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Letter: Bill Oddie obituary

Tim Sharman writes: Being short and stocky, Bill Oddie undermined many a more sophisticated football player

Read full story on The Guardian
Tim Sharman25 Aug 2026, 03:17 pmUpdated 6h ago1 min readTelevision & radioTelevision & radio
Letter: Bill Oddie obituary

Television & radioTim Sharman

In the late 1960s a Sunday morning football team known as the West 11 Wanderers turned out for games in Kensington Gardens, in central London. Bill Oddie hurtled around the park like an unguided dodgem car: being short and stocky, he undermined many a more sophisticated player.

Other regulars, all taking the game seriously, included John Cleese, Eric Idle and Marty Feldman. A quite regular aftermath of these matches was a retreat to Eric’s flat, in a square close to Earl’s Court tube station, where a guitar was produced and Eric entertained the small gathering of sweaty sportsmen.

Other regulars, all taking the game seriously, included John Cleese, Eric Idle and Marty Feldman. A quite regular aftermath of these matches was a retreat to Eric’s flat, in a square close to Earl’s Court tube station, where a guitar was produced and Eric entertained the small gathering of sweaty sportsmen.

This report is published with credit to The Guardian. The wire sent a summary; open the original for any extra context. Read on The Guardian

Source: The Guardian · Tim Sharman. Published 25 Aug 2026, 03:17 pm.

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