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Post by bluedragon on Jan 25, 2015 11:33:39 GMT
I wonder if you can help me with some information on a former Gulls player from years ago? Sid Cann who was playing for Charlton Athletic at the time was one of seven London-based professional footballers who formed a deputation to the Treasury in 1938 to try and get the proceeds from footballers’ benefit exempt from Income Tax citing that professional cricketers enjoyed tax-free proceeds from their benefit games. I am researching this meeting and if anyone can give me a potted history of Sid’s time at Torquay or anything else that might help that would be greatly appreciated. Equally I am very happy to pass on what I have already and/or eventually find out.
There were two England internationals and three Scots in the deputation - including a “Wembley Wizard” - and the Financial Secretary to the Treasury that they met was another Scot. The wing berths in the deputation were taken by two MPs - one each from the Labour and Conservative Parties.
NOTE: For younger readers the “Wembley Wizards” were the Scotland team that cuffed England 5:1 in 1928 with the solitary English goal coming from a free kick – that should never have been given by the Scottish referee! – in the 89th minute of the game. I digress – perhaps another time?
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Jon
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Post by Jon on Jan 29, 2015 23:35:15 GMT
Sid Cann played twice for England Schoolboys in 1925/26 - v Scotland at Sunderland and v Wales at Aberdare Athletic's ground - then still a Football League ground but not for long! For the Wales game, the England team also included another Devon boy - Cliff Bastin. books.google.co.uk/books?id=F6G6CKAzd-oC&pg=PA5&lpg=PA5&dq=cliff+bastin+sid+cann&source=bl&ots=7MT2WJP9W2&sig=3BePo_3un1LxMvUZC0hohGYrUgs&hl=en&sa=X&ei=-LnKVMfyGvLW7QbV2oHQAg&ved=0CCEQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=cliff%20bastin%20sid%20cann&f=falseSid appeared for Torquay United reserves in the 1926/27 season at the age of just fifteen. He made his first team debut at the age of sixteen in September 1928. Sid was still only eighteen when he was signed - along with team mate Fred Corbett - by Manchester City in March 1930. In his time at Torquay, Cann played 44 Football League games and one FA Cup game. He scored three goals, all penalties. The first two of these came in a 5-2 win over Brighton when Cann was still only seventeen. He started out as a right back - which is where he was to play for Manchester City - but had established himself as Torquay's centre half by the time of his transfer. Cann's last game for Torquay was an amazing 7-0 win over Bournemouth at Plainmoor. Torquay had another four disallowed and Cann missed a penalty! The match also saw the Torquay debut of Ralph Birkett - the only Torquay born man to play for England. Cann himself was to be the only Torquay born man to play in an FA Cup final - for Manchester City v Everton in 1933. In front of him at right half was Matt Busby. Cann moved on to Charlton in 1935. In March 1940 he returned to Plainmoor to guest for Torquay in a wartime regional league 4-3 win over Swindon. After the war, Cann went into management at Southampton. It was Cann who allowed Eric Webber to leave Southampton to take the player-manager job at Plainmoor. Cann went on to have long stints as manager at Wycombe - bringing the Wanderers to Painmoor to play a benefit game as he had also done with Southampton - and at Sutton United. I have it in my mind that Sid was the grandfather of Darren Cann but cannot find any evidence to back this up so I may be imagining things. Darren was a youth trainee and then a pro at Plainmoor from 1985 to 1988 and made thirteen Football League appearances plus one in the League Cup. He went on to a successful semi-pro career including winning the FA Vase with Taunton and now coaches in Canada. |
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Post by bluedragon on Jan 30, 2015 21:19:48 GMT
Many thanks Jon for the extensive biography of Sid Cann. It is very much appreciated.
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Post by gullone on Feb 1, 2015 15:18:33 GMT
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Post by gullone on Feb 1, 2015 15:23:16 GMT
After the war, Cann went into management at Southampton. It was Cann who allowed Eric Webber to leave Southampton to take the player-manager job at Plainmoor. Cann went on to have long stints as manager at Wycombe - bringing the Wanderers to Painmoor to play a benefit game as he had also done with Southampton - and at Sutton United.  |
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Jon
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Post by Jon on Feb 1, 2015 23:55:49 GMT
Thanks for posting that gullone. Another case of needing to be careful not to believe everything you read. Cann was only ten when "the old Babbacombe A.F.C." played its last game in 1922. Don't believe either those who tell you that Darren Cann was related to Sid. I've just had an email from Darren confirming that he is not related to Sid, but is related to the old Argyle keeper Harry Cann. A good excuse to have another look at this superb Pathe newsreel: www.britishpathe.com/video/famous-football-teams-in-training-no-4-plymouth/ |
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Jon
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Post by Jon on Feb 21, 2018 22:56:17 GMT
When this article was written in early 1970, Sutton United were about to play treble-chasing Leeds United in the FA Cup. But I doubt if their manager, Babbacombe boy and TUFC legend Sid Cann, dreamed that they would ever actually play Torquay United in a league match.   |
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