Gerry Wolstenholme's Blog, page 5
July 16, 2020
An Ancell Babe at Blackpool:
Patrick (Pat) Quinn 1936-2020
Pat Quinn was born in Glasgow on 26 April 1936 and played his junior football as an inside forward with Bridgeton Waverley. At a young age he was a prodigious talent and he joined Albion Rovers but he had played just two games for them when Motherwell spotted his potential and signed him in December 1955. Joining Motherwell as manager around the same time was Bobby Ancell, who had previously managed Berwick Rangers (then a non-League club) and Dunfermline Athletic, taking the latter club up to the Scottish First Division for the first time in 18 years. Ancell had a reputation for developing young talent and he put his principles into practice and developed a dynamic set of youngsters at Motherwell who were known as the 'Ancell Babes'. Eight of his young side went on to win Scottish international honours.
By October 1960 Blackpool, then bottom of the top flight of English football, were keeping an eye on Ancell’s Motherwell side and wanted to sign one of the inside forward trio, Ian St John, Pat Quinn or John Hunter. However, Motherwell did not want to part with any of their star men and were said to be ‘hanging on’ at that time. But Blackpool’s persistence paid off and Quinn was signed by Blackpool for a then club record fee of £34,000 on 16 November 1962. His weekly wage was agreed at £33 15s 0d [£33.75] with an extra £10 whenever he played in the first team.
He had played 196 League games for Motherwell in which he scored 83 goals and he won the Motherwell Supports Player of the Year Award at the end of the 1960/61 season. He recalled his debut for Motherwell as a substitute against Preston North End with, ‘It was the time before the regular use of substitutes had arrived, we could only use them in friendlies. They nominated me for the floodlit game with Preston. I was petrified. There I was sitting on the bench in voluminous track suit – It could have housed another couple of subs – when Billy Reid was injured, Mr Ancell gave me the nod and I was on! I was so excited. I was told I must have covered every blade of grass that night. Unfortunately we lost 3-2, but playing against Tommy Doherty and Tom Finney was a great experience.’ While with Motherwell he had also won four Scottish international caps between 1961 and 1962, making his debut in the infamous 9-3 Wembley defeat by England in 1961. He had also played six times for the Scottish League XI, for whom he scored one goal.
He made his League debut for Blackpool the day after he signed against Bolton Wanderers on 17 November 1962 [I was there!] and he immediately endeared himself to the crowd by scoring one of Blackpool’s goals in a 3-1 victory.
It was the season of the big freeze so between his debut and 2 March 1963 the club played only seven League games and Quinn scored his second goal in a 2-1 defeat by Liverpool on 15 December 1962. Then on 6 March 1963 he was involved in a controversial incident in a third round FA Cup replay with Norwich City at Bloomfield Road. The game had been postponed 11 times and then, belatedly, the two clubs had drawn the original fixture two days earlier.
With the score at 0-0 he appeared to have given Blackpool the lead when he had the ball in the net. The referee, Ernie Crawford of Doncaster, immediately awarded a goal but protestations from the Norwich players prompted him and his linesman to have a look at the goal net. [I was there, stood right behind the net and there was no doubt that the ball had gone in ... I am, of course, bias!] However, after a lot of pulling at the net, they somehow managed to find a hole in the side netting and eventually decided that the ball had entered the net through this hole and the ‘goal’ was disallowed. The crowd went wild but he later gave Blackpool the lead when he ‘timed Ray Parry’s excellent cross perfectly to ram the ball home’ it looked as though justice had been done. But Norwich equalised with four minutes remaining and went on to controversially win 3-1 after extra time.
After the match Quinn said of the disallowed effort, ‘The only time the ball touched the netting was after it had come to rest in the far wall of the goal. I saw the goalkeeper Sandy Kennon standing by the near post, swaying outwards as if expecting a centre, so I decided to try a shot. The ball hit the outside edge of the post, struck Kennon’s knee, dropped to the ground in the goalmouth and spun off the mud into the far wall of the net. Only when the referee awarded a goal did Kennon and others start tugging at the net to show a hole in it.’
The League season restarted in earnest after the Cup tie and Quinn played a starring role as Blackpool climbed out of the relegation zone to finish in a respectable 12th position in the table. Towards the end of the season he was hugely influential in the club winning four successive League games scoring 16 goals in the process, defeating Birmingham City 6-3, Blackburn Rovers 4-1, Arsenal 3-2 and Manchester City 3-0. And he finished his first season at the club having played 25 League games, scoring eight goals, and two FA Cup ties, scoring one goal.
He began the 1963/64 season in style with one of Blackpool’s goals in the opening day 2-2 draw with Sheffield United and he went on to appear in the first nine games. However, he was moved to inside left for the final two of those games because a certain Alan Ball finally broke through to the League side so he took the inside right spot. After two games at inside left, Quinn was left out of the side.
What turned out to be his final League game for Blackpool was against Wolverhampton Wanderers on 21 September 1963 when Blackpool lost 2-1 and then he was rested after what was said to be a disappointing run of ‘on off form’. He was philosophical about his exclusion from the first team, stated that he was well aware of his jaded form and announced that he was determined to ‘get back into top gear’ as soon as possible. And he made his first appearance in the Central League side against Bury reserves on 4 October 1963 when Blackpool won 2-1. He was also in the Central League side that drew 2-2 with Burnley reserves on 8 October 1963.
Hibernian noticed that he was out of favour at Bloomfield Road and they came in with an offer of £25,000 for his transfer. Blackpool agreed the sum and he joined Hibernian on 10 October 1963. Up to that point he had played nine League games, scoring one goal, and two Central League games in the 1963/64 season; his total Blackpool appearances were 34 League games, scoring nine goals, two FA Cup ties, scoring one goal, and two Central League games.
In September 1964 there were strong rumours that Hibernian were going to transfer him to Ipswich Town but they proved to be false and he became a key man, on the right wing, in the club’s revival in March 1965. After playing 131 League games and scoring 19 goals, in addition to being Hibernian’s first-ever used substitute against Clyde in November 1966 and also scoring a marvellous goal in a 5-0 demolition of Napoli in the Inter-City Fairs Cup when Hibernian were 4-1 down from the first leg, he was transferred to East Fife, where he eventually took over as player-manager and the club won promotion from the Scottish Second Division. He played 64 games for East Fife in which he scored six goals.
In March 1974 he joined Icelandic club Fimleikafélag Hafnarfjarðar as manager and he led the club to the Icelandic First Division after they had been out of the top flight for 10 years. He later said of his time in Iceland, ‘Our season extended from March 1974 to October 1974. It was a marvellous experience. The Icelanders are a wonderful nation. The hospitality was the finest I have ever experienced. They asked me to stay but I wanted to go back home. I was invited to go back the following year. They offered me excellent conditions but I had to reluctantly turn them down.’
In 1980 he became coach at Partick Thistle and assistant-manager to Bertie Auld. Interestingly all the Partick Thistle players were part-time and Pat Quinn acted in a part-time capacity as coach while pursuing his full-time job as a caretaker with the Sighthill Youth Centre in Glasgow. He later spent some time coaching at Hibernian, Motherwell and Hamilton Academical.
Commenting on his time in football in December 1976 he said, ‘Looking back on these years with Motherwell, they were among the happiest in my playing career. Motherwell and good football were synonymous with the result that we drew crowds everywhere. The understanding in all departments of the side was a sheer delight and I get great pleasure thinking back on the fact that I was a member of the team.’
Of his move to Bloomfield Road he said, ‘It was great to sample First Division football for the first time. I was particularly pleased to find among my club mates at that time John McPhee, who had been a colleague at Motherwell. The Blackpool team included Jimmy Armfield, the present Leeds United manager. He was skipper of the side. Big Tony Waiters, the current Plymouth Argyle boss, was in goal. A fellow Scot in Billy Cranston also played at that time and I can also vividly recall such dandy forwards as Alan Ball, Ray Charnley and Ray Parry. During season 1962/63 I played in 25 First Division matches and scored eight goals. We finished mid-way up the table. I have very happy memories of my stay at Bloomfield Road. I enjoyed it immensely. But Alan Ball was breaking through. We were both very small and it did not look as if the two of us would play in the same side because of our height and build. Ronnie Suart, the then manager, came to me in October 1963 to tell me that Hibs were interested in me and would I be willing to go back home? He also stated that they club were willing to let me and I took the opportunity to join a club which had such a good name in Scotland as Hibs.’
After his season in Iceland he went home. He recalled, ‘I returned to my native Glasgow and in January 1975 Bertie Auld, the Partick Thistle manager, approached me and asked me to join his club as coach to their reserve string. I did so and was delighted when my protégés won the Second Eleven Cup, the national trophy for reserve teams. Last season Thistle’s first team won the First Division championship and the second eleven clinched the Scottish Reserve League championship. Two of my boys have won through to the first team this season in Brian Whittaker and John Marr and I’m delighted. Now I’m coaching the first team and am over the moon. Thistle are a very good club and I’m very happy with them. But I still take an interest in Blackpool and follow their progress avidly. If they go back to the First Division this season – and I sincerely hope they do – nothing will give me greater pleasure. It would be wonderful to see top class football returning to Bloomfield Road next season.’
In later life he was a well-respected and popular member of Bothwell Castle Golf Club for many years. He used to tell members how he would play golf on a Saturday morning at Bothwell before heading off to play in important matches for Motherwell in the afternoon!
Pat Quinn was adored by the fans at all his clubs, especially at Bloomfield Road, and, even though his stay was relatively short, he will be remembered for his silky skills and, of course, by those of us who were there, for his goal that never was! He died on 13 July 2020 and will be sorely missed by family and friends alike.
Pat Quinn was born in Glasgow on 26 April 1936 and played his junior football as an inside forward with Bridgeton Waverley. At a young age he was a prodigious talent and he joined Albion Rovers but he had played just two games for them when Motherwell spotted his potential and signed him in December 1955. Joining Motherwell as manager around the same time was Bobby Ancell, who had previously managed Berwick Rangers (then a non-League club) and Dunfermline Athletic, taking the latter club up to the Scottish First Division for the first time in 18 years. Ancell had a reputation for developing young talent and he put his principles into practice and developed a dynamic set of youngsters at Motherwell who were known as the 'Ancell Babes'. Eight of his young side went on to win Scottish international honours.
By October 1960 Blackpool, then bottom of the top flight of English football, were keeping an eye on Ancell’s Motherwell side and wanted to sign one of the inside forward trio, Ian St John, Pat Quinn or John Hunter. However, Motherwell did not want to part with any of their star men and were said to be ‘hanging on’ at that time. But Blackpool’s persistence paid off and Quinn was signed by Blackpool for a then club record fee of £34,000 on 16 November 1962. His weekly wage was agreed at £33 15s 0d [£33.75] with an extra £10 whenever he played in the first team.
He had played 196 League games for Motherwell in which he scored 83 goals and he won the Motherwell Supports Player of the Year Award at the end of the 1960/61 season. He recalled his debut for Motherwell as a substitute against Preston North End with, ‘It was the time before the regular use of substitutes had arrived, we could only use them in friendlies. They nominated me for the floodlit game with Preston. I was petrified. There I was sitting on the bench in voluminous track suit – It could have housed another couple of subs – when Billy Reid was injured, Mr Ancell gave me the nod and I was on! I was so excited. I was told I must have covered every blade of grass that night. Unfortunately we lost 3-2, but playing against Tommy Doherty and Tom Finney was a great experience.’ While with Motherwell he had also won four Scottish international caps between 1961 and 1962, making his debut in the infamous 9-3 Wembley defeat by England in 1961. He had also played six times for the Scottish League XI, for whom he scored one goal.
He made his League debut for Blackpool the day after he signed against Bolton Wanderers on 17 November 1962 [I was there!] and he immediately endeared himself to the crowd by scoring one of Blackpool’s goals in a 3-1 victory.
It was the season of the big freeze so between his debut and 2 March 1963 the club played only seven League games and Quinn scored his second goal in a 2-1 defeat by Liverpool on 15 December 1962. Then on 6 March 1963 he was involved in a controversial incident in a third round FA Cup replay with Norwich City at Bloomfield Road. The game had been postponed 11 times and then, belatedly, the two clubs had drawn the original fixture two days earlier.
With the score at 0-0 he appeared to have given Blackpool the lead when he had the ball in the net. The referee, Ernie Crawford of Doncaster, immediately awarded a goal but protestations from the Norwich players prompted him and his linesman to have a look at the goal net. [I was there, stood right behind the net and there was no doubt that the ball had gone in ... I am, of course, bias!] However, after a lot of pulling at the net, they somehow managed to find a hole in the side netting and eventually decided that the ball had entered the net through this hole and the ‘goal’ was disallowed. The crowd went wild but he later gave Blackpool the lead when he ‘timed Ray Parry’s excellent cross perfectly to ram the ball home’ it looked as though justice had been done. But Norwich equalised with four minutes remaining and went on to controversially win 3-1 after extra time.
After the match Quinn said of the disallowed effort, ‘The only time the ball touched the netting was after it had come to rest in the far wall of the goal. I saw the goalkeeper Sandy Kennon standing by the near post, swaying outwards as if expecting a centre, so I decided to try a shot. The ball hit the outside edge of the post, struck Kennon’s knee, dropped to the ground in the goalmouth and spun off the mud into the far wall of the net. Only when the referee awarded a goal did Kennon and others start tugging at the net to show a hole in it.’
The League season restarted in earnest after the Cup tie and Quinn played a starring role as Blackpool climbed out of the relegation zone to finish in a respectable 12th position in the table. Towards the end of the season he was hugely influential in the club winning four successive League games scoring 16 goals in the process, defeating Birmingham City 6-3, Blackburn Rovers 4-1, Arsenal 3-2 and Manchester City 3-0. And he finished his first season at the club having played 25 League games, scoring eight goals, and two FA Cup ties, scoring one goal.
He began the 1963/64 season in style with one of Blackpool’s goals in the opening day 2-2 draw with Sheffield United and he went on to appear in the first nine games. However, he was moved to inside left for the final two of those games because a certain Alan Ball finally broke through to the League side so he took the inside right spot. After two games at inside left, Quinn was left out of the side.
What turned out to be his final League game for Blackpool was against Wolverhampton Wanderers on 21 September 1963 when Blackpool lost 2-1 and then he was rested after what was said to be a disappointing run of ‘on off form’. He was philosophical about his exclusion from the first team, stated that he was well aware of his jaded form and announced that he was determined to ‘get back into top gear’ as soon as possible. And he made his first appearance in the Central League side against Bury reserves on 4 October 1963 when Blackpool won 2-1. He was also in the Central League side that drew 2-2 with Burnley reserves on 8 October 1963.
Hibernian noticed that he was out of favour at Bloomfield Road and they came in with an offer of £25,000 for his transfer. Blackpool agreed the sum and he joined Hibernian on 10 October 1963. Up to that point he had played nine League games, scoring one goal, and two Central League games in the 1963/64 season; his total Blackpool appearances were 34 League games, scoring nine goals, two FA Cup ties, scoring one goal, and two Central League games.
In September 1964 there were strong rumours that Hibernian were going to transfer him to Ipswich Town but they proved to be false and he became a key man, on the right wing, in the club’s revival in March 1965. After playing 131 League games and scoring 19 goals, in addition to being Hibernian’s first-ever used substitute against Clyde in November 1966 and also scoring a marvellous goal in a 5-0 demolition of Napoli in the Inter-City Fairs Cup when Hibernian were 4-1 down from the first leg, he was transferred to East Fife, where he eventually took over as player-manager and the club won promotion from the Scottish Second Division. He played 64 games for East Fife in which he scored six goals.
In March 1974 he joined Icelandic club Fimleikafélag Hafnarfjarðar as manager and he led the club to the Icelandic First Division after they had been out of the top flight for 10 years. He later said of his time in Iceland, ‘Our season extended from March 1974 to October 1974. It was a marvellous experience. The Icelanders are a wonderful nation. The hospitality was the finest I have ever experienced. They asked me to stay but I wanted to go back home. I was invited to go back the following year. They offered me excellent conditions but I had to reluctantly turn them down.’
In 1980 he became coach at Partick Thistle and assistant-manager to Bertie Auld. Interestingly all the Partick Thistle players were part-time and Pat Quinn acted in a part-time capacity as coach while pursuing his full-time job as a caretaker with the Sighthill Youth Centre in Glasgow. He later spent some time coaching at Hibernian, Motherwell and Hamilton Academical.
Commenting on his time in football in December 1976 he said, ‘Looking back on these years with Motherwell, they were among the happiest in my playing career. Motherwell and good football were synonymous with the result that we drew crowds everywhere. The understanding in all departments of the side was a sheer delight and I get great pleasure thinking back on the fact that I was a member of the team.’
Of his move to Bloomfield Road he said, ‘It was great to sample First Division football for the first time. I was particularly pleased to find among my club mates at that time John McPhee, who had been a colleague at Motherwell. The Blackpool team included Jimmy Armfield, the present Leeds United manager. He was skipper of the side. Big Tony Waiters, the current Plymouth Argyle boss, was in goal. A fellow Scot in Billy Cranston also played at that time and I can also vividly recall such dandy forwards as Alan Ball, Ray Charnley and Ray Parry. During season 1962/63 I played in 25 First Division matches and scored eight goals. We finished mid-way up the table. I have very happy memories of my stay at Bloomfield Road. I enjoyed it immensely. But Alan Ball was breaking through. We were both very small and it did not look as if the two of us would play in the same side because of our height and build. Ronnie Suart, the then manager, came to me in October 1963 to tell me that Hibs were interested in me and would I be willing to go back home? He also stated that they club were willing to let me and I took the opportunity to join a club which had such a good name in Scotland as Hibs.’
After his season in Iceland he went home. He recalled, ‘I returned to my native Glasgow and in January 1975 Bertie Auld, the Partick Thistle manager, approached me and asked me to join his club as coach to their reserve string. I did so and was delighted when my protégés won the Second Eleven Cup, the national trophy for reserve teams. Last season Thistle’s first team won the First Division championship and the second eleven clinched the Scottish Reserve League championship. Two of my boys have won through to the first team this season in Brian Whittaker and John Marr and I’m delighted. Now I’m coaching the first team and am over the moon. Thistle are a very good club and I’m very happy with them. But I still take an interest in Blackpool and follow their progress avidly. If they go back to the First Division this season – and I sincerely hope they do – nothing will give me greater pleasure. It would be wonderful to see top class football returning to Bloomfield Road next season.’
In later life he was a well-respected and popular member of Bothwell Castle Golf Club for many years. He used to tell members how he would play golf on a Saturday morning at Bothwell before heading off to play in important matches for Motherwell in the afternoon!
Pat Quinn was adored by the fans at all his clubs, especially at Bloomfield Road, and, even though his stay was relatively short, he will be remembered for his silky skills and, of course, by those of us who were there, for his goal that never was! He died on 13 July 2020 and will be sorely missed by family and friends alike.
July 13, 2020
One of the Most Exciting Test Matches [N]ever Seen!
England v West Indies First Test, 8-12 July 2020
With the situation in the country preventing spectators attending major sporting events, one wondered how the first England v West Indies Test Match at Southampton's Ageas Bowl would fare.
Well, the answer is that despite the eerie silence around the ground over five days, very well, thank you. It was a memorable game with all 22 players giving everything that they had over the five days.
Ben Stokes, England's stand-in skipper, commented after the match that to have the crowds there in support is magnificent but they, as England players, don't have to have the crowd cheering them on for them to give wholehearted performances.
The first day was virtually a washout, stop, start all day and in the end only 17.4 overs were possible. Dom Sibley was the only casualty, bowled by Shannon Gabriel for nought in the second over, after Rory Burns had survived, on review, a leg before appeal in the first. And at the close it was just 35-1.
Arguably day two was when England put themselves behind the eight ball as they could only total what was considered a below par total of 204. Four batsmen got in and passed 30 but Ben Stokes' 43 was the top score. West Indies captain Jason Holder, the youngest ever West Indian captain when appointed at the age of 23 and currently the world's number one all-rounder, bowled magnificently and took career-best Test figures of 6-42 while Gabriel backed him up admirably with 4-62. West Indies lost the wicket of John Campbell while closing on 57-1.
Day three belonged to the West Indies as they battled hard to gain a first innings' lead and their all out total of 318 ensured that it was one of 114 runs. Opener Kraigg Brathwaite top scored with 65 while wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich made 61 and Roston Chase chipped in with 47. Stokes returned the best bowling figures of 4-49, including the wicket of his opposite number, Holder, in one of the rare occasions when the two captains take each others wicket - Holder had Stokes caught behind when England batted. England had 10 overs to survive to the close and Burns and Sibley did so at 15-0.
Day four was a roller coaster ride as far as England were concerned for from a high point of 249-3 they managed to lose five wickets for 30 runs and limped to 284-8 at the close. Zac Crawley, batting at number four for the first time in his career, top scored with a well-made 76 - he was despertely disappointed to get a leading edge and push a catch back to to Alzarri Joseph -, Sibley batted well for his 50 and Stokes once again got into the 40s, this time 46 before Holder dismissed him. This kept alive the possibility of the two captains dismissing each other in all four innings, something that had never happened before in Test cricket.
Day five was going to be crucial, England wanting to add as many runs as possible to extend their lead and the West Indies wanting to take two quick wickets. In the event West indies did get Mark Wood early but then Jofra Archer struck a belligerent 23 to take England to 313 all out, a lead of 199. The fiery Gabriel was the West Indies' star man as he took 5-75.
Set 200 to win the West Indies began tentatively and they paid the price as they very quickly found themselves at 27-3 and with opener Campbell also back in the pavilion nursing a damaged big toe. England were suddenly in the driving seat thanks to some hostile bowling from Archer in particular.
But Roston Chase and Jermaine Blackwood steadied the ship and either side of lunch they put together a partnership of 73 before Archer returned to dismiss Chase for 37 at 100-4. One hundred runs to win for the West Indies, six wickets to capture for England; the game was in the balance.
Dowrich is a fighter and together with Blackwood he put on 68 for the fifth wicket, his contribution being 20. This brought in Holder and he and Blackwood weathered some fine bowling by the England attack with, surprisingly Jimmy Anderson going wicketless in the second innings of a Test Match for the first time for quite a number of years.
Blackwood, often an impulsive player, knuckled down and was moving towards what would have been a well deserved century, when, for the second time in the match, he drove a catch to Anderson at mid-off. But by then West Indies were only 11 short of their target.
Opener Campbell returned to the fray and it was he who struck the winning run at six o'clock; he remained eight not out and with Holder 14 not out, West Indies had won an enthralling match by four wickets. It was only their second win in England since 1988 and it was the second time recently that they had won back to back Test Matches away from home.
Speaking after the match, Jason Holder commended his team for their splendid effort, especially picking out Blackwood and Gabriel, the latter whose 9-137 won him the man-of-the-match award. Holder, always leading from the front, has certainly moulded his side into a cohesive unit. And, interestingly with his seven wickets adding to Stokes' six, it left the two captains behind only Bob Willis and Imran Khan in a much earlier England v Pakistan Test to have taken more wickets as opposing captains in one game; their 13 between them put them in second place.
Naturally Ben Stokes was disappointed in the defeat but he spoke very well, noticeably avoiding the usual ECB-induced clichéd speak that has been offered in recent times! He defended the team selection - Stuart Broad was controversially left out of the side -, admiring Broad's riposte to the decision, and defending also his decision to bat first in conditions that could have been said to favour the bowling side.
It was a marvellous end to an exhilarating match that was played in front of an empty stadium. Now on to Old Trafford for rounds two and three.
With the situation in the country preventing spectators attending major sporting events, one wondered how the first England v West Indies Test Match at Southampton's Ageas Bowl would fare.
Well, the answer is that despite the eerie silence around the ground over five days, very well, thank you. It was a memorable game with all 22 players giving everything that they had over the five days.
Ben Stokes, England's stand-in skipper, commented after the match that to have the crowds there in support is magnificent but they, as England players, don't have to have the crowd cheering them on for them to give wholehearted performances.
The first day was virtually a washout, stop, start all day and in the end only 17.4 overs were possible. Dom Sibley was the only casualty, bowled by Shannon Gabriel for nought in the second over, after Rory Burns had survived, on review, a leg before appeal in the first. And at the close it was just 35-1.
Arguably day two was when England put themselves behind the eight ball as they could only total what was considered a below par total of 204. Four batsmen got in and passed 30 but Ben Stokes' 43 was the top score. West Indies captain Jason Holder, the youngest ever West Indian captain when appointed at the age of 23 and currently the world's number one all-rounder, bowled magnificently and took career-best Test figures of 6-42 while Gabriel backed him up admirably with 4-62. West Indies lost the wicket of John Campbell while closing on 57-1.
Day three belonged to the West Indies as they battled hard to gain a first innings' lead and their all out total of 318 ensured that it was one of 114 runs. Opener Kraigg Brathwaite top scored with 65 while wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich made 61 and Roston Chase chipped in with 47. Stokes returned the best bowling figures of 4-49, including the wicket of his opposite number, Holder, in one of the rare occasions when the two captains take each others wicket - Holder had Stokes caught behind when England batted. England had 10 overs to survive to the close and Burns and Sibley did so at 15-0.
Day four was a roller coaster ride as far as England were concerned for from a high point of 249-3 they managed to lose five wickets for 30 runs and limped to 284-8 at the close. Zac Crawley, batting at number four for the first time in his career, top scored with a well-made 76 - he was despertely disappointed to get a leading edge and push a catch back to to Alzarri Joseph -, Sibley batted well for his 50 and Stokes once again got into the 40s, this time 46 before Holder dismissed him. This kept alive the possibility of the two captains dismissing each other in all four innings, something that had never happened before in Test cricket.
Day five was going to be crucial, England wanting to add as many runs as possible to extend their lead and the West Indies wanting to take two quick wickets. In the event West indies did get Mark Wood early but then Jofra Archer struck a belligerent 23 to take England to 313 all out, a lead of 199. The fiery Gabriel was the West Indies' star man as he took 5-75.
Set 200 to win the West Indies began tentatively and they paid the price as they very quickly found themselves at 27-3 and with opener Campbell also back in the pavilion nursing a damaged big toe. England were suddenly in the driving seat thanks to some hostile bowling from Archer in particular.
But Roston Chase and Jermaine Blackwood steadied the ship and either side of lunch they put together a partnership of 73 before Archer returned to dismiss Chase for 37 at 100-4. One hundred runs to win for the West Indies, six wickets to capture for England; the game was in the balance.
Dowrich is a fighter and together with Blackwood he put on 68 for the fifth wicket, his contribution being 20. This brought in Holder and he and Blackwood weathered some fine bowling by the England attack with, surprisingly Jimmy Anderson going wicketless in the second innings of a Test Match for the first time for quite a number of years.
Blackwood, often an impulsive player, knuckled down and was moving towards what would have been a well deserved century, when, for the second time in the match, he drove a catch to Anderson at mid-off. But by then West Indies were only 11 short of their target.
Opener Campbell returned to the fray and it was he who struck the winning run at six o'clock; he remained eight not out and with Holder 14 not out, West Indies had won an enthralling match by four wickets. It was only their second win in England since 1988 and it was the second time recently that they had won back to back Test Matches away from home.
Speaking after the match, Jason Holder commended his team for their splendid effort, especially picking out Blackwood and Gabriel, the latter whose 9-137 won him the man-of-the-match award. Holder, always leading from the front, has certainly moulded his side into a cohesive unit. And, interestingly with his seven wickets adding to Stokes' six, it left the two captains behind only Bob Willis and Imran Khan in a much earlier England v Pakistan Test to have taken more wickets as opposing captains in one game; their 13 between them put them in second place.
Naturally Ben Stokes was disappointed in the defeat but he spoke very well, noticeably avoiding the usual ECB-induced clichéd speak that has been offered in recent times! He defended the team selection - Stuart Broad was controversially left out of the side -, admiring Broad's riposte to the decision, and defending also his decision to bat first in conditions that could have been said to favour the bowling side.
It was a marvellous end to an exhilarating match that was played in front of an empty stadium. Now on to Old Trafford for rounds two and three.
July 5, 2020
An Anglo-Italian Cup Winner
William (Willie) McGrotty 1952-2020
Willie McGrotty was born in Glasgow on 12 August 1952. After junior football as a forward he joined Scottish junior club Yoker Athletic. With a strong Scottish scouting system in place Blackpool spotted his potential and he was signed by the club as an apprentice professional for a fee of £400 on 22 June 1970. Interestingly, he was the first player to have joined Blackpool from Yoker Athletic since Bobby Finan in August 1933.
Scottish selectors never lost sight of him and in December 1970 he was selected by the Scottish Football Association to attend Scottish Youth team trials.
In one of his first senior games in the Blackpool Central League side, he was introduced as a second half substitute for John McNicholas in the game against Bury reserves on 20 January 1971. And he ‘produced some intelligent distributional and positional play’ as Blackpool won 1-0. In addition he was ‘one of the most impressive players on view’ and the longer term view was ‘He could be a big star of the future for Blackpool.’
He had a number of good games before a critic reported that neither he nor Johnny Johnston ‘shone as they had in recent performances’ in the Central League side as Blackpool lost 4-0 to Newcastle United reserves on 27 March 1971. But overall he maintained his improving reputation and he made his League debut as an 80th-minute substitute for Mickey Burns against Burnley on 10 April 1971 when Blackpool lost 1-0.
The following week he was selected for his first League start in the First Division against Nottingham Forest on 17 April 1971 and on the evening prior to the game he commented, ‘I’m delighted. I don’t feel nervous at the moment but I know I will when I get up in the morning.’ In the game he ‘showed some fine touches’ but the same critic considered he had ‘some way to go yet’. Blackpool lost 3-2 although he did score one of Blackpool’s goals. He played his third League game against Everton on 24 April 1971 but he was replaced by Peter Nicholson in the second half as the game was drawn 0-0.
In the summer of 1971 he was selected for the Blackpool squad that were to compete in the Anglo-Italian Cup Competition and he was in the starting line-up for the opening game of the tournament against Hellas Verona on 26 May 1971. An exciting match was drawn 3-3 as he was replaced late on by Johnny Johnston. He also played in the second game of the tournament against AS Roma on 29 May 1971 when Blackpool lost 3-1 [their only defeat] and he was in the squad, but did not play, that subsequently won the trophy with a 2-1 victory over Bologna in Rome on 12 June 1971.
He had played two League games, made one substitute appearance and scored one goal in the 1970/71 season. He also played two Anglo-Italian Cup games and a number of Central League games.
He could not break into the Blackpool League side in the 1971/72 season but he was a regular member of the Central League side, playing in 37 games, in which he scored 13 goals. He continued in the Central League side in the 1972/73 season and he earned the headlines in the opening Central League game of the season with ‘McGrotty takes his chances’ as he scored in the 80th and 88th minutes to give Blackpool a 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest reserves on 12 August 1972. And on 25 November 1972, ‘McGrotty, Corrigan and Tully provided flashes of enthusiasm, but they were few and far between’ as Blackpool’s Central League side lost 2-0 to the League leaders Coventry City reserves.
After being out of the League side for almost two years he rather unexpectedly earned a recall when he returned to the side as a substitute for Chris Simpkin in a 2-0 defeat by Orient on 10 February 1973. And, with Blackpool in the Anglo-Italian Cup Competition once more, he returned to the first team squad for the game against Como on 21 March 1973 when Blackpool won 3-0 but he was an unused substitute. He made one substitute appearance in the League and played 30 Central League games, scoring seven goals, in the 1972/73 season. By then his Blackpool career record comprised two League games, plus two substitute appearances in the League, in which he scored one goal. He had also made two appearances in the Anglo-Italian Cup competition as well as playing in more than 75 Central League games.
Blackpool were prepared to release him after the 1972/73 season and he went to Australia where he spent some time with Western Suburbs FC before Blackpool transferred him to Safeway United Soccer Club of the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia, for a fee of £1,000 on 22 May 1973. He went on to play 22 games for Safeway United, scoring seven goals.
After Australia were looking for new blood following their appearance in the 1974 World Cup Finals, he was one of eight new players in a squad of 19 selected in January 1975 for the Socceroos, Australia’s national side. The coach Eric Worthington said at the time, ‘The new boys completely understand that they are going along for the ride. It is up to them to force their way into final team calculations.’ He did go on to make one substitute appearance for the Socceroos in a game against Legia Warsaw in Brisbane on 12 February 1975.
He later returned to Scotland where he managed a junior side, Mill United in Hamilton.
He died in Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow on 3 July 2020. Despite his relatively short stay at Bloomfield Road, he will always be remembered in the annals of Blackpool Football Club history.
Willie McGrotty was born in Glasgow on 12 August 1952. After junior football as a forward he joined Scottish junior club Yoker Athletic. With a strong Scottish scouting system in place Blackpool spotted his potential and he was signed by the club as an apprentice professional for a fee of £400 on 22 June 1970. Interestingly, he was the first player to have joined Blackpool from Yoker Athletic since Bobby Finan in August 1933.
Scottish selectors never lost sight of him and in December 1970 he was selected by the Scottish Football Association to attend Scottish Youth team trials.
In one of his first senior games in the Blackpool Central League side, he was introduced as a second half substitute for John McNicholas in the game against Bury reserves on 20 January 1971. And he ‘produced some intelligent distributional and positional play’ as Blackpool won 1-0. In addition he was ‘one of the most impressive players on view’ and the longer term view was ‘He could be a big star of the future for Blackpool.’
He had a number of good games before a critic reported that neither he nor Johnny Johnston ‘shone as they had in recent performances’ in the Central League side as Blackpool lost 4-0 to Newcastle United reserves on 27 March 1971. But overall he maintained his improving reputation and he made his League debut as an 80th-minute substitute for Mickey Burns against Burnley on 10 April 1971 when Blackpool lost 1-0.
The following week he was selected for his first League start in the First Division against Nottingham Forest on 17 April 1971 and on the evening prior to the game he commented, ‘I’m delighted. I don’t feel nervous at the moment but I know I will when I get up in the morning.’ In the game he ‘showed some fine touches’ but the same critic considered he had ‘some way to go yet’. Blackpool lost 3-2 although he did score one of Blackpool’s goals. He played his third League game against Everton on 24 April 1971 but he was replaced by Peter Nicholson in the second half as the game was drawn 0-0.
In the summer of 1971 he was selected for the Blackpool squad that were to compete in the Anglo-Italian Cup Competition and he was in the starting line-up for the opening game of the tournament against Hellas Verona on 26 May 1971. An exciting match was drawn 3-3 as he was replaced late on by Johnny Johnston. He also played in the second game of the tournament against AS Roma on 29 May 1971 when Blackpool lost 3-1 [their only defeat] and he was in the squad, but did not play, that subsequently won the trophy with a 2-1 victory over Bologna in Rome on 12 June 1971.
He had played two League games, made one substitute appearance and scored one goal in the 1970/71 season. He also played two Anglo-Italian Cup games and a number of Central League games.
He could not break into the Blackpool League side in the 1971/72 season but he was a regular member of the Central League side, playing in 37 games, in which he scored 13 goals. He continued in the Central League side in the 1972/73 season and he earned the headlines in the opening Central League game of the season with ‘McGrotty takes his chances’ as he scored in the 80th and 88th minutes to give Blackpool a 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest reserves on 12 August 1972. And on 25 November 1972, ‘McGrotty, Corrigan and Tully provided flashes of enthusiasm, but they were few and far between’ as Blackpool’s Central League side lost 2-0 to the League leaders Coventry City reserves.
After being out of the League side for almost two years he rather unexpectedly earned a recall when he returned to the side as a substitute for Chris Simpkin in a 2-0 defeat by Orient on 10 February 1973. And, with Blackpool in the Anglo-Italian Cup Competition once more, he returned to the first team squad for the game against Como on 21 March 1973 when Blackpool won 3-0 but he was an unused substitute. He made one substitute appearance in the League and played 30 Central League games, scoring seven goals, in the 1972/73 season. By then his Blackpool career record comprised two League games, plus two substitute appearances in the League, in which he scored one goal. He had also made two appearances in the Anglo-Italian Cup competition as well as playing in more than 75 Central League games.
Blackpool were prepared to release him after the 1972/73 season and he went to Australia where he spent some time with Western Suburbs FC before Blackpool transferred him to Safeway United Soccer Club of the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia, for a fee of £1,000 on 22 May 1973. He went on to play 22 games for Safeway United, scoring seven goals.
After Australia were looking for new blood following their appearance in the 1974 World Cup Finals, he was one of eight new players in a squad of 19 selected in January 1975 for the Socceroos, Australia’s national side. The coach Eric Worthington said at the time, ‘The new boys completely understand that they are going along for the ride. It is up to them to force their way into final team calculations.’ He did go on to make one substitute appearance for the Socceroos in a game against Legia Warsaw in Brisbane on 12 February 1975.
He later returned to Scotland where he managed a junior side, Mill United in Hamilton.
He died in Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow on 3 July 2020. Despite his relatively short stay at Bloomfield Road, he will always be remembered in the annals of Blackpool Football Club history.
June 16, 2020
A Northern Ireland Schoolboy International
Samuel Edward (Sammy) Nelson 1924 -2019
Sammy Nelson was born in Belfast on 26 May 1924. Having been a Northern Ireland Schoolboy international, he joined Linfield Swifts for the 1943/44 season as an outside right. With their then strong scouting system Blackpool were alerted to his talent and the club signed him as an amateur in September 1946.
He made his Blackpool debut for the Central League (reserve) side against Wolverhampton Wanderers reserves on 21 September 1946 when Blackpool lost 3 1.By October of 1946 his consistently good displays for the reserve side led to the comment that he 'may be the outside right Blackpool have been hunting for a season and a quarter'. This, of course, was unfortunately not to be the case when Blackpool made their next outside right signing.
He became a regular in the Central League side and scored his first goal for the club in a 4-0 defeat of Leeds United reserves on 2 November 1946.
Injury to Alec Munro gave him his League debut against Blackburn Rovers on 26 December 1946 when Blackpool won 1-0. He went on to play 10 successive games in the outside right position, with Munro, when fit again, moving to inside right.
He ‘played well’ as Blackpool defeated Preston North End 4-0 on 15 February 1947 but, after two successive defeats, 3-0 by Manchester United and 1-0 by Bolton Wanderers on 22 February and 1 March respectively, he was left out of the side while Munro returned to outside right. He returned to Central League action the following week and scored twice in Blackpool’s 11-0 thrashing of Leeds United reserves.
But he did return for one final League game in the 1946/47 season, a 3-2 victory at Grimsby Town on 22 March 1947. He had played 11 games in the First Division in the 1946/47 season and he also played 23 Central League games, scoring five goals.
His Blackpool career was seriously affected when the club signed Stanley Matthews for the 1947/48 season and, consequently, his first team appearances were restricted and, as with so many others later, he played in the League side only as understudy to Matthews.
He missed the opening two games of the 1947/48 season but returned to action, at inside right, in a 2-1 victory over Bury reserves on 30 August 1947. Thereafter he was a regular member of the Central League side until earning a recall to League action.
His first League appearance of the season came against Portsmouth on 18 October 1947 when Matthews was on international duty; Blackpool won the game 1-0. A niggling injury to Matthews gave him two further opportunities when he played in a 2-1 victory over Sheffield United and a 4-0 defeat by Middlesbrough on 15 and 22 November respectively. The latter game was his final League game for Blackpool as Matthews returned to the side.
His final game for the club was in a 2-1 defeat by Bury reserves on 3 January 1948. In addition to the three League games, he played 19 Central League games in which he scored two goals in the 1947/48 season.
Late in 1947 he left his job in Preston, where he worked as a draughtsman, and moved to London to continue his career. Not surprisingly he found travelling back to Blackpool for football rather difficult and he therefore requested a transfer.
Luton Town had been spoken of as being interested in signing him. And the Blackpool directors had sympathy with his situation and he was duly transferred to Luton Town on 9 January 1948. He had played 14 League games and 41 Central League games, scoring seven goals, for Blackpool in his season and a half at Bloomfield Road.
He played four League games, scoring one goal, in the 1947/48 season for Luton Town before retiring to concentrate on his career outside the game.
He died on 15 April 2019.
Sammy Nelson was born in Belfast on 26 May 1924. Having been a Northern Ireland Schoolboy international, he joined Linfield Swifts for the 1943/44 season as an outside right. With their then strong scouting system Blackpool were alerted to his talent and the club signed him as an amateur in September 1946.
He made his Blackpool debut for the Central League (reserve) side against Wolverhampton Wanderers reserves on 21 September 1946 when Blackpool lost 3 1.By October of 1946 his consistently good displays for the reserve side led to the comment that he 'may be the outside right Blackpool have been hunting for a season and a quarter'. This, of course, was unfortunately not to be the case when Blackpool made their next outside right signing.
He became a regular in the Central League side and scored his first goal for the club in a 4-0 defeat of Leeds United reserves on 2 November 1946.
Injury to Alec Munro gave him his League debut against Blackburn Rovers on 26 December 1946 when Blackpool won 1-0. He went on to play 10 successive games in the outside right position, with Munro, when fit again, moving to inside right.
He ‘played well’ as Blackpool defeated Preston North End 4-0 on 15 February 1947 but, after two successive defeats, 3-0 by Manchester United and 1-0 by Bolton Wanderers on 22 February and 1 March respectively, he was left out of the side while Munro returned to outside right. He returned to Central League action the following week and scored twice in Blackpool’s 11-0 thrashing of Leeds United reserves.
But he did return for one final League game in the 1946/47 season, a 3-2 victory at Grimsby Town on 22 March 1947. He had played 11 games in the First Division in the 1946/47 season and he also played 23 Central League games, scoring five goals.
His Blackpool career was seriously affected when the club signed Stanley Matthews for the 1947/48 season and, consequently, his first team appearances were restricted and, as with so many others later, he played in the League side only as understudy to Matthews.
He missed the opening two games of the 1947/48 season but returned to action, at inside right, in a 2-1 victory over Bury reserves on 30 August 1947. Thereafter he was a regular member of the Central League side until earning a recall to League action.
His first League appearance of the season came against Portsmouth on 18 October 1947 when Matthews was on international duty; Blackpool won the game 1-0. A niggling injury to Matthews gave him two further opportunities when he played in a 2-1 victory over Sheffield United and a 4-0 defeat by Middlesbrough on 15 and 22 November respectively. The latter game was his final League game for Blackpool as Matthews returned to the side.
His final game for the club was in a 2-1 defeat by Bury reserves on 3 January 1948. In addition to the three League games, he played 19 Central League games in which he scored two goals in the 1947/48 season.
Late in 1947 he left his job in Preston, where he worked as a draughtsman, and moved to London to continue his career. Not surprisingly he found travelling back to Blackpool for football rather difficult and he therefore requested a transfer.
Luton Town had been spoken of as being interested in signing him. And the Blackpool directors had sympathy with his situation and he was duly transferred to Luton Town on 9 January 1948. He had played 14 League games and 41 Central League games, scoring seven goals, for Blackpool in his season and a half at Bloomfield Road.
He played four League games, scoring one goal, in the 1947/48 season for Luton Town before retiring to concentrate on his career outside the game.
He died on 15 April 2019.
April 19, 2020
Local boy makes good
John William (Billy) Wright 1931-2020
Billy Wright was born in Blackpool on 4 March 1931. He played his junior football for Highfield Youth Club and then Oxford Amateurs in the Blackpool & District Amateur Football League. An outside left or outside right (winger) he was good enough to have been chosen for the Amateur League side against Stockport on Easter Saturday 1949. And that was when the directors at Blackpool Football Club noticed him and he was signed by the club as an amateur on 6 August 1949.
He made his debut at outside right for the Blackpool ‘B’ side against Bolton Wanderers ‘B’ on 22 October 1949 at the Co-operative Ground, Marton when Blackpool sealed a 4-0 victory. He scored one of his earliest goals for Blackpool in the Blackpool ‘B’ side’s 2-1 victory over Clitheroe early in the 1949/50 season when he was deemed to be 'more at home foraging rather than finishing'. 'Wright, Rogers and Terry were prominent' when Blackpool ‘A’ defeated Atherton Colliery 2-0 in the 1949/50 season and his form was such that he was selected for an under-18 years of age Lancashire League side to play a Northern Intermediate League XI at Oakwell.
Blackpool liked his progress enough to sign him as a part-time professional on 11 May 1950 with his terms to be £3 10s 0d [£3.50] per week from 11 May 1950 to 31 July 1951 plus an additional £2 10s 0d [£2.50] if and when he played in the Central League side. As a part-time player he retained his job outside football as an apprentice painter and decorator.
He began the 1950/51 season in good form, scoring one of the goals as Blackpool defeated Southport 2-0 in a Lancashire Mid-Week League fixture on 25 October 1950 when 'a right wing of Stanley Hepton and Billy Wright had class in it whenever it could escape the relentless tackling of the Southport defence'. Then, playing at centre forward, he 'led the Blackpool attack well with strong support from Whittaker' and the pair were 'dangerous forwards' as the Lancashire Mid-Week League side lost 2-1 to Preston North End and he 'had a good game' and scored twice as Blackpool 'B' defeated Marine 6-0. Even when the side lost 1-0 to Netherfield he was praised as the match report stated, 'Wright and Levy combined to give Netherfield some anxious moments'.
This success led to his Central League (reserve team) debut at outside right against Derby County reserves on 3 February 1951 when the game was drawn 0-0. And he scored his first senior goal for the club in his second Central League appearance, this time at outside left, in a 3-1 defeat by Manchester City reserves on 17 March 1951. In that 1950/51 season he played in six Central League games, scoring two goals. Then he made his European debut when he played his initial first team game, at outside right when Blackpool defeated Stade Rennais 3-0 at Bloomfield Road in a Festival of Britain Exhibition Game on 14 May 1951.
He then went on the club's close season tour of Switzerland and played in all three games, a 4-3 victory over Grasshoppers, a 4-0 victory over a Geneva-Zurich XI and a 0-2 defeat by a Basel-Zurich XI. This led to him being regarded as a young player to watch in August 1951 when he was spoken of as a product of Fylde school soccer who had 'deputised for Stan Matthews on the close season tour of Switzerland and impressed everyone'.
He was expected to make the Central League team in the 1951/52 season and Blackpool manager Joe Smith said, 'I cannot recall when the standard of junior football was so high' after watching 22 of his young apprentices in a trial game at Ballam Road, Lytham. Then in the Blackpool ‘B’ side’s first home game of the 1951/52 season he, Len Stephenson and Cyril Robinson had 'excellent games' as Rossendale United were beaten 3-1.
Injuries gave him an opportunity in the Central League side at inside left against Wolverhampton Wanderers reserves at Bloomfield Road on 8 September 1951 but Blackpool lost 2-0 to the reigning champions. In the second half he and Rex Adams switched wings and 'for a time the Blackpool forwards looked dangerous but there was still a tendency, particularly on the part of Ken Smith, to try an extra pass instead of a shot'.
Then, after scoring one of Blackpool’s goals in a very dramatic 4-3 Lancashire Senior Cup first round victory over Everton on 24 October 1951. This was followed when he earned the press comment 'Billy Wright confirmed in elusive flashes that one day he may be a great footballer' as Blackpool ‘B’ defeated Burnley ‘B’ 5-1.
A change of position followed as, due to a long injury list, he was moved to centre forward for the Central League side's 1-1 draw against Sheffield Wednesday reserves on 1 December 1951. And, when Stan Mortensen failed a fitness test, and the Blackpool injury list contained four centre forwards, he was told by Joe Smith, 'You’re playing for Blackpool against Spurs tomorrow at centre forward.'
He duly made his League debut at centre forward on a quagmire pitch against Tottenham Hotspur on 8 December 1951 when Blackpool won 1-0 and it was classed as 'a baptism by water'. Tottenham’s tough tackling centre half Harry Clarke was a difficult first opponent but the post-match verdict was 'On a day when criticism would be ungracious, Billy Wright disarmed it. He was not a lot in the game with the ball seldom being played down the centre for him to chase, and obviously he has not yet the resource to pit himself against a heavyweight defence. Yet he played football when he could, which was true of both teams, qualifying both of them for compliments.' And one national newspaper reported, 'Young Wright worked tirelessly and with considerable success to make a good impression in his first League game.'
He retained his place for the game against Chelsea on 15 December 1951 when once again he came up against a tough opponent in John Harris. And although 'young Wright wasted several headed chances', he scored Blackpool’s consolation goal in a 2-1 defeat when he forced the ball over the line with 'a mass of men packed and milling beneath the bar'. One of the national newspapers reported the goal thus, 'It was Wright who reduced Chelsea’s lead. He wandered back into the centre, took a pass from Perry, danced round Bathgate and scored on the run' and described him as 'a centre forward of promise'. Although, in fairness, Blackpool switched 'their two Billys, centre forward Wright and outside left Perry, in the second half ' and 'although neither player succeeded in mastering Chelsea’s John Harris, it was their joint effort which enabled Wright to reduce the arrears from a move started by Ernie Taylor'.
After the match, Blackpool chairman Harry Evans said of Wright's first two appearances, 'We’ve no regrets. This boy has football in him and when he’s stronger he’ll justify all our hopes. He has natural talent, is modest and willing to learn.'
But Mortensen was fit for the following game and he returned to the Central League side. However, due to injury to Stan Matthews and the illness of Matthews' understudy Albert Hobson’s wife, he returned to League action at outside right against Fulham on 8 March 1952 when Blackpool won 4-2 and he 'gave Lowe a troublesome time, and pleased by his ability to centre accurately and quickly'. One national newspaper reported, 'Every credit to Blackpool’s young right winger, Billy Wright, who was deputising for Matthews. Although he showed none of the maestro’s trickery, he was effective with his centres.'
His terms were amended by Blackpool on 29 March 1952 due to his beginning his national service. He was to receive £4 per match from 29 March to 3 May 1952 and £3 per week from 4 May to 30 June 1952. These terms were further amended on 4 July 1952 when he was to receive the standard £1 per week for players completing their national service from 5 July 1952 to 30 June 1953 plus an extra £5 per match from 1 August 1952 to 2 May 1953.
He returned to the League side at outside left against Stoke City on 12 April 1952 when 'The three players reintroduced into the side, Crosland, Stephenson and Billy Wright acquitted themselves well' as Blackpool won 3-2. Another critic wrote, 'Blackpool’s three reserves fitted well into the side. Their only fault was that they persisted in waiting for the ball to come to them.' And he retained the outside left spot against Arsenal on 14 April 1952 when Blackpool lost 4-1 in what was to be his final League game of a season in which he proved his versatility with five League appearances, two at centre forward, one at outside right and two at outside left, in which he scored one goal. He also played 18 Central League games in which he scored four goals.
At the end of that 1951/52 season, a report in the Lancashire Evening Post stated, 'A brighter side to the club’s [injury] troubles has been the keenness and improvement of several young reserves. Withers, Stephenson, W Wright and Robinson are among those who created good impressions, while the selection of Garrett, another graduate from a junior team, for England against Scotland, emphasises once more that Blackpool’s policy of finding future men from among the youngsters is wise and profitable.'
National service interrupted his career in the 1952/53 season but he made his first League appearance of the season at outside right against Portsmouth on 20 December 1952 when Blackpool won 3-2. He kept his place for the two games against Manchester United on 25 and 26 December 1952 when Blackpool drew 0-0 at Bloomfield Road and lost 2-1 at Old Trafford. And, after a number of reserve games, he was back in League action replacing the injured Bill Perry at outside left against Cardiff City on 25 March 1953 when Blackpool lost 1-0. And a record of sorts was created for it was reported, 'The Durie-Wright left wing is one of the first comprising two players out of Fylde football to be fielded by Blackpool in the First Division.'
He played three Easter games at outside left against Derby County, twice, and West Bromwich Albion on 3, 4 and 6 April 1953 - yes, three games in four days! Blackpool beat Derby County 2-1, defeated West Bromwich Albion 2-0 and drew the return game with Derby County 1-1 and this gave him a total of seven League games and 15 Central League games, in which he scored three goals, in the 1952/53 season. And, along with Dave Durie, Cyril Robinson, Stanley Hepton and Ken Booth, he was regarded as one 'destined to win fame' at the close of the season.
During the 1952/53 season he also played for RAF North Coates in the Lincolnshire Services’ Association Football League Division One and he appeared for them in the Cusworth Senior Football Challenge Cup Final against Spilsby.
As a player on national service in the 1953/54 season he was paid the standard £1 per week in accordance with Football Association Regulation No 31 from 1 July 1953 to 30 June 1954. He was also to receive £5 per match from 1 August 1953 to 1 May 1954.
National service once again restricted his 1953/54 season as he played in only eight Central League games for Blackpool. But an amusing story did come out of the season. Having completed his National Service with the RAF on 19 March 1954, Blackburn Rovers player Bryan Douglas told a story at Jimmy Armfield’s 70th birthday celebration on 23 September 2005 of travelling home with Billy. He laughingly related, 'Billy obviously had money for when we arrived at Manchester, too late to travel to Blackpool and Blackburn, we stayed overnight. He booked in at the Piccadilly Hotel while I had to stay in a dormitory at the YMCA, sharing the room with three strangers! He never invited me to share his room at the Hotel!'
His terms for the 1954/55 season were £8 per week from 6 July to 31 July 1954, £10 per week from 1 August 1954 to 7 May 1955 plus an extra £5 per match when playing in the first team.
He appeared mostly in the Central League side in the 1954/55 season and it was not until 12 February 1955 that he was re-introduced into the League side at outside left in place of the injured Bill Perry for the game against Tottenham Hotspur. And he scored one of Blackpool’s goals in a 3-2 defeat. His consolation goal came in the 89th minute when 'Matthews centred, and when Hepton shot, Reynolds juggled with the ball on the ground, Wright nipped in and pushed the ball between the goalkeeper’s legs into the net.'
He kept his place for two further games until Perry returned, appearing in a 2-1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday on 19 February 1955, incredibly Blackpool’s first home victory since 6 November 1954, and a 3-1 defeat by Preston North End on 26 February 1955 before Perry returned from injury. In the game against Sheffield Wednesday 'the left wing was in the game only in a few forays by Wright' and in the second against Preston, which turned out to be his last for Blackpool, he very nearly scored when 'Matthews swung the ball cunningly across the goalmouth, and Wright, racing in, slid forward and got his foot to it near the left-hand post. It seemed a certain goal, but the ball either rebounded clear off the base of the post or was scrambled away by Wilson, who had been challenging Wright.'
He played in three League games, scoring one goal, and 17 Central League games, scoring four goals, in that final season at Bloomfield Road. His five-year Blackpool career had encompassed 15 League games in which he scored two goals and 64 Central League games in which he scored 13 goals.
Although for the 1955/56 season he was offered terms, which were £8 per week from 1 July to 31 July 1955, £10 per week from 1 August 1955 to 5 May 1956 and £8 per week from 6 May 1956 to 30 June 1956 plus £5 per week extra when playing in the first team, he was transferred to Leicester City on 12 August 1955.
He went on to play 27 League games and score 10 goals for Leicester City before he was transferred to Newcastle United in July 1958 for a fee of £7,500. He was to earn £14 per week from 1 to 31 July 1958, £17 per week from 1 August 1958 to 2 May 1959 and £14 per week from 3 May to 30 June 1959. Ironically he made his League debut for Newcastle United against Blackpool at Bloomfield Road on 25 August 1958 when his side lost 3-0 but, although classed as 'a direct winger' while at St James’s Park, unfortunately injury blighted his time there and he was said to be 'too often on the treatment table'. As a consequence he played only five League games, scoring three goals, for the club.
Newcastle transferred him to Plymouth Argyle for a fee of £5,150 in August 1959 and he played 42 League games and scored nine goals for the club. He did contemplate a move to Hull City in August 1961 and he even featured for the club in the 1961/62 pre-season. Ultimately he decided that the move was not for him and he joined his final club, Millwall, in August 1961. He played 15 League games for Millwall in the single season that he was there.
He ended his football career in non-league football, firstly with Southern League Tonbridge, a club that he joined in the close season of 1962, and then with Southern League Bexley United before he retired from the game at the age of 35. He later worked as a games coach, a teacher and a self-employed gardener before he finally retired at the age of 70.
Latterly he lived in Blackheath, London, in retirement but he regularly visited the Fylde to see his sister at Singleton. He was a lovely man who it was always a delight to meet up with when he was on the Fylde Coast and attending games at Bloomfield Road.
He died on 17 April 2020; rest in peace Billy Wright.
Billy Wright was born in Blackpool on 4 March 1931. He played his junior football for Highfield Youth Club and then Oxford Amateurs in the Blackpool & District Amateur Football League. An outside left or outside right (winger) he was good enough to have been chosen for the Amateur League side against Stockport on Easter Saturday 1949. And that was when the directors at Blackpool Football Club noticed him and he was signed by the club as an amateur on 6 August 1949.
He made his debut at outside right for the Blackpool ‘B’ side against Bolton Wanderers ‘B’ on 22 October 1949 at the Co-operative Ground, Marton when Blackpool sealed a 4-0 victory. He scored one of his earliest goals for Blackpool in the Blackpool ‘B’ side’s 2-1 victory over Clitheroe early in the 1949/50 season when he was deemed to be 'more at home foraging rather than finishing'. 'Wright, Rogers and Terry were prominent' when Blackpool ‘A’ defeated Atherton Colliery 2-0 in the 1949/50 season and his form was such that he was selected for an under-18 years of age Lancashire League side to play a Northern Intermediate League XI at Oakwell.
Blackpool liked his progress enough to sign him as a part-time professional on 11 May 1950 with his terms to be £3 10s 0d [£3.50] per week from 11 May 1950 to 31 July 1951 plus an additional £2 10s 0d [£2.50] if and when he played in the Central League side. As a part-time player he retained his job outside football as an apprentice painter and decorator.
He began the 1950/51 season in good form, scoring one of the goals as Blackpool defeated Southport 2-0 in a Lancashire Mid-Week League fixture on 25 October 1950 when 'a right wing of Stanley Hepton and Billy Wright had class in it whenever it could escape the relentless tackling of the Southport defence'. Then, playing at centre forward, he 'led the Blackpool attack well with strong support from Whittaker' and the pair were 'dangerous forwards' as the Lancashire Mid-Week League side lost 2-1 to Preston North End and he 'had a good game' and scored twice as Blackpool 'B' defeated Marine 6-0. Even when the side lost 1-0 to Netherfield he was praised as the match report stated, 'Wright and Levy combined to give Netherfield some anxious moments'.
This success led to his Central League (reserve team) debut at outside right against Derby County reserves on 3 February 1951 when the game was drawn 0-0. And he scored his first senior goal for the club in his second Central League appearance, this time at outside left, in a 3-1 defeat by Manchester City reserves on 17 March 1951. In that 1950/51 season he played in six Central League games, scoring two goals. Then he made his European debut when he played his initial first team game, at outside right when Blackpool defeated Stade Rennais 3-0 at Bloomfield Road in a Festival of Britain Exhibition Game on 14 May 1951.
He then went on the club's close season tour of Switzerland and played in all three games, a 4-3 victory over Grasshoppers, a 4-0 victory over a Geneva-Zurich XI and a 0-2 defeat by a Basel-Zurich XI. This led to him being regarded as a young player to watch in August 1951 when he was spoken of as a product of Fylde school soccer who had 'deputised for Stan Matthews on the close season tour of Switzerland and impressed everyone'.
He was expected to make the Central League team in the 1951/52 season and Blackpool manager Joe Smith said, 'I cannot recall when the standard of junior football was so high' after watching 22 of his young apprentices in a trial game at Ballam Road, Lytham. Then in the Blackpool ‘B’ side’s first home game of the 1951/52 season he, Len Stephenson and Cyril Robinson had 'excellent games' as Rossendale United were beaten 3-1.
Injuries gave him an opportunity in the Central League side at inside left against Wolverhampton Wanderers reserves at Bloomfield Road on 8 September 1951 but Blackpool lost 2-0 to the reigning champions. In the second half he and Rex Adams switched wings and 'for a time the Blackpool forwards looked dangerous but there was still a tendency, particularly on the part of Ken Smith, to try an extra pass instead of a shot'.
Then, after scoring one of Blackpool’s goals in a very dramatic 4-3 Lancashire Senior Cup first round victory over Everton on 24 October 1951. This was followed when he earned the press comment 'Billy Wright confirmed in elusive flashes that one day he may be a great footballer' as Blackpool ‘B’ defeated Burnley ‘B’ 5-1.
A change of position followed as, due to a long injury list, he was moved to centre forward for the Central League side's 1-1 draw against Sheffield Wednesday reserves on 1 December 1951. And, when Stan Mortensen failed a fitness test, and the Blackpool injury list contained four centre forwards, he was told by Joe Smith, 'You’re playing for Blackpool against Spurs tomorrow at centre forward.'
He duly made his League debut at centre forward on a quagmire pitch against Tottenham Hotspur on 8 December 1951 when Blackpool won 1-0 and it was classed as 'a baptism by water'. Tottenham’s tough tackling centre half Harry Clarke was a difficult first opponent but the post-match verdict was 'On a day when criticism would be ungracious, Billy Wright disarmed it. He was not a lot in the game with the ball seldom being played down the centre for him to chase, and obviously he has not yet the resource to pit himself against a heavyweight defence. Yet he played football when he could, which was true of both teams, qualifying both of them for compliments.' And one national newspaper reported, 'Young Wright worked tirelessly and with considerable success to make a good impression in his first League game.'
He retained his place for the game against Chelsea on 15 December 1951 when once again he came up against a tough opponent in John Harris. And although 'young Wright wasted several headed chances', he scored Blackpool’s consolation goal in a 2-1 defeat when he forced the ball over the line with 'a mass of men packed and milling beneath the bar'. One of the national newspapers reported the goal thus, 'It was Wright who reduced Chelsea’s lead. He wandered back into the centre, took a pass from Perry, danced round Bathgate and scored on the run' and described him as 'a centre forward of promise'. Although, in fairness, Blackpool switched 'their two Billys, centre forward Wright and outside left Perry, in the second half ' and 'although neither player succeeded in mastering Chelsea’s John Harris, it was their joint effort which enabled Wright to reduce the arrears from a move started by Ernie Taylor'.
After the match, Blackpool chairman Harry Evans said of Wright's first two appearances, 'We’ve no regrets. This boy has football in him and when he’s stronger he’ll justify all our hopes. He has natural talent, is modest and willing to learn.'
But Mortensen was fit for the following game and he returned to the Central League side. However, due to injury to Stan Matthews and the illness of Matthews' understudy Albert Hobson’s wife, he returned to League action at outside right against Fulham on 8 March 1952 when Blackpool won 4-2 and he 'gave Lowe a troublesome time, and pleased by his ability to centre accurately and quickly'. One national newspaper reported, 'Every credit to Blackpool’s young right winger, Billy Wright, who was deputising for Matthews. Although he showed none of the maestro’s trickery, he was effective with his centres.'
His terms were amended by Blackpool on 29 March 1952 due to his beginning his national service. He was to receive £4 per match from 29 March to 3 May 1952 and £3 per week from 4 May to 30 June 1952. These terms were further amended on 4 July 1952 when he was to receive the standard £1 per week for players completing their national service from 5 July 1952 to 30 June 1953 plus an extra £5 per match from 1 August 1952 to 2 May 1953.
He returned to the League side at outside left against Stoke City on 12 April 1952 when 'The three players reintroduced into the side, Crosland, Stephenson and Billy Wright acquitted themselves well' as Blackpool won 3-2. Another critic wrote, 'Blackpool’s three reserves fitted well into the side. Their only fault was that they persisted in waiting for the ball to come to them.' And he retained the outside left spot against Arsenal on 14 April 1952 when Blackpool lost 4-1 in what was to be his final League game of a season in which he proved his versatility with five League appearances, two at centre forward, one at outside right and two at outside left, in which he scored one goal. He also played 18 Central League games in which he scored four goals.
At the end of that 1951/52 season, a report in the Lancashire Evening Post stated, 'A brighter side to the club’s [injury] troubles has been the keenness and improvement of several young reserves. Withers, Stephenson, W Wright and Robinson are among those who created good impressions, while the selection of Garrett, another graduate from a junior team, for England against Scotland, emphasises once more that Blackpool’s policy of finding future men from among the youngsters is wise and profitable.'
National service interrupted his career in the 1952/53 season but he made his first League appearance of the season at outside right against Portsmouth on 20 December 1952 when Blackpool won 3-2. He kept his place for the two games against Manchester United on 25 and 26 December 1952 when Blackpool drew 0-0 at Bloomfield Road and lost 2-1 at Old Trafford. And, after a number of reserve games, he was back in League action replacing the injured Bill Perry at outside left against Cardiff City on 25 March 1953 when Blackpool lost 1-0. And a record of sorts was created for it was reported, 'The Durie-Wright left wing is one of the first comprising two players out of Fylde football to be fielded by Blackpool in the First Division.'
He played three Easter games at outside left against Derby County, twice, and West Bromwich Albion on 3, 4 and 6 April 1953 - yes, three games in four days! Blackpool beat Derby County 2-1, defeated West Bromwich Albion 2-0 and drew the return game with Derby County 1-1 and this gave him a total of seven League games and 15 Central League games, in which he scored three goals, in the 1952/53 season. And, along with Dave Durie, Cyril Robinson, Stanley Hepton and Ken Booth, he was regarded as one 'destined to win fame' at the close of the season.
During the 1952/53 season he also played for RAF North Coates in the Lincolnshire Services’ Association Football League Division One and he appeared for them in the Cusworth Senior Football Challenge Cup Final against Spilsby.
As a player on national service in the 1953/54 season he was paid the standard £1 per week in accordance with Football Association Regulation No 31 from 1 July 1953 to 30 June 1954. He was also to receive £5 per match from 1 August 1953 to 1 May 1954.
National service once again restricted his 1953/54 season as he played in only eight Central League games for Blackpool. But an amusing story did come out of the season. Having completed his National Service with the RAF on 19 March 1954, Blackburn Rovers player Bryan Douglas told a story at Jimmy Armfield’s 70th birthday celebration on 23 September 2005 of travelling home with Billy. He laughingly related, 'Billy obviously had money for when we arrived at Manchester, too late to travel to Blackpool and Blackburn, we stayed overnight. He booked in at the Piccadilly Hotel while I had to stay in a dormitory at the YMCA, sharing the room with three strangers! He never invited me to share his room at the Hotel!'
His terms for the 1954/55 season were £8 per week from 6 July to 31 July 1954, £10 per week from 1 August 1954 to 7 May 1955 plus an extra £5 per match when playing in the first team.
He appeared mostly in the Central League side in the 1954/55 season and it was not until 12 February 1955 that he was re-introduced into the League side at outside left in place of the injured Bill Perry for the game against Tottenham Hotspur. And he scored one of Blackpool’s goals in a 3-2 defeat. His consolation goal came in the 89th minute when 'Matthews centred, and when Hepton shot, Reynolds juggled with the ball on the ground, Wright nipped in and pushed the ball between the goalkeeper’s legs into the net.'
He kept his place for two further games until Perry returned, appearing in a 2-1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday on 19 February 1955, incredibly Blackpool’s first home victory since 6 November 1954, and a 3-1 defeat by Preston North End on 26 February 1955 before Perry returned from injury. In the game against Sheffield Wednesday 'the left wing was in the game only in a few forays by Wright' and in the second against Preston, which turned out to be his last for Blackpool, he very nearly scored when 'Matthews swung the ball cunningly across the goalmouth, and Wright, racing in, slid forward and got his foot to it near the left-hand post. It seemed a certain goal, but the ball either rebounded clear off the base of the post or was scrambled away by Wilson, who had been challenging Wright.'
He played in three League games, scoring one goal, and 17 Central League games, scoring four goals, in that final season at Bloomfield Road. His five-year Blackpool career had encompassed 15 League games in which he scored two goals and 64 Central League games in which he scored 13 goals.
Although for the 1955/56 season he was offered terms, which were £8 per week from 1 July to 31 July 1955, £10 per week from 1 August 1955 to 5 May 1956 and £8 per week from 6 May 1956 to 30 June 1956 plus £5 per week extra when playing in the first team, he was transferred to Leicester City on 12 August 1955.
He went on to play 27 League games and score 10 goals for Leicester City before he was transferred to Newcastle United in July 1958 for a fee of £7,500. He was to earn £14 per week from 1 to 31 July 1958, £17 per week from 1 August 1958 to 2 May 1959 and £14 per week from 3 May to 30 June 1959. Ironically he made his League debut for Newcastle United against Blackpool at Bloomfield Road on 25 August 1958 when his side lost 3-0 but, although classed as 'a direct winger' while at St James’s Park, unfortunately injury blighted his time there and he was said to be 'too often on the treatment table'. As a consequence he played only five League games, scoring three goals, for the club.
Newcastle transferred him to Plymouth Argyle for a fee of £5,150 in August 1959 and he played 42 League games and scored nine goals for the club. He did contemplate a move to Hull City in August 1961 and he even featured for the club in the 1961/62 pre-season. Ultimately he decided that the move was not for him and he joined his final club, Millwall, in August 1961. He played 15 League games for Millwall in the single season that he was there.
He ended his football career in non-league football, firstly with Southern League Tonbridge, a club that he joined in the close season of 1962, and then with Southern League Bexley United before he retired from the game at the age of 35. He later worked as a games coach, a teacher and a self-employed gardener before he finally retired at the age of 70.
Latterly he lived in Blackheath, London, in retirement but he regularly visited the Fylde to see his sister at Singleton. He was a lovely man who it was always a delight to meet up with when he was on the Fylde Coast and attending games at Bloomfield Road.
He died on 17 April 2020; rest in peace Billy Wright.
Lawrence of Salford
Cyril Lawrence 1920-2020
As history records, Lawrence of Arabia was quite a hero for his deeds in Palestine during the First World War, well here is our own local 'Lawrence' hero, Cyril of that ilk who has sadly passed away on 14 April 2020 less than a couple of months away from what would have been his 100th birthday.
Cyril was born in Salford on 12 June 1920 and was believed to have been an outside right when his junior form brought him to the attention of Blackpool. He was duly given a trial in the pre-season of 1938/39. And he made his first appearance for the club in the Blackpool ‘A’ side against Blackpool’s Fylde League side (Whites v Stripes) in a pre-season practice game on 20 August 1938 when the match report stated, 'Lawrence and Kirkham were the best wing for the stripes' as the game was drawn 3-3.
Blackpool signed him in October 1938 at a wage of £3 per week plus £1 extra when in the Central League (reserve) side. He was apparently signed in what were termed 'unusual circumstances'. A caller at the Bloomfield Road offices of the football club announced that he knew of 'a young outside right who deserves a trial'. The club acted, gave him a trial and were sufficiently impressed to sign him. He then played a few games for the colts at outside right. A few months passed and he was in conversation with manager Joe Smith one day when he said to the boss, 'By the way, when shall I be playing in my proper position?' Smith looked perplexed only to be told, 'I have never been an outside right, my position is inside right!'
One of his early goals for the club came for the Blackpool ‘A’ side as they defeated Bury ‘A’ 8-2 in the first round of the West Lancashire Cup on 8 October 1938. And on 5 November 1938, playing in the West Lancashire League side against Bury ‘A’, he and McLaren, the wingmen, were 'brilliant' as Blackpool annihilated Bury 12-1.
As the season progressed he continued to make good progress and in a friendly game against a Scottish Juvenile FA XI on 22 April 1939, by which time he had restored to his favoured position, he was reported as 'a sharp shooting inside man' as Blackpool won 6-0. And the praise continued when he, Dick Withington and Harry Jones were said to be 'the pick of the forward line' as Blackpool ‘A’ defeated Darwen 7-0 on 29 April 1939. He then completed what was a fine first season with three goals as the ‘A’ team defeated Denton United 12-0 on 1 May 1939.
Although he had played solely in the junior sides, the 'A' team and the North West Midweek League side, in the 1938/39 season, he was regarded as youngster for the future and proof of this was demonstrated when he gained representative honours, being selected for the North West Midweek League Rest of the League XI against Preston North End at the end of the season.
He was re-signed for what was to be the ill-fated 1939/40 season when his weekly terms were £3 summer, £3 winter plus £1 extra when in the Central League side.
Despite missing the pre-season practice game and the subsequent Football League Benevolent Fund game against Preston North End, he earned his first £1 bonus when he was at inside right in the Central League side for the opening game of the season against Bury reserves on 26 August 1939 when Blackpool lost 1-0. He also played in the second, and what turned out to be the final, Central League game of the season against Everton reserves on 2 September 1939. Blackpool lost 2-1 but he turned in a good performance and was classed in the match report as 'a good forward'. Sadly after just the two games, and as he was making a name for himself, the official 1939/40 season was abandoned.
When wartime football quickly restarted, he held his place in the side and was in the Blackpool reserve side against Liverpool reserves in a wartime Lancashire League fixture on 16 September 1939.
With footballers all over the country joining the armed forces, he joined the Royal Navy as World War II began and he enlisted and served on HMS King George V. Apparently he doctored his age to join the Royal Navy before conscription was introduced; speaking of this in later life he said, 'I spent my childhood alongside the Salford docks and I decided the navy was to be my new life so I volunteered.'
Back home prior to being posted, he played a number of games for Hyde United before he was deployed on the brand new battleship HMS King George V, which was assigned to the Home Fleet at Scarpa Flow in the Orkney Islands. He spent more than five years serving on the ship and he eventually became the ship's longest serving seaman. HMS King George V ended its wartime service in the Pacific Ocean and he was on board when the Americans borrowed the ship's wardroom table and chairs to complete the Japanese surrender on board the USS Missouri.
During his naval career he was able to continue playing the occasional football match and he represented the Royal Navy in exhibition matches in Cairo and Alexandria and he also played against New South Wales at the Sydney Cricket Ground. In addition he managed to make his initial first team appearance for Blackpool at inside right in the North West Division game against Bolton Wanderers on 2 December 1939 when Blackpool lost 3-1. Due to his naval commitments, it was to be his only game for the club in the wartime 1939/40 season.
He played a second wartime League game for Blackpool when on leave, and with players injured and unavailable he played his first League game of the 1943/44 season at the unaccustomed left half position against Stockport County on 25 September 1943 when Blackpool won 3-2. Also, when HMS King George V was in dry dock at Liverpool prior to redeployment to the Eastern Fleet, he married his wife Claire, who was to be his beloved and lifelong partner.
When the war ended his promising football career, along with many others it should be said, had been so rudely interrupted but he returned to the fold at Blackpool and he was readily re-signed in February 1946 with his weekly terms for the 1945/46 season being £5 plus an extra £3 if and when he played in the first team. The extra bonus for the Central League side had been replaced by one for first team appearances for he was regarded as a likely first team prospect. However, Blackpool had assembled a powerful side and it was not going to be easy.
He did, however, play his first senior game, once again at outside right, against Newcastle United at Workington on 3 April 1946 in a game played for the benefit of the Cumberland Football Association. Sadly it ended in tears as he pulled a muscle less than half a minute into the game and he 'limped to half back' before Newcastle gave permission for a Workington player to substitute for him at half-time. He was to be out of the game for a number of weeks.
But Blackpool had great faith in him and re signed him in May 1946 for the 1946/47 season when his increased weekly terms were £5 summer, £6 winter plus an extra £4 if and when playing in the first team.
He began the season in the Central League side and he made his first appearance at outside right against Sheffield Wednesday reserves on 12 September 1946 when Blackpool lost 2-1. He kept his place for the following game against Huddersfield Town reserves on 14 September 1946 when Blackpool won 3-1 but with Blackpool experimenting with their reserve side he was in and out of the side, playing in a further six games, even making an appearance at centre forward on 30 November 1946 when he scored both goals in Blackpool's 3-2 defeat.
He also scored one of Blackpool's goals in a 3-1 victory over Everton reserves on 4 January 1947 but because of the uncertainty of his future, he reluctantly put in a request for a transfer in January 1947. It was not a straightforward decision for the club but after a directors' meeting he was placed on the transfer list in March 1947. And he was transferred to Rochdale in April 1947, having played in two official wartime League games and one friendly game plus 10 Central League games (including the two in the abandoned 1939/40 season) in which he scored three goals.
After making his League debut for Rochdale as an inside forward in front of a crowd of 25,000 in a scoreless draw against Hull City in the second match of the 1947/48 season, he was switched to outside right and he spent the rest of his time at Spotland in that position. He went on to play 44 League games and score five goals for Rochdale.
In September 1950 Rochdale transferred him to Wrexham where he made his debut at centre forward in a goalless draw against Gateshead on 14 October 1950. He led the attack for a further nine games in which he scored three goals. He later returned to outside right and he played 58 League and Cup games and scored 12 goals in a two-season stay at Wrexham.
He played non-League football after the 1951/52 season and on retirement from the game he worked as a plumber and glazier.
At the time of his death, in hospital on 14 April 2020, he was Blackpool's oldest surviving player and he is survived by his wife Claire, who will be 100 in June 2020, and their daughters, Elaine and Norma and their families. Rest in Peace, Cyril, your part in Blackpool's proud footballing history is secure.
As history records, Lawrence of Arabia was quite a hero for his deeds in Palestine during the First World War, well here is our own local 'Lawrence' hero, Cyril of that ilk who has sadly passed away on 14 April 2020 less than a couple of months away from what would have been his 100th birthday.
Cyril was born in Salford on 12 June 1920 and was believed to have been an outside right when his junior form brought him to the attention of Blackpool. He was duly given a trial in the pre-season of 1938/39. And he made his first appearance for the club in the Blackpool ‘A’ side against Blackpool’s Fylde League side (Whites v Stripes) in a pre-season practice game on 20 August 1938 when the match report stated, 'Lawrence and Kirkham were the best wing for the stripes' as the game was drawn 3-3.
Blackpool signed him in October 1938 at a wage of £3 per week plus £1 extra when in the Central League (reserve) side. He was apparently signed in what were termed 'unusual circumstances'. A caller at the Bloomfield Road offices of the football club announced that he knew of 'a young outside right who deserves a trial'. The club acted, gave him a trial and were sufficiently impressed to sign him. He then played a few games for the colts at outside right. A few months passed and he was in conversation with manager Joe Smith one day when he said to the boss, 'By the way, when shall I be playing in my proper position?' Smith looked perplexed only to be told, 'I have never been an outside right, my position is inside right!'
One of his early goals for the club came for the Blackpool ‘A’ side as they defeated Bury ‘A’ 8-2 in the first round of the West Lancashire Cup on 8 October 1938. And on 5 November 1938, playing in the West Lancashire League side against Bury ‘A’, he and McLaren, the wingmen, were 'brilliant' as Blackpool annihilated Bury 12-1.
As the season progressed he continued to make good progress and in a friendly game against a Scottish Juvenile FA XI on 22 April 1939, by which time he had restored to his favoured position, he was reported as 'a sharp shooting inside man' as Blackpool won 6-0. And the praise continued when he, Dick Withington and Harry Jones were said to be 'the pick of the forward line' as Blackpool ‘A’ defeated Darwen 7-0 on 29 April 1939. He then completed what was a fine first season with three goals as the ‘A’ team defeated Denton United 12-0 on 1 May 1939.
Although he had played solely in the junior sides, the 'A' team and the North West Midweek League side, in the 1938/39 season, he was regarded as youngster for the future and proof of this was demonstrated when he gained representative honours, being selected for the North West Midweek League Rest of the League XI against Preston North End at the end of the season.
He was re-signed for what was to be the ill-fated 1939/40 season when his weekly terms were £3 summer, £3 winter plus £1 extra when in the Central League side.
Despite missing the pre-season practice game and the subsequent Football League Benevolent Fund game against Preston North End, he earned his first £1 bonus when he was at inside right in the Central League side for the opening game of the season against Bury reserves on 26 August 1939 when Blackpool lost 1-0. He also played in the second, and what turned out to be the final, Central League game of the season against Everton reserves on 2 September 1939. Blackpool lost 2-1 but he turned in a good performance and was classed in the match report as 'a good forward'. Sadly after just the two games, and as he was making a name for himself, the official 1939/40 season was abandoned.
When wartime football quickly restarted, he held his place in the side and was in the Blackpool reserve side against Liverpool reserves in a wartime Lancashire League fixture on 16 September 1939.
With footballers all over the country joining the armed forces, he joined the Royal Navy as World War II began and he enlisted and served on HMS King George V. Apparently he doctored his age to join the Royal Navy before conscription was introduced; speaking of this in later life he said, 'I spent my childhood alongside the Salford docks and I decided the navy was to be my new life so I volunteered.'
Back home prior to being posted, he played a number of games for Hyde United before he was deployed on the brand new battleship HMS King George V, which was assigned to the Home Fleet at Scarpa Flow in the Orkney Islands. He spent more than five years serving on the ship and he eventually became the ship's longest serving seaman. HMS King George V ended its wartime service in the Pacific Ocean and he was on board when the Americans borrowed the ship's wardroom table and chairs to complete the Japanese surrender on board the USS Missouri.
During his naval career he was able to continue playing the occasional football match and he represented the Royal Navy in exhibition matches in Cairo and Alexandria and he also played against New South Wales at the Sydney Cricket Ground. In addition he managed to make his initial first team appearance for Blackpool at inside right in the North West Division game against Bolton Wanderers on 2 December 1939 when Blackpool lost 3-1. Due to his naval commitments, it was to be his only game for the club in the wartime 1939/40 season.
He played a second wartime League game for Blackpool when on leave, and with players injured and unavailable he played his first League game of the 1943/44 season at the unaccustomed left half position against Stockport County on 25 September 1943 when Blackpool won 3-2. Also, when HMS King George V was in dry dock at Liverpool prior to redeployment to the Eastern Fleet, he married his wife Claire, who was to be his beloved and lifelong partner.
When the war ended his promising football career, along with many others it should be said, had been so rudely interrupted but he returned to the fold at Blackpool and he was readily re-signed in February 1946 with his weekly terms for the 1945/46 season being £5 plus an extra £3 if and when he played in the first team. The extra bonus for the Central League side had been replaced by one for first team appearances for he was regarded as a likely first team prospect. However, Blackpool had assembled a powerful side and it was not going to be easy.
He did, however, play his first senior game, once again at outside right, against Newcastle United at Workington on 3 April 1946 in a game played for the benefit of the Cumberland Football Association. Sadly it ended in tears as he pulled a muscle less than half a minute into the game and he 'limped to half back' before Newcastle gave permission for a Workington player to substitute for him at half-time. He was to be out of the game for a number of weeks.
But Blackpool had great faith in him and re signed him in May 1946 for the 1946/47 season when his increased weekly terms were £5 summer, £6 winter plus an extra £4 if and when playing in the first team.
He began the season in the Central League side and he made his first appearance at outside right against Sheffield Wednesday reserves on 12 September 1946 when Blackpool lost 2-1. He kept his place for the following game against Huddersfield Town reserves on 14 September 1946 when Blackpool won 3-1 but with Blackpool experimenting with their reserve side he was in and out of the side, playing in a further six games, even making an appearance at centre forward on 30 November 1946 when he scored both goals in Blackpool's 3-2 defeat.
He also scored one of Blackpool's goals in a 3-1 victory over Everton reserves on 4 January 1947 but because of the uncertainty of his future, he reluctantly put in a request for a transfer in January 1947. It was not a straightforward decision for the club but after a directors' meeting he was placed on the transfer list in March 1947. And he was transferred to Rochdale in April 1947, having played in two official wartime League games and one friendly game plus 10 Central League games (including the two in the abandoned 1939/40 season) in which he scored three goals.
After making his League debut for Rochdale as an inside forward in front of a crowd of 25,000 in a scoreless draw against Hull City in the second match of the 1947/48 season, he was switched to outside right and he spent the rest of his time at Spotland in that position. He went on to play 44 League games and score five goals for Rochdale.
In September 1950 Rochdale transferred him to Wrexham where he made his debut at centre forward in a goalless draw against Gateshead on 14 October 1950. He led the attack for a further nine games in which he scored three goals. He later returned to outside right and he played 58 League and Cup games and scored 12 goals in a two-season stay at Wrexham.
He played non-League football after the 1951/52 season and on retirement from the game he worked as a plumber and glazier.
At the time of his death, in hospital on 14 April 2020, he was Blackpool's oldest surviving player and he is survived by his wife Claire, who will be 100 in June 2020, and their daughters, Elaine and Norma and their families. Rest in Peace, Cyril, your part in Blackpool's proud footballing history is secure.
March 12, 2020
What is the connection between bananas and tangerines?
When I was a youngster watching Blackpool from the Spion Kop in the mid to late 1950s, the song ‘Yes, We have no bananas’ was always played over the Tannoy system as the team ran out. This was often not the first rendering of the song that spectators had heard on match days because the marching band, who were ubiquitous in those days at games, had paraded around the pitch pre-game and the tune formed part of their repertoire. Of course, we all sang along heartily and no-one ever thought to question why the song was being sung, it was simply an accepted part of the pre-game entertainment at Bloomfield Road. But why was it so closely associated with Blackpool Football Club? The definitive answer is uncertain but it certainly goes back many years to when the club first began to wear their famous tangerine strip.
The song was inspired by a Long Island fruit seller, who apparently started every sentence he uttered with the word 'Yes', and it was written by Frank Silver, music, and Irving Cohen, lyrics, and was published on 19 July 1923. It immediately became a huge hit and, recorded first by Billy Jones, it was top of the American music charts for five weeks. It was quickly recorded by others such as Billy Murray, Arthur Hall and Irving Kaufman and was used for the Music Box Revue of 1923 that opened in New York on 22 September 1923. It was so famous at the time that Eddie Cantor recorded a comic parody 'I've Got the Yes, We Have No Bananas Blues' that reached number two in the American charts, also in 1923. [Subsequently it has been recorded and performed by a variety of people, including such as Al Jolson (who did a comedy version), Spike Jones and His City Slickers, The Great White Way Orchestra, who took it to number three in the American charts in the year of its issue), Ben Selvin, who also made it a number one hit, husband and wife duop Louis Prima and Keely Smith, Audrey Hepburn, in the film Sabrina, and even Homer Simpson.]
The song immediately caught on in England and was published in the UK by the famous impresario Lawrence Wright of Blackpool. And its publication happened to coincide with the football season of 1923/24, the very season that Blackpool changed to their now famous tangerine strip. So the song and the newly introduced tangerine strip came together nicely at that time.
How it became a feature of the Bloomfield Road scene is uncertain but, being a very popular tune of the day, it was played by the band that marched around the ground before every home game and it quickly became a favourite of the fans. It is just possible that its universal acceptance by the football club and its fans came from the idea 'Yes, we have no bananas but we do have tangerines'. And a view of the sheet music that accompanied the song on its issue (see illustration) could suggest that idea, for the fruit seller obviously has no bananas on his stall but he does have plenty of orange and tangerine coloured fruit! And, interestingly, I have a photograph of Blackpool players of that season at training and they are looking at what appears to be a song sheet; it would be nice to think that it is 'Yes, we have no bananas'!
Anyway, following its introduction Blackpool began to win their home games so fans considered the song to be something of a lucky mascot for the team. But not everybody was impressed. 'When is the absurd ‘bananas’ stunt to cease at Bloomfield Road?' This was the question asked in February 1924 by one critic who added, 'It has long become a hoary chestnut.' However, the fans loved it, so it continued to be part of the pre-match entertainment.
Then, after a 6-1 thrashing of Port Vale on 22 March 1924, the local Gazette & Herald reporter put the victory down to two things. Firstly he cited Frank Buckley’s management style and secondly he stated, “‘Bananas!’ Blackpool’s famous mascot tune was never played so brightly and so convincingly. There was assurance in every note.” And the following week an unusual occurrence took place. The song was played before the away game at Leeds United.
One Blackpool supporter immediately commented, 'Leeds will never beat us today' and sure enough the game ended in a 0-0 draw. It was most unusual for the tune to be played at an away fixture for it was normally the local bandsmen that piped up the tune. But on this occasion Bill Norman the former Blackpool manager, and then manager of Leeds, specifically asked the bandmaster for the tune to be played as a gesture to his former club.
Consequently the song continued to be associated with the team but then mysteriously, and with the advent of a change of strip to light and dark blue stripes in the 1933/34 season, it was dropped. The fans were not too happy at the song's disappearance but presumably they appreciated that the connection between it and the club's strip had disappeared. And with promotion to the top flight of English football being won in the 1936/37 season they were prepared to accept it not being present.
However, the clamour to return to their favoured strip grew and when Blackpool returned to their tangerine strip for the 1938/39 season the song was revived as the club’s signature tune and it continued to be played at Bloomfield Road right up to the early 1960s when singing on the terraces took on a more raucous atmosphere!
So perhaps there is something in the comment “Yes, We have no bananas but we do have tangerines”! Or is it just coincidence that the song returned concomitant with the return of the tangerine strip?
The song was inspired by a Long Island fruit seller, who apparently started every sentence he uttered with the word 'Yes', and it was written by Frank Silver, music, and Irving Cohen, lyrics, and was published on 19 July 1923. It immediately became a huge hit and, recorded first by Billy Jones, it was top of the American music charts for five weeks. It was quickly recorded by others such as Billy Murray, Arthur Hall and Irving Kaufman and was used for the Music Box Revue of 1923 that opened in New York on 22 September 1923. It was so famous at the time that Eddie Cantor recorded a comic parody 'I've Got the Yes, We Have No Bananas Blues' that reached number two in the American charts, also in 1923. [Subsequently it has been recorded and performed by a variety of people, including such as Al Jolson (who did a comedy version), Spike Jones and His City Slickers, The Great White Way Orchestra, who took it to number three in the American charts in the year of its issue), Ben Selvin, who also made it a number one hit, husband and wife duop Louis Prima and Keely Smith, Audrey Hepburn, in the film Sabrina, and even Homer Simpson.]
The song immediately caught on in England and was published in the UK by the famous impresario Lawrence Wright of Blackpool. And its publication happened to coincide with the football season of 1923/24, the very season that Blackpool changed to their now famous tangerine strip. So the song and the newly introduced tangerine strip came together nicely at that time.
How it became a feature of the Bloomfield Road scene is uncertain but, being a very popular tune of the day, it was played by the band that marched around the ground before every home game and it quickly became a favourite of the fans. It is just possible that its universal acceptance by the football club and its fans came from the idea 'Yes, we have no bananas but we do have tangerines'. And a view of the sheet music that accompanied the song on its issue (see illustration) could suggest that idea, for the fruit seller obviously has no bananas on his stall but he does have plenty of orange and tangerine coloured fruit! And, interestingly, I have a photograph of Blackpool players of that season at training and they are looking at what appears to be a song sheet; it would be nice to think that it is 'Yes, we have no bananas'!
Anyway, following its introduction Blackpool began to win their home games so fans considered the song to be something of a lucky mascot for the team. But not everybody was impressed. 'When is the absurd ‘bananas’ stunt to cease at Bloomfield Road?' This was the question asked in February 1924 by one critic who added, 'It has long become a hoary chestnut.' However, the fans loved it, so it continued to be part of the pre-match entertainment.
Then, after a 6-1 thrashing of Port Vale on 22 March 1924, the local Gazette & Herald reporter put the victory down to two things. Firstly he cited Frank Buckley’s management style and secondly he stated, “‘Bananas!’ Blackpool’s famous mascot tune was never played so brightly and so convincingly. There was assurance in every note.” And the following week an unusual occurrence took place. The song was played before the away game at Leeds United.
One Blackpool supporter immediately commented, 'Leeds will never beat us today' and sure enough the game ended in a 0-0 draw. It was most unusual for the tune to be played at an away fixture for it was normally the local bandsmen that piped up the tune. But on this occasion Bill Norman the former Blackpool manager, and then manager of Leeds, specifically asked the bandmaster for the tune to be played as a gesture to his former club.
Consequently the song continued to be associated with the team but then mysteriously, and with the advent of a change of strip to light and dark blue stripes in the 1933/34 season, it was dropped. The fans were not too happy at the song's disappearance but presumably they appreciated that the connection between it and the club's strip had disappeared. And with promotion to the top flight of English football being won in the 1936/37 season they were prepared to accept it not being present.
However, the clamour to return to their favoured strip grew and when Blackpool returned to their tangerine strip for the 1938/39 season the song was revived as the club’s signature tune and it continued to be played at Bloomfield Road right up to the early 1960s when singing on the terraces took on a more raucous atmosphere!
So perhaps there is something in the comment “Yes, We have no bananas but we do have tangerines”! Or is it just coincidence that the song returned concomitant with the return of the tangerine strip?
February 17, 2020
Sparkling Service!
I am not the greatest of automotive experts - indeed, my great friend Steve Matthews at Blackpool's Toyota dealership Harry Feeney always chooses my cars for me whenever I make a change - so I do not often involve myself in such matters.
But last week I took my Toyota Yaris in for its annual service and MoT, which was carried out in the usual efficient way by, arguably, the best dealership in town. When I picked it up I was told that it had been washed and valeted into the bargain. I explained that it would not know what had happened to it for it rarely gets such luxurious treatment!
And now for the crux of this blog, the following day I received a call from the front of house host, Lisa, asking me if I was satisfied with the service after my recent visit. Unfortunately I was out at the time so a message was left on my answer machine.
As it was a Friday and I arrived home rather late, I decided to reply on the Monday. This gave me some thinking time and in the early hours of Sunday morning (I am not a very good sleeper) I came up with the idea of writing a limerick to express my satisfaction, as well as planning to make a 'phone call to say all was well.
Being around 3am I began composing the said limerick in my head and as I was working it out I thought I would remember it and transcribe it after breakfast later that day. However, knowing that sometimes one thinks of things at that time of night/early morning and they have gone when one awakes later, I decided to write it down there and then.
I have a full page out-of-date diary by the side of my bed for this very task - it is full of all sorts of useless notes, poems, book reviews etc etc - so I wrote the limerick down and eventually dozed off for a couple more hours.
On the Monday I telephoned Lisa and told her who I was and that I was returning her call. 'Satisfied?', I said in a manner that neither suggested satisfaction or otherwise. I waited a couple of seconds and laughingly said, 'Of course I am satisfied as I always am.' I then explained about the valeting and said that my car did not think it belonged to me for it rarely was so clean, both inside and out.
And then I went on to say that I had written a limerick about the experience and proceeded to read it, and the footnote, to her. She liked it and thought it would be good to put on the Harry Feeney Facebook page as customers might get a laugh out of it - and she explained that it had been a messy day with computer problems so it had cheered her up a little. I was pleased, so pleased that I thought I would record it - for posterity, of course - on my goodreads.com blog.
… so here it is:
Toyota cars from (Sir) Harry Feeney*
Come in sizes from massive to weeny
But whatever the size
You can always surmise
After service they come back all gleamy!
* He may not be a knight of the realm but he should be for his services to music as a Rockin' Vicar and for his services to the automotive industry.
I do hope it amuses you too, although I do appreciate that it is rather personal.
But last week I took my Toyota Yaris in for its annual service and MoT, which was carried out in the usual efficient way by, arguably, the best dealership in town. When I picked it up I was told that it had been washed and valeted into the bargain. I explained that it would not know what had happened to it for it rarely gets such luxurious treatment!
And now for the crux of this blog, the following day I received a call from the front of house host, Lisa, asking me if I was satisfied with the service after my recent visit. Unfortunately I was out at the time so a message was left on my answer machine.
As it was a Friday and I arrived home rather late, I decided to reply on the Monday. This gave me some thinking time and in the early hours of Sunday morning (I am not a very good sleeper) I came up with the idea of writing a limerick to express my satisfaction, as well as planning to make a 'phone call to say all was well.
Being around 3am I began composing the said limerick in my head and as I was working it out I thought I would remember it and transcribe it after breakfast later that day. However, knowing that sometimes one thinks of things at that time of night/early morning and they have gone when one awakes later, I decided to write it down there and then.
I have a full page out-of-date diary by the side of my bed for this very task - it is full of all sorts of useless notes, poems, book reviews etc etc - so I wrote the limerick down and eventually dozed off for a couple more hours.
On the Monday I telephoned Lisa and told her who I was and that I was returning her call. 'Satisfied?', I said in a manner that neither suggested satisfaction or otherwise. I waited a couple of seconds and laughingly said, 'Of course I am satisfied as I always am.' I then explained about the valeting and said that my car did not think it belonged to me for it rarely was so clean, both inside and out.
And then I went on to say that I had written a limerick about the experience and proceeded to read it, and the footnote, to her. She liked it and thought it would be good to put on the Harry Feeney Facebook page as customers might get a laugh out of it - and she explained that it had been a messy day with computer problems so it had cheered her up a little. I was pleased, so pleased that I thought I would record it - for posterity, of course - on my goodreads.com blog.
… so here it is:
Toyota cars from (Sir) Harry Feeney*
Come in sizes from massive to weeny
But whatever the size
You can always surmise
After service they come back all gleamy!
* He may not be a knight of the realm but he should be for his services to music as a Rockin' Vicar and for his services to the automotive industry.
I do hope it amuses you too, although I do appreciate that it is rather personal.
February 3, 2020
Fifty-year wait over! Superbowl LIV Kansas City Chiefs 31 San Francisco 49ers 20
Kansas City's 50-year wait for another Superbowl victory ended in Orlando last night as they came from behind to defeat the San Francisco 49ers 31-20. The Chiefs last won Superbowl IV when they defeated the Minnesota Vikings 23–7 at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana, on 11 January 1970.
The 49ers won the toss and deferred, giving the ball to the Chiefs to begin the game, but they were unable to make a first down and went three and out. It was a nervy first series for Chiefs' quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo fared little better but in the eighth minute he worked his side into field goal range and the consistent Robbie Gould obliged from 38 yards to give his side a 3-0 lead. It was fairly even for a while thereafter before, with just 31 seconds remaining of the first quarter Mahomes dashed into the end zone from a yard out for a touchdown. So with Harrison Butker adding the extra point, the quarter ended with the Chiefs on top 7-3.
Early in the second quarter Butker increased the Chiefs' lead with a 31-yard field goal but with just over five minutes of the half remaining, Garoppolo found full back Kyle Juszczyk with a short pass that he took 15 yards before diving in for the touchdown; the Gould conversion made in 10-10 at the half. It was only the fourth Superbowl in which the teams had been level at half-time.
The third quarter belonged to the 49ers as Gould added a 42-yard field gold and then, capitalising on a rare Mahomes' interception - hs first in 164 pass attempts -, Raheem Mostert, playing for his seventh NFL team, having been cut by the previous six, added a one-yard touchdown run and with Butker's conversion it was 20-10. At this point the Chiefs looked as though they might be in serious trouble but they never give up, as witnessed by the two games that they won to get to the Superbowl when in both of them they came from behind for the victory.
And it turned out no different in Orlando with Patrick Mahomes inspiring his side with some superb play, including the night's longest play on a third down and 15, a marvellous 44-yard pass to Tyreek Hill that, after an end zone pass interference call on a third down and 10, set up tight-end Travis Kelce for a one-yard catch for the touchdown. And with Butker once more adding the extra point, it was suddenly a one-score game at 20-17.
It was then the turn of the Chiefs' defence to step up and they consistently stopped Garoppolo getting his side moving down the field. And with two minutes 44 seconds remaining, the almost inevitable happened. Damien Williams took a five-yard pass from Mahomes for the touchdown to put the Chiefs in front; Butker's kick made it 24-20.
It looked all over from that moment because the 49ers were deflated and again they could not move the ball downfield. So the Chiefs had one further opportunity and Damien Williams cashed in again as he made a 38-yard run down the left-hand touchline to score his second touchdown of the game. Once again Butker converted and at 31-20 that was all she wrote!
It was an excellent game and in the end the Chiefs were deserved winners with Mahomes getting the game's Most Valuable Player Award, making him the youngest player to win the League's MVP (2018) and a Superbowl MVP award. And well respected coach Andy Reid gained his first Superbowl ring, as well as a Gatorade dowsing by his team!
As Andy Reid said, or rather shouted to the fans, from the podium after the presentation of the trophy, 'How about those CHIEFS!'
This could well be the start of another NFL dynasty!
The 49ers won the toss and deferred, giving the ball to the Chiefs to begin the game, but they were unable to make a first down and went three and out. It was a nervy first series for Chiefs' quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo fared little better but in the eighth minute he worked his side into field goal range and the consistent Robbie Gould obliged from 38 yards to give his side a 3-0 lead. It was fairly even for a while thereafter before, with just 31 seconds remaining of the first quarter Mahomes dashed into the end zone from a yard out for a touchdown. So with Harrison Butker adding the extra point, the quarter ended with the Chiefs on top 7-3.
Early in the second quarter Butker increased the Chiefs' lead with a 31-yard field goal but with just over five minutes of the half remaining, Garoppolo found full back Kyle Juszczyk with a short pass that he took 15 yards before diving in for the touchdown; the Gould conversion made in 10-10 at the half. It was only the fourth Superbowl in which the teams had been level at half-time.
The third quarter belonged to the 49ers as Gould added a 42-yard field gold and then, capitalising on a rare Mahomes' interception - hs first in 164 pass attempts -, Raheem Mostert, playing for his seventh NFL team, having been cut by the previous six, added a one-yard touchdown run and with Butker's conversion it was 20-10. At this point the Chiefs looked as though they might be in serious trouble but they never give up, as witnessed by the two games that they won to get to the Superbowl when in both of them they came from behind for the victory.
And it turned out no different in Orlando with Patrick Mahomes inspiring his side with some superb play, including the night's longest play on a third down and 15, a marvellous 44-yard pass to Tyreek Hill that, after an end zone pass interference call on a third down and 10, set up tight-end Travis Kelce for a one-yard catch for the touchdown. And with Butker once more adding the extra point, it was suddenly a one-score game at 20-17.
It was then the turn of the Chiefs' defence to step up and they consistently stopped Garoppolo getting his side moving down the field. And with two minutes 44 seconds remaining, the almost inevitable happened. Damien Williams took a five-yard pass from Mahomes for the touchdown to put the Chiefs in front; Butker's kick made it 24-20.
It looked all over from that moment because the 49ers were deflated and again they could not move the ball downfield. So the Chiefs had one further opportunity and Damien Williams cashed in again as he made a 38-yard run down the left-hand touchline to score his second touchdown of the game. Once again Butker converted and at 31-20 that was all she wrote!
It was an excellent game and in the end the Chiefs were deserved winners with Mahomes getting the game's Most Valuable Player Award, making him the youngest player to win the League's MVP (2018) and a Superbowl MVP award. And well respected coach Andy Reid gained his first Superbowl ring, as well as a Gatorade dowsing by his team!
As Andy Reid said, or rather shouted to the fans, from the podium after the presentation of the trophy, 'How about those CHIEFS!'
This could well be the start of another NFL dynasty!
January 29, 2020
RENÉ BULL AT BLACKPOOL
The celebrated war artist and special correspondent René Bull appeared at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens Indian Lounge on 21 November 1900 to give a lecture on the fighting that was then taking place in South Africa.
He had seen service with General Buller’s column during the Boer War and had joined the troop on the train on the journey to Colenso. At one point he had left his luggage at Ladysmith Rail Station expecting to pick it up in a few days time as the view was that the siege would only last a few days! He contracted enteric fever while in South Africa following having to sleep on the floor after some severe storms.
Accompanying his lecture was a series of limelight views. These featured such things as the destruction of the free bridge by the Boers, the battle of Colenso, the appalling loss of life in views of the dead and wounded, the Red Cross wagon on the battlefield, the abandonment of Spion Kop and the grave of Lord Roberts’ only son.
Later in his career he went on to cover other military campaigns and he maintained his military connections when, during World War One, he served in both the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and the Royal Flying Corps.
René Bull as a commercial artist was flourishing from around 1892 to 1928 and, as well his military drawings, and other more traditional art, he excelled at cartoon style art. It was no surprise, therefore, that when he turned his hand to illustrating postcards his designs were of the humorous type. He became involved in the world of postcards through his fellow artist Tom Browne, who was involved with the postcard firm of Davidson Bros, and one of the early series that Bull produced, around 1906, was six postcards depicting cricketing phrases with a comic design.
He became a prolific postcard designer and worked for firms such as Landaker & Brown, Charles Voisey and Faulkners. His subjects were many and varied and included series, usually each of six postcards, on Billiards, Banking Expressions and Illustrated Limericks.
He also worked as a book illustrator producing, for example, a fine set of coloured and black and white illustrations for an edition of The Arabian Nights.
He had seen service with General Buller’s column during the Boer War and had joined the troop on the train on the journey to Colenso. At one point he had left his luggage at Ladysmith Rail Station expecting to pick it up in a few days time as the view was that the siege would only last a few days! He contracted enteric fever while in South Africa following having to sleep on the floor after some severe storms.
Accompanying his lecture was a series of limelight views. These featured such things as the destruction of the free bridge by the Boers, the battle of Colenso, the appalling loss of life in views of the dead and wounded, the Red Cross wagon on the battlefield, the abandonment of Spion Kop and the grave of Lord Roberts’ only son.
Later in his career he went on to cover other military campaigns and he maintained his military connections when, during World War One, he served in both the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and the Royal Flying Corps.
René Bull as a commercial artist was flourishing from around 1892 to 1928 and, as well his military drawings, and other more traditional art, he excelled at cartoon style art. It was no surprise, therefore, that when he turned his hand to illustrating postcards his designs were of the humorous type. He became involved in the world of postcards through his fellow artist Tom Browne, who was involved with the postcard firm of Davidson Bros, and one of the early series that Bull produced, around 1906, was six postcards depicting cricketing phrases with a comic design.
He became a prolific postcard designer and worked for firms such as Landaker & Brown, Charles Voisey and Faulkners. His subjects were many and varied and included series, usually each of six postcards, on Billiards, Banking Expressions and Illustrated Limericks.
He also worked as a book illustrator producing, for example, a fine set of coloured and black and white illustrations for an edition of The Arabian Nights.
