|
Silksworth R.A.O.B. ('Buffs') Pre 1975/1976
|
I played on and off for the 'Buffs' over a few seasons but, unlike the 1975/1976 season, we never had any success. This is obviously the reason for the lack of any available information. However I recently came across the photographs below courtesy of Keith Hemborough and Dennis Doran. The photos all relate to end of season friendlies which were at Doncaster, Dundee and Stoke. The connection the club had with these places was probably a result of colliery closures here and miners moving to other mining areas. Dennis believes that Jack Tatters and Jimmy Ibbotson, both from Ryhope, were two of the connections at Stoke.
These friendlies were then a great way to re-unite old friends. The hospitality of the families at both Dundee, Doncaster and Stoke were unbelievable. We used to travel on the Saturday morning and when we arrived we were welcomed into, for most of us, strangers houses and treated like long lost friends. We were fed and provided beds for the night. The Saturday night we would all get together in the local club, whose football team we were to play, and have a great time. Even after the club closed we all carried on celebrating at someones house. Great fun but, you would think, not the best preparation for a match the following morning. Amazingly we always seemed to play really well and there were some cracking games.
The photo below we believe was from one of the friendlies we played at Doncaster. The one recollection I have from this game at Doncaster was a goal from Alan Sopp. Alan, when he was a few years younger, was a great left winger and one of the clubs he played for was Ryhope CW. He hit a half volley from the halfway line on the left wing and it smashed into the net. I have never ever seen a shot hit so sweetly and powerful. I certainly wouldn't like to have been a goalkeeper facing Alan when he was in his prime.
|
|
Back from the left :-
? , John Nordon, Alan Sopp, Tony Mulvaney?, ? , Kenny Vose, Billy Benson
Front from the left :-
Harry Clark, Dennis Doran, Joe Dixon, Norman Taylor, ? , Keith Hemborough
Mascot : Steve Mulvaney?
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| The photo below was taken up at Dundee. |
|
Back from the left :-
? , ? , ? , ? , John Nordon, Geordie Pickard, Billy Benson, ? , John Teasdale, ? , ?
Front from the left :-
Ronnie Young, Keith Hemborough, Joe Dixon, Brian Page, Harry Clark, Kenny Vose, ?
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| The photo below was taken in 1972 at Kidsgrove, Stoke-on-Trent. |
|
Back from the left :-
Geordie Pickard, Tommy Craggs?, Tony Mulvaney, John Nordon, Keith Hemborough, Kenny Vose, Alan Sopp and Billy Benson
Front from the left :-
? , Norman Taylor, Dennis Doran, Joe Dixon and Harry Clark
Mascot : Steve Mulvaney?
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I apologise to the players and committee for not recognising/remembering all of their names. Hopefully I can remedy this in the not to distant future.
|
