Fear for Greavsie as he battles mystery illness in hospital
Cyril Dixon
HUNDREDS of football fans sent their best wishes to former England legend and television pundit Jimmy Greaves yesterday as he prepared for another night in hospital.
The 80-year-old goalscoring hero was admitted with a mystery illness but friends said it was not thought to be related to coronavirus.
Terry Baker, his old friend and agent, said Jimmy had spent a comfortable first night in hospital, where he is undergoing tests, and had spoken to his wife Irene on the phone.
The ex-Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur striker, who was part of England’s 1966 World Cupwinning squad, suffered a massive stroke five years ago.
Terry said: “No news is good news at the moment.
“His problem isn’t coronavirus related and doesn’t seem to be related to his previous illness.
“Hopefully he won’t be hospital for too long.”
Jimmy became wheelchairbound after his stroke and needs professional care four times a day. The father-of-four was taken in by ambulance to a hospital in Chelmsford, Essex, on Tuesday night after his nurses became concerned about his condition.
Ex-West Ham manager Harry Redknapp said he looked up to Jimmy when they were teammates at the east London club.
He said: “Jimmy was a genius. I would think nobody taught Jimmy, he was just a one-off.”
Jimmy scored 44 goals for England in 57 appearances and a record 357 goals in the First Division. He began his career with Chelsea, moved to AC Milan and then to Spurs, where he won two FA Cups and the European Cup Winners’ Cup, before joining West Ham.
He later won a new generation of fans on his ITV show, Saint And Greavsie, with former Liverpool star Ian St John.
Spurs said in a statement: “Everybody at the club sends their best wishes to Jimmy and his family.”
Chelsea tweeted: “Get well soon, Jimmy.We’re all with you.”
News Reporter
A GIANT nuclear submarine docks at the end of her first journey – after travelling as silently as a baby dolphin.
HMS Audacious is the fourth in a series of seven Astute class subs being built for the Royal Navy by BAE Systems.
The £1.6billion vessel is said to be the most capable ever built and to set a new standard in stealth and firepower.
The 320ft, 7,400-ton sub was pictured arriving at her new home, the Navy’s Faslane base in Scotland, after a 200-mile journey from the BAE site in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria.
She boasts Spearfish torpedoes, Tomahawk cruise missiles and the ability to detect ships 3,000 miles away.
The sub is designed to circle the globe without surfacing, while 39,000 anti-acoustic tiles mean she makes no more noise than a baby dolphin.
BAE’s Cliff Robson said it had been “truly humbling” to see employees coming together to complete her despite the coronavirus crisis.
Sister subs Astute, Ambush and Artful are in service and the three others in the class are under construction.