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Sammels, Jon Sorry in advance if this is a tad long-winded.
I’m a Banbury-born Arsenal fan. My following ‘two-part’ story occurred In 1966, I was 12 years old.
Part 1: My dad told me that Tom Walley (Arsenal midfield player) and his older brother Ernie (Arsenal coach) were coming to Banbury for an Easter-time visit. My dad was informed of this by a relative of the Walley brothers.
The relative ‘put in a word’ so to speak and lo-and-behold the brothers turned up at our house on Good Friday afternoon.
They were smartly, and identically, dressed in navy blue blazer, tie, grey slacks and black shoes. And, the Arsenal crest was sewn into the blazer pocket. They stayed for about 30 minutes I think. My dad and I were each given a present of a ticket for Arsenal’s final game of the season, versus Leicester City at Highbury. This day meant so much to me at such a young age.
Part 2: Three days later, on Easter Monday, Arsenal were due to play away at Aston Villa (Birmingham). And I was going to the match.
The train arrived at Banbury station from London, and continued to Birmingham. After a while I left my seat and walked to the buffet car for a cuppa and...there was a compartment of six Arsenal players. Half a dozen Arsenal fans were acting in an unseemly, noisy manner just outside their glass door. Don Howe - Arsenal player, with leg in plaster - was not amused and told them sharply to “clear off”. As the rowdy group dispersed I also began walking away. Mr Howe called me back and asked the players to sign their autographs for me. I then continued for my cuppa. A carriage door slid open in front of me and stepping through was Bertie Mee, the club’s physio. I asked politely “would you sign for me, please, Mr Mee?”, and I still to this day can quote word-for-word his reply: “you don’t want my autograph son, I’m nobody special”. *[see footnote].
I then arrived at a compartment with just two Arsenal players seated - Frank McLintock, and... JON SAMMELS. I politely stood outside the door, and I was invited in for autographs. They both were nice to me, talking for a few minutes.
JON SAMMELS, a little later, became my favourite player. Partly due to the fact he was an ‘inside right’ wearing number 8. Same position/number as myself (school team) at the time.
*[footnote re Bertie Mee] About six weeks later at the final game vs Leicester (thanks to the Walley’s tickets) my Dad and I were seated about an hour before kick-off in the East Stand, upper tier. I was reading the match programme when amazingly I spotted Bertie Mee looking up at us from a dozen or so rows below. He smiled and walked up the steps to say hello. What a wonderful gesture from a humble true gent.
The rather amusing (and unusual) thing regarding his (on the train) comment: “you don’t want my autograph son, I’m nobody special” is the follow-up in his career. After this final game of the season, manager Billy Wright was sacked, and Bertie Mee was given his job. Physio to Manager, not totally unheard of, but highly unusual.
He took Arsenal to their first European success in 1969-70. And we won the glorious League/FA Cup Double the following season. “Nobody special” indeed !!
PS: Best Easter I could never have dreamed of. Even the 3-0 loss at Villa couldn’t change that fact.
15-08-22 Alan Stidder
Sammels, Jon I wrote Jon a letter when I was 10, 1966, there were rumours that he was leaving Arsenal. I received a hand written reply which is framed and hung up to this day. Years later I was an IT trainer and used his name to create a fictitious customer, one of the students knew Jon as she also has dealings with Leicester City. At a function she told him about me and he signed the menu saying I had a really good memory. He’ll always be my favourite player.
23-07-22 Gill Masters
Sammels, Jon Knew John very well when he played for Nuneaton Boro. Great bloke. Even came to my daughters christening party. Great player for Boro.
04-02-21 John tallis
Sammels, Jon I had the pleasure of seeing Jon play for leic city on many occasions , it was always said by people who new Jon he was one of the nicest people you could meet . When he hung up his boots he joined our running club Oadby and wigston legionnaires ac. And was one of our top runners his training was implacable and would always turn out for us in many relay , road and x/c , I really got to know Jon well , I happen to mention to him my son Glenn was a football fan , Jon turned up at my house a few days later and gave Glenn a signed poster of the arsenal team my son who was only seven at the time was got smacked , that was not the only thing Jon did for Glenn he got him through his driving test ( first time) I met Jon in the local garden centre in Countesthorpe recently and Jon recognised right away we had a chat about our running days. It was great to speak to Jon ( He is true gent ). Jeff matthews
12-08-20 Jeff matthews
Sammels, Jon Jon became a driving instructor in Leicester and was to be seen regularly at the local test centres. I knew him during my time as an instructor and he was always very pleasant to speak to and a really nice bloke. As far as I know he still lives locally in a small village just outside the city but retired from instructing in the early 2000's I think. After he retired I'd still see him occasionally out running along the country roads between his village and the neighbouring one. A nephew of mine who was living in Los Angeles gave me a fan photo he had from Jon's time at Leicester City and asked me to get him to sign it which he duly did and I posted it back to L.A. to a very pleased nephew!
16-08-19 John Wood
SAMMELS, Jon I was your next door neighbour growing up. Grundisburgh was a very happy place.
Rita Wimpenny (Rita Rayfield)
Sammels, Jon Jon gave a lot of fans great pleasure with his classy play.Sadly at Arsenal we had so called fans who were as negative as hell.They made life difficult for him.Give him my Bert wishes.
Sammels, Jon In the late 60's Jon's house backed on to our school playground.
