About Our Words: Footballing Days
A chapter in Robert Owen's autobiuography reminded Stewart Thompson of footballing days in South Shields.
Stewart writes:
i read your article with interest. I played for Cleadon Park Sec School and Shields Schoolboys in 1963 and also later for Boldon CW in the Wearside league and Luton Town.
With regard to Bobby Dawson , i was a mechanic at Harton Colliery and Bobby was an electrician and i remember the apprentices playing the tradesmen on the colliery welfare. Bobby was still an outstanding footballer, also there was another excellent footballer. At the colliery there was also George Baker who played for Crook Town. They reached the amateur FA Cup Final.
Boldon Schoolboys were the Manchester United of the schoolboy leagues. They always had a good team. As you say though Boldon was a terrible place to get to if you didn't have a bike.
Another good footballer worked for the colliery. His name was Jimmy Strike and he was a great man.
I still pass by the Cleadon Rec and I recall shoolboys with football boots slung around their necks getting off the bus there. Great timers!
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