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Written by Steve Rampley
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Tuesday, 21 October 2008 08:53 |
POTTED HISTORY OF WHALEY BRIDGE A F C 1900 – 1946
By Arthur Jackson (1911 - )
| Arthur Jackson (97!), local historian and writer of Whaley's bygone days, was at the ground again last Saturday; he confirmed that Bill Jones (Liverpool and England) did play a few games for Horwich End in the late 30s. (Arthur is the only surviving member of that team). He and Bill may be in the photo gallery and we hope Arthur can put a name to all those faces and also to further fill the gaps in Whaley's football history....the following is Arthur's recollections thus far in his own words.
"The Whaley Bridge team before the Great War 1914-18 played at Hogs Yard field where the Tesco store is now. I don't think they were in a league but they changed at the Goyt Inn, Bridge Street, and my uncle Edmund Jackson played for them.
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 Ordnance Survey 1898
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After the war ended a band of followers started the team again but couldn't find a ground to play on but thanks to the efforts of Colonel Ramsden Jodrell they found a field at Slacks Farm, Reddish. The reservoir was just over the wall and a public footpath ran down the centre of the pitch and play had to be stopped if anyone came along. The team joined the Buxton League in 1920. I watched the first game against Tideswell Blue Star: a draw 1–1 Fred Pearson scored the Whaley goal. Two seasons later they played in the final of the Derbyshire Cup against Chapel-en-le-Frith at Buxton losing 3-2. I remember the Whaley Team:
Pace Hough Ormerod Fitzpatrick Higgins Bann White Meehan Anderson Bennett Hill
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 Ordnance Survey 1921
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Later came another team 1926-29, they were also a very good team winning the league several times; the new ground had been bought by public subscription and the hedge moved to make 2 pitches.
The usual team was:
Dawson
Oldham Burton
Shaw Taylor Rowley
Bramwell Jackson Warburton Hallam Seed
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 Ordnance Survey 1938
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In 1931 another team emerged, not Whaley Bridge but Horwich End, they won the league 5 times from 1932-40. I played for them and Bill Jones played for them several times at aged 16 and went on to play for Liverpool and England, Bill was a member of the England team who beat Portugal in Lisbon 10-0".
The usual team was:
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Cotrell
Westby Lomas
Lee Hadfield Derbyshire
Jackson Wheeldon Fidler Cooper Oldham
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Horwich End FC 1933/34
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Note; the players named above may or may not appear in the photographs. Arthur will provide confirmation in due course.
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Horwich End FC 1938/39
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