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The Oldest football Team.

Yes the Lingdale lads again taken on the 2nd December 1936.  The Archive asked: ”Can you name some of them please?” Dorothy Simms tells us: ”I have actually got the paper; Weekly Illustrated 12 December 1936. Lingdale played Canning Town, East End, London. The team combined ages were 1,000 years including 3 reserves: Skipper Harry Eaton aged 88, his wife Elizabeth Ellen 64, Foxy George 66 [the handsome one], Old Liz Saunders goalkeeper 84. That’s all I have but there are several photographs. Rules: no running, no charging. A quick walk and neat side step are what is needed. First ever match was on Jubilee Day. I hope you find this interesting. I have been in touch with someone about this match but never had a reply. They played 55 minutes; two halves of 20 minutes with 1/4 hour interval for a pint and pipe!”

Michael Grange advises: ”My great grandfather was in this team (George ‘Foxy’ Grange), after the game each player was given a clay pipe in the shape of a football boot.”
Photograph courtesy of Derick Pearson and many thanks to Dorothy Simms and Michael Grange for the updates.

Not The World Cup; But!

Taken from an article in the Illustrated weekly dated 12th December 1936; headlined: “Who’ll Play The Old Boys?”, describing one of the oldest football teams in England or possibly the world. “Lingdale Grandfathers” had a combined age of over 1000 years (including the three reserves!); having issued a challenge with Canning Town responding. I wonder if they played Canning Town and who won;  does anyone out there know?
Image from a cutting courtesy of Ruth White.

Just A Youngster

The cutting included this image; with a notation: “Foxy Grange, the other full-back is a lad of 66, known as the handsomest man in the village. Uses his head to good effect.” We hope it wasn’t a wet day those case footballs were very heavy when wet. Michael Grange informed the Archive: “My great grandfather!”
Image courtesy of Ruth White and thanks to Michael Grange for the comment.

1937 Lingdale

Liz Saunders (and goal keeper for the Lingdale Grandfathers) is only 84 years old but still playing football.
Image (from Weekly Illustrated 12th December 1936) courtesy of Ruth White.

Toasting the Skipper

Harry Eaton was the skipper a mere 89 years old. I wonder if any of the world cup players of today will still be playing at 89?  I don’t think smoking and drinking would be allowed today.

Image courtesy of Ruth White.

Lingdale Team 1944

Pictured in 1940 with a back drop to the left of the pit head is Lingdale’s very successful football team; here with their trophies for that season.

Back row: Charlie Milburn, Jim Carter, Gordon Dove, Fred Hutton, “Patsy” Wetherall, ??, Harold ” Jammer” Wrigley.

Front row: Frank Smith, J. Duane, Maurice Lynas, ” Snowball” Oliver, Harry Harding. Can anybody assist with missing names of the men, or what trophies they won?

Image (from a newspaper cutting) courtesy of Mike Holliday.

Lingdale Football Team 1950

Pictured are the winners of the Priory Cup in the 1949 – 50 season, are Lingdale Junior football team; managed by George Chisman. Many of the team had played for Lingdale School just three years earlier including Derek Stonehouse who went on to play for Middlesbrough FC.

Back row: Gordon Hood, Joe Bean, Robert Wright, Robbie Dadd, Peter Trowsdale.

Front row: Les Thornton, Derek Stonehouse, Dennis Bint, Vince Barber, ‘Notchy’ Codling and Gordon Swinburne.

Image (from a newspaper cutting) courtesy of Mike Holliday.

Staithes Under 16 Team

When supplied to the Archive this image of Staithes Under 16 Football team listed players with initials; however following many contribtors the team can be presented as: Back row:Ken Gibson, Joe Crooks, John Stone, Richard? Nicholson, Tony ”Tosh” Welford, Godfrey ”Fudge” Evans, John Hicks, Jack Bowes ”Cockbod”.
Front row: Alan Crossman, Michael Hollingsworth, Don Burluraux, Dave Prothero, Richard Lythe.

Owen Rooks told the Archive: “I have seen this photograph on Don Burluraux’s NYMWebcam website captioned ‘Staithes Juniors 1965/66’.” David Archer advised: “John Stone played pro for Boro & Grimsby.” R. Simpson added: “John Stone also played for York City after Middlesbrough let him go.”

Image courtesy of Kathleen Hicks (copyright – Doran, Whitby); also thanks to Derick Pearson, Robert Doe, Owen Rooks, David Archer, R. Simpson and D. Crooks for all the names. Especial thanks to William Hinchley for ”Cockbod”, so named as ”he sang Old Mc Donalds Farm ans when it got to the cock began to crow he did a very realistic crow”.

Vimy Rangers

Okay the title is as much as the Archive knew about this photograph, who were they and where were they from? We awaited answers; pretty sure someone out there would be able to tell more about them. This is a very interesting photograph from the First World War. We need to identify the cap badges and the local lads. In 1917 the Allies launched an attack on the German lines at Arras in April. Nearly all offensives in the First War began in the Spring. More lives were lost on average per day at Arras than on the Somme in July 1916. The high ground to the north of Arras was called and still is as far as I know the VIMY ridge. It was high ground and had been held by the Germans probably since they retired after the Battle of the Marne in 1914. It was taken by the Canadians at great loss of life in 1917 and some small advance made. In fact the whole thing was a mock attack, invented by General Haig in the safe Chateau behind the lines. He had the track where he rode his horse sanded for safety. It was intended to keep the Germans diverted while General Neville attacked the Chemins des Dames, the high ground between Reims and Soissons. This was a failure and resulted in so many French dead that the French Army mutinied. Haig went on to what had been his main objective in July/August an advance at Ypres, which resulted in the horrors of Passchendaele”. Whilst Julie Riddiough added: ” There’s a Vimy barracks at Catterick Garrison if that helps at all?”.

Peter Appleton has assisted with: “All I can extract, with certainty, from this image is that both officers are Captains. The 3 pips and 2 stripes on the cuff of the right-hand individual, and the 3 pips on the shoulders of the left-hand individual tell us that. The individual at the left has collar badges that are different in design to his cap badge which, unfortunately, is partly obscured by his cap strap. This wearing of two, different, badges indicates that he has a specialism, as depicted on his collar badge, but is attached to a different unit, as depicted by his cap badge. The individual at the right has collar badges that could be smaller versions of his cap badge. This cap badge is of the fairly common design: a laurel wreath, surmounted by a crown, with a central element, and without a scroll across the bottom. There are many such designs used by regiments during WW1. I cannot be sure, but one such design, which matches closely with what can be made out when enlarging the image, would be The Rifle Brigade”.

Image courtesy of Joan Jemson and thanks to Bill Danby, Julie Riddiough and Peter Appleton for the updates.

Footballers Or Prisoners?

Well yes I do know they are not prisoners but it made you look to see didn’t it?  Possibly a works team or Loftus Albion? Now you are here can you name anyone or tell where or when this photograph was taken?

Image courtesy of the Pem Holliday Collection.