PASALB Christmas Social

If any of you are London based, or indeed in London on Thursday 17th December, then you could do far worse than attend the PASALB Christmas Party at the Hoop & Grapes pub in Farringdon.

For those of you who started attending Argyle in the 80's then the special guest is John Matthews who combined the ability to boss a game without once straying from the centre circle. Quality passer of the ball.

PASALB

Loved John Matthews, he looked like your friendly local butcher had donned a football kit and decided to join in, couldn't half pick a pass mind.

We will post more details in the coming weeks. John is really looking forward to this.

AstiSpumante wrote:

Loved John Matthews, he looked like your friendly local butcher had donned a football kit and decided to join in, couldn't half pick a pass mind.

Players like big John and the awesome Steve McCall seem to be a dying breed in modern football and that is a tragedy imo. The art of reading and dictating a match from the middle of the park seems to have been trumped by the need for physicality rather than guile and nous.

Be there or be square.......sorry showing my age..... .... ..... .

AstiSpumante wrote:

Loved John Matthews, he looked like your friendly local butcher had donned a football kit and decided to join in, couldn't half pick a pass mind.

Could be a dirty bugger when needed as well. Some wonderful "tackles" linger in the mind from his days at Argyle, very good player though-one of the Ciderman's very best signings.

Do you have to be a member of PASALB to go?

I'm another big fan of John Mathews. I lament the game that has disappeared, that allowed the likes of Mathews to do his silky stuff. I suppose Nallis was the last player we had who could boss with such a languid style, although slightly deeper. Too many weight lifting jockeys these days. What happened to those sloping shoulders and pigeon chests that could dip and sail by in an instant etc etc. The only reason "upper body strength" is so important these days is the referees don't uphold the rules.

Just look back at tv footage of 70s and 80s football, look at the great teams, and just see how "artistic" it was in those days These days it's nothing more than clever fast tippy tappy 5-a-side type footy on, for all intents and purposes, artificial carpets. Defensive coaching has improved massively, so that hasn't helped the spectacle.
At least Adams likes wingers, that's something. If he liked whingers as well, or at least understood them,  he'd be perfect.

Here you go Sir John, it doesn't get much better than this effort from old Frank.

Gotta love that goal.

Brilliant Asti. When I was typing that, Lord Worthington came to my mind.
He was occasionally a genius, even after a heavy night of all sorts, and there were so many of them in those days, from Stan Bowles to Rodney Marsh. The way they shifted their bodies was poetry.
Gazza was the last I can remember in this country that had a bit of it. It's all about pace, bustle and pull now. Boring athletes are taking over all the skill sports. Just look at the rugby. I think I preferred Worthington's type of pulling.

Seem to recall Matthews had a right good poke on him too. Shoooooooooooooooooooot!!!!!!!!

Mouldyoldgoat You don't need to be a member to attend, however non-members may incur a charge if we put on food.

Thanks PASALB man. I'll certainly think about attending.

PASALB will be holding it's Christmas do on Thursday 17th December, all welcome for further information please go to [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

A bumped reminder for those of you in London tonight. Unfortunately work has deployed me elsewhere as I had intended on going.

I hope the night is a big success PASALB