave up. Chipped in with plenty of assists in a bad side.

Heggativity!

Stand out hard men in my time: Cumming, Santos, Livvo. Plenty more deserve honourable mentions. All got to be judged against the standards of their time. One not called out so far: Mark Lever.

Wimps: forget em.

Quoted from jaygy

I remember one playoff semi final against Eastleigh josh gowling was literally throwing himself in front of every shot, he even took a couple to the face....I dont remember him doing it very often but on that day he had definitely had his weetabix

Good shout. Gowling used to regularly put his head where most people wouldn't!

Quoted from jaygy

I remember one playoff semi final against Eastleigh josh gowling was literally throwing himself in front of every shot, he even took a couple to the face....I dont remember him doing it very often but on that day he had definitely had his weetabix

Yeah, good call. Never bottled anything.