Just a reminder that copies of 'The Chelmsford City Historian' can be purchased by Pay Pal using my e-mail address dgselby@sky.com.
Tuesday, 13 September 2011
Sunday, 21 August 2011
Saturday, 16 July 2011
The Chelmsford City Historian Issue 4
Issue 4 of TCCH is due out this month and is well on the way to being completed.
However due to the lack of home games and my printers holiday publication will be delayed until early August. I am hopeful of getting it out during the home pre-seasons but it may well be the opening league game of the season before it is available.
Planned contents include:
The Big Interview with Martin Havelin, City Director from 1976-1978, where I will be touching on the ill fated September 1977 Punk festival!
Part 2 of the Story of David Timmington
The Essex Chronicle Reports - looks back on the efforts to bring Greyhound racing to The Stadium in 1946.
The seasonal supplement gives you all the info on the 1946-1947 season.
Bedford Town Historian David Williams looks at City v Bedford clashes
In his regular column Martin Rogers looks at the career of twice City Manager Harry Ferrier
and of course, lots, lots more.
Thursday, 14 April 2011
ISSUE 3 - The Chelmsford City Historian Magazine
Issue 3 is now on sale.
Copies can be ordered from the editorial office or see me on matchdays.
Copies can be ordered from the editorial office or see me on matchdays.
Thursday, 24 March 2011
ISSUE 3 - The Chelmsford City Historian Magazine
Progress with the compilation of Issue 3 is well underway and it should be published on schedule in early April. I had hoped that it would be available for the Staines Town game on April 9th but as I will not be at that game the first game that it will be available at, even though it may be published before then, is the Farnborough game on the following Saturday.
In all probability the size will again increase, this time to a whopping 32 pages, but with no increase in the cover price.
Planned contents include:
- The Big Interview with Cyril Bridge, former Chairman of the Supporters Club and a City supporter since the 1930's.
- They Played For Both Clubs - West Ham United Historian John Northcutt looks at players who have played for West Ham and for City.
- The Story of David Timmington Part One - Geoff Timmington, nephew of David who played for City in 1938-1939, looks at the life and career of his uncle.
- Memories Of The City - Jim Sargant concludes his reminisces of supporting City in the 1950's.
- The 1945-1946 season is highlighted in our seasonal supplement.
- Martin Rogers and Dave Clarke have their latest columns.
and of course much more....!!!!!
To date the magazine has raised almost £400 for club funds.
I am also pleased to announce two new services for readers:
Subscriptions - For those who want their copies posted then subscriptions are available at £2.50 per copy, which covers cost, postage and packing. You decide how many copies you would like to subscribe for and then send me a cheque for the relevant amount. So for a 4 issue subscription send me a cheque for £10. It's easy! Copies will be posted as soon as they are received from the printers. Send your cheque, payable to David Selby, to The Chelmsford City Historian, 34, Paddock Drive, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 6SS.
e-Mail Notification - Just send me an e-mail at chelmsfordcityhistory@googlemail.com and I will add you to my notification list. As soon as a new issue is published then I will send you an e-mail, so you know that you can track me down at home or away game and purchase your copy.
Sunday, 3 October 2010
BLOG NUMBER 9
TRIVIA
City’s clean sheet against Maidenhead United on 2nd October created a Club record with the 6th consecutive clean sheet at home in league games. Since Eastleigh scored 2 goals against City at Melbourne Park City have played 12 home league matches and conceded just 2 goals. Only Stephen Reed (yes our Stephen Reed), then playing for Weymouth, on 20th March and George Purcell for Braintree Town on 5th April have found the net for visitors since that Eastleigh game.
The five clean sheets that City have kept in their first five league games of the season at home is also the best record in the Club’s history. In 1965-1966 City ‘keeper Owen Medlock conceded a goal in the season opener against Yeovil Town and then kept 4 consecutive clean sheets giving City a record of just 1 league goal conceded in the first 5 home league games. Bryan King played in the 3rd game in this run, a 1-0 win over Cambridge City.
This record was equalled in the 1986-1987 season when Trevor Inch conceded just 1 goal in the opening 5 league games at home. He conceded a goal in the 2nd home league game against Dudley Town but kept clean sheets in the other 4 games.
So between them James Pullen and Ashley Harrison have set a new standard for the opening 5 home league games with no goals coceded. Both Medlock and Inch let in a goal in the 6th home league game.
Of course City also kept a clean sheet in the Chertsey Town home FA Cup tie, so City have now kept clean sheets in all 6 home games this season. Several supporters have asked me what the Club record is for consecutive clean sheets in all home games.
On Monday 12th December 1988 City lost 0-3 at home to Burnham in a Southern League Southern Division match but then didn’t concede a goal at home again until they beat Hounslow 2-1 on Saturday 18th February 1989, a run of 7 consecutive clean sheets. Goalkeeper Paul Casey did not concede a goal in any of the 7 games that followed the Burnham game.
Wednesday 14th December 1988 Beat Andover (Lge) 2-0
Friday 16th December 1988 Beat Wivenhoe Town(ESC) 1-0
Monday 2nd January 1989 Beat Gravesend and Northfleet (Lge) 3-0
Saturday 7th January 1989 Beat Witney Town (Lge) 1-0
Saturday 21st January 1989 Beat Trowbridge Town (Lge) 1-0
Saturday 4th February 1989 Beat Erith and Belvedere (Lge) 8-0
Monday 6th February 1989 Beat Southend United (ESC) 2-0
THE CHELMSFORD CITY HISTORIAN MAGAZINE
Sales figures for the first edition of the magazine have far exceeded my expectations with sales now well into 3 figures, so a big thank you to everyone who purchased a copy. Work now starts on issue 2 and I have some exciting plans that I am sure will make issue 2 even better than issue 1. Letters including feedback or items for inclusion should be e-mailed to me at: chelmsfordcityhistory@googlemail.com.
The next issue will be due out towards the end of December although much will depend on the deadlines set by my printer, so look out for announcements.
IN MEMORIAM
As I mentioned in my lost Blog Alec Wilson sadly passed away on July 28th 2010 after a long fight with Alzheimer’s Disease.
The following tribute appeared in the Forres Gazette dated Wednesday 8th September 2010 –
“Altyre pensioner Alex Wilson, whose professional football career spanned almost two decades, has died aged 76. Mr. Wilson spent almost all of his career at Portsmouth FC and is best remembered by fans of the club for scoring the goal which saved them from relegation in 1965.
Born at Buckie in 1933, he was a keen football fan and played regularly for Buckie Thistle. It was whilst playing for the Jags that he was spotted by scouts from Portsmouth. He signed for the Fratton Park club after he left school in 1949 and moved to the Hampshire city. The club put him in lodgings with a fellow Scottish player and, as well as his football apprenticeship, also put him through training as a panel beater with a local car firm. He played mainly at left back but was also regarded as being a capable right back.
At the time, Portsmouth were the reigning First Division champions and they retained this title in the 1949-1950 season. Pompey continued to be a strong side in the early 1950’s and Mr. Wilson was part of the sides which finished fourth in 1952 and third in 1955. It was during this period that he won his first and only Scotland cap when he was part of a side which beat Finland 2-1 in Helsinki. He was named in the squad for the 1954 World Cup in Switzerland but, as a reserve player, did not travel to the tournament.
Portsmouth’s fortunes changed in the late 1950’s. The club were relegated to the Second Division in 1959 and to the Third in 1961. He was a key member of the side which won the Third Division title in 1962. In 1965 he had what many Pompey fans consider to be his finest moment with the club. On the last day of the season Portsmouth were 1-0 down to Northampton and facing relegation when in the 86th minute Mr. Wilson scored the goal which drew the game and kept them in the Second Division.
He stayed at the club until 1967 when he left following testimonial games with Arsenal and Stoke City. In total he spent 18 years at Fratton Park, making 381 appearances. However, his love of playing football remained. He spent one season at Essex club Chelmsford City, helping them to take the Southern League championship, and regularly made himself available for amateur and charity games.
After leaving professional football he went into the printing industry. It was through this work that he met his wife Doreen, a native of Gosport, whom he married in 1977. Mr. Wilson returned to the North in 1988 and settled in Altyre. He enjoyed life in the area and was a keen gardener, runner and member of Forres Accordion and Fiddle Club. He was also an animal lover and kept peacocks as well as a duck and a cat.
He died on July 28th after a long fight with Alzheimer’s Disease and his funeral was in Inverness on August 6th. He is survived by his wife and two children from a previous marriage.”
‘The Chelmsford City Historian’ would like to thank the Forres Gazette and their reporter Duncan Bick for permission to reproduce this obituary.
Alec Wilson, as he was known at City, was signed by City Manager Harry Ferrier, a former playing colleague of Wilson’s at Portsmouth, in the summer of 1967. He made 49 appearances in his only season at City, without scoring. Bobby Smith became the regular left back during the last couple of months of that season as City stormed towards the Southern League championship and Alec was released at the end of the season.
Recent correspondence with Paul Plowman, a Swindon Town Historian, has brought to light the fact that Jimmy Brennan died on 24th January 2009. Jimmy Brennan signed for City in the summer of 1956 having previously been with Birmingham City and Swindon Town. A full back he made 53 appearances for City under Frank Grice before being released in 1959 and joining Kidderminster Harriers. In 1960 he emigrated to South Africa where he played for Randfontein before moving back to the UK in the mid 1960’s. Trevor Smith tells me that later he was a salesman in the British Gas showroom in Maldon.
OPERATION BIRTH-DATE
Fantastic progress has been made on this particular project with an amazing 16 players crossed off the list since my last Blog. This brings the total outstanding down to 157. John Morris has really gone into overdrive and has provided plenty of leads to supplement my own research.
Thanks to a lead from City supporter Dave Underwood I was able to track down Mick Newson, who as well as confirming his birth details also confirmed the spelling of his surname, which removed any doubt that it was Newsom or Newsome. Mick made 15 appearances for the Club in the 1977-1978 season and also appeared for Great Baddow Football Club.
Former City player and Manager Colin Norman gave me the ‘phone number for Tony Rowell and I was able to speak to the player who made 156 appearances for City between November 1975 and November 1980, scoring 11 goals. Tony gave me a lead for a former playing colleague of mine Roy Little. Roy made 51 appearances for the Club scoring 12 goals and is now crossed off my list.
John Morris pointed out to me that there was a D. Tuttlebury in the ‘phone book living quite close to where I knew that Derek Tuttlebury was born in Barnston. I rang the number hoping that this Tuttlebury was a relation only to find out that it was the former City player himself! Derek pointed out that he signed for the Club at the same time as Tony Butcher. He made 10 appearances for the Club between April 1957 and January 1958 without finding the net.
Club President Ollie Hopkins tracked down a number for Grant Merry for me and I was able to speak to Grant who made a solitary substitute appearance for City in a 0-0 draw at Canterbury City on Easter Monday 27th March 1978.
Another player who made just one appearance was Barry French, who played in a 2-1 win at Nuneaton Borough on Monday 25th April 1960. John Morris pointed me in the direction of Barry who still resides in Chelmsford.
Tony Armstrong, the former Chairman of Harwich and Parkeston, provided me with a couple of contact numbers and these led me to John Wallace and Malcolm Crissell. Wallace was an excellent centre forward who had forged an admirable reputation in East Anglian football. He was signed by Mick Loughton in December 1982 and although he spent less than 2 months at the Club he is fondly remembered by all those who saw him play in the Claret and White. He scored twice on his debut in a 4-0 win at Stourbridge on Saturday 11th December 1982 and scored 9 goals for the Club in total. Sadly he left the Club after a 3-1 win over Gloucester City citing problems with the amount of travelling involved in playing for City.
Another Mick Loughton signing was Malcolm Crissell, although he was another player who spent just 2 months at New Writtle Street. In that time he played 13 games scoring 1 goal.
Older fans may well remember Joe Ling, a full back who made 46 appearances for the Club between January 1964 and March 1965. Originally on West Ham’s books Joe signed for Romford in their final season as an amateur club when they were playing in the Isthmian League. He stayed with the Club when they turned professional and joined the Southern League and when Billy Frith signed him for City in August 1963 he had made 95 league appearances for the Brooklands club. However his last season with Romford saw him sustain a cartilage injury and he was still injured when Billy Frith invited him to train with City as part of his rehabilitation. He made good progress and turned in some solid performances for City reserves before making his first team debut in a 5-1 win at Merthyr Tydfil on Saturday 25th January 1964. He signed for Brentwood Town after leaving City. Joe made 21 home appearances for the Club and the side won 18 of them, drawing the other 3, a quite remarkable record. Both his first and final home appearances were against his former club Romford!
The internet is a wonderful thing and after spotting that Romford Colts Football Club Chairman was Dave Spittle I tracked down the former City full back who made 102 appearances, scoring 5 goals, for the Club between September 1985 and February 1988. Dave enjoyed spells at manager at Aveley and Brentwood after his playing days were over.
Another former playing colleague of mine is Mervyn Waite. Originally on Blackburn’s books Mervyn made 4 appearances for the Club in January 1980, with City losing all 3 league games that he played in.
Former player John Devine tracked down Dave Mandell for me. The Hatfield Peveral based striker made 72 appearances for City between October 1977 and April 1979, scoring 31 goals, a quite respectable scoring ratio given City’s form at the time.
Bobby Broomfield played for West Ham and Leyton Orient, although never for the first team at either club, before embarking on what he described himself as a tour of all the East Anglian non league clubs. He played 10 times for City at the tail end of the 1979-1980 season, scoring twice. He had a long spell at Stowmarket Town and an e-mail to their Secretary gave me the information that his son is playing in what is now the Ridgeon’s League allowing me to make contact with Bobby through his son.
John Morris tracked down a Tony Huckett who runs a driving school in Chelmsford. A quick exchange of e-mails confirmed that Tony played for City, making just a single appearance in a 2-0 defeat at Nuneaton Borough on Monday 19th April 1976. Originally with Galleywood Tony returned to Galleywood after his short stint with City. He started up the Vets section at Galleywood but retired when he reached the age of 47. He managed Galleywood for a while and still helps out at the club as well as being a qualified referee, taking charge of games in the Chelmsford Youth league and occasionally in the Essex Olympian League.
More ‘detective’ work by John Morris tracked down Matthew Schneider, who is now a policeman! Previously on the books of Southend United and Ipswich Town Matthew made 4 appearances for the club in September 1991. His older brother Danny also played for the club.
Finally Brian Dellar, yet another John Morris lead, joined Chelsea straight from school and when he was released towards the end of the 1960-1961 season had a short spell with Southampton before joining City, making his debut in the final game of the season, a 1-1 draw with Wellington Town. He had a full season with City in 1961-1962 making a further 10 first team appearances. Unfortunately his departure from City was acrimonious. He had arranged to meet Manager Harry Ferrier to sign a new contract but Ferrier didn’t show. He learned form a third party that he was no longer part of the Manager’s plans and was unhappy that he was not told this face to face. He signed for Ashford Town after leaving City but did not like the travelling to Kent so he moved to Clacton Town where he spent 3 years. He later played for Maldon Town and had a spell as Player/Manager at May and Baker in the Essex Business Houses League.
FEEDBACK AND CORRESPONDENCE
Following my ‘In Memoriam’ piece on Bobby Moss in my last Blog I received the following e-mail from former City player Kim Yates.
“Hi David , I am so upset about the news regarding Bobby Moss. I was fortunate to train and play with him on many occasion We all knew him as Mr Findus because of his job as a salesman If you are in touch with his relatives please send them my regards. He was a true gent
Good stories about Stan Prince I always recount the pre match talks where Stan was told which opposition shirt number needed to be sorted out. And sure enough within 5 minutes the lad would be in row ‘F’ of the stand. Top bloke. Thanks for the blog David it means so much to us old City boys.”
I was able to pass on Kim’s condolences to the family of Bobby Moss.
My piece on Jess Crook prompted the following response from Bill Brown, pointing out an error I had made regarding the school that Jess attended.
“Hi David, Yet again an excellent piece of history and good read for us dedicated City followers. (You don't know me, but I've been a follower for over 50 years now!). Just a very small point regarding Jess Crook; I believe he attended King Edward VI School, not K E V (he was one of the Princes in the Tower and only reigned for 4 months aged 12, before being murdered by his uncle Richard III (allegedly), so had no time to sponsor schools!!
Thanks, Bill”
David Topping a Director of AFC Telford has e-mailed me regarding the Chelmsford City v Telford United game played on 9th May 1977. He asked whether a programme was printed for this game or not, the game having originally been postponed on 7th February 1977. Trevor Smith was able to confirm to me that a programme was issued for each game but that the one for the latter game was a pretty basic affair. David is looking for a copy of this programme so if anyone has a copy they are willing to part with please let me know and I will put you in touch with David.
CLUB HOUSES
I am trying to compile a complete list of houses in Chelmsford that the Club owned.
I know that 4, Lewis Drive was at one time a Club house and that Frank Austin lived in it during his time at City. Also in my recent correspondence and chats with Colin Grant he confirmed that the house he lived in at 42, Longstomps Avenue was also a Club house.
Do you know of any others?
PLEASE NOTE…
….that if you do not to want keep checking whether I have posted a new Blog then please e-mail me at the address below and I will add you to my distribution list. I will then e-mail you as soon as I have Blogged!
….whilst I am not going to claim the copyright of any information contained in this Blog it would be appreciated if the source of any information used could be quoted. Thanks!
AND FINALLY….
…..don’t forget that if you want to contact me with any help, feedback or requests you can e-mail me at chelmsfordcityhistory@googlemail.com.
Sunday, 12 September 2010
BLOG NUMBER 8
THE CHELMSFORD CITY HISTORIAN MAGAZINE
Once again sincere apologies for the delay in the publication of the first issue of the ‘must have’ magazine for those who are interested in the history of our Club. I have now agreed a price with a printer and all that is needed is for the finishing touches to be done and the magazine will be up and running. I have set myself the target of having it out by our next scheduled home game on October 2nd at the very latest. The first issue will be 24 A5 pages and will sell for £2. If interest is high then I may well expand the size of issue 2 and several articles are already lined up.
IN MEMORIAM
Sadly since my last Blog I have learned of the death of two former City players, Bobby Moss and Alec Wilson.
Bobby Moss was born on 13th February 1952 in Chigwell and signed schoolboy forms for Leyton Orient in 1968 as a striker, signing professional forms 2 years later. He made his first team debut for the O’s in November 1970, scoring within 5 minutes with a terrific header.
In August 1972 he moved to Colchester United but left the U’s in January 1973 for what was to be a long career in non league football. He played for Dover, Folkestone Town, Barnet, Wimbledon and Wealdstone before joining City in the summer of 1980. He went on to make 211 appearances for the Club before being released early in 1985, scoring 41 goals during his time at New Writtle Street. He was signed by Colin Harper and made his debut in a 1-1 home draw with Waterlooville. His final appearance came in December 1984 when City beat Alvechurch 3-1.
He sadly passed away on 1st August 2010 after a two year long battle with pancreatic cancer.
(‘The Chelmsford City Historian’ would like to acknowledge the help given by Leyton Orient historian Neil Kaufmann in the compilation of this short tribute to Bobby.)
Alec Wilson was City’s first choice left full back for most of the 1967-1968 championship season. A full tribute to him will appear in my next Blog.
NEW SEASON STATISTICS
Well the new season is underway with 8 games having been played as I type. The Club stands in 5th place with 4 games having been played at home and away. Interestingly whilst we have still to concede a goal at home, 10 have been conceded in the same number of away games. City have now gone 5 games at home without conceding a goal, with just 2 goals conceded in the last 11 home league games. No side has scored 2 goals at Melbourne Park in a league game since Eastleigh on February 6th 2010, 12 games ago.
The run of 5 home league games without conceding a goal is the best since a similar run of 5 games in March/April 1999 under Gary Bellamy and equals the Club record of 5. There have now been 5 occasions when this has been achieved. As well as the current run and the one mentioned above similar runs were achieved in January/February/March 1998 under Gary Bellamy and Colin Norman, in December1988/January/February 1999 under Chris Symes and in October/November/December/1955 under Frank Grice. So a clean sheet against Maidenhead United on October 2nd will create a new Club record.
Sam Higgins’ brace against Dorchester Town after coming on as a substitute led several fans to ask me when this last happened and whether any City sub had ever scored a hat trick. Answering the second question first, on Saturday 28th August 1971 Pat Ferry came on as a substitute in a Southern League game against Dartford at New Writtle Street and scored 3 in a 5-1 win. 2,198 saw Terry Price score City’s other 2 goals.
There have been 7 other occasions when a City sub has scored 2 goals, with the other scorers being, Gerry O’Rourke (1973), David Morrison (1993), Sean Campbell (1997), Ben Fuller (1999 and 2001), Stafford Browne (2005) and Chris Moore (2008).
OPERATION BIRTH-DATE
Great progress has been made on this project and another 7 players details have been tracked down, bringing the outstanding total down to 173.
I spoke to Ray Murphy, the Secretary of Eastleigh Football Club, and he was able to track down the details of 2 players for me. Ray was previously the Secretary at Dagenham and fortunately for me keeps all his important papers. A quick visit up to his loft and he was able to give me the details for Clive Beauchamp (1979), and Colin Mitchell (1976-1977) who both played for Dagenham as well as for City.
Beauchamp made 2 appearances for City in March 1979, in fact his City career lasted just 3 days, playing as he did on a Saturday and then on the Monday. Both games were played at New Writtle Street. He had joined Dagenham in July 1977 from West Ham and moved to Hornchurch before joining City. He later played for Aveley, Barkingside and Basildon United.
Colin Mitchell made 4 appearances for the Club during the 1976-1977 relegation season, without finding the net. He joined Dagenham after being released by City and then played for Bowers United, Witham Town and Hornchurch.
The Ongar Town website gave me a telephone number for Colin Polley, who is now the Manager of Ongar, and as well as getting Colin’s details he also gave me numbers for Steve Neal and Stan Prince, also associated with Ongar Town, which allowed me to cross off 3 more names in double quick time.
Steve Neal made 2 appearances for the Club, the first coming in April 1976 when City lost 2-0 at Nuneaton Borough whilst, strangely, his second and final appearance came almost 2 years later when a Frank Peterson goal saw City go down 2-1 at home to Taunton Town.
Stan Prince made 54 appearances for City between November 1977 and November 1979, without scoring. He made his debut in a 2-0 Essex Senior Cup defeat at Harwich and Parkeston under Mick Loughton whilst his final game was a 3-1 defeat at Addlestone. Probably the highlight of Stan’s time at City was the 5-0 win at Ashford Town in a Southern League First Division South game on Saturday 4th February 1978, when Mick Loughton, Colin Polley, Geoff Bailey, Dave Mandell and Frank Peterson got City’s goals.
Colin Polley made his debut for City on Saturday 17th December 1977 when City lost 3-2 at Dorchester Town and made 75 appearances for the Club, his final game coming in a 3-0 home defeat, ironically also against Dorchester Town on Saturday 8th December 1979. He scored 9 goals for City.
Funnily enough all 3 of these players, Neal, Prince and Polley, played in Neal’s final game whilst Polley and Prince appeared together 39 times.
I have for some time being trying to track down Mark Gribble who I know joined City from Leyton Orient in August 1988. A quick word with Neil Kaufmann the Leyton Orient historian and he tracked down a mobile ‘phone number for Mark from Eric Gallagher, the Chairman of Writtle Football Club! Gribble joined City from Orient, where he had suffered a broken leg, and made 7 appearances at the beginning of the 1988-1989 season, scoring 2 goals. He later played for Bishop’s Stortford, Baldock Town and Clacton Town and now works in the building trade.
A chance chat with the Club’s Vice Chairman Paul Hopkins led me to getting a phone number for Jess Crook who played for City between March and November 1978. Jess made 12 appearances for the Club scoring 1 goal. Jess, a former pupil at King Edward V Grammar School, had the honour of representing Cambridge University in the 100th Varsity match in 1984, the match ending in a 2-2 draw. The game was played at Wembley Stadium.
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
I hope that you are enjoying this new series in the Club’s 100 page match programme, excellent value by the way at just £2.50! My search for players for this series has led me to both Colin Grant and Vic Gomersall from the 1971-1972 championship side, courtesy of leads from Dave Clarke. So look out for articles on these two City Legends in future programmes.
CHANGING ENDS
Mike Bayly has just had a book published entitled ‘Changing Ends’ with the sub title ‘A Season In Non League Football’. It contains chapters on 19 non league matches he attended, including Chelmsford City v Oxford United, with 10 pages devoted to the story of that day back in January when City were knocked out of the FA Trophy by their illustrious visitors. The book is published by Blackline Press at £14.99 and full details can be obtained from www.blacklinepress.com.
FRED SARGEANT
I have received an e-mail from Alan Travers who tells me that whilst reviewing his wife’s family tree he came across the name of Fred Sargeant a former professional footballer with Tottenham Hotspur and Chelmsford City. Alan asked for information about Fred’s time at Chelmsford. Fred made his debut for City in June 1945 and played a total of 88 games for the Club scoring 22 goals. He made his final appearance in April 1948. He played in a practice match for Chelmsford in August 1948 but then died suddenly from gastric problems. He was aged just 36 when he died on 22nd August 1948. City arranged a friendly against Tottenham Hotspur in September of that year and a crowd of 7,659 saw ‘Spurs win the match 5-1. The match substantially boosted the fund that had been set up for Fred’s widow. Eventually Mrs. Sargeant was to receive £1,389 a not inconsiderable amount in those days.
PLEASE NOTE…
….that if you do not to want keep checking whether I have posted a new Blog then please e-mail me at the address below and I will add you to my distribution list. I will then e-mail you as soon as I have Blogged!
….whilst I am not going to claim the copyright of any information contained in this Blog it would be appreciated if the source of any information used could be quoted. Thanks!
AND FINALLY….
…..don’t forget that if you want to contact me with any help, feedback or requests you can e-mail me at chelmsfordcityhistory@googlemail.com.
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