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The modern Boldmere and In 1953 the `Mikes` were still hanging on to their amateur status and were no match to a strong Lockheed Leamington who beat them 7-0 that season in the first hurdle of the F.A. Cup at the Windmill Ground. The Boldmere team had not yet `tasted the fruits of victory` at the time since the start of the season.
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I noticed your article regarding former players of Boldmere St Michaels in the Birmingham `Evening Mail` My Father Eric Rough played for the `Mikes` during the 1950's. We think from 1953to 1958. He had come to Birmingham in 1951 from North Wales after qualifying as a teacher. He had been for trials at Liverpool Football Club who recommended him to West Bromwich Albion. He played for the `Baggies` as a semi-professional but felt sidelined by the full timers. He was offered a professional contract but opted instead for the financial security of the teaching profession (which is unbelievable in today's world). He then played for Boldmere before moving closer to his home in Northfield where he played, managed, chaired at became president of Northfield Town. During this time he was heavily involved in school, district and county football. Sadly he died in 2003 age 73 year. I am sure he would loved to have been involved in your anniversary celebration.
Team photo of Eric (front row far left) with his other teams in the Boldmere team of 1953 is below.
To see images from the evening click on the link below.
http://miketalbot2198.fotopic.net/c1522291.html
Transcribed from a taped conversation between three former Boldmere players (all in their 80`s) who played in the 1950-19051 season- 58 years ago. The get together occurred on the evening of Tuesday 3rd June 2008 as part of the celebrations of the 125 years of the club.
Arthur Such spoke about his shortened Army career and his early football career as a semi professional player. He and Ken Robinson referred to action shots and other memorabilia from their playing days that they kept in scrapbooks. Arthur said he was discharged from the Army on health grounds in 1945. Although the war in Europe was over the Japanese war was still on. He had started the 19 weeks basic training but then got pleurisy. He went to a convalescent home called Grove Park which was a big country mansion for six months. As he had not completed 6 weeks training he could not go into a regiment. In January 1946 he was not the required `A1` fit to be a soldier. He was graded as `C3. ` He was therefore discharged out the Army with a 50% pension. Despite having a bad chest and regular coughs, colds and flu he played first for Bromsgrove Rovers at the start of the 1946-1947 season. He said he thinks he would have been a better footballer if his lungs were healthier. At Bromsgrove Rovers he played a few games but more often than not he was a travelling reserve. He was not getting games at `inside right` and so he moved on.
He played for Moor Green in 1946-1947 season. He described them as an excellent club. They were run as a committee whereas Boldmere were run by Harold Spencer who dominated proceedings at Church Road. Arthur Such played alongside Percy Tarpley, Norman Love and Tommy Leach an English Amateur International at Moor Green. He recalls playing against a team in 1947 called East Tanfield Colliery Welfare. It was by Stanley near Newcastle. Their first game was abandoned. We picked the train back from Darlington but who should be on it but the Boldmere team on their way back from Shildon after they won 4-1 in the Amateur Cup. The weather-I never played in anything like it. It was terrible. On the pitch the mud came over our boots. That was when we ran on before the start of the game. We played with the wind behind our backs. I managed to score. They had a little stand at the one end of the ground. The rain was coming down at an angle. The Moor Green centre forward Joe Kimber went off. He recalled `Jock` Stewart of Moor Green going to the Referee complaining that his arm had gone numb in the bad weather. He left the field. Some other player went off. I ran across the field tripped and went down on my knees. The Moor Green Directors were very cute. They put a coat over me and hauled be off. I did not want to go off. I could have carried on. We were losing the game 2-1. There was no way I could see us winning that game. The weather was no much better when we went to replay the game in the North east. We tried to get the game played at Moor Green. In the replay we kicked with the wind. I scored in the replay. We were 3-2 up at one stage. That same season he played for Moor Green against Boldmere in the quarter final of the Amateur Cup at Church Road. He was injured in the game after 20 minutes and `hobbled` for the rest of the game.
Arthur played a couple of matches at the end of the 1949-1950 season for Boldmere. He recalls only missing one game in the 1950-1951 season. The team played in two competitions that season a League Cup in the early part of the season and the `Maserfield Cup` in April. When asked what his most memorable game he said was, “I used to enjoy all the matches especially when we were taking on the top London sides like Hayes, Ilford and St Albans. We used to average an attendance of 800 for the home attendances. The entrance fee in those days was one old shilling. (Harry Peakman said I was on the gate taking the entrance fee when a man from the tax office said you should be paying a `hapenny` in tax on the entrance fee) We had a settled side at Boldmere with very little changes in the team. There were what I thought were `committee people` at Boldmere but they were loyal supporters. It never occurred to me that people would come and watch use play.
Aston Villa was a top side and if you wanted to go a bit further then you could watch West Bromwich Albion. The Boldmere team had a good bunch of players. We used to all go out on a Saturday night in Jack Findlay’s van. Only Alan Pollard and David Lane who lived in who used to go straight home after the game. Don’t forget there were few recreational activities and not everyone had a television. Ken Robinson said, “The fans were all locals.”
Bill Hingley was the eldest of several brothers and outlived them all. He volunteered for an infantry regiment in 1944 during the Second World War. He had three choices: He put down the Warwickshire regiment as his 1st choice, The Staffordshire as his 2nd but he was assigned to the Enniskillen regiment. After the war had ended he joined Boldmere. He played every match in the 1950-1951 season and recalls the late Ray Homer was the Captain of the team. Bill referred to the phone call he had in May 2008 from Ken Robinson after not hearing from each other for years. Ken had said, “Is that Bill Hingley?” Bill said, “Yes it is! Then this voice said thank God for that as I had been trying to track you down.” I said, “Well who is it? He said well I will tell you in a minute. He went on and on and I said to him for God’s sake who are you? The voice said cast your mind back 50 years. I said I can’t cast it back to yesterday. The voice said think of the Centre forward I replied, “Well you weren’t much good then.”
Ken Robinson said, “Speaking for myself I do not think that there was a 100% star of the team but the main thing was the 'esprit de corps' the team spirit. We were together on the pitch- we were together off the pitch. When I rang Bill I said remember `St Albans. ` I said some brilliant bloke got three goals (me) Some silly Sod (you) let their right winger get three goals.”
Arthur Such, “Ken cycled into town at 4am in the morning to get the `Sunday Mercury` to read all about the match. Ken Robinson. “Well we did play cards all that night.”
Arthur Such, “I recall we were at an away game in London. Johnny Nuttall was in the same room as David Lane. He came back to the hotel at 7`oclock in the morning. He had been out all night on the town.”
Harry Peakman. He finished playing in 1951 and was then a trainer and to date has a 65 year association with Boldmere. He said, “I am not saying that the lads (at Boldmere) do not enjoy it-they must do- I do not think that they enjoy it as a relation for the sport like we used to. We were dead keen to play.
Arthur Such. I recall going to Ilford to see Phil Richardson who was having a trial for the England Amateur and to give him a bit of support. The regular England goalkeeper chose to `duck` the trial. Philip was promoted from `the rest` into the England team but he was never picked afterwards. At times he lacked confidence and at times was nervous even for his size. I knew him very well. Phil came from a good home. Professional football was too rough and tough for Phillip. His father was a Counsellor and was influential in suggesting he went for the trial at Villa. His contract at Aston Villa was not renewed after his first season at Aston Villa. He was involved in a car accident before the end of that first season. He played cricket for Ashfield. He was in an Austin car. The car turned over. He injured his elbow and shoulder. During the close season he recovered but could not get the full use of his shoulder. He did not play football after that as far as I know. Phil died in 1992.
Harry Peakman. “Aston Villa came after Phil and he had a trial for the Villa in the Central League. We wanted him to play the following season. We thought he would get an international Amateur cup but choose to go to Villa Park. He was not quite ready for it.
Harry Peakman. One player who you might expect something special to happen on the field was `Nobby` Clarke. He had a lovely left foot, He was well built too. Arthur Such said,” At Burton Albion one of their players had a rough tackle on me. I said `Steady on. He apologised as he had been having a running battle with `Nobby` during the game. H was not adversed to giving them a good kicking.
Ken Robinson said, “Nobby was good with his left leg AND his hand. Up would go the leg and he would bring the ball down with his hand. He was brilliant at it.”
Arthur Such. I used to suffer from tight hamstrings when I played. On one occasion I had an injury and I said to the club it will be three weeks as there is nothing you can do. `Nobby` said to go to the Kent Street Turkish Baths. Ask for Albert Casterton. So I went there and Albert said where your trouble is? I pointed to the back of the thigh. I was told to stand against some railings. He put a jet (of water) on my injury. It got really hot. He turned it down to cold water. It was hitting the area. I had a big black bruise afterwards. It bloody well cleared up in no time.
Ken Robinson. I missed the last six games of the 1950-1951 season with cartilage trouble after being badly tackled at Halesowen Town. That player was sent off. Arthur Such. I recall playing in a game against Derby County `A` team. The bloke that was marking me had crept in front of me. He should have been marking me from behind. I said to him,” Leave it!” So he left it. I trapped it and but it away (scored) after the game he joined me in the communal bath and sat them and exclaimed, “It’s the whispering bastard!” Arthur then show a match report in a clipping that he had where it read that Aston Villa `A` team had been knocked out of the League Cup. Ken Robinson scored the goal.
Harry Peakman remembers the evening on 31st August 1948 when Boldmere played the Indian Olympic team. Harry was watching the game and remembers the Church Road pitch was rain sodden. Bill Hingley recalls an Indian restaurant owner who was very pleased with the work that was done by Boldmere player Harold Spencer who was also a skilled craftsman. He offered Harold a drink. Harold was not a drinker and was quite embarrassed by the kind gesture but would not take a drink. Harold Peakman said Harold and his family were Churchgoers. The Indian man was a good customer of Harold’s. Harold upset him because he would not take an alcoholic drink. Bill still recalls that incident everytime he drove past the Restaurant and used to chuckle with the memory of the man trying to `force` a drink down Harold’s throat. Ken Robinson recalls the `A40` motor car that Harold Spencer had and incredibly can still remember the registration number. Ken said, “It was LOB 708. Ken went on to recall my Father’s car was a 1931 Morris 8. He bought it in 1933 for £20 the number was WD 2693. Petrol in those days was 10 pence a gallon (editor’s note: I wish it was now) Arthur Such said, “Petrol for a motor bike was `two Bob` for me in those days.”
Harry Peakman recalls that occasionally Harold Peakman who was the captain and when he did not play the `Manager` would take the team in the back of his works truck to a game. He was in charge of the team. Ken Robinson said, “He was a sort of travelling reserve for the 1st team. We did not have substitutes in those days. Ken Robinson said, I used to have proud boats that I played from the age of 6 years to 46 years and was never substituted once. My friend said that was a brilliant record. Two months later he came back and said, “They did not have subs in those days.” Arthur Such said, “I am sure that I would have been substituted if there were available then as I had some bad games and deserved to be hauled off.” Harry Peakman said, “If you were injured you made it your business to be fit for the next game. I remember when I was injured I used to put my knee under the tap of cold water. That was the attitude of the team. You wanted to play the next week.”
Harold played one game at Bromsgrove. He was well past his best (as a player he was in his 40`s and still playing) He was in our area defending. One of their players had a wonderful chance (to score) Harold Spencer pretended to trip and as he was falling he pulled this Bromsgrove player down. It was a blatant penalty but he got a way with it. Ken Robinson said that there were times that a coach also took the team to away games especially if it was to places like Lockheed Leamington, Worcester City. Sometimes we would meet at the Chester Road tram station. Harry Peakman said that most teams met at the bus stops at the Central Fire station. They used to meet Ron Timmins and the Paget Rangers team who would also catch a bus on their way to away game. Ken Robinson said that one or two Boldmere players had cars. Boldmere player David Lane was a farmer’s son and it was reported that they were wealthy. David had a Standard 8. He paid £499 pounds for it in those days and it was not new then. That was untold wealth in those days.
Bill Hingley said I filled my car up recently. I said to the lad after the bill was £69, “You know I could have bought two of my first cars with that money.”
Arthur Such recalls the visits to the brine baths at Droitwich on a Sunday to soak away the bruises and aches and pains from the previous match. “It was dangerous” he added as some were prepared to dive in as the water was not very deep so you had to walk in it. Ken Robinson said “I could not swim.” Arthur Such recalls paying half a crown into the pools syndicate that the Boldmere team contributed to. Nobby Clarke used to run the pools and he used to get more money out of the players when they were drunk at night. There was a bit of a fiddle going on. Arthur said, “He came to me but I told him to p*ss off Jack as I was not drunk.”
Arthur Such, “Jack Findley was the groundsman at Walmley Cricket club for years.” Harry Peakman said, “Jack Findley used to be in business with Johnny Nuttall selling second hand furniture in Birmingham.
Bill Hingley recalls how he first got interested in football after the war. He said, I was living with my sister after I came out of the forces. At the back of our residence there was a convent and it had a football pitch in its grounds. I heard this shouting on this particular Saturday so I thought I would go through our gate and walk across some 50 yards across land to the game. It amazed me because it was the Nun’s who were shouting. It was a sight that I have never seen before. I ended up having a kick about on a Tuesday night and ended up playing for the convent team. I used to go into the Boldmere pub on a Friday night. The chap phoned through and said the match involving the Convent team was cancelled. A fellow who was sitting in the next table in the pub said, “If I can get you a game tomorrow would you play?” I said “Yes I would. He was from Boldmere St Michaels 3rd team and we played in Sutton Park in those days by the La Reserve. Harry Peakman said he also played in Sutton Park with Johnny Parkes. From there Bill Hingley was promoted to the Boldmere 1st team (Editors note. Ken Robinson retired from playing he was the Manager of the Boldmere 3rd team)
Arthur Such commented, “We used to play football on a Sunday which was illegal. He was the secretary of a local Sunday team. Phil Richardson was hauled in at Boldmere and advised by the club officials that he must stop playing Sunday football. There were never any sanctions against us and eventually it was alright to play on a Sunday. Keith Norman used to play Sunday football as well.
Ken Robinson who has eight Grandchildren and eight Great- Grandchildren recalled that seven Boldmere players played for a Sunday morning team at Kingsbury Road. At half time was 11-1 up. The weather was awful as it was snowing. Then someone said we will give you the match. They then recognised that Phil Richardson who was playing in goal was a Boldmere player. They realised that other members of the Sunday team were also Boldmere players. We were worried as you could be in a lot of trouble playing Sunday football.
Arthur Such recalled playing `Pegasus` the combined University team in 1951-1952 season. Previous results were 9-1 to `Pegasus. ` There was a 1-1 result at Church Road when Arthur Such scored. Bob Norman who played for Boldmere in the game at Church Road was also a tennis player who represented Warwick County. Len Pardoe who drew the artwork the characters of local football died only a few years a go according to Arthur Such. Arthur recalls meeting Gerry Carver who went on to play for Notts County FC. Gerry was in his 30`s by that time. He still had that `schoolboy face` as when he played for Boldmere. He looked so young. He was a grown man. I would not have known him. Arthur remembers Gerry Carver being in Boldmere`s Reserves. He was 16 years at the time. Arthur thought he was good enough to play 1st team football and wondered why the club did not play him. In the modern game there seem to hesitate to play a 19-year-old sometimes.
Harry Peakman recalls that some London teams like Hayes were on £5 a match which was a lot of money in those days and would have been tax free.
Arthur Such said the ball used to be like a `lump of concrete` especially when it got wet.
Ken Robinson recalled the boots he used to wear. “They had steel toe caps and if you kicked the ball it would go far. I used to bandage my ankle and add cotton wool around my toes. I used to apply two socks before putting on my boots.”
Arthur Such remembers Les Bowdler who was the Boldmere 1st team `Physio. ` He used to massage the players before a game with a white lotion. Gradually his hands went white and then black.” Ken Robinson used to remember a thing called `Black Jack` an ointment that Les used to treat a sprained ankle. Ken said, “You had to sleep with you leg out the bed it was that hot. The other `Physio` Harry Rogers used to use an electronical device (sounds like a mini ultrasound) that he used to rub up and down your leg. Arthur recalled that Harry was training to be a Chiropodist and used to work on his feet. He used to say, “Cheerio each!”
Bill Hingley and Harry Peakman talked about the modern game and could not understand why after three passes the ball is always played back to the keeper. Arthur Such commented, “England kicked off in a friendly against Trinidad and Tobago and the ball ended up in the keeper’s hands.” Bill Hingley said, “I turned off the television as it was a terrible game.” Harold Peakman said, “Players do not do the fundamentals. Managers on television say our passing was excellent today but players do not mark their opponents. You can kick the ball from `A to B` but there will be no player near you. Teams do not play to win they do not play to lose.”
Arthur Such, “When Harold Spencer was not available and `Nobby` Clarke was put in charge of the team away at Stoke City `A` team. The game was being played at Newcastle-under-Lyme. There was Dick Brazier (who later played for Lockheed Leamington, Tamworth and Hednesford Town) Phil Richardson and me and we were due to be picked up in Birmingham City Centre by the `Hall of Memory. ` The bus did not arrive. Dick rang up the club. He was told forget that come back to Church Road and meet the coach. Dick said we will get a taxi and get back to the club. On our arrival we found out that the coach had gone to the `Hall of Memory. ` Dick said to the taxi driver can you take us to Newcastle- under-Lyme. So we travelled by taxi. The coach got there for a 3pm kick off. It was a half past four start. I think we are fined half a crown a minute when we are late. Add in the taxi fare. On the way back after the match the club never bought drinks for the players but `Nobby` Clarke had made such a mess of the arrangements that the drinks were added on the bill ! Nobby Clarke was never put in charge again as he cost the club a lot of money that day.”
Harry Peakman recalls being in charge of the 1st team. “It was getting towards kick off time (2.30pm) no sign of `Nobby` Clarke so I put the reserve player in. At about twenty to three he comes in and starts to strip into his kit I said what are you doing John. He says I am playing. I said no you are not as I have put another player in because you were late.” Arthur Such said, “I was 23 years old when I played for Boldmere. Jack `Nobby` Clarke was 28- years old and with Johnny Nuttall and Jack Findley was one of the senior players in the side. Bill Hingley said `Nobby` used to run a Fish and Chip shop at No1, Oldknow Road in Small Heath. Arthur Such said, “Nobby sent Audrey and the kids off on holiday. I spent a week helping him out serving behind the counter. `Nobby` had three pigs and hens in the back garden. He was a draughtsman by trade working for `Amax. ` Arthur recalls speaking to the Stan Hunt of the 1948 Boldmere team that Nobby had passed on after relocating down South (Portsmouth?)
Arthur Such recalls his childhood days in the 1930`s when horse drawn carriages were one of the main transports on the road. The local `Co-op` had stables. Harold Peakman recalls on `May Day` when the men used to dress up. With all that horse manure on the road the local people used to scoop it up for their roses in their gardens.
Arthur Such comments about the playing conditions and the match ball, “ If you had a nice firm ground taking a stud and played using one of those old `Webber` premier football it was a marvellous ball. They seem to denigrate the old style balls but that one was a marvellous ball in good conditions. Although I have to say most of the time you played on mud. The Church Road pitch used to take some knowing (getting used to) Ken Robinson, “Well `Nobby` Clarke did well and with his left foot got some power in the crosses. His thighs were well built. He played for Walsall during the war. He told me once of a professional game he played in when he got past the full back and was just about to cross it when he heard a voice behind him say, “I will break your leg!” so he miskicked it and went out of play. He looked a round and the other player was about 5 yards away. “Nobby” gave a tip to Arthur Such,
“When the `keeper has the ball I want you to hurry (harass) him. There was a skirmish the next time when the keeper had the ball but nothing happened. I happened to be near the next time he had the ball. So did several other Boldmere players as `Nobby` Clarke must have told several others. All at once the ball shot out of the goalkeeper’s hands right up in the air and came down. We scored from that. The whole object of the exercise that I disagree with is that `Nobby` used to punch it out of the keeper’s hands and fly up in the air.”
Ken Robinson who was centre forward but not very big was told by `Nobby` from a corner kick do not forget to stand on the goalkeepers toes.
Arthur Such said, “Phil Richardson told me about the time Moor Green played Boldmere in the 4th Round of the FA Amateur Cup. Nobby Clarke a conveyed a message to what was known about the Moor Green team. Well Phil knew me well and said something along the lines of `Arthur Such scores goals and is dangerous. `
Don Williams came in very late (in a tackle) put his foot on my ankle and so I was a limping passenger after that and was on the left wing and could do nothing. Don Williams who worked for Cooks Travel Agents in B`ham City Centre. He was a tall man and nicknamed “Flying Officer Kite.” Don Williams later broke his leg playing for Boldmere vs Cambridge Town at Villa Park in May 1948. Bill Hingley said he broke his leg twice when he was a young schoolboy wrestling and then playing for `Birmingham Boys` he never had any problems later in life.”
Arthur Such, Ken Robinson and Harry Peakman recalls they wore black boots called `McGregor’s. ` It would appear that the Aston Villa player wore them too. They were described as good. Ken Robinson had a pair of `Rio` s` which
Were a slim lined boot but they did not seem to last a whole season. They were £2.50
When the usual price of a boot was usually `35 bob`. Arthur Such said when he was at Kidderminster an old professional advice him to buy boots smaller. He used to buy a size 8 (he was a size 9) the old professional said go down a size and a half. Arthur bought seven and a half. After he lost four toenails he realised they were too tight and threw them away. Harry Peakman recalls polishing the sole of the boot which meant they did not hold the mud. Ken Robinson recalls buying new boots in June ready for August. He would walk around the house in them to wear them in. He would then wear a couple of pair of socks-then another pair of socks. He would walk around the garden in them to stretch them even more. He would then put the studs in. Arthur Such was advised to buy cycle tyre tapes for his boots. He said, “ They were an excellent alternative to football laces.” Ken Robinson said, “Actually it was electrical winding tape. My father worked at `Ellison’s` at Perry Barr and he used to get a reel of this tape. Ken still has his boots from his playing days and the tape is still on there. All you did was put them on and afterwards you cut them off.”
Many thanks to Ray Peploe who is the Programme Editor & Club Photographer at Hayes Football Club (recently merge with Yeading FC)
He kindly send me copies of images from the FA Amateur Cup game on 13th January 1951 between Boldmere and Hayes. These images are in the Boldmere history book on pages 47 and 48.
`Last Of Boldmere`s home engagements`
Boldmere St Michaels 0 Aston Villa `A` 1
by `VIDI`
(Published in the `Sutton News` on 24/04/1954)
Boldmere closed their home programme for their 1st XI When they entertained a strong Villa XI which included Richard `Dicky` Dorsett, Albert Vinall-the brother of Ted and Goffin all men with football League experience.
Skill was at a premium, there were frequent stoppages for infringements of the rules with the visitors the worst offenders. The only goal came after 26 minutes from Paul Lucas who collected the ball from Barrett at the half way line. He outstripped the injured Gannon to give Walker no chance with his shot. Though Boldmere gained the initiative, in front of Villa’s goal, the forwards were strangely ineffective.
Frequently the ball was worked skilfully into the `Villa` half but the attacks broke down in the face of a resolute and often robust Villa rearguard.
The second half developed into a defensive battle but with a distinct end of season air about it. There was not a lot of good football displayed. Too often the man and not the ball were played. The referee was one of the busiest men on the field.
The trialist Walker deputising for the injured Caddick acquitted himself well. Batchelor and Biddle took the honours in a hard working defence. Green was the best of the forwards although he was inclined to over elaborate his dribbling.
