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In his own words...

Learnt to play football as a 10 year old evacuee on the cobbled Streets of Colne In Lancashire during the war.

First serious team football was playing for Laystall Street (Clerkenwell) School in Schools Youth Club League.

Saw my first big game Chelsea v Spurs at Stamford Bridge before the end of the war. Score was 1-1.

In spite of seeing Chelsea and Spurs as my first game, I didn’t fancy supporting either club, so I became a lifelong Arsenal supporter, and I am still a ‘Gooner’ to this day.

Played and Captained Lane FC (Clerkenwell) Juniors.

Played for Gainsford Boys Club in the London Federation of Boys’ Clubs League.

Played for Hugh Myddleton (Clerkenwell) School.

Played for Holborn Central WM Club as a 16 year old.

Joined Islington Queens FC when 17 years old, and we were entered in the Hackney & Leyton Junior 1st Division and won the Junior Cup and were runners-up in the league in 1950/51 season.

Called up for National Service aged 18. Stationed In Perth, Scotland, and played for the Company Team. Won the all Scotland ‘Scottish Command Cup’ in 1952.

After being demobbed from the Army returned to play for Coach & Horses in the London Sunday League.

After a couple of seasons with the Coach & Horses, I rejoined Holborn Central as player/ manager until the Club closed down. I stress not because of my management, but unfortunately the club premises were sold.

Once again I joined Coach & Horses (Clerkenwell) FC, and played in the London Sunday League Premier. A highly competitive League and each team had to have a private ground.

Most of the teams contained semi-pro players and the Coach & Horses were no exception. During the years I played, our best effort was runners-up in 1963.

It was no disgrace that we didn’t achieve more but, it was a pleasure to play in a real quality league against players with a touch of class, although we did enter the Anglo-Italian National Cup in it’s inauguration year and were its first winners in 1963. Coach & Horses FC were the best team I had ever played for.

Ended my playing days playing for M.G. Sports FC in the Hackney & Leyton league. Played in three Cup Finals at the Hare & Hounds (Leyton FC). Had to retire as a player in 1976 due to heart attack and became the Manager of M.G.Sports.

During my years as manager our finest achievement was in winning the Premier Division five years in a row. I was particularly proud of this feat at the time because the Hackney & Leyton Premier Division contained some really fine teams, and it took a really exceptional team called Ordell FC to halt our run.

I eventually joined the Hackney & Leyton League Management Committee and eventually served the League as Vice chairman to long serving Chairman Alec Pretlove until Alec retired and I took up the reigns as Chairman.

In 1992, under the guidance and wishes of our much loved and respected late General Secretary, Jack Walpole, I was accepted as a London FA Counsellor, and I still serve on the London FA at present and hold the position of Vice Chairman of the North East Division.