Cullis told him off for kick-about with mates

I read with interest the article in the Bugle dated December 23, regarding the Wolves footballer Ron Stockin.

I knew Ron well as he was the storekeeper at an engineering firm in Bilston between 1978 and 1981.

I used to have discussions with Ron about the football, being an Albion fan. Ron was always very modest about his career, saying he was not very successful at playing.

Bludgeon

At that period, Cyrille Regis was in his prime, and Ron used to say that in his own time he would try to bludgeon his way through, rather than using a bit of finesse.

I am aware Ron used to live off one of the streets off Spon Lane, West Bromwich, and used to travel to Bilston by bus to do his storekeeping duties.

I am sorry I do not have any further information as to his current whereabouts.

But one little story I remember about Ron was that after playing for Wolves one Saturday, he had to report for training on the Monday with a dead leg. He was questioned about it by the Wolves manager, Stan Cullis, who had said he was all right on the Saturday. Ron had to admit that since the game he’d had a kickabout with his mates.

The manager was not best pleased and told him not to do that again.

The BBC pronounce it with a drawl, As they announce our town Wall-sawl. But locally we clip this word, To draw it out sounds so absurd.

Wor-sul is how we simply spake, ’Cos Walsall folk ain’t anything fake. So with the football scores next week, Let’s hope the BBC can remember how we speak.

So please remember that Wor-sul is how we say the name, I wish they would say it just the same. A town built on labour and solid hard graft, To say Worsul any differently simply sounds daft!