It’s not really one game this week, more a collection of matches in the 1960s between Deer Orchard and Coalesce.
This was the Derwent Valley Junior League for Under-18s and believe me they were real battles with never much between the two teams whichever way the decision went.
The remarkable thing was that the matches really caught on with the local football enthusiasts.
Crowds were never counted, just estimated, but big games at RNAD, Wakefield Road or the old pitch behind the Ellis Sports Ground attracted 300 to 400 spectators.
There were some very good players on both teams and the rivalry between the two was intense.
Players like Brian Goulding, Raymond Dawes, David Kerr, Brian Tinnion and Stan Herbert were formidable opponents.
Brian Tinnion, in particular, was an outstanding forward who turned professional with Workington Reds before being sold to Wrexham, and who eventually ended up in the States with New York Cosmos.
He actually settled in America and one of the occasions he was home in Workington we enjoyed a great night/early morning of reminiscences with John Flynn at Brian’s dad’s house. Fortunately it was within staggering distance of my own home.
Barry Charters, grandfather of Carlisle United’s Taylor Charters was a neat player for Orchard and I can still see him grappling on the ground with Coalesce’s Jackie Lewthwaite before both were sent-off.
All three of us never fail to mention the game whenever we see each other at a Reds game.
Other memories of those days were recalled when I was sent the picture, above.
Coalesce, a team run by the enthusiastic Jack Goulding, had obviously picked up a trophy when this team picture was taken.
I’ve been told that it was trophy for Under-16s football and the line-up was: Back row, left to right: Ian Gray, Jimmy Nelson, Brian Fitzwilliam, Brian Goulding, David Fisher, David Kerr.
Front row: Jackie Lewthwaite, Brian Tinnion, skipper Raymond Dawes, Stan Herbert and Geoff Turrell.
