The photograph shows Norton’s first team in 1950. My late father Tom played cricket for many years in the north east, most of it for his hometown team of Norton. Going left to right and starting with the back row the players shown are as follows… Jimmy Everett (scorer), Jackie Fox, Ken Williamson, Len Reed, Tom Birtle, Norman Kelly, Ted Waller. Front row… Freddie Harker, Jim Grigor, Harry Thompson, David Townsend and finally Basil McQuillan.
DCH Townsend (David) worked for many years in Stockton as a solicitor. In cricketing terms he is the holder of a record which will almost certainly never be broken in that he is the last man to have played test cricket for England yet never played for a first class county. His father CL Townsend (Charles) also played cricket for England and also worked is Stockton as a solicitor. A piece of sporting history associated with the town.
Photograph and details courtesy of Martin Birtle.
Hi my grandad apparently used to play for Norton , probably during 1930s and after his name was Fred hall . Was wondering if you had any information on him as I am told he was very good. Please let me know if you do – you can email pictures@stockton.gov.uk and they can forward my email on to you, kind regards Richard
Fred Hall was the manager of Head Wrightsons Middlesbrough, his son Peter played football for Norton Cricket Club.
Des, That set the memories away. There were two cottages next to the Wood works Building Harrisons on a cut to the Black Path down to the allotments behind Beaconsfield Street.
We remember when it was just Beaconsfield Street and the bit to the green was a cart track with gates on the Green to keep the cattle in the fields. The old wall had an orchard behind it that once belonged to Norton House, (not to be mixed up with Norton Hall, later the ICI managers club) and knocked down in 1935 by Kendrew the Builder to start building the Estate starting in Mill Lane then Bradbury Road, a building site that was on hold all the war years starting again in the late Forties.
My Father had lived in Beaconsfield Street until all his family went to New Zealand in 1920, he then went to live with his Grandma in Mill Lane where I was brought up until I went in the Army. All the families knew each other, as I said in a previous post Norton was a village and people had grown up going to school together and socialising as they grew. There were other Simpsons in the village though I knew the Butcher near the Priory as Curry and Hutchinson, Tommy Hutchinson used to slaughter our pigs on our premises, it would not be allowed today.
I cannot remember ever meeting Lances Wife or Family or even hearing what happened to Jean, being Norton we passed and stopped to chat but were not always in the same place, such is life.
My eldest Daughter lives in California did live in Sunnyvale now moved on to Sonora, she was home here in February for my birthday, I think she too misses her Norton Days.
I was always glad to come home on leave though people I had known had moved on, the heat of the desert then the freezing cold of Luneberg Germany were never a match for Norton, I came back and settled in Stockton always glad to be home even having been to California.
Norton has it all for me and as I take flowers to my late wifes plot in St Mary’s churchyard i walk past relatives old girlfriends plots with a memory of a chaste kiss snatched on the green after a date and lads I went to school with, not many of us left now.
Frank.
Several generations of Simpsons played cricket for Norton. My grandfather Robert Simpson, my father Lance Simpson and several cousins. My father was a very stylish batsman and an amazing slip fielder in the 1940s. If anyone remembers him, I would love to hear from them. I was not a good cricketer, but was a decent rugby player.
Is this the same Lance Simpson who played football for Norton F.C. in the Stockton & District League on Bluehall Rec.
Yes, I think so. We lived on the Green in Norton. Dad was captain of Stockton schoolboys football team, and of Billingham FC, and played for Stockton FC. So he may also have played for Norton. He was a right full-back.
Wonderful to hear from someone who knew him back in the 30s. I would be pleased to learn your memories of him.
I live in Berkeley, California.
Cheers.
Des
Fun to hear from people who lived in Norton.
My cousin Lance Simpson died about 2 years ago. He was a cricketer and a footballer. He was named after my Dad who captained Stockton schoolboys and Billingham FC and also played right full-back for Stockton FC. I am in touch with cousin Lance’s widow and his kids. If you send me your email I can forward it on.
Des
Des Simpson, if you mean the Lance Simpson who lived next to Tanners Yard on the corner of the Green Norton then I went to School with him I also knew his brother, his Father was the local lamplighter.
We were all of us mad cricketers who played for hours on Norton Green in Season as everything was in seasons back then. As we grew up people from the Norton Cricket club would watch us and the odd older lad would get a trial though it was more often a knock up with the Tykes who’s Cricket Field was at the top of the Showfield or sand pits as we knew it.
Some of us got to High School and played cricket but many left school at around thirteen went into work and cricket came to an end for them. I went into work at sixteen and in wartime work came before sport or in my case Dancing at the Palais more important then sport, (I could call that sport too)?
A lot of us Village lads went in the forces and overseas, we keen cricketers would sweep a patch of desert lay down coconut mats and play some epic games of cricket, often internationals as we were a very mixed Garrison.
Over the years on leave I met up with Lance and his Brother for a drink in one of the High Street Hostelries and chat about the green days and the needle matches we played, Norton at the time being a village and not as it is now a dormitory of Stockton, the Green a massive car park, hit a cricket ball as we once did and it would be a carnage of wrecked cars
I do at times make my way to the Green and sit listening to the arguments that once went on “he was out” “no he made the crease” are you kidding he was a mile out, “that was a no ball” you need your eye’s testing, see the lads, repeat the names. Ray Pigg, John Dent, Billy Watson and so many others long gone now.
It was a good time to be living even in War time, everything outside, fresh air and fun, great friends and epic games.
Frank.
Very exciting to hear from you. I was born in 1940 at Robeson Maternity Home. We lived on the green across from the Friends’ Meeting House, at the top of Beaconsfield Road.
My Dad’s much older brother John Simpson worked for the gas company and he was the lamplighter.
We moved to Benson Street in 1945 and then to South Bank in 1949 to run a Vaux off-license. Dad played cricket for Cargo Fleet Steelworks. He died a few days before his 48th birthday, and 3 days before I was to start university.
Dad never told me anything about his sporting career. I know he was captain of Billingham FC (from a cigarette card) and played for Stockton. He was right full-back. He did introduce me to Jack Hatfield when he took me to buy rugby boots in Middlesbrough. I would love to know details about his cricket career. He had a collection of maroon cricket caps in his clothes cupboard.
I moved to Canada after college and ended up in Berkeley. California, married with 4 kids. I still keep in touch with my Norton cousins and have lost count of how many times I have been back. I love Norton Village.
So, please tell me more about Dad and yourself.
Des Simpson
Dad was the youngest of 5 brothers. Uncle Wilf was the next youngest, he was a butcher on the High Street near the Priory. John lived next to us at the Green. I’m guessing it was one of whom you met at the George and Dragon. John’s son Lance and grandson Marc may also have played for Norton.
Des
Frank,
Oops, I skipped back a generation too far. My uncle John the lamplighter had 2 sons and one daughter, John, Lance and Jean. During the war, they lived next door to us on Norton Green. My Dad Lance Simpson and my cousin Lance Simpson we’re both good cricketers and footballers. Obviously, unless you are 110 years old, you knew my cousin. He was a super guy and an all round athlete. He died about 2 years ago. I am in touch with his widow and both of his kids. If you send me your email, I can pass it on to them.
I just spent 6 hours locked down with the weeds, under a warmish California sun. Don’t ask what I was thinking earlier, confused old rugby player.
Des
Des, Obviously it was your cousins John Lance and Jean I knew, I am 91 so Lance who was in the same classes as me at Norton Board School was the person I knew and I did know he had passed away.
The start of the war in 1939 brought chaos as we had sat the eleven plus but then the schooling stopped for a week for so going back half the school mornings the other half afternoons. Lance was a bright lad I am sure like many he passed for a high school as I did. The expectation from the start was carpet Bombing by the Germans that did not happen until the following year, another upset that caused many to miss out. So we parted I think he went to the Frederick Nattrass I went to Brompton and Northallerton then back to the Richard Hind. We would get together with all the local boys and girls playing our games on the Green.
Over the years we met on occasion had a few drinks and a chat when old enough to go in the local hostelries, that was it. He never discussed his sporting talent that I can remember but then he was a very quiet lad, others will have better knowledge of that Anon being our local sport expert.
Frank.
Yes, I think so. We lived on the Green in Norton. Dad was captain of Stockton schoolboys football team, and of Billingham FC, and played for Stockton FC. So he may also have played for Norton. He was a right full-back.
Wonderful to hear from someone who knew him back in the 30s. I would be pleased to learn your memories of him.
I live in Berkeley, California.
Cheers Des
I’ve just checked the players records for the Billingham Synthonia football club. They show an A Simpson playing 43 games in season 1958/59 and an S Simpson playing 4 games in season 1957/58. Are they part of your family?
Sorry, the Simpsons you mentioned are not relatives. I went to university in 1958, so I was around at that time.
I played scrum half for Middlesbrough High School in 1956-7 and 1957-58. After the school games, usually on Saturday mornings, I played for Bellingham Juniors in the afternoons. Getting across the Transporter to catch the bus at Port Clarence, was quite a scramble. I quit rugby in 1968 when I moved to California from Montreal. I played fly half for the last 6 years. I also played a lot of football until I hit 30.
I remember Ken Williamson on a Squash Court with huge bandages covering both legs. Met him on tour with Lancashire circa early 70’s. He was a legend in Durham and still a wily player even then. He had a son, also a handy player. Great hospitality and banter.
The bandages were the result of a very long & successful footballing career which led him to playing in the F.A. Amateur Cup-Final at Wembley for Crook Town, he also played for Darlington in the Football League. He was a great all-round sportsman who could play any sport very well. His son was called Peter.
Ken also played for Bishop Auckland at Wembley in their losing FA Amateur Cup Final 1951 against Pegasus.
Yes Gran Brian is still going strong and lives next to the Norton Cricket Ground with a back door entrance to the field where he played so much of his cricket. He is a sprightly young man still and not an ounce of fat not like some of us. Brian has this wonderful Garden spread over two normal blocks and has an interest in the wild birds , he particularly has an interest in Wood peckers and has a family who nest there every year. Brain as has been mentioned was first class sportsman, playing in the succesfulll Stockton team that won the North Riding Senior Cup in 1959 I think was the year. I usually visit Brian when I am in England and hope to see him in July of 2014. If anyone wants to contact me they can get my e-mail from the Stockton Team on this site. Happy Christmas to all on Teesside, and do not let the weather get you down. 24 degrees in Melbourne today so I am just of to Golf , then watching the Test from Perth this afternoon.
Benny, You keep referring to the Stockton team that won the North Riding Senior Cup in 1959, but you never mention the Durham Challenge Cup which was won by Stockton in the same season.
The point I am making was being on the River Tees(the border of both counties) Billingham & Stockton teams used to be allowed in both county cup competitions, to win the Durham F.A and North Riding F.A. Cups in one season was no mean feat at any level, Billingham Synthonia(Teesside League) won the Durham Amateur Cup(now the Durham Trophy) & North Riding Amateur Cup in the 1966-67 season with players like Lol Hodgson, Alan Bates, Ronnie Clare & Vinnie Evans. Primrose Hill won the Durham Minor Cup & North Riding Amateur Cup in 1960-61 season with players like Alan Bates again, Jackie Ball, George Sudron & Dave Hartley. The Durham F.A. Challenge Cup was always harder to win because it had more Northern League teams in plus the Wearside League teams.
Tommy Birtle played first class cricket for Nottingham C.C. He was a real gentleman.
Ken Williamson’s family had a haulage firm based at Phoenix Sidings.
Friends and acquaintances of my father, Ken Sheraton, no doubt. He assisted with the scoreboard as a young lad, then he may have played (anyone know?) and of course he socialised in the Club bar for most of his life. If I’m not mistaken, I think I met Ted Waller with my Dad in the club many times.
You are certainly right Sarah, Ted Waller and your Dad Ken were keen snooker players in the club.
Anyone remember Frederick Brian Armstrong who also worked at Archer Parkin and Townsend ?
Brian Armstrong was also a very good footballer, Synthonia and Stockton, and he features on many team photos on this site.
If Benny Brown picks up on this,he will comment as I know he visited Brian on Bennys frequent trips from Australia.
Anon (the football one) will also be able to comment.
Yes Gran, Brian Armstrong also played football for Durham City, he also turned out for Norton C.C.T. when they were starting up the football section in the Teesside League in the late fifties when he was coming to the end of his footballing career.
Brian Armstrong played for Billingham Synthonia in the 1950s. In recent weeks and months an enormous amount of research has been carried out on the history of the Synners going back to when they joined the Northern League in 1945 and this information is now on the club website.
They show that Brian made 96 appearances for the club between 1955/56 season and 1958/59 season. In 1956/57 he made 40 appearances for the club and that season the Synners won the Northern League so Brian was certainly no mug.
Other well known cricketers who turned out for the Synners include Harold Stephenson,Wally Buffham, Vinny Evans, Peter Lax and Alan Kennerley. I have no doubt there will be plenty more in there.
I would like to thank Martin for bringing Synthonia,s website to my interest, as I was able to see that I played 32 times for them, but I am sure many more games in their reserve team. Early in their careers Harold Stephenson and Wally Buffham lived on Grange Est., Stockton, Buttermere Rd. and Rydal Rd. resp.
I played in same teams as Vinnie Evans and Peter Lax (Head Wrightsons) and Alan Kennerley at Whitby.
With regard to the photo, I was apprenticed to Harry Thompson in Stockton Forge template shop in 1951, and so was Benny a year or so later. I am sure he was partially responsible for the pair of us having successful careers after departing Heads and the area.
Jackie Fox played for Synthonia , I was in the reserve team with him when he broke his ankle from a nasty foul, hoping that it would not affect his wicket keeping at Warwickshire
For Anons benefit I did play a few times for Norton alongside Ken Williamson and Peter Lax, but I must confess I was a bit past it to say the least!
Gran, the Billingham Synthonia Teesside League team was a good side in those days with the chap Cattermole in charge, is he Lee Cattermole’s grandfather?, the Norton C.C.T. team you appeared in was sowing the seeds to where they are now hoping to gain promotion back to the Northern League’s first division this season, now called Norton & Stockton Ancients, by the way Ken Williamson was still turning out for one of the teams in the middle sixties.
Lol Cattermole was secretary of Synthonia F.C . and quite a character, in those days the first team selection committee rotated, and some of my pals suggested I only got picked when it was Lols turn on it!
I think Lol is related to Lee Catermole, but would think Anon would know better than me.
My father was a chargehand fitter at ICI and his workmates were Lol, Jimmy Everett (Norton scorer), and Biff Smith who was a star player for Billingham on return from wartime service ,
Ken Williamson as well as his sporting abilities was a real gentleman.
Pleased to see you mentioned Davey Hartley in one of your comments, he and I were matey in those days and I was partly responsible for him going to Australia, but then lost touch.
Synners Teesside League team were a good team with players such as Kendrew in goal, Bob Mineham, the Dukling brothers, Ebbie Neal, Jackie Fox, Mick Walsh, the Lowe brothers, Apple Clark to name a few. Paddy Nash was usually in charge on match days.
Don Raper was on Norton CCT committee
Davey Hartley was also in Australia with Peter Scott but both returned home after the football, the Duckling brothers Billy & Ron both played cricket for Calf Fallow. Don Raper was on the Norton C.C.T. committee along with Wilf Lawson, Billy (Scotty) Russell & Barry Lee.
Dave Hartley was once a pal of mine, that was in 1957. Then he was a signalman on the railway at the Wilderness. He would play football in the Boro on a Wednesday afternoon, I tried for long enough for him to sign on for Primrose Hill. In the 80’s and 90’s up to 2004 I had a static caravan at Winston near B/Castle. A few times I saw Don Raper in the village pub there (The Bridgewater Arms).
Been working on the Synthonia ground this morning and had a look at the Squad pictures from years gone by. They are on the wall of the hospitality suite. There is a team from 1956 with Jackie Fox on it.
David Charles Humphrey Townsend. Bottom. Second from right. Solicitor at Archer, Parkin and Townsend. My old boss !
A very high quality team with many gifted players. 1933 when DCH was on the West Indies tour.
Ken Williamson was tremendous batting and bowling. A Durham county player.
Yes Ken Williamson was a good all round sportsman, at football he played for Crook Town, Darlington & Bishop Auckland, being an F.A. Amateur Cup Winner & also a top Durham County Squash player. Norman (Ned) Kelly was a teacher at the Stockton & Billingham Technical College in Oxbridge Avenue & Freddie Harker who had Harkers Engineering in Church Road.
This was in my time as a young man and in earlier years as a boy I would get autographs of the Norton teams, in fact all of these and lots more from after the War until this time.
Ken Williamson was no mug in a rugby match also. Speedy, wily, hard tackler.
Very true Ken, when Ken Williamson was a real veteran in the middle sixties, if he could not get a game of football, he even turned out for one of the hockey teams as well as the rugby. A gentleman and a great all round sportsman. As mentioned he was a F.A .Amateur Cup Winner along with Bill Jeffs. Is there any other local winners of this trophy?