Schoolboy soccer hotshots from 1960
THESE four photographs are taken from the Brierley Hill, Sedgley and Tipton Schools Football Association Hand book for 1961-62 and show some of the best players from the previous season.
A copy of the booklet has been loaned to us by David Cookson of Amblecote.
As well as listing all the fixtures for the upcoming season the booklet had profiles of some of the local football stars – Derek Kevan of West Bromwich Albion, Stan Lynn and Alan Baker of Aston Villa and Walsall’s captain Jimmy Dudley – but the majority of the book is given to reporting the 1960-61 season.
Our first picture is of the BHST Association’s senior boys team. Their report reads:
“In the first round of the English Schools Trophy we were drawn away to very redoubtable opponents, Coventry. Although handicapped by last minute injuries which caused a much changed side to be fielded, the lads rose to the occasion and earned a hard fought draw. In the replay at Round Oak the teams were again well matched, and the game went to extra time, in which Coventry scored the decider to win by 3–2. An early departure from the competition for us, but certainly no disgrace.
Marathons
“Our progress to the semifinal of the Birmingham and District Senior Shield was fairly easy as the three games were won with the goal average of 22–2. In the semi-final we had another of the marathons which seem to be occurring each season, this time v. Oldbury and this tie took three games to decide the winner. In the first match we were very lucky indeed to survive as we were trailing 2–0 with only eight minutes to go, but then came a goal direct from a corner, and the equaliser with the last kick (actually a header) of the game. In the replay at Oldbury we were just as unlucky to draw as we had been lucky to do so in the first encounter. In the third game neither side played the quality of football served up previously but nevertheless we emerged winners by 2–0.
“The final saw us away at Coventry, a good sign this, as we had never been defeated there in any competition game. Once again we made ‘history’ as Coventry very deservedly won a fine game by 2–0. An interesting point here is that Brierley Hill has always been a happy hunting ground for Coventry, as only once have we beaten them on our own ground. Now that the scores are equal will the ‘bogies’ once more assert themselves?
“The Leckie Shield competition saw the side give its two best performances. Round 1 was against S.E. Staffs who two weeks earlier in the English Schools Trophy, had defeated our own conquerors Coventry, and after a hard, fast game, we emerged winners by 3–1. The semi-final was again at home, with Stoke Central as our opponents. Despite a continuous downpour both teams gave a thrilling display, and after being a goal down we fought back to a well-earned 2–1 victory.
Rivals
“The final was against old rivals – West Bromwich. This Association had the distinction of victory over the all conquering 1958/9 team, whom they beat in the Leckie final of that season, scoring the winning goal with the last kick of the match. History repeated itself once more, they defeated us, the winning goal again being registered with the last kick. Our boys had only themselves to blame as they had dominated for most of the 70 minutes but had failed to turn territorial advantage into goals. West Bromwich are certainly our bogey team, we have never defeated them in a senior team competition game.”
The boys that played in the team were: J. Bradley (Audnam); H. Stirling, R. Evans, J. Flavill (Dormston); C. Stanley (Kingswinford); J. Ratcliffe (Mt Pleasant); D. Jones, D. Emmanuel (Ounsdale); C. Brooks (Park Lane); J. Gilbert, A. Marsh (Roberts); K. Dunn, M. Webster (Round Oak); D. Hadley, D. Powell (Tipton Grammar), J. Avey, M. Butler, P. Kelly (Willingsworth).
Final
The under 14 team also reached a final:
“This side in all its games gave bright hopes for the future, playing quite skilful football at all times. Its great drawback was lack of size since the forwards were all rather on the small side, a handicap which largely contributed to their downfall in the Tibbitts Final when they were defeated by a good S.E. Staffs team 3–1.”
The under 14s also played two friendlies against S.E. Staffs, winning 6–1 at home and 0–1 away. They also beat Brownhills and Dudley in friendlies.
That season the association put together a team for a tour of the south coast and played six games in seven days, winning three, drawing one and losing two. Their results were: Salisbury, 2–1; Brighton 0–2; Aldershot 0–2; Bournemouth 1–1; Southampton 3–1; and Reading 4–1.
Our last picture is of the team from Queen Victoria CP School in Sedgley. Their report reads:
“This has undoubtedly been the school’s ‘best ever’ season. We wrested the Sedgley League Championship from our neighbours Red Hall CP School, and then went on to win the Campbell Cup and the American Tournament.”
Star player was Geoffrey Wakelam who scored 25 goals. ■ Please share your school football memories and photographs – email dshaw@black countrybugle.co.uk or contact the team at the Dudley Archives Centre.