Matthew Le Tissier, a shoe-shine kit and a pin-up boy

A Totton-based Leicester City fan was approached in the street by a Daily Echo reporter when Le Tissier was coming towards the end of a career that had thrilled thousands of Southampton fans for more than a decade.

“They asked me what I thought about Matt Le Tissier,” recalled John Illston, who plays snooker for Testwood WMC A.

“I commented rather negatively on what I thought Southampton should do with Matt Le Tissier in the latter part of his career. I said Southampton would be better off without him.

“When it got published, I was the only one of 12 that didn’t have him up for sainthood or knighting!”

Although Illston’s photograph was published, his surname was spelt ‘Fuston’.

“I thought ‘thank goodness, no one will recognise me’,” he laughed.

Illston, the son of a lighthouse keeper, was born in Wales.

“My father didn’t see me until I was two-months-old because he was on Lundy Island,” he said. “We always lived in some of the most interesting places but they weren’t always the busiest of places.”

Growing up in Cornwall, he used to skive school to play snooker.

A spell in the Royal Navy was ended by a road accident which resulted in a 13-month stay in hospital. At Christmas, and days away from a possible leg amputation, he was given a shoe-shine kit by The Salvation Army.

Both his legs – and the shoe-shine kit – survive to this day.

The 51-year-old pétanque playing regulatory compliance manager was a school governor for 16 years.

“Life’s been good for me,” he said. “I’ve got no complaints.”

Testwood’s 43-year-old skipper Dave Miell, he of Dave’s Disco & Karaoke, has been a part-time DJ for 24 years. During the day, the former St Denys Cons player works in a printer’s.

Former captain Les Castle reckons Gary Tomkins is the team’s pin-up boy.

“He had a few lessons at Chandler’s Ford from somebody. It didn’t make a lot of difference,” he said laughing like a drain.

“He’s got a nice cue-action. He’s the pin-up of our team.”

Teammate Steve Bridge added: “He poses well at the table.”

Readers who submit articles must agree to our terms of use. The content is the sole responsibility of the contributor and is unmoderated. But we will react if anything that breaks the rules comes to our attention. If you wish to complain about this article, contact us here