Hesketh was the lad in our class who was always picked last in the playground. Maybe Gubba knew this and had a premonition of young Emile’s abilities after about 2002, since when he’s always reminded more of a young Hesketh than a young Heskey.
12 February 2015
this leaden paul
The voice of International Superstar Soccer 98. Real first name David.
12 February 2015
peter mcornithologist
Definitely one of my favourite tracks. Anyway,does anybody else think that Gubba is a truly bizarre surname.Where on earth did it originate?
12 February 2015
dirk hofman
@PMcTwitch..but it’s the 157,511th most common surname in the world.A prevelant similar here in the UK would be Gubbay.No clues to the meaning on here..http://forebears.io/surnames/gubba
12 February 2015
EXXO
Interesting breakdown on my heritage.com of people with that surname who have appeared in births, marriages and deaths registers that are recorded on that site. Points firmly to central Europe and those who have emigrated therefrom:
Germany, Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898
46 results
Germany Deaths and Burials, 1582-1958
30 results
Uruguay, Civil Registration
24 results
Hungary Catholic Church Records, 1636-1895
15 results
U.S. Social Security Death Index (SSDI) FREE
13 results
Slovakia, Church and Synagogue Books, 1592-1910
12 results
England & Wales Births, GRO Indexes, 1911 – 1954
11 results
Argentina, Baptisms, 1645-1930
10 results
California Births, 1905 – 1995
9 results
Germany, Marriages, 1558-1929
6 results
(Displaying top 10 collections of 29)
It’s also an Indian surname, but this origin seems less likely in this case.
12 February 2015
peter mcornithologist
Thank you chaps. Interesting stuff. I wonder if the Uruguayan Gubbas are sandy coloured clowns.
12 February 2015
dickhead in quicksand
Sandy-coloured clowns are more likely to be found in Libya.
The name has something of a Hungarian feel to me. I’ve even found a footballer, Balázs Guba.
12 February 2015
BrumBiscuit
Guba Ur was something of a journeyman, according to that piece. I had a mate in Budapest with the surname of Huba, but it’s not a name that immediately strikes me as Magyar. Exxo’s stats show it wasn’t/isn’t a common name. A quick farcebook search throws up half a dozen folk in Hungary. It would be pronounced ‘goo-baw.
12 February 2015
peter mcornithologist
When the Hungarian footballers’ name is translated it becomes Balasz Dumps.Dumps lookalikes just doesn’t work.
12 February 2015
Bobby SVARC
@Exxo, Gubba seemed to always be commentating on Leicester during that ’96 to 98′ period, he did the 3-3 with Arsenal at Filbo, 3 goals in the last 5 minutes, and sadly 2 fans died of heart attacks as well that night. Heskey was something else when he first burst onto the scene, I remember him scoring some superb goals, he was never the same player at Liverpool.
12 February 2015
EXXO
It’s a definite possibility that it’s the same name, and let’s not forget when immigrants arrive their names are often re-spelt (then maybe re-pronounced and re-spelt over again) in the new language, above all when immigrants are illiterate in their own language. This happened/happens everywhere, not just on Ellis Island.
As for Uruguayan immigrants from central Europe, the Biscuiteers will of course be aware of the famous Uruguayan football team Danubio … named after the Danube.
[Having said which, names of some of their rival teams in Montivideo should not be taken to imply that their are loads of scousers or bristolians in that city].
12 February 2015
dickhead in quicksand
@@Exxo, I agree, phonetic transcription is a real possibility. The ‘g’ might represent that sort of guttural ‘kh’ which threatens my adenoids (twice) if I try to pronounce “van Gogh” in the Dutch manner.
I once met on business an American called Joel Rothfus. He explained to me that his family name was Rothfusz, but that he’d dropped the ‘z’ because it confused people. He pronounced his name “roth-fuss”, which didn’t quite confuse me (cf. Rothschild). I suppose he thought that “Redfoot” might be a step too far; and I don’t blame him for avoiding the half-step of “Rotfoot”.
12 February 2015
EXXO
I tend to avoid PBRs when they aren’t at least a ‘treble’, but your post encourages me to post a ‘double’:
I bought a Shimano Ultegra ‘fishing rot’ (sic) the other day off someone in Yate. Gotta love the savings to be made on ebay from those who can’t spell – all the more pleasurable when one imagines they may be an illiterate referee.
There are 14 Half Man Half Biscuit albums, plus two roundup compilations, as well as 4 EPs and a handful of one-off songs. No 'Greatest Hits'. Indulge yourself by starting here.
Breaking News
Latest gigs, forthcoming releases, and anything else we find out.
Search the site
Search for any lyric, reference, song title ...whatever.
The A to Z of HMHB
Add your bit, and sign up for email updates. Latest addition: Geraldine
About HMHB
The story of Half Man Half Biscuit, where to get the music, and about this site.
Latest Comments
There are now 36,483 comments on this site. Why not make it one more?
Your PBRs
Life is a Permanent Biscuit Reference.
HMHB in the Media
Mentions of lyrics and the band.
Gig News & Reviews
What it says. Always worth reading.
The Lux Familiar Cup 2015
In which we chose the nation's favourite Half Man Half Biscuit song. For the next four years, anyway.
Random Lyrics
The famous Half Man Half Biscuit Random Lyrics Generator™ – click here for a different gem every time. Makes a nice default page for your browser.
Bobby SVARC
“Bono Estente. E resultos premiero Section una…
Bombo Chipolata 0 Club Athletico Vacuum 0
Dining Altenator 0 Interupter Bastardo 0
AFC Silence 0 Sporting Club Bang! 0
Bicycle Dynamo 0 Nina Bayer Sager 0
Borussia Munchen Munchen Munchen Munchen Glad to be back Dookla Fisch Eff Cee – ABANDOMON
Violatia, Fisty Bad boys…
Boutros Boutros Ghali…”
12 February 2015
Bobby SVARC
Also famous down our way for his “Young Hesketh” blunder in City’s home win v Newcastle at Filbo in 1996, I’ve got the video somwhere
12 February 2015
Bobby SVARC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s67hdQ7yTOk (2.59)
12 February 2015
EXXO
Hesketh was the lad in our class who was always picked last in the playground. Maybe Gubba knew this and had a premonition of young Emile’s abilities after about 2002, since when he’s always reminded more of a young Hesketh than a young Heskey.
12 February 2015
this leaden paul
The voice of International Superstar Soccer 98. Real first name David.
12 February 2015
peter mcornithologist
Definitely one of my favourite tracks. Anyway,does anybody else think that Gubba is a truly bizarre surname.Where on earth did it originate?
12 February 2015
dirk hofman
@PMcTwitch..but it’s the 157,511th most common surname in the world.A prevelant similar here in the UK would be Gubbay.No clues to the meaning on here..http://forebears.io/surnames/gubba
12 February 2015
EXXO
Interesting breakdown on my heritage.com of people with that surname who have appeared in births, marriages and deaths registers that are recorded on that site. Points firmly to central Europe and those who have emigrated therefrom:
Germany, Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898
46 results
Germany Deaths and Burials, 1582-1958
30 results
Uruguay, Civil Registration
24 results
Hungary Catholic Church Records, 1636-1895
15 results
U.S. Social Security Death Index (SSDI) FREE
13 results
Slovakia, Church and Synagogue Books, 1592-1910
12 results
England & Wales Births, GRO Indexes, 1911 – 1954
11 results
Argentina, Baptisms, 1645-1930
10 results
California Births, 1905 – 1995
9 results
Germany, Marriages, 1558-1929
6 results
(Displaying top 10 collections of 29)
It’s also an Indian surname, but this origin seems less likely in this case.
12 February 2015
peter mcornithologist
Thank you chaps. Interesting stuff. I wonder if the Uruguayan Gubbas are sandy coloured clowns.
12 February 2015
dickhead in quicksand
Sandy-coloured clowns are more likely to be found in Libya.
The name has something of a Hungarian feel to me. I’ve even found a footballer, Balázs Guba.
12 February 2015
BrumBiscuit
Guba Ur was something of a journeyman, according to that piece. I had a mate in Budapest with the surname of Huba, but it’s not a name that immediately strikes me as Magyar. Exxo’s stats show it wasn’t/isn’t a common name. A quick farcebook search throws up half a dozen folk in Hungary. It would be pronounced ‘goo-baw.
12 February 2015
peter mcornithologist
When the Hungarian footballers’ name is translated it becomes Balasz Dumps.Dumps lookalikes just doesn’t work.
12 February 2015
Bobby SVARC
@Exxo, Gubba seemed to always be commentating on Leicester during that ’96 to 98′ period, he did the 3-3 with Arsenal at Filbo, 3 goals in the last 5 minutes, and sadly 2 fans died of heart attacks as well that night. Heskey was something else when he first burst onto the scene, I remember him scoring some superb goals, he was never the same player at Liverpool.
12 February 2015
EXXO
It’s a definite possibility that it’s the same name, and let’s not forget when immigrants arrive their names are often re-spelt (then maybe re-pronounced and re-spelt over again) in the new language, above all when immigrants are illiterate in their own language. This happened/happens everywhere, not just on Ellis Island.
As for Uruguayan immigrants from central Europe, the Biscuiteers will of course be aware of the famous Uruguayan football team Danubio … named after the Danube.
[Having said which, names of some of their rival teams in Montivideo should not be taken to imply that their are loads of scousers or bristolians in that city].
12 February 2015
dickhead in quicksand
@@Exxo, I agree, phonetic transcription is a real possibility. The ‘g’ might represent that sort of guttural ‘kh’ which threatens my adenoids (twice) if I try to pronounce “van Gogh” in the Dutch manner.
I once met on business an American called Joel Rothfus. He explained to me that his family name was Rothfusz, but that he’d dropped the ‘z’ because it confused people. He pronounced his name “roth-fuss”, which didn’t quite confuse me (cf. Rothschild). I suppose he thought that “Redfoot” might be a step too far; and I don’t blame him for avoiding the half-step of “Rotfoot”.
12 February 2015
EXXO
I tend to avoid PBRs when they aren’t at least a ‘treble’, but your post encourages me to post a ‘double’:
I bought a Shimano Ultegra ‘fishing rot’ (sic) the other day off someone in Yate. Gotta love the savings to be made on ebay from those who can’t spell – all the more pleasurable when one imagines they may be an illiterate referee.
12 February 2015
Gordo
Yo Gubba Gubba! https://flic.kr/p/71igWb
14 February 2015