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Post by Mark on Jun 18, 2014 10:37:34 GMT
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Post by Colin B on Jun 19, 2014 7:33:31 GMT
I'm currently having a sabbatical from posting on here, due to the attitude of some of the blinkered zealots, but will make an exception to pass on my respect for Peter Marsh.
A really nice man, intelligent and interested in what you had to say. I went to his house in Divinity Road, back in the day, for his research into hooliganism. He never judged you and always treated you with respect. He grew to love OUFC as well.
RIP and condolences to those close to him. Gone too soon.
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Post by Mark on Jun 19, 2014 9:11:13 GMT
I thought it would be of interest and worth sharing, and note the obituary was written by Desmond Morris, also well known for his social psychology of football tribality from his experience at Oxford United, and designer of the current ox-head logo.
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Post by londonroader on Jun 19, 2014 9:59:43 GMT
I thought it would be of interest and worth sharing, and note the obituary was written by Desmond Morris, also well known for his social psychology of football tribality from his experience at Oxford United, and designer of the current ox-head logo. From memory, Desmond did bring the Ox head to the fore, but I think at the time there was discussions whether this Ox head logo was too aggressive, and other options were discussed. RIP Peter.
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Post by bicesterox on Jun 19, 2014 9:59:50 GMT
I met Peter while he was doing his studies, had to go up the university to be interviewed
Nice bloke
RIP
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Post by Robin Shater on Jun 19, 2014 12:48:34 GMT
R.I.P. Pete, you were a gentleman, a fine host, a friend and gave me very good advice when I got on the wrong side of the Hampshire Constabulary.
My thoughts are with your family following such a sad loss.
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Post by ox4eva on Jun 19, 2014 13:24:42 GMT
Used to see Desmond Morris at our games, has he abandoned us as well?
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Post by amershamdave on Jun 19, 2014 15:14:55 GMT
R.I.P. Pete, you were a gentleman, a fine host, a friend and gave me very good advice when I got on the wrong side of the Hampshire Constabulary. My thoughts are with your family following such a sad loss. Robin, remember when you, me, Mick Brown Martin Cooper and little Louie and his brother went on TV with Peter Marsh (Horizon I think) in 1976, about football hooliganism? Er, at least I THINK you were with us!
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Post by amershamdave on Jun 19, 2014 15:16:03 GMT
RIP to Peter - he was a really nice bloke, by the way.
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Post by Robin Shater on Jun 21, 2014 12:49:56 GMT
R.I.P. Pete, you were a gentleman, a fine host, a friend and gave me very good advice when I got on the wrong side of the Hampshire Constabulary. My thoughts are with your family following such a sad loss. Robin, remember when you, me, Mick Brown Martin Cooper and little Louie and his brother went on TV with Peter Marsh (Horizon I think) in 1976, about football hooliganism? Er, at least I THINK you were with us! I remember it well Dave and recall seeing it twice on TV. Great days, reasonable football, unbeatable atmosphere, OUR London Road End , a regular match day experience that will never (and could never) be repeated at the Ka$$stad.
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Post by amershamdave on Jun 21, 2014 14:15:48 GMT
I tried to get a DVD of this programme, Robin, but the b*stards said they couldn't (or WOULDN'T) get me one. It would've been a great programme for our fans to see, wouldn't it! I was slim then, but good looking. I'm overweight now, but at least I've still got my good looks. You were slim and ugly then - well, at least you're still slim, me old mate! Violence in the seventies? Yeah, man, Yeah!
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Post by Yellowbrains on Jun 22, 2014 16:32:56 GMT
I never met him but found his work really useful when I was writing my dissertation. Always sad to lose a fellow yellow. RIP
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Post by djimmydjimmy on Jun 23, 2014 8:49:54 GMT
Used to play pool with him in The Star. Good old boy.
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Post by Robin Shater on Jun 23, 2014 9:48:45 GMT
I tried to get a DVD of this programme, Robin, but the b*stards said they couldn't (or WOULDN'T) get me one. It would've been a great programme for our fans to see, wouldn't it! I was slim then, but good looking. I'm overweight now, but at least I've still got my good looks. You were slim and ugly then - well, at least you're still slim, me old mate! Violence in the seventies? Yeah, man, Yeah! Cuddy, your medication has clearly effected your memory. I have had the misfortune of knowing you for over 40 years and let me assure you, in that time you have never been slim or good looking. However, you have always had a vivid imagination. Also, sadly, I am no longer slim
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Post by amershamdave on Jun 23, 2014 21:28:43 GMT
Mr 'Shater you are slimmer than me unfortunately. As far as looks go - I once came second in a baby beauty contest, I'll have you know.
A piglet came first.
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Post by thecurraghofkildar on Jun 23, 2014 23:33:38 GMT
Pete was a top bloke and a very good friend as well as work colleague of my father (Desmond Morris), collaborating on various books together. When they were both Directors of Oxford United we used to get tickets to Cup finals and all traveled up to Wembley in Pete's fairly clapped out old camper van - it was great craic in the back and the biggest result was just getting to the match without it breaking down!
One story I should relate about Pete which shows what a man of integrity he was (and I'm not sure if this has come out before) was when Robert Maxwell took over the club, Peter and my dad who were Directors at the time had just appointed Mick Brown to become club secretary (following on from Jim Hunt). A contract hadn't been signed but the job had been offered to Mick and handshakes given. Maxwell at his first Board meeting said that he wasn't going to go ahead with Mick's appointment if there was no contract in place because he wanted to bring in his own man. Peter Marsh promptly told Maxwell where to go, resigned from the Board and walked out of the meeting, with my dad following suit after failing to persuade Maxwell to change his mind. Fearing a PR disaster with the loss of a high profile Director straight after his arrival, Maxwell had no option but to back down and sent someone after my dad saying he would confirm Mick Brown in his job provided he came back on the Board. My dad said that he would only go back if the same offer was made to Pete as well, which it duly was, but Pete turned it down saying that he wanted nothing to do with Maxwell as he couldn't trust him. So he wasn't a bad judge! RIP Pete
(PS Londonroader - it was my dad who designed the current Ox head based on Minoan bulls I think from memory and specifically designed it to look aggressive and therefore intimidating!)
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Post by Colin B on Jun 24, 2014 5:34:23 GMT
Pete was a top bloke and a very good friend as well as work colleague of my father (Desmond Morris), collaborating on various books together. When they were both Directors of Oxford United we used to get tickets to Cup finals and all traveled up to Wembley in Pete's fairly clapped out old camper van - it was great craic in the back and the biggest result was just getting to the match without it breaking down! One story I should relate about Pete which shows what a man of integrity he was (and I'm not sure if this has come out before) was when Robert Maxwell took over the club, Peter and my dad who were Directors at the time had just appointed Mick Brown to become club secretary (following on from Jim Hunt). A contract hadn't been signed but the job had been offered to Mick and handshakes given. Maxwell at his first Board meeting said that he wasn't going to go ahead with Mick's appointment if there was no contract in place because he wanted to bring in his own man. Peter Marsh promptly told Maxwell where to go, resigned from the Board and walked out of the meeting, with my dad following suit after failing to persuade Maxwell to change his mind. Fearing a PR disaster with the loss of a high profile Director straight after his arrival, Maxwell had no option but to back down and sent someone after my dad saying he would confirm Mick Brown in his job provided he came back on the Board. My dad said that he would only go back if the same offer was made to Pete as well, which it duly was, but Pete turned it down saying that he wanted nothing to do with Maxwell as he couldn't trust him. So he wasn't a bad judge! RIP Pete (PS Londonroader - it was my dad who designed the current Ox head based on Minoan bulls I think from memory and specifically designed it to look aggressive and therefore intimidating!) A fascinating read, your dad (Doc Morris, as we called him) was another who always had time for the "normal" fans. He was one of the reasons why we always seemed to be in the media at the time. I'm sure you must have more stories to tell and some of us of a certain age would be very interested to hear them.
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Post by Robin Shater on Jun 24, 2014 6:08:13 GMT
Pete was a top bloke and a very good friend as well as work colleague of my father (Desmond Morris), collaborating on various books together. When they were both Directors of Oxford United we used to get tickets to Cup finals and all traveled up to Wembley in Pete's fairly clapped out old camper van - it was great craic in the back and the biggest result was just getting to the match without it breaking down! This post has just revived happy memories of the cup final between Ipswich and Arsenal back in 1978 when I 'enjoyed' the experience of a trip to Wembley in that old camper. If I remember correctly, I was the only one hoping for an Arsenal win, found myself in the Ipswich end and then had to accept the p*ss taking all the way home after Ipswich won. Apart from Pete and Mick Brown, sadly I cannot recall who else was on board that day.
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Post by bicesterox on Jun 24, 2014 12:18:04 GMT
Surely Jim Hunt was still secretary for a few years after Maxwell took over. I thought he retired in the mid - late 80's or even early 90's when Mick finally took over.
Not doubting the above posts but just the way I remember it..... I'm bloody old too
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Post by thecurraghofkildar on Jun 24, 2014 21:43:47 GMT
You're probably correct bicesterox and it may well have been that Mick was only being appointed to be assistant secretary to Jim Hunt (an absolute gentleman) at the time rather than actual secretary.
Long time since I have heard my dad referred to as 'Doc Morris' Eric, but yes he was known as 'Doc' for a long time back in the day - as he was (and indeed still is!) officially a Doctor of Zoology. My first ever footballing experience was growing up in Malta where my debut match, aged about four, had to be abandoned due to a riot, with one set of fans chasing the ref off the pitch as he fled up the terraces directly where we were sitting with my dad watching it all, oblivious to the bottles (and a dustbin I recall) flying around our heads. Good preparation for growing up as an Oxford fan in the 70's and 80's!! The buzz as a youngster going up to the Manor ground was amazing. How different it is now in the sad, soulless experience that is the Kassam (to such an extent that I didn't attend a single match last season).
Two other quick stories - my dad had the 'pleasure' of going away on an end of season tour (I think) with the first team to Tenerife or somewhere similar. Now, what happens on tour stays on tour as they say, and behaviour was much milder back in those days, but the one abiding story is that the team, directors etc were playing a drinking game where people took it in turns to repeat a difficult sentence correctly and down a pint every time you got it wrong. Bit of fun with one or two getting horribly drunk and most having a laugh and just drinking a couple of pints. But my dad spotted Briggsy over in a corner of the bar psyching himself up and continually repeating the line to himself so he wouldn't make a mistake when it was his turn and suffice to say he got it right every time! No wonder opposition forwards never got past him - impossible to beat even in a bar game. A proper professional!
And my personal favourite memory was being allowed to travel on the team bus as a teenager. Maxwell had made a ruling that I could go to two away matches (probably another sop to keep my dad on-side) on the coach. The then manager Maurice Evans (another absolute gentleman) protested that children had never been allowed on the team bus and that it wouldn't be appropriate but Maxwell, in his usual bullying fashion, over-ruled him. When my dad heard that Maurice wasn't happy about the idea, he was horrified and rang him up to say that of course he wouldn't take me and it was not a problem at all. Well poor Maurice had to beg my dad to make sure I was on the bus because otherwise Maxwell would have him fired! So off I went and was lucky enough later on to travel to the likes of Anfield and Old Trafford on the team coach under Jim Smith.
Loved reading previous posts of yours Eric (and Dave's tales) of battles past as someone who was never involved but watched many of them from the safety (and comfort!) of the directors box! Our 'tribe' well and truly punched above its weight for many years, and for me it was definitely part of what made you proud to be an Oxford fan in those days.
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Post by Colin B on Jun 25, 2014 18:04:17 GMT
You're probably correct bicesterox and it may well have been that Mick was only being appointed to be assistant secretary to Jim Hunt (an absolute gentleman) at the time rather than actual secretary. Long time since I have heard my dad referred to as 'Doc Morris' Eric, but yes he was known as 'Doc' for a long time back in the day - as he was (and indeed still is!) officially a Doctor of Zoology. My first ever footballing experience was growing up in Malta where my debut match, aged about four, had to be abandoned due to a riot, with one set of fans chasing the ref off the pitch as he fled up the terraces directly where we were sitting with my dad watching it all, oblivious to the bottles (and a dustbin I recall) flying around our heads. Good preparation for growing up as an Oxford fan in the 70's and 80's!! The buzz as a youngster going up to the Manor ground was amazing. How different it is now in the sad, soulless experience that is the Kassam (to such an extent that I didn't attend a single match last season). Two other quick stories - my dad had the 'pleasure' of going away on an end of season tour (I think) with the first team to Tenerife or somewhere similar. Now, what happens on tour stays on tour as they say, and behaviour was much milder back in those days, but the one abiding story is that the team, directors etc were playing a drinking game where people took it in turns to repeat a difficult sentence correctly and down a pint every time you got it wrong. Bit of fun with one or two getting horribly drunk and most having a laugh and just drinking a couple of pints. But my dad spotted Briggsy over in a corner of the bar psyching himself up and continually repeating the line to himself so he wouldn't make a mistake when it was his turn and suffice to say he got it right every time! No wonder opposition forwards never got past him - impossible to beat even in a bar game. A proper professional! And my personal favourite memory was being allowed to travel on the team bus as a teenager. Maxwell had made a ruling that I could go to two away matches (probably another sop to keep my dad on-side) on the coach. The then manager Maurice Evans (another absolute gentleman) protested that children had never been allowed on the team bus and that it wouldn't be appropriate but Maxwell, in his usual bullying fashion, over-ruled him. When my dad heard that Maurice wasn't happy about the idea, he was horrified and rang him up to say that of course he wouldn't take me and it was not a problem at all. Well poor Maurice had to beg my dad to make sure I was on the bus because otherwise Maxwell would have him fired! So off I went and was lucky enough later on to travel to the likes of Anfield and Old Trafford on the team coach under Jim Smith. Loved reading previous posts of yours Eric (and Dave's tales) of battles past as someone who was never involved but watched many of them from the safety (and comfort!) of the directors box! Our 'tribe' well and truly punched above its weight for many years, and for me it was definitely part of what made you proud to be an Oxford fan in those days. Great days Son of Doc ;-)) Everything was far from perfect, but we were all in it together, unlike today.
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