John Budgie Byrne.

I've been with me father today,chatting about Racing and football.We got round to talking about South African racing and he mentioned
a guy he used to play football with at Epsom Town in the 1950s.
He went on and played for West Ham,then emigrated to South Africa in the late 60s and he thinks he played for a Durban based team.
He was nicknamed budgie because he never stoped talking.My dad thinks he passed away in SA.

Just wondered if any guys had heard of him and have any info I could relay to me dad.

DTF:

Yes, I recollect he played for Durban City during those days and was a firm favourite of the Indian supporters' club! I think he was a centre-forward.

Budgie Byrne.......................great player joined NFL Top flight team Durban City in the late 60's early 70's.Went to Cape Town & joined the Greek Gods Hellenic I think & his son/s one was Dave Byrne also played for Hellenic in Cape Town.

Budgie Byrne is late and will be remembered as one of the Durban City greats.(tu)

umlilo Wrote:

---

> DTF:
>
> Yes, I recollect he played for Durban City during
> those days and was a firm favourite of the Indian
> supporters' club! I think he was a centre-forward.


Umlilo

Do you know my grand dad the late Thierry Rampath ?

Lots of info on Google here's one with a summary................

.................................... www.11v11.com/forum/b-obituaries/250-joh...ph-budgie-byrne.html

Thanks chaps.(tu)

Coached me at Stella for a bit. Great chap.

Look up his son Kevin Byrne on Facebook, very nice guy to talk to, send him a private message.

Budgie not only played for Hellenic but also managed them for many years. I used to hold a season ticket at the Green Point stadium (the Hellenic home ground ) - it cost R21 a season and was the place to be on a Friday evening.

I actually played against him on numerous occasions during the mid 1970's when he used to regularly turn out in the Sunday league for a health club whose name I can no longer recall.

He also loved his racing and was a regular at Milnerton & Kenilworth.

Played with my late brother Arthur Lightening late '60's

@Punter:

Cannot recollect!

A Horilall Rampath of Rambridge Wholesalers in Mayfair, Jhb (originally from Durbans), (Sarge whose 1 year ceremony is this coming Saturday) was a close friend of mine (and a racehorse owner).

However (digressing!), at the time, I was captain of the Orient High soccer team and our coach was the affable Topper Brown. The Orient had just opened, next to the Kathiawad High, opposite the Greyville racecourse.
The Principal was the dynamic Mr MH Keeruth (personal friend of Nobel Peace Prize winner, Nkosi Luthuli), Mr Bengalee the deputy.

Yacub (RY) Khan was also a teacher activist who introduced me to the then ANC Youth League under Sam Kikine and Fathima Meer. My Latin teacher was Mr Soma.

Next door to where I lived in Carlisle Street was the haunt of Michael John (Etna Lane/ Beatrice Street), the notorious Crimson League gangster, who was gunned down there!

It was also the street from which horses from Greyville were trotted up to the beach and we used to stand in awe watching these noble creatures being led by their grooms!

Tnx for jogging my fading memory DTF and Punter! Not everyone's cup of tea!

(tu)

Budgie owned a Bar in Lower Berg st on the Foreshore in Cape Town Ronny Rowley the bookmaker introduced him to me in 1980.We became good friends as my office was round the corner but a really great guy