SUMMER 2010 and I was coming back from a couple of days working in London and was at Euston Station watching the screens for a delayed train back up North.

I spotted Phil Gartside and introduced myself as a Bolton fan. It was the summer we had just signed Martin Petrov. We had played a pre-season game the night before which I went to and we both excitedly chatted about the prospect of Petrov tearing up the league based on that game.

He said do you smoke? I had just quit but said yes if I could have one of his.

He said okay and produced two cigars from a tin outside the station and we carried on the conversation both full of optimism about the season ahead.

His phone rang and he answered it saying "Can I call you back? I am just talking with someone". He didn't use it as an excuse to get away from some stranger intruding on his time.

I met him again a couple of years ago when I went to Huddersfield away with tickets for the directors' lounge.

Phil was there in the lounge and when I said hello he clearly didn't remember me but pretended he did. He was very conscious to make me look good in front of my guests.

Two really classy incidents.

The whole situation at the club has obviously clouded everything right now and he is an obvious and probably justifiable easy target – the meltdown did happen on his watch – but with time, once things have improved BWFC fans will look kindly upon the job he did for the club.

Nick Wolstenholme

via email