Ex-players you don't expect to bump into

[david lee's bald patch]

that club on Spa Road, I forget that name too...

Hawthorns?

That's the sparrow, cheers.

Used to love Hawthorns - wasted many an evening (and brain cell) in there!

[Lord Kangana]

I used to work in Hawthorns when I was a student. Lock-ins 'til lunchtime on a Sunday were a particular highlight.

[david lee's bald patch]

Hawthorns single handedly saved me a fortune in taxi fares as we didn't need to go to Manchester to go to an ok indie/rock club.

Used to love it - except for the seemingly unpopular 'dance' segment that went on for an hour before the standard indie fayre was put back on and everyone got up dancing again. I assume it was enforced to keep people buying beer during the dance hiatus!!

[Lord Kangana]

I've no idea. I was usually as drunk as the punters, we didn't start til 9.30 or something, so I used to go out in town with my mates first. Passed the time.

[clapton is god]

A couple of years or so ago I was at Manchester airport flying out to some Greek island or other and about to partake in our ritual pre-flight breakfast at Frankie & Bennies when I saw Frankie Worthington also in there with a woman, presumably his Mrs. (I don't think she was Bennie, but you never know.) It would never enter my head to approach someone so I didn't disturb them but he was then also at the gate for our flight! As we took our seats he was no more than half a dozen seats in front of us! About half way to Greece he stood to use the facilities and spotted me looking at him. We didn't speak but we exchanged a knowing, manly nod and wink, which was enough for me. My wife tells me (and everyone else) that I was like a little schoolboy all day.

[Burnden Paddock]

Abdoulaye Faye in the Manchester Harvey Nicks, a couple of years ago. A bloody man mountain.

[PC1978]

I have bumped into a few over the years.

The two that stick in my mind are Fernando Hierro in Manchester Arndale shouting at his kids and Keith Branagan in a newsagents buying the Daily Sport and flicking through jazz mags (Him, not me!).

[Bruno3]

Met Kevin Nolan and Stelios going into the Reebok - Staggering how big one was and how tiny the other!

[jonnybwfc]

SKD at the Budha Bar in Dubai ... with a lady (guessing she of Twitter fame).

[TKIZ!]

When I was in 5th/6th form (early 90s) it was always The Blue Boar and The Old Three Crowns in town for underage drinking (and the magnificent Pink Panther). But then I lived in Great Lever so was too scared to go to most of my locals, except the Brooklyn!

I also frequented the Blue Boar and Old Three Crowns in the mid to late nineties when at 6th form. In fact I saw Supa John in there a couple of days before the last game at Burnden

Probably served you a pint in the Old 3, worked there 94-96 during student holidays.

You probably did. I have very hazy vague recollections about 95-97

[TKIZ!]

Legendary swordsman: Zorro.

Lever End: You'll have been serving our lot then. Mid-90s routine was straight from Burnden to do the Tripe 'n' Trotters player ratings at the pub on Nelson Square/Silverwell Street that didn't have music on - Google Streetview tells me it's now the Post Office bar. Couple of hours later, Man & Scythe, Old Three, Blue Boar and maybe end up at that club on Spa Road, I forget that name too...

HAWTHORNS! I fecking near enough lived in that place every Thurs/Fri and Saturday

[CrazyHorse]

Alan Thompson once told me to 'stop fcking swearing' in the Church Inn Little Lever.
FTW.

[Bruce Rioja]

Fanny up'steps in Heaton ? Markland Hill ... what a fine establishment that was in my youth.

No. There was Sally Upsteps on COR, and there was Fanny's up Markland Hill.

[Lord Kangana]

Anyway, I didn't see him, but someone sent me a picture of Kevin Nolan on his jollies in Greece a couple of weeks ago. I hope thats not breaking news or owt.