Back in 1949 and 1950 Ushaw Moor's football team was both professional and highly successful. According to the 1950 Durham Benevolent Bowl Final's official programme the right winger for Ushaw Moor was called Gleghorn - surely it has to be our 'Soccer' and no less! Answers on a post card or more realistically the comment button.
The game was played at the Brewery Ground Spennymoor, kick off 3.15 pm - but no date given - presumably April or May. Ushaw Moor's opponents were the mighty Bishop Auckland.
Teams: Ushaw Moor: Smith, Ross, Sharp, Wood, Waterson, Caine, Gleghorn, Finlay, McKenzie, Blacklock, Richmond. Bishop Auckland: Storey, Coxon, Farrer, Harburn, Davison, Nimmins,Major, Hardisty, McIlvenny, Taylor, Riley. Referee Mr J Rand of Easington.
The programme notes are very interesting - as follows- unedited:
Once again Spennymoor United Ground is honoured by being allowed the Benevolent Bowl Final Tie. A new Bowl finalist takes the field to-day and who knows what new history may be added to the Competition. Ushaw Moor deserve the honour of being in the final. They have defeated Murton [home] Harlepools United Reserves and Eppleton C.W. [away] to reach the final stage and to defeat three North Eastern League sides is no mean achievement. Ushaw Moor is in the hands of a very capable Secretary, Mr G. Winter and much credit goes to him and his hard working Committee. Here is the power of Ushaw Moor. They have lost only 8 games out of 117 played during the last two seasons. They have lost one Cup-tie this past season, to Stockton in the County Challenge Cup. Four trophies adorn their Headquarters, the Central League Cup, The County Hospital Cup, The Sacriston Aged Miners' Cup and the Ushaw Moor Aged Miners' Cup. The latter they have won four years in succession. They tie at the head of the Durham Central League with Trimdon Grange and altogether we can appreciate what a successful season they have had. Should they win to-day it would be a fitting end to a glorious season. It will be noted that a number of ex-Spennymoor United players are in the Ushaw Moor side and this may depict a happy association and understanding between the two clubs. Ex-Moorites in the formation of this powerful minor professional side are Smith, Wood, Caine and Gleghorn.
We need not dwell upon the history of the Bishop Auckland Club. The fame of this year's Amateur Cup Finalists is known to almost every football fan throughout the land and Durham County is rightly proud to have sent to Wembley two teams whose display in this last final of the Amateur Cup will rank as one of the best ever.
Bishop Auckland Pen Pictures:
W J Storey - Durham County player and has two Amateur International Trials. Previously with Sunderland. J Coxon- Represented Northumberland in County matches and previously assisted Darlington. LT Farrer Played for England against Luxenbourg in 1947. A native of Barnet he joined Bishop Auckland whilst stationed North in the services. A member of the side against Barnet in the 1947 Amateur Cup Final at Chelsea. W N Harburn- Joined the Club from South Bank last season. Developed by Bishop Auckland as a wing half and is playing at the top of his form. R Davison- The only miner in the side and the only player without representative honours. Previously with Crook and Shildon. J Nimmins- Previously with Spennymoor. Gained his Cap this season. J L Major- Represents East Riding in the Northern Counties Championship. Gained an International cap against France. J R E Hardisty- Has gained every possible honour in amateur football, except an FA Amateur Cup winner's medal. Has captained England many times and was the Captain of the British Olympic Soccer side in 1948. H J McIlveney- Son of a former Newcastle player. Formed a firm friendship with Hardisty during representative and Olympic matches. Has played regularly in Bradford's league side. J W R Taylor Capped for County Durham. Assisted Leytonstone last season and has been a member of the Crystal Palace side. JR Riley- A regular soldier stationed at Catterick, he has assisted Darlington's Third Division side this season. Plays regularly for Northern Command and Army representative sides.
Result - Bishop Auckland 3 Ushaw Moor 1
You can see from the pen pictures that Ushaw Moor were playing a fine side but they were not a bad side themselves!
I must thank Mr Keith Belton of the Durham Amateur Football Trust for supplying me with the information - thank you Keith.
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I hope that you like this article Frank - it took me ages to understand how to put it on this new site - I still do not quite understand how I achieved it! I believe that 'Soccer' was a window cleaner for a while - is that right?
ReplyDeletethe best window cleaner in the country but was not very comfortable in the ladders ddivision which I can verify as I did one shift with him in New brancepeth
ReplyDeleteI used to go to all Ushaw Moor games with my parents then and Norman "Soccer" Gleghorn was the outside right, I am sure the centre half was Sid Waterson and Len Blacklock inside left. Ushaw Moor had a tremendous following in those days with Bus Loads travelling to away games. One of the Pickard lads used to take a few pigeons with him and released one with a message of the score at half time and full time.I was talking to Soccer a few weeks ago in Ushaw Moor, he still has a great memory.
ReplyDeleteNorman is my Uncle, brother to my father Brian. I have such fantastic memories of football and cricket stories. Every summer our family would come up from Luton, Bedfordshire and spend weeks in Ushaw Moor. Visiting elder brother Billy and Nora and of course Nancy and Ingrid. Happy days!
ReplyDeleteI was there at that game and paraded around the ground before the game holding aloft one of the trophies won that season.Ushaw Moor had a great team post war.I remember one player called Blair who won a Division 1 chamionship medal with Manchester City in 1937 but Soccer Gleghorn was the undoubted star -I don't know how he didn't make it with a professional club.Charlie Mcardle was also one of my favourite players.
ReplyDeletevery good article wilf and like alf, my parents took peter and myself to home games where we would stand next to ushaw moors best supporter a lady called ruby carr Ithink and would try to extract the tary tout out of the heavy steel ropes surrounding the field
ReplyDeleteFrank - Alf is right [at note 3] about Waterson and Blacklock.Their team positions are confirmed by the article. I wonder if Soccer has been alerted to this particular article.
ReplyDeleteI am pleased that the posts ares attracting some interest. I have another two articles lined up -one for January and another for February - but yes it would be nice to see a bit more from others.
to all my fans out there my daughter alerted me to the articles i am alive and
ReplyDeletewell still in ushaw moor and have fond memories of my footballing career.
I retired from the window cleaning which wasnt as much fun as the football. A big thank you to all who have remembered me, look forward to hearing from you all again.
Its good to know that you are well soccer Can you put an end to the big question, did you play for york city or not ? someone,( I cannot remember who ) told me that you did
ReplyDeleteHi Frank - if Soccer played league football for York City I will contact the record compiler that I know and request a correction. It seems to me that he may have played for them in a cup tie, or reserve league or...dare I think it... wartime football? Norman will know and I will not think badly of him if he has not played for York - by all accounts he was just great on that right wing. I mean - was Gordon Hughes any better - the man who played on the wing for Newcastle and Derby?
ReplyDeleteyes i can answer the big question,i played for york city reserves,i enjoyed playing for them but some of my happiest memories were playing for consett.
ReplyDeleteWell we live and learn. Uncle Norman fully web enabled, i am suspicious, perhaps Ingrid and Sarah had a helping hand. Tell me I'm wrong....... email me if you have time. cgleghorn@fourmative.com
ReplyDeleteI remember Soccer playing football,but I remember him as a window cleaner as well,he would call at my brother in laws home at Langly Moor and when asked if he would like a cup of tea would reply Please And Thank You, he would then work his way down to our house to clean the down stairs windows only,he didnt like the up stairs,when I opend the door to pay him I would say to him, no way am I giving money to a Sunderland fan, he would laugh and then ask are you gowing over to visit your mother,I would then give him a lift to Ushaw Moor.
ReplyDeleteGoing senile I think
ReplyDeleteI am going senile I think (Gowing)
ReplyDeleteI have been playing golf today in a competition at Close House with the son of the referee. The reason that I have discovered the connection is that the trophy I won was originally presented to Mr. Rand for refereeing this final. His son does not even know which teams were involved. I will make sure that I tell him.
ReplyDeleteA very good site