A tribute to Johnny Haynes 1934-2005

Johnny Haynes, England Captain in the 1950’s. Capped 56 times.

" . . . if you play in Johnny's team, you play with a man who will run and use his skill until he drops in an effort to fight against defeat.

"A Fulham player knew that the moment he won the ball Haynes would want it, and that he would be free. He wouldn't be standing in space signalling for the ball. He would be moving into it, and like all the great players he was very quick over five yards. Movement was Haynes' greatest asset. It was liquid, subtle movement and so many times it was found impossible to cover a player who was so intelligent and so constantly mobile . . . He always knew where he was on the field, and where everyone else was, and on top of everything else he had an innate ability to shield the ball and, while so close to it, change direction in a completely unpredictable way."

“He had a whole class about him. His skill and ability to pass the ball from ten yards to 60 yards was better than anybody I've ever seen. You look at the game today and people say that Beckham is the best passer of the ball over long distances but I'm going back 40 years when the balls were heavy, had laces and when wet they weighed a ton. For this man to pass a ball like that 60 yards and land it on somebody's foot was absolutely amazing.”

“Johnny loved situations which gave the team and himself the chance to outwit opponents. He specialised in the taking of quick free kicks. Against Brazil at Wembley when England won 4-2, Johnny chipped a quick free kick over the head of Brazilian defenders before they had set themselves, and a surprised Didi handled the ball to give away a penalty.Against Scotland at Wembley when England won 9-3, Johnny again slipped a free kick through a bunch of Scottish defenders for Bryan Douglas to tag past the goalkeeper, while the Scottish players strongly protested that they were not ready.”