Phil Blake...remember him? : Fri May 15, 2009 12:43 am  

Phil Blake was indeed the finest footballer I have ever had the pleasure to watch in RL. He would often score such unique solo tries. He had this talant where he would kick the ball ahead in such a way as it would sit up for him to reclaim and often score as a result. I found a clip on youtube of a try the he scored for Souths reminisant of the many he scored for Warrington over two spells in 85/86 and 88/89. I am convinced if Souths would have released Blake and Les Davidson for the semi final at Maine Road against Wigan...Yes, that Lydon 60mtr drop goal game....Then we would have won. There are one or two other clips of the wonder kid 'king blake' on there too. The nearest thing Warrington have had since with natural tallent like Phil Blake has been Johnathon Davis and more recent occasional spells from Chris Bridge. In reality both the latter were/are a long way off Blake with ball in hand and toe! Click link and revel. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7liz82AYY0

Phil Blake was indeed the finest footballer I have ever had the pleasure to watch in RL. He would often score such unique solo tries. He had this talant where he would kick the ball ahead in such a way as it would sit up for him to reclaim and often score as a result. I found a clip on youtube of a try the he scored for Souths reminisant of the many he scored for Warrington over two spells in 85/86 and 88/89. I am convinced if Souths would have released Blake and Les Davidson for the semi final at Maine Road against Wigan...Yes, that Lydon 60mtr drop goal game....Then we would have won. There are one or two other clips of the wonder kid 'king blake' on there too. The nearest thing Warrington have had since with natural tallent like Phil Blake has been Johnathon Davis and more recent occasional spells from Chris Bridge. In reality both the latter were/are a long way off Blake with ball in hand and toe! Click link and revel. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7liz82AYY0

: Fri May 15, 2009 6:05 am  

I agree with everything that you have said bar the bit about Chris Bridge he shouldn't be in the same thread ,He has a long way to go to be anywhere near good enough to lace Phil Blakes boots and miles away as far as a half-back position goes Bridge has looked promising at centre but garbage as a HB or any other position .

: Fri May 15, 2009 9:10 am  

How many tries did he score wearing only one boot??

Class player made the game look easy just like Jiffy as you said.

Oh for a player like him to be in the team now.

: Fri May 15, 2009 9:32 am  

My second fav player of all time top player & a nice guy as well just missed first due to someone called Des Drummond!!

: Fri May 15, 2009 9:57 am  

SPIRIT OF 74 wrote:

I agree with everything that you have said bar the bit about Chris Bridge he shouldn't be in the same thread ,He has a long way to go to be anywhere near good enough to lace Phil Blakes boots and miles away as far as a half-back position goes Bridge has looked promising at centre but garbage as a HB or any other position .

"Couldnt have put it better myself"!! Blakey was an out and out "class act" and was "magic" with ball in hand.
Chris Bridge??? Will only ever be an average centre and most certainly "NEVER" make it as a half back, never mind be mentioned in the same breath as Phil Blake...!!

: Fri May 15, 2009 10:11 am  

Phil Blake was an idol of mine when I was a young casual, a world class player if ever we have had one.

Jiffy would be up there too, how come he got the nickname Jiffi????

Bridge has never had a settled position in his career due to injury, we have yet to see the best of him.

: Fri May 15, 2009 10:11 am  

fast_pug wrote:

My second fav player of all time top player & a nice guy as well just missed first due to someone called Des Drummond!!

what a player...another one of my favourite all time players...hard as nails..lovely guy off the field as well...wish we had some more players like dessie...legend

: Fri May 15, 2009 10:46 am  

Blake makes my best ever Wire team - a joy to watch.

Don't think he ever played internationally - what would GB have given for a back of that quality back then?

: Fri May 15, 2009 11:08 am  

Tremendous player, scored something like 41 tries in 44 games for us? Absolutely loved watching him play.

: Fri May 15, 2009 12:11 pm  

He'd be known as Phil "Judas" Blake by our fans now-days.