Who would you say was the fastest Town player you've seen? 'Quick' Mick Boulding, Reddy and I remember Paul Emson was fast over a longer distance anyone else..

Tony Ford

Luke Cornwall

Didn't we enter Murray Jones for the 'Rumbelows sprint challenge' in the early 90's? English Footballs quest to find the quickest player of the day. I vaguely remember him on Saint and Greavsie coming last.

Marcel Cas came with a reputation of being lightening quick but I don't think he ever broke a sweat whilst here.

Boiling probably appeared the quickest but it would have been interesting to see him alongside Reddy in a race - Reddy's long legs probably making him appear slower.

I seem to recall a few years ago, the fastest player in the team was a surprising one but can't seem to remember who. I want to say Danny North.

Peter till

Gary Cohen

Reddy was absolutely rapid. But also very strong, a great combination and partly what made him so entertaining.

Depends on the distance, Reddy was very quick and could maintain it for 60 yards or so

tony rees

But Peter Bore had a motor too

Boulding I think

Mark Smith was pretty quick

Quoted from Manchester Mariner

Didn't we enter Murray Jones for the 'Rumbelows sprint challenge' in the early 90's? English Footballs quest to find the quickest player of the day. I vaguely remember him on Saint and Greavsie coming last.

Ha ha, yeah I remember that. Has he finished the race yet ? ☺

Ray De Gruchy

Darren Kempson

Slightly left field - Jack Macreth had some good after burners..

Quoted from Manchester Mariner

Didn't we enter Murray Jones for the 'Rumbelows sprint challenge' in the early 90's? English Footballs quest to find the quickest player of the day. I vaguely remember him on Saint and Greavsie coming last.

I'm sure I've read in someone's autobiography (possibly Macca's) that Jones was only in it because our players with pace at the time, Mark Smith and John McDermott, both had slight groin strains and Buckley didn't want to risk them.

Best shout I've seen so far is Gary Cohen.  Reddy and Boulding were quick but watch Gary Cohen's goal away at Cheltenham in the 2005/06 season.  He gave the defender about three days head-start and still did him with ease over a relatively short distance, most impressive was that he looked like had another couple of gears in him to go.

Reddy's strength was that he could run with the ball at pace and the aforementioned strength which made him a rare threat.  His goal against Rochdale in that 05/06 season where the defender, possibly Tony Gallimore, tries to wipe him out only to get spun around in a daze himself is a stark reminder of how good he was and just what could have been for him and his career.  Boulding, on the other hand, was a bit more kick and rush.  He improved beyond belief from the player that we first signed but he had lost a yard of pace in his second spell, not sure if that was down to injuries or a consequence on focusing more on his technical game.

A player I've not seen mentioned is Toto.  Not sure over a sustained distance but over 5-10 yards he was rapid and saved both the team and himself with his recovery runs on a fair few occasions.

Andy Taylor - blistering pace but lacked any strength to back it up.  David Soames was another young striker who could leave them for dust.  

I seem to recall that Danish fella Neilson? Being pretty quick but never really got to see him over a season. Probably Reddy from what I can recall in a sprint across the length of the pitch. He'd be behind the defence and onside but he was fast enough to outrun them to the ball.

Steve Kabba a name worth throwing into the discussion

Andy Taylor

Gary Cohen.

According to the internet, his entire family sprinted for GB at various olympics so it's probably a no-brainer that he was quickest, despite others around that era being pretty nippy.

I think Reddy probably the fastest - I remember when he made his debut as a sub up at Darlo and he reached a ball before the keeper (who blocked the effort), when I thought it he'd never anywhere near it. Serious, serious pace as well as the strength to hold off defenders as well. Just a pity that his running style knackered his hips and he had to retire so early.

Boulding and Cohen also extremely nippy and Bore could really run - he just never seemed to have the confidence/wherewithal to try to skin the opposition defender. A real waste of ability there.

Darren Kempson

Kabba was lightning

Stuart Brace

Quoted from Manchester Mariner

Didn't we enter Murray Jones for the 'Rumbelows sprint challenge' in the early 90's? English Footballs quest to find the quickest player of the day. I vaguely remember him on Saint and Greavsie coming last.

I believe Macca was injured or ill on the day and Jones was thrown in as a replacement.

Quoted from Saudimariner

Stuart Brace

At last...McMenemy said in his autobiography that Brace was so quick "He could catch pigeons". Not sure he had Reddy's strength or skill but he could certainly move..

Quoted from PPMariner

Gary Cohen.

According to the internet, his entire family sprinted for GB at various olympics so it's probably a no-brainer that he was quickest, despite others around that era being pretty nippy.

My money would go there too....him and Reddy together had to be the fastest strike force in the land at that time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXxgphXTobc

Bonetti when he scored that goal against WBA

David neilson

Tony Ford.

Left wing Freddie Jones without a shadow of doubt [he was too quick for his shadow to keep up with him]

No finer sight than Stuart Brace outstripping defenses

Went to school with Paul Walker and he holds district records over 100 and 200M, could of gone into athletics easily. 10.8 I seem to recall was his fastest recorded time

Quoted from Stew0_0

Mark Smith was pretty quick

And very good in Rita, Sue and Bob too

Marcel Cas when he did that aweshum run at Griffin Park

I'd go for Paul Empson simply because he was very quick in the second division (now the championship) were the players were faster.

Brace was quick but in the fourth division.

I remember when we were promoted from fourth to second in two seasons when a young Tony Ford was playing. In the first game in the second, a bloke behind me shouted at Fordy about him not being as quick as he was in the previous seasons. I pointed out to him that the higher up the league you go the faster the players you play against are and that he hadn't lost any pace, he was just playing against faster players..

Depends on circumstances. Quickest of thought, Futch perhaps.
Quickest running Hearn?
Quickest to the bar once last orders is called, Gally.

Quoted from Theimperialcoroner

Depends on circumstances. Quickest of thought, Futch perhaps.
Quickest running Hearn?
Quickest to the bar once last orders is called, Gally.

Hearn wasn’t quick!

Another vote for Tony Ford.

I don't think Hearn was all that quick, Tom Bolarinwa has shown he's quick previously but we never really saw it here.

Quoted from Davec

I don't think Hearn was all that quick, Tom Bolarinwa has shown he's quick previously but we never really saw it here.

He was pretty quick, the problem was he couldn't manage to use his pace while keeping the ball under control. 9 times out of 10 the ball would get caught under his feet or he'd miscontrol it and lose the ball.

Is nobody else out there old enough to remember Jackie Lewis?
i'd also say Stuart Brace would most certainly qualify especially when u consider the kit and playing surfaces. Blimey, my first set of boots wouldn't have looked out of place on a building site with studs that were nailed on to the soles....so if u were quick in that era then u'd certainly be very quick today

Anyone remember an ex school teacher turned winger called Alan Gauden , seem to remember he was pretty quick.

I agree with Golfer, Freddy Jones by far. The only
thing is he didn't know when to stop.

They reckon someone once left the Imperial End gates
open once and Freddy finished in Riby Square passing two
trolley buses on the way.

Quoted from Billywhiz

Anyone remember an ex school teacher turned winger called Alan Gauden , seem to remember he was pretty quick.

Certainly remember him, think he was signed when Alan Woodward got that career ending knee injury. Long time ago but personally would put Brace & Lewis ahead of him but might need New Footballer to settle that argument

Quoted from mimma

I'd go for Paul Empson simply because he was very quick in the second division (now the championship) were the players were faster.

Brace was quick but in the fourth division.

I remember when we were promoted from fourth to second in two seasons when a young Tony Ford was playing. In the first game in the second, a bloke behind me shouted at Fordy about him not being as quick as he was in the previous seasons. I pointed out to him that the higher up the league you go the faster the players you play against are and that he hadn't lost any pace, he was just playing against faster players..

Yawnnnnn

I'd be amazed if anyone from the "old days" was quicker than players from the last 10 years. Fitness has improved so much that today's players are quicker and stronger than they ever were.

Quoted from Lincoln Mariner 56

Certainly remember him, think he was signed when Alan Woodward got that career ending knee injury. Long time ago but personally would put Brace & Lewis ahead of him but might need New Footballer to settle that argument

Gauden was signed midway through the 71/72 season (around the same time as Lew Chatterley) to beef up Town's promotion challenge. Another one whose main job was putting crosses on Tees head! Scored a few goals including the winner against Preston in the third round of the 72/73 F.A. Cup which earned Town the famous Coventry game and earned him the Daily Mirror inspired headline of Gay Gauden.

Quoted from mariners1

Is nobody else out there old enough to remember Jackie Lewis?
i'd also say Stuart Brace would most certainly qualify especially when u consider the kit and playing surfaces. Blimey, my first set of boots wouldn't have looked out of place on a building site with studs that were nailed on to the soles....so if u were quick in that era then u'd certainly be very quick today

I really don’t remember Jackie Lewis being quick if anything I remember him being slow ... along time ago though so I stand to be corrected if my memory is shot (wacko)(thumbup1)

Jackie Lewis seemed quick to me. But then I was about 9.

Jack Lewis was the quickest from a standing start that I have ever seen playing for Town.

Caveman's resume of Freddie Jones is superb.

I think I am correct in saying that he played for Wales.
I don't know how many caps though.

I remember a similar incident with Alan Pouton, where I shouted open the gates.

Freddy Jones was probably the quickest and he would still be the quickest today and I don’t think Reddy would have got near him. Pocket dynamite. He was a better player than just a speed merchant, he was a genuinely two footed winger who could play on either flank, go outside the defender and get a cross in. He also had a decent shot. He got some under 23 caps but he was born at the wrong time for Wales though because Cliff Jones had that job sewn up.

Stuart Brace has to be in here. I don’t think he had Jones’ outright pace as a runner but he was the quickest I saw at running with the ball he was a better goal scorer than Reddy.

Paul Emson was really fast, deceptively so because he ran like a giraffe and didn’t look as though he was moving. There were a few left wingers of Paul’s type around at the time - Alan Hinton was the first I personally remember, and Peter Barnes.

Brian Hill was pretty speedy too in an Emson sort of way. John Waite only played a few times but he was very quick as a schoolboy.

One more oldie to chuck in here - a little right winger called Jimmy Pennington who I think came from Crewe. Going a long way back - anyone remember Derek Williams, brother of goalkeeper Clarry Williams? He was a bit swift too.

One more oldie to chuck in here - a little right winger called Jimmy Pennington who I think came from Crewe. Going a long way back - anyone remember Derek Williams, brother of goalkeeper Clarry Williams? He was a bit swift too.
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I’m pleased someone has mentioned Jimmy Pennington. I was going to myself but tbh I don’t know if he was quick or just tricky. But one of my fondest memories is seeing him flying down the right wing past the main stand and I’m pretty sure he was providing service to Matt Tees. I would have been about 10 and full of Ada’s ice cream. Memories.

Quoted from GrimRob

I'd be amazed if anyone from the "old days" was quicker than players from the last 10 years. Fitness has improved so much that today's players are quicker and stronger than they ever were.

That is axiomatic Rob. The world record for 100m that was 10.2 sec in 1950 is now 9.6 ish. Physiques, diets, training, equipment  have all changed. The OP is asking who is the quickest player we have personally seen. Obviously it is going to be subjective to the time and a matter of opinion.

I would, however, note that the boots they wore back in the day (pre-70s, pre-60s?) were a heck of a lot chunkier/heavier than the modern era ones.

That's got to slow them down. Pace is pace, but players are taller and more athletic these days so I don't doubt the top speed ought to be quicker in the modern era. Over 20 or 30 yards? Perhaps not.

Debate over

Quoted from Maringer

I would, however, note that the boots they wore back in the day (pre-70s, pre-60s?) were a heck of a lot chunkier/heavier than the modern era ones.

That's got to slow them down. Pace is pace, but players are taller and more athletic these days so I don't doubt the top speed ought to be quicker in the modern era. Over 20 or 30 yards? Perhaps not.

It is very rare in football that a player will run more than 30 yards in one move. If you are quick in the first 10 yards you buy yourself enough time and space for most situations. Liam Hearn was explosive over the first few yards.

Fox

As has already been said Tony Ford looked quick at the time.....did Bobby Cumming have a turn of pace or am I just imagining it ?

Stuart Brace could always out-pace opponents from the halfway line and score. He was as fast as a whippet.

Bobby C was quick especially when played on the wing.

Quoted from jamesgtfc

Liam Hearn was explosive over the first few yards.

He really wasn't. What he was good at was doing a trick or dropping his shoulder to beat a man. If you've got the defender on the back foot or moving in the wrong direction, it might make it look as though you're quick but I really can't remember any occasions where he actually outpaced defences.

Other than injuries, this relative lack of pace is why he wouldn't have played at a higher level than he did.

Quoted from 43[b

]I would, however, note that the boots they wore back in the day (pre-70s, pre-60s?) were a heck of a lot chunkier/heavier than the modern era ones.
[/b]
That's got to slow them down. Pace is pace, but players are taller and more athletic these days so I don't doubt the top speed ought to be quicker in the modern era. Over 20 or 30 yards? Perhaps not.

When I played football in the late 60's I had a pair of Adidas " La Paz " boots and modern boots that I have handled don't seem significantly lighter or chunkier.

Quoted from rancido

When I played football in the late 60's I had a pair of Adidas " La Paz " boots and modern boots that I have handled don't seem significantly lighter or chunkier.

I remember them. You mean you still have them? You’ll be quids in when the Antiques Road Show comes round again. ;)

Quoted from FrazerGTFC

Fox

The one at the Southend game in 1997?