R.I.P.

Gutted.

?

Probably needs to be moved to the main Nix Forum as he's such a huge part of football and the club. 

not just the Nix, Wellington (and NZ) football in general

I grew up reading his reports and got to know him these last couple of years was a brilliant guy always had time for a yarn about football

going to be sadly missed 

RIP Rusty

RIP.....Rusty...understated hero of the Nix

Russell, Russell, give us a wave, give us a wave, Russell........

Steven Bocho - creator of Hill Street Blues.

Ray Wilkins - Chelsea, Man United, Milan, Rangers, QPR and England footballer.

Great footballer and all round nice guy  RIP 'Butch'

Anyone remember that screamer he scored for QPR against Liverpool?

A few of the tributes to Ray written by players: Carlo Cudicini, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, Nigel Quashie.

I found this story on a Facebook page from an Everton fan. Most messages all say what an absolute gentleman he was off the pitch. This story is about something that happened on the pitch

"As an Evertonian I remember going to QPR often in 1993 or 94 we were there and during the game there was a lengthy delay as their keeper was lying injured on the goal line at the away end and Ray stood by him as he was having treatment making sure he was OK. Our fans decided to pass the time with an extended version of 'there's only one baldy b'stard' directed at Wilkins. When he was sure the keeper was OK he stood up, looked at our fans with a huge grin on his face, and pulled up his shirt to reveal the hairiest chest imaginable. Cue the end of the chant as most of us burst into laughter. I had the utmost respect for him after that."

RIP Butch. One of the good guys.

one of the best goals scored by Ray for England against Belgium

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEgIartoTvI

Terrible sad news: RIP Ray

I will always remember you wearing that iconic England shirt at the 1982 World Cup that the All Whites were in. Top man.

Five time darts World Champion Eric Bristow. Aged 60

Darts legend RIP

Aged Triple 20

Had a similar impact in his sport to Alex Higgins in snooker: helped take it from smoke filled pubs to packed arenas...RIP to "The Crafty Cockney". 

I remember the great goal he scored against Brighton in the 1983 FA Cup Final.

One of my favourite players when I followed Man Utd as a teenager in the early '80's.

Ray was still playing professionally aged almost 40, at as high a level as the Premier League for QPR.

His younger brother Stephen, a decent non-league footballer, played in NZ in the early 1990's.

Ray also used to turn up on Radio Sport here in NZ talking football several years ago.

Sadly, it emerges that Ray was also an alcoholic, something he only publicly admitted to a couple of years ago:

https://talksport.com/football/ray-wilkins-opens-a...

A typically honest account in that interview of his struggles with alcohol which he says started after he retired from playing in 1996. 

He'd publically admitted previously to suffering ulcers but not that they were caused by drinking, after appearing noticeably unwell - or some said drunk - on the bench as assistant coach at Fulham in 2014.

He was in the midst of a four year driving ban for drink driving when he passed away.

Several apprehensions for drink driving lead him to seek treatment for his alcoholism but unfortunately it looks like the effects caught up with his health...

I always liked listening to Ray speak. 

Heard this tribute to Ray on talksport from ex-soldier who credits Ray with helping him turn his life around..

http://www.sportbible.com/football/legends-ex-sold...

Thanks Ray, you were a real class act!

53 People whom did not survive the Wahine Disaster this day 50 years ago. I remember that storm like it was only yesterday, I was 7 at the time and the schools were closed etc. RIP to those people.

Ivan Mauger, Speedway world champion 

Sgt. R. Lee Ermey “The Gunny”. Best know for this

brilliant performance..RIP Gunny

Bruno Sammartino, professional wrestler. 

Avicii, only 28.

Roy Bentley - former Chelsea, Fulham and QPR player. Capped for England.

Last surviving England player from 1950 loss to United States...

Mini Me from Austin Powers. Only 42 years old.

Wow. Such a short life...

Dave Barraclough - Exponents guitarist:

Those that die on NZ roads.

https://www.transport.govt.nz/resources/road-safety-resources/road-deaths/annual-number-of-road-deaths-historical-information/

Bill MacGowan passed way just 66 after an illness.

I know there is a general anti NZ Football feeling among fans and there will be some who didnt really think much of Bill but from personal experience he was quite probably for me the most important and influential CEO we ever had. With assistance from a couple of other key people at NZF he turned the ship around and set NZ up for the future.  Hard nosed and strong willed he did rub a few people the wrong way at times but from my perspective he essentially saved NZ Football from the worst of financial positions and left a solid foundation.

I think he probably deserves his own thread.

One of Christchurch's favourite sons.

We can remember him in future whenever AFC Wimbledon play on their new home ground which is being built on the site of Mauger's old English base at Plough Lane, Wimbledon, the speedway track and club where Mauger started his English career.

There's a brilliant permanent display didicated to Mauger upstairs at Canterbury Museum if you're ever in Christchurch. 

Includes his unique gold-plated motorcycle:

"In 1970, two men in the USA named George Wenn and Ray Bokelman said that if Ivan Mauger won his third World Final in a row at Wrocław (Poland), they would have the winning bike gold plated. Mauger duly won the World Final that year, and true to their promise, the bike was taken to America and Gold plated, and so was born the "Triple Crown Special". The machine is on display at Canterbury Museum in Christchurch, New Zealand."

Triple Crown Special on display at Canterbury Museum

I remember he replaced Brian Jones in the Exponents in the 1990's.

A committed Crystal Palace supporter, the Exponents had some decent social footballers in their ranks.

I was at school (Nelson College) with Exponents drummer Mike Harallambi whose dad was Hungarian I think.

Another Nelson College schoolmate of the era, Davie Fitzsimons is currently guitarist in Anglo-American indie band Love Zombies.

Courtney Love of Hole and Kurt Cobain fame was boarding at Nelson Girls College up the road (her parents were hippies living in NZ).

Anton Jenner, lead singer of the Dance Exponents' main early 1980's Christchurch rivals the Wastrels quit music to complete a Masters in sociology and became a lecturer at Canterbury University. If you knew the Wastrels at the time, this would have seemed completely unlikely, akin to Keith Richards or Johnny Rotten becoming a lecturer in the UK.

Not sure if this should be here or in the "things that rule" thread. 

Hopeful Christian - founder of Gloriavale. Questionable practices etc. 

I guess he is now finding out if his name gets him into heaven or not!

If there is any truth in all the current revelations,  WELLINGTON Phoenix as per se??