Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
HIP HIP HOORAY!
Kind-hearted Toon stars pay for club veteran’s much-needed op
NEWCASTLE stars have clubbed together to pay for their veteran kitman’s hip operation – saving him from months of pain.
Steve Bruce’s squad showed their generosity with a £15,000 whip-round so George Ramshaw could get back to work and stay part of their boot-room team.
Geordie striker Andy Carroll discovered Ramshaw, the assistant kit manager, would have to wait months to have surgery on the NHS.
So they got their wallets out to ensure the former top-level amateur player and coach received the treatment he needed within days.
Pensioner Ramshaw works behind the scenes with kitman Ray Thompson to ensure
Newcastle players have a set of boots and training kit every day, including matches.
The workers are regarded as very much part of Bruce’s team, working long irregular hours to smooth out life at the training ground.
Newcastle boss Bruce (below) said: “Footballers get much maligned these days, but they organised a whip-round between them and raised something like £15,000 and sent him off to a private hospital to get it done.
“He’s only just come back to work in the past couple of weeks and he’s all fixed and healed. Seems to have been a big success. I think it might have been Andy Carroll’s initial idea. Andy (right), of course, has known George since he was a kid.
“George is as good as gold now, jumping around the place with a brand new hip. He’ll be playing soon!
“We’re all thrilled to see him like that because he is a lovely, lovely man.
“He has been here since the year dot. It was a lovely touch from the players.”
Ramshaw, of Hebburn, played for a successful Whitley Bay side in the 1950s and 60s and toured Africa with a Great Britain side.
He also coached Gateshead and was hired by former Toon chief Kevin Keegan in 1995.
Ramshaw said: “I’m eternally grateful to the players.
“I was in a lot of pain with my hip and it would have been months before I could get an operation through the NHS given how busy they are.
“All the lads came together and put in. Me and my wife are both very grateful. I’m feeling great now. I was off for about four months, but I’m back full-time now. It’s champion.”