Former player Albert Round was very interested to read my articles in the `Sutton Coldfield Observer` about the 125th Anniversary of Boldmere St Michaels. He sent a letter to me at the football club. It read `I played for Moor Green during the mid 1940`s and 1950`s. I played against Boldmere first team and as Captain of Moor Green’s second team the Reserves at Boldmere too. `
Albert who was interviewed for this website on Wednesday 23rd July 2008 described how he was a good friend of Boldmere`s winger Jack Clarke. Jack’s Father had a `Fish and Chip Shop` in Oldknow Road in Small Heath, Birmingham. Albert described Jack (who bred pigeons) as being a great player. He said, “I have seen him cross some balls especially in that area between the half way line and the goalkeeper especially on that slope at Boldmere. I have seen him beat many a goalkeeper. Jack wanted to come and play for Moor Green but I said stop at Boldmere. He used to drive an American car. It was a Pontiac or something similar. It was massive and he used to take us all out on a Saturday night. He has had nearly all the Boldmere team in it with the football kit too.” He added, “I played against `Clarkie` twice. In those days it was a different type of football to what it is played today. The trend of the winger would have been to quickly get the ball past the full back who would have been a big tough physical player. So when I faced Clarke he did not have a kick of the ball!! Jack would say I will not get near you as you would kick me to death. Albert said, I had a bit of a reputation of being a tough player. Despite that all the years I played I never had my name taken or sent off. Although if I was playing today I would have had a few yellow cards. In my day it was expected that the old sliding tackle was the hallmark of the full back. If a winger was racing up the wing that is how you dealt with him.”
He recalls that he watched the Boldmere vs Moor Green match in the Quarter Final of the F.A. Amateur Cup on Saturday 28th February 1948. Albert could not play because of an injury. Boldmere were leading 1-0 in a game in front of a big crowd and estimated to be 5,000 at Church Road by the Sutton Coldfield Press. It rained all through the match. Albert recalls, “The ground was pretty well packed for the match as there was a hell of a crowd. There was a big brick building left by the pitch left over after the war years. The players used to train against it by using it for shooting practice (and to improve their ball control with rebounds) Anyway during the match the building was covered by people standing on it after they had climbed on the top of it to watch the game from a great vantage point.”
Albert said, “We had a penalty in the last few minutes (of the match) Norman Love who was a perfect gentleman was our Captain and he played at number eight. He decided he would take responsibility and take the penalty. He should have given the kick to one of our more `beefy` players like Ron Smith, Jimmy Collins, Mack Randall or Bert Bull because Norman’s shot hardly reached the goalkeeper (Richardson) as he did not (have the strength left in him) to get to the ball. The ball was like a lump of lead in those days and not plastic coated like it is now. I wonder why we had to head the ball in those days”
Albert remembers that a `Sportsman Service` was held every year at Boldmere St Michaels` church which was organised by Harold Spencer and that was his local church. Players from Boldmere, Paget Rangers, Sutton Town, Jack Moulds and Smethwick Highfield all attended. We finished at Boldmere`s clubhouse afterwards to talk for hours afterwards about the old times. The service was held for four to five seasons.
Former Boldmere St Michaels and Aston Villa legend Harry Parkes used to turn out at inside right for Moor Green in an annual charity football against Warwickshire cricketers at the Moorlands after the war. The linesmen in one of those games was Ronnie Allen (West Bromwich Albion) and Gil Merrick (B`ham City)
Albert played for `Shirley Juniors` before he played for Moor Green. He said, “As a young chap I followed them and I never dreamed that I would end up playing for the `Moors` Moor Green had great players such as Tommy Leek who was an English Amateur International. He was a teacher who then moved to London to play for Barnet. Moor Green also had Eddie Dance and George Cutler too. The Shirley side was managed by Ted Barkas the former Birmingham City player of the 1930`s. The team was a nursery side for Birmingham City. Gil Merrick was their keeper who went on to play in goal for Birmingham City and England. Albert said, “I had ambitions too to play for the `Blues` but then the Second World War came and that was the end of that.”
Albert who has an interest in non league football especially in the town was at Boldmere St Michaels a couple of years ago to see the `Mikes` play Birmingham City reserves in the Birmingham Senior Cup. He was very impressed with Boldmere`s Jimmy Quiggin who has since moved to Sutton Coldfield Town. Albert said, “You could see that he is a quality player.”
Albert is now 85 years old and lives in Walmley. He said he was disappointed that Moor Green had to amalgamate with Solihull Borough at the start of the 2007-2008 season. He said, “I was going to write into the local paper to voice my disapproval.”
Albert is currently recovering from a recent knee replacement operation.
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In a box of Boldmere memorabilia, I found another Boldmere team photo. I recognised Boldmere`s Club President Harry Peakman. I knew that it would be the `Mikes` Reserves team for whom he played most of his playing career. Harry who is now 86 years old commented when he saw the picture again was the line of trees that formed the background. He said, “They always ensured that the pitch at
To see the image of the Reserves team click below.
MORE ON HARRY PEAKMAN AND THE `GOLDEN GENERATION` THE 1948 F.A. AMATEUR CUP TEAM WILL BE IN THE BOOK. |
Frank Hodgkinson who regulary comes to the Boldmere clubhouse to have a drink was 7 years old in 1948. With his Father he went to see the Boldmere team play the Indian Olympic XI at Church Road in the August of that year. He said, “We lived facing the ground and as there was a hole in the hedge we walked through and mingled with the crowd that was there (800 estimated) Frank remembers that some of the Indian players played the match without wearing any boots. Before the match started there used to be a huge roller so big that Frank and his friend used to play `hide and seek in` It was used to flatten the pitch. All the Boldmere players were used to a push the roller across the pitch because it was very heavy. The field had been muddy because of recent rain even for late August. After the game had finished the rains came back!”
As a footnote: The roller ended up in a Manchester museum. It was going to be scrapped but after it was repaired by a Blacksmith and could be pulled by a tractor.
More details of the game against the Indian Olympic XI in 1948 can be found on page 36 of the Boldmere Hisitory book.
