IN THE FAMILY
A father-anddaughter duo have a blast at Croydon EBA’S August meeting
IT was Bank Holiday weekend but there was still a good turnout for Croydon EBA’S August meeting at The Orchard. And we were delighted to welcome a newcomer – Shannon O’brien, daughter of member Paul Taylor. “Dad said I ought to come along!” Shannon told me afterwards. And did she enjoy it? “Yeah, it was really good. I’ll certainly come again.” Maybe winning a prize in the raffle (which raised £70) had something to do with it! Anyway, by the end of the morning both Paul and Shannon had bought tickets for Croydon’s special Sunday Lunch on October 28 at the Masonic Hall.
Paul boxed professionally as a superfeather in the 1980s, and still works out regularly in the gym – “and Shannon comes with me,” he said. “No actual sparring, but bag and pad work, and skipping.”
Chairman Barry Penny repeated how much the Croydon contingent had enjoyed the Brighton EBA Summer BBQ – around 10 members had gone down. He thanked member Pat Doherty (former Commonwealth lightweight champion) and his partner for giving him a lift, and said that ideally we would like to hire a minibus for these functions. He cited the Home Counties EBA’S Christmas Party on December 16 – this was always a good day, he said, and he would happily organise a minibus if there was enough interest. Let’s hope there will be.
Barry went on to talk about Croydon’s Sunday lunch. This, again, promises to be a good do – we used to have an annual evening dinner, but this was proving awkward for people travelling long distances. There should be a good turnout from Croydon members, and visitors from other EBAS will be most welcome.
Attendees at the meeting included Mick Hussey and Mickey Lock, who actually met as pros at York Hall in April 1973, Hussey winning in three rounds. They regularly attend Croydon meetings, chatting animatedly at the same table. It really is something special when old opponents get together.
Another regular is Mick Hinton, and I mentioned recently that Hinton and Hussey had history with two newcomers to North Staffs EBA – George Salmon and Keith Nugent. Hussey split two verdicts with the former, Hinton the same with the latter. North Staffs Secretary Richard Vaughan contacted me to say how nice it would be if the four could be reunited. I relayed this to the two Micks, and they were all for it. “Maybe fix a return!” Hussey quipped.
He clearly remembers his first meeting
with Salmon (the one Mick won!) “It was at Stafford – I’m pretty sure we were topping the bill,” he said. “And Steve Holdsworth made his debut on the undercard!”
A check in the archives proved Mick was right – it was at the Top of the World Ballroom, Stafford, on April 18, 1977. And on the undercard Holdsworth drew with Mick Barker – one of three draws in Steve’s 12-bout career (all of which went the distance). Since then Steve has been a BN staffer, a pro referee, a TV commentator and an MC (he did a fine job at this year’s Manor Place Baths Reunion).
The Hussey-salmon bout was actually one half of a joint top-liner – in the other half Liverpool’s Pat Thompson outscored George Gray over eight rounds. Pat, a former Central Area light-heavyweight champion, has been based in London for years and is an active London EBA member.
That wasn’t the only time Thompson and Hussey appeared on the same bill. In January 1975 I covered the last-ever show at Shoreditch Town Hall, and Pat topped the card – outscoring former conqueror Terry Armstrong over eight. It fell to Mick and Peter Cain to ring down the curtain at the iconic venue, and they put on an entertaining scrap for four rounds, with Mick having to retire due to a cut eye.
When Liverpool’s famous Pudsey Street Stadium closed in 1931, the final bell was rung by George Stevens and Billy Dean, the former winning on points. The September
Mug’s Alley, monthly newsletter of the Merseyside Former Boxers’ Association, has a fascinating article on Stevens – former pro, sparring partner and booth fighter.