The Poolie Bunker

Did anybody go over to Saltburn to be outside the church or what ?

Thought exactly the same myself

Expect the same post with the same insensitive tone over on rivals in the next three minutes.....

Yes, I went, and was stood at the back of the church, which was packed. It was a very moving service, with a projector screen scrolling through a lot of photos of Michael, and a lot of what I presume was his favourite music playing, leading up to the start. Russ Green spoke on behalf of Pools. I noticed Mark Tinkler, Chris Westwood and Jim Provett amongst the congregation, of the lads who had come back to pay their respects.

as Billog says, it was very moving but a great send off for Michael.

Amongst all the sadness there was one moment which was so moving and very poignant, two of the family's friends played a beautiful piece on flute and guitar, as it came to a close there was a photo projected of Michael as a baby on the screen followed by snaps of him as a child in there back garden.
Tears welled up in my eyes it was so moving.


Our players, staff and management were so upset but I felt great pride in them and compassion.

The feeling for me at the end of it was live our lives to the full, it was a point that got repeated in the service.

RIP Mike

Absolutely Salty, Carpe Diem.

Life is incredibly fragile and unless you've seen premature death close up you miss the point. As I keep saying; yesterdays gone, tomorrows not promised.

I got back into my car to drive back, and Magic was on the radio. The first record to be played, as I drove out of Saltburn, was George Harrison's My Sweet Lord, followed by The Four Tops' Reach Out I'll Be There. As I continued the journey The Beatles' In My Life came on followed by a Roger Daltrey oldie Giving It All Away, not particularly significant, apart from the line 'Oh, I was just a boy'. I'm filling up again just thinking about it.

4 decent tunes on any day - rather poignant on this.