Granville, many thanks for that, I do of course remember Fred, Dessie and many others on Stockton Forge Cricket Team photograph. I wrote a snippet in the Head Wrightson blog remembering all the folks who worked in the Stockton Forge Drawing Office.(1961 to 67)
Keith, your assumption is correct, when you started I would have been playing for Whitby.
John Kier, who I believe now lives in the Emirates, had a trial for Sheffield Wednesday in 1954. I think you may be interested to search Stockton Forge Cricket Team 1958 on this site and/or look at uncategorised comments, as you should recognise all those on the photo. Fred Seaman, Colin Richards and Dessie Good were also good footballers.
Sorry Anon, I dont have any relatives who worked in the Teasdale Drawing office, however I did know Barry Curzon, his sister Jean Curzon (who worked at Stockton Forge)and then Teasdale, plus Barry and Jeans Dad Ernie Curzon, who I believe was a ‘timekeeper’ at Teasdale works.
Was the late Brian Pearson who worked in the Teasdale drawing office any relation to you
Keith? He was a Thornaby lad who played local football, when Alf Duffield’s I.T.M. took over Head Wrightsons Brian rose through the ranks to be a top man.
I assume Granville Cooper is the same Granville who worked in the Head Wrightson Stockton Forge Drawing office. I was there as an apprentice from 1961 to 1967.
Derek (Dazza) Davies also played Rugby for Stockton. John Kerr who also worked in the drawing office at Stockton Forge and was from memory also a soccer player at Synthonia.
Alec Brown was a well liked & popular man, if he could help anybody he would. It is a shame he died just short of retirement because he had planned out what he was going to do in his retirement. He was chairman of the Teesside & Cleveland Football Coaches Association, on the North Riding F.A.Council & also secretary of the Middlesbrough & District League.
I’ve just fallen on this website. Alec Brown was my grandad so I’m really interested in the accurate and detailed comment about his work and football career.
Continuing with the Pop Arundal and Billingham Juniors theme Len, They say what goes around comes around, in as much as I had he pleasure of being in the South Bank Juniors Team that scored eight goals against the Synners Juniors on their own ground, and enjoyed the look on Pop Arundals face that day. I do not think that any other team would have scored eight against a Synners Junior team over the years, as they always managed to put out a very strong side, most of whom came from the Billingham Schoolboys teams of previous years.
I had a similar situation Benny with Pop Arundal as a fifteen year old, but I played for them in my last season as a junior when Joe Carter took over from Pop Arundale in the new junior club which was just outside the Central Avenue ground.
Sorry Anon, I cannot help with any more of the Synners team against Pagasus. Only one I recognised was Teddy Lowe with whom I played with at Stockton in the Midland League. I never ever played for Synthonia although I worked there as a messenger boy after leaving school for six months before starting my apprenticeship at Head Wrightsons. I wanted to play for Synthonia Juniors, but when I asked the Junior team Manager if I could play for them I was told in no certain manner that he was the one to ask junior players to play and not the other way around, so I was shown the door, so to speak, by Mr Arundal, an officious team manaager. South Bank St Peters was my next choice because Wilf Mannion started there, and I had a great season with them before going on to South bank Juniors.
The late Alec Brown in the photo was at Nottingham Forest in his youth & later played for Normanby Magnasite. After he retired from being a Football League referee he refereed in the Irish League until his early fifties,
then he used to write the Alec Brown Spotlight in the Evening Sports Gazette on a Saturday night which was a report on a local game. He then joined Middlesbrough F.C.
coaching the juniors. Alec worked as a driller in the Head Wrightson’s Teesdale Machine Shop, if he was asked he would offer advice or help people.
I was at Wembley when Pegasus beat Bishop Auckland & again when Bishops played Crook Town, before they settled it at Ayresome Park after drawing at St James, Newcastle. They were what you called crowds, not like what turn out for the F.A.Vase Finals. Donny & Tommy both spoke highly of Barry, Gran.
Well Linda I must have been there at the same time as you, loved to see the lads playing. I can also remember the school sports being held there and also the Donkey Derbys -they were great fun. Love your ditty.
Top Row; 2nd left Brian Armstrong. On Arthur Hodgsons Left Bill McQuarrie
Front Row; 6th Left Irvine Johnstone, 8th left Derek Davies.
Trainer in front of Paddy Nash is Fred Robson.
I think this was a friendly as another of the officials looks like Bob Thompson, another football league ref, who worked in Stockton Forge D.O.
Pegasus beat Bishops 2-1 in 1951 Amateur cup final in front of 100000 at Wembley.
Seeing all the football photographs on the site reminded me of a ‘ditty’ I wrote some time ago when I was a season ticket holder at Boro. Hope it might bring a smile of nostalgia.
At sixteen, on Saturdays, I’d go with my friend
To Victoria Ground, that’s the cemetery end
of Oxbridge in Stockton, for those who don’t know
And we’d cheer for the lads – that’s a long time ago.
There was Big Joe, the Connor’s, O’Hara and Thwaites,
Chippy Cauldwell, the Osborne’s – all schoolboy greats
John Pickering, John Moody and Frankie Storr
A few of the names, there were many more.
Then time passes on and my own son’s excel
In the game that is watched and loved so well.
As they play for school, I stand there again
On a Saturday morning, in pouring rain.
On Sunday for Club and then Varsity Teams
Oh my! where’s the time gone, it barely seems
Like yesterday : life was fresh and brand new,
But don’t worry my friends, I have news for you.
You don’t need the potions or HRT,
A seat at the Riverside is where you shoud be.
Amongst all the fans, young and old who are keen
I know ‘cos when I’m there, I’m still just sixteen!
Your names are correct and I can only add a few more.
Top row second left Brian Armstrong.
On Goalies left Bill McQuarrie.
Front row third left Lol Hodgson, sixth left Irvine Johnson who was captain.
Anon, as you are obviously a keen follower of the past football scene, though I believe you are quite a lot younger than the likes of myself. With that in mind I have agreed with Thelma to submit some of Barry Butlers team photos to the site shortly including the 1951 South Bank Juniors Team and his debut for Sheffield Wednesday against Burnley on 1st Jan 1954. Wednesday won 2-0.
He kept an eye on Don Heath and Tommy Osborne when they arrived at Norwich.
This is Syhthonia v Pegasus 1955 Front row; 2nd left Ronnie Clare, 3rd Lol Hodgson, 2nd right Teddy Lowe. Middle-row right Paddy Nash,4 th right Arthur Hodgson. Maybe Gran or Benny can help to identify others?
It is sad to see the passing of the Billingham Synthonia cricketer and footballer Vinny Evans.
Both Fred Seaman and Colin Richards are well and are living in the Hartburn area of Stockton. Merry Xmas Gran.
Granville, many thanks for that, I do of course remember Fred, Dessie and many others on Stockton Forge Cricket Team photograph. I wrote a snippet in the Head Wrightson blog remembering all the folks who worked in the Stockton Forge Drawing Office.(1961 to 67)
Keith, your assumption is correct, when you started I would have been playing for Whitby.
John Kier, who I believe now lives in the Emirates, had a trial for Sheffield Wednesday in 1954. I think you may be interested to search Stockton Forge Cricket Team 1958 on this site and/or look at uncategorised comments, as you should recognise all those on the photo. Fred Seaman, Colin Richards and Dessie Good were also good footballers.
Sorry Anon, I dont have any relatives who worked in the Teasdale Drawing office, however I did know Barry Curzon, his sister Jean Curzon (who worked at Stockton Forge)and then Teasdale, plus Barry and Jeans Dad Ernie Curzon, who I believe was a ‘timekeeper’ at Teasdale works.
Was the late Brian Pearson who worked in the Teasdale drawing office any relation to you
Keith? He was a Thornaby lad who played local football, when Alf Duffield’s I.T.M. took over Head Wrightsons Brian rose through the ranks to be a top man.
I assume Granville Cooper is the same Granville who worked in the Head Wrightson Stockton Forge Drawing office. I was there as an apprentice from 1961 to 1967.
Derek (Dazza) Davies also played Rugby for Stockton. John Kerr who also worked in the drawing office at Stockton Forge and was from memory also a soccer player at Synthonia.
Alec Brown was a well liked & popular man, if he could help anybody he would. It is a shame he died just short of retirement because he had planned out what he was going to do in his retirement. He was chairman of the Teesside & Cleveland Football Coaches Association, on the North Riding F.A.Council & also secretary of the Middlesbrough & District League.
I’ve just fallen on this website. Alec Brown was my grandad so I’m really interested in the accurate and detailed comment about his work and football career.
Continuing with the Pop Arundal and Billingham Juniors theme Len, They say what goes around comes around, in as much as I had he pleasure of being in the South Bank Juniors Team that scored eight goals against the Synners Juniors on their own ground, and enjoyed the look on Pop Arundals face that day. I do not think that any other team would have scored eight against a Synners Junior team over the years, as they always managed to put out a very strong side, most of whom came from the Billingham Schoolboys teams of previous years.
I had a similar situation Benny with Pop Arundal as a fifteen year old, but I played for them in my last season as a junior when Joe Carter took over from Pop Arundale in the new junior club which was just outside the Central Avenue ground.
Sorry Anon, I cannot help with any more of the Synners team against Pagasus. Only one I recognised was Teddy Lowe with whom I played with at Stockton in the Midland League. I never ever played for Synthonia although I worked there as a messenger boy after leaving school for six months before starting my apprenticeship at Head Wrightsons. I wanted to play for Synthonia Juniors, but when I asked the Junior team Manager if I could play for them I was told in no certain manner that he was the one to ask junior players to play and not the other way around, so I was shown the door, so to speak, by Mr Arundal, an officious team manaager. South Bank St Peters was my next choice because Wilf Mannion started there, and I had a great season with them before going on to South bank Juniors.
The late Alec Brown in the photo was at Nottingham Forest in his youth & later played for Normanby Magnasite. After he retired from being a Football League referee he refereed in the Irish League until his early fifties,
then he used to write the Alec Brown Spotlight in the Evening Sports Gazette on a Saturday night which was a report on a local game. He then joined Middlesbrough F.C.
coaching the juniors. Alec worked as a driller in the Head Wrightson’s Teesdale Machine Shop, if he was asked he would offer advice or help people.
I was at Wembley when Pegasus beat Bishop Auckland & again when Bishops played Crook Town, before they settled it at Ayresome Park after drawing at St James, Newcastle. They were what you called crowds, not like what turn out for the F.A.Vase Finals. Donny & Tommy both spoke highly of Barry, Gran.
Well Linda I must have been there at the same time as you, loved to see the lads playing. I can also remember the school sports being held there and also the Donkey Derbys -they were great fun. Love your ditty.
Top Row; 2nd left Brian Armstrong. On Arthur Hodgsons Left Bill McQuarrie
Front Row; 6th Left Irvine Johnstone, 8th left Derek Davies.
Trainer in front of Paddy Nash is Fred Robson.
I think this was a friendly as another of the officials looks like Bob Thompson, another football league ref, who worked in Stockton Forge D.O.
Pegasus beat Bishops 2-1 in 1951 Amateur cup final in front of 100000 at Wembley.
Seeing all the football photographs on the site reminded me of a ‘ditty’ I wrote some time ago when I was a season ticket holder at Boro. Hope it might bring a smile of nostalgia.
At sixteen, on Saturdays, I’d go with my friend
To Victoria Ground, that’s the cemetery end
of Oxbridge in Stockton, for those who don’t know
And we’d cheer for the lads – that’s a long time ago.
There was Big Joe, the Connor’s, O’Hara and Thwaites,
Chippy Cauldwell, the Osborne’s – all schoolboy greats
John Pickering, John Moody and Frankie Storr
A few of the names, there were many more.
Then time passes on and my own son’s excel
In the game that is watched and loved so well.
As they play for school, I stand there again
On a Saturday morning, in pouring rain.
On Sunday for Club and then Varsity Teams
Oh my! where’s the time gone, it barely seems
Like yesterday : life was fresh and brand new,
But don’t worry my friends, I have news for you.
You don’t need the potions or HRT,
A seat at the Riverside is where you shoud be.
Amongst all the fans, young and old who are keen
I know ‘cos when I’m there, I’m still just sixteen!
Your names are correct and I can only add a few more.
Top row second left Brian Armstrong.
On Goalies left Bill McQuarrie.
Front row third left Lol Hodgson, sixth left Irvine Johnson who was captain.
Anon, as you are obviously a keen follower of the past football scene, though I believe you are quite a lot younger than the likes of myself. With that in mind I have agreed with Thelma to submit some of Barry Butlers team photos to the site shortly including the 1951 South Bank Juniors Team and his debut for Sheffield Wednesday against Burnley on 1st Jan 1954. Wednesday won 2-0.
He kept an eye on Don Heath and Tommy Osborne when they arrived at Norwich.
This is Syhthonia v Pegasus 1955 Front row; 2nd left Ronnie Clare, 3rd Lol Hodgson, 2nd right Teddy Lowe. Middle-row right Paddy Nash,4 th right Arthur Hodgson. Maybe Gran or Benny can help to identify others?
Alec Brown is the match official on the left, he was a Football League Referee.