Two team photographs of Billingham Synthonia juniors under 18’s Football Team. The first photograph was taken at Ayresome Park, Middlesbrough where they defeated a Boro team 1-0 which I believe was c1968…
Back Row (left to right): Gibson, Wiltshire, Hall, Hindmarsh, ?, ?, Front Row (left to right): Forrest, Edwards, ?, Buttle, Alderson.
Back Row (left to right): ?, Jeffers, Hindmarsh, Blackie, Wiltshire, ?. Front row (left to right): Harrison, Edwards, Blowman,?, ?.
Photographs and details courtesy of Norman Hill.
I remember playing for Richard Hind against Les Fleming (Faraday Hall) and there were a couple of other schools in the campus. Remember some very competitive games. Always wanted to be a footballer but only made the Castle Works team for a couple of seasons 69/70, who played at Billingham Synthonia ground in the Teesside League, and Darlington Juniors.
I was 2nd left, unbelievable team, great memories 👍 Don Jeffels
The lower picture of Synthonia Juniors at Ayresome Park was in 1968 Jim Carroll manager. Bob Burdon coach and Arthur Sheperd first aider.
Team was back row left to right – Dave Jeffs, Don Jeffels, Ken Hindmarsh, John Black, Graham Wilsher, Brian Hall.
Front row left to right – Terry Harrison,Len Edwards,Peter Blowman,John Mannion, Les Fleming.
Kenny Waite was one of the best local players I’ve seen, sadly missed.
Top photo next to Ken Hindmarsh goalkeeper is Kenny Waite sadly died late last year
Second photo, front row extreme left is Terry Harrison from Stockton who went on to play for Newcastle United, extreme right is Les Fleming (Port Clarence) and back row extreme right is Brian Hall (Port Clarence)
Terry Harrison is a Thornaby lad along with Peter Bllowman & Donna Jeffels, Terry played quite a few seasons for South Bank in the Northern League in his later years.
Brian Hall later became a regular in the Billingham Synthonia Northern League team.
The name barry Wiltshire is mentioned in one of the above comments( brother of graham ) shown in the photo,s . Barry was a smashing lad we both did an apprenticeship at j. D . Whites in thornaby as fitters in the early to mid sixties. He always looked after me. Sadly missed.
Second picture, the lad in back row hard left is David Jeffs. His dad used to coach Whitby Town and they lived on Wolviston Road Billingham. I think he ended up down south as a teacher.
Jeffsy and I went to Faraday Hall, Billingham Campus and I recognise most of the Roseworth mafia from my under 16’s time in both Faraday Hall and Stockton Town where every week I got off school early and got the bus to Roseworth for footie training for the town team.
Some of us got spotted and made trials for Durham County. Pleased to say I got picked and played a number of games at county level.
I remember Pete Blowman who was from Hartlepool and a centre forward. Pete and I were tapped by Leeds United and went to Leeds for a week long trial amongst Jackie Charlton and co. He ended playing for Hartlepool I think. I was offered a contract at Leeds but unbeknown to me at the time they went through my old man and he turned them down. They came back twice and got the same answer. He later confessed he was concerned that there was no back up plan. I ended up doing an apprenticeship. No regrets at all.
Whilst the Roseworth lads put their efforts into the Synners, I was getting into music and playing in bands. It was a no brainer. The music won hands down. Again no regrets.
Great times.
Rowe D.M. made one appearance for Durham Schoolboys in season 1964/65, also in the squad were Alan Foggan & Peter Willey, Boro players. Peter Blowman was a Thornaby lad. Dave Jeffs father Bill played for Crook Town in the F.A. Amateur Cup-Final at Wembley.
Mick I can remember you from those days, fantastic young talent around (I was the water carrier 😂)
There are quite a few Roseworth lads in these photos Graham Wiltshire, Ken Hindmarsh, Forrest, Lenny Edwards and Denis Buttle. Graham the brother of the Billingham Synthonia player the late Barry Wiltshire and Lenny the brother of the Football League goal scoring machine Keith Edwards of Leeds Utd., Sheffield Utd. and Hull City.
In the top picturenext to the goalkeeper is Kenny Thawites I think.
In the bottom picture the Blackie refered to I think is John Black and on the end of the back row is Brain Hall and on the end of the front row is Les Fleming
The player back row 2nd left is a Thornaby lad Donna Jeffels.
Don was from Fairfield.