Autobiography

while; a thrill I could only have had by being in
the boardroom.
In 2009 I was invited to speak at a function in
honour of Tom and I told the story of when I
was sixteen and playing for West Ham youth
team, when our coach Wally St Pier would tell
me to get down the wing to the by-line and
cross the ball for our big centre forward to
head home. I would follow his instructions
religiously. However one day I saw Tom on
Pathe News at our local cinema playing for
England. He picked up the ball on the half way
line beat three players got to the edge of the
penalty area and smashed the ball into the top
corner of the goal. The following Saturday I
sped of down the wing and instead of getting
to the by line I cut inside to the edge of the
box and shot, unfortunately the ball sailed
harmlessly over the bar. The coach was furious
and screamed out to me “Gold how my many
times do I have to tell you to get to the by-line
and cross the ball for our big centre forward,
who the bleeding hell do you think you are?
TOM FINNEY?”
Another was the Lion of Vienna, Nat Lofthouse,
of Bolton Wanderers. To me, Matthews, Finney
and Lofthouse were true Gods of the game,
and all were charming, courteous and
communicative, humble in their greatness.
Going to each football club has broadened my
horizons, and meeting the chairmen is a great
experience, but I will not go where I am not
wanted. I said that about West Ham the first
time I got involved, when I gave up on them
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