A photograph of the Norton Cricket Team taken on 15th July 1964. This was the date of the Kerridge cup final that year between Norton and Bishop Auckland played at the Feethams ground Darlington. If you look closely in the background you can see the famous ‘Twin Towers’ entrance to the ground. In the week before the final the Norton batsman Billy Mott broke his finger and his replacement was Jonny Townsend, the son of David Townsend. This proved to be a blessing in disguise as Jonny top scored with 67 in a Norton score of 181 for 6 wickets in the 40 overs allotted.
In reply Bishop Auckland were always struggling and were all out for 126 leaving Norton the winners by 55 runs.
The Norton team is as follows, back row left to right: Jimmy Everett (scorer), Alan Kennerley, Brian Donne, David Branson, Tom Birtle, Jonny Townsend, Tony Manners (twelfth man) and Brian Armstrong. Front row, left to right: Ken Williamson, Mike Branson, Bobby Alexander, Alan Giddings and finally Norman Kelly.
My late father, Tom Birtle, had also played in the Norton team which had won the Kerridge Cup as far back as 1946. He was the only Norton player to have played in both of these cup finals.
Photograph and details courtesy of Martin Birtle.
How lovely, my dad Dave & uncle Mike Branson, thank you for sharing!
Bobby Alexander was the son of the Thornaby garage owner in Trafalgar Street, he played football for Stockton Cricket Club in the Stockton & District League. A lot of the players in the photo are original Norton lads.
Two of the players in the photo also played in an F.A. Amateur Cup-Final at Wembley, Ken Williamson with Crook Town and Alan Kennerley with Whitby Town.
Some others who excelled at both cricket and football were Thornaby C.C. the late Stuart Lowery (Watford and Bishop Auckland) and John Kirk (Boro Juniors, Billingham Synthonia and Shildon), at Stockton C.C. the late Barry Jeffels and the late Rex Hazelton who both played in goal for Stockton F.C., can anyone name anymore?
Thanks for remembering my brother Stewart he was particular about how his name was spelled. Rex Hazelton was also a talented organist & played at my wedding. Lots of talent in the Stockton area
I recognise Frederick Brian Armstrong. I used to work with him at Archer Parkin and Townsend uring the early 1960’s. He was an extremely laid-back bloke.