This photograph was taken at the Blue Hall Recreation Ground and shows Norton Albion FC who were members of Stockton YOC Football League at the time the picture was taken in the 1968/1969 season. Courtesy of Ged Flanagan.
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
Lynn – consult the footballing oracle, Len Nicholson, his knowledge of football in the county is second to none.
Does anyone remember Steve Young from Albany who played for local teams about 1970?
I remember Steve Young he played for St Bedes Youth Team and he played for Stockton Buffs Club’s eleven and five a side teams with us. I see my old mate in this photo Gordon (SKINHEAD) Grant.
I apologise David, but a similar situation was the same at Head Wrightsons in the middle seventies. A lot of the workforce lads could not get a game so they entered a team called Head Wrightson’s in the Stockton and District League Division 2,from the Machine Shop which they were quite entitled to do. They all subscribed to the facilities, the team was run by a foreman in the Machine Shop, Peter McGann, but they had nothing to do with Head Wrightson’s first team who were known as pot hunters, but being one of these you had to be in a good successful side.
Anon, It was Portrack Shamrocks, not the originals, but a new team set up around 1967 by office staff at the Malleable Works along Portrack Lane. They joined the youth league around 1967 and finished runners up in the league and league cup to Fairfield Boys Club in their first season.
I think you mean Stockton Shamrocks, David, Portrack Shamrocks folded in the early fifties. Stockton Shamrocks was the team that succeeded the West Row team that used to play at Thorpe viaduct, their photo is on this web-site.
I remember playing right back for Portrack Shamrocks against Norton Albion around 1968 at Blue Hall Rec. We were losing 5-6 and I crossed a ball from within our own half just before the half time whistle. The ball sailed into the top corner ‘Beckham Style’, to make it 6-6 at half time. The best goal I ever scored, never to be repeated. We went on to lose but will never forget that match.
Norton Albion’s records show this match ended 8-6 to Norton:
Date: 14-Oct-67
Opponent: Portrack
Venue: Blue Hall
Result: 8 – 6
Scorers: Burrows 3, Jackson 3, Cooke, Waters
This team was well served by Bobby Lake who played for Boro Reserves, also Pat Walker & Neil Herrington. The lad right front-row, Ged Waters, was from Dover Road, Ragworth & was the younger brother of Paul & Veronica Waters.
I remember Ritchie Allinson well, does anyone know of his whereabouts?
Neal Cort is the nephew of Frank Haliday who we mention from the Head Wrightsons days.
Neil Court definately played for Norton C.C.T. in the Teesside League in the seventies.
Did this team win any trophies in the Stockton & District League like their preedecessors
at the Bluehall ground Norton, St Josephs & Norton F.C.? Peter Dyson became a good goalscorer in local football & Gordon(SKINHEAD) Grant played full-back for Stockton Buffs & was a popular lad in the Head Wrightson’s Thornaby Machine Shop.
I believe in the 1970’s Neal Cort played for Norton Albion and later for the George & Dragon. He would never pose in the team for photos only for reasons known to himself.
Norton Albion played its first ever game as a scratch side in January 1965 at Hartlepool and without a qualified referee, the result of this match, 6 – 6, is still in dispute to this day. In the 1965/1966 season Norton Albion joined the ranks of the Stockton and District Junior League which folded at the end of this first season. In the 1966/1967 season Norton Albion were accepted as members of the Stockton Youth Organisations Committees (under 21’s) Football League until joining the Stockton and District League in the 1969/1970 season and remained there until being disbanded in 1989. Top row (left to right); Keith Beddard (goalkeeper), Ritchie Allinson, Ken Lake, John Godfrey, Pete Dyson, Gordon Grant. Bottom row (left to right); Glyn Davis, Mick Cross, Ged Flanagan, Alf Jackson, Ged Waters.