Re: Fui Fui Moi Moi : Wed Sep 24, 2014 7:09 pm  

Mick was one of the best natural talents ive seen,could hold his own in any team and was probably half fit at best.Could make something from nothing and nothing from something,if you know him you will understand. A rugby league genius IMO.

Re: Fui Fui Moi Moi : Wed Sep 24, 2014 10:34 pm  

To be honest players from that era weren't exactly God fearing teetotal fitness fanatics

Re: Fui Fui Moi Moi : Thu Sep 25, 2014 10:56 am  

Diablo1967 wrote:

No, that honour goes to Mick Crane. Possibly better than Knocker, but piffed it away.

I do wish people would stop lumping Craney in with the rest of the pissheads that were knocking around at the time. Anyone who knew Mick could tell you he'd get ratted on a sniff of a barmaid's apron.

Mick was just happy being Mick. Probably the most naturally gifted player I have ever seen and I knew him from age 13 at David Lister. People keep banging on about his dedication, fitness etc. But if he'd applied himself more he probably wouldn't have been anything like the same player.

There are many anecdotes about Craney but one of my favourites is when he turned up for pre-season training at Hesslewood Orphanage. The most gobsmacked person there was Arthur Bunting and when Mick came ambling across the car park, with a boot in each pocket, Bunting asked him what he was doing there. Mick said he thought it was time he saw what all this pre-season lark was about and maybe it was time he got a bit fitter. Bunt just told him to go back home and not be late for the first pre-season friendly

Re: Fui Fui Moi Moi : Thu Sep 25, 2014 11:18 am  

cod'ead wrote:

I do wish people would stop lumping Craney in with the rest of the pissheads that were knocking around at the time. Anyone who knew Mick could tell you he'd get ratted on a sniff of a barmaid's apron.

Mick was just happy being Mick. Probably the most naturally gifted player I have ever seen and I knew him from age 13 at David Lister. People keep banging on about his dedication, fitness etc. But if he'd applied himself more he probably wouldn't have been anything like the same player.

There are many anecdotes about Craney but one of my favourites is when he turned up for pre-season training at Hesslewood Orphanage. The most gobsmacked person there was Arthur Bunting and when Mick came ambling across the car park, with a boot in each pocket, Bunting asked him what he was doing there. Mick said he thought it was time he saw what all this pre-season lark was about and maybe it was time he got a bit fitter. Bunt just told him to go back home and not be late for the first pre-season friendly

I never met the great man, and I barely remember seeing him play. Sounds like a great character.

Re: Fui Fui Moi Moi : Thu Sep 25, 2014 12:11 pm  

cod'ead wrote:

I do wish people would stop lumping Craney in with the rest of the pissheads that were knocking around at the time. Anyone who knew Mick could tell you he'd get ratted on a sniff of a barmaid's apron.

Mick was just happy being Mick. Probably the most naturally gifted player I have ever seen and I knew him from age 13 at David Lister. People keep banging on about his dedication, fitness etc. But if he'd applied himself more he probably wouldn't have been anything like the same player.

There are many anecdotes about Craney but one of my favourites is when he turned up for pre-season training at Hesslewood Orphanage. The most gobsmacked person there was Arthur Bunting and when Mick came ambling across the car park, with a boot in each pocket, Bunting asked him what he was doing there. Mick said he thought it was time he saw what all this pre-season lark was about and maybe it was time he got a bit fitter. Bunt just told him to go back home and not be late for the first pre-season friendly

My dad knows Craney quite well. He once said that Bunting was so fed up of his team getting pissd on a Saturday night, he'd ring them up and make sure they were home. He rang Craney's house, someone picked up and said he was Mick. Bunting asked, "Whats the password?" Man: "Erm...."
"Tell Mick I'm going to fine him".

Re: Fui Fui Moi Moi : Thu Sep 25, 2014 12:56 pm  

cod'ead wrote:

I do wish people would stop lumping Craney in with the rest of the pissheads that were knocking around at the time. Anyone who knew Mick could tell you he'd get ratted on a sniff of a barmaid's apron.

Mick was just happy being Mick. Probably the most naturally gifted player I have ever seen and I knew him from age 13 at David Lister. People keep banging on about his dedication, fitness etc. But if he'd applied himself more he probably wouldn't have been anything like the same player.

There are many anecdotes about Craney but one of my favourites is when he turned up for pre-season training at Hesslewood Orphanage. The most gobsmacked person there was Arthur Bunting and when Mick came ambling across the car park, with a boot in each pocket, Bunting asked him what he was doing there. Mick said he thought it was time he saw what all this pre-season lark was about and maybe it was time he got a bit fitter. Bunt just told him to go back home and not be late for the first pre-season friendly

Unusual but we've agreed,what a player he was,one of my favourites.Rovers were playing cas away on a wet horrible night,rovers losing 6-4 and nothing happening either way 5mins to go mick sells a dummy and ran 40 odd yards under the sticks,and was still bent over with his hands on his knees after the conversion was successfully added. Oh for a fag.

Re: Fui Fui Moi Moi : Thu Sep 25, 2014 6:23 pm  

Another laugh with Mick was after the 1983 CC Final defeat to Fev.

I was working for the club at the time and to be honest, the way things went on the night, you'd thought we'd won the cup. There must've been around 20 players, wives and hangers-on (like me & my missus), sat in the corner of the ballroom. Mick called a waiter across and asked him to take everyone's drink order. The waiter turned to him and said: "I remember you from last year AND the year before and you never paid for a drink at any time. Mick must've convinced him that he'd turned a new leaf because the waiter went to the bar and came back with two trays full of drinks. He proceeded to serve everyone and finally set Mick's drink in front of him and asked what (room) he should "put it down to".

Mick just picked up his glass, took a sip, winked and said "f**king experience"

It didn't end there though.

Long after midnight, I was stood with my missus at the bar and ordered a nightcap. The barman set the drinks in front of us and as I offered to pay, I was told "it's OK, they're on Mr Waudby". I thought this strange because Roy Waudby had gone to bed about an hour before. I said "is Mr Waudby still here?" and got the response, "young Mr Waudby is".

There was Mick at the other end of the bar, merrily signing for anyone's drinks with Roger Waudby's room number

Re: Fui Fui Moi Moi : Fri Sep 26, 2014 4:57 am  

You should go for Toka and Tonga Likiliki if you like alliteration in names.
They are both bigger and just as useless as Fuifui

Re: Fui Fui Moi Moi : Fri Sep 26, 2014 9:19 pm  

roopy wrote:

You should go for Toka and Tonga Likiliki if you like alliteration in names.
They are both bigger and just as useless as Fuifui

Sorry but my imagination cannot get further than anyone called Tonga Likiliki must be working the streets in Bangkok

Re: Fui Fui Moi Moi : Fri Sep 26, 2014 9:53 pm  

Great player Craney .