This is the team that beat York City in the Final of the North Riding Senior Cup at the Victoria Ground. The team facing the camera: John Raby (right half), Des Clough Captain (centre half), Percy Musgrove (right back), Bill Ditchburn (goal keeper), Tommy Thompson (left back), Teddy Lowe (left half).
Front Row: John Taylor (outside right) Brian Armstrong, (inside right), Trevor Cockerill (centre forward), Benny Brown (inside left), Neil Moody (outside left).
I can not recall the goal scorers but maybe someone can come up with the players concerned. Much has been said about Stockton AFC over the years but they have certainly been under achievers when compared with their earlier history of winning the English Amateur Cup and being recognised as one of the top Amateur teams in the country. When we played in the Midland League we competed against professional teams week in week out, which deserves some sort of plaudits.
Photograph and details courtesy of Ben Brown.
My dad Jonny Raby unfortunately passed away in 1993.
Jonny Raby played for Stockton F.C. in the early 60s
Tommy Thompson replaced the legendary English Captain Jimmy Armfield at Blackpool.
He broke his leg in the first game he played in the 1960 Olympics against Brazil, Tommy replaced Barrie Martin at left back in the Blackpool team.
it is with great sorrow to report the death of a local Sportsman Brian Armstrong who died peacefully at his home in Norton with his daughters by his side at the age of 88 years on 17th October 2021. Brian was an ex Stockton FC player in the sixties when they were in the Midland League. At the same time he was Captain of the Norton Cricket team in the North Yorks and South Durham League. Brian had a long career as a Solicitor with the The Law firm of Townsend and Partners whos Principal Solicitor was DCH Townsend who also played for Norton and was the only player to play for England without ever playing in County Cricket. Many Teessiders will remember Brian as he was a specialist in the conveyancing in the sale of houses, he sold two houses for me many years ago. RIP Brian Armstrong.
Yes he was a true gentleman, he was a good neighbour & always would give you advice if you asked him, Brian RIP.
Yes Arthur this is Tommy Thomson who went on to replace the England Captain in the Blackpool team for which he played many years . Tommy was an England International Player and became a pro with Blackpool after playing for Stockton AFC. I heard he went on to become a Newsagent in Blackpool for many years before retirement. If Tommy reads this I would love to get in contact with him if possible. The team at the site have my contact details.
William ( Bill ) Ditchburn was my best friend for a while, We used to Run for 5 Miles together when Football training. He will be about 80 years old Now. If you see this can you remember, Michael Hooton, We also where members Of the Redcar Boys Club On Coatham Road. My Folks Had A Cafe in George Street Thornaby, near the Five Lamps. Happy Days Of Days Gone By !!
I live in West Australia now since 1970.
Did you know Malcolm Lax & John Cockerill who played for Redcar Boys Club in the Teesside League?
Lovely to see a photo of my grandfather, Trevor Cockerill
Gemma your Grand father Trevor Cockerill was a wonderful footballer he was Captain of the Newham Grange football team a few years after I was Captain at Newham Grange. He played in the same team as my younger Brother Maurice Brown. I think he went on to play pro football after he left Stockton AFC who he served for many years playing inside forward he was inside right and I was inside left at Stockton, Trevor would be the same age as my brother five years younger than me so that would make him 81 years old if he still with us.
Trevor’s sister Yvonne & brother Kevin were good footballers we used to play on St John’s school field. When Trevor left Stockton F.C. he joined Horden who were a force to be reckoned with in those days. Trevor & Curly Brown were a few years above me at Newham Grange.
No this Tommy was from Redcar. Married and went to Australia.
Marjorie Raby
Sorry but you have your facts wrong Marjorie.
The Senior Football Cup was first competed for in 1881 as the Cleveland Cup. The first winners were Middlesbrough, who were also the first winners of the competition in 1902 when it was renamed. Middlesbrough have won the competition fifty-four times, which is the most by any team. The North Riding Senior Cup, is the County Cup for the North Riding of Yorkshire. (Stalwarts in the area still insist the County exists and lives on) The current holders are Middlesbrough who took the cup for the fifty fourth time by beating Guisborough 3-1 at the King George V Ground in Guisborough. The winner of the cup goes on to compete in the Eric Powell Charity Cup against the Winners of the Durham Challenge Cup. The North Riding FA, is the governing body of football in the North Riding of Yorkshire. Its headquarters are located in the town of Stokesley. Throughout the UK, the County FA is directly responsible for the governance of County Cup competitions. Clubs located within the area of the old North Riding of Yorkshire boundaries are eligible for affiliation to the Association. Membership of the governing council of the County FA is allocated among five divisions in the area and the number of councillors is determined by the relative size of each division. NR Cup Winners (totals): Middlesbrough 54 times, Scarborough 19. York 11, Stockton 8, South Bank 7, Whitby 6. Prominent but now disbanded teams Billingham Synthonia, Portrack Shamrock’s, St Augustine’s.
The North Riding Women’s League is the major women’s competition within the region.
With their Football Development Officer, Donna Crowther’s, as secretary, the NRWL were awarded Charter Standard status in 2013/14. A total of 11 teams are involved in the league, playing their games on Sundays at 2pm. The NRWL competition also includes a league cup for teams to compete for the title of league champions. For more information on the North Riding Women’s League, either to play or compete, please contact donna.crowthers@northridingfa.com
Billingham Synthonia still play in the Northern League 2nd Division, they play their home games at Norton Sports Complex, Station Road.
This Stockton AFC team had had a reasonably successful season, the season they won the North Riding Senior Cup, having beaten teams like North Shield who included the Great Frank Brennan in their team. They finished in the bottom half of the Midland League but this was thought to be something of an achievement considering the quality of the Midland league being all professional except Stockton AFC. Stockton had beaten the Boro in the Semi Final at the Victoria Ground in the previous match when the Boro fielded 11 players all with First team experience. After the semi Final win against the Boro, Brian Clough came onto the Stockton dressing room and said, ‘fancy getting beaten by an amateur Team’ to which I replied ‘You would not get a game in this team Brian’. We all had a good laugh and Brian went on to a great playing and Management Career which will take some beating especially in the Management fields.
North Shields played in the Durham Challenge Cup not the North Riding Senior Cup, Brian Cloughs brother Dessie played centre half for Stockton F.C. then.
Is this the same Tommy Thompson who went on to play for Blackpool? As a child I remember Tommy and his wife Treby, they were part of my extended family from the Tilery.
Yes this is the same Tommy Thompson you mentioned Arthur. A local Tilery Boy who was an English Amateur International before signing for Blackpool.. Tommy worked for British Railways before signing pro forms for Blackpool.
Tommy Thompson also played in the 1960 Olympics for Great Britain, he could play right or left back and spent nine years at Blackpool.