Gareth’s having a ball with Bowles fundraiser
Hayes FM presenter Hughie Dixon reviews the live band scene
IT is a sad fact that 1960s and 1970s football icons received all the acclaim yet nowhere near the financial security of today’s heroes.
Even many of England’s World Cup winning squad of 1966 were soon out on the lookout for day jobs as the furore started to wane following their departure from the Mexico tournament in 1970. It must be said that the celebrity sporting giants of today owe their luxurious lifestyles to the foundations laid by the inspirations of yesteryear.
One such god of the beautiful game is Stan Bowles. A hero of Queens Park Rangers who has dedicated his life to football and is now facing a difficult and uncertain future due to a recent diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.
With a club career that spanned from 1967 to 1984 and taking in Man City, Crewe Alexandra, Carlisle United, QPR, Nottingham Forest, Leyton Orient and Brentford on it’s way Stan Bowles scored 154 goals as well as goalscoring appearances for the England side from 1974 to 1977.
This sad news has prompted action from the more recent QPR legend Gareth Ainsworth (now Wycombe Wanderers manager), who has decided to get his band The Cold Blooded Hearts to play a fundraiser gig this Saturday at the Crown and Treaty pub, in Oxford Road, Uxbridge (whose proprietors, incidentally, are also lifelong QPR fans).
Gareth and the band will be ripping their way through a blistering set of covers and a few originals for an eager crowd of footie and music fans. It is just £10 per ticket and all proceeds go to Stan’s family to help pay for his care. Nip along to the Crown and Treaty pub anytime this week for your ticket. You may get lucky on the door on the night, but it is better to be safe than sorry. Hopefully see you there. Don’t forget there’s a whole wealth of punk, rock, indie and metal in aid of Macmillan cancer support nurses this Friday and Saturday at The Battle of Britain Club, Uxbridge Road, Hillingdon. It is £3 entry on either night.
Be sure to tune into my interactive HayesFM radio show every Tuesday at 9pm to hear live and original performers, plus more local live music news. You can find HayesFM on 91.8fm in London or global on www.hayesfm.org.uk.