Amateur Footballers
Taken in c 1908 the above team Grangetown Wednesday F.C. - so called because they always played on Wednesdays - according to John Carr of Grangetown - this postcard photo was discovered in an old pipe tobacco tin of my uncle's after he died. He didn't actually smoke - so perhaps the tin had lain there since his father Micky Traynor used it in the fifties. One of the men standing behind the team looks remarkably like my cousin Bernard Traynor. Perhaps his sisters will confirm that - when they see it.
Harry Thomas is the young man marked with a cross who also played for St Augustine's Darlington and was pictured on an individual card - as so many were - in this era - and the young man front row left, we believe to be Collins who also played for Grangetown St Mary's in 1913. So these young men moved around a bit.
St Mary's F.C. 1930
Scholl Power, Bunty Fleming, Harrison, Chris Old GK, Day, ? , Fl Sullivan,Devaney,McNulty
Front: ? Mick Bennett, ?. ? Billy Murtha, Hugh McMahon, Tim Redmond
Scholl Power, Bunty Fleming, Harrison, Chris Old GK, Day, ? , Fl Sullivan,Devaney,McNulty
Front: ? Mick Bennett, ?. ? Billy Murtha, Hugh McMahon, Tim Redmond
Report of a "bruising" derby match Tues April 11th 1911
NORTHERN LEAGUE GRANGETOWN V SOUTH BANK
At Grangetown. The weather was cold and windy but about 1,200 spectators were present.
THE TEAMS
Grangetown: Goal, H. Thomas; backs, Kennedy, Simpson;
half-backs, Henry, Davies, J. Thomas;
forwards, Murtha, Neesham, Reardon, Hanlon, Jones.
South Bank: Goal, Howling; backs, Rand, Oakley;
half-backs, Booth, Prest, Cook;
forwards, Murtha, Biggs, Carr, McHale, Pattison.
THE GAME
Grangetown had the advantage of playing with the wind behind them in the first half, and consequently were soon on the attack, but Reardon failed to profit by an excellent opportunity, and Carr followed suit at the other end. The game was entirely lacking in science, force being the predominant feature and the referee found it necessary to warn more than one player. By the use of the one-back game, the Bankers threw the Steelworkers forwards out of gear, and about 25 minutes had elapsed before REARDON opened the score. Oakley was the cause of the goal, as he miskicked, and the home centre rushed in before Howling could get the ball away. Several times after this the Bankers were within an ace of equalising, one effort of Carr’s landing the ball on top of the net, while a free kick, accurately placed by Rand, was finely fisted out by Thomas. Half-time:-
Grangetown 1, South Bank 0
With the wind behind them the Bankers made the running in the second half, but the home defence tackled and the game was well on before COOK equalised with a long shot, which Thomas misjudged, and allowed to pass between his hands and the post. After this the game became keener and rougher than ever, and a scuffle between Pattison and Davies led to the latter being ordered off. In fairness to Davies, it should be stated that Pattison was the aggressor, as he struck the Grangetown player. Before long the Town suffered a further misfortune, as Simpson, their doughty left back, had to retire with an injured eye. Then a collision between Biggs and J. Thomas led to the former having to go off with his ankle injured again, while the latter was badly shaken. The closing stages were fought out in semi-darkness, and about five minutes from time CARR got the winning goal from close range. It was an exhibition of which neither side can feel proud. But for the timely intervention of the police at the finish it is more than likely that the upshot would have been a free fight.
As it was, several blows were struck at players by spectators. FT Result:- SOUTH BANK …………. 2 GRANGETOWN ……… 1
Winnie McKenna of Bessemer Street Grangetown
was known as the 'Wilf Mannion' of Grangetown.
She captained and played for England during this flourishing period of ladies football
honing her skills on the fields and streets nearby.
This postcard picture was found in the home of Josephine Fox of "Shanty" shop fame after her funeral - a beloved cousin of Winnie's.
was known as the 'Wilf Mannion' of Grangetown.
She captained and played for England during this flourishing period of ladies football
honing her skills on the fields and streets nearby.
This postcard picture was found in the home of Josephine Fox of "Shanty" shop fame after her funeral - a beloved cousin of Winnie's.