timbo
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QUO fan 4life.
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Post by timbo on Aug 30, 2014 20:13:10 GMT
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2014 7:59:17 GMT
A goal for Tommy Northcott on that 1966 visit to Lincoln. Tommy, as we've heard before, had been a star in Lincoln's successful teams of the 1950s. The programme makes nothing of his return; that was the way things often were in those less flashy times before "match day magazines".
John Brewster born at Model Village. That would have brought a chuckle because I'm pretty sure the model village at Babbacombe was already open in 1966. In Brewster's case it refers to housing built for colliery workers at Creswell in Derbyshire along garden village lines. I was at nearby Creswell Crags a few months ago. If I'd known of the Torquay United connection I would have taken a look.
Lots of committees and vice-presidents at Sincil Bank in the 1960s. Plenty of league tables as well to chart the progress of Lincoln City's reserve, A and youth teams. The reserves are in an East Midlands-dominated league - enough to set Felix's pulse racing - although there's outliers such as Lockheed (later AP Leamington), Ashton United (near Manchester) and Scarborough. Lincoln United topped the Lincoln League (they were soon to join the Yorkshire League) and, during 2013/14, played in the same league as the reformed Scarborough club. Yesterday Lincoln United beat Brigg Town 4-0 at home in the FA Cup. Perhaps United will one day play City in a cup tie.
There have been various incarnations of the Midland League. The earliest dated from 1889 with Lincoln City amongst the founding members. For a while it was virtually a feeder league to the (then) north and midland-orientated Football League. Only later, once the Football League established a third tier, did the Midland League settle down to being what is now known as "non league". Membership was never strictly "midland" to the extent that several Yorkshire clubs have been members. As have, believe it or not, a cluster of clubs from the North East.
The original league folded in 1960; Peterborough United were the last champions. The Midland Counties League (as per Timbo's programme) emerged in 1961 and continued to the 1980s. The area it broadly covered in the 1960s now, in something of a geographical contradiction, equates to the Northern Premier League Division One South. Meanwhile the Midland League is back operating in the West Midlands following this year's merger between the Midland Alliance and Midland Combination.
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Post by valgull on Aug 31, 2014 8:29:14 GMT
I find the attendance interesting. Yesterday's at 2,373 at Sincil bank was comparable to the '65/'66 gate of 2,472.
I'm guessing the attendance at Plainmoor for the visit of Lincoln in that season would have been around 8,000.
I'm sure someone will dig out the figure soon!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2014 11:17:52 GMT
I did wonder about Lockheed, who were clearly enjoying a successful season, but Barton has kindly answered that question as well as informing us about the Midland League itself, and others.
A nice touch from the Supporters Club in wishing Harry Godbold 'many happy seasons with Lincoln City F.C'. Harry, being a County Durham lad, spent the early years of his career at Sunderland and at Hartlepool. Despite the encouraging words from the Supporters club, it seems that Harry only stayed a matter of months at Sincil Bank and was off again at the turn of the year. Although counting Lincoln, Boston, and Spalding amongst his clubs, we can probably assume that he was happy enough in Fenland.
LINK - Harry at Boston United
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2014 12:33:18 GMT
I imagine we can safely file Harry Godbold under the category of "obscure" when it comes to professional footballers. I've just looked up Harry's place of birth. According to Wiki it has a Gateshead postal address but (since the 1970s) has lay within the boundaries of Sunderland. Whoever wrote the entry suggests the locals care little for this association. From my knowledge of the area, they'd be mortified.
Harry would be three or four years older than the more illustrious Norman Hunter who lived in the next village. I was once told that Hunter was actually born in Kent but never cared to admit the fact. Alas, this doesn't appear to have gathered momentum as an Internet rumour and, on an England footballers' site, somebody is claiming to have found Norman's birth registration in the appropriate part of County Durham. A pity. It made for a good tale.
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Jon
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Post by Jon on Sept 1, 2014 21:55:10 GMT
I find the attendance interesting. Yesterday's at 2,373 at Sincil bank was comparable to the '65/'66 gate of 2,472. I'm guessing the attendance at Plainmoor for the visit of Lincoln in that season would have been around 8,000. I'm sure someone will dig out the figure soon! 5,576 at Plainmoor on 6 November 1965. Amazing to see how close those two crowd figures at Sincil Bank are. Made me have a quick look at Lincoln's history here: fchd.info/LINCOLNC.HTMIt is to their credit that they can still pull decent crowds. Three seasons in the Conference have seen them finish 17th, 16th and 14th. Would our crowds hold up so well in similar circumstances? I hadn't realised what a low ebb Lincoln hit in the mid sixties. They were a decent second division side when Northcott was there - indeed they had nine straight seasons in the second tier 1952-61. 1960-67 was a nightmare for them. Relegated in 1961 and 1962 and then seeking re-election four times out of five, including rock bottom in 1967. Their average crowd in 1952-53 was 16,775. In 1965-66 it was just 3,845. Peter Wakeham was at Lincoln in 1965/66 - after having served Sunderland and Charlton after leaving us in 1958. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2014 7:00:18 GMT
I hadn't realised what a low ebb Lincoln hit in the mid sixties. They were a decent second division side when Northcott was there - indeed they had nine straight seasons in the second tier 1952-61. 1960-67 was a nightmare for them. Relegated in 1961 and 1962 and then seeking re-election four times out of five, including rock bottom in 1967. I'm intrigued by those "Great Times" or "Golden Ages" that most clubs, however modest, appear to have enjoyed. Spells when they've performed at a level above the norm before returning to their usual standard. In fact you could write a book about it; not that too many may buy. The theme may be more one of "what went right?" as opposed to "what went wrong?" although the fall, the aftermath and any serious consequences would also be part of the story. It would be fascinating to investigate how these periods, if in relatively recent memory, are recalled. Would they be regarded as extraordinary? Or as a "benchmark" as to how the club could have performed in the intervening years? A piece of golden nostalgia or an opportunity to make unfavourable comparisons with the present? |
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