The Football story of a Country Boy

Transcription

1 BOX to BOX The Football story of a Country Boy Terry Ainsworth

2 Dedication To Ray Nitschke, my great friend of almost 20 years Terry & Margaret with Ray & Jackie Nitschke at their home in Oneida, Wisconsin, America My friendship with this great man started in 1980 and continued until his death in Wherever Ray was in America doing what he loved, talking about and promoting American Football for the National Football League, he would call me once a month and we would chat about many things but primarily about the team he gave so much to, the Green Bay Packers. He was born in a tough area of Chicago and had lost both parents before he was a teenager. From the University of Illinois he was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 1958 and retired in 1972 following a career that elevated him to the peak of his profession. We spent many happy hours with Ray & Jackie both at their home in Oneida and in Chicago visiting old haunts and his old school and doing what he loved best, talking to fans of gridiron football. Although the visits and the phone calls are no more, the memory of the friendship we had with Ray and Jackie will always be with us. i

3 Foreword By Dickie Danson, former Lancaster City Manager and currently Youth Team Manager at Morecambe Football Club I first got to know Terry when I played for the Lancaster Schoolboy Champions, Ripley St Thomas, against the Lancaster Royal Grammar School who with Terry and Alan Spavin in the team beat us in a highly competitive game. Eventually I played for Morecambe Juniors and Terry was a member of Wilson Huck s highly touted and successful Red Rose Boys Club side. In the senior league we faced each other on a regular basis and as a left half I often had to face Terry who was inside forward for the all-conquering Lancaster Lads Club team, Caton United and Lansil. I had always admired Terry s silky skills and the way he could control a game as well as the danger he threatened in the opposition penalty area. We always had highly competitive games and I had to be at the top of my game in all our meetings. When Barry Hanson took over at Galgate I identified Terry as the first one we should sign for Galgate if we wanted to be the best and go to the next level. I was also instrumental in persuading Billy Wylie, Charlie Timperley and Gordon Howarth to join us and with Terry setting the highest standards as captain and covering every blade of grass on the field we produced one of the best ever teams in the North Lancashire League. His fluid movement, incisive passing and clinical finishing with either foot saw him not only as a feared opponent but a highly valued teammate. Terry was so influential to Galgate with his great vision for picking out a pass and indeed was a player ahead of his time and the injury he suffered at the age of 24 was a tragedy not only for one of the finest footballers of his generation but it deprived Galgate and the league of a very rare talent. ii

4 Contents Dedication... i Foreword...ii Contents... iii Introduction... 1 Chapter 1: Life Before Football... 2 Chapter 2: The First Year Chapter 3: The Second Year Chapter 4: The Third Year Chapter 5: The Fourth Year Chapter 6: The Fifth Year Chapter 7: The Sixth Year Chapter 8: The Seventh Year Chapter 9: The Eighth Year Chapter 10: The Ninth Year Chapter 11: The Broken Years iii

5 Introduction The title of the book, Box to Box describes the way I used to play the game, always looking for the opportunity to score or set up a chance for a colleague and yet never afraid to track back and defend when the need arose. The advantage of playing at inside forward meant that you were always involved in the game and had the opportunity to be a game changing influence. From 1957 when I joined the Lancaster Lads Club until 1966 when I suffered a cruciate ligament injury in a final on the Giant Axe while playing for Galgate I was always involved with every aspect of the game and at Galgate I had even more influence because Barry Hanson made me the captain. And what a team it was, from Charlie Timperley in goal to Gordon Howarth at outside left, the best local side that I ever played for. Reports from the Lancaster Guardian, the Morecambe Visitor and the Lancashire Evening Post are printed in italics to differentiate from my own thoughts and reflections. Many of the young men who played with and against me during this period have remained staunch friends throughout the decades and I am extremely proud and thankful for their friendship. From the Lads Club John Townson (cotton picker) and Jimmy Fagan, from the Red Rose Boys Club Nodder Muckalt, from Caton United Derek Irving and Eric Acton, from Lansil Ray Simpson, Tony Holman and Joe Sherrington, from Galgate, Dickie Danson, Alan Jackson and Alan Moorhouse. Many of these friends assisted me for eleven years from 2000 to 2011 when the 50/60 Club raised almost 30,000 for the Orthopaedic Ward at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary through a series of fund raising events and an annual reunion of footballers from the 1950 s and 60 s. Where has it all gone, it seems like yesterday when every day was playtime? Come with me and I ll take you back To a sunlight yesterday When days were long and hearts were strong And hope swept doubt away Come with me to that golden time When youth was in full bloom When rafters rang with the songs we sang And laughter filled the room 1

6 Chapter 1: Life Before Football Iwas born on January 3 rd 1942 in Brookhouse, Nr Lancaster and lived most of my early years either at my parents house in Caton or at my Grandparents farm in Brookhouse. My childhood was idyllic and my early years were centred around my grandparents. I seemed to spend a lot of time travelling around with my grandfather when I was old enough to walk. As I grew older everyday was football or exploring the fields and woods around the farm. Fishing, climbing trees, pinching apples and generally getting into mischief. I don t remember a lot of football at Primary School possibly because a lot of the kids were sons of farmers and had little or no interest in any sort of sport The early years Always loved my pony, but no Lester Piggott Pretty good voice in the early years but wasn t given a choice about attending church 2

7 Gathering Hay, looks good but I was never going to be a farmer even though I am in charge of the pony Some splendid specimens here with a fine dress sense for a school visit to the Lake District. Seven boys on here and Chris Wright, 2 nd from the right, was a good football player who played for Morecambe Juniors and Caton United whilst Raymond Akrigg, 3 rd from the right, was still refereeing games into his 60 s. If you hadn t spotted me I am 2 nd from the left 3

8 My first school was St Paul s Church of England Primary School at Brookhouse and I remained there until passing the eleven plus examination to go to the Lancaster Royal Grammar School. Even at this young age I was never afraid to confront authority and one of the teachers in particular, Miss Collier, 1 st from the left back row, picked on Malcolm Strickland and me regularly at morning assembly. She would call us out to the front of the class and reprimand us for some alleged misdemeanour on a regular basis. When I was about 8 or 9 I rebelled against this treatment and when summoned by her one particular morning I walked to the front of the class and kept on walking straight out of the door, ignoring her shouts, and returned home to the farm. After telling my grandmother of the treatment I was routinely being subjected to she said I would never go back to the school and when my grandfather returned home just after lunch he agreed with the decision that I would instead attend school in Lancaster.. It wasn t long after when the headmaster, Mr Broderick (Old Brod), turned up on the doorstep of the farm and when informed by my grandparents of their decision he pleaded for some considerable time for them to reverse their decision. Later in the afternoon my mother appeared on the scene and she was incensed by the bullying treatment I had received along with Malcolm and was ready to go to the school and confront Miss Collier who she referred to as a frustrated spinster. My father never got involved in any of this and I suppose played true to form by never being interested in anything I did. The headmaster, Mr Broderick, had returned to the farm by this time and pleaded with mother, grandmother and grandfather to reverse their decision and promised that he would personally guarantee that there would be no repetition of the morning s events. I wasn t in the house to hear all the arguments but eventually it was agreed that the school would save its reputation and I would return but Miss Collier would be told in no uncertain terms that her previous conduct was out of order and should cease immediately. Mr Broderick was told by my grandfather that he would be held responsible for what went on in the school and a couple of days later I returned to class. She never raised her voice to me again and I suppose you could say she walked on eggshells from that day onwards whenever I was around her. Bull Beck meandered down past the farm from the hills of Littledale to the River Lune and I spent many happy hours exploring the upper reaches or just catching small fish, invariably returning home with wet feet. One particular day I had collected a large number of bullheads in my glass jar and for safe keeping I put them in the horse trough in the farmyard thinking it would act as my own aquarium. Next day granddad found all the fish floating in the trough dead and that ended my hopes of having the biggest fish tank in Brookhouse. With my granddad we often walked through the farm fields to check on the cows or sheep and rabbits were everywhere. We looked for rabbit holes and granddad would put his hand down them and see if there were any baby rabbits. When he found them he would take them out of their nest and kill them by striking their heads on his boot. Not something I agreed with but I suppose it made sense in keeping the rabbit population down and fully grown rabbits ended up in a delicious rabbit pie. To keep the rat population in check we had about twelve cats on the farm, eleven of them wild, and they were kept very busy. I was allowed one tame cat that was welcome in the farmhouse but no more 4

9 than that. When granddad saw an expectant wild cat roaming the yard he would then search for its kittens after their birth. This was an exercise that I hated because I knew the outcome would be that the kittens would be drowned in the horse trough despite all my protestations. On two occasions I made my protest on behalf of the dead kittens by first of all cutting the heads off all the daffodils in the garden and then on the second occasion I killed six of the farm ducks by stretching their necks. At 7 or 8 years of age granddad saw the humorous side of my actions and never meted out any punishment but I think he could see that my nature in protecting animals was not conducive with my becoming a farmer. The Lancaster Auction Mart opposite the Alexandra Hotel was visited almost every day during the week especially in the school holidays and granddad would buy and sell cows and sheep before we went for lunch at the Alexandra Hotel 1 and then down to Morecambe. He would spend some time in the Victoria Hotel with his friends backing a few racehorses whilst I would be given two shillings to go down to the fairground behind the Winter Gardens and entertain myself - happy days. Grandfather, Jack Stackhouse, 2nd left, with friends at Lancaster Auction Mart 1 The Alexandra Hotel and the adjacent buildings occupy the site of an inn, the Prince William Henry, and its surrounding fields were used as a fairground and football field. In the pub in the 1890 s, many pints of beer used to be already drawn at 5.50am ready for the Storey Brothers workers to drink before starting work at 6.00am at the White Cross Mills. 5

10 Pictured in the front garden of Old Hall farm with my cat and Uncle Bob Stackhouse The negative side to the perceived success of gaining entry to the Royal Grammar School was that the school only played Rugby Union and actively frowned upon the game of Association Football so along with nearly all my school friends we were completely frustrated at being asked to play Rugby on Saturday afternoons instead of football. Thanks to Alan Spavin having a form teacher, Bennie Woodman, who also loved football we were able to organise friendly games against other Lancaster schools that played football. We played the Lancaster Schoolboy champions, Ripley St Thomas, and beat them as well as beating Skerton and the Technical College but when we skipped Grammar School games we inevitably were called to the headmaster s study and given six of the best. Timberlake, the headmaster was a stuffed shirt but the master I had the biggest argument with was his deputy, Dally Dowthwaite. This man had been a fantastic sportsman at school and University excelling at both Rugby and Cricket but he had also played Soccer to a high standard and yet to listen to him you would have thought it was an evil sport, quite pathetic really. Frankie Taylor who was in Alan Spavin s class was given ample time off to train as a boxer and attend tournaments before eventually going to the Olympics but Alan and myself were denied any leeway whatsoever regarding football so obviously we rebelled. The positive side of attending the Royal Grammar School was that I received a good education even though in hindsight the strong teachers succeeded and the weak ones failed. French, Latin, English Language, Music and History were subjects that were ingrained in my consciousness whilst weak teachers in Art and Geography left little impression on me at all. As I got older and particularly when I went to the Royal Grammar School, football was a great part of my life. At the centre of the housing estate in Caton was a large field that became our Wembley or in my case White Hart Lane. I had started to follow Tottenham at the age of 7 in 1949 simply because when we played we 6

11 adopted the names of our favourite players and Eddie Baily, Ted Ditchburn and Len Duquemin from the famous Push & Run side of Arthur Rowe were my idols. We played on there after school until it went dark and on Sundays the game seemed to last all day only being interrupted by mothers shouting to us to come in for dinner or tea. I had a wonderful childhood with my Caton friends just playing together and finding entertainment without television or mobile phones or organised games, we simply played out and then at 15 years of age I was introduced to organised football. The Old Oak Tree & Silver Street, Caton, 1908 The photograph shows the men of the village resting on the stone steps where, in past centuries, salmon from the River Lune would be laid out for sale Market Street, Lancaster in the early 1950 s when I attended the Royal Grammar School 7

12 Up to the age of 15 I had many heroes, most of them sporting but not exclusively so, and here you can see a quick snapshot of some of them. Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy. I used to watch their films in the Victoria Institute at Caton every Saturday morning Eric Morecambe & Ernie Wise The one & only Sir Tom Finney at Stamford Bridge - the Splash 8

13 The wizard of the dribble Sir Stanley Matthews taking a corner in 1951 Ronnie Clayton & his wife Valerie at their newsagents shop in Darwen. I was privileged to meet Ronnie when I played my trial game at Darwen before signing for Blackburn Rovers The incomparable Lester Piggott after winning the Derby on Crepello in

14 Bolton s Row, Brookhouse c The Black Bull Inn is on the right of the picture My grandfather s farm was 100 yards up the road to the right and this scene is instantly recognisable today Grassyard Lodge, Caton c Another of our country playgrounds that kept us busy for hours either exploring or more likely getting into mischief 10

15 Chapter 2: The First Year Iwas taken to the Lancaster Lads Club at the age of 15 by a local referee, Bobby Burns, who lived in my home village of Caton. Bobby introduced me to Jimmy Downham who was the football coach at the club and I remember he was sitting in the Club Leader s office and he asked me what position I played. I had never played a competitive game of football but I used to watch my heroes every week when they played for Caton and they all played on the forward line. People like Joe Easterby, Albert Robinson and Ted Fairclough so I answered Jimmy by saying I would like to play as an inside forward. Jimmy looked at my slight build and said, Okay Smiler let s see how it goes after the first game, that was always Jimmy s nickname for me. The first game turned out to be a Junior League Challenge Cup game against Carnforth Juniors at Quarry Park, Carnforth and the team selected was as follows: Eldridge; Ward, Wyeth; Merrill, Dodd, Parkinson; Quinn, Ainsworth, Carr, Hall, Masheder. The report in the Lancaster Guardian was eagerly read by the lads. Carnforth Juniors 3 Lancaster Lads Club Juniors 0 The home team attacked with a strong breeze behind them and were soon in the lead. Centre forward Weatherill scored two goals before half-time and got his hat-trick with another well taken goal in the second half. Carnforth were more constructive and deserved their win. The defence held firm against the breeze later, thanks to Bates, Milligan and Campbell. For Lancaster, Terry Ainsworth and Ray Carr tried hard in the forwards and Lol Merrill and Keith Dodd defended strongly. The next game that was reported in the Guardian was an away match against Catholic Young Boys. Catholic Young Boys 6 Lancaster Lads Club Juniors 7 A well-deserved victory for the Lads Club and from the start play was from end to end. Lads Club opened the scoring with a surprise goal from Terry Ainsworth and he followed it up with another four minutes later. After a wild melee in the Lads Club goalmouth a penalty was awarded and with a well-placed shot along the ground Wareing brought the score to 2-1. Putting on the pressure the Lads Club stormed the Young Boys goal and Seddon blocked a drive only to find it in the net off the rebound. With a few minutes to half-time Robertson raced through to make it 4-2. In the second half the score reached 5-5 until a beautiful rising shot by Stott made it 6-5 to the Catholic Young Boys. With two minutes to go the scores were once again level until a pass from Peter Hall gave Terry Ainsworth the chance to snatch the winner for the Lads Club. The outstanding players for the Catholic Young Boys were Seddon, Stott, Furey, Wareing and Quinn while Terry Ainsworth was outstanding for the Lads Club. 11

16 Junior League under 18 s Opponent Result Scorers Carnforth Juniors (A) 0-3 Skerton Old Boys (H) 2-6 Red Rose Boys Club (H) 0-12 Hest Bank (A) 5-1 Catholic Young Boys (A) 7-6 Ainsworth (3) Red Rose Boys Club (A) 1-8 Lancaster & Morecambe Students Association (H) 1-5 Hest Bank (H) 6-3 Morecambe Juniors (A) 2-6 Hest Bank (H) 5-2 Carnforth Juniors (H) 1-10 Lancaster & Morecambe Students Association (A) 4-3 Catholic Young Boys (H) 2-2 Skerton Old Boys (H) 1-3 Carnforth Juniors (H) 2-6 Skerton Old Boys (H) 2-15 Ainsworth (2) After the game on Acrelands against Skerton Old Boys that resulted in a 2-15 defeat, Jimmy Downham took me to one side and suggested that I move to another club in the league. He thought that my football would improve and develop more quickly in a stronger team and give me better opportunities. Although Jimmy would have preferred me to go to Morecambe or Carnforth, my father had already been approached by Wilson Huck of the Red Rose Boys Club so it was decided that I should transfer to them. We had already played Red Rose on two occasions and suffered two heavy defeats, 0-12 and 1-8, but Wilson told me when I signed that he had been sufficiently impressed with my skill and industrious play to think I would make a real impact with his team. Two weeks earlier we had played a home fixture against one of the best teams in the league, Skerton Old Boys, and Jimmy Downham talked about his recollections of that game. This game was played at Aldcliffe Road, Lancaster and the Club was losing 1-2 when Skerton were awarded a free kick just outside our penalty area. We lined up to defend the kick, but Brian Taylor (Skerton), acting clever, stood on the goal line next to our goalkeeper, Frank Eldridge. Skerton scored from the ensuing free kick and the linesman flagged for offside but the referee ignored all appeals and signalled to the centre circle. Bobby Day kept on at the referee but was getting nowhere when he suddenly lashed out at the referee and continued throwing punches until he was pulled away. The match was abandoned and Bobby was sent off, later receiving a sine die suspension. 12

17 A report on the outcome of the investigation appeared in the local paper. The result of the Junior League game between Lancaster Lads Club and Skerton Old Boys is to stand. The game, played on December 21st, was abandoned 55 minutes from time following an incident with Skerton leading 3-1. At their meeting on Monday night, the North Lancashire League Executive Council decided that the result of the game would stand and be recorded in the league table. My first game for Red Rose was at home to Lancaster & Morecambe Students Association and a 6-0 win help me settle in with my new team mates but many of them were also representing the County as well as their own League Three local players in County side Three of the six Lancaster players who took part in the Lancashire Association of Boys Clubs trial at Liverpool on Saturday have been selected to play for the County side against Manchester in the first round of the National Association of Boys Club championships on the Manchester United Reserves ground next Thursday. They are Lancaster Lads Club Goalkeeper, Frank Eldridge and Bill Parkinson and Harry Bland, both of the Red Rose Boys Club. Bill Parkinson who will captain the side, is centre half and Bland left half. Red Rose have been successful in having one of their players in the side each season. This season however they consider it an honour to have two in the side, one of whom is also skipper. To see two of my future Red Rose colleagues representing Lancashire and then to see four of them in the North Lancashire League side was a great incentive for me to improve my game to their level. Bill Parkinson went on to play in a music group that backed Tom Jones, I think they were called The Fourmost? In the first round of the Lancashire F.A. Youth Inter-League competition at Fulwood, the North Lancashire League, first holders of the trophy, meet the Preston Catholic Amateur League. The North Lancashire League team will be: Eldridge (Lads Club); Entwhistle (Morecambe), Brown (Skerton Old Boys); Palmer (Morecambe), Parkinson (Red Rose), Bland (Red Rose); Croft (Morecambe, Taylor (Skerton Old Boys), Austin (Red Rose), Spavin (Carnforth Juniors), Muckalt (Red Rose) There are now no local teams left in the Lancashire F.A. Youth Cup competition. Red Rose Boys Club were beaten 5-0 in the 3rd round by Walney Rovers, conquerors of Skerton Old Boys in the previous round, at Barton Road on Saturday. 13

18 Junior League under 18 s Opponent Result Lancaster & Morecambe Students Association (H) 6-0 Catholic Young Boys (A) 2-2 Catholic Young Boys (H) 6-0 Carnforth Juniors (H) 6-0 Morecambe Juniors (A) 1-0 Skerton Old Boys (A) 1-5 Catholic Young Boys (H) 8-0 Lancaster Lads Club (H) 4-1 Carnforth Juniors (A) 5-1 Skerton Old Boys (H) 1-3 Lancaster & Morecambe Students Association (A) 6-1 Cup Competitions Round Opponent Result Lancashire Youth Cup Third (H) Penwortham Juniors 5-1 Fourth (H) Walney Rovers 0-5 Dilworth Cup First (H) Carnforth Juniors 5-2 Cork Road, Lancaster Skerton Old Boys 4-1 Far Moor, Lancaster Morecambe Juniors 3-2 Junior Challenge Cup Bolton-le-Sands Carnforth Juniors 5-3 Bolton-le-Sands Morecambe Juniors

19 Red Rose Boys Club 3 Morecambe Juniors 4 In one of the keenest tussles of the competition, Morecambe Juniors carried off the North Lancs Junior Challenge Cup at Bolton-le-Sands on Wednesday. Dickie Danson and Brian Holmes gave them a 2-1 lead at the interval and further goals came in the second period from Collinson (2). Nodder Muckalt, Terry Stackhouse and Terry Austin scored for Red Rose. What a second half of the season it turned out to be, we played some great football and competed with the top sides in the league and even won a trophy, my first medal and the only one that I have kept for well over 50 years. The season ended with Red Rose playing five games in six days, something that became a regular occurrence over the ensuing years. Junior Challenge Cup (played on a league basis) P W D L F A Pts Morecambe Juniors Skerton Old Boys Red Rose Boys Club Carnforth Rangers Juniors LAMSA Lancaster Lads Club Juniors Catholic Young Boys Hest Bank Junior League under 18 s P W D L F A Pts Skerton Old Boys Red Rose Boys Club Morecambe Juniors Carnforth Rangers Juniors LAMSA Catholic Young Boys Lancaster Lads Club Hest Bank

20 Chapter 3: The Second Year My first season had ended on a high note and I was really looking forward to getting back to training at the Red Rose Boys Club on St George s Quay, Lancaster. As was the practice at the Lads Club we used to train on Tuesday and Thursday night under the auspices of Manager Wilson Huck and his assistant Alex Singleton. We would start off each session with a run down the quay towards Freeman s Wood and after that it was either more work on Quay Meadow, if it was still daylight or exercising and 3-a-side in the gymnasium. The results of the season are listed here and at the end of the season we played 6 games in 7 days including 4 semi-finals, a final and a league game and at 16 years of age that certainly took its toll on all of us. In hindsight I think that the 10 games that Wilson Huck cancelled because of Harry Bland and myself playing for the Lancashire Boys Clubs and the North Lancashire League was a mistake. Junior League under 18 s Opponent Result Scorers Catholic Young Boys (A) 3-0 Wild, Nicholas, Bland Hest Bank (A) 11-0 Moorby (3), Ainsworth (3), Muckalt (2), Wild (2), Nicholas Morecambe Juniors (H) 2-1 Ainsworth (2) LAMSA (A) 12-1 Hest Bank (H) 8-0 Wild (2), Ainsworth (2), Nicholas, Muckalt, Moorby, Bland Lancaster Lads Club (H) 2-0 Moorby, Ainsworth Carnforth Juniors (A) 4-0 Muckalt, Moorby, Bland, Murray Hest Bank (H) 3-1 Wild (3) Bolton-le-Sands (H) 12-0 Moorby (4), Ainsworth (3), Muckalt (2), Wild (2), Bland Skerton Old Boys (H) 5-0 Ainsworth (3), Moorby, Wild LAMSA (H) 12-0 Carnforth Juniors (H) 2-0 Muckalt, Ainsworth Marsh Legion (A) 11-1 Nicholas (6), Ainsworth (2), Muckalt (2), Wild Bolton-le-Sands (H) 6-2 Ainsworth (3), Muckalt (2), Quinn Carnforth Juniors (A) 4-0 Moorby, Bland, Ainsworth, Wild Morecambe Juniors (A) 5-0 Moorby (3), Nicholas, Miller Bolton-le-Sands (H) 13-0 Moorby (3), Wild (3), Ainsworth (3), Muckalt (2), Bland (2) Lancaster Lads Club (H) 1-0 Ainsworth Lancaster Lads Club (A) 5-1 Muckalt, Moorby (2), Ainsworth (2) Skerton Old Boys (A) 2-2 Muckalt, Bland Marsh Legion (H) 4-0 Ainsworth (3), Bland Bolton-le-Sands (A) 4-1 Moorby (3), Muckalt Marsh Legion (A) 3-0 Ainsworth (3) Catholic Young Boys (H) 1-1 Muckalt 16

21 Cup Competitions Round Opponent Result Scorers Lancashire Youth Cup Second (H) Walney Rovers 1-0 Wild Third No record Won Fourth (H) Nelson & Colne Rovers 6-1 Leyland Motors Orrell St Lukes 5-4 Moorby (2), Ainsworth (2), Wild, Muckalt Ainsworth (2), Muckalt (2), Moorby Croston, Southport Mill Lane, Wigan 2-6 Muckalt, Ainsworth Junior Challenge Cup Acrelands Morecambe 2-2 Ainsworth, Muckalt Semi-Final Acrelands Morecambe 3-1 aet Moorby (2), Ainsworth Bolton-le-Sands Carnforth Juniors 2-3 Moorby (2) Dilworth Cup Semi-Final (A) Morecambe Juniors 1-1 Muckalt Semi-Final Replay (A) Morecambe Juniors 2-4 Ainsworth (2) 17

22 Red Rose Boys Club 3 Hest Bank Juniors 1 Ron Wild scored Red Rose s first goal, but Hest Bank rallied strongly and were always in the picture. In the second half Ron Wild completed a fine hat-trick with two more goals. Hest Bank came close to scoring several times. In the last minute Gardner scored for Hest Bank. Hest Bank: Bell; Wilson, Storey; Mason, Holman, Woodhouse; Moore, Robinson, Udall, Gardner, Basham Red Rose: Bland; Varey, Kitchen; Murray, Atkinson, Moorby; Quinn, Ainsworth, Wild, Nicholas, Miller The strange thing about this game was that Charlie Timperley was absent and Harry Bland took his place in goal with Dave Moorby taking his place at left half. Another notable absentee was Nodder Muckalt so a 3-1 victory was gratefully accepted. The team was back to full strength as we faced Youth Cup holders Walney Rovers at home in the 2nd round not forgetting how they had thrashed us 5-0 the year before in the 4 th round. Red Rose Boys Club 1 Walney Rovers 0 Lancaster Red Rose Boys Club F.C., the only local team left in the competition beat Walney Rovers, holders of the L.F.A. Youth Cup in a well fought and exciting encounter at Barton Road, Lancaster, on Saturday. Ron Wild scored for the Red Rose in the first half and this goal decided Red Rose s right to enter the third round of the competition. After the match the visitors were entertained to tea at the Lancaster Red Rose Boys Club Headquarters on St George s Quay. Red Rose: Timperley; Kitchen, Varey; Murray, Atkinson, Bland; Wild, Ainsworth, Moorby, Nicholas, Muckalt Harry Bland and Terry Ainsworth, of the Red Rose Boys Club, Lancaster, have been selected as reserves for the Lancashire and Cheshire Association of Boys Clubs football team which will meet Cumberland in the 1st round of the F.A s National Inter-County Championship for Boys Clubs at Giant Axe on December 20th. Trained by Jimmy Downham of the Lancaster Lads Club, the Lancashire and Cheshire team is again expecting a successful run in the competition. Kick-off time is 2-15p.m Harry Bland and Terry Ainsworth of the Lancaster Red Rose Boys Club were in the Lancashire County team which met Hampshire in the final of the Inter-County Championships at Craven Cottage, Fulham. Lancashire have beaten Cumberland, Durham, Manchester and Nottingham and reached the final for the first time since Mr Jimmy Downham of the Lancaster Lads Club was trainer of the Lancashire team. Red Rose Boys Club 5 Orrell St Luke 4 Lancaster Red Rose Boys Club who on Saturday beat Orrell St Lukes in the semifinal of the Lancashire Youth Cup at Southport was awaiting the outcome of the other semifinal between two Preston clubs to find out who their final opponents in this competition 18

23 would be. After establishing a three goal lead in the first half hour they allowed their opponents to draw level by half time. Orrell were handicapped when just on half time they lost their centre half with concussion and he had to be taken to hospital. Defending stubbornly they failed to prevent Red Rose getting two more goals, but managed to reduce the arrears. The Red Rose inside forward trio of Terry Ainsworth (2), Dave Moorby and Nodder Muckalt (2) were lively goal foragers. Red Rose Boys Club 2 Mill Lane Youth Club 6 Red Rose Boys Club, Lancaster, at Croston last week was beaten by Mill Lane Youth Club, Wigan, in the final of the L.F.A. Youth Cup. Red Rose did not benefit from a free kick and Wroth put Mill Lane in the lead. Rotherham got a second for them. The Red Rose team were unlucky when Howarth headed a Terry Ainsworth shot off the goal line with Willis well beaten. Rain made conditions treacherous but Red Rose gained command and after 21 minutes Nodder Muckalt reduced the arrears with a good effort. The Lancaster boys strove hard for an equaliser and got it through Terry Ainsworth in the 39th minute. Mill Lane attacked on the resumption and Holdcroft scored on the 55th minute from what appeared to be an offside position but the referee overruled the linesman and allowed the goal. Red Rose rearranged their team but without success and Wigan gained command to score further goals by Evans, Holdcroft and Wroth. Ron Wild, Terry Ainsworth and Nodder Muckalt, the inside forward trio, were outstanding for Red Rose. Red Rose: Timperley; Kitchen, Varey; Murray, Atkinson, Bland; Wild, Ainsworth, Moorby, Muckalt, Miller The final game in a wonderful, action-packed season was at Bolton-le-Sands when a very tired Red Rose team met Carnforth who they had already beaten 4-0, 2-0 and 4-0 in three previous matches in the final of the Junior Challenge Cup. Red Rose Boys Club 2 Carnforth Juniors 3 Carnforth held off a strong second half revival by L.F.A. Youth Cup finalists Red Rose Boys Club to finish worthy winners of a hard fought North Lancashire League Junior Challenge Cup final at Bolton-le-Sands on Thursday night of last week. Fast, open raiding by the Carnforth attack frequently had the Red Rose defence in trouble in the first half and goals by Tommy Dodd (2) and centre forward Pete Johnson established a clear lead. After the interval, however, Red Rose recovered splendidly but although they reduced the arrears with two excellent goals by leader Dave Moorby they found the uphill fight too much against an extremely fit Carnforth side. Carnforth: Silver; Carradice, Newton; Pegg, Fernie, Robinson; Devitt, Dodd, Johnson, Higgins, Spavin 19

24 Junior League under 18 s P W D L F A Pts Red Rose Boys Club Catholic Young Boys Morecambe Juniors Skerton Old Boys Carnforth Juniors Lancaster Lads Club Juniors Hest Bank Marsh Legion Bolton-le-Sands LAMSA Red Rose Boys Club topped the North Lancashire & District Football League s Junior Division with 34 points from 18 games in an unbeaten season during which they scored 88 goals and conceded only 10. Red Rose Boys Club Back Row (L- R) Front Row (L- R) Terry Oliver, Bill Varey, Charlie Timperley, Mick Murray, Doug Kitchen, Alec Singleton (trainer) Alan Quinn, Nodder Muckalt, Dave Moorby, Terry Ainsworth, Harry Bland, Keith Nicholas 20

25 Gillette Cup (playing for Lancashire Boys Clubs) The County team had its most successful season for some years, reaching the Final of the National Competition, when they had to take second place to a very fine team from Hampshire. It is interesting to note that on each of the three occasions they have reached the final, their opponents have been Hampshire. In Hampshire won 3-2 at Morecambe, and in the following year Lancashire were successful 4-1 at The Valley, Charlton. The boys who represented Lancashire & Cheshire Boys Clubs were: John Murphy (Wigan Boys Club) Capt, Terry Ainsworth (Red Rose Boys Club, Lancaster), Eddie Berry (Rankin Boys Club, Liverpool), Harry Bland (Red Rose Boys Club, Lancaster), Barry Crookall (Wigan Boys Club), Mick Doyle (St Teresa s Boys Club, Liverpool), Billy Johnson (Unity Boys Club, Liverpool), Phil McGurn (Westvale Boys Club, Kirby, Liverpool), Ernie Nicholson (Richmond Boys Club, Liverpool), John Reddington (Richmond Boys Club, Liverpool), Brian Roby (Wigan Boys Club), Fred Rodgerson (St Thomas YPS, Blackburn), Les Smith (Farnworth Boys Club), Billy Wright (Rankin Boys Club, Liverpool) Until I wrote this chapter I hadn t realised that 7 out of the 14 players came from Liverpool Clubs, which I suppose illustrates the strength in depth of that area of the county. Manchester, for some unknown reason, wasn t regarded as part of Lancashire and played as a separate team. In the first game on the Giant Axe against Cumberland & Westmorland I was selected as a reserve, no substitutes in those days, and would not have got into the team if it hadn t been for a terrible injury suffered by inside right Billy Johnson, the best inside forward of his age I ever saw. Billy broke his leg in the game and although I can t confirm this I think his football career ended that day, what a smashing, exuberant kid he was with a huge smile on his face and a fantastic future in football according to people like team trainer Jimmy Downham. It is strange what things you remember from games that were played so long ago. Fred Rodgerson, the goalkeeper, had the biggest feet I have ever seen, size 14 or 15 I think. The pre-match entertainment was supplied by the Dagenham Girl Pipers and the dressing rooms didn t have showers, just individual baths. NABC Gillette Cup Round Opponent Result Giant Axe, Lancaster Cumberland & Westmorland 12-0 South Shields Durham Boys Clubs 3-1 The Cliffs, Manchester Manchester Boys Clubs 2-2 Third - Giant Axe, Lancaster Manchester Boys Clubs 2-1 Meadow Lane, Nottingham Nottinghamshire 3-0 Craven Cottage, Fulham, London Hampshire

26 Harry Bland is back row, 2 nd from the left, and Billy Johnson is on the front row, 2 nd from the right, whilst I am stood next to Jimmy Downham, back row right. The scene at Craven Cottage, Fulham, prior to the Gillette Cup Final, a proud moment for me as I shake hands with His Royal Highness, The Duke of Gloucester, with Harry Bland on my right enjoying the weather and a crowd of over 11,

27 North Lancashire Junior Inter-League Youth Competition The first of a series of three trial games (far too many in my opinion) to select the team to represent the North Lancashire and District Football League at Barrow will be held at Acrelands, Lancaster, tomorrow, Saturday, kick-off 2-30p.m. Following are the trial teams:- A team: Eldridge (Lads Club); Kitchen (Red Rose), Varey (Red Rose); Danson (Morecambe), Atkinson (Red Rose), Bland (Red Rose) captain; Wyeth (Lads Club), Ainsworth (Red Rose), Wild (Red Rose), Webb (Morecambe), Muckalt (Red Rose) B team: Bell (Hest Bank); Brown (Skerton O.B.), Murphy (Marsh Legion); Doherty (Catholic Y.B.), Wright (Morecambe) captain, Longton (Lads Club); Hough (Skerton O.B.), Robinson (Hest Bank), Smith (Bolton-le-Sands), Morgan (Skerton O.B.), Mayor (Catholic Y.B.) The North Lancashire and District Football League s final trial game to select its team to meet Blackpool in the L.F.A. Youth Inter-League competition will be staged against a selected senior league team on the Bowerham Barracks ground, Lancaster, tomorrow, kickoff 3p.m. The side will be selected from: Goalkeeper Right Back Left Back Right Half Centre Half Left Half Outside Right Inside Right Centre Forward Inside Left Outside Left Team Trainer Team Manager Eldridge (Lads Club) or Bell (Hest Bank) Brown (Skerton Old Boys) or Kitchen (Red Rose) Varey (Red Rose) Danson (Morecambe) Wright (Morecambe) or Atkinson (Red Rose) Bland (Red Rose) Ward (Morecambe) Ainsworth (Red Rose) Smith (Bolton-le-Sands) or Moorby (Red Rose) Webb (Morecambe) or Morgan (Skerton Old Boys) Muckalt (Red Rose) Alex Singleton (Red Rose) Sam Price The game against Standfast who played in Division II of the North Lancashire & District Football League and finished in 4 th place was supposed to test us but in the event we ran out comfortable 8-1 winners and the selectors chose the following team to travel to Bispham to play Blackpool. The North Lancashire League Junior team to meet Blackpool Association of Boys Clubs in the 2nd round of the Lancashire F.A. Youth Cup at Bispham on Saturday will be: Eldridge (Lads Club); Brown (Skerton O.B.), Varey (Red Rose); Danson (Morecambe) captain, Wright (Morecambe), Bland (Red Rose); Ward (Morecambe), Ainsworth (Red Rose), Smith (Bolton-le-Sands), Webb (Morecambe), Muckalt (Red Rose) Team manager: Sam Price, Trainer: Alec Singleton (Red Rose) 23

28 Blackpool Boys Clubs 2 North Lancs Junior League 0 Blackpool Association of Boys Clubs entertained The North Lancs Junior League XI at Bispham on Saturday in the North Lancs Junior League Inter-League Youth competition. The Lancaster team were thought to be strong candidates to once more win this competition but the strong tackling of the Blackpool boys nullified all attempts of the visitors to play good football and they were victorious by two goals. North Lancs attacked from the kick-off and their first attack nearly produced a goal, Nodder Muckalt cutting in from the left, having his effort pushed off the goal line by Hancocks with Lester well beaten. Alec Bell showed good anticipation and handled very cleanly in Blackpool s first attack. The North Lancs side kept up the pressure and could well have been three goals up in the first quarter of an hour, but for the good, fast tackling of the Blackpool defence. Fare was injured in stopping a good attempt by Mal Smith and had to leave the field for attention. Play continued even and Nodder Muckalt wasted a good opportunity to put the visitors ahead, shooting hurriedly instead of placing his effort. Fare returned to play on the right wing. Blackpool took the lead rather unexpectedly, Demaine trying a long lob to beat Alec Bell with a dropping ball. Blackpool resumed their original formation after half-time, Fare returning to the centre half position. All efforts of the North Lancs League side to get the equaliser failed though on one occasion Trevor Webb, Terry Ainsworth and Mal Smith had shots blocked by a foot in quick succession. Hearn put Blackpool further ahead when put in possession by Moulding after he had caught Chris Wright out of position. Confident appeals by the North Lancs contingent for a penalty against the Blackpool keeper Lester were rejected although the linesman had flagged. The North Lancs side continued to fight but it was clearly not their day and the final whistle came with them a defeated but not disgraced team. Alec Bell, called upon at the last moment due to the inability of Frank Eldridge to travel was outstanding in the North Lancs team, whilst Brown, Chris Wright and Dickie Danson played well in defence. Mal Smith put in some hard work against a good centre half in Fare but he was ploughing a lone furrow in most cases. North Lancs: Bell (Hest Bank); Brown (Skerton O.B.), Varey (Red Rose); Danson (Morecambe) captain, Wright (Morecambe), Bland (Red Rose); Ward (Morecambe), Ainsworth (Red Rose), Smith (Bolton-le-Sands), Webb (Morecambe), Muckalt (Red Rose) We were devastated after the game because we went into the match confident of getting a positive result and although we hammered away at Blackpool for long periods it was one of those games where we just didn t get the rub of the green, but that s football. 24

29 North Lancashire & District Football League, , Under 18 s Back Row (L- R) Harry Bland, Dave Moorby, Chris Wright. Middle Row (L- R) Alec Singleton (Trainer), Geoff Atkinson, A.N.Other, Bill Varey, Brown, Mal Smith, Alec Bell, Sam Price, Doug Kitchen, A.N.Other. Front Row (L- R) Ian Ward, Terry Ainsworth, Dickie Danson (captain), Trevor Webb, Nodder Muckalt. I think this season turned out to be the most exciting and strenuous one I ever played in. Being 16 years old and loving the game of football, the only thought was to play as often as possible. Training twice and playing three or four games a week seemed quite normal but in the end it proved too much for me and the very good Red Rose team that I was a part of. Harry Bland and I played 43 games during the season for Red Rose, the North Lancashire League and Lancashire Boys Clubs. To put this in perspective, compare it with the fact that in the following season in the Senior League playing for the Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys, I played 30 games in total, winning two trophies. During the first 33 games I was on the losing side only once and yet in the final 10 games of the season we won 3, drew 3 and lost 4 (including 3 finals and 1 semifinal). Red Rose had an undefeated season in winning the league title but we simply ran out of gas in the last two weeks. 25

30 The season ended on a high note for me when I received a letter from Blackburn Rovers soon after the Craven Cottage game. Dear Terry, After watching your performance for Lancashire & Cheshire Boys Clubs at Craven Cottage recently I would like to offer you a trial for Blackburn Rovers which will take place at Darwen, the date will be notified on your acceptance of this offer. Regards Dally Duncan Manager I did in fact receive offers from 4 First Division Clubs (now the Premiership), Manchester City, Everton, Bolton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers to join them for season There was only one team I ever wanted to play for and that was my family s home town of Blackburn so when the trial game was staged at Darwen and I was introduced to the manager, Dally Duncan, at the end of the game, I was the proudest kid in England to be told by him that my future was with the Rovers and I was invited to sign. As well as meeting Dally Duncan, Ronnie Clayton also attended the trial match and welcomed me to the club after the game. At the time I was employed by Storeys of Lancaster at their Moor Lane Mills offices and my working week included occasional Saturday morning duties. My boss, Norman Mount, refused to let me have time off to travel to games so I was virtually a part time player from the outset, a situation which was bound to end in tears. After starting in the B team I managed to get good reports and score a few goals and was then promoted to the A team. We played in the Lancashire League against all the other youth teams of the first division sides like Manchester United & City, Everton & Liverpool and of course Preston, Blackpool and our great rivals Burnley. 26

31 Chapter 4: The Third Year Following my successful trial game at Darwen I made my debut for Blackburn Rovers B team in the Lancashire League and after about four games where I scored a few goals I was promoted to the A team and things continued to go well even though I had to miss a couple of games because of work at Storeys Moor Lane Mill, no thanks to my boss Norman Mount or my father who offered no support at all. When I missed a Blackburn game I would turn out for Lancaster Lads Club Juniors. Blackburn Rovers wrote to my parents outlining their plans for me and of course it was a great opportunity but alas one that would be spurned. It proved impossible for me to get to Blackburn after work in time for training, very few people had a car in those days and my father never possessed a licence. Dear Mr & Mrs Ainsworth, Terry has been making good progress and has been promoted from the B team to the A team but to consolidate this I would like him to attend training in Blackburn on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. His future with us would also be more assured if his Saturday morning work commitments could be improved so that he does not miss any more games. Regards Dally Duncan Manager Lads Club Juniors 3 Hest Bank Juniors 1 Lads Club Juniors gained revenge for an earlier defeat at the hands of Hest Bank Juniors. Lads Club took the lead when a shot from Terry Ainsworth rebounded to Barry Williamson who scored with ease. Shortly before half time Lads Club scored a second when Brian Metcalfe breasted down the ball and hit it into the goal. Shortly after half time Dave Sharples increased their lead with a picture goal from just inside the penalty area. Muckalt scored a consolation goal for Hest Bank. Lads Club: Gill: Wood, Timlin: Sharples, Stockdale, Longton: Brown, Ainsworth, Griffin, Metcalfe, Williamson Hest Bank: Harvey: Wilson, Woodhouse: O Neill, Hope, Moore: Hill, Gardner, Hayhurst, Robinson, Muckalt 27

32 Bolton-le-Sands Juniors 0 Lads Club Juniors 3 Lads Club Juniors gained a surprisingly easy 3-0 win over Bolton-le-Sands Juniors on Saturday. With inside forwards Chris Denny and Brian Metcalfe (Terry Ainsworth was on County duty with Lancashire) dominating midfield play they were soon ahead thanks to Chris Denny himself who headed home a good goal. Dave Griffin put Lads Club further ahead and it was Chris Denny again who rushed through to score the third. The Lads Club defence was sound. After the interval Lads Club pressed hard but could not score again. Only two shots looked dangerous from Bolton-le-Sands, both from right half Graham. Bolton-le-Sands: Harrison: Altham, Hensey: Graham, Townson, Robinson: Peat, Rickaby, Smith, Townson, Oliver Lads Club: Gill: Wood, Timlin: Sharples, Stockdale, Longton: Brown, Metcalfe, Griffin, Denny, Williamson At the same time as playing for two teams I had played in yet another trial game for Lancashire Boys Clubs and after finding the net twice I was selected to play against Manchester Boys Clubs at The Cliffs where only myself and Phil McGurn survived from the previous successful year but this time there was to be no repeat and Lancashire went out of the Gillette Cup at the first hurdle. At the same time that all this was going on Jimmy Downham had been approached by Ken Horton, who was manager of Morecambe Football Club, and asked if I would be available to play for them in a Football Association Youth Cup match at Old Trafford. Jimmy thought I should take up their offer and so I got ready to play for yet another team. Ken Armistead, the Morecambe Juniors captain, told me later that the team objected to this approach because one of their mates would be left out of their showpiece event and he went to Ken Horton to tell him of the team s feelings. Ken Horton s answer was that they had better get used to it because I was going to play whatever they thought. The build-up to this game was quite strange because I was at the time playing for Lancaster Lads Club Juniors; Lancashire & Cheshire Boys Clubs as well as Blackburn Rovers A team. In the month before the game I had already been in the Blackburn A team that had beaten Manchester United A and had come up against William Donaldson, the Irish Youth International, who would mark me again in the Youth Cup tie. The difference in the teams on the night though was substantial as more than half of the Manchester United side were regulars in the Central League team but it was all part of the history of Morecambe Football Club and I was privileged to have been a part of it. The Morecambe side was nowhere near as strong as the Blackburn Rovers team that had beaten Manchester United A team only a few weeks earlier but then nobody would have expected it to be. After all, Blackburn Rovers were a First Division club and Morecambe were playing in the Lancashire Combination. 28

33 Man Utd Youth 14 Morecambe Youth 0 Though beaten 14-0 by Manchester United Juniors under the Old Trafford floodlights in the F.A. Youth Cup Morecambe Juniors had the consolation of sharing in a 634 gate. Morecambe Juniors team of Saturday afternoon footballers had the rare distinction of playing under Old Trafford floodlights in front of a crowd of 11,000. A crowd who appreciated their sportsmanship and spirit gave them a tremendous ovation at the end of the game. The fact that they lost is of little significance. The result could hardly be otherwise when it is considered that Manchester had in their ranks six players with Central League experience and at least three who will make the grade at international level. Morecambe were obviously outclassed by a team that included in its ranks some of the finest young players from all parts of Great Britain picked by scouts whose job it is to get boys interested in joining United s ground staff. These boys came from Ireland, Scotland and Wales, all of them internationals in their own right. Then they are trained and coached by great players. It is not surprising that they were yards faster, cleverer at controlling the ball and experts in craftsmanship. Some of the goals scored on the night would have been a credit to first division players. Yet for all that and the difference in class the coach loads of Morecambe supporters had reason to be proud of their team. They never gave up trying, even to the final whistle, and there wasn t a questionable tackle in the whole game. Morecambe: Boardman; Wylie, Wright; Holt, Langridge, Armistead; Wilkinson, Ainsworth, Croft, Palmer and Webb. Manchester United: Briggs; Smith, Ackerley; Nicholson, Atherton, Donaldson; Moir, Stiles, Chisnall, Spratt, McMillan When trainer Maurice Vickers lined the team up in continental fashion at the end of the game the crowd rose to their feet and gave the Morecambe lads a tremendous ovation. It was a sight to be remembered. But Morecambe s goalkeeper, John Boardman, deserved the highest praise. He made some tremendous saves and was applauded time and time again. For United Jimmy Nicholson impressed as the probable natural successor to Duncan Edwards. One of the happiest features of the game was the fact that Morecambe s share of the gate was 634. This helped to compensate for the first team s early exit from the F.A. Cup. The relative strengths of these teams are easy to see when you pick out Nobby Stiles who went on to win a World Cup Winner s Medal in All of the Manchester United side went on to be professional footballers at some level. The following week Ken Horton came to Caton and asked me to sign for Morecambe but after much thought and no advice from anyone I decided against it although Ken, to his credit, said if I were to change my mind a phone call would soon remedy the situation. On the following pages I have copied the match programme and I m sure every player on the Morecambe team will still have one of these in his possession, what a night, what a memory. 29

34 30

35 31

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37 The week after the game at Old Trafford Ken Horton came to our house in Caton and in the presence of my mother and father asked me to sign for Morecambe but as I was still hoping to succeed at Blackburn I turned him down. He completely understood my reasons and wished me good luck and added that if I ever changed my mind I could call him and he would review the situation. Two weeks later after missing more games at Blackburn because of work and not being able to get to Blackburn to train during the week it was mutually agreed that they would cancel my contract. Early in November I was changed and ready to play on Acrelands for the Lads Club Juniors against Skerton Old Boys when Dick Brooks, who was one of the team selectors, arrived in his car and told me to get my gear and jump in the car as the Old Boys were a man short and I was going to make my debut for them on Aldcliffe Road against the Lancaster Moor Hospital in a North Lancashire League first division game. Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys 5 Lancaster Moor Hospital 1 Although they had to make three late changes, the Old Boys proved too strong with a nap hand against Lancaster Moor Hospital in a game in which both teams played some really good football. The main difference was that the home team were faster and snapped up their chances more decisively. Terry Ainsworth from the Lads Club under 18 s team made his debut at inside left and fitted really well into the senior team. It was he who opened the Old Boys scoring after ten minutes. Jimmy Fagan got the second from a penalty and Tommy Anderson made it three when he followed up in a goalmouth scramble. The same player scored the team s fourth just before the interval. Territorially the Moor Hospital had as much of the play as the home team but were not as decisive in their finishing. On the resumption the Moor made some switches in the forward line and this seemed to pay dividends for Townley reduced their arrears after ten minutes. This woke the Old Boys up and but for some good work by Simon Brown at centre half and some great saves by George Pinder in goal they could easily have been two or three more up. One save by Pinder from a drive by Terry Ainsworth was first class, the keeper tipping the ball over the bar as the inside left broke through and let drive with his left foot. The Hospital forced several corners at the other end but to no avail and in the last twenty minutes it was one way traffic although only one more goal was scored by Walter Halbard who coolly tapped the ball into the net after it had been headed on by Peter Bleasdale following a corner on the left. Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys: Aspinall; Bamber, Newton; Bleasdale, Bradley, Halbard; Bell, Anderson, Fagan, Ainsworth, Wood 33

38 North Lancashire League Division I Opponent Result Scorers Lancaster Moor Hospital (H) 5-1 Ainsworth, Fagan, Anderson (2), Halbard Bentham Wanderers (H) 2-1 Fagan (2) Bolton-le-Sands (A) 1-1 Halbard Trimpell (A) 5-5 Halbard (3), Hardisty, Ainsworth Galgate (H) 5-1 Fagan, Halbard (2), Hardisty (2) Dry Dock United (A) 2-0 Fagan, Woods Bentham Wanderers (A) 3-2 Fagan, Ainsworth, Woods Caton United (H) 3-2 Woods (2), Ainsworth Cartmel (A) 5-0 Bell (2), Fagan (2), Ainsworth Lancaster Moor Hospital (A) 0-4 Storeys (A) 5-1 Woods (3), Ainsworth, Halbard Corinthians (H) 6-0 Downham, Woods (2), Bell (2), Halbard Bolton-le-Sands (H) 0-0 Lower Holker (H) 2-2 Halbard, Bell Cartmel (H) 7-2 Bell (2), Fagan (2), Ainsworth (2), Woods Cup Competitions Round Opponent Result Scorers Senior Challenge Cup Third (A) Newton Rovers 11-1 Fourth (A) Lower Holker 0-2 Memorial Challenge Cup Third (H) Corinthians 6-0 Fourth (A) Lads Club Old Boys Reserves 1-0 Downham Fifth (A) Lower Holker 1-0 Downham Christie Park Lancaster Moor Hospital 3-1 Fagan (3) Christie Park Galgate 2-1 aet Ainsworth, Fagan 34

39 Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys 5 Lancaster Moor Hospital 1 Although they had to make three late changes, the Old Boys proved too strong with a nap hand against Moor Hospital in a game in which both teams played some really good football. The main difference was that the home team were faster and snapped up their chances more decisively. Terry Ainsworth from the Lads Club Under - 18 team made his debut at inside left and fitted really well into the senior team. It was he who opened the Old Boys scoring after ten minutes. Jimmy Fagan got the second from a penalty and Tommy Anderson made it three when he followed up in a goalmouth scramble. The same player scored the team s fourth goal just before the interval Territorially the Hospital had had as much of the play as the home team, but were not as decisive in their finishing. On the resumption the Hospital made some switches in the forward line and this seemed to pay dividends, for Townley reduced their arrears after ten minutes. This woke the Old Boys up, and, but for some good work by Simon Brown at centre half and some great saves by George Pinder in goal, they could easily have been two or three more up. One save by George Pinder from a drive by Terry Ainsworth was first class, the keeper tipping the ball over the bar as the inside left broke through and let drive with his left foot. The Hospital forced several corners at the other end but to no avail and in the last 20 minutes it was one way traffic although only one more goal was scored, by Walter Halbard who coolly tapped the ball into the net after it had been headed on by Bleasdale, following a corner on the left. Lads Club Old Boys: Aspinall; Bamber, Newton; Bleasdale, Bradley, Halbard; Bell, Anderson, Fagan, Ainsworth, Woods Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys 2 Bentham Wanderers 1 A picture goal from outside right Jimmy Fagan with only three minutes to go gave Old Boys both points after a ding-dong struggle with Bentham Wanderers at Aldcliffe Road. Up to this point a draw had seemed inevitable with the Old Boys forwards battling for supremacy against a great Bentham defence, whose tackling and covering was first class. Old Boys kicked off and made the running, but they were unable to get a shot in, when in the penalty area such was the quick tackling of the Bentham defence. Once, Anderson did get a shot in after a good move through the middle, but although well placed it lacked sufficient power to beat the keeper. Bentham came back strongly and J. Carter fired just wide of the upright after he had been put through by Smith. Fullback Newton gave away a corner when harassed by the Bentham outside right and half-time came with both sides ready for a breather. After the resumption the Bentham keeper was in action more than his counterpart but it wasn t until the 70th minute of the game that Jimmy Fagan put Old Boys one up when he headed in a centre from Jimmy Woods. Bentham came back and with the Old Boys defence vainly appealing for offside, Smith put J. Carter through and the winger took his chance well to beat the advancing Bill Aspinall and put Bentham on level terms. Both sides were at full stretch now in efforts to take the lead, but the game seemed destined for a draw. However, with three minutes left to go, Peter Bleasdale fed Terry Ainsworth and the inside left split the Bentham defence wide open with a lovely cross-field pass to Jimmy Fagan, who instantly cracked a right foot drive from outside the penalty area past the helpless Bentham keeper. 35

40 Bolton-le-Sands 1 Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys 1 Lads Club Old Boys were well satisfied to come away from Bolton-le-Sands with a well earned point in a game which neither side yielded an inch, and which could have gone either way. Although the home side can claim that two missed penalties could have won them the match, Lads Club could also point to two incredible misses from openings that were as easy as penalty shots. The first real chance of the game came when Pete Hardisty broke through the Bolton defence, but, with only the keeper to beat, sent the ball over the bar from three yards out. Then, at the other end Cunliffe was stopped as he was going through, but carried on to put the ball in the net but the goal was disallowed as the referee had already blown for a free kick. This was an escape for the Old Boys, but minutes later they had another when Cunliffe scraped the crossbar from a penalty. Old Boys rallied but it was left to winghalf Walter Halbard to open their account when he scored an opportunist goal during a goalmouth scramble. On the restart Old Boys tried hard to increase their lead but the home defence was steady. Bolton s attacks were limited to breakaways, but in one of these Wright went through the middle to score a grand goal, and for the next 15 minutes, they stormed the Old Boys goal. During this period they were awarded another penalty. This time Rotherham took it, but BillAspinall got down quickly to his shot and the Old Boys breathed again. When they regained their composure they threw everything into attack but Terry Ainsworth just failed to put them in front with a near miss. This was the last incident of note in a grand game, a draw being a fair result. Trimpell 5 Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys 5 Four goals down in the first ten minutes and playing against the wind would be enough to make most teams throw in the towel. That was the position Lads Club Old Boys, current Division 1 leaders found themselves in on Saturday. But in a grand fight back, they drew level by half-time and indeed were well on top against a Trimpell team which included ex- Aston Villa and Morecambe player, George Warburton, also ex-lancaster City forward, Bill Smith. Once again, as in the previous week it was Old Boys wing half Walter Halbard who showed his forwards the way to the net. Indeed, he had the unique experience of scoring three times from that position. Within two minutes of the kick-off Smith put Trimpell ahead when he beat Bill Aspinall with a hard shot from nine yards. Garner put the home side two up, and after a clearance from the Old Boys struck a Trimpell forward, the ball rebounded to Smith, who made it three. Using the long ball and aided by the wind Trimpell pressed hard and from a faulty clearance Garner slammed the ball back into the net for number four. Play continued evenly for 15 minutes with Old Boys coming more into the picture, playing some attractive football midfield, but petering out in front of goal. Then they struck twice in as many minutes, Walter Halbard got the first when he ran in and deflected a centre past the Trimpell keeper. Pete Hardisty made it two when he ran on to a lovely through ball from Peter Bleasdale and scored with a fine drive. Trimpell were hard pressed now, and only sterling work by centre half Marshall and their keeper kept the goal hungry Old Boys forwards out. Old Boys seemed to be doing things in two s for they again scored two in two minutes, and again it was Walter Halbard who found the net, bundling the ball over the line by sheer enthusiasm. The same player scored his third and his side s equaliser with a long centre cum-shot from the touchline. On the restart both sides pressed hard for a decider, and it was Smith who put Trimpell into the lead when he lobbed a spinning ball past Bill Aspinall. Old Boys fought like tigers, but could not get an equaliser until Terry Ainsworth headed home a centre from Dougie Holt. Jimmy Woods hit the Trimpell crossbar with a great drive and the game ended with both sides thankful to have salvaged a point. 36

41 Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys 5 Galgate 1 Lads Club Old Boys returned to their winning sequence at Aldcliffe Road when they decisively beat Galgate 5-1 in a match which never rose to great heights. The villagers kicked off facing a slight breeze but it was Old Boys who made the running and Terry Ainsworth and Jimmy Woods were prominent on the left. From one of Jimmy Woods centres Jimmy Fagan gave Old Boys the lead but it was short lived for Galgate fought back strongly and Kitchen equalised. For a time Galgate looked anything but a team in the bottom position in the league, and Lads Club were relieved when Walter Halbard put them back on top, scoring from a rebound off the post. On the restart Galgate harnessed the now strong wind and pressed hard for a period but Old Boys got back on top and Pete Hardisty made it 3-1 with a grand solo effort, although minutes later at the other end Dickie Danson rolled the ball across the goal line with no other forward able to get a touch. Pete Hardisty made it 4-1 after Jimmy Fagan s shot had hit the crossbar and the fifth came when Terry Ainsworth beat two defenders on the left and centred for Walter Halbard to head a grand goal. Dry Dock United 0 Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys 2 This was a typical top-of-the-table game with a cup-tie atmosphere prevailing from the start. Lads Club defence were over anxious for quite a spell in which Dry Dock failed to take advantage. In the first minute Dock centre forward George Millings went through unhindered only to shoot wide from 18 yards. Within five minutes the same player had a similar chance smothered by Bill Aspinall in the Old Boys goal. As the game progressed the Old Boys defence steadied but it was still Dry Dock with a more direct approach who looked more likely to score, but their finishing was weak, and it was the league leaders who opened the scoring from a right wing approach which found the Dock defence effecting a clearance which Walter Halbard immediately headed goalwards, and with the keeper expecting the ball to go out of play Jimmy Fagan completed a neat back header into an empty goal. This stung Dry Dock into some strong and direct thrusts down the middle and left wing, with John Corless flashing some dangerous looking crosses with no Dry Dock forward on hand to force them home. Just before half-time Jimmy Woods made it two for the Old Boys, when following up, he beat the Dock s goalkeeper for possession and rounding him put the ball into an empty net. In the second half a much more confident Lads Club never looked like losing but there was no more scoring. Had Dock taken most of their first half chances they could have finished possible winners but once they had got into their stride the Old Boys always looked full value for their two points. Cartmel 0 Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys 5 Last minute substitute at outside right in the Old Boys team, Geoff Bell celebrated his return with two goals and had a hand in another. But apart from personal success this was a game won by good all round team work and spirit, thus avenging a defeat at the hands of the Furness team earlier in the season. Cartmel won the toss and gave Old Boys the aid of a strong wind, but they failed to turn it to advantage, despite the number of corners they gained. Play was rarely in the Old Boys half and Bill Aspinall in goal must have felt like a spectator. It took a penalty for hands to put Old Boys in the lead, Jimmy Fagan being the scorer. 37

42 A feature of this half was the handling of the Cartmel keeper. One save he made from Geoff Bell was really great. Just before half time Geoff Bell got the Old Boys second when he beat two Cartmel defenders in a race for the ball and walked it into the net. Cartmel came out after the interval full of confidence hoping to harness the wind to more advantage than the visitors. However their hopes were dashed because Old Boys played much better football against the wind. They kept the ball on the ground more and it was no surprise when Jimmy Fagan wormed his way through the Cartmel defence to score with a hard shot to make it 3-0. Terry Ainsworth made it four when he volleyed home a body high centre from Geoff Bell and the outside right completed the scoring from a penalty after he had been brought down on the way to goal. Every credit to the referee for his firm handling of this game. The North Lancashire and District League s first trial match to select a side to represent them in the L.F.A. Youth Inter-League competition will be staged tomorrow between the following teams on the Lancaster and Morecambe Technical College Workshops ground, Morecambe Road. A Team B Team Goalkeeper D Harvey (Hest Bank) C Timperley (Red Rose) Right Back W Wylie (Morecambe) G Atkinson (Red Rose) Left Back H Murphy (Red Rose) F Woodhouse (Hest Bank) Right Half C Wright (Morecambe) D Nicholson (Skerton Old Boys) Centre Half A Langridge (Morecambe) Capt M O Neill (Hest Bank) Capt Left Half S Robertson (Carnforth) A Pegg (Carnforth) Outside Right B Holmes (Red Rose) K Baldwin (Skerton Old Boys) Inside Right T Ainsworth (Lancaster Lads Club) R Emery (Newton Juniors) Centre Forward M Smith (Red Rose) M Croft (Morecambe) Inside Left T Webb (Morecambe) I Fernie (Carnforth) Outside Left N Muckalt (Red Rose) T Leader (Carnforth) The N.L. League stages its final trial game for selection of the team to represent it against Blackpool on the ground of Storeys Football Club at Springfield Park, Ashton Road, Lancaster, tomorrow when the opposition will be provided by Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys Reserves. The team will be selected from: Goalkeeper Dave Harvey (Hest Bank Juniors) Right Back Billy Wylie (Morecambe Juniors) Left Back F. Woodhouse (Hest Bank Juniors), Harry Murphy (Red Rose B C) Right Half Chris Wright (Morecambe Juniors), Mick Murray (Red Rose Boys Club) Centre Half Alan Langridge (Morecambe Juniors), Tommy Jordan (Caton Juniors) Left Half Barry Longton (Lancaster Lads Club Juniors) Outside Right Keith Baldwin (Skerton Old Boys), Brian Holmes (Red Rose Boys Club) Inside Right Terry Ainsworth (Lancaster Lads Club) Centre Forward Mal Smith (Red Rose Boys Club) Inside Left Trevor Webb (Morecambe Juniors) Outside Left Nodder Muckalt (Red Rose Boys Club) 38

43 The result of the trial game was: North Lancashire League Juniors 3 Lancaster Lads Club Reserves 0 North Lancashire League Juniors 0 Blackpool Association of Boys Clubs 1 Trimpell Football Club s well appointed ground at Out Moss Lane, Morecambe, will be the venue for the Lancashire Football Association s 1st round Youth Inter League match between teams representing the North Lancashire League and the Blackpool Association of Boys Clubs. The North Lancashire League side will include boys from many of the league s junior league teams, including boys from Lancaster, Morecambe, Caton and Hest Bank. All selected players and reserves are requested to attend at the Red Rose Boys Club, St. George s Quay, Lancaster on Thursday, February 18th, at 7p.m. for a talk with the team manager and for a training session The selected team is: Goalkeeper Dave Harvey (Hest Bank) Right Back Billy Wylie (Morecambe Juniors) Capt Left Back F. Woodhouse (Hest Bank) Right Half Mick Murray (Red Rose Boys Club) Centre Half Tommy Jordan (Caton United Juniors) Left Half Barry Longton (Lancaster Lads Club Juniors) Outside Right Brian Holmes (Red Rose Boys Club) Inside Right Terry Ainsworth (Lancaster Lads Club Juniors) Centre Forward Mal Smith (Red Rose Boys Club) Inside Left Trevor Webb (Morecambe Juniors) Outside Left Nodder Muckalt (Red Rose Boys Club) Reserves Alan Langridge (Morecambe Juniors) Harry Murphy (Red Rose Boys Club) Chris Wright (Morecambe Juniors) By the only goal a North Lancashire League Junior XI was beaten by a Blackpool Association of Boys Clubs team in the first round of the Lancashire Football Association s Inter League competition at Trimpell F. C. ground, Out Moss Lane, Morecambe, on Saturday. It was an interesting encounter which produced good football but the Blackpool boys got the all important goal. 39

44 North Lancashire & District Football League, , Under 18 s Back Row (L- R) Front Row (L- R) A.N.Other, Terry Ainsworth, Alan Langridge, Mick Murray, Sam Price, Trevor Webb, Dave Harvey, Tommy Jordan, A.N.Other, F. Woodhouse, Alec Singleton, Chris Wright, John Bagot, Mr Miller. Nodder Muckalt, Mal Smith, Billy Wylie, Brian Holmes, Barry Longton. Lancaster Moor Hospital 4 Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys 0 Though the ball did not run kindly for them, Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys, Division 1 North Lancashire League leaders, were soundly beaten by Lancaster Moor Hospital on the Far Moor on Saturday. This was the Old Boys first league defeat since October 3rd last year. Old Boys kicked off facing a strong sun and made most of the running in the early stages when the Moor Hospital had some narrow escapes, Terry Ainsworth hit the cross bar twice with a header and a left foot drive and Walter Halbard hit the post from the rebound. Ex-Lancaster City and former Old Boys keeper, John Webster twice flung himself at Jimmy Fagan s feet when the centre forward eluded the clutches of Moor s veteran centre half Simon Brown. However, it was Moor who took the lead. Centre forward Stephenson broke away on the right and his low centre was deflected into the net by Alan Newton, attempting a clearance. The home side s second came 10 minutes later when Stephenson shoved the ball back to Jackie Wilkinson, whose left foot drive from fully 30 yards deceived Bill Aspinall who seemed hampered by the glare of the sun. After the interval Old Boys appeared determined to wipe off the two goal deficit. However, the harder they tried the worse the game went for them whereas on the other hand, Moor established a firm grip and more or less dictated matters. They played some lovely football and it was no surprise when Stephenson made it 3-0 with a header. The nearest Old Boys came to scoring was from a 40

45 header by Terry Ainsworth which went past the far post. With five minutes to go Stephenson completed the scoring when he went through again on his own to pick his spot, making no mistake with a right foot shot. A good clean game with Moor deserving their victory, although had the ball run for Old Boys in those first 15 minutes there is no telling what might have happened. Lancaster Moor Hospital: Webster; Preston, Bound; Howell, Brown, Woodhouse; Short, Wilkinson,Stephenson, Townley, Rooke Lads Club Old Boys: Aspinall; Richardson, Newton; Bleasdale, Bradley, Bamber; Bell, Halbard, Fagan, Ainsworth, Woods Storeys 1 Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys 5 Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys returned to form with a vengeance on Saturday and beat Storeys 5-1 at Springfield Park, to avenge a defeat earlier in the season at the hands of the works side. The league leaders were hardly recognisable as the same team which went down 4-0 the previous week, and a highlight in an all round team performance, was a three goal feat from outside left Jimmy Woods. Storeys, who could have done themselves a good turn in the league championship race, never gave up trying, but once the Old Boys had got their third goal, just before half time the issue was virtually decided. The home team kicked off down the slope on a pitch that was firm but slippery on top. Straightaway, Old Boys conceded a free kick, but it came to nothing and for 15 minutes play was fairly even, until Old Boys went into the lead through a fine goal by Jimmy Woods. The outside left picked up a ball from Peter Bleasdale and scored with a speculative lob from fully 30 yards. Five minutes later Terry Ainsworth put the Old Boys two up when he cleverly placed himself to head past Booth in a goalmouth mix-up. This stung Storeys into action and G. Atkinson reduced the arrears, taking advantage of a defensive mix-up to score an opportunist goal. Play went to the other end and Geoff Bell put a free kick just wide of the Storeys goal. Ten minutes before half time Walter Halbard, with his back to goal, surprised Booth when he swivelled round to convert a centre from Jimmy Fagan. On the restart Old Boys threatened to over-run the Storeys goal for almost straightaway Geoff Bell, receiving from Terry Ainsworth, centred to the far post and Jimmy Woods was on hand to make it 4-1. There was no more scoring until 15 minutes from the end, when a corner by Geoff Bell was headed by Dave Bamber on to Jimmy Fagan, who slipped the ball out to Jimmy Woods. The outside left beat two defenders before driving the ball past Booth to score his own third and complete the scoring. Storeys: Booth; Richardson N., Heaysman; Ashworth, Wilson, Seward; Holden, Pedder, Atkinson G., Marshall, Williams Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys: Aspinall; D. Richardson, Newton; Bleasdale, Bradley, Bamber; Bell, Halbard, Fagan, Ainsworth, Woods Lower Holker 2 Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys 0 Lower Holker became the second Furness team to knock the Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys out of a cup competition this season, when they defeated the league leaders in a fourth round N.L. League Senior Challenge Cup game. Previously Cartmel put the Old Boys out of the Senior Charity Cup. 41

46 Weakened by the absence of Jimmy Fagan (injured) and Terry Ainsworth (playing for the North Lancashire League Representative XI), Old Boys made three changes, and although they had the advantage of a strong wind, took a long time to settle down. Holker took the lead after 20 minutes when Lloyd Saunders headed past Bill Aspinall from a right wing cross. The ball struck the inside of the upright and bounced down on the line into play again, but despite protests by the Old Boys, the referee took no notice of the linesman s upraised flag and the goal stood. Play continued fairly evenly but as the game went on, Old Boys became bogged down in the mud, whereas the home side, physically stronger, revelled in the conditions. The second half was much the same pattern, with Holker using the long ball to advantage, and Old Boys playing some good football, but woefully weak in front of goal. Certainly the Holker keeper was rarely tested. Holker increased their lead with ten minutes to go, again from a header from their centre forward this time after a left wing cross. They nearly got a third but Bill Aspinall flung himself at a forward s feet, when in the act of shooting. Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys: Aspinall; Richardson, Newton; Merrill, Bradley, Bamber; Bell, Halbard, Bleasdale, Anderson, Woods Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys 6 Milnthorpe Corinthians Reserves 0 Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys strengthened their first division championship prospects when they soundly defeated a lively Corinthians reserve team by 6-0. The match was marked by the appearance of ex-lancaster and Netherfield player, Jimmy Downham, playing his first game of the season for the Old Boys at centre forward with Jimmy Fagan still injured but Terry Ainsworth resumed his position at inside left to add creativity and firepower to the forward line. Although Old Boys outplayed their opponents at times the match was not void of interest. Milnthorpe, a young side, with one or two experienced players, always played football of the highest order, and more than once had the Old Boys defence on the hop. Old Boys first goal was scored by Jimmy Downham when he finished off a move instigated by himself and Terry Ainsworth, with a well placed left foot shot. The next two came from outside left Jimmy Woods, one of them a real pile driver from just inside the area, and goals in the second half came from Geoff Bell (2), who also scored one from 25 yards and Walter Halbard. Every credit to the Milnthorpe team for the sporting manner in which they played the game, the referee could hardly have had an easier afternoon. Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys: Aspinall; Richardson, Newton; Bleasdale, Bradley, Bamber; Bell, Halbard, Downham, Ainsworth, Woods Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys 0 Bolton-le-Sands 0 By taking a point in a goalless draw at Aldcliffe Road from Bolton-le-Sands, Lads Club Old Boys made certain that only inferior goal average can rob them of the first division championship. They could and should have made certain of winning it outright on Saturday, but time and time again a coat of paint robbed them from scoring in the first half. 42

47 However, a resolute Bolton-le-Sands team, realising after half time that they were in the game with a chance, threw off their defensive attitude and gave the home team some anxious moments, indeed Old Boys were thankful for a point when the final whistle went. Although there was no scoring, the match was not void of interest and always played at a fast pace. Bolton-le-Sands were pinned down in the first half and were lucky when shots from Geoff Bell and Terry Ainsworth scraped the woodwork and hit the side netting. But when they did get away they made progress down the middle using the long ball. On the restart Old Boys tried making switches in attack and although they pressed hard they couldn't pierce the resolute Bolton defence. On the other hand, the visitors came more into the game and Bill Aspinall had to save one handed when a goal looked inevitable. Old Boys effort for a winning goal bordered on the frantic at times. Indeed that may have been why they didn t score. Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys 1 Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys Reserves 0 Lancaster Lads Club Reserves were the more impressive side against their club s senior side in the first half of this fourth round North Lancashire Memorial Cup match and had more of the play in a goalless first half. Nevertheless the reserves found gaps in the senior s defence and Bill Aspinall brought off some good saves from shots by Geoff Bell and Tommy Anderson. The second half followed much the same pattern as the first and although Malcolm Mangham held his forward line well together, they failed to finish off. As the game progressed it became obvious that the first team to score would win. In this case fortune smiled on the seniors. With 15 minutes to go Jimmy Downham brought a centre from Jimmy Woods under control and floated it into the top corner of the net, the wind seeming to dip the ball under the bar when it had all the appearances of going over. Walter Halbard did have the ball in the net again, only to have it disallowed for some infringement. For the seniors, Bill Aspinall performed well in goal, and for the reserves, a grand rearguard of Whitecross, Richardson, Merrill and Ward did not deserve to be on the losing side. 43

48 Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys and their Reserves prior to the 4th round Memorial Cup tie Back Row (L- R) M Mangham, L. Merrill, J. Ward, G. Bell. K. Whitecross, B. Aspinall, J.Downham, L.Sallis, A. Newton, R. Bradley. Middle Row (L- R) W.Leece, A N Other, D. Richardson, B. Huntington, D. Bamber, W. Halbard, J. Woods, T.Ainsworth. Front Row (L- R) A N Other, T.Anderson, P.Hall, P. Bleasdale, J.Fagan. 44

49 Lower Holker 0 Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys 1 A grand win for the Old Boys, who because of regular wing half Peter Bleasdale getting married, had to bring in Jack Wyeth for his first senior game. This meant a switch round of the defence to accommodate him, but what a success this defence was. With superb covering of one another they denied Holker one direct shot at goal, and Bill Aspinall was only troubled when having to come out to smother the through ball. Terry Ainsworth and Walter Halbard were the first to get in good direct shots from 25 yards out but both were wide. Midway through the first half, Jimmy Downham, chasing a long ball from his own goalkeeper, managed to hook the ball home from 20 yards, the ball going in off the post. Just before half time, Dave Bamber, bringing the ball through, loosed a hard ground shot, and the Holker centre half in attempting to clear almost sliced it into his own net but his keeper was on hand to save. A half time switch of forwards quickened the Old Boys attack but Holker s keeper brought off some grand saves from Terry Ainsworth and Jimmy Downham and then in a sustained spell of pressure midway through the half, Holker tried to draw level, but the Old Boys defence covered well and this time it was Alan Newton, probably the best defender on view, who headed out from under the bar. The Old Boys swept to the other end with wing to wing play only to see Jimmy Downham crash the ball against the post. Brilliant goalkeeping by Holker s young keeper foiled the Old Boys, although they were denied a goal when Jimmy Fagan sidefooted a pass from Jimmy Woods into an empty goal, only for Jimmy Downham to be given offside. Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys 2 Lower Holker 2 For the first time in the club s association with the North Lancashire and District League, Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys are champions of the first division. They made certain of this when they obtained a point at the expense of Lower Holker in a game which, due mainly to a light ball and blustery conditions, coupled with the urgency of the Old Boys to gain a point never reached great heights. Nevertheless it was a hard fought game between two old rivals, with a cup tie atmosphere prevailing throughout. When the Old Boys composed themselves and tried to play football, they certainly gave the Holker defence some anxious moments. However it was Holker who took the lead after 20 minutes, when a long ball through the middle had the Old Boys defence leaving it to each other, the ball bouncing over the oncoming Bill Aspinall s head, with the Holker inside left nipping in to put his side one up. Old Boys retaliated and Jimmy Woods, receiving great service from Terry Ainsworth, put across some dangerous centres but generally the Old Boys efforts were thwarted by a fine Holker rearguard. After the interval Old Boys launched attack after attack and it was no surprise when Walter Halbard got the equaliser, lobbing the ball over the keeper s head, after good work by Terry Ainsworth. Five minutes later Old Boys were cock-a-hoop when Jimmy Woods low centre across the goalmouth was deflected to Geoff Bell who crashed the ball into the back of the net. However this lead was short-lived, for Holker came back strongly for their outside right to equalise. Holker s goal had a near escape when, after Jimmy Fagan s header hit the crossbar, the ball bounced into the grateful keeper s hands.. A clean, hard fought game, with Holker playing as though they were playing for the league championship as well, making Old Boys fight all the way. 45

50 Lads Club Old Boys: Aspinall; Sallis, Newton; Richardson, Bradley, Bamber; Bell, Halbard, Fagan, Ainsworth, Woods Lancaster Moor Hospital 1 Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys 3 A fine hat-trick by Lads Club Old Boys centre forward Jimmy Fagan, put his team in the final of the league's Memorial Cup competition, when they beat Moor Hospital 3-1 at Christie Park on Saturday. Old Boys thus avenged a defeat by the Hospital side in the same competition on the same venue last season. For only one period in the match did the Hospital side look as though they were really going to get on top. That was when Jackie Wilkinson had made the score 1-1 when he converted a disputed penalty, and for a time, the Hospital got the run of the ball but Old Boys regained their composure, in fact it made them go all out to clinch the game and Moor have John Webster to thank for on three occasions the ex-lancaster City keeper flung himself at oncoming forwards feet with the goal at their mercy. Old Boys opened the scoring after 25 minutes when Jimmy Downham, receiving from Terry Ainsworth, crossed the ball to Jimmy Fagan, who brought it under control quickly and crashed it past John Webster from 18 yards out. Then after 15 minutes of the second half came Moor s equaliser, but Jimmy Fagan made it 2-1 when he picked up a ball from Jimmy Woods to place it past John Webster, and the same player made it 3-1 when he lobbed the ball cleverly over the oncoming keeper s head to complete his hat-trick. Bill Aspinall thwarted a late Moor attack when he flung himself at Stephenson s feet. Lads Club Old Boys: Aspinall; Sallis, Newton; Bleasdale, Bradley, Bamber; Downham, Halbard, Fagan, Ainsworth, Woods Lancaster Moor Hospital: Webster; Preston, Bound; Howell, Brown, Woodhouse: Short, Wilkinson, Stephenson, Townley, Rooke Before the semi-final of the Memorial Challenge Cup against Lancaster Moor Hospital, Jimmy Downham took Jimmy Fagan to one side and told him not to lay off Simon Brown but to lean on him and not give him any time or space. Simon was one of the best players of his generation and was a skilful and polished player. During the game Jimmy kept backing into Simon and the advice he got from Jimmy worked perfectly as he went on to score a hat-trick and put the Old Boys into the final. The final of the Memorial Challenge Cup was played at Christie Park, Morecambe against Galgate and after a great game the Lads Club Old Boys won by 2-1 with goals from Terry Ainsworth and Jimmy Fagan although the game went to extra time before a winner could be declared 46

51 North Lancashire League Division I P W D L F A Pts Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys Storeys Dry Dock United Caton United Bentham Wanderers Lower Holker Lancaster Moor Hospital Trimpell Bolton-le-Sands Cartmel & District Galgate Milnthorpe Corinthians So my first season in senior football ended on a high note but the final game against Cartmel that we won 7-2 included an incident that was not uncommon in my life. I loved football and there were very few players that I disliked but Walter Halbard and Vince Bound were the only two on that very short list. Walter was a very average player who sucked up to Jimmy Downham and the committee members to keep his place and against Cartmel I told him what I thought of him in no uncertain terms, suggesting where he might stick the blue shirt. Jimmy Fagan, as usual, tried to calm me down but to no avail, my Italian ancestry had left me with a spark of fire that although not easily ignited was never very far from the surface. I had a conversation with Joe Mashiter after an earlier game against Caton United and he was another passionate football fan who had played for Caton in the 1920 s and never missed watching a game. He said that if I ever wanted to play for Caton he would remunerate me with boot money to smooth the transition so it was that incentive that sent me back to the village of my birth and where I still lived. 47

52 Photograph taken at Lancaster Lads Club Headquarters, Dallas Road, Lancaster (Blue Shirts with White Sleeves and White Shorts) Back Row (L- R) Front Row (L- R) Dick Bradley, Les Sallis, Jimmy Fagan, Bill Aspinall, Peter Bleasdale, Jimmy Downham, Gerry Jones (Referee). Bill Leece, Terry Ainsworth, Alan Newton, Dave Bamber, Walter Halbard, Jimmy Woods, Tony Wyeth 48

53 Chapter 5: The Fourth Year A fter deciding to go and sign for Caton at the age of 18 we moved from the village to live in Lancaster at my paternal Grandparents house on Cable Street and there was another surprise waiting when Albert Dainty, ex Preston North End, Lancaster and Morecambe player-manager surprisingly contacted my father. From memory the letter went as follows: Dear Frank, I have watched Terry s progress for some time and my contact at Blackburn Rovers tells me they were sorry to lose him during last season due to travel difficulties and work commitments. His play last season with the Lads Club Old Boys confirmed that he is capable of playing at a higher level and I would like him to come with me to Stockport County for a trial. If all goes well I can also arrange for him to train at Preston North End rather than have him travel to Manchester every week. Let me know what Terry wants to do and I will call round and see you both. Regards Albert Stockport County weren t the only club to contact me as approaches were also received from Crewe Alexandra and Bury but after talking with Albert I forgot the problems of last season and signed for Stockport after another successful trial in South Manchester. I don t know why I thought things would be different travelling to Stockport rather than Blackburn but logic seemed to take a back seat as I made a bad decision. Two very good games for the A team saw me promoted to the Reserves and I m sure I played in the same team as Geoff Slack, a former Morecambe player, but can t be sure. The same old problems of travelling to Stockport soon arose however and I was starting to miss the social life back in Lancaster so I packed it all in and returned to play for Caton, yes, I know, a bad mistake. Training at Preston was also difficult as I didn t know any of the lads and wasn t playing with them on Saturday afternoon, pointless really. It was sort of ironic that at about the same time as I was playing for Stockport Reserves my great friend Alan Spavin was making his debut for Preston North End against Arsenal and scoring a goal in a 2-1 win. Albert Dainty still didn t give up though and as late as November 1960 he came to watch me play for Caton in a 49

54 Lancashire Junior Shield 2 nd round fixture against Lancaster Lads Club conquerors, Layton Institute, that ended 4-4 with Malcolm Strickland and myself sharing the goals. After the game I had to tell Albert that my days of travelling long distances and playing with a team of strangers were at an end so we shook hands and parted as friends. The results of the season are listed next followed by a few match reports that were available and of course the report of the tragic death of Malcolm Strickland in late North Lancashire League Division I Opponent Result Scorers Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys (H) 3-1 Ainsworth, Strickland, Brown Storeys (A) 5-4 Lancaster Moor Hospital (H) 7-2 Galgate (A) 2-1 Bolton-le-Sands (A) 10-1 Milnthorpe Corinthians (H) 11-0 Ainsworth (5), Strickland (2), Brown (2), Bargh, Guy Storeys (H) 5-0 Strickland (3), Brown, Ainsworth Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys (A) 1-5 Strickland Bulk St Annes (H) 12-0 Strickland (4), Ainsworth (3), Bargh (2), Sanderson, Brown, Guy, Trimpell (A) 6-1 Brown (2), Bargh (2), Fairclough, Guy Lower Holker (A) Lancaster Moor Hospital (A) 4-1 Ainsworth (2), Strickland, Brown Bolton-le-Sands (H) 8-2 Strickland (3), Ainsworth (2), Brown (2), Bargh Dry Dock United (A) 1-1 Strickland Trimpell (H) 5-0 Strickland (3), Ainsworth (2) Skerton Athletic (H) 12-0 Strickland (5), Ainsworth (3), Brown, Sanderson, Fletcher, Bargh Galgate (H) 4-3 Strickland (2), Bargh, Ainsworth Bentham Wanderers (A) 7-4 Brown (2), Strickland (2), Ainsworth (2), Fletcher Cartmel (A) 3-4 Fairclough, Strickland, Ainsworth Dry Dock United (H) 2-3 Brown, Strickland Cartmel (H) 3-4 Ainsworth, Sanderson, Bargh Bulk St Annes (A) 2-1 Brown, Guy Skerton Athletic (A) 6-0 Ainsworth (3), Strickland (2), Fletcher Bentham Wanderers (H) 5-0 Strickland (3), Guy, Ainsworth Lower Holker (A) 3-0 Sanderson, Bargh, Brown Lower Holker (H) 6-1 Ainsworth (3), Strickland, Fletcher, Guy Milnthorpe Corinthians (A) 4-3 Strickland (3), Ainsworth 1 Abandoned after 40 minutes 50

55 Cup Competitions Round Opponent Result Scorers Senior Charity Cup Second (H) Storeys 2-4 Ainsworth, Strickland Senior Challenge Cup Second (H) Lindale 6-0 Strickland (4), Ainsworth (2) Third (H) Milnthorpe Corinthians 5-0 Ainsworth (3), Strickland, Brown Fourth (H) Carnforth BRSA 5-3 Strickland (3), Ainsworth (2) Christie Park Lower Holker 0-2 Memorial Challenge Cup Third (A) Hest Bank 7-0 Fourth (H) Dry Dock United 1-5 Bargh Lancashire Junior Shield Strickland (3), Ainsworth (2), Brown, Guy Second (A) Layton Institute 4-4 Strickland (2), Ainsworth (2) Second - Replay (H) Layton Institute 2-0 Strickland, Ainsworth Third (A) Vickers Sports Club 0-2 Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys 5 Caton United 1 Caton United surrendered their proud 100 per cent unbeaten record when they were beaten by last year s champions, Lads Club Old Boys, at Aldcliffe Road. Although the score-line reflects Old Boys superiority in the second half, the ball certainly ran kindly for them in the first half when their goalkeeper Bill Aspinall was in action much more than his opposite number. Caton started off brightly and Ronnie Bargh and Malcolm Strickland went near. Terry Ainsworth too shot over the bar with the Old Boys defence appealing for offside. Old Boys drew first blood through Jimmy Fagan who after dribbling round goalkeeper Jonty Hinde saw his shot saved by a Caton defender. The centre forward made no mistake from the resultant penalty. Old Boys went near again when a flashing header by Walter Halbard from a Jimmy Woods centre just missed the upright. On the restart Caton were pinned back in their own half and Jimmy Fagan picked up a clearance from Bill Aspinall and veered to the left of the goal before picking his spot to put Old Boys 2-0 up. Minutes later it was 3-0 when a shot from Roy Cunliffe was deflected into the net by a Caton defender. Caton hit back and Malcolm Strickland reduced the arrears after a spell of sustained pressure, and within a matter of minutes Bill Aspinall made two point-blank saves from Ronnie Bargh. Old Boys returned to the attack and Jimmy Fagan headed them into a 4-1 lead after Roy Cunliffe s shot had come back off the crossbar. Jimmy Woods got Old Boys fifth when he ran onto a lovely cross ball from Tommy Anderson and beat Jonty Hinde with a left foot drive. A grand game that had all the atmosphere of a cup-tie was well controlled by referee Harold Osliffe. Caton United: Hinde; Carruthers, Irving; Fletcher, Fairclough, Sanderson; Brown, Ainsworth, Strickland, Bargh, Guy Lads Club Old Boys: Aspinall: Richardson, Newton: Bleasdale, Merrill, Bamber: Cunliffe, Anderson, Fagan, Halbard, Woods 51

56 Towards the end of the season we went to play Corinthians at Milnthorpe knowing we had to win to maintain our challenge for the Division 1 title. We had beaten them comfortably twice already this season and were confident of getting a result. Maybe the fact that I had scored eight goals in two previous games against Milnthorpe resulted in them giving me a tough time because from the start of the game I was constantly kicked from behind and not only was I getting annoyed but the rest of my team-mates were also incensed. My recollection is that towards the end of the first half after scoring our opening goal, we were losing and I finally retaliated. Harold Osliffe called me over and said, I m sorry Terry but I have to send you off. Meanwhile all around Harold and me was mayhem, Dougie Procter was sparring up to two or three Corinthians players while Eric Croft (our linesman) had jumped on the back of a Milnthorpe player and was hitting him with the flag. The rest of the Caton team took up aggressive postures and for a while it didn t look like the game would continue. Some of my colleagues escorted me to the dressing room and then returned to the pitch. At this time we were losing either 1-2 or 1-3. The half time whistle soon went to allow tempers to subside and at the restart Caton tore into Milnthorpe, who didn t know what hit them. Malcolm Strickland scored a hat trick and we won 4-3. The Caton team left the dressing room together to get on the coach which had been driven on to the field to make sure we got away safely but the atmosphere was still bristling with tension. The win kept us in the race for the Championship but in the end our failure to prevent teams scoring was to cost us the title. Harry Sanderson recalls, I also remember the game for Caton at Corinthians, late in the year, and this guy was kicking lumps out of Terry Ainsworth. It was a game we had to win to maintain our challenge for the league. Terry eventually snapped, retaliated and got sent off, but the game erupted into a riot and we locked him in the dressing room for safety. Losing at half-time, Malcolm Strickland got a second half hat-trick and we won 4-3. At the end of the game the coach had to back up to the dressing room door to get us out of Milnthorpe safely. Cartmel 4 Caton United 3 Cartmel were well worth their win against North Lancs League Division 1 leaders Caton United at Cartmel. It was a good clean hard fought game. R. Braithwaite, playing in his first game since a cartilage operation brought bite into the Cartmel attack. Caton went ahead after 10 minutes through Malcolm Strickland and after Braithwaite had struck the bar, Cartmel were awarded a penalty and F. Dawson equalised. Caton pressed after this and G. Dawson brought off some spectacular saves in the home goal. A lovely through ball by Howson gave Braithwaite the chance to put the home side ahead which he did with a grand shot. Caton then had the misfortune to have their goalkeeper, Jonty Hinde, injured and while he was off the field Howson made the score 3-1. Caton played with great spirit despite the loss of their goalkeeper, and just before half-time Terry Ainsworth made the score 3-2. From a centre by Dennis Cummings, Howson increased Cartmel s lead, but Ted Fairclough added another for Caton just before the close to make the score 4-3 in favour of Cartmel. 52

57 Outstanding players for Cartmel were G. Dawson and the wing halves Laurie and Wright who took complete control of the centre of the field. Cartmel can justifiably be called giant killers of the North Lancashire League. On Saturday they again defeated league leaders Caton by the same score. Although Cartmel were on top form they trailed at halftime 3-2. T. Wright opened the scoring for Cartmel when he lobbed a ball into the home goal to equalise a good goal by Caton inside left Terry Ainsworth. Another two goals by the home side from Harry Sanderson and Ronnie Bargh put Caton 3-1 up, but just before half-time P. Kenney scored from a fine pass. Cartmel, playing one of their best games equalised with a goal by K. Howson following a pass from J. Gaskarth, and P. Kenney scored the best goal of the match when he outpaced the Caton defenders North Lancashire League Division I P W D L F A Pts Dry Dock United Lancaster Lads Club O.B Caton United Galgate Lower Holker Lancaster Moor Hospital Storeys of Lancaster Cartmel & District Bentham Wanderers Bulk St Annes Bolton le Sands Trimpell Corinthians Skerton Athletic After a successful season with the Lads Club in , winning the League Championship and the Memorial Cup I still decided to leave and return to Caton where I was born. Joe Mashiter had asked me for many years to come home to Caton for boot money and if I hadn t I would have missed the last chance of teaming up with my great boyhood friend, Malcolm Strickland. We scored a lot of goals but we couldn t stop conceding them, a fact which in the end was to cost us the Championship. Jock Kerr, Dougie Procter, Ted Fairclough and Jonty Hinde had all been tremendous players but age was finally starting to catch up and I think that this might have been their final season in the North Lancs League. Jonty and Dougie were born in 1920 and I suppose Jock Kerr and Ted Fairclough were of a similar age so we had several veterans in the side and maybe that contributed to us falling at the final hurdle. Malcolm Strickland played centre forward and he was the best header of a ball that I ever saw. I remember three years earlier we were at a coaching session at Carnforth under Tommy Docherty and Docherty picked Malcolm out as the perfect 53

58 example of how to head a ball. In November 1961 Malcolm was killed in a bizarre accident on his 21st birthday. We had been in Morecambe celebrating his birthday and Malcolm was returning home in a car when he put his head out of the window, whether he felt ill or just wanted some fresh air we will never know because as he put his head out of the window his head hit a tree which was on the edge of the pavement on County Garage corner. I didn t find out about the accident until the next day, Malcolm died, I think on the Saturday. We lost the league on goal average to Dry Dock and the Lads Club but we scored 137 goals in the league and I m sure Malcolm scored over 50 of them. I m so glad I played that one year back home, especially with a young man who was a raw talent and loved the game of football. This report appeared in the Lancaster Guardian on November 24 th A tragic ending to 21st birthday celebrations was the death in Royal Lancaster Infirmary on Saturday night of Malcolm Strickland, a telephone technician, of Glenfield, Brookhouse Road, Caton. He suffered head injuries while travelling home in a car along Lancaster Road, Morecambe, early on Saturday morning after celebrating his birthday at a Morecambe dance. Mr Strickland, a passenger in a car being driven by Mr Frank Skelhorne (31) of Slyne Road, Bolton le Sands, is believed to have put his head out of the nearside window and been struck by a tree near the County Garage, Lancaster Road.He suffered severe head injuries. He was taken to Morecambe Hospital, but immediately transferred to Lancaster Infirmary where he died without regaining consciousness. The only son of Mr and Mrs J. R. Strickland, Malcolm was educated at Lancaster Royal Grammar School. He started work with the GPO at Lancaster, where his father is a technical officer in the electric light and power installation department, last April. Until recently he was chairman of the members committee of Caton Youth Club and was a member of Caton Cricket Club and Caton Football Club. Chairman of the club management committee, Mr I. J. Thompson, said, Malcolm put a lot of hard work into the creation of the club. He was a popular young man among the members. An inquest was opened at Lancaster on Tuesday and adjourned provisionally for a week by the coroner, Mr J. H. Jellyman, after only evidence of identification had been given by his father, Mr John Ronald Strickland, a technical officer of Post Office Telephones. Mr Strickland said Malcolm was a single man and was employed as a telephone technician at the Post Office. He worked on overhead lines. He was the only child of himself and his wife, Mrs Margaret Isabel Strickland, and was born at Hest Bank. Mr Jellyman expressed his sympathy with Malcolm s parents. Any thoughts of playing in higher grade football had now been firmly banished from my mind and to illustrate this I was approached twice in this season to play at Ingleboro (by Dougie Procter & Ted Fairclough, ex-players) and at Bentham United (by John Glaister, ex-player) but I had learned my lesson and wasn t interested in travelling to play football even though the North-West Combination was a higher league. Oddly enough this semi-professional league would fold in a few short years because of the financial problems all the teams were encountering. 54

59 Chapter 6: The Fifth Year This copy of a team sheet from December 1960 has only just come into my possession. It lists the three Lads Club teams selected to play but someone (Jimmy Fagan possibly) wrote my name above the 1 st team selection, maybe wishing that I wasn t playing for Caton United but back next to him in the forward line. We did resume our partnership for this season with spectacular results. 55

60 I missed the first game of the season because of suspension and a further nine games with a severe ankle injury later in the year. In the previous season I had been sent off at Milnthorpe whilst playing for Caton United. The one game suspension was handed down by the management committee. One of the committee men was Jimmy Brown who ran Dry Dock United and he approached me to play for them under an assumed name for appropriate expenses. I duly agreed but was quite surprised when the fixture turned out to be at Milnthorpe. The game took place with a good deal of barracking from the Corinthians fans who still remembered the fracas from the previous season and Dry Dock won 5-2. After the game Jimmy asked me to leave the Lads Club Old Boys and transfer to Dry Dock. North Lancs League Division I Opponent Result Scorers Newton Rovers (A) 5-0 Wyeth (2), Griffin, Newton, Metcalfe Cartmel (H) 5-2 Wyeth (3), Metcalfe, Halbard Storeys (A) 2-3 Ainsworth (2) Trimpell (H) 7-2 Halbard (2), Ainsworth, Holmes, Metcalfe, Woods, Townson Lancaster Moor Hospital (A) 6-1 Wyeth (3), Metcalfe (2), Ainsworth Lower Holker (H) 8-2 Ainsworth (3), Fagan (2), Woods, Metcalfe, Wyeth Bulk St Annes (A) 1-1 Ainsworth Caton United (A) 8-0 Fagan (4), Ainsworth, Metcalfe, Wyeth, Woods Lancaster Moor Hospital (H) 5-1 Ainsworth (2), Fagan (2), Metcalfe (pen) Cartmel (A) 6-0 Fagan (3), Ainsworth (2), Anderson Newton Rovers (H) 2-0 Ainsworth, Fagan Bentham (H) 4-3 Griffin, Halbard, Wyeth, Ainsworth Lansil (A) 2-4 Metcalfe (2) 1 pen Galgate (A) 2-3 Metcalfe (pen), Ainsworth Trimpell (A) 3-0 Griffin, Fagan, Ainsworth Caton United (H) 7-0 Fagan (4), Jackson, Halbard, Ainsworth Storeys (H) 7-1 Fagan (4), Jackson (2), Ainsworth Dry Dock United (A) 4-1 Fagan (3), Anderson Bolton-le-Sands (A) 5-0 Ainsworth (3), Jackson, Griffin Bolton-le-Sands (H) Fagan (2), Jackson (2), Griffin, Metcalfe Dry Dock United (H) Jackson (2), Anderson (2), Griffin (2), Metcalfe Bentham (A) Jackson (3), Metcalfe, Griffin Galgate (H) Anderson, Jackson Lansil (H) Fagan (2), Anderson, 1 og Bulk St Annes (H) 3-0 Woods (2), Merrill Lower Holker (A) 2-1 Griffin (2) 1 Did not play due to severe ankle injury 56

61 Cup Competitions Round Opponent Result Scorers Senior Charity Cup First (A) Bolton-le-Sands 3-0 Fagan (3) Second (H) Trimpell 2-0 Ainsworth, Metcalfe Lansil Cartmel 3-2 Ainsworth (2), Fagan Giant Axe Caton United 3-2 Ainsworth (2), Fagan Senior Challenge Cup Second (A) Bolton-le-Sands 4-0 Ainsworth, Metcalfe, Halbard, Fagan Third (A) Hest Bank 7-2 Ainsworth (3), Fagan (2), Metcalfe (2) 1 Fagan, Anderson, Metcalfe, Wyeth, Fourth (H) Williamsons 5-1 Newton (pen) Cork Road, Lancaster Trimpell, Morecambe Memorial Challenge Cup Dry Dock United 3-1 Griffin (2), Newton (pen) Lansil 2-1 Halbard, Jackson Third (H) Carnforth BRSA 8-2 Fourth (A) Galgate Griffin (pen) Fourth - Replay (H) Galgate Fagan, Jackson Fagan (2), Metcalfe, Ainsworth (2), Wyeth (2), Griffin 1 Griffin, Metcalfe, Wyeth, Bamber, Fifth (H) Caton United og Quay Meadow, Lancaster Trimpell, Morecambe Lancashire Junior Shield Williamsons 5-0 Ainsworth (2), Wyeth (2), Fagan Lower Holker 10-1 Fagan (3), Griffin (3), Metcalfe (2), Ainsworth, Wyeth (pen) First (H) Thornton ICI 6-2 Fagan (3), Woods, Wyeth, Ainsworth Second (H) Courtaulds (Preston) 6-2 Ainsworth (4), Woods, 1 og Third (H) Vickers Sports Club Did not play due to severe ankle injury I suffered a severe ankle injury during a long jump competition at a sports meeting and missed nine games. With intensive treatment at Lancaster City FC, arranged by Jimmy Downham, I was able to play in the Senior Charity Cup Final against Caton United during this period of recuperation. The Senior Charity Cup final on the Giant Axe against Caton United is still fresh in my mind. I was being put through a fitness test on the pitch by Jimmy Downham when the Caton United players and their supporters arrived on the ground. There was plenty of barracking from Dougie Procter, Ted Fairclough and many of their fans saying that I wouldn t last ten minutes but after about twenty minutes being put 57

62 through my paces Jimmy Downham said that I was fit to play and we went into the dressing rooms to change. The game, as you would expect was highly competitive, but I was always confident of my own ability and midway through the first half we were awarded a penalty after I had been brought down. Nobody seemed to want to take the kick so I took responsibility and promptly missed it much to the amusement and delight of the Caton contingent. We controlled the game fairly well even though it was end to end and I had scored two goals and the scores were level when with about ten minutes to go I was on the far post to receive a long cross from the left. I picked out Jimmy Fagan with my header and he scored to give us a 3-2 win and that victory was particularly sweet. Jimmy Fagan was an exceptional football player and had all the skills needed to influence any game he played in. Jimmy, incidentally, played for Storeys when the season began and scored all three goals for them when they beat us 3-2 on Springfield Park. He transferred to the Lads Club soon after that game. Competition Goals Scored Goals Conceded North Lancs League 1st Division (winners) Memorial Challenge Cup (winners) 31 8 Senior Charity Cup (winners) 11 4 Senior Challenge Cup (winners) 21 5 Lancashire Junior Shield (quarter finalists) 12 6 Total Leading goalscorers Jimmy Fagan 47 Terry Ainsworth 41 Brian Metcalfe 23 Tony Wyeth Dave Griffin Alan Jackson 14 58

63 Lads Club Old Boys 6 Courtaulds (Preston) 2 Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys, as a result of their victory on Saturday, go into the hat for the draw of the third round of the Lancashire Junior Shield. Both sets of forwards had their opposing defences in trouble, and it was the Lads ability to take scoring chances that won them the game. Courtauld s forwards had some cruel luck in front of goal but they were two down at half time due to two well taken goals by Terry Ainsworth. Courtaulds hit back after half time and reduced the arrears but Terry Ainsworth made it 3-1 and completed a well deserved hat trick. Courtaulds came back into the game and made it 3-2 with 20 minutes left but a great free kick by Woods for the Lads made it 4-2. Terry Ainsworth made it 5-2 with his own fourth goal, and a Courtaulds defender put through his own goal for the sixth. Lads Club Old Boys 6 Cartmel 0 Minus two first team players, Cartmel were no match for Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys who led 2-0 at half time. Cartmel goalkeeper Bernard Martin injured his back and Lancaster Lads scored four further goals. Ivor Martin was outstanding for Cartmel. Jimmy Fagan (3), Terry Ainsworth (2) and Tommy Anderson scored for the Old Boys. Lads Club Old Boys 0 Vickers Sports Club 2 Two goals in a minute with 10 minutes left for play ended Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys Lancashire Junior Shield run. And fantastic goals they were. The first, scored by the centre forward was screwed into the net from a seemingly impossible angle a few yards along the bye line. The second, scored by the outside right went into the net between Bill Aspinall and the near post although it looked as if the ball had gone in through a hole in the side net as indeed the Old Boys defenders claimed it had. As the game went on, it became obvious that the first team to score would win, for the Old Boys had had as much, if not more play than the bigger, more experienced Vickers. Indeed, Vickers were outplayed in the first quarter of an hour, but every credit to their defence they tackled quickly and covered each other efficiently. A great game, with less than half a dozen infringements throughout. Lads Club Old Boys: Aspinall: Richardson, Newton: Bleasdale, Bradley, Bamber: Anderson, Ainsworth, Fagan, Metcalfe, Wyeth Lads Club Old Boys 4 Bentham 3 After gaining a two goal lead just before half time at Willow Lane against Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys, Bentham centre half Frank Wheildon had the misfortune to suffer a knee injury midway through the second half and in the time remaining for play the Old Boys scored two goals to win this thrilling encounter. Eric Guy, the Bentham captain, winning the toss decided to play with a fairly strong breeze that was then blowing. Both sides settled down quickly and in the eighth minute R. Mounteer put Ray Guy in possession on the right wing. He pushed the ball inside to John Bradley who on the turn hit the ball with his left foot into the far corner of the net giving Bill Aspinall no chance to save. Brian Metcalfe, the Lads Club inside right revealed football of the highest order in the way he brought a fast swirling ball under perfect control, side-stepped Mounteer the Bentham right half and sent Dave Griffin away on the left wing with a superb pass. The winger was halted by P. Johnson just as he was preparing to centre. Lads Old Boys were now in top gear and playing fast wing to wing football bore down on the Bentham goal in search of the equaliser. Two corners on the left were beautifully placed by Dave Griffin and from the second Terry Ainsworth hit the bar 59

64 with a quickly taken shot. Brian Carter the Bentham goalkeeper cleared brilliantly when he flung himself clean across the goals to push the ball away. In succeeding attacks by the Old Boys, Brian Carter saved well from Dave Griffin, Tony Wyeth and Jimmy Fagan. Against the tight marking and hard tackling of Dave Bamber and his wing halves Peter Bleasdale and Walter Halbard, Bentham s attack found difficulty in making progress and the Old Boys goalkeeper, Bill Aspinall, was rarely called upon until with only seconds of the first half left the referee awarded Bentham a penalty and R. Mounteer scored from the spot to give Bentham a two goals lead at half time. The Old Boys attacked straight from the kick off in the second half and Walter Halbard and Peter Bleasdale, who in the first half had played rather deep, joined in the attack without making much impression on a soundly covering Bentham defence. K. Houldsworth the Bentham left back was particularly impressive. After 60 minutes however the sustained pressure of the Old Boys was rewarded when Dave Griffin from a centre by Tony Wyeth scored for them with a first time shot. Bentham came back and an attack engineered by John Bradley ended with another penalty award for them. Though he put the ball in from the spot R. Mounteer was ordered by the referee to retake it and again he scored with a fierce shot. Old Boys scored their second goal shortly afterwards when Walter Halbard netted from 20 yards. It was immediately after this that Frank Wheildon had to leave the field with a knee injury. Tony Wyeth from a Brian Metcalfe pass equalised for Old Boys with 15 minutes left for play and three minutes later Terry Ainsworth, with a flashing header, scored the winner for the Old Boys from a corner well placed by Brian Metcalfe. Lads Club Old Boys: Aspinall; Richardson, Newton; Bleasdale, Bamber, Halbard; Wyeth, Metcalfe, Fagan, Ainsworth, Griffin Bentham: B.Carter; Johnson, Houldsworth; Mounteer, Wheildon, E.Guy; R.Guy, Bradley, Moore, F. Carter, J.Carter Lads Club Old Boys 8 Carnforth British Rail Sports Association 2 Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys scored three goals in the first half of this North Lancs League Memorial Cup 3rd round tie against a reshuffled Carnforth B.R.S.A. side and they got a fourth on the restart before Edmondson reduced the arrears for Carnforth. The Old Boys added three more before Armer scored a second for B.R.S.A. Lads Club scored an eighth in the final stages. Scorers for the Lads Club were Jimmy Fagan (2), Brian Metcalfe, Terry Ainsworth (2), Tony Wyeth (2) and Dave Griffin. Lads Club Old Boys 3 Cartmel 2 The North Lancashire League Charity Cup semi-final between Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys and Cartmel produced a clean open game. Cartmel had early chances but finished badly and Terry Ainsworth and Jimmy Fagan gave the Lancaster side a two goal lead at half-time. Dennis Cummings reduced the arrears but Terry Ainsworth scored again for the Lads Club before Ivor Martin got a second for Cartmel. Bentham 0 Lads Club Old Boys 5 Bentham, on the Bowker House Ground, after holding out for the first 35 minutes gradually faded from the game and the visitors ran out easy winners by 5-0 on Good Friday morning in a North Lancashire and District League game. In the 35th minute Jimmy Woods forced the ball up the left wing and centred to Tommy Anderson who lifted the ball over to 60

65 Alan Jackson who beat Brian Carter with a neat header for the Old Boys first goal. Dave Griffin added a second goal after a further three minutes. After half-time the Old Boys added three more goals through Alan Jackson (2) and Brian Metcalfe. Bentham: B. Carter; Johnson, Houldsworth; Wilkinson, Wilcock, E. Guy; Akrigg, R. Guy, Bradley, Mounteer, J. Carter Lads Club Old Boys: Aspinall; Richardson, Newton; Bleasdale, Bamber, Halbard; Jackson, Anderson, Griffin, Metcalfe, Woods Lancaster Lads Club football teams have made North Lancashire League history by winning all four senior and one junior trophy in the season just ended. Their senior team, Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys won the Division 1 championship, the Senior Challenge Cup, the Senior Charity Cup and on Friday night beat Lower Holker 10-1 in the final of the Memorial Challenge Cup. On the same night the Lads Club Junior team won the Junior Challenge Cup by beating Red Rose Boys Club (undefeated Junior League champions) by 1-0 in the final of that competition. To crown a most successful season for the club, Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys Reserves finished runners-up in Division 2 of the North Lancashire League. North Lancs League Division I P W D L F A Pts Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys Lansil Galgate Lower Holker Caton United Cartmel & District Storeys of Lancaster Bentham Lancaster Moor Hospital Trimpell Bulk St. Annes Dry Dock United Newton Rovers Bolton- le-sands

66 Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys Club Headquarters, Dallas Road, Lancaster (blue and white stripes shirts with black shorts) Back Row (L- R) Front Row (L- R) Peter Bleasdale, Dick Bradley, Derek Richardson, Dave Bamber, Bill Aspinall, Alan Newton, Jimmy Fagan, Tony Wyeth, Dave Griffin. Tommy Anderson, Walter Halbard, Ernie Sharples, Mr Tyson (in chair), Norman Mount, Dick Brooks, George Tarney, Terry Ainsworth, Brian Metcalfe. 62

67 Chapter 7: The Sixth Year This turned out to be an unusual and eventful season. The first game against Lansil was played before the cricket season had ended and Jimmy Downham wouldn t hear of calling a game off because players were not available so the game took place with the Lads Club missing Brian Metcalfe, Dave Griffin, Alan Jackson, Dick Bradley and Alan Newton. We ended up losing to the eventual champions and although I scored a hat-trick it wasn t enough. We would only lose one more game all season (33 games) to local opposition and that was the final game of a shortened season to Lansil. Our only other defeat was to Atherton Colleries in the Lancashire Junior Shield 4 th round. The decision to play that first game with around five first team players missing cost us the league title as it went to Lansil on goal average. North Lancs League Division I Opponent Result Scorers Lansil (H) 3-5 Ainsworth (3) Heysham (H) 8-1 Griffin (4), Metcalfe (3), Fagan Holme Athletic (A) 3-2 Fagan, Ainsworth, Griffin Bentham (A) 4-3 Griffin, Fagan, Wyeth, Metcalfe Dry Dock United (H) 8-0 Metcalfe (3), Fagan (2), Griffin, Wyeth, Ainsworth Bulk St Annes (A) 5-3 Griffin (3), Metcalfe, Wyeth Trimpell (H) 6-1 Griffin (3), Fagan, Metcalfe, Ainsworth Caton United (A) 8-1 Fagan (3), Metcalfe (2), Ainsworth, Griffin, Wyeth Lower Holker (H) 8-0 Fagan (5), Ainsworth (2), Griffin Heysham (A) 7-1 Fagan (2), Ainsworth (2), Griffin, Halbard, Wyeth Bulk St Annes (H) 5-3 Griffin, Wyeth, Metcalfe, Bleasdale, Ainsworth Trimpell (H) 2-1 Wyeth, Fagan Galgate (A) 1-1 Townson Bentham Wanderers (H) 9-0 Fagan (5), Metcalfe (2), Wyeth, Jackson Galgate (H) 3-2 Fagan, Jackson, Cunliffe Lancaster Moor Hospital (A) 2-2 Jackson, Ainsworth Lansil (A) 3-1 Ainsworth (2), Metcalfe Storeys (H) 9-0 Griffin (3), Jackson (2), Ainsworth (2), Wyeth, Fagan Caton United (H) 3-0 Ainsworth (2), Griffin Lower Holker (A) 2-2 Griffin, Ainsworth Storeys (A) 7-4 Fagan (2), Ainsworth, Metcalfe, Wyeth, Griffin (2) Holme Athletic (H) 5-0 Wyeth (4), Newton Cartmel (A) 3-0 Fagan (2), Metcalfe Cartmel (H) 5-1 Ainsworth, Wyeth, Griffin, Halbard, Metcalfe Dry Dock United (A) 6-1 Fagan (2), Ainsworth (2), Metcalfe, Griffin Lancaster Moor Hospital (H) 6-4 Ainsworth (2), Fagan (2), Wyeth (2) 63

68 Senior Challenge Cup Round Opponent Result Scorers Senior Challenge Cup Third (A) Cartmel Anderson, Fagan, Cunliffe, Wyeth Fourth (A) Lindale Sports Club 6-2 Ainsworth (3), Anderson, Wyeth, Griffin Fifth (H) Lansil 1-1 Griffin Fifth - Replay (A) Lansil Anderson, Fagan Memorial Challenge Cup Second (H) Caton United 7-2 Ainsworth (3), Wyeth (3), Griffin Lancashire Junior Shield First (H) Thornton ICI 4-1 Fagan (2), Ainsworth (2) Second (A) Lancaster Moor Hospital Ainsworth (3), Fagan (2) Second - Replay (A) Lancaster Moor Hospital 7-0 Ainsworth (3), Fagan (2), Griffin, Wyeth Third (A) Lytham St Annes YMCA 3-2 Fagan, Cunliffe, Wyeth Fourth (H) Atherton Colleries Did not play due to injury 2 Game abandoned Leading goalscorers Jimmy Fagan 41 Terry Ainsworth 40 Dave Griffin 30 Tony Wyeth 23 Brian Metcalfe 19 64

69 Lads Club Old Boys 8 Heysham 1 Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys showed real championship form in this North Lancashire League Division 1 game and gave newly promoted Heysham little chance to settle.the Old Boys sparkling combination brought four goals in each half and Heysham were so occupied in defence that their forwards were seen only in breakaways.the Heysham scorer was Steele. Scorers for the Old Boys were Dave Griffin (4), Brian Metcalfe (3) and Jimmy Fagan. Lads Club Old Boys: Whitecross; Sallis, Bamber; Bleasdale, Townson, Halbard; Wyeth, Ainsworth, Fagan, Metcalfe, Griffin Heysham: Winskil; Yeoman, Wylie; Steele, Howard, Bradshaw; Cochrane, Cadman, Huddleston, Hodkin, Bowker Bentham 3 Lads Club Old Boys 4 A goal headed by their inside left, Brian Metcalfe in the 70th minute gave Lads Club Old Boys a 4-3 victory over Bentham in a keenly contested North Lancs League Division One game on the Bowker House ground, Bentham, on Saturday. Bentham failed by the odd goal after leading for the greater part of the match. Bentham took the lead in the 14th minute when John Bradley scored from a well placed centre from R. Mounteer. Lads Club replied in the 35th minute when Tony Wyeth, the Lads Club outside right put the ball across the goalmouth to Dave Griffin, who headed the ball into the net just inside the upright. Bentham struck back and in the 43rd minute regained the lead with a beautifully worked goal in which all the forwards participated and from R. Adair s pass, John Bradley scored the second goal and at half time Bentham held a 2-1 lead. Lads Club attacked at the start of the second half and after three minutes drew level when Jimmy Fagan placed the ball in the net from a Dave Griffin cross. John Bradley just missed his hat trick with a fierce drive that skimmed the crossbar in the following minute. Bentham again went ahead in the 57th minute when R.Morris went through and shot low past Ken Whitecross making the score 3-2. Five minutes later from a corner taken by Tony Wyeth, a misunderstanding in the Bentham goalmouth led to a Lads Club equaliser. Both sides strove for the winning goal and in the 70th minute, Tony Wyeth, who throughout the game had been the visitor s most dangerous forward, placed the ball perfectly for Brian Metcalfe to head home. Bentham: B.Carter; Chappell, Houldsworth; Mounteer, F.Carter, Guy; Johnson, Bradley, Morris, J.Carter, Adair Lads Club Old Boys: Whitecross; Sallis, Ward; Bleasdale, Townson, Halbard; Wyeth, Ainsworth, Fagan, Metcalfe, Griffin Heysham 1 Lads Club Old Boys 7 Though they scored first, Heysham failed to maintain their early ascendancy and were beaten by seven goals to one in this North Lancs League Division 1 game at Heysham. Miller gave Heysham the lead but a defensive slip led to the visitors equalising and they went on to score six more without reply. At half time Lads Club led 3-1. Lads Club scorers were Jimmy Fagan (2), Terry Ainsworth (2), Tony Wyeth, Dave Griffin and Walter Halbard. 65

70 Heysham: Winskil; Cadman, Bradshaw; Lee, Howard, Wylie; Miller, Hodkin, Hodgson, McMahon, Cochrane. Lads Club Old Boys: Whitecross; Ward, Timlin; Bleasdale, Bradley, Halbard; Wyeth, Ainsworth, Fagan, Metcalfe, Griffin Lytham St Annes YMCA 2 Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys 3 Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys worthily represented the North Lancashire and District Football League on Saturday when they qualified for the next round of the Lancashire Junior Shield by defeating Lytham St. Annes Y.M.C.A.away in the third round by 3 goals to 2. Jimmy Fagan, Roy Cunliffe and Tony Wyeth scored for the Old Boys. Cartmel 2 Lads Club Old Boys 4 Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys proved they had the stamina to last out a gruelling North Lancs League Challenge Cup 3rd round tie played in fog at Cartmel. Cartmel began well and were soon two goals ahead. Barker opened their score with an opportunist goal and C.Park headed home a centre by Broadhurst. The Lads Club reduced the arrears in the second half and when the score was 2-1, Howson shot over the bar from a penalty. Lads Club played clever football and added three more goals to make the score 4-2. Friday January 18 th 1963 For the first time in its history the North Lancs and District Football League experienced a completely blank day when its programme last Saturday was obliterated because of the big freeze-up which on three consecutive Saturdays has created chaos in local football circles. Not even in the big freeze of 1947, when the football season was extended until June, was the local league programme so badly disrupted. The position with outside cup and Lancashire Junior Shield commitments still to be met is serious and will require every possible co-operation if it is to be successfully completed. Last Saturday s experience was even worse than the Saturday before when four games were completed. With one team engaged in the Lancashire Junior Shield fourth round - Lads Club at home to Atherton Colleries - and two others in outside cup competitions, league officials, clubs, players and local referees were this week keeping there fingers crossed and hoping for a long slow thaw to lift the icy grip of winter and allow a full programme for the first time since before the Christmas holiday period. Three of the League s own cup competitions it is hoped will start tomorrow and a fourth round Senior Challenge Cup tie is scheduled between Galgate and Lansil. At a meeting of the League Council on Monday night it was decided that the playing of league matches for the time being should have preference along with the completion of the Senior Challenge and Memorial Cup competitions which have already been started. Lads Club Old Boys 0 Atherton Colleries 2 Members of the Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys F.C. assisted by other volunteer club members toiled all Saturday morning to make their Willow Lane pitch playable for their long delayed Lancashire Junior Shield 4th round tie against Atherton Colleries. Even then surface conditions hampered both teams but Atherton Colleries adapted themselves better to the conditions and won by two goals to nil. 66

71 Lads Club Old Boys 9 Bentham 0 Jimmy Fagan, Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys centre forward gave a sparkling display as leader of a clever forward line in scoring five out of nine goals for his side against Bentham A.F.C. in a North Lancashire and District League Division 1 game on the Willow Lane ground, Lancaster, last Saturday. Bentham s defence, though extended throughout the game never gave up trying to halt this fast moving side, whose players moved the ball first time on a frozen pitch. But for the brilliance of Brian Carter in the Bentham goal, they might have scored more goals. After eight minutes a movement down the right wing started by Jack Ward ended with Brian Metcalfe shooting low into the net for the Lads Club. Fred Carter, the Bentham centre half and P. Johnson, right back, halted a dangerous move by Terry Ainsworth and Roy Cunliffe but immediately after this Jimmy Fagan scored from a Lol Merrill pass after 26 minutes. He beat three Bentham defenders in a fine run from almost the half way line. Bentham s outside left Ken Moore tested Ken Whitecross in the Lads Club goal with a fierce shot. A well placed corner by Brian Metcalfe in the 31st minute resulted in Tony Wyeth scoring with a header. Just before half time R. Morris, the Bentham centre forward, forced his way down the right wing and from his accurate centre J. Carter grazed the bar. Lads Club went further ahead after a centre by Tony Wyeth was converted by Jimmy Fagan. Three minutes later the Lads Club centre forward from a cross by Tommy Anderson scored another with a brilliant backheader. From a centre by Roy Cunliffe the 6th goal was scored by Brian Metcalfe in the 66th minute. Jimmy Fagan scored with a grand shot (76th minute) and just on time scored his 5th goal from a perfect centre by Terry Ainsworth. Efficient service was given to the Old Boys team by Alan Jackson, Tommy Anderson and Lol Merrill who before the long lay off were the regular inside forward trio for the Old Boys reserve team. Lads Club Old Boys: Whitecross; Ward, Jackson; Anderson, Merrill, Halbard; Wyeth, Ainsworth, Fagan, Metcalfe, Cunliffe Bentham: B. Carter; P. Johnson, K. Houldsworth; E. Chappell, F.Carter, E.Guy; R. Mounteer, J. Bradley, R. Morris, John Carter, K. Moore. The Lancaster Guardian commented on the tight finish to the season as follows: Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys are making a final desperate bid for North Lancashire and District Football League Division 1 honours but are faced with a difficult task. At the beginning of this week they were 10 points behind but 5 matches in hand over leaders Lansil who have finished their league fixtures with a total of 47 points. It meant that they had to win all five matches to draw level on points and at the same time win by wide margins to beat Lansil s formidable goal average. Lads Club overcame the first of the five hurdles by beating Holme Athletic on Tuesday night but still have a long way to go. For the final league game of the season Lancaster Moor Hospital turned out their best team but we were very confident that we could beat what was statistically the worst team in the league. My ongoing saga with Vince Bound continued with him telling me that they would beat us and me telling him that I was a sure favourite to score against him. The end result was that they stopped us winning the Championship and my 2 goals against Vince were no consolation even though we won 6-4. In 18 games against Vince, he was only on the winning side once and I never stopped reminding him of that fact and that he couldn t win. It was the perfect 67

72 way to wind him up. I once commented to Terry Jackson that I thought Vince was an arrogant sod and Terry surprised me by saying the Moor Hospital players thought exactly the same way. Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys fight to retain the North Lancashire and District Football League championship has reached a dramatic stage and the title may be decided on goal average. They have one game to play, two points to gain and have to win by 4 clear goals to beat the Lansil goal average. The championship will be decided on Monday when the club side meet Moor Hospital at Willow Lane. The last encounter between these two teams resulted in a 2-2 draw. Lansil are North Lancashire and District Football League Division 1 champions. The exciting duel for league honours ended on Monday night when runners-up, Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys could not better a 6-4 win over Moor Hospital and so missed the championship for the second time in four seasons. The club side, winners of the title twice in the last four years needed to win 4-0 to snatch the lead from Lansil but Moor put paid to their hopes at an early stage by scoring two goals in the first ten minutes. I strained a groin muscle in this game and wasn t fit to play against Lansil in a Senior Challenge Cup 5 th round replay that we lost 2-3 but at the game Ken Irvine, the Lansil manager, asked if I would join them for the season. I promised to let him know in due course and later in the summer I told Ray Simpson to pass on the message that I would play for Lansil in the forthcoming season. North Lancs League Division I P W D L F A Pts Lansil Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys Bulk St. Annes Bentham Holme Athletic Trimpell Heysham Cartmel Lower Holker Galgate Caton United Storeys Dry Dock United Lancaster Moor Hospital

73 Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys Willow Lane, Lancaster (blue and white striped shirts with black shorts) Back Row (L- R) Front Row (L- R) Dick Bradley, Jack Ward, Ken Whitecross, Terry Ainsworth, Dave Griffin, Brian Metcalfe. Tony Wyeth, Peter Bleasdale, Walter Halbard. Alan Timlin, Jimmy Fagan. 69

74 Chapter 8: The Seventh Year This was a strange season in many respects as my life changed and started to go in a different direction. In March 1963 I had married Margaret Onyett, the love of my life, and in December 1963 our twin boys, Paul and David, were born and then in January 1964 I joined Her Majesty s Prison Service and started my employment at HMP Lancaster Castle. Around April 1964 I was posted to HMP Kirkham and so my participation in every Saturday game was not guaranteed. An example of this change in my daily routine came at the end of the season when we were to play Galgate in the final of the Senior Charity Cup at the Royal Albert Hospital and I was supposed to be working. Although I suggested to Ken Irvine that he play somebody else in my place he pleaded with me to try and get time off work. Once my participation was guaranteed it was decided that as I had missed a few games I would start on the right wing, a position that I had never played, mainly I think because I lacked the pace to be an effective wide player. John Bowker, a tough physical full back, would be marking me so the tactic was that I would get plenty of service from John Shuttleworth at right half and Harry Paulo at right back and then hit long balls to the far post to test the Galgate defence and take advantage of Bill Smith s prowess in the air. The tactic worked a treat and inside half an hour we were 2-0 up after Bill Smith converted two of my crosses. Bill Smith had an amazing memory and could recall with great clarity matches that he had been involved in over forty years ago. He certainly remembered this game and scoring two goals from right wing crosses. Then, if I remember rightly I switched to left half to bolster a midfield that was being hard pressed by the Silkboys. Although Galgate pulled a goal back we ran out winners by 2-1 to lift a trophy in what had been a largely disappointing season. 70

75 North Lancs League Division I Opponent Result Scorers Galgate (A) 1-0 Simpson Lower Holker (A) 4-2 Walmsley, Norris, Shuttleworth, Swift Bulk St Annes (H) 0-1 Bentham (H) 2-2 Ainsworth, Smith Cartmel (A) 6-2 Ainsworth (4), Shuttleworth, Smith Trimpell (H) 7-1 Smith (3), Palmer, Wyeth, Shuttleworth, Ainsworth Heysham (A) 2-2 Walmsley, Smith Williamsons (A) 4-1 Walmsley (2), Palmer, Smith Holme Athletic (A) 5-0 Ainsworth (3), Smith, Walmsley Trimpell (A) 4-3 Smith (2), Ainsworth (2) Lower Holker (H) 5-2 Storeys (H) 7-1 Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys (A) 3-2 Galgate (H) 2-5 Caton United (A) 1-2 Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys (H) 4-1 Williamsons (H) 2-1 Heysham (H) 2-2 Bentham (A) 2-0 Simpson, Norris Caton United (H) 4-0 Storeys (A) 4-0 Milnthorpe Corinthians (H) 0-1 Milnthorpe Corinthians (A) 1-2 Cartmel (H) 4-0 Holme Athletic (H) 3-0 Bulk St Annes (A)

76 Cup Competitions Round Opponent Result Scorers Senior Charity Cup First (A) Caton United 4-2 Second (A) Heysham 6-1 Semi-Final Holme Athletic 2-0 Sherrington Royal Albert Hospital, Lancaster Senior Challenge Cup Galgate 2-1 Smith (2) Third (A) Lancaster YMCA 4-4 Third - Replay (H) Lancaster YMCA 3-5 Memorial Challenge Cup Third (A) Caton United 4-1 Fourth (A) Williamsons 2-1 Fifth (H) Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys 5-1 Walmsley (2), Palmer, Shuttleworth Semi-Final Galgate 2-4 Palmer, Doherty Lancashire Junior Shield First (A) Ulverston Rangers 4-1 Palmer (2), Ainsworth, Smith Second (A) Carnforth Rangers 2-8 Ainsworth (2) 72

77 Carnforth Rangers 8 Lansil 2 Lansil played some attractive and purposeful football in the first half of this Lancashire Junior Shield 2nd round game and at half time held Rangers to a draw. In the second half however, Carnforth gained supremacy and were too much for Lansil who were well served by their goalkeeper, Reg Cockbain Lansil took a deserved lead in the 20th minute when Terry Ainsworth scored. Rangers equalised in the 42nd minute when J. Baldwin scored. Rangers dominated the game in the second half. J. Baldwin put Rangers into the lead in the 55th minute and in the 59th minute registered his hat trick, scoring his fourth in the 69th minute. Lansil s defence were at full stretch and their goalkeeper was applauded even by the opposition for his splendid efforts. From a breakaway Terry Ainsworth reduced the arrears with a worthy goal. In the 74th minute, however, Malcolm Smith had the ball in the Lansil net and in the 76th minute J. Baldwin brought his personal tally to five when he scored again. In the 78th minute D. Jackson increased Rangers lead and four minutes later Malcolm Smith scored Rangers eighth. Bentham 0 Lansil 2 Lansil s goalkeeper, Reg Cockbain, gave an outstanding display in which he defied an all out attack by Bentham in the last 20 minutes of this game, when the Lancaster side lost the services of one of their fullbacks and had to finish the game with ten men. Midway through the first half Ray Simpson put Lansil ahead with a fine goal. Bentham pressed until the interval but there was no further scoring. Lansil increased their lead when Colin Norris scored from a breakaway. Despite continuous pressure by Bentham in the course of which Ray Guy hit the crossbar, there was no further score. Milnthorpe Corinthians F.C. were North Lancashire and District Football League Division 1 champions. They finished with a four point lead over runners-up Galgate. Lancaster Moor Hospital became Division 2 champions with five more points than runnersup Skerton Old Boys. Morecambe A took the Division 3 title by four points from Lindale Sports Club. Junior League champions were Skerton Old Boys with 13 points from 8 games. Other cup winners and runners up were as follows: Competition Winners Runners-up Division 1 Milnthorpe Corinthians Galgate Senior Challenge Cup Trimpell Lower Holker Memorial Cup Galgate Hest Bank Senior Charity Cup Lansil Galgate Junior Charity Cup Carnforth Rangers Reserves Carnforth BRA. Parkinson Collegian Cup Lindale Lads Club Old Boys Reserves Junior Challenge Cup (Under 18 s) Skerton Old Boys LAMSA 73

78 North Lancs League Division I P W D L F A Pts Corinthians Galgate Lancaster Lads Club Lansil Bulk St Annes Bentham Lower Holker Heysham Holme Athletic Trimpell Caton United Cartmel & District Storeys of Lancaster Nairn-Williamson Lansil F.C. Old Golf Links Ground, Caton Rd, Lancaster (white shirts and black shorts) Back Row (L- R) Front Row (L- R) Harry Paulo, Colin Johnson, Reg Cockbain, Bill Smith, Ray Simpson, Terry Ainsworth. Joe Sherrington, Brian Walmsley, Ronnie Clitheroe, Tony Holman, David Akister. 74

79 Chapter 9: The Eighth Year If the second year and the ninth year were my best this one was possibly the worst because of work and an on-the-field bust-up with Reg Cockbain. Even though we finished as runners-up to Galgate in the first division of the North Lancs League I felt our performances at times were very disappointing. My old friend Ray Simpson retired from the game and even passed on his boots to me but in consequence I moved back to left half and I think that weakened our attack particularly as Lansil s problem was in scoring goals. Our goals scored total in the previous season was only 87 from 26 games and this season it would fall even further to 71 goals in 28 games. North Lancs League Division I Opponent Result Scorers Lancaster Moor Hospital (A) 0-0 Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys (A) 4-1 Bentham (H) 4-1 Galgate (H) 2-4 Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys (H) 2-1 Lancaster Moor Hospital (H) 2-1 Caton United (A) 2-2 MEECO (H) 5-1 Bentham (A) 1-0 Shuttleworth Cartmel (H) 3-3 Holme Athletic (A) 0-3 Holme Athletic (H) 2-1 Bulk St Annes (H) 3-0 Heysham (H) 7-0 Bulk St Annes (A) 4-1 Lower Holker (H) 6-1 Walmsley (2), Clitheroe (2), Akister, Sherrington MEECO (A) 4-2 Caton United (H) 1-0 Cartmel (A) 2-2 Trimpell (H) 1-0 Skerton Old Boys (H) Trimpell (A) 1-2 Milnthorpe Corinthians (H) 0-2 Heysham (A) 6-2 Galgate (A) 2-4 Skerton Old Boys (A) 1-1 Milnthorpe Corinthians (A) 1-0 Lower Holker (A) Last game played for Lansil. 75

80 Cup Competitions Round Opponent Result Senior Charity Cup Second (A) Galgate 1-1 Second - Replay (H) Galgate 2-0 Semi-Final Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys Senior Challenge Cup Third (A) Lancaster Moor Hospital 1-3 Memorial Challenge Cup Third (A) Carnforth BRSA 4-0 Fourth (A) Caton United Fourth - Replay (H) Caton United Did not play Bentham 0 Lansil 1 Bentham were rather unlucky to lose their North Lancashire and District League division 1 match at the Bowker House ground on Saturday when they were beaten in the last few minutes by a goal scored direct from a corner, which was strongly disputed by the Bentham players. The match started late owing to the non-appearance of the referee whose place was very ably filled by the Lansil linesman. Bentham had a completely re-arranged team owing to the absence of three regular members, Ken Moore, William Tatham and George Chappell. John Bradley appeared as goalkeeper and at the end of the game was warmly congratulated by members of the Lansil team for his fine display. Lansil began strongly and were soon on the attack and forced a couple of corners on the right, A. Dawber clearing one off the line, while Joe Sherrington grazed the bar with a second attempt. Bentham came near when Rex Morris hit a first time shot just over the bar from a pass by R. Mounteer. Both teams were playing at a fast pace but the defences proved much too quick for the forwards. Bentham half backs Fred Carter, Ken Houldsworth and Ricky Wright were most effective and Terry Ainsworth, Harry Paulo and Brian Foxcroft defended excellently for Lansil. Bentham improved in the second half but could make very little impression against Reg Cockbain in the Lansil goal who was ever ready to leave his goals to cover the whole penalty area. John Bradley in the Bentham goal was equal to all demands and cleared several corners with excellent judgement. Lansil were awarded a free kick just outside the penalty area and Bill Smith fired just wide. A draw appeared inevitable when with four minutes to go Lansil forced a corner on the left from which John Shuttleworth scored directly. John Bradley who pushed the ball out was adjudged to have been over the goal line in doing so. Lansil: Cockbain: Paulo, Johnson: Howes, Foxcroft, Ainsworth: Sherrington, Holman, Smith, Walmsley, Shuttleworth The game on Ryelands Park against Bulk St Annes that we eventually won 4-1 in January 1965 was played in freezing conditions on a bone hard surface. At halftime we were all gathered round on the field having an orange and a drink when Reg Cockbain called the referee over and complained that the conditions were dangerous 76

81 and the game should be called off. He tried to enlist the support of some teammates and kept on at the referee so much so that I told him to take off the goalkeeper s jersey and give it to Colin Johnson. It all ended in a blazing row and I decided there and then that my playing days with Lansil were now numbered. At this point in the season Lansil were top of the league, yet out of the remaining 13 games we only won 7, losing the league to Galgate by 4 points. After the debacle on Ryelands Park I played about six more games up until we beat Skerton Old Boys 2-1 at home. All the emotion went out of the team and the results speak for themselves. Football was, and still is, a game of emotions and I usually followed mine. A few days after the Bulk St Annes episode Barry Hanson, the Galgate manager, came to see me and asked if I would reconsider his previous approaches and come to Galgate for the start of the following season. He had asked along with a good friend of mine, Alan Jackson, at the start of this season if I would move to Galgate but I had turned him down. I only recently learned that the instigator of the approach from Galgate was in fact Dickie Danson, a player who I had admired from our Junior League days. In the event the move to Galgate proved to be the best decision I could have made. Although I suffered a career ending injury in April 1966 the season up until then had been fantastic. Galgate were the best team I ever played with and as I went back to my prefered position of inside left we had a record breaking year scoring almost 200 goals. Lansil 6 Lower Holker 1 Lansil, against a strong wind, were soon in trouble against Lower Holker who scored a goal through Barker after 45 seconds. Lansil hit back with a number of good moves which Stevens, in goal for Holker, dealt with without much trouble. Ronnie Clitheroe and Joe Sherrington went close to scoring with good efforts before Tony Holman crossed a low pass for Brian Walmsley to equalise after 20 minutes. Holker went straight into attack after the kick-off and Dawson was well tackled by Brian Foxcroft to stop a dangerous looking move. Lansil were having most of the play at this stage even against the strong wind. Ronnie Clitheroe and Tony Holman went close again with good shots but Stevens again saved well. Holker won two successive corners which Reg Cockbain dealt with in fine style and Lansil went back on the attack. Ronnie Clitheroe tried a lob from 30 yards which Stevens did well to save and a John Shuttleworth shot at goal was only just over. After the restart, Lansil with the wind advantage were soon on the attack and from a powerful Tony Holman drive, Stevens made another good save. Lansil took the lead after 65 minutes when Tony Holman, fed by Terry Ainsworth, crossed for Brian Walmsley to score from close range. Lansil were awarded a free kick which the keeper punched out but David Akister collected and scored from 18 yards to make it three. Lansil piled on the pressure and Ronnie Clitheroe was next to score from close range. Joe Sherrington made it five with a powerful free kick from 25 yards and Ronnie Clitheroe scored a sixth with a fine effort from an acute angle five minutes from the end. Lansil: Lower Holker: Cockbain; Paulo, Johnson; Shuttleworth, Foxcroft, Ainsworth; Sherrington, Walmsley, Clitheroe, Holman, Akister Stevens: Lomas, Wilson: Cowperthwaite, Paisley, Wright: Dickinson, Martin, T. Wilson, Barker, Dawson 77

82 North Lancs League Division I P W D L F A Pts Galgate Lansil Corinthians Cartmel Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys Lower Holker Lancaster Moor Hospital Caton United Skerton Old Boys Bentham Holme Athletic Trimpell MEECO Heysham Bulk St Annes

83 Chapter 10: The Ninth Year W hat a fantastic season, what a fantastic team, if I had known this was to be my last season in football I couldn t have found a better place to be. My second season with Lansil in was an overall disappointment even though we finished as runners-up to Galgate in the league. Ray Simpson had retired at the end of the previous season and I dropped back to play mainly in defence. Barry Hanson and Alan Jackson had already approached me to consider moving to Galgate and this move gave me the chance to play inside left again. I had previously played at Red Rose with Charlie Timperley, Billy Varey and Terry Oliver and knew that they were as good at their positions as anybody. In I played in the Junior League Representative team alongside Dickie Danson and had played against him many times so to say that I was a great admirer of his skills was an understatement, he was an inspirational person both on and off the field and Galgate s success in this season was built around Dickie s attributes. It seemed like Galgate would have a very strong side for the campaign and then we hit the jackpot, Gordon Haworth signed to play on the left wing and he was really the icing on the cake. Two major things happened in the season, first I got to play next to the best left winger in the league and second I suffered a major knee injury on the Giant Axe in April 1966 which all but finished me on the football field. From a performance point of view I had my best season since at the Lads Club but with Galgate I got to play box to box, scoring goals, creating goals and being involved all over the field. This team and the Lads Club team were the outstanding teams of my era and I don t believe we have seen better since. The teams from Bentham United, Ingleboro, Dry Dock United and Caton United in the years just after the war were also outstanding but that is another story. Comparing the Lads Club and Galgate teams is extremely difficult, Lads Club won 4 trophies and Galgate won 3. The Lads Club scored 193 and conceded 52 in all competitions whilst Galgate scored 196 and conceded 38 (playing 4 league games more than in ) but the statistics don t tell the full story. I think only two players from the Lads Club team would have improved the Galgate side, Derek Richardson at right full back was a real talented player attacking and defending and of course the incomparable Scouser Jimmy Fagan at centre forward. That isn t taking anything away from Alan Rogerson who never let the team down but he would retire after this season or Bill Potter who was a good centre forward and scored 25 goals in the campaign including seven against Holme Athletic but Derek and Jimmy would have taken Galgate to a level where they could have competed with the better sides in the Lancashire Junior Shield. I know that Barry Hanson and myself in the second season at Galgate tried to fill some gaps by getting goalkeeper Bernard Martin from Cartmel and Nodder Muckle at Lancaster Moor Hospital was another who came into our plans as well as Tommy Angus at Newton but more of that in the next chapter. 79

84 As we entered 1966 we were firing on all cylinders and when we hammered our closest rivals Milnthorpe Corinthians 8-2 at home on February 12 th I was at the top of my game, 24 years old and plenty of experience with another ten years in front of me or so I thought. Many years later when Barry Hanson had left the newsagent business and was selling wine he contacted me about buying a case or two. For old times sake I gave him some business and when he came to see me in the hotel we ran in Morecambe we chatted over a cup of tea and remembered this particular season. He told me something for the first time, Do you remember that brilliant game when we stuffed Milnthorpe 8-2? Well, after the game a guy came up to me and said, how old is your inside left, about 23 or 24 I replied, that s a pity but he s too old for me. He was a scout from Liverpool who was checking out the two top teams in the North Lancashire & District League League. Two months later on the Giant Axe in the Senior Challenge Cup final against Bulk St Annes, I jumped for a ball with no one near me and as I came down my left leg crumpled, leaving me with cartilage and cruciate ligament damage. From thinking I had ten years in front of me it transpired that I only had ten weeks. The next season I played some games for Galgate, mainly in defence, but I was now a one dimensional player. I could play if I was facing the ball but I couldn t turn or pivot on my left leg. When I played on a Saturday it was Wednesday or Thirsday before the swelling went down and I could walk properly again. My friend, Alan Spavin, took me to Preston North End for treatment and although the machine that they wired me up to strengthened my thigh muscles it couldn t cure what was wrong. My cartilage was shattered and I had ligament damage which meant I would need an operation. Finally the doctors operated in September 1968 when I had a left medial menisectomy and put me out of my misery, nearly two and a half years after I sustained the original injury. Ironically the knee was weaker than ever after the operation but in those days it was difficult if not impossible to get doctors to look at sporting injuries with any sort of interest. From the research I have conducted into local soccer, my conclusion is that there have been some outstanding teams in the North Lancashire League. Caton United and Bolton-le-Sands in the late 1940 s, Bentham United in the early 1950 s as well as Ingleboro and Dry Dock United, Caton United again in the late 1950 s and Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys and Galgate in the 1960 s. I think that the earlier teams were better than the 1960 s teams but it is impossible to compare sides from different eras in any standard of football. Many teams from the period between the wars must have been so talented, County Mental Hospital winning the Lancashire Junior Shield in the 1930 s for example and many local players from the 1920 s and 30 s being signed by football league clubs. Would Galgate be able to emulate a feat they accomplished almost 20 years previously, that of winning consecutive championships? Only two other clubs had achieved this since the war, Bentham United and Caton United, and they had proved to be quite outstanding teams. After Galgate won the North Lancashire and District League Division 1 championship in 80

85 , Barry Hanson the team manager, apparently still wasn t satisfied with his team and decided to defend the title by strengthening the team. The league champions had played 28 games, scoring 101 goals and conceding 45 in winning the title but they had lost in all three cup competitions. In later years Barry Hanson said, I knew that to retain the title and be more successful in the cup competitions I would have to improve our defence and score more goals. To this end I approached the Lansil captain and inside forward, Terry Ainsworth, who had been one of the best players in the league for many years to join us in the same role and signed one of the top goalkeepers in the league by adding Charlie Timperley from Morecambe A team. The icing on the cake proved to be the addition of former Morecambe outside left, Gordon Howarth, to the mix and his left wing partnership with Terry Ainsworth at inside left proved to be sensational as they contributed 69 goals between them and increased the goal tally by 50%. Charlie Timperley, an experienced and accomplished goalkeeper, completed the makeover as the defence conceded only 31 goals in 30 league games. The end product of these moves was that we successfully defended our title, something we had done previously in and , by playing a wonderful blend of attacking football which was backed up by the best defence in the league. I thought that we could have built on this success but what turned out to be a career ending injury to Terry Ainsworth, as we beat Bulk St. Annes on the Giant Axe in the final of the Senior Challenge Cup, and the loss of Charlie Timperley and Billy Wylie to Storeys weakened three vital positions in the team that I never adequately filled and although we retained the Memorial Challenge Cup in the following year our league goals scored fell by 50% to 100 whilst the goals conceded went up from 31 to 51. The team created an unbeatable record by winning every home game. We played 19 league and cup games on the Recreation Ground, scoring 110 and conceding 13. I think it is safe to say that Barry s vision and his ability to blend players and temperaments was a great success. As well as retaining the league title we also won the Senior Challenge Cup and the Memorial Challenge Cup, losing only in the Senior Charity Cup at Corinthians. Alan Moorhouse relates the story that as a youngster in this team of seasoned veterans he would rush down to the village shop to see if he was in the team. He knew that a bad game would not only result in his demotion but would undoubtedly have Barry searching the leagues for a replacement. Barry didn t attempt to coach, he simply picked the best players and let them get on with it, but woe betide them if they didn t come up to scratch. He had always admired the play of Neil Bowerbank when Galgate had played Corinthians or Holme Athletic and eventually made an approach for him during a game at Holme. Neil duly transferred to Galgate but Barry always said afterwards that he played better against us than he did for us. Barry s admiration for Neil as a player and the fact that he brought him to Galgate didn t stop him from dropping him into the reserves soon after his arrival. Barry was always looking to bring in better players and deserves a lot of credit for assembling such a superb team. Sadly it started to break up the following season for a variety of reasons but Barry Hanson s dream as manager of Galgate had been realised. 81

86 As the season began though, teams like Milnthorpe Corinthians, Lansil, Lancaster Moor Hospital and Lower Holker were determined to challenge for honours as well and an exciting winter was anticipated. By the beginning of November Lower Holker were undefeated and Corinthians and Galgate had each lost one game with Lancaster Moor Hospital hard on their heels. It certainly looked like the championship would be decided when these teams played each other. The league table early in January 1966 looked like this: P W D L F A Pts Galgate Lower Holker Lancaster Moor Hospital Corinthians Lansil Head to head games might still prove crucial and so it turned out to be when early in January the top two met at the Recreation Ground, Galgate, and the home side turned on a scintillating display to win by 5-1 with former Morecambe man, Gordon Howarth netting a hat trick. Five weeks later and Milnthorpe visited Galgate only to end up on the wrong end of an 8-2 score line. Galgate now seemed to have turned up the pressure on their opponents and a run of one defeat in their next 17 games (lost at Milnthorpe 3-4) clinched the title and two cup competitions as well. Pre-season training at the Recreation Ground, Galgate, led by team manager, Barry Hanson. Pictured (L- R) Barry Hanson, Ray Murphy, Bill Varey, Terry Ainsworth, Billy Wylie, Dickie Danson, Alan Moorhouse 82

87 North Lancs League Division I Opponent Result Scorers Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys (H) 4-1 Standfast (A) 6-0 Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys (A) 5-0 Ainsworth (2), Hayhurst,?,? Caton United (A) 1-2 Dodding Bentham (A) 2-0 Hayhurst (2) Lansil (H) 5-0 Jackson (3), Hayhurst, Oliver Lancaster Moor Hospital (A) 4-4 Oliver, Hayhurst, Jackson (2) Holme Athletic (A) 6-1 Hayhurst (3), Jackson (2), Oliver Lancaster Moor Hospital (H) 4-2 Lindale Sports Club (A) 15-1 Morecambe United (H) 10-0 Potter (4), Howarth (3), Jackson (3), Moorhouse (2), Danson, Oliver, Ainsworth (pen) Moorhouse, Howarth (3), Jackson (3), Potter (2), Ainsworth Morecambe United (A) 6-1 Potter (3), Ainsworth (pen), Wylie, Oliver Carnforth BRSA (A) 4-1 Holme Athletic (H) 4-1 Jackson (2), Moorhouse, Ainsworth (pen) Caton United (H) 6-2 Potter (4), Howarth, Jackson Cartmel (A) 3-3 Oliver, Jackson (2) Lower Holker (H) 5-1 Howarth (3), Oliver, Ainsworth (pen) Skerton Old Boys (H) 5-0 Moorhouse, Howarth (2), Potter, Ainsworth Lansil (A) 1-2 Baines Bentham (H) 2-1 Oliver (2) Milnthorpe Corinthians (H) 8-2 Jackson (3), Ainsworth (2) I pen, Beales, Kitchen, Howarth Lindale Sports Club (H) 10-0 Ainsworth (4), Howarth (3), Kitchen (2), Oliver Carnforth BRSA (H) 8-1 Howarth (4), Ainsworth (2), Danson (2) Milnthorpe Corinthians (A) 3-4 Beales, Oliver, Howarth Trimpell (A) 4-1 Cartmel (H) 2-0 Bentham (A) Standfast (H) Trimpell (H) Jackson (2) Skerton Old Boys (A) Lower Holker (A) did not play due to injury suffered in Challenge Cup final 83

88 Cup Competitions Round Opponent Result Scorers Senior Charity Cup First (A) Milnthorpe Corinthians 1-3 Clark Senior Challenge Cup Third (H) Calder Vale 5-0 Oliver, Potter, Moorhouse, Howarth, Jackson Fourth (H) Holme Athletic 9-0 Potter (7), Jackson, Ainsworth Fifth (H) Lancaster Moor Hospital 6-1 Ainsworth (3), Howarth (3) Semi-Final Newton 1-0 Jackson Giant Axe, Lancaster Memorial Challenge Cup Bulk St Annes 4-1 Ainsworth, Howarth, Jackson, Oliver Fourth (A) Holme Athletic 5-1 Jackson (3), Howarth, Moorhouse Fifth (H) Lower Holker 5-1 Ainsworth (2), Howarth (2), Jackson Boltonle-Sands Out Moss Lane, Trimpell, Morecambe Carnforth BRSA Howarth (4), Jackson (2), Oliver Lansil Wylie, Corless 1 did not play due to injury suffered in Senior Challenge Cup final on the Giant Axe Caton United 2 Galgate 1 The strong Galgate side made two bad mistakes in defence, and these were mainly responsible for Caton s victory on Saturday. A bad back pass by Bill Varey in the fifth minute beat goalkeeper Ray Murphy, and Caton were perhaps fortunate to take the lead. The second half followed the same pattern and there was no score until the 20th minute when Tommy Dodding beat Brayshaw to the ball to equalise. Ray Murphy was to blame for Caton s winning goal when he failed to hold a high ball and Eric Fletcher picked up the loose ball to score. It was good to see the Caton side fighting for the ball but they still lack penetration on the wing. The defence has improved with each game. Caton United: Galgate: Brayshaw: Quinn, Tierney: Irving, Sanderson, Bradshaw: McAlear, Townley, Bainbridge, M. Fletcher, E. Fletcher Murphy; Rogerson, Wylie, Oliver, Varey, Danson; Clark, Ainsworth, Dodding, Hayhurst, Jackson Barry Hanson was livid after this game and was determined to bring in another goalkeeper to replace the error prone Ray Murphy and also talked about reshaping the forward line as he thought Tommy Dodding, John Clark and Brian Hayhurst were not up to scratch. 84

89 Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys 0 Galgate 5 Although this was an easy win for Galgate, they will have to shoot more often if they want to retain the Division 1 championship. Time and time again on Wednesday they tried to walk the ball into the net when a hard shot was the obvious move. Galgate took the lead after only five minutes play when a solo run by Alan Moorhouse, was finished off by Brian Hayhurst heading home. Alan Moorhouse again was unlucky not to score when after a move down the wing his shot hit the upright and spun out of play. Galgate were having 80% of the play but could not find their finishing power. In the 35th minute, Boys Club were reduced to ten men when Hetherington left the field after a tackle by Bill Varey. The ten men tired under the constant pressure and Galgate went further ahead when Terry Ainsworth scrambled home a low cross from Tommy Dodding in the 65th minute, and Terry Ainsworth was again on the spot minutes later to shoot home a cross from the left into the top corner of the net. Following this goal Tommy Dodding was switched to centre forward. Boys Club: Yates; Bleasdale, Miller: Airey, Merrill, Denny: McKevitt, Bennett, Hetherington, Taylor, Clark: Galgate: Murphy; Rogerson, Wylie; Oliver, Varey, Danson; Dodding, Ainsworth, Hayhurst, Clark, Moorhouse Ken Parker who submitted these reports to the Lancaster Guardian was spot on when he complained about the lack of fire power and Barry Hanson and myself were trying to bring in another player to find a settled forward line. Bentham 0 Galgate 2 Although Galgate missed more easy chances, Bentham suffered similar trouble and Galgate won 2-0 on Monday night. Play was even in the first half, unlike Bentham s new pitch, though the home side missed a penalty. Brian Hayhurst scored both Galgate s goals, though he, John Clark and Terry Ainsworth all missed opportunities. Bill Varey was in good form for Galgate. Galgate: Murphy; Rogerson, Wylie; Oliver, Varey, Danson; Clark, Jackson, Hayhurst, Ainsworth, Moorhouse Galgate 5 Lansil 0 Although Dickie Danson and captain Terry Ainsworth were out injured, Galgate playing fast, direct football had the Lansil defence reeling and rocking on Wednesday and on this showing looked to have captured their form of last season. Galgate went ahead after 15 minutes when Alan Jackson hit a first time shot which Pete Silver was unable to hold. The same man notched a second minutes later after a fine run by Alan Moorhouse. Before halftime, Brian Hayhurst hit the bar with a header, Alan Jackson completed his hat-trick when he pushed a Terry Oliver free kick into the net, and Brian Hayhurst opened his account when he was put through on his own. It was all Galgate now and Terry Oliver was having a splendid game in his new right wing position and he scored the fifth goal with a hard, low shot from the wing. Bill Varey and Terry Oliver were outstanding for Galgate with Dave Clark and Ken Huddleston shining for Lansil. 85

90 Galgate: Murphy; Rogerson, Savage; Wylie, Varey, Baines; Oliver, Jackson, Hayhurst, Clark, Moorhouse Lansil: Silver: Sherrington, Clark: Clifton, Elkin, Woodhouse: Walmsley, Shuttleworth, Huddleston, Grimshaw, Akister: Lancaster Moor Hospital 4 Galgate 4 This was a fair result after a very exciting game in which the lead repeatedly changed. Dickie Danson and Terry Ainsworth weren t ready for this game but will be available for selection for the game at Holme next week. Moor Hospital took the lead after 20 minutes when a cross from the right was shot home by Vince Hewson. Galgate equalised through Terry Oliver in a goalmouth scramble. Just on half time Moor Hospital took the lead again when Billy Preston shot through a cluster of defenders to score. In the 53rd minute Galgate drew level again when from an overhead kick from Alan Jackson, Brian Hayhurst netted. Minutes later they snatched the lead when Alan Jackson s shot beat goalkeeper Tommy Ingram after he had been put through by Brian Hayhurst. Scores were soon even again however when the Moor were awarded a penalty after John Bowker had fisted out a certain goal and Dougie Burrell scored from the spot kick. The Moor pressed hard for the lead again and Billy Fox, who appeared to be yards offside, pushed it into the net. Galgate were not beaten yet and with only minutes to go to the final whistle Alan Jackson headed a glorious goal from a corner by Alan Baines. Lancaster Moor Hospital: Ingram: Burrell, Graveson: Ireland, Jackson, Hudson: Fox, Wilkinson, Preston, Muckalt, Hewson: Galgate: Murphy; Rogerson, Bowker; Wylie, Varey, Baines; Oliver, Jackson, Hayhurst, Clark, Potter John Bowker who had served Galgate well over many years was drafted into the team to help out while players recovered from injury. I think this was his only appearance of the season. Holme Athletic 1 Galgate 6 This match was as easy for Galgate as the score suggests and they were rarely troubled by Holme. With ex-morecambe player Gordon Howarth making his debut on the wing, Galgate were three up in 14 minutes thanks to a sparkling hat-trick by Brian Hayhurst. Holme missed a penalty after a foul by Ray Murphy when Fawcett hit the post. Alan Jackson opened his account in the 30th minute when he beat three defenders before shooting into the corner of the net for the fourth. In the second half, Alan Jackson sent the keeper the wrong way when he deflected a Terry Oliver header and though Holme gained a consolation goal in the 62nd minute, Terry Oliver scored Galgate s sixth when he connected with a free kick from Gordon Howarth. Galgate: Murphy; Rogerson, Wylie; Oliver, Varey, Danson; Jackson, Ainsworth, Hayhurst, Clark, Howarth After this game Barry confirmed that he had signed Charlie Timperley from Morecambe A to take over from the inconsistent Ray Murphy. The side was starting to take shape at last. 86

91 Milnthorpe Corinthians 3 Galgate 1 Corinthians, the cup holders, took the lead in this game after 30 minutes when Airey sent a low centre to Mick Hodgson who flicked the ball past Charlie Timperley. He had the ball in the net again soon afterwards but was given offside. Galgate equalised after the interval when John Clark was left unmarked in the centre. Brian Hayhurst had to receive attention and went out on the wing. Carlos headed Corinthians into the lead again when Chicko Read centred well after beating two defenders. Carlos scored again when he walked the ball into the net after a faulty clearance. Corinthians: Halliday: Johnson, Boardley: Duncan, Stobbart, A. Hodgson: Read, M. Hodgson, Carlos, Bowerbank, Airey Galgate: Timperley; Rogerson, Wylie; Oliver, Varey, Danson; Jackson, Clark, Hayhurst, Ainsworth, Howarth At last the defence was settled, we just had to get the forward line in shape and this was achieved the following week when Bill Potter played at centre forward and Alan Moorhouse, back from Lancaster City, brought pace and crossing ability to the right wing position. Lindale Sports Club 1 Galgate 15 Goals galore for Galgate when they reshuffled their forward line for this North Lancashire League Division One game with Lindale. Centre forward Bill Potter was back and in fine form and Terry Ainsworth s accurate passing was a tonic for the forwards. Alan Jackson also gave a superb display scoring three times and showing all his tricks and causing havoc in the Lindale defence. Walker in goal made several good saves for Lindale, but his defenders had no answer to the deceptive Galgate forwards who tore through them at will. On this form Galgate could well retain the Division 1 championship. Scorers were Bill Potter (4), Alan Jackson (3), Gordon Haworth (3), Alan Moorhouse (2), Terry Oliver, Dickie Danson and Terry Ainsworth (pen). Jones scored for Lindale. Lindale: Walker: Simmons, McDougall: Stewart, Farrington, McDougall: Robinson, Pearson, Hollyread, Barker, Jones Galgate: Timperley; Rogerson, Baines; Oliver, Varey, Danson; Moorhouse, Jackson, Potter, Ainsworth, Howarth I vividly remember a story doing the rounds prior to this game. Apparently the Lindale full back had broken a lad s leg in the previous game and he was going to sort out Gordon Howarth. Gordon was in scintillating form and embarrassed the full back with his pace and skill, a great way to shut up a big mouth. This was the game that kick-started our season, we were absolutely confident from here on. The best halfback line in the league, a top goalkeeper and a forward line that had goals at every position. 87

92 Galgate 5 Calder Vale 0 Galgate went to work early and after seven minutes Bill Potter headed a goal. Ten minutes later the same player hit the crossbar with another fine header from an Alan Moorhouse centre. In the second half Alan Moorhouse added a second for Galgate. Calder Vale rallied and came near to scoring. Their best effort, a rasping drive, was gloriously saved by Charlie Timperley. This spurred Galgate to greater effort and further goals were added by Gordon Haworth, Alan Jackson and an unstoppable drive by Terry Oliver. Galgate: Timperley; Rogerson, Wylie; Oliver, Varey, Danson; Moorhouse, Jackson, Potter, Ainsworth, Howarth Galgate 10 Morecambe United 0 A goal by Bill Potter in the first two minutes started a rush by Galgate and they were five up at half-time without reply. Gordon Howarth scored twice in the five minutes before the interval and completed his hat-trick in the second half. Even against the strong wind, Galgate s classy football and deadly shooting continued. At the other end the Galgate goalkeeper, Charlie Timperley, was never tested. Other scorers were Alan Jackson (3), Bill Potter, Alan Moorhouse and Terry Ainsworth. Comment from a Morecambe United supporter, We were beaten by a far superior side, but United never flagged. They played hard until the end Galgate: Timperley; Rogerson, Wylie; Oliver, Varey, Baines; Moorhouse, Jackson, Potter, Ainsworth, Howarth Morecambe United: Bell: Pedder, Taylor: Bryan, Lowe, Crutchley: Miller, O Doherty, Patton, O Neill, Brady Dickie Danson had suffered a knee injury and was out for a few weeks and when he returned we played him at full back to give him time to regain full fitness. It was a sign of how strong the team was that everybody raised their game to cover the loss of such an influential footballer whose very presence on the field benefitted all his teammates. Morecambe United 1 Galgate 6 Falling on a piece of iron embedded in the pitch, Alan Jackson, Galgate inside forward, badly gashed his right hand. He was taken to hospital where five stitches were inserted in the wound. As expected Galgate won this return match, but came up against a defence, much improved on last week. Bill Potter opened the score after five minutes and United were unlucky not to equalise, but Galgate s rearguard was too strong. A second goal by Bill Potter came after Alec Bell had knocked down a hard shot by Alan Jackson, the ball falling to Bill Potter s feet with an empty net before him. United made a mistake in going into defence for the second half and Bill Potter completed his hat-trick from outside the goal area, with Alec Bell unsighted by too many defenders. A hard and over zealous tackle by Bracewell, gave Galgate a penalty and Terry Ainsworth made no mistake from the spot. Other scorers for Galgate were Billy Wylie and Terry Oliver. A good goal by Lowe, from an excellent move started by Crutchley, gave United a little consolation. For Galgate Bill Potter was in fine form and Corless of United, after a six week lay off, had a brilliant game. It was a good sporting match ably controlled by referee Dick Barlow. 88

93 Morecambe United: Bell: Pedder, Taylor: Bracewell, Corless, Crutchley: Miller, Patton, Lowe, O Neill, Docherty: Galgate: Timperley; Rogerson, Wylie; Oliver, Varey, Baines; Moorhouse, Jackson, Potter, Ainsworth, Beales Galgate 9 Holme Athletic 0 Galgate scored after five minutes in this Senior Challenge Cup third round when Bill Potter headed home a Terry Oliver centre and from then on it was all one way traffic to the Holme goal. Galgate lead by 5-0 at the interval, Bill Potter scoring four and Alan Jackson one. Holme set off after the interval with determined attacks but Charlie Timperley had no difficulty in preventing them scoring. Bill Potter added three more to make his total seven and Terry Ainsworth scored with a crisp left footer from the eighteen yard line. Though heavily beaten for the third time this season by Galgate, the Holme team were always fair in their play and are to be complimented for their sportsmanship. Referee R. Speake had a fine game, always up with play and fair in his decisions. Galgate: Timperley: Rogerson, Wylie; Oliver, Varey, Baines; Moorhouse, Jackson, Potter, Ainsworth, Howarth Holme Athletic: Atkinson: Clark, Mason B,Fawcett, Wills, Martin: Duncan, Hayton, Mason D, Beall, Westworth Galgate 6 Caton United 2 Galgate s healthy home victory over Caton United in the North Lancashire League Division 1, included one of the finest goals seen at the Recreation Ground in years. It came in the eighth minute. Right half Terry Oliver went on one of his foraging runs up the wing and centred to the far post. Left winger Gordon Howarth, running in, leapt to a great height to nod the ball past the helpless Caton United goalkeeper. Bill Potter added a second within a minute and went on to score a hat-trick, including one in the second half when Caton United improved. The visitors scored when a free kick by Jacques struck Bill Varey and went into the net. Alan Jackson scored a fifth goal for Galgate with a good header and Potter netted his fourth to bring his tally to 24 in 10 games. Brian Quinn scored Caton s second goal with a 15 yard header. Earlier in the season Caton beat Galgate to be the only team so far to get the maximum points from the Division 1 leaders whose goal average is one of the best in the league. Galgate: Timperley: Rogerson, Baines; Oliver, Varey, Ainsworth; Moorhouse, Jackson, Potter, Beales, Howarth Caton United: Price: Knowles, McCutcheon: Irving, K. Fletcher, Jacques: Townley, Quinn, Bainbridge, R. Fletcher, Bradshaw Cartmel 3 Galgate 3 On a quagmire of a pitch, both teams put on a super display of fighting football, with Cartmel earning a merited draw in the last five minutes. In the seventh minute Terry Oliver hammered home a free kick to put Galgate in the lead, but ten minutes later Park hit the equaliser for Cartmel. Park scored another a few minutes later but two great goals by Alan Jackson gave Galgate a one goal lead at half time. The second half proved a ding dong battle and Galgate appeared to be home when a shot was deflected by Billy Wylie and Park 89

94 took advantage of this to hammer the ball into the net for the equaliser. Galgate: Timperley: Rogerson, Wylie; Oliver, Varey, Baines; Moorhouse, Jackson, Potter, Ainsworth, Howarth Cartmel: Martin: Murray, Jeffreys: Hunt, Abernethy, Cascarth: Lomas, Hargan, Park, Higgins, Barrat Alan Moorhouse remembers, Playing at Cartmel, Dickie Danson and I had to go looking for Billy Varey. Usually we picked him up at the Galgate Working Men s Club but this day he had slept in so we went to his house and dragged him out of bed. He was worried that he hadn t had his usual 5 pints before the game but we were just glad to have a full team to play a difficult away game. Cartmel centre forward, Park, scored a hat trick in a 3-3 draw, Billy didn t know which way he was going, and after the game when we told Barry Hanson what had happened, he made a rule that Varey wasn t to play again without his 5 pint lunch. It is interesting to read Alan Moorhouse s recollections of the day but one of the newspaper reports thought that Bill Varey was in great form so who knows? Galgate 4 Holme Athletic 1 Galgate, in only their fifth home league game out of 14, turned in another competent display. The forwards pounded the opposing defence from the off and it was no surprise when Alan Jackson scored from a Gordon Howarth centre after seven minutes. After half an hour, Alan Jackson scored his second with a powerful effort. This was his 21st goal of the season. After 55 minutes, Alan Moorhouse bundled the opposing goalie over the line for the third goal and Terry Ainsworth converted a penalty after Alan Jackson was brought down. Holme scored a good goal through D. Mason after 80 minutes. Alan Rogerson, Terry Ainsworth and Alan Jackson were outstanding for Galgate as were Stan Atkinson, B. Mason and David Hayton for Holme. Galgate: Timperley: Rogerson, Wylie; Oliver, Varey, Baines; Moorhouse, Jackson, Potter, Ainsworth, Howarth Holme Athletic: Atkinson: B.Mason, Clarke: Fawcett, Wills, Beall: Cannon, Duncan, D. Mason, Hayton, Wilson Holme Athletic 1 Galgate 5 A hat trick by Alan Jackson helped Galgate to a 5-1 away victory over Holme Athletic in the Memorial Cup competition. From the kick off Holme pressed hard, looking the better team and opening the scoring through D. Mason. Galgate fought back and equalised in the 35th minute when Alan Jackson headed through a free kick by Terry Oliver. Five minutes later livewire winger Gordon Howarth put Galgate ahead. A cross from the right found Gordon Howarth with his back to goal. He produced a devastatingly accurate overhead kick to beat Stan Atkinson. In the second half Holme pressed hard but could not get near enough to shoot. Alan Baines, Bill Varey and Dickie Danson were outstanding in repelling the Holme forwards. Terry Ainsworth, pulled out of the Galgate attack to assist his defenders, did great work. The home defence allowed Alan Jackson too much room and Dickie Danson found him unmarked with a pass after 60 minutes and he scored with a low 90

95 shot. Alan Jackson took command of things, linking well with Terry Ainsworth. From one of Terry Ainsworth s pinpoint passes, Alan Moorhouse scored a fourth goal for Galgate. Alan Jackson himself finished the scoring five minutes from time with a well taken goal after a miskick by Terry Wills. Holme Athletic: Atkinson: Clarke, B. Mason: Fawcett, Wills, Metcalfe: Duncan, Hayton, Beale, Martin, D. Mason Galgate: Timperley; Wylie, Danson; Oliver, Varey, Baines; Moorhouse, Jackson, Potter, Ainsworth, Howarth Galgate 5 Skerton Old Boys 0 Galgate set off at full speed against the Old Boys on Saturday and within the first two minutes had missed two chances through Bill Potter and Alan Baines. Huntington, Skerton s keeper, then brought off two fine saves and Galgate went very close to scoring on several more occasions before Bill Potter finally netted after good work by Gordon Howarth. Despite frequent attacks, Galgate did not score again until two minutes from the interval when Terry Ainsworth netted from the spot after a Bill Potter header had been handled by an Old Boys defender. The second half was only three minutes old when Gordon Howarth increased Galgate s lead with a low shot and the same man volleyed a Terry Oliver corner to make it 4-0. It was all Galgate now - they hit the woodwork three times. Huntington s fine form kept the score down. Alan Moorhouse managed to get the fifth in the 84th minute. For Skerton, Brian Taylor, Carradice and Moorby were all in fine form and Terry Ainsworth covered every blade of grass on the pitch for Galgate. Outstanding for Galgate were Terry Ainsworth and Gordon Howarth, the left wing pair. Galgate: Timperley: Rogerson, Danson ; Oliver, Varey, Baines: Moorhouse, Jackson, Potter, Ainsworth, Howarth Skerton Old Boys: Huntington: Draper, Carney; Boon, Carradice, Moorby: Holmes, Taylor, Baldwin, Makinson, Camm Lansil 2 Galgate 1 This match between league leaders Galgate and outsiders Lansil was a rip-roaring encounter from start to finish which ended with Lansil gaining revenge for an earlier 5-0 defeat by Galgate. Lansil piled on the pressure from the kick-off, taking the lead in the tenth minute through Stuart Grimshaw. He ran on to a through ball and shot fiercely into the net. Eight minutes later Ken Huddleston rounded Bill Varey to score with a low shot from an acute angle. Lansil constantly looked menacing with Ernie Kirkbride and Ken Huddleston getting through the Galgate defence. A bad error by Lansil keeper Colin Johnson enabled Galgate to pull one back five minutes from the interval when a speculative drive from Alan Baines was dropped and fumbled by the keeper. Try as they would however, Galgate could not force open the tight Lansil defence, Gordon Howarth on Galgate s left wing looked a matchwinner but he got little service. Ace goalscorers Bill Potter and Alan Jackson both looked disinterested in the whole affair while other key men looked below form. Two minutes from time Stuart Grimshaw missed a penalty for Lansil but it did not really matter - the writing was on Galgate s wall long before the final whistle. 91

96 Galgate: Timperley: Rogerson, Danson; Oliver, Varey, Baines: Moorhouse, Jackson, Potter, Ainsworth, Howarth Lansil: Johnson: Clifton, Holman: Shuttleworth, Clarke, Woodhouse: Bryning, Kirkbride, Huddleston, Grimshaw, Akister Galgate 2 Bentham 1 Bentham were unfortunate to lose both points in their hard fought North Lancashire and District League Division 1 match with top of the table Galgate on Saturday when the home side got the winning goal in the last five minutes. The Yorkshire side had played well enough to have at least earned a draw. The Galgate forwards found the close marking and quick anticipation of the Bentham defenders difficult to deal with. After half an hour Galgate took the lead from a well placed corner by Gordon Haworth which was brushed into the net by Terry Oliver. After M. Bowker had collected a rebound off the post from a shot by Terry Ainsworth the ball was sent out to Ray Guy. He swung the play to J. Carter who cleverly let the ball run out to A. Dodgson on the wing for this young winger to race through and score a glorious goal to put Bentham level. With less than five minutes remaining for play Galgate were awarded a free kick just outside the penalty area and Terry Oliver scored from the kick. Galgate: Timperley; Rogerson, J Bowker; Oliver, Varey, Baines; Beales, Danson, Jackson, Ainsworth, Howarth Bentham: Bowker: Wright, Houldsworth: Johnson, Morris, Moore: Dodgson, Guy, Carter, Bradley, Tatham Galgate 8 Milnthorpe Corinthians 2 Back to form with a bang came Galgate on Saturday when they cut the Corinthians to pieces with a burst of forward fire power. With this win, Galgate brought their goal tally up to of which inside right Alan Jackson has notched 30. Within five minutes Galgate had smashed in two goals - Alan Jackson after three minutes and Terry Ainsworth two minutes later. A good header from Alan Hodgson pulled one back for Corinthians but a spot kick, after a Corinthians defender handled, by Terry Ainsworth put Galgate further ahead. Alan Jackson scored the fourth with a full blooded drive into the roof of the net and Bud Kitchen took advantage of a bad mistake by Stobbart to grab the fifth. Gordon Howarth headed the sixth goal with a fine header before the half time whistle. Corinthians were no match for the eager Galgate goal-grabbers who were playing great stuff despite having two reserves in the side. Kenny Beales added number seven with an air of nonchalance when he ran through, had his shot stopped by Thomas, then dribbled round the goalie to net. Corinthians, in a rare sortie downfield, scored a second, again through Alan Hodgson when he headed in Read s centre. Alan Jackson rounded off the goal glut by lobbing over the advancing keeper s head. Billy Wylie, back in the side after several weeks absence, had a great game for Galgate. Galgate: Timperley; Rogerson, Danson; Oliver, Varey, Wylie; Beales, Jackson, Kitchen, Ainsworth, Howarth Corinthians: Thomas: Coward, Boardley: M Hodgson, Stobbart, Duncan: Read, A. Hodgson, Shaw, Bowerbank, Airey This was the game that defined our season, they were our closest challengers and we absolutely hammered them. I certainly cannot remember anybody scoring 92

97 eight goals against Milnthorpe Corinthians and from this point on I don t think we doubted this was going to be a season to remember. The football we were playing was fast and incisive and from back to front we dominated teams. Galgate 10 Lindale Sports Club 0 After their recent lapse of form Galgate have stormed back with 18 goals in two games. Lindale, the most recent victims, played some good midfield football but lacked scoring ability. On the other hand, Galgate s small but dynamic forwards, buzzed all over the Lindale defence creating openings for themselves at will. Kitchen opened the scoring with a fine header from Kenny Beale s centre after four minutes and scored the second five minutes later with a low shot after Billy Wylie and Alan Jackson had made the opening. Gordon Howarth scored the third with a typical power drive after 20 minutes to make it 3-0 at half-time. Galgate scored seven more in the second half at regular intervals through Terry Ainsworth (4), Gordon Howarth (2) and Terry Oliver. During this half Galgate played superb football. They were well organised, running into spaces and eager to have the ball. Young winger Kenny Beales had an outstanding game for Galgate. Galgate: Clegg: Corless, Danson: Oliver, Varey, Wylie: Beales, Jackson, Kitchen, Ainsworth, Howarth Lindale: Walker: E. McDougall, Stewartson: Bellamy, Robinson, W. McDougall: Hollywood, Somers, Twinime, Barnes, Barker I assume the description of Galgate s forwards being small but dynamic referred to Kenny Beales, Bud Kitchen and Gordon Howarth as me and Jacko would have raised an eyebrow at such a description. Galgate 6 Lancaster Moor Hospital 1 Lancaster Moor Hospital could not find any cure to stop Galgate from cutting open their defence on Saturday. Galgate crashed in three goals within half-an-hour, scored another by half-time and added two more in the second half. All Galgate s goals were scored by their left wing pair - Gordon Howarth (3) and Terry Ainsworth (3). Gordon Howarth grabbed the first in the fourth minute, Terry Ainsworth scored after eight and Gordon Howarth scored twice more in the 30th and 40th minutes. Terry Oliver went near with a long shot and Terry Ainsworth hit the bar from a Kenny Beales centre. In the second half Terry Ainsworth banged in the fifth after 60 minutes but with the Hospital coming more into the picture, Nodder Muckalt pulled one back. With ten minutes to go however, Gordon Howarth was brought down and Terry Ainsworth scored from the spot. Beales had an outstanding game on the right wing. Galgate: Timperley; Rogerson, Danson; Oliver, Varey, Wylie; Beales, Jackson, Kitchen, Ainsworth, Howarth Galgate 8 Carnforth BRSA 1 In a very uninteresting game, Galgate never got above half pace in this easy victory cruise. Misses were so numerous that the score could have been doubled. As it was, Gordon Howarth helped himself to another four goals and Terry Ainsworth collected two. These two players have taken over the role of goalscoring from Alan Jackson and Bill Potter, 93

98 who up to a month ago were always in the news with their goalscoring. Galgate are indeed fortunate in having four of their five forwards scoring more than 25 league goals. The game was without incident worth mentioning other than Galgate having an interval lead of 4-0. In the second half they scored another four while B.R.S.A. got one. Galgate: Clegg; Rogerson, Danson; Oliver, Varey, Baines; Beales, Moorhouse, Kitchen, Ainsworth, Howarth Newton 0 Galgate 1 Newton started well and dominated the opening 20 minutes. Galgate came more into the game and their forwards were starting to worry the Newton defence. One good move between Brian Metcalfe and Jimmy Fagan nearly brought a goal but the final shot was off target. Play was even up to half-time with no score. The second half started with Galgate attacking and the Newton goal had four narrow escapes before Alan Jackson took a pass from Billy Wylie to put Galgate ahead. Newton rallied and forced three corners but caused no real threat. At the other end Terry Oliver rattled the crossbar with a header from a Kenny Beales corner. Galgate dominated the game at this stage and Newton were very fortunate not to be several goals in arrears. Sweeney made several smart saves to foil the Galgate forwards who were always eager to add to the goal tally. Galgate: Timperley; Rogerson, Danson; Oliver, Varey, Corless; Beales, Wylie, Jackson, Ainsworth, Howarth Milnthorpe Corinthians 4 Galgate 3 Corinthians went out determined to avenge their big defeat a few weeks ago. Both defences were working hard. Airey made a good run but shot wide, then Reid centred well for Alan Hodgson to shoot and beat Charlie Timperley. Dickie Danson headed out but the referee awarded a goal. Duncan came away with the ball and sent Alan Hodgson through for him to pass on to Derek Varcoe who ran in to beat Charlie Timperley just before halftime. With the second half only three minutes old Neil Bowerbank scored a splendid goal. Galgate were by no means defeated and from a goalmouth scramble Terry Oliver reduced the lead. It was all Galgate, and a goal direct from a corner by Gordon Howarth gave them more vigour. Kenny Beales equalised. Corinthians fought back to attack and with only five minutes left took the lead again, Alan Hodgson running on to Derek Varcoe s pass to smash in the winner. Galgate 5 Lower Holker 1 Galgate found their best form against a strong Lower Holker team in the fifth round of the Memorial Cup. They built up a 3-0 lead in the first half hour. Goals from Alan Jackson and Terry Ainsworth (2) shocked the Holker team who had the advantage of the slope and a near gale force wind. Galgate, however, were playing fine football, the ball passing smoothly from man to man. The forwards were always eager to have a crack at goal. Holker however were dangerous and whilst Galgate scored three times they also had three narrow escapes. The game developed into a keen struggle and shortly before half-time Holker scored to make it 3-1. The second half saw Galgate s defence take a firm grip of the Holker forwards who became increasingly ineffective. At the other end only some fine goalkeeping kept the score to within reason. Gordon Howarth came into his own in this spell and scored twice for Galgate. A power drive of incredible force shot through the 94

99 crowded Holker defence and a volley from a centre by Kenny Beales hit the far post before entering the net. Galgate: Timperley; Rogerson, Danson; Oliver, Varey, Corless; Beales, Jackson, Ainsworth, Wylie, Howarth Galgate 4 Bulk St Annes 1 Already in the running for the Division 1 title of the North Lancashire League and playing in the Semi-final of the Memorial Challenge Cup next Saturday, Galgate won the Senior Challenge Cup on Saturday. After leading Bulk St Annes 1-0 at half-time they went on to win by three clear goals, the final score being 4-1 Scorers for Galgate were Terry Ainsworth, Gordon Howarth, Alan Jackson and Terry Oliver. Young scored Bulk St Annes consolation goal. Terry Ainsworth, Galgate s inside left and club captain, suffered a season ending knee injury and Galgate s hopes of the treble rest on how their reserve strength holds out. Three of their regular forwards are now injured and much depends on their deputies. My final game of any consequence was on the Giant Axe, home of Lancaster City and where I had played numerous times before, never being on the losing side. It was fitting as well that it was as captain of the best side that I played for in the North Lancashire & District League that I more or less bowed out of football although it would be another wasted three years before the unpallitable truth hit me. Galgate 4 Bulk St Annes 1 In the final of the Senior Challenge Cup at Giant Axe on Saturday, Galgate piled on the pressure and were easy winners over Bulk St Annes by four goals to one. Galgate were firm favourites in this game but Bulk St Annes almost pulled off a surprise. With only a short time left Galgate were leading by only two goals to one, with their inspirational inside left and captain Terry Ainsworth in the dressing room with a season ending injury, but in the closing minutes they made the issue certain by scoring two more. Carnforth BRSA 0 Galgate 7 Winning the Semi-final of the Memorial Cup played at Bolton le Sands on Saturday, Galgate scored their 176th goal of the season and put themselves in sight of a triple triumph. After only six minutes Gordon Howarth put Galgate in front with a power drive. The Railmen rallied and played good midfield football but their approach work failed on reaching the penalty area. Before half-time two further goals were added by Terry Oliver and Gordon Howarth and three minutes after the restart Galgate went further ahead through Gordon Howarth. Alan Jackson and Gordon Howarth netted the fifth and sixth goals and the best move of the match brought the last goal. Man to man passing brought the ball to Kenny Beales on the Galgate right wing and his fast centre was expertly headed home by Alan Jackson. Gordon Howarth, Terry Oliver and Kenny Beales were outstanding for Galgate. Galgate: Kitchen; Rogerson, Baines; Danson, Varey, Corless; Beales, Oliver, Jackson, Wylie, Howarth 95

100 Galgate 2 Lansil 0 Galgate pulled off a terrific treble on Saturday by beating Lansil in this final after already securing the Division 1 title and the Challenge Cup. Victory did not come easily and Galgate did not take the lead until the second half. Before half-time Lansil missed two good chances which both should have been goals. On each occasion the ball struck the advancing goalkeeper and was cleared. At the end of a goalless first half, Galgate were fortunate to be on level terms. The second half started with Galgate playing in more determined fashion and the Lansil goal underwent a pretty heavy barrage, with Colin Johnson making two particularly fine saves. After 60 minutes Galgate left winger Gordon Howarth sent across a low centre into the Lansil goalmouth which Colin Johnson was unable to hold. The ball fell at Billy Wylie s feet and he smashed it home. Galgate were now sniffing victory and their defenders kept a tight rein on the Lansil forwards. The Galgate attack came more into the game and they finally clinched victory with a brilliant goal from a kenny Beales corner. Left half Norman Corless met the ball first time and made no mistake with a really powerful drive through a ruck of players in the goalmouth. With a comfortable lead, Galgate now played with great confidence and only over-eagerness prevented them going further ahead. Lansil had proved worthy opponents and were by no means disgraced. Had they taken their chances it might have been a very different story. Galgate: Kitchen; Rogerson, Baines; Danson, Varey, Corless; Beales, Oliver, Jackson, Wylie, Howarth Lansil: Johnson: Clifton, Sherrington: Kirkbride, Elkin, Woodhouse: Kennedy, Akister, Huddleston, Shuttleworth, Bryning The versatility of this side came to the fore many times during the season when Terry Oliver, Billy Wylie and Dickie Danson played both in defence and attack without the team s performance being adversely affected. Bud Kitchen had come into the team because Charlie Timperley suffered a shoulder injury and of course Charlie and Billy Wylie would leave the Silkboys to join Storeys the following season. 96

101 North Lancs League Division I P W D L F A Pts Galgate Milnthorpe Corinthians Lancaster Moor Hospital Lansil Lower Holker Holme Athletic Bentham Caton United Cartmel & District Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys Trimpell Morecambe United Skerton Old Boys Carnforth B.R.S.A Lindale Sports Club Standfast Dyers Leading goalscorers Gordon Howarth 42 Alan Jackson 41 Terry Ainsworth 27 Bill Potter 25 Terry Oliver 17 97

102 Galgate F.C. The Recreation Ground, Galgate (red and white striped shirts and black shorts) Back Row (L- R) Front Row (L- R) Barry Hanson (manager), Alan Rogerson, Dickie Danson, Bill Varey, Charlie Timperley, Terry Oliver, Billy Wylie, John Bowker (committee). Alan Moorhouse, Alan Jackson, Bill Potter, Terry Ainsworth, Gordon Howarth. 98

103 Galgate F.C. Out Moss Lane, Trimpell, Morecambe (All-red strip) Back Row (L- R) Front Row (L- R) Alan Rogerson, Dickie Danson, Charlie Timperley, Bill Varey, Terry Oliver, Norman Corless Kenny Beales, Billy Wylie, Alan Jackson, Terry Ainsworth, Gordon Howarth I absolutely hated this strip and much preferred the red and white striped shirts with black shorts although Alan Jackson ( Jacko ) might have had some influence in the choice because of his affiliation to Liverpool FC. 99

104 Chapter 11: The Broken Years W hy did the Galgate team of not live up to the standard set by the great team of ? First of all, compare the teams and you find a difference in talent at a number of key positions and when things got tough the team was shuffled around in an attempt to find the cure when what was needed was an influx of better players. I had approached two friends, Bernard Martin, the Cartmel goalkeeper and Brian Quinn from Caton to sign on the dotted line but Bernard was serving with the police at Chorley and couldn t play every week and Brian really was a one team man. Personally I think these two would have made all the difference as we tried to win a hat-trick of titles. Other possible signings that Barry Hanson and myself targeted were Tommy Angus and Nodder Muckalt but nothing materialised and the team was only a shadow of the side. When you look at the table the team was rock solid and virtually picked itself, changes were only made when somebody picked up a knock. Compare that to the side and look at the variations in selection that were brought on mainly in a desperate search to find the right formula. For instance my old position of inside left saw six players play in that slot but to no avail. Goalkeeper was a huge problem and we could not replace Charlie Timperley. Centre forward also did not produce a consistent scorer and the inside right slot didn t have a player that could play box to box. It seems obvious from looking at the table of comparison that Galgate did well to finish in fourth position in the league and retain the Memorial Challenge Cup, whilst also losing in the semi-final of the Senior Challenge Cup to Cartmel and the semi-final of the Senior Charity Cup to Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys. The great halfback line of Oliver, Varey and Danson hardly played together for a quarter of the season and Gordon Howarth on the left wing had five different partners. Charlie Timperley and Billy Wylie signed for Storeys and Alan Moorhouse played for Kings of Garstang whilst Alan Rogerson retired and my injury only allowed me to play half the season and not in the dominant role of controlling the game from the inside left position. When you look at some of the names that played together on the forward line, especially at inside forward, it is little wonder that the defence came under so much pressure. Pairings like Jackson/Bowerbank, Bowerbank/Potter, Potter/Howarth, Jackson/Howarth, Jackson/ Stretch were not noted for work rate and covering the ground and consequently the defence came under pressure and conceded more goals. 100

105 Position Goalkeeper Charlie Timperley Tommy Ingram, Bud Kitchen, Ray Murphy Right fullback Alan Rogerson Geoff Atkinson, Tommy Burgess, Norman Corless, Terry Ainsworth Left fullback Billy Wylie Alan Baines, Dickie Danson, Bill Varey Right halfback Terry Oliver Terry Oliver, Terry Ainsworth, Ernie Kirkbride Centre half Bill Varey Bill Varey, Norman Corless, Terry Oliver, Tommy Burgess Left halfback Dickie Danson Dickie Danson, Norman Corless Outside right Alan Moorhouse Kenny Beales, Alan Jackson, Terry Oliver Inside right Alan Jackson Ernie Kirkbride, Alan Jackson, Bill Potter, Neil Bowerbank Centre forward Bill Potter Bill Potter, Alan Jackson, James Bowker, Norman Corless Inside left Terry Ainsworth Dickie Danson, Ian Stretch, Gordon Howarth, Neil Bowerbank, Ernie Kirkbride, Bill Potter Outside left Gordon Howarth Gordon Howarth, Kenny Beales, Ken Blondel Gordon Howarth was the best left winger in the league while Alan Jackson s strength was his ability to beat an opponent but his pace just wasn t there any more and Bill Potter was good in the box but his best days were behind him so we always sacrificed something when they were asked to play a different role. The defence conceded 73 goals, 35 more than the previous year, and the forward line scored 142 goals which was 56 less than the team. The team lost almost 50% of the players from the treble winning side and their replacements were not of the same standard. The season surprisingly started off very well with ten consecutive victories and I m not sure anyone could see the pitfalls ahead. 101

106 North Lancs League Division I Opponent Result Scorers Caton United (A) 4-3 Newton (A) 3-0 Lancaster Moor Hospital (H) 3-0 Howarth (3) Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys (A) 3-2 Jackson (2), Howarth Trimpell (H) 7-1 Howarth (2), Stretch (2), Danson (2), Kirkbride Trimpell (A) 7-1 Howarth (4), Stretch (2), Kirkbride Newton (H) 10-2 Howarth (3), Jackson (3), Bowker (3), 1 og Caton United (H) 3-2 Jackson (2), Bowker Cartmel (A) 0-1 Skerton Old Boys (H) 2-2 Morecambe United (A) 10-1 Milnthorpe Corinthians (H) 3-5 Howarth, Danson,? Holme Athletic (A) 2-2 Danson, Howarth (pen) Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys (H) 2-3 Danson, Jackson Skerton Old Boys (A) 7-2 Lancaster Moor Hospital (A) 2-0 Bowker (2) Howarth, Beales, Jackson, Danson (2), Potter, Blundell Morecambe United (H) 6-1 Bowker (2), Potter (2), Ainsworth, Jackson Bentham (A) 5-1 Potter, Bowker (2) 1 pen, Jackson, 1 og Lower Holker (A) 2-2 Lansil (H) 2-1 Lansil (A) 1-2 Lower Holker (H) 3-6 Holme Athletic (H) 0-4 Bentham (H) 6-3 Howarth (4), Beales, Potter Cartmel (H) 5-2 Milnthorpe Corinthians (A)

107 Cup Competitions Round Opponent Result Scorers Senior Charity Cup First (H) Skerton Old Boys 3-1 Bowker, Jackson, Potter Second (A) Holme Athletic 2-1 Semi-Final Senior Challenge Cup Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys 0-2 Second (A) Holme Athletic 4-1 Third (A) Royal Albert Hospital 3-2 Ainsworth, Beales, Jackson Fourth (H) Hest Bank 5-2 Slyne with Hest, Nr Lancaster Cartmel 2-3 Memorial Challenge Cup First (A) Williamsons 3-1 Danson, Jackson (2) Second (A) Lansil Potter (2), Howarth, Kirkbride Second - Replay (A) Lansil 5-1 Howarth (2), Jackson, Beales, Bowker Third (H) Storeys 3-2 Beales (2), Bowker Lune Mills, Lancaster Semi-Final - Lune Mills, Lancaster Royal Albert Hospital, Lancaster Lancashire Junior Shield Royal Albert Hospital 0-0 Royal Albert Hospital 3-1 Oliver, Bowerbank, Danson College B 3-0 First (A) Kendal United 2-1 Potter, 1 og Second (H) Milnthorpe Corinthians Game void due to Galgate fielding an un-registered player. 103

108 Galgate 3 Lancaster Moor Hospital 0 Galgate clinched their third win in a row on Saturday thanks to a hat-trick by their left winger, Gordon Howarth. The ex-morecambe player has now scored six out of ten goals for Galgate. Galgate started well but they deteriorated and the match developed into a lethargic yawn. Their two new signings, inside right Ernie Kirkbride from Lansil and goalkeeper Tom Ingram from Lancaster Moor Hospital both played well. Gordon Howarth scored two of his goals in the first half and the other in the second. Galgate: Ingram; Atkinson, Baines; Oliver, Varey, Corless; Beales, Kirkbride, Jackson, Danson, Howarth Barry Hanson was extremely hopeful that his two new signings would get the team back to last year s standards but as the season progressed they didn t have the expected influence on the team or the results. Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys 2 Galgate 3 Galgate made all the early running in this game on Saturday and a good right wing move ended with Alan Jackson hitting a left foot drive wide. Another move down the right between Alan Jackson and Kenny Beales resulted in a corner which Gordon Howarth headed into the roof of the net. After six minutes Alan Jackson made it two for Galgate when he tricked two men and beat the goalkeeper with a left foot shot. Following this Galgate supremacy, Lads Club settled down and gradually began to get on top. Williams and Anderson both tested Tommy Ingram before a great move down the left wing produced a cross which Gates put into the net. After half-time a bad clearance by Bill Varey was pounced on by the Lads Club and after some neat interpassing Jack Ward notched the equaliser. Lads Club now had the upper hand and it seemed only a matter of time before they scored the winner. This failed to materialise, however, and surprisingly it was Galgate who got the goal that mattered just three minutes from time. Dickie Danson and Ernie Kirkbride combined well on the left and from Ernie Kirkbride s cross Alan Jackson nodded home the winner. Tommy Anderson, Lol Merrill and Williams were outstanding for the Lads Club, who were unlucky to lose after such a great fight back. Lads Club: Brown: Holmes, Smith: Miller, Merrill, Airey: McKevitt, Anderson, Ward, Gates, Williams Galgate: Ingram; Atkinson, Danson; Oliver, Varey, Corless; Beales, Kirkbride, Potter, Jackson, Howarth Galgate 7 Trimpell 1 Three ex-christie Park players, Gordon Howarth, Ian Stretch and Ernie Kirkbride scored five of Galgate s seven goal tally on Saturday, when they well and truly trounced Trimpell. If it is possible to grumble at a side which wins 7-1, the criticism would be that with a little more of the killer instinct they would easily have had double figures. Galgate might have been three up in the first 20 minutes but it took until the 25th minute before Gordon Howarth put them in the lead. It was virtually all one way traffic and Galgate added two more before half-time. The second half was much the same story and Ernie Kirkbride scored a fine individual goal, hitting the ball into the net from about 20 yards. Other scorers for Galgate were Ian Stretch (2), Dickie Danson (2) and Gordon Howarth. Trimpell managed a consolation goal when goalkeeper Tommy Ingram let the ball slip over the line. 104

109 Galgate: Ingram; Atkinson, Varey; Oliver, Corless, Danson; Beales, Kirkbride, Jackson, Stretch, Howarth Trimpell: Wordsworth: Cockshott, Maloney: Clift, Newton, Arundell: McCrea, Smith, Yeoman, Jones, Firth The goal that Trimpell scored was maybe an omen for the future as Tommy Ingram began to look increasingly suspect in goal and would incur the wrath of Barry Hanson in the not-too-distant future. Trimpell 1 Galgate 7 Galgate repeated their 7-1 triumph of the previous week over Trimpell with an identically crushing defeat over the same side on Saturday. The game was one to remember for left winger Gordon Howarth, who grabbed four goals. From the kick-off it was obvious that Galgate would keep intact their 100% record, for after only 30 seconds they took the lead when Ian Stretch headed home from close range. Two goals from Gordon Howarth and one from Ernie Kirkbride confirmed Galgate s superiority to put them 4-0 up at half-time. At the interval, Tommy Ingram in the Galgate goal had not yet been tested by a sadly disjointed Trimpell attack. Still hungry for goals, Gordon Howarth added two more and Ian Stretch one while Trimpell managed to scramble a goal that could barely have been much consolation to them. Dickie Danson and Kenny Beales had outstanding games in an efficient team win for Galgate. Galgate: Ingram; Atkinson, Varey; Oliver, Burgess, Danson; Beales, Kirkbride, Jackson, Stretch, Howarth Galgate 10 Newton 2 A hat-trick of hat-tricks from Galgate s goal grabbing forwards tells its own story. They completely overran the aspiring newcomers to Division 1, Newton, who towards the end became very dispirited. Playing their successful brand of 4-2-4, Galgate were in an unassailable 4-1 lead at half-time. Surprisingly it took them 20 minutes to score, but then Gordon Howarth started the goal flourish. Turning on some excellent football Gordon Howarth, Alan Jackson and James Bowker, who has not played for the side for three years, all got hat-tricks, and a Newton own goal meant double figures for the Galgate side. Galgate: Ingram; Oliver, Corless, Varey, Baines; Kirkbride, Danson; Beales, Bowker, Jackson, Howarth Galgate 3 Caton United 2 With three regular first teamers unable to play, Galgate were hard pressed to maintain their 100% record against a spirited Caton side. Ronnie Bainbridge gave Caton the lead when he ran on to a through ball from Geoff Bates, giving Tommy Ingram no chance. Alan Jackson equalised for Galgate with a brilliant header and they took the lead when James Bowker flicked a short centre past Griffin. The start of the second half saw a number of glaring misses at both ends, but Alan Jackson increased Galgate s lead when he raced on to a long ball and scored with typical opportunism. Caton got back into the game when Brian Quinn was brought down in the penalty area after intercepting a faulty back pass by Tommy Burgess, and Ronnie Bainbridge scored from the spot. Dickie Danson and Ernie Kirkbride were once again tireless workers and inspired most of Galgate s attacks, whilst Alan Baines 105

110 and Geoff Atkinson were very commanding in the back line. Galgate: Ingram; Atkinson, Burgess, Corless, Baines; Kirkbride, Danson; Beales, Jackson, Stretch, Bowker Caton United: Griffin: Knowles, Irving: Akrigg, A.Quinn, Moore: B.Quinn, Bates, Bainbridge, Curwen, Townley Kendal United 1 Galgate 2 After losing to the same side in two pre-season friendlies, Galgate travelled to Kendal really only hoping to force a draw. In fact the scoreline does not tell the true story of Galgate s superiority in the game. Kendal s goalie had a blinder and it was mainly through him that Galgate s score was kept down. Kendal had no answer to Galgate s back line of four defenders and only looked dangerous on perhaps a couple of occasions. With the score 0-0 at half-time, Galgate went ahead after 55 minutes when a cross was fisted out to Bill Potter who hit the ball in. Kendal hit back with a disputed penalty decision but Galgate reasserted themselves as masters of the match when a hard left foot shot from Dickie Danson went in off a Kendal defender. Galgate: Ingram; Atkinson, Varey, Corless, Baines; Oliver, Kirkbride, Danson; Beales, Potter, Jackson Nairn-Williamsons 1 Galgate 3 After their fine win at Kendal last week, Galgate were unable to find any sort of coordination at all in their play, and it was Nairn-Williamson who rocked the champions by taking the lead after 20 minutes play in the Memorial Challenge Cup on Saturday. McGuigan in the works goal dealt capably with everything Galgate could conjure up and at half-time, a shock result looked on the cards. Galgate managed to find their goal-scoring knack in the second half and Dickie Danson equalised with a fine shot from the edge of the penalty area. Soon afterwards Alan Jackson hit the net after Ernie Kirkbride had paved the way to goal. Although Williamson s rarely threatened to score, Galgate were still unsettled and playing without confidence but Alan Jackson put the issue beyond doubt when he scored again near the end. Bill Varey played well for Galgate and Marshall and McGuigan were outstanding for the Lancaster works side. Galgate: Ingram; Atkinson, Varey, Corless, Baines; Oliver, Danson, Kirkbride; Beales, Potter, Jackson This game was symptomatic of Galgate s problems this year, not being able to dominate teams as in the past and tending to look fragile when under pressure. Cartmel 1 Galgate 0 Galgate dropped their first points of the season at Cartmel on Saturday in what was an unhappy game for them. They squandered a number of clear cut chances and had inside left Dickie Danson sent off in the second half, along with Cartmel s Abernethy, after the two of them had squared up to each other. After Galgate had missed three or four good chances Cartmel got the only goal of the game after 25 minutes when Casgarth let go a tremendous shot from the edge of the area which dropped just under the bar. Galgate were really on top at the start of the second half and a Gordon Howarth shot hit the crossbar. A certain amount 106

111 of feeling crept into the game after Dickie Danson and Abernethy had received their marching orders, and Galgate became dispirited at their inability to get the vital goal. Galgate: Ingram; Atkinson, Baines; Oliver, Varey, Corless; Beales, Kirkbride, Jackson, Danson, Howarth Galgate 0 Milnthorpe Corinthians 2 Galgate went into this match determined to get back on the victory trail, but after dominating the early play they faded and Corinthians took the initiative to deservedly win through to the next round. In the first half hour Galgate had sufficient chances to have had the game sewn up but bad luck allied with poor finishing prevented them scoring, and allowed Milnthorpe to keep in the game. Then after 30 minutes the tide turned and Corinthians took the lead when a cross from the left found Alan Hodgson unmarked. He headed the ball under Tommy Ingram s body and into the net. This naturally instilled more confidence into the Corinthians team and their defence tightened up considerably. The second half started as did the first with Galgate having their chances and missing out on them. Bill Potter had two shots brilliantly saved and Gordon Howarth blazed the ball wide with only the goalkeeper to beat. With Galgate unable to break their duck Corinthians clinched the game ten minutes from time when Richardson sent Postlethwaite clear on the wing. His cross deceived Tommy Ingram and entered the net near the far post, to put them two goals up and through to the next round. Galgate: Ingram; Atkinson, Varey; Oliver, Corless, Danson; Beales, Jackson, Potter, Kirkbride, Howarth Corinthians: Thomas: Johnson, Boardley: Hodgson, Paisley, Duncan: Postlethwaite, A. Hodgson, Read, Richardson, Balmer It was an understatement to say that Barry Hanson was displeased after this game and the concession of two easy goals and he discussed with me whether it was time for me to start playing again subject to the state of my knee injury. Although Tommy Ingram had made one or two good saves he was still subject to dropping a real clanger from time to time. We decided to see how things went over the next few games. Galgate 3 Milnthorpe Corinthians 5 After being two goals up in the first quarter of an hour, Galgate lost their grip of this game and slumped to their second league defeat of the season. Galgate went into an early lead and they consolidated this when Gordon Howarth scored direct from a corner. Three goalkeeping errors then let Corinthians back into the game and by half-time they were 3-2 in the lead. The Milnthorpe side were really on top at the start of the second half and added two more to put them in an unassailable lead. Galgate did have the consolation of scoring probably the best goal of the game when Gordon Howarth and Dickie Danson inter-passed their way down the field before Dickie Danson shot fiercely into the net. Galgate: Ingram; Atkinson, Baines; Oliver, Corless, Danson; Beales, Jackson, Potter, Stretch, Howarth After a poor run where we had only won one game out of five, Barry Hanson and I decided that the time to return to the team and test my knee was now, and the 107

112 fact that the return game was against Lansil in the Memorial Challenge Cup made the challenge doubly interesting. We had lost two games at home to Milnthorpe, 0-2 and 3-5, and Barry thought that Tommy Ingram s errors were responsible for conceding 5 of the 7 goals. Something had to be done and as we couldn t bring back Charlie Timperley we went with John Bud Kitchen. For the game against Lansil we played a system and started a run of 1 defeat in the next 14 games, although we had to replay the cup game because Bud Kitchen hadn t been registered with the league. Lansil 3 Galgate 4 With five changes from last week s losing team, and a depressing run in their last few matches, Galgate were the underdogs in this cup-tie clash between two old rivals. But on this occasion the underdogs won through by the odd goal. This game marked the reappearance of Galgate club captain, Terry Ainsworth, after a long layoff with injury. The game started at a fast and furious pace and after 15 minutes Geoff Atkinson downed Stuart Grimshaw in the penalty area and Nobby Clark scored from the spot. Galgate then set about pulling back this deficit and swarmed the Lansil goal. A Bill Potter piledriver was brilliantly saved by a Lansil defender who was unfortunately not the goalkeeper, but Terry Ainsworth s penalty skimmed the crossbar with Driver going the wrong way. This failed to upset Galgate and Bill Potter equalised after 30 minutes with a crisp shot from 10 yards. After the interval Gordon Howarth added a fine goal for Galgate with a hard low drive. Then a speculative long ball into the Galgate area found David Akister who hit the ball home. James Bowker, who played brilliantly throughout, put Ernie Kirkbride away on the left wing and his long shot completely beat Driver to give Galgate a 3-2 lead. Shortly afterwards a hard shot from Gordon Howarth was parried by Driver, and although the oncoming JamesBowker failed to connect, Bill Potter was on hand to notch his second. A late goal by Lansil s Ken Huddleston was not enough to stop Galgate going through. Lansil: Driver: Clifton, Clark: Shuttleworth, Elkin, Thompson: Burnett, Holman, Huddleston, Grimshaw, Akister Galgate: Kitchen; Atkinson, Varey, Corless, Baines; Kirkbride, Ainsworth, Danson; Potter, Bowker, Howarth A terrific game to make my comeback but it was obvious to me that I wasn t anywhere near the player I had been last season, maybe 50% at best. The best way to describe it was that I couldn t change a game now, couldn t make a difference, I had become an average player. I had to think all the time about my dodgy knee before doing anything and true to form the swelling on Sunday morning appeared and went down by about Wednesday or Thursday of the following week. Holme 2 Galgate 2 Galgate are fast becoming something of an enigma in the North Lancs. League this season. Once again after a great performance the previous week, when they beat a strong Lansil side, they looked an ordinary team away at Holme on Saturday. Although they were on top for most of the first half, Galgate found themselves a goal behind at the interval. And they had only themselves to blame, for they fluffed five or six good chances through shooting from too far out in the heavy going. Neil Bowerbank was the scorer of Holme s goal. 108

113 Galgate managed to get the ball in the net within five minutes of the re-start when Dickie Danson scored from a corner. They then took the lead, but in the luckiest way imaginable. They were awarded a penalty for hands but Gordon Howarth topped his spot kick. The ball seemed to be rolling ignominiously wide of the post, but it then hit a bump and skidded past a befuddled goalkeeper. Three more chances came Galgate s way but went by the board, and then Boyd for Holme Athletic hit the ball in following a free kick from the inside right position. Galgate s James Bowker incredibly hit a ball wide of the post when faced by an open goal, but neither side could force a decider. Galgate: Kitchen; Oliver, Varey, Corless, Baines; Kirkbride, Ainsworth, Danson; Potter, Bowker, Howarth Galgate 2 Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys 3 Galgate s title hopes took another jolt when a goal six minutes from the end gave Old Boys this hard-earned but worthy win over the league champions. In a whirlwind start, Cummings calmly picked his spot from Dave McKevitt s centre to give the Old Boys the lead and for the following 20 minutes the Galgate goal seemed blessed with all the signs of the zodiac, the woodwork being struck at least three times. The home team, who started one man short, were soon up to full strength with the arrival of Alan Jackson, but still Old Boys pressed hard for a second goal, and only a great save from Dave McKevitt prevented this. Try as they could, Galgate couldn t penetrate the Old Boys defence, their attacks taking too long to build up and breaking down on the edge of the penalty area. However the equaliser came when Dickie Danson, trying a 30 yarder, saw his shot go in off the underside of the crossbar. From that point for the next ten minutes Galgate were on top for the first time, and it was the visitors turn to go on the defensive. Fullback Holmes and goalkeeper Gates each stopped shots on the line from Gordon Howarth and Terry Ainsworth but the home team went in front when ex-old Boys player Alan Jackson scored with a good header from Terry Oliver s centre. The second half started with Old Boys going after a deserved equaliser, but it seemed as if the hard-pressed Galgate defence was going to hold out. However with 15 minutes to go a long speculative shot from Cummings went through a ruck of players to make it 2-2. The winner came with six minutes to go when Walter Halbard put Jack Ward through and the centre forward s shot went in off the post to give Old Boys both points. I never thought I would see the day when Dickie Danson and me would line up as full backs for Galgate. In the previous season we had controlled midfield along with Terry Oliver and absolutely dominated teams. I played at right back as an emergency stand-in as at this point of the season Geoff Atkinson seems to have disappeared off the radar. I cannot remember whether he had become another victim of the Barry Hanson cull or had he left the club for pastures new? Skerton Old Boys 2 Galgate 7 Looking a lot more like their old selves, Galgate swamped Skerton with a seven goal blast on Saturday. Galgate took a five minute lead through Gordon Howarth, but Skerton hit an equaliser on the quarter hour. Galgate s other goals were scored by Kenny Beales, Alan Jackson, Dickie Danson (2), Bill Potter and Kenny Blondell. Tiny teenager Kenny Blondell, promoted from the reserves had a storming game. Galgate: Kitchen; Oliver, Baines; Ainsworth, Corless, Danson; Beales, Jackson, Potter, Howarth, Blondell 109

114 Lansil 1 Galgate 5 Galgate thought they had won this game a few weeks ago, but after beating Lansil in the first match it was found that goalkeeper John Bud Kitchen was not officially registered, so the game had to be replayed. It made no difference to the outcome, for on Saturday Lansil were easy meat for the butchering Galgate forwards. The action expected from these two North Lancashire League leading lights did not take long to materialise. Right from the kick-off Kenny Beales made headway down the Galgate left wing and his pass to Gordon Howarth put the Galgate crackshot through in the Lansil area. His drive rocketed into the net before a Lansil player had even touched the ball. Lansil were understandably shaken by this setback, so much so that they were wide open again five minutes later as Alan Jackson cut into the Lansil penalty area. From the right he sent in a shot inside the far post which left Lansil goalkeeper Colin Johnson helpless. On the quarter hour, a left wing centre from Kenny Beales found James Bowker whose shot sailed in for Galgate s third. Lansil came more into the picture at this stage and a David Akister goal gave them some heart. Indeed the game changed remarkably with Galgate s goalkeeper, Bud Kitchen, repeatedly brought into action, with several fine saves. Lansil made a determined effort to get back on terms at the start of the second half, but Galgate, with the strong wind now at their backs, continually forced Lansil back. Right on the hour, the Lansil defence blocked two shots, but the third from Kenny Beales was fatal, and put Galgate back into a three goal lead. The Lansil attack seldom trod the Galgate penalty area and it was no surprise when after 80 minutes Galgate scored a fifth through Gordon Howarth. Lansil: Johnson; Thompson, Clarke; Holman, Elkin, Woodhouse; Huddleston, Burnett, Woodburn, Shuttleworth, Akister Galgate: Kitchen; Burgess, Baines; Ainsworth, Oliver, Danson; Jackson, Potter, Bowker, Howarth, Beales Lancaster Moor Hospital 0 Galgate 2 Facing Lancaster Moor Hospital, the league leaders, Galgate pulled off a fine win in a predominantly defensive game. In the second half, Galgate forced a corner on the right. Ernie Kirkbride s corner fell short of the goalmouth and Bill Potter nodded the ball into the middle for James Bowker to score with a fierce drive. Moor tried hard for the equaliser but to no avail, and then Galgate got the all important second goal. Left back Baines started the move, with Ernie Kirkbride taking over in midfield. His pass to Alan Jackson was perfect and the final cross to James Bowker was neatly driven home to round off the best move of the game. Galgate: Kitchen; Corless, Baines; Ainsworth, Oliver, Danson; Jackson, Potter, Bowker, Kirkbride, Beales Galgate 6 Morecambe United 1 This game was so one sided that Morecambe United were lucky not to be on the receiving end of at least a ten goal shock at Galgate on Saturday. For United the game was a bitter disappointment after their improved show in the cup game against Cartmel the previous week. Galgate went ahead after 20 minutes when James Bowker nodded home an Ernie Kirkbride centre, but, before half-time, completely against the run of play, Morecambe had drawn level. A guide to Galgate s total superiority at this time was the fact that they gained three corners in quick succession - each one to be hastily cleared for another corner 110

115 by the harassed United defence. By half-time, Galgate might have been six up but they had to wait until ten minutes into the second half before they got their second through Bill Potter. The long delayed goal rush then materialised as Alan Jackson, Terry Ainsworth, James Bowker and Bill Potter added further goals. Galgate: Kitchen; Corless, Baines; Ainsworth, Oliver, Danson; Jackson, Potter, Bowker, Kirkbride, Beales Bentham 1 Galgate 5 League Championship contenders Galgate were in top form against Bentham on Saturday. If they increased their tempo they would be worthy candidates for a much higher class of football. Bentham gave away an own goal, a penalty and two more through rank bad covering. From a free kick, Alan Jackson shot into the Bentham goalmouth and, attempting to clear, Peter Johnson sliced into his own goal. Galgate drew further ahead when Bill Potter scored with a beautiful cross drive. Galgate were awarded a penalty when K. Houldsworth made a late tackle on a Galgate forward and James Bowker netted. Dickie Danson for Galgate had a fine game and was instrumental in the fourth goal when he centred with fine judgement and Alan Jackson had a simple task to guide the ball into the net. The fifth goal followed when Alan Jackson centred from the left and James Bowker was on hand to brush an easy chance home. Bentham kept fighting and were rewarded with a well taken goal when Roger Wheildon cracked a shot into the roof of the net from a masterly pass from H. French. Bentham: B. Carter; Williams, Houldsworth; Johnson, Morris, E.Guy; Wheildon, Bradley, R. Guy, J. Carter, French Galgate: Kitchen; Burgess, Baines; Ainsworth, Oliver, Corless; Jackson, Potter, Bowker, Danson, Beales Galgate 3 Skerton Old Boys 1 Galgate predictably cruised into round two of this competition in an uninteresting encounter with Skerton Old Boys on Saturday. Kenny Beales unbelievably missed an open goal from two yards out in the very first minute, when he somehow prodded the ball wide of the post, but after five minutes Galgate went ahead when Terry Ainsworth put James Bowker through to score. Alan Jackson hit number two shortly afterwards, following a goalmouth scramble, and after only 17 minutes Galgate went three up when Kenny Beales crossed from the left for Bill Potter to lob the ball over the advancing goalkeeper. In the second half the game deteriorated, although Skerton pulled one back through their centre forward. Galgate: Kitchen; Burgess, Baines; Ainsworth, Oliver, Corless; Jackson, Potter, Bowker, Danson, Beales Galgate 3 Storeys 2 Storeys, top of Division 2 in the North Lancashire League were given a premature opportunity to match their strength against one of the best first division sides, Galgate, in this cup game on Saturday. Although they lost by the odd goal, they showed that if they do win promotion, they should have little difficulty in holding their own in senior company. Galgate scored after only five minutes when an Alan Jackson centre found Kenny Beales unmarked, and he headed the ball into the air and volleyed it past Charlie Timperley. Storeys fought 111

116 back and after a spell of heavy pressure on the Galgate goal they equalised after 15 minutes through Dave Rigby. The Galgate goal remained under a heavy Storeys bombardment and the division two side went ahead from a Joe O Connor free kick. Smith was proving a real live-wire in the Storeys attack, but with five minutes of the first half left, James Bowker shot the equaliser for Galgate. In the second half, Galgate began to dominate and forced five successive corners. The last of these was cleared from the penalty area, but flew to Galgate skipper Terry Ainsworth. He fired in a low shot which incredibly found its way through the still crowded goalmouth. Charlie Timperley dived and parried the ball and as it ran loose Kenny Beales crashed it in. Galgate: Kitchen; Corless, Baines; Ainsworth, Oliver, Danson; Jackson, Bowerbank, Bowker, Potter, Beales Storeys: Timperley; Graveson, Smith; Howse, Campbell, Wylie; O Connor, Smith, Gibson, Jewitt, Rigby Royal Albert Hospital 2 Galgate 3 Two goals down in the second half, Galgate looked for all the world like a beaten side ready to bow unceremoniously out of the Senior Challenge Cup on Saturday. But a tactical move which brought Terry Ainsworth up from his half-back position into a flagging forward line proved to be the turning point, and Galgate staged a great revival to win 3-2. After 35 minutes, the Royal Albert took the lead, but at the interval, Galgate were confident they could make the most of the now friendly wind in their favour. They were sadly mistaken, however, for R.A.H. increased their lead after five minutes thanks to Ken Moorby. Terry Ainsworth put the Galgate side back in the game when he scored from an Alan Jackson centre, and a couple of minutes later Bill Potter punched across a centre, Kenny Beales hit it goalwards and Galgate were level. The winner came ten minutes from the end when Dickie Danson pushed the ball to Alan Jackson who cleverly beat two defenders to drive the ball home from the edge of the area. Playing in the forward line again was great but the extra twisting and turning played havoc with my left knee and this time a week was not long enough to recover so I had to miss the game against Lads Club Old Boys Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys 2 Galgate 0 If the final of this competition reaches the standard of this game, it should be worth watching. While Old Boys had the run of the ball, their win was no travesty of justice. After weathering a pounding from Galgate early in the first half the scoreline could have been more convincing had there not been some glaring misses by their forwards late in the second half. But Galgate can look back with frustration at Old Boys first goal, a re-taken penalty. After Cummings had blazed the first spot kick over the bar, the referee ordered it to be re-taken for an infringement. This time Dave Griffin took the kick and made no mistake. Although Galgate did most of the pressing, Old Boys always looked dangerous with their quick breaks from defence. After Jack Ward had forced home number 2 for the Old Boys, Galgate came back strongly and Kenny Beales hit the upright with a header, and then Alan Jackson saw one stopped on the line by Holmes. Norman Corless at centre half did a good job for Galgate, whose defence was frequently tormented by the probing runs of outside left Dave Griffin. A great game which could have gone either way. 112

117 Galgate 0 Royal Albert Hospital 0 This game proved nothing but a series of shambling mistakes by both sides, struggling against the ever-present wind. Strangely enough, Galgate played better against the wind, but during the first half (with it in their favour) they did nothing right. In the second half, Galgate s left winger Kenny Beales twisted his knee and this is now encased in plaster. In addition, Alan Jackson pulled a muscle and was a limping passenger. Five minutes from the end team manager Barry Hanson trundled out but luckily for his side was not called on even to touch the ball. Galgate: Kitchen; Corless, Baines; Oliver, Varey, Danson; Jackson, Ainsworth, Potter, Bowerbank, Beales Great hilarity and mickey taking in this game when Barry Hanson made his appearance but playing me up front again because I had influenced the previous game against the Hospital didn t turn out as we anticipated so the following week I was back to right half. Royal Albert Hospital 1 Galgate 3 Division One side Galgate did what was expected of them when they beat R.A.H. from Division 2 at the Lune Mills ground on Saturday. But they needed two bites at the cherry to reach the final against a side not overawed by their big brothers. The replay contained plenty of good football although a sweeping wind did not help matters. Galgate had the wind at their backs in the first half and were distinctly unfortunate not to snatch a couple of early goals. A left-foot volley from Alan Jackson and one or two vicious headers from Norman Corless could easily have started them off on the victory trail. In fact it was 40 minutes before Galgate went into the lead, when Terry Oliver, after a good run on the right wing, shot into the back of the net from 15 yards and from a very acute angle. After the interval, R.A.H. sensing that the game could still be saved, tried hard to get on terms, and grabbed an equaliser. Galgate had a goal disallowed for offside and then Neil Bowerbank, scything through the defence, scored the second. The third was a shady affair, and had a definite air off offside about it. The officials in charge decided not, however, and the goal schemed by Alan Jackson and Dickie Danson, who applied the finishing touch, was allowed to stand. Galgate: Kitchen; Burgess, Baines; Ainsworth, Varey, Danson; Oliver, Jackson, Corless, Bowerbank, Potter Galgate 6 Bentham 3 Drawing 2-2 at half time, Bentham were overpowered by Galgate in the last half-hour when four more goals were scored against them. Gordon Howarth, the Galgate inside left, scored four of his sides goals including a hat-trick. The game began at a fast pace and Houldsworth and Parker, the two Bentham fullbacks, broke up some smart Galgate approach work. Galgate opened the scoring when Neil Bowerbank placed a fine centre from the right across to the far post leaving Kenny Beales with an easy chance to head into the net. A fine midfield movement between Ray Guy and John Bradley ended when John Bradley equalised. Bentham s goal had a charmed life when Bill Potter hit the bar and immediately afterwards Gordon Howarth hit the post from close in. Morris tested the Galgate goalkeeper, Ray Murphy, with a high swerving shot which was saved in masterly fashion. Neil Bowerbank once again swung over a centre to the far post and Gordon Howarth, diving 113

118 forward, put Galgate ahead once more. Just before half-time Ray Guy scored the equaliser for Bentham from a corner by Ralston. Norman Corless with a long ball put Gordon Howarth through and he calmly picked his spot and scored. Soon after this goal Gordon Howarth completed his hat-trick with a further opportunist goal. The fifth goal went to Bill Potter and a cross from Neil Bowerbank was netted by Gordon Howarth for number six. Galgate were awarded a penalty but Terry Ainsworth, their captain, fired high over the bar. Just before the game ended John Bradley, the Bentham captain, demonstrated how to take a penalty when he scored from the spot with a low powerful drive into the corner of the net. Galgate: Bentham: Murphy; Burgess, Ainsworth; Corless, Varey, Danson; Jackson, Bowerbank, Potter, Howarth, Beales Hinde; Parker, Houldsworth; Morris, Wheildon, Carter; Thistlethwaite,Bradley, Guy, Robertson, Ralston North Lancs League Division I P W D L F A Pts Corinthians Lansil Newton Galgate Lancaster Moor Hospital Lancaster Boys Club O.B Cartmel Caton United Holme Athletic Bentham Lower Holker Skerton Old Boys Morecambe United Trimpell We were now an average team in an average league where no side stood out above the others. For some reason I opted to leave Galgate and return to Lansil for the following season when it would have made greater sense to retire from playing and take over from Barry Hanson at Galgate and work with Dickie Danson and Terry Oliver to build another team. 114

119 As I moved back to Lansil this was the role I had to get used to now, on the side-lines with the injury. I don t remember playing any games for Lansil in season but Dickie Danson says that although I continued to be plagued with the long-standing knee injury I still played. I do remember being in the dressing room with Neville Kennedy and Stuart Grimshaw but cannot remember in what role. There was one amusing incident as we sat in the dressing room preparing for a game when a guy turned up looking for Neville Kennedy because apparently he was responsible for getting his daughter pregnant. To everyone s amusement Neville squeezed through one of the small windows in the changing rooms and made his escape. Whether he returned to play in the game cannot be confirmed and whether the guy ever caught up with him has not been revealed but I never heard the blast of a shotgun. Lansil F.C Back Row (L- R)?,?, K Huddleston, C Johnson, N Kennedy, S Grimshaw, B Huntington, J Shuttleworth, A Baines, B Elkin,?,?, R Huddleston, T Ainsworth. Front Row (L- R) T Makinson, D Akister, W Burnett, B Woodhouse, D Clarke, R Danson,?,?. 115

120 North Lancs League Division I P W D L F A Pts Lansil Newton Corinthians Cartmel Lancaster Boys Club Old Boys Caton United Storeys Carnforth Reserves Bentham Holme Athletic Galgate Bolton-le-Sands Skerton Old Boys Arnside Lancaster Moor Hospital Heysham During the summer of 1968 I continued to get treatment for my knee injury but then it was mutually decided with my doctor to have an operation to try and solve the problem. So on September 6th 1968; almost two and a half years after being injured on the Giant Axe, I had a left medial Menisectomy at the Garnett Clinic, Lancaster. Would my knee be like it used to be and could I play football again as I used to? The answer soon became apparent as I struggled to reach any sort of fitness level with Lansil. After about three months I wanted to at least have a game and see what level of performance I could achieve so I asked the Lansil committee to play me. They couldn t find a place for me so I transferred to Newton, who were managed by Spike Winn, in February 1969 and made my debut against Carnforth Rangers Reserves in a North Lancashire League Division 1 game that we won 3-1. My worst fears were confirmed as the pain in my knee was excruciating and once again the familiar swelling took at least five days to go down. Newton 3 Carnforth Rangers Reserves 1 A strong end to end wind was one of the big factors in this game. Carnforth took full advantage of this in the first half by banging the ball down the middle with consistent hope. Charlie Timperley in goal had quite a busy time. Trying to play their way out of tight spots, Newton showed up quite well and had their share of near misses. Once again too much creative work and not near enough direct shooting was in evidence. In the 20th minute, Nodder Muckalt turned back a lovely pass for Tommy Angus to score a fine header. Undismayed Carnforth bounced back with quick breakaways and some very good moves 116

121 from the wings. Soon after the restart and despite Newton s territorial advantage, a quick break, a defensive misunderstanding and Carnforth had drawn level. Newton hit back and Edge in goal played the game of his life. Shots came at him from all directions and not until the 70th minute did he yield to a shot from Liver. Fifteen minutes later Liver again found the net in one of the many goalmouth scrambles. Still fighting hard, Carnforth were quick to break out and some very good moves were set up, but Newton s defence wouldn t allow much advance beyond the 18 yard line. In this last hectic spell with the visitors throwing everything in, Nodder Muckalt was prominent in coming back to help his defence. Newton: Timperley: Atkinson J., Carney: Angus, Lunn, Lamb: Ainsworth, Jones, Liver, Muckalt, Atkinson G Newton 5 Dry Dock 1 As the scoreline indicates, Newton were generally in command of this game right from the start. After several hectic scrambles in the visitor s goalmouth, Terry Ainsworth s shot in the 10th minute hit the far post and glanced into the net. Five minutes later, George Atkinson headed in a great cross. Dry Dock at this stage tried hard to get into the game with some good prompting from Dennis Smith and Walter Halbard, but a very tight defence plus the alertness of Charlie Timperley denied them any sort of chance. With Newton s halfback trio spraying passes galore, the Dock were hard pressed to stem the speed of attack. In the 24th minute Terry Ainsworth crossed low for Nodder Muckalt to score from close in. Five minutes later Terry Ainsworth rounded off some good work to find the net. Then Nodder Muckalt positioned himself well to head home a good cross from George Atkinson. At the restart the visitors changed their team around and became more positive in moves and attack. Ray Briggs seized on a slender chance and gave the Dock a deserved goal. Newton appeared to be content to cruise along without ramming home their evident superiority. Heyer in goal must be given credit for a very good performance in this half. Newton: Timperley; Jimmy Atkinson, Carney; Angus, Lunn, Jones; Ainsworth, Vickers, Liver, Muckalt, George Atkinson Arnside 0 Newton 3 It was good to see the whole-hearted enthusiasm of this Arnside team but they couldn t match the superior skill of Newton. After an uneasy first quarter, the visitors settled into a composed attack with Maurice Vickers and Nodder Muckalt doing a lot of spadework. Some rare old tussles took place on the flanks between George Atkinson and Tony Riley and their opposite numbers Swindlehurst and Spooner. In the middle, Liver didn t get past Robinson until the 20th minute when he scored with a cracking drive. Five minutes later George Atkinson headed in a fine cross from Maurice Vickers. Arnside s quick breaks from defence were carried on with tremendous spirit and very nearly brought results. Kicking downhill at the restart, Newton s more skilful halfback trio of Tommy Angus, Peter Lunn and Terry Ainsworth kept up a constant pressure. Arnside s breaks became fewer and less promising. Good defensive work and hefty kicking by Arnside s back pair was very noticeable at this stage. In the 70th minute Tony Riley coolly chipped the ball over Rogers head to put Newton way in front In the last few minutes Rogers had quite a busy time in goal but acquitted himself very well. Newton: Timperley: Lamb, Carney: Ainsworth, Lunn, Angus: Riley, Vickers, Liver, Muckalt, Atkinson 117

122 Caton United 0 Newton 0 Completely ruined by a bitterly cold half gale, this game in the football sense never really got started. It was stalemate from start to finish. It was a pity really because spectators and footballers had looked froward to an interesting clash. Newton had their chances in the first half when a little more control and directness might have earned them an early lead. Caton s turn came in the second half and here again it was a repeat story of the first half. Difficulty in controlling the ball and slack passing with hardly any worthwhile shot at goal. The only merit arising out of the whole 90 minutes, with the ball in play about two thirds of the time, was the defensive work put in by each team in their struggle against the elements. Newton: Timperley; Lamb, Carney; Angus, Lunn, Ainsworth; Riley, Vickers, Liver, Muckalt, Atkinson Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys 1 Newton 0 This was a pretty rugged sort of game with both teams putting too much emphasis on the long ball down the middle allied to hopes from a strong end to end wind. Consequently neither side managed to establish control and the end result for each team when assisted by the wind was penalty area scrimmages with no clear cut direct football. The best moves in fact took place in midfield. There was plenty of determination shown by both defences who played it so tightly that there was hardly one worthwhile shot at goal. In the closing stages the home side went in front when a half clearance was seized on and the ball was deflected into the bottom corner. At this stage tempers rose a little over decisions and Dave Lamb was sent off. An unfortunate ending to a rather patchy game which should have offered much more. Newton: Timperley; Lamb, Carney; Angus, Lunn, Ainsworth; Jones, Vickers, Liver, Muckalt, Riley Newton 3 Storeys 2 Despite a swirling wind and tricky pitch, the ball was well controlled by both these evenly matched sides in a game where all five goals were scored against the wind. Newton shot off to an early start when Tommy Angus cleverly hooked the ball over his head and into the net from close range. Storeys retaliated with a series of quick attacking moves and in one raid Charlie Timperley did well to punch a terrific shot over the bar. In the 30th minute a foul on Liver produced a penalty for Newton and Terry Jones made no mistake with the spot kick. It took only five minutes for Newton to get their third goal which came when an accurate cross from a free kick taken by Maurice Vickers was headed into the corner of the net by Tommy Angus. With a three goal lead and the wind behind them at the start of the second half, Newton had reason to be confident. However, as Storeys forwards progressed in strength and Newton s defence came under pressure, it became obvious that Storeys had not yet been beaten. Storeys had their chances, as did Newton, but not until the last few minutes did they manage to score. The goal came when Newton failed to clear a high cross and let Winder come through to whip it into the net. A minute later Winder was fouled whilst challenging the keeper and Storeys were awarded a penalty which was driven home by Moore. The last few minutes were exciting but neither side could get another goal. Newton: Timperley; Atkinson, Carney; Angus, Lunn, Ainsworth; Liver, Vickers, Lamb, Jones, Riley 118

123 North Lancs League Division I Opponent Result Comments Carnforth Rangers Reserves (H) 3-1 Arnside (A) 3-0 Caton United (A) 0-0 Arnside (H) 4-0 Storeys (H) 3-2 Trimpell (A) 1-2 Lansil (H) 1-0 Bentham (A) 7-0 Milnthorpe Corinthians (A) 1-0 Last game I ever played Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys (N) 0-1 Missed through injury Cup Competitions Round Opponent Result Senior Challenge Cup Fourth (A) Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys 0-1 Memorial Challenge Cup Third (H) Dry Dock United 5-1 Fourth (A) Caton United 1-2 The game I was really up for was the home encounter with Lansil and what great pleasure it gave me to put one over on them and deprive them of two valuable points and possibly deprive them of the league title. I remember the game on Ryelands Park against Dry Dock United in the 3 rd round of the Memorial Cup and took time to give Walter Halbard some stick eliciting the response from Walter, you don t do anything but score goals - gee thanks Walter. The last game of the season was played at Carnforth because at this time of the year the goalposts on Ryelands Park had been taken down. In the previous game at Milnthorpe I had re-injured my knee and I knew that it would take more than a week to be ready to play. As it turned out the win against Milnthorpe Corinthians was the last game I ever played. In this final game of the season we had to win whilst the Lads Club only had to draw. I don t remember anything about the game except that we lost and I think Dave Griffin or Dave Fairclough scored for the Lads Club. The foundations of a good side had been laid and Spike Winn finally won the championship three years later and took his team to two quarter finals of the Lancashire Junior Shield, a feat which very few other managers could boast. After over four decades it is difficult to focus the mind on past events. We had a wonderful defence, well marshalled by Peter Lunn, which was the best in the league. We never lost a game on Ryelands Park and only dropped one point there. The defence 119

124 conceded 23 goals in 30 games and I can t recollect many other teams in 40 years to better that. Even the great Galgate team of 1965 conceded 31 in 30 games, and the Lads Club Old Boys team of 1961 conceded 29 in 26 games. The weakness, if it was one, was the failure to score enough goals consistently. The two teams I mentioned previously scored 151 and 118 whilst Newton could only muster 80. Writing this book in the cold light of day it is easy to have regrets that nine years of playing football was not enough but although at 24 years of age my days of playing football virtually came to an end the friendships I formed in those years have lasted for another 50 and even now when I meet an old acquaintance from half a century ago it only takes a minute before we find a smile from the memories and the times we shared. Maybe remembering a former colleague who has since died and what he brought to the game. We generally remember some funny incident in a game rather than a particular piece of skill but while we talk about our old friends they will always live on. I hesitate to mention names because it is too easy to inadvertently omit somebody and that would never be my intention. North Lancs League Division I P W D L F A Pts Lancaster Boys Club Old Boys Lansil Newton Caton United Corinthians Trimpell Holme Athletic Storeys Arnside Galgate Carnforth Rangers Reserves Cartmel Bolton le Sands Bentham Kings Skerton Old Boys

125 In 2010 I carried out a survey amongst young men who had played football in the North Lancashire & District League asking them to rate the top three players they had either played with or against or had seen play in the years I sent out 90 survey forms and more than 40 forms were returned over a period of about 5 months, including three from Australia. The number one player would receive 3 points, the number two player 2 points and the number three player 1 point. The number one choices in all positions were: Position Player Principle Club Votes Goalkeeper Charlie Timperley Newton 56 Right Back Tommy Angus Newton 20 Left Back Alan Newton Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys 33 Right Half John Shuttleworth Lansil 28 Centre Half Simon Brown Lancaster Moor Hospital 24 Left Half Dickie Danson Galgate 45 Outside Right Dougie Brown Caton United 21 Inside Right Eric Acton Ingleboro 16 Centre Forward Jimmy Fagan Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys 64 Inside Left Terry Ainsworth Galgate 45 Outside Left Gordon Howarth Galgate 60 The number two choices in all positions were: Position Player Principle Club Votes Goalkeeper Bernard Martin Cartmel 20 Right Back Derek Richardson Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys 16 Left Back Billy Wylie Galgate 13 Right Half Terry Oliver Galgate 9 Centre Half Peter Lunn Newton 21 Left Half Harry Sanderson Caton United 12 Outside Right David Akister Newton 13 Inside Right Nodder Muckalt Newton 13 Centre Forward Bill Potter Galgate 20 Inside Left Brian Metcalfe Lancaster Lads Club Old Boys 13 Outside Left Des Churchman Bentham United 12 The total numbers of players named and voted for in all positions were: Goalkeeper (29), Fullback (28), Wing Half (32), Centre Half (26), Winger (28), Inside Forward (33) and Centre Forward (27). 121

126 North Lancs League Select XI Charlie Timperley Tommy Angus Alan Newton Simon Brown John Shuttleworth Dickie Danson Eric Acton Terry Ainsworth Dougie Brown Gordon Howarth Jimmy Fagan 122

127 So where did I go from here? In August 1970 after a painful training session at the Lancaster Lads Club I turned my back on the game that I loved, put my boots in the dustbin, and walked away, it was heart-breaking. We had already moved to live in Morecambe in January 1968 buying a nine bedroom guest house and from there my total focus was on business. We ran a residential six-bedroomed Public House, a twenty bedroomed hotel on the East Promenade and a block of holiday flats on the West End Promenade. In 1978 an operation to repair a snapped Achilles tendon that I picked up playing squash caused blood clots to go to my lungs and when the Grim Reaper stood at my bedside it was only the quick action of our family doctor, Hugh McKinney, and the treatment by the intensive care unit nurses at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary that banished him. My outlook on life changed after that experience and I well remember when I was discharged from hospital me and Margaret booking three weeks holiday in the West Indies. Prior to this event we had only taken one holiday in 15 years but from now on we used to go away for about three months every year, usually to Portugal, but we also made many six weekly trips to America. In America I got hooked on their brand of football and the Green Bay Packers where we made many good friends that we still keep in touch with today. The Packers welcomed us with open arms and I was invited on to many television and radio programmes, Margaret declined all invitations. Indeed the ABC network even sent a film crew to England to do a story on us for national television. There must be a book waiting to be written about all this, now where is my pen? 123

128 About the Author Terry Ainsworth was born in Caton in 1942 and grew up watching his football heroes who played for Caton United. After attending Caton Church of England Primary School he then completed his education at Lancaster Royal Grammar School. As a teenager he was coached by Jimmy Downham at the Lancaster Lads Club and played for Lancashire Boys Clubs, representing them in the 1959 final of the Gillette Cup against Hampshire at Craven Cottage, Fulham, in front of H.R.H. The Duke of Gloucester. Immediately after that game Blackburn Rovers signed him and later he played at Stockport County under the tutelage of Albert Dainty. In 1963 he married Margaret Onyett and they have twin sons, Paul and David, who both live and work in the South of England. He played for several years in local football until a cruciate ligament injury in 1966 curtailed his life in football. About the Book For the past ten years Terry has worked as a freelance journalist for the Lancaster Guardian with articles about Lancaster football and its environs from 1900 to This book predominantly looks at Terry s life in football but also includes a chapter about his childhood in Caton. From joining the Lancaster Lads Club at the age of 15 he recalls events that happened in the ensuing years through newspaper reports plus his own recollections and those of his friends. Published December 2011 Copyright 2011