time

Its 33 years since the death of ex-footballer, coach and manager Jimmy Murphy, aged 79. After more than 200 appearances for West Bromwich Albion, he transferred to Swindon Town in 1939, but had barely registered when war halted the season, and in the process his playing career. During the war he was observed by Matt Busby giving a talk to troops about football, which prompted Busby to offer him a position when the latter became manager of Manchester United. He was chief coach until 1955, after which he was assistant manager; he also managed the Welsh National team from 1956, reaching the finals for the first time (and until this year, the only time). Following the Munich Air Crash in 1958, a flight Murphy would have been on had he not had World Cup qualifier to attend with Wales, it fell to Murphy to pick up the pieces of the season, while Busby recovered in hospital. With a scratch squad made up of youngsters, with a couple of veterans for experience, United fielded a team just 13 days after the crash, defeating Sheffield Wednesday in a FA Cup match 3-0. They would reach the final but lose to Bolton. Murphy's stint as caretaker finished with a record of Played 22, Won 5, Drawn 7 and lost 10. Permission was recently given for a statue to be erected at Old Trafford. A blue plaque was unveiled at his childhood home in Pentre, Rhondda, in 2009.

Hooray!!! Finally over, thanks to Rover. Now looking forward to underperforming in Scavenger Hunt Bingo V.

Former goalkeeper John Connaughton has died aged 73. Originally on Manchester United's books (7 seasons, 3 appearances), he moved to Sheffield United (2 seasons 12 appearances) then Port Vale (6 seasons 218 appearances), before finishing in non-league with Altrincham.

74 The Sweet – Blockbuster 72 Alice Cooper - School`s Out 57 Nilsson – Without You 49 Suzi Quatro - Can the Can +4 43 Don McLean - Vincent -6 38. 10CC Rubber Bullets 38 Wizzard - See My Baby Jive 10 T. Rex - Metal Guru  07 Rod Stewart – You Wear It Well

Howard Wilkinson is 79 today. Wilkinson had a patchy career as a league player, with 22 appearances for hometown Sheffield Wednesday over 4 seasons (he'd initially signed for rivals United but never played for them) before playing over a hundred matches for Brighton & Hove Albion, then in the third division of the Football League. Following this, he dropped to non-league Boston United, where he began his managerial career, becoming player-manager in 1975. His first Football League managerial position was at Notts County, where he succeeded Jimmy Sirrell for a season before moving on to second division Sheffield Wednesday, winning promotion to the first division in his first season, where they stayed for the next four seasons*. In 1988 he moved to Leeds United, winning promotion the first division the following season, and then two years later winning the league championship (the last before the formation of the breakaway Premiership, and also the last English League championship won by an English manager). Following the end of the season, he sold one Eric Cantona to Manchester United. He became technical director for the national team following his departure from Leeds, during which time he oversaw the development of the National Football Centre (St. George's) Burton, Staffs and had an unsuccessful stint as England U21 manager, as well as two brief periods as caretaker of the senior side, chiefly memorable for an exchange with a radio reporter who asked pointed questions following a disappointing 0-0 draw; Wilkinson snapped, asking what qualified a mere radio reporter to ask such questions of professionals, to be countered with the reply "43 England Caps, 15 as captain". It was Jimmy Armfield. On leaving the England set-up, subsequent managerial roles included a spell at Sunderland and Shanghai Shenhua, then various other coaching and backroom roles and is currently the chairman of the League Managers' Association.

To which definition of 'tight' are you referring?

Booker T Jones is 78 today.

68 The Sweet – Blockbuster 66 Alice Cooper - School`s Out 57 Nilsson – Without You 49 Don McLean - Vincent -6 44 Suzi Quatro – Can The Can +4 41 10CC Rubber Bullets 36 Wizzard - See My Baby Jive 25 Rod Stewart – You Wear It Well  16 Slade - Cum On Feel The Noize 12 T. Rex - Metal Guru

He's a what?

Thirty-one years ago Morton Stevens died, aged 62, from pancreatic cancer. A musician and composer, he was arranger/conductor for Sammy Davis Jr. and musical director for The Rat Pack, but was notably a film/TV music composer, nominated multiple times for Emmy awards, winning twice for his music for Hawai'i Five-O, including it's theme.

I've been out of circulation for a couple of days and I see things haven't got any better in my absence! 64 The Sweet – Blockbuster  62 Alice Cooper - School`s Out 55 Nilsson – Without you 50 10CC Rubber Bullets 49 Don McLean - Vincent -6 38. Suzi Quatro – Can the can 34 Wizzard - See My Baby Jive 28 Rod Stewart – You Wear It Well  28. Slade - Cum On Feel The Noize 17 T. Rex - Metal Guru  15 Lieutenant Pigeon - Mouldy Old Dough +4

Stage, film and TV actor Robert Gillespie is 89 today. Best known in the UK for his starring role in Keep It In The Family, alongside Pauline Yates, he has numerous guest appearances in many of the best known TV programmes from the 60s to the 80s (as well as some lesser known ones), including Man About The House, George & Mildred, Survivors, The Sweeney, The Avengers, The Saint & Up Pompeii plus numerous others. On the big screen he appeared in Up The Front, The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins, and Force Ten from Navarone, amongst others, his most recent role being in 2018's Peterloo. His stage career includes a stint with The Old Vic plus two-and-a-aalf years with The Royal Shakespear Company

I, too, missed the 13th hit poll, as I was out and returned home to find number 13 had already happened. Number 14, more wishful thinking than anything, but J-M Le Pen.

On the downside, he also wrote the lyrics to Dick-a-dum-dum.

I wouldn't say celebrate, exactly.

49 Don McLean - Vincent 49 Nilsson – Without you 49 The Sweet – Blockbuster 49 Alice Cooper – School's Out 44 Slade – Cum On Feel The Noize 44 Lieutenant Pigeon - Mouldy Old Dough +4 40 Suzi Quatro – Can the can 38 Wizzard – See My Baby Jive 32 10CC – Rubber Bullets 29 Rod Stewart – You Wear It Well 23 T.Rex – Metal Guru -6 23 Chicory Tip – Son of my father 23 Slade – Merry X-mas everybody 9 T.Rex – Telegram Sam 9 Wizzard – Angel Fingers

50 Alice Cooper – School's Out 47 Don McLean - Vincent 46 Nilsson – Without you 45 The Sweet – Blockbuster 44 Slade – Cum On Feel The Noize 43 Lieutenant Pigeon - Mouldy Old Dough +4 36 Suzi Quatro – Can the can 34 Wizzard – See My Baby Jive 29 10CC – Rubber Bullets 29 Rod Stewart – You Wear It Well 29 T.Rex – Metal Guru 26 Slade – Merry X-mas everybody 23 Chicory Tip – Son of my father 18 T.Rex – Telegram Sam 18 Simon Park Orchestra - Eye Level 15 Wizzard – Angel Fingers 10 Gilbert O´Sullivan – Get down -6

Its 29 years since the death of Torsten Fenslau. The German DJ and music producer was a regular performer at Frankfurt's Dorian Gray Club and had raduio shows on Frankfurt radio. He formed his own record label Abfahrt Records, and achieved international success with dance group Culture Beat, who hit number one in many countries with their single Mr. Vain. He died as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident, when he skidded on a wet road, aged 29.

My Sunday vote. 44 Alice Cooper – School's Out 43 Don McLean - Vincent 38 Nilsson – Without you 35 Lieutenant Pigeon - Mouldy Old Dough +4 34 The Sweet – Blockbuster 33 Slade – Cum On Feel The Noize 32 Suzi Quatro – Can the can 29 10CC – Rubber Bullets 26 Rod Stewart – You Wear It Well 26 T.Rex – Metal Guru 25 Chicory Tip – Son of my father 25 Wizzard – See My Baby Jive 24 Slade – Merry X-mas everybody 23 Simon Park Orchestra - Eye Level 22 Slade – Skweeze me, pleeze me 21 Wizzard – Angel Fingers 21 Gilbert O´Sullivan – Get down 20 T.Rex – Telegram Sam 20 The New Seekers – I'd like to teach the world to sing 15 David Cassidy – How can I be sure 14 David Cassidy - Daydreamer/The Puppy Song 8 Donny Osmond – The twelfth of never 8 Gilbert O´Sullivan – Clair -6

I thought that was Rab C. Nesbitt's Baldy Man at first glance.

Matthew who?

Better get Saturday's selection in while its still Saturday! 45 Alice Cooper – School's Out 38 Don McLean - Vincent 33 Slade – Cum On Feel The Noize 32 The Sweet – Blockbuster 32 Suzi Quatro – Can the can 32 Nilsson – Without you 31 Lieutenant Pigeon - Mouldy Old Dough +3 27 10CC – Rubber Bullets 26 T.Rex – Metal Guru 26 Rod Stewart – You Wear It Well 25 Chicory Tip – Son of my father 25 Wizzard – See My Baby Jive 24 Slade – Merry X-mas everybody 23 Simon Park Orchestra - Eye Level 22 Slade – Skweeze me, pleeze me 21 Gilbert O´Sullivan – Get down 21 Wizzard – Angel Fingers +1 20 The New Seekers – I'd like to teach the world to sing 20 T.Rex – Telegram Sam 18 David Cassidy – How can I be sure 14 Gilbert O´Sullivan – Clair -6 14 David Cassidy - Daydreamer/The Puppy Song 11 Chuck Berry – My ding-a-ling 10 Slade – Take me back 'ome 8 Donny Osmond – The twelfth of never

Joan Rivers? Not by me either. (No opinion on Mary Berry) Keanu Reeves generally gets good press for being a decent chap.

Sorry, I was confused by Chuck Berry appearing twice in earlier posts. (Actually, I changed my mind and went with Wizzard but obviously forgot to reset Suzi's score)

Dr. Samuel Katz, co-developer of the measles vaccine currently used worldwide, died 31st October aged 95.