ronnieronalde

I only read the first post of the thread, I'm sure the next few pages of comments will rightfully be glowing but I wanted to add my two pennetjh worth.
 
What a wonderful and beautiful thing you've done, to see it through to the end and actually get him his medal is superb and somerhing you should be very proud of doing.
Fair play to the decision makers as well.
Lovely story. 

I only read the first post of the thread, I'm sure the next few pages of comments will rightfully be glowing but I wanted to add my two pennetjh worth.
 
What a wonderful and beautiful thing you've done, to see it through to the end and actually get him his medal is superb and somerhing you should be very proud of doing.
Fair play to the decision makers as well.
Lovely story. 

I only read the first post of the thread, I'm sure the next few pages of comments will rightfully be glowing but I wanted to add my two pennetjh worth.
 
What a wonderful and beautiful thing you've done, to see it through to the end and actually get him his medal is superb and somerhing you should be very proud of doing.
Fair play to the decision makers as well.
Lovely story. 

Jim Walker the forgotten man
As many of you know I have been for the last 18 months meeting up with the old brigade, the proper DCFC legends, the ones that put us on the map in footballing terms, the ones that made us the best team in England and got us to the European Cup semi finals, the teams of 71/72 and 74/75.
It started off as way to spend time with my Dad who was a bit lost after the loss of my mum, he is a season ticket holder now and was back in the day so I started off out on a journey that has lead us to meet most of them, one of them remains elusive and one didn’t wish to participate.
All of them have been fantastic, eager to tell stories of the great Brian Clough and the amazing fortunes of Derby County who in those bleak years of three day weeks, power blackouts, strikes and Rolls Royce nearly going under taking thousands of local jobs with it gave the people of Derby something to be proud of.
Upon meeting one of those legends, Jim Walker I was particularly struck by how at peace he was with the world, very relaxed, very friendly and by far the best story teller of them all.
Jim had not long ago lost his wife to illness so immediately him and my dad had something in common other than the love of football, he made us very welcome and gave us an open invite to go round when ever to continue with the tales.
Now most people may remember Jim as the guy who was signed by Clough & Taylor from non league football to play for Derby County and was a major part of the team that won promotion from division two in 1968/69.
He lost his place in the team to John Mcgovern but captained the reserves and stepped in when required to cover injuries of suspensions, this meant that he played only a few games in the 1971/72 season but it was his goal in a 1-0 win against Crystal Palace in late march that gave Derby both points and if you remember we won the league and finished first above dirty Leeds who were just one point behind and had a greater goal difference, so in effect Jim scored the goal that won us the First Division Championship.
Aswell as a footballer Jim is probably better known as the Aston Villa physio, he was there for around twenty years and served under many managers including Graham Taylor, Ron Atkinson, Brian Little and John Gregory, he was also the man charged with looking after Paul McGrath for many years both on and off the pitch and is spoken of in very high regard in Pauls autobiography.
He had a private practice at the Belfry for the golfers and was also the go to man at the NEC when any pop stars suffered an injury or needed attention from a physio, he worked with George Michael, Elton John, Neil Diamond, Michael Hutchence and Kylie to name a few hence him having so many fantastic stories.
Jim has also had illnesses this however does not dampen his spirit or take a smile from his face.
One thing that I was amazed to hear that Jim did not receive a medal for winning the league title despite being only one of sixteen players in that 71/72 season to have donned the shirt and scoring such a valuable goal.
When ever you see the pictures of the team celebrating and holding up their medals jim does not have one.
I approached Andy Ellis the club historian and the writer of many Derby County books and the fount of all knowledge and he confirmed it.
So we the approached the club and asked if they would support an application to Gordon Taylor of the PFA to ask if he would inturn support an application to the football league to present Jim with the medal that he should have received 46 years ago.
The club agreed and they sent the letter to Gordon Taylor who gave it his blessing and the approach was then made to the football league, this was back in February this year after the ball was started rolling in June of 2017 so it took a while.
I am delighted to say that the agreement was given and Derby County approached the very same jewellers who had made the original ones to make one for Jim, to the exact specifications of the original medals and in the same box and made from 9ct gold with all of the hall marks.
For some reason the club at this time can not be seen to publicly present Jim with the medal which is a great sadness as I thought that he was going to be able to step out on the pitch at Pride Park on the opening home game against Leeds (quite fitting as he stopped them winning the league with his goal), it is a litigious matter so I will comment no further other than to say that they did everything that they could.
So to wrap up the story I had the great honour of going to Jims house today with my dad and my son and presenting him with his long overdue medal, he had no idea that it was coming and to say that he was over whelmed is an understatement.
It was great to see his face and to have the privilege to do something like that, I had the medal at my house for a while but obviously didn’t want to post any pictures until now as it was a secret.
Not very often that you get to present a league championship winning medal on behalf of Derby County and to one of the few from those great days and can be called the legends.
We are hoping that Jim will still be able to have amore public presentation at sometime in the season at Pride Park when what ever issues are resolved.
Up the Rams !!
 

I was really lucky to get an invite along today to the yard from John O’Hare to meet up with some of the 70s legends who were meeting up to celebrate Roy Macs 70th birthday and the annual Easter visit of Alan Hinton.
i thought I would take the opportunity to take my son along to meet some of the older players who when he is grown up will hopefully be given the status that that Steve Bloomer gets now, at least he will have a few photos to show that he really did meet the men who made us famous and for a brief moment in time perhaps the greatest football team in the world ?
when I got there I was a little embarrassed to find that I was the only member of the general public in attendance and felt a little bit out of place, the classic gatecrasher at the party, fortunately I know a number of them already and was instantly welcomed, I made sure that we sat just out side of the main group to allow them to chat to each other
Every one of them made time to come over and have a sit with us, I had of course taken some stuff to get signed as it was to good an opportunity to miss, after checking that they were ok with it they signed stuff and sat and talked and had photos with my son, he loved it and entered into some great conversation with them all, he was asking them about the odd haircuts that they had on the photos ( he is only eight) he told John Ohare that he should now be called john nohare which I’m not sure if john picked up on or not, he spoke to Alan about his white boots and got me showing Alan photos of his green boots, to a man they sat and chatted away talking about anything and everything, the numbers continue to dwindle, I felt like the man in the middle sharing stories of my recent meets with Colin Boulton, Colin Todd, Frank Wignall, john McGovern, and Peter Daniel, those in attendance (some with their good ladies) were John Ohare, Alan Hinton, Alan Durban, Roy McFarland, Roger Davies, Rod Thomas, Jim Walker and Henry newton, once again it struck me that the club should make more of a fuss of these guys whilst they are with us, let’s not wait twenty year before we finally get round to making up a song for them that we sing and the younger generation doesn’t have a clue what the names Todd, McFarland, Nish, Hector, Hennessy, Boulton, Newton, Gemmill, Davies, McFarland, O’Hare, McGovern, Hinton etc mean to Derby as a city.

When you wake up in the morning and you're looking for reasons not to wake up rather than reasons to wake up, you're in real trouble.
So many seemingly outwardly strong people struggle silently then see the only/best way out as giving up their own life. 
The frightening thing for me is knowing things like that happen make me personally even sadder and more frustrated/disappointed with the world.
Thankfully I'm too much of a coward to do anything about it and couldn't stomach the prospect of having somebody else have to cope with the consequences. It rips a little bit of my heart out of me each time I hear of someone who hasn't been able to keep on keeping on.
Poor buggers must have gone through hell.

There you go mate.. 

People who call themselves "thought leaders" on their social media or professional network profiles.
What set of arrogant feck wits.

I invited @Ashz09 out for a beer a couple of weeks back Most. So far we've not got round to it but you do know the offer always extends to you and always would be open.
I'm in a similar boat over Christmas pal, I've never liked it for me, when I was a kid Christmas was a horrible scary time and I've never got over that.
I've always made the effort and joined in  but inside felt like I've only ever put up with it for the benefit of those I love.
In terms of feeling lonely, I've chosen not to get back on the relationship trail (something weak about believing in the one being the one and if the one isn't the one then everything is wrong kind of way). The only time it hits me is Christmas dinner, I like being alone every other day of the year.
I'd love to meet you at some point pal, have wanted to for a while, ever since we stopped fighting over football views and I started reading what you wrote without jumping to pre-conceived ideas of what I thought you meant.
You're a good lad Moist One, with a good heart. If you fancy getting merry and chatting b******* for a couple of hours, December or any other time, drop me a pm.

some self-important kick-boxer is trying to suggest Depression is a mood which can be avoided by being positive. Personally, I think he's a f****** moron and I hope he gets beat up by a girl and hits a bout of depression to cure his ignorance.
If you suffer, please be ignorant to his ignorance. He probably thinks being gay is a choice too.

People who call themselves "thought leaders" on their social media or professional network profiles.
What set of arrogant feck wits.

Trifles.

That's celebrity for the sake of celebrity. Made by the media because it's cheaper than paying a 'star'. I have never, never watched this reality gubbins and I've no idea why a 'youtuber' is even a thing.
I used to think that the likes of TOWIE and made in Chelsea weren't actually watched by anyone, but we're cheap tv fillers that were hyped beyond their actual popularity. Then I heard the airheads at work talking about the previous episodes and I just thought, you are what's wrong in the world. Tv sucks and it's your fault. 

When you wake up in the morning and you're looking for reasons not to wake up rather than reasons to wake up, you're in real trouble.
So many seemingly outwardly strong people struggle silently then see the only/best way out as giving up their own life. 
The frightening thing for me is knowing things like that happen make me personally even sadder and more frustrated/disappointed with the world.
Thankfully I'm too much of a coward to do anything about it and couldn't stomach the prospect of having somebody else have to cope with the consequences. It rips a little bit of my heart out of me each time I hear of someone who hasn't been able to keep on keeping on.
Poor buggers must have gone through hell.

at least they do it in the middle of the night.
In certain other european countries i could mention they would close those lanes of the motorway during the busiest time of the day, causing maximum disruption, simply because workmen work normal working hours like the rest of us!

Whoever thinks that making a 60 mile stretch of the M1 a single carriageway so they can fix an overhead sign at midnight, is a good decision, should be shot.
For goodness sakes, how hard can it be to work out how much work a crew can get done in one spell, close the two lanes half a mile either side of it and then move on when they're ready.
It causes no end of un-necessary issues having massive stretches of our motorways closed when there's not a soul working on patches of the closure for days upon end.
Annoying beyond belief.

What a cracking idea for a thread. 

Andalusia 

Does Tablets actually help? I'm getting made redundant end of September with always feeling no one wants me. Been working by myself for the last year due to the Project coming to an end and being the only one able to do my job.
I've been under qualified for one job. Screwed up my latest interview applying for a 1st line of support job and talking about the Admin / Training stuff I've done in my current job. Obviously they thought I was more suited to that as that's all I spoke about! Instead of my 1st line skills.
Feeling useless all the time, Family never visit or are quite far away. Friends never visit and when trying to arrange to see them, something always happens, always the one making the effort.
Confidence is zero starting to feel like what's the point? Don't really want 1 to 1's really with Councillors etc. As I know my problem. I'm one of those people who are confidence based when I'm confident I'm amazing at work enjoy bouncing off people.. Praising them raising there spirits.. Not had it for a while I guess.
I think getting a new job will make me feel wanted I guess but needs to be the right Company (One who don't treat people like s****) and easily commutable and with a career ladder for progression. It's proving to be hard..

@Ashz09 that wasn't nice reading that mate, and I wish I knew you better so I could point out the good things in your life and perhaps give a bit of balanced perspective. That is not me making assumptions or even playing down your sadness and mind, but more in hope that there are some good parts of your life. Things to realise though, from an older guy, accept that work is rarely enjoyable, and even if it's enjoyable, the novelty wears off once you realise you MUST do it for survival! You cannot pick your family. You CAN pick your friends.
I know it sounds easier than it perhaps is, but I can safely say I've offloaded bad friends over the last 10 years, and strengthened friendships with those that are good friends. Maybe sounds conceited, but I used to knock about with blokes who would create an argument with me so they could have an excuse to drag up hurtful things. This was obviously (to me) their own insecurities and jealousy.
If you're young enough and free enough, re-visit your career goals. I wish I knew when I was younger, what I do now.

You sound like me the last time I was made redundant.
It makes you question your self worth, I was 23 at the time, which I'd guess isn't far off your age now, not long in my first house, with a mortgage to pay, and with a kid to put through nursery.
It was so stressful, a man's employment defines them, or so I thought!
I hated the company that relocated my job, and fantasised about bringing them down, stupid as that sounds. 
Job lined up, then fell through, more despair! 
Wasn't necessary though, whatever your skills they're will be an agency that will take you on, even if you're doing a brain dead job short-term while planning for the future, you will find work that keeps your head above water, believe me.
You'll come to realise to work to live, not live to work, and if you're determined enough this is just a bump in the road.
Final thought on your friends, if they know about your situation they'll keep their distance, not wanting you to spend money they assume you don't have to spend time with them, so don't be too hasty/harsh on how you judge them, they may be thinking of your best interests!
Sorry for the long post, but you're one of the people on here I'd reach out to when they're struggling, you seem a great person.
Good luck. 
p.s. why don't you post your skills and experience up on here, you never know who's reading it after all!
 
 

When you wake up in the morning and you're looking for reasons not to wake up rather than reasons to wake up, you're in real trouble.
So many seemingly outwardly strong people struggle silently then see the only/best way out as giving up their own life. 
The frightening thing for me is knowing things like that happen make me personally even sadder and more frustrated/disappointed with the world.
Thankfully I'm too much of a coward to do anything about it and couldn't stomach the prospect of having somebody else have to cope with the consequences. It rips a little bit of my heart out of me each time I hear of someone who hasn't been able to keep on keeping on.
Poor buggers must have gone through hell.

Anxiety is what does for me and looking back,it has done since I was a little boy.
I used to worry about the most irrational unlikely things for weeks on end.
I'm in a high pressure job now where I'm expected to be the decisive one who makes decisions, takes responsibility and be strong but there are days where I just want to crawl into a dark space and hide away from it all and feel totally drained of any go or enthusiasm.
Worse thing is anxiety turning every situations I've dealt with into enormous problems i.e what if this or that happens etc,etc until I've actually convinced myself something bad could happen....despite there being no reason to think it.my mind seems to then go through every conceivable scenario endlessly until I'm my brain feels totally worn out.
Once I'm in the grip of a worry,it can last weeks or months until it's replaced by another one with no basis.
I can then go for a week or two thinking it's gone away until the irrational worry starts again.
Funnily enough,colleagues and friends seem to think I'm one of the most cheerful upbeat people they know and i suppose I am outwardly.
This is the first time I've ever spoke to anyone,as such,about this and I'm finding it extremely difficult to not just delete it immediately and keep it to myself but seeing other people's responses on here has helped.
 

I find myself reading this thread more than the main forum these days.
Everybody is different, everyone of us handles things differently. I'm at the stage similar to @David managed to turn things around but still occasionally angry with myself for "losing" the 2 years I lost.
Like Ramit, I find writing poetry helps a lot and it was probably writing and then reading back this over and over that helped me snap out of it, made me remember that underneath it all, I'm a good lad.
Love You
What do you do when you've stopped loving you?
When you hate yourself for the things that you do and don’t do.
When you keep punishing yourself for all that you’ve done.
When those you loved have left you. When they've long since gone.

When you see your own reflection and hate the way that you look.
When you’re ashamed to admit that you couldn’t give a ****.
When you don’t go to bed 'cos you can’t face the dreams you have while sleeping
When you hate the thought of waking up cos all you do is keep on weeping.

When you can’t stand to look at yourself through your own eyes.
When your disgust is focused on one person and it’s you, you despise.
When you open your own mouth and all you hear is lie after lie
When you’ve given up on yourself so badly, that you don’t even try.

When you tell those around you, that of course you’re alright.
When you’re secretly wishing they’d just get out of your sight.
When you can’t admit that you’re not feeling well to anyone who asks.
When you can’t even begin to complete the simplest of tasks.

When it’s been so long since anything went right.
When you know deep inside you can no longer fight.
When you go four or five days without taking a shower.
When you can’t move from your room, cos you don’t have the power.

So please God come and tell me what should I do?
Have You ever been to that place when You’ve stopped loving You?
Why can’t I stop hating everything about me?
Why can’t I open my eyes to the good stuff, why can’t I let myself see?

When will I stop trying to hide?
When will I stop dying inside?
Whatever it is that I’m trying, I’ve still had no luck.
I’m still lying, I’m still crying and I still don’t give a ****.

What do you do when you no longer love you?
Please don’t ask me cos I haven't got a clue.
All I can do is keep my eyes open day after day.
And hope the self-loathing vanishes, keep praying it goes away.

I find myself reading this thread more than the main forum these days.
Everybody is different, everyone of us handles things differently. I'm at the stage similar to @David managed to turn things around but still occasionally angry with myself for "losing" the 2 years I lost.
Like Ramit, I find writing poetry helps a lot and it was probably writing and then reading back this over and over that helped me snap out of it, made me remember that underneath it all, I'm a good lad.
Love You
What do you do when you've stopped loving you?
When you hate yourself for the things that you do and don’t do.
When you keep punishing yourself for all that you’ve done.
When those you loved have left you. When they've long since gone.

When you see your own reflection and hate the way that you look.
When you’re ashamed to admit that you couldn’t give a ****.
When you don’t go to bed 'cos you can’t face the dreams you have while sleeping
When you hate the thought of waking up cos all you do is keep on weeping.

When you can’t stand to look at yourself through your own eyes.
When your disgust is focused on one person and it’s you, you despise.
When you open your own mouth and all you hear is lie after lie
When you’ve given up on yourself so badly, that you don’t even try.

When you tell those around you, that of course you’re alright.
When you’re secretly wishing they’d just get out of your sight.
When you can’t admit that you’re not feeling well to anyone who asks.
When you can’t even begin to complete the simplest of tasks.

When it’s been so long since anything went right.
When you know deep inside you can no longer fight.
When you go four or five days without taking a shower.
When you can’t move from your room, cos you don’t have the power.

So please God come and tell me what should I do?
Have You ever been to that place when You’ve stopped loving You?
Why can’t I stop hating everything about me?
Why can’t I open my eyes to the good stuff, why can’t I let myself see?

When will I stop trying to hide?
When will I stop dying inside?
Whatever it is that I’m trying, I’ve still had no luck.
I’m still lying, I’m still crying and I still don’t give a ****.

What do you do when you no longer love you?
Please don’t ask me cos I haven't got a clue.
All I can do is keep my eyes open day after day.
And hope the self-loathing vanishes, keep praying it goes away.