I arranged for a Spurs scout to watch Willie when he came back 'on the market'. I still have the letter from the club somewhere (I also had several phone conversations) where they agreed that he was a fine keeper with undoubted potential and ability but, by then, they felt he was too old for them. However, they did say they had no doubts about him getting fixed up with a lower league club.
I touted his name to several but because of my own severe business commitments at that particular time I couldn't follow things through for him. Due to this some of my understanding came via third parties and the story was this:
Willie did indeed have a couple of offers (he had now completed his trade, as a carpenter if my memory is correct) but he turned them down. The reason, I was told, was that he had committed himself to working at a disabled childrens' holiday home in Cowbridge where he helped look after the kiddies doing all kinds of distasteful work such as wiping their bums etc. What a man! And so typical of Willie who was that type of guy. I had nothing but respect for him when I heard about that.
But
@Yankee_Jack do you remember Rhys who was their grandfather or something? He was a hulking, well built man with a greying walrus moustache, always dressed in a brown 'flashers' raincoat, a brown trilby and horn rimmed glasses. He attended almost every home game and stood with Ducks near the touchline. Well I told you that Kimble was chopsy and, in this particular game against Cardiff Corries, the opposing CB didn't like it one bit and decided to shut Kimble up. His method of choice was to kick Kimble black and blue every time he could and he smashed him several times.
As you know, the Welsh League was very physical and the officials let a lot of stuff go but Rhys was getting more and more incensed by the minute as this CB was virtually using Kimble as a punch bag. Almost every tackle saw Kimble going up in the air or crashing to the ground. Finally Rhys could take no more. After leaving Kimble in a heap yet again, the CB took the ball on a run up the left flank when Rhys barged his way onto the pitch, grabbed the guy around the neck and practically ripped him out of his boots!!!
I was in stitches laughing. Rhys was getting on in years but he was still a strong man and this CB had the shock of his life.
There was a real scuffle on the touchline with both teams joining in before the referee dismissed Rhys from the touchline. Order was finally restored but for the life of me I can't remember the result. I do remember, though, that Ponty was reported to the FAW and received a fine for failing to control the fans. Bit harsh I thought as it wasn't a case of failing to control the fans, it was a case of failing to control Rhys!!
