With a thick head from my night out in Rute I headed off to Gib at about 9am. The clouds were heavy and it looked like it was going to rain so I was glad to start the 140 mile journey early. It was uneventful until I entered British soil and it hammered down. Gib was bigger than I imagined and after negotiating the narrow streets, continuous one-way systems, heavy traffic and torrential rain I found the Rock Hotel finally only to find they were full!
I left the Rock which was located at “Upper Rock” to go to the 4* Caleta Hotel on “East Rock”. I got a standard (£160 per night!) room for the first night and had to have a suite on the second night (£270 per night – ‘kin ell!). The first night I stayed in due to the weather and shared a table in the bar with a great bloke called Brian who is a courier. An ex- copper and ex-Navy/Royal Marine medic, we had some things in common and as we chatted we realised we knew some of the same people from the late 80’s early 90’s. Six degrees of separation anyone? I asked Brian to pass on my regards to the people that we knew and hit the sack at about 10pm in pain. Nice guy, great few hours. Chris, Topsy, Bill et al, if you are reading this remember when we were really, really excessively wild and tore up the world? It’s amazing what you forget.
After brekky I was out of the door before 9am and walked into town. This is some place. I walked forever taking in the tiny (everything in Gib is compact) Trafalgar Cemetery and walking the fortifications and of course the duty free shoppers haven of Main Street. The Cemetery was very memorable (see the pics). It’s a long story but Trafalgar and HMS Victory is special for us Rats. We are some family believe me.
I walked into the afternoon before returning to the hotel to clean up for the evening where I fancied dressing smartly for a change. At this point I would ask you to have a look at the movie page to see the movie I shot of my suite. It was bigger than the airport with a lounge, kitchen, wet room, two TVs etc!
So to the second evening. This evening gave me a story that will not be believed. I even woke up the next morning and wondered if it really happened! In a dress shirt, posh black jeans and jacket I cruised a couple of smart bars in Ocean Village where I spent an hour with a similarly attired executive from William Hill who lived on the island. When he got too drunk to hold the conversation I moved on and ignoring a proposition from a well presented 60 something Jewish heiress (true!) I headed for one final drink in the Irish bar before walking home; it was about 1130pm.
Boxing was on the telly there and I struck up a conversation with 2 guys who were as enthralled as I was with the action. After several minutes of intelligent chat the black guy really started to show his knowledge. I follow boxing and this guy really knew his stuff – right back to the pre-war giants like Dempsey and Johnson. The younger white guy always seemed a little in awe of the older man and it felt like a boss/subordinate relationship. The white guy was Stuart and the black guy was Viv. The white guy then started about football and again here the black guy, Viv, excelled. Stuart then out of the blue said in passing, “...you do you recognise Viv don’t you?” then I twigged. I’ve had a 15 minute, high quality conversation with one of the greatest footballers England has ever produced. This was the first black guy to play for England. This guy played under Brian Clough when he was at his pomp. This guy has won the European Champions (Cup) League twice (Messi has not done that, nor Steve Gerrard, Rooney, Beckham, Bobby Charlton or Ronaldo) with Nottingham Forest. This Guy then played for Manchester United and is a good mate of Sir Alex Ferguson.
They offered to buy me a drink and I declined but Viv must have liked me because he insisted! Then when I didn’t want to outstay my welcome and made plans to go back to my hotel they both insisted that I come next door with them to the Casino where Stuart fancied a flutter, so I did without too much prompting it has to be said! Well, what would you have done!? You know, I was never overawed with this. It felt like 3 strangers each with a rich past, travelling, having a beer, talking and listening. This has now happened so many times on my trip - simply relaxing and enjoying the moment. It is so rewarding. What will home feel like.....
Stuart hit the Blackjack. It had become apparent that this Oxbridge educated man liked his beer and is a multi-millionaire. His relationship with Viv was a professional one but clearly they were good mates too. Stuart’s business was gambling and he appeared to be very well connected. He and Barry Hearn were close associates and Viv was asked by Stuart to front one of these enterprises via a cold call sometime in the past. Viv and I got a drink and sat and chatted until 415am mostly on our own and we were on “mate” terms. Stuart, by this time shitfaced and £100 up and decided we should make our way back to the hotel. Incredibly we were in the same hotel! But I had the suite and they had simple rooms – I like the irony.
Mr Viv Anderson came across as a calm, considered, intelligent man who enjoyed a giggle, enjoyed a beer and was in no way up his own arse. The fact he was an international footballer enriched the conversation and never dominated it. He was very interested in my career and my travels and had time for the one or two who recognised him in the hours we were together. Apparently he has a new book out soon and promised to forward a signed copy to my Dad who is a bit of a Cloughie/Nott’m Forest fan.
Alas, my phone had no charge and I went out without my camera but, as he said, “I’m off duty anyway”. That you were Viv and the sincerity in the final hand shake said it all. Thanks for the memory mate.
I’ve said it before....what a trip huh?
Some of Viv’s Opinions:
He didn’t say it outright but he fancied Barcelona on the 28th May. Personally, I think United will do it. It’s against the odds but they have home advantage. They need to treat it as a Premiership game and run Barca off the park.
Viv also thought the Liverpool Champions League Final triumph of 2005 was the greatest game of football there has ever been - A big statement for a lifelong Man Utd fan.
The best player he ever played with/against was Bryan Robson. According to Viv he did everything well and his reading of the game was second to none.
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