Bert Johnson was a much sought after powerful wing half who assisted his hometown club,Stockton before joining South Bank in 1937. He left the club the following year to turn professional with Spennymoor United before entering league football with Charlton Athletic shortly afterwards. A highly talented player who represented England in two wartime internationals in 1945,appearing against Switzerland and France. He won both F.A.Cup winners and Finalist’s medals with Charlton Athletic where he gave excellent service along with Tommy Dawson who worked in the Malleable pipe works when he retired from football. Bert Johnson managed Cambridge United before joining the coaching staff of Leicester City,later acting as a scout for the club. Stan Rickaby, a full back who frequently walked from his home at Norton to South Bank for home fixtures, left South Bank to join Middlesbrough in 1946 before moving to West Bromwich Albion where he had the misfortune to miss the 1954 F.A.Cup Final through injury. A polished defender who represented England against Scotland in 1954 and represented the Football League. He later became player manager of Poole Town, Weymouth and Newton Abbott. A sergeant in the Green Howards during the war, he fought in the Battle of the Bulge and later entered Hitler’s bunker,he tracked down the family of his German mother-in-law.
Norman Fowler left South Bank after being a member of their North Riding Senior Cup winning side of 1936,to turn professional with Middlesbrough. During the war years when duties permitted, he played for Leeds Utd.,Hartlepool and Bradford City whilst serving in the R.A.F., he was later transferred to Hull City before serving Gateshead, Scarborough and Stockton where he later became manager. In his later years he became the well respected chairman of Norton and Stockton Ancients until his death in 1990 at the age of 70.
When I referred to local lads I meant Picture Stockton area ie:-Stockton, Thornaby, Billingham. Alan Peacock, Mannion & Hardwick were Boro lads. Holliday & Downing were from out of the area.
Stan Rickaby was another local international footballer, born Stockton 12 March 1924. My Grandmother Emma and Stan’s mother were sisters. He emigrated to Australia in his later years. He played for Middlesbrough (debut against Newcastle United) and then West Bromwich Albion in the English Division 1 (205 appearances, playing mainly at right back (2 goals) and was capped once for England against Northern Ireland. I spent a holiday with the family in Poole, Dorset in 1958 where Stan was Manager of Poole Town FC. He has published an autobiography ‘Upover and Down Under’, which includes a wartime memory of my mother’s family being bombed at their house in Benson Street, Norton. Awarded scholarship to Stockton Grammar School. Living near Perth, Western Australia (2008).
How many local lads got international honours at football – Gary Pallister was a full international, Gordon Jones, Willie Maddren & David Mills were under 23, Tommy Thompson was a amatuer international & Norman Fowler, Peter Lax, Dennis Thwaites were schoolboy & the latest Jonathon Franks schoolboy upto under 20. Can you name anymore?
Norman Fowler was an Oxbridge Lane School pupil, a big lad for his age. Bear in mind that the school leaving age was 14. Oxbridge Lane School was proud of its” England cap. Joined Middlesbrough later but post war (in the George Hardwick era) could not get a regular place and moved to Hull City for whom he played for several seasons. The photo was taken in the garden of his Oulston Road home – number 22. We lived at 26!
Bert Johnson was a much sought after powerful wing half who assisted his hometown club,Stockton before joining South Bank in 1937. He left the club the following year to turn professional with Spennymoor United before entering league football with Charlton Athletic shortly afterwards. A highly talented player who represented England in two wartime internationals in 1945,appearing against Switzerland and France. He won both F.A.Cup winners and Finalist’s medals with Charlton Athletic where he gave excellent service along with Tommy Dawson who worked in the Malleable pipe works when he retired from football. Bert Johnson managed Cambridge United before joining the coaching staff of Leicester City,later acting as a scout for the club. Stan Rickaby, a full back who frequently walked from his home at Norton to South Bank for home fixtures, left South Bank to join Middlesbrough in 1946 before moving to West Bromwich Albion where he had the misfortune to miss the 1954 F.A.Cup Final through injury. A polished defender who represented England against Scotland in 1954 and represented the Football League. He later became player manager of Poole Town, Weymouth and Newton Abbott. A sergeant in the Green Howards during the war, he fought in the Battle of the Bulge and later entered Hitler’s bunker,he tracked down the family of his German mother-in-law.
Norman Fowler left South Bank after being a member of their North Riding Senior Cup winning side of 1936,to turn professional with Middlesbrough. During the war years when duties permitted, he played for Leeds Utd.,Hartlepool and Bradford City whilst serving in the R.A.F., he was later transferred to Hull City before serving Gateshead, Scarborough and Stockton where he later became manager. In his later years he became the well respected chairman of Norton and Stockton Ancients until his death in 1990 at the age of 70.
Stan Riskaby, lived in Derwentor Trent Street. Ken Furphy, although he didn’t play international football, did manage the under 23/21’s.
Mickey Fenton got an England cap against Scotland in 1938.
When I referred to local lads I meant Picture Stockton area ie:-Stockton, Thornaby, Billingham. Alan Peacock, Mannion & Hardwick were Boro lads. Holliday & Downing were from out of the area.
Stan Rickaby was another local international footballer, born Stockton 12 March 1924. My Grandmother Emma and Stan’s mother were sisters. He emigrated to Australia in his later years. He played for Middlesbrough (debut against Newcastle United) and then West Bromwich Albion in the English Division 1 (205 appearances, playing mainly at right back (2 goals) and was capped once for England against Northern Ireland. I spent a holiday with the family in Poole, Dorset in 1958 where Stan was Manager of Poole Town FC. He has published an autobiography ‘Upover and Down Under’, which includes a wartime memory of my mother’s family being bombed at their house in Benson Street, Norton. Awarded scholarship to Stockton Grammar School. Living near Perth, Western Australia (2008).
Bert Johnson, Charlton Athletic, Two caps in 1946,came from Stockton, and believe he played for Whitby and Spennymoor.
Alan Peacock, Edwin Holliday, Derick Downing, full internationals. Billy Day under 23. Going further back Mannion, Hardwick.
How many local lads got international honours at football – Gary Pallister was a full international, Gordon Jones, Willie Maddren & David Mills were under 23, Tommy Thompson was a amatuer international & Norman Fowler, Peter Lax, Dennis Thwaites were schoolboy & the latest Jonathon Franks schoolboy upto under 20. Can you name anymore?
Does anybody know the lad next to Norman Fowler in the top photo, was he another local lad who won a schoolboy international cap at the time?
Norman Fowler was an Oxbridge Lane School pupil, a big lad for his age. Bear in mind that the school leaving age was 14. Oxbridge Lane School was proud of its” England cap. Joined Middlesbrough later but post war (in the George Hardwick era) could not get a regular place and moved to Hull City for whom he played for several seasons. The photo was taken in the garden of his Oulston Road home – number 22. We lived at 26!