Former Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar was guest of honour at Bradley Stoke’s Baileys Court Inn on Saturday night at a post-match function organised by local football club Winterbourne United.
Winterbourne manager Nick Tanner, a team-mate of Grobbelaar at Liverpool, seemed to have pulled off a coup when he announced that the wacky 51-year-old would play for his team against local rivals Patchway Town in a Gloucestershire Cup tie.
Tanner was later forced to changes his plans, telling the Bristol Evening Post:
“We felt that, out of respect for our opponents and the competition, it would be best for Bruce not to play in the game.”
Instead, Grobbelaar would take part in a half-time penalty competition and would be on hand to warm up the players, sign autographs and pose for pictures.
In the event, the star’s presence failed to inspire the Winterbourne lads, as they crashed out of the competition in a 0-1 home defeat.
Undeterred by the afternoon’s result, the team and supporters made merry at Baileys Court Inn on Saturday night at “An Evening with Bruce Grobbelaar”.
A chilli supper was followed by a quiz and then an “informative and hilarious” question and answer session with the footballing legend.
Grobbelaar also made a draw to nominate the Baileys Court Inn charity of the year for 2010, which went to Southmead Cancer Research.
Photo (L-R): Mark Hodgkiss (Manager, Baileys Court Inn), Ellen Winfield (Winterbourne United FC), Bruce Grobbelaar, Nick Tanner (Manager, Winterbourne United FC).
