Football
Sport and Recreation in Swalwell
Swalwell Village Late 1920’s to Early 1930’s by Jack Dixon
Picture the scene. Saturday noon. Several ladies making their way to the cricket field -Thomasina (Sina) Laidler, Mary (Polly) Mason, Jenny Errington, Mary (Polly) Dixon, to name just a few. Heavily laden with baskets full of kettles, teapots, cakes, bread, etc., to make sandwiches for the players’ teas. Before 2pm., crowds are gathering to support their team. Prompt 2pm., the umpires in their white coats make their way to the centre of the field and carefully place the bails on the stumps. A great cheer goes up as the famous Bruce brothers Tom and J.B., both Durham county players, proudly walk to their positions, Tom to receive the first ball. More often than not they made a century partnership laying the foundation for a big score. In later years, JB took over the Highlander pub in the village and it became better known as the Cricketers Arms as the teams usually called in there after the game for a quick one (or two)! Depending on the state of the game, tea was usually taken about 4pm when the locals rushed off home for a quick snack then back again for the second innings. If Swalwell were victorious many of the spectators remained, talking about the game, and if the umpire had made a bad decision, questioned his eyesight! “How could he be given out as caught behind the wicket when his bat was nowhere near the ball?” was the cry. Those stalwart members, Tommy Rutter and Humphrey Errington, never without pipes in their mouths. Will Baty, Andy Dixon and others always ready to help in any way.
The ground was very picturesque, separated from the football field by a line of tall trees, the home of scores of crows. At the bottom end was the Newcastle to Consett railway line. Legend has it that a batsman once made a huge hit – the ball soared high into the air and landed on a wagon that was passing and finished up in Consett . Some hit! The river Derwent flowed nearby. There was however one unpleasant spot just outside at the very bottom of the field. Jimmy Foster’s piggery – when the wind was blowing in the wrong direction it was, to say the least, very unpleasant. He also had a little sawmill where he made bundles of firewood that he sold in the village. No central heating in those days, all coal fires.
Next to the cricket field was the football ground. The team was very well supported and had some very good players. The towering Frank Watson, very few players got past him, and Joe (hockey) Watson, strong as an ox. No massive wages for them – they played for the love of the game. What about the pitch? Sloping, bumpy, and often muddy. Could the modern day footballers cope with that and a leather ball and boots? Cricket and football games were not only played on Saturdays but mid-week too for cup ties The cheers and shouting could be heard in the village.
Quoits was another game that was popular. How the men cared and tended that yard square of clay – watered only when necessary to keep it in prime condition. This was played near Coalway Lane, now a council house estate. It was a great pastime for the men to fill in their time and ease the boredom and frustration of unemployment.
Sadly, after the war, things changed. Support dwindled and the football team folded up. The cricket team moved to a new ground. Executive houses are now built on the site. The grounds may have gone but the memories of those happy days and the enjoyment they gave remain.
Football in Swalwell
Football in Swalwell was originally associated with the various churches in the village. The Church of England, the Presbyterians and the Primitive Methodists each had their own teams. The school also played in the local leagues organised by the schools of the district.
Swalwell School team 1948.
Mr Smith at left,
Mr Brogan at right,
and Headmaster Mr Crozier centre.
Swalwell Primitive Methodist team 1920.
Robert Stubbs at front right.
Swalwell Association Football Club played on the former Presbyterian's ground (who played in the North Eastern League) adjacent to the cricket ground. Swalwell AFC were in existence from 1949 until 1998 when they were removed from the league after finishing bottom. Beginning in the Northern Combination league they played their final season in the JPL Wade Northern Alliance League.
A new club, Swalwell Juniors FC, was inaugarated in 1998 and runs around twenty teams, both boys and girls. They have a new clubhouse with excellent facilities and are located on the site of the former Derwenthaugh cokeworks.
Swalwell produced many players who went on to the professional game, among them Joe Laidlaw (Middlesbrough and Doncaster Rovers).
Marley Hill - Football
Marley Hill School Football Team 1914
Marley Hill School Football Team 1963
Marley Hill Spankers
Whickham Football Club
The club was formed in 1944 under the name of Axwell Park Colliery Welfare, although they were colloquially termed the "Home Guard Team"! In the early days they played in the Derwent Valley League, before switching to the Northern Combination and, in 1974, to the Wearside League. Whickham enjoyed quite a degree of success at this level before joining the Northern League Second Division in 1988.
It was in 1981 that Whickham had their finest hour, going all the way to the Twin Towers in the final of the FA Vase, after a titanic struggle, to overcome Windsor & Eton at the penultimate stage. An estimated 5,000 fans followed Whickham to Wembley . Willenhall, a Midlands Club, awaited Whickham on the big day, but there were problems. Paul Allon, who had notched the crucial injury- time winner in the semi, suffered injury before the Final and had to be content with a place on the bench. Ironically, this made room for lan Diamond, who had suffered the same fate whilst with Blue Star in 1978.
The Final began horribly, with Willenhall going 2-0 up in the opening ten minutes. The task of winning the Vase appeared to be a forlorn one, but the gloom was partially dispelled when fullback Alan Scott quickly halved the deficit. Then, an accidental collision with Cawthra led to the Willenhall goalkeeper being stretchered off. Was the tide turning?
Twelve minutes into the second half, and Whickham were level, thanks to Ronnie Williamson. 2-2 it was, and 2-2 it stayed till the 90-minute mark. Who could dig that bit deeper, and find the extra reserves of strength needed to lift the trophy? The answer was supplied in the dying seconds of the first half of extra-time. Billy Cawthra broke away and launched a potent shot which, though blocked, ricocheted off a hapless Willenhall defender into the net. 3-2, and the FA Vase was heading back to Whickham!
It is a bit difficult for Whickham to prosper when they live so closely under the shadow of Newcastle United. Urban clubs rarely benefit from the same degree of community spirit that village clubs can sometimes- but not always- draw upon.
Club Honours
FA Vase Winners 1980/81
FA Vase Semi-finalists 1978/79
Wearside League Cup Winners 1986/87
Wearside League Winners 1977/78
Northern Combination Winners 1969/70, 1972/3, 1973/4
Northern Combination League Cup Winners 1960/1, 1973/4
Northern League Div 2 Champions 1994/5
Vaux Challenge Cup Winners 1986/7
Record attendance : 3,165 v Windsor & Eton (Vase semi-final 1981)
William McKeag
William McKeag lived in Whickham at the corner of Millfield and Cornmoor Roads. He was a Solicitor, a Member of Parliament for Durham City and became chairman of Newcastle United Football Club. He was an Alderman and twice Lord Mayor of Newcastle upon Tyne. He always wore a pince-nez. He was a well-known figure in the district.
Raymond Hudson
Raymond Hudson, known to his friends as Rocky, was a well-known footballer from Dunston. He played for Newcastle United in the seventies for four seasons but did not have a great deal of success.
He went to the United States in1976, to try his luck in the North American Soccer League. He loved everything about America and for thirteen years played football for Fort Lauderdale Strikers lining up with such notable players as George Best and Gerd Muller. He was later made captain and played against international stars such as Franz Beckenbauer, Johan Cruyff and Pele.
He had many fans; James Last (bandleader) and Brian Johnson ( of AC/DC, another Dunston lad) are two of the most famous. On one occasion, when James Last was playing at The City Hall, Ray's father and mother were invited to the concert and he met them in the interval and told them that he enjoyed Ray's style of football.
When his playing career was over he had a business cleaning swimming pools, together with doing some football commentating and coaching children in a local youth league. Last year he was doing a T.V. commentary for the Miami Fusion team, who were not doing well with their Brazilian coach. The owners asked him to come in as a caretaker manager and they won their first three games.
This is his first year as a top manager and he has taken the team from Major League no-hopers to Eastern Division Champions in just one season. He still returns to the North East regularly, not only to see his family but also scouting for players.
Ray's parents Doris and Wilf still live in Whickham.
Paul Gascoigne ("Gazza")
Paul was born in Gateshead, May 27 1967 and attended Brighton Avenue Primary School, Breckenbeds Junior High and Heathfield High. He moved to Dunston when he was 11 years old and lived in Spoor Street. At Breckenbeds he played on the school team. He was a talented sportsman, being also good at tennis, badminton and rugby.
He Played football for Redheugh Juniors in the Sunday League until he signed for Newcastle aged 14. He made his debut for Newcastle in August 1985 aged 18 when he played against Southampton at the Dell. The Sunday Sun reports that he "emerged as the game's outstanding performer".
Quotations from a former teacher at Breckenbeds School who taught Paul Gascoigne
"Paul Gascoigne was a professional joker with a wicked sense of humour."
"He played for the County under 16s when he was only 13!"
"Ian McFaul (an ex Newcastle goal keeper) came to Breckenbeds to sign him up for Newcastle when he was only 14 years of age."
"He was considered to be, at one stage in his career, the best footballer in the world!"
He joined the England Under 21s in 1987 and made his debut in June of that year against Morocco, where he scored in the 2-0 victory. He played for Newcastle United until 1988, when he moved to Tottenham Hotspur, signing for a record British fee of £2 million.
In 1990 Paul played for England in the World Cup in Italy and his emotional tears as England lost in the semi-finals to West Germany made him world famous. His celebrity status in the UK led to him releasing "Fog on the Tyne" as a single. It went to Number Two in the Charts.
Paul played for Tottenham Hotspur until 1992. They were FA Cup winners in 1991 and an injury sustained during that Cup Final meant he was out of the game from 1991 to 1992.
His subsequent career:
1992: signed for Italian team Lazio for £5.5 million.
1995: signed for Glasgow Rangers.
1996: played for England in the Euro '96 tournament, where they lost in the semi-finals to Germany.
1997: signed for Middlesbrough.
August 2000: moved to Everton FC.