Ray scores with soccer puzzler

He'd inquired if anyone could say which team played on a Peasley Cross ground which, he believed, later became part of the site of the recently-closed United Glass factory, the very same site being earmarked by Saints as their new ground!

And Ray's puzzler has hit the target, with round-ball answers coming in from two long-memoried readers , Eric Dever of Morecambe and Albert Green of Whalley Avenue, St Helens, both 79.

"The name of the club was Peasley Cross Athletic," says Albert, who can even recall a row of old houses (long since demolished) which fronted the pitch.

During the 1920s and early 30s the club allowed St Helens schools to play their soccer finals there. "How do I know?" says Albert, "well I played there a couple of times for the Holy Cross School team." Another survivor from those times, he adds, is Wilf Collins from Dentons Green, captain of that school side.

And Albert confirms that Ray was correct in assuming that another close-by pitch of that era was that of Sutton Parish. "I played there against the Peasley Cross St Joseph's school team on a few occasions."

Eric Dever, now living in Oak Avenue, Bare, Morecambe, records that Peasley Cross Athletic played pre-war in the Liverpool Combination, against such teams as Marine and Skelmersdale.

His limited early knowledge of soccer was bestowed upon Eric by his dad, who constantly urged his son to play a "proper game" . . . but all in vain!

Eric's choice, from boyhood, was always Rugby League, especially when he learned that the immortal wing wonder Alf Ellaby had been an old boy of the Higher Grade School which Eric then attended.

He even recalls seeing his first full game of rugby (as a seven-year-old he'd watched only part matches when Saints' gates were opened up at three-quarter time and kids could get a free glimpse of the likes of Ellaby, Lewis and Fairclough).

That first entire game was on December 13, 1930, when Eric, aged nine, saw Saints beat Oldham 7-2. "And from then on I was hooked!" As he matured, Eric played firstly for his school rugby team and later for the local Sheet Works, whose teamsheet included performers of the calibre of Sonny Doyle, Harold Briscoe and Arthur Bates, who all went on to play for Saints; Bill Huyton who later played rugby union with Coventry, then in the top flight; and Freddie Baker, who toured France with St Helens Schoolboys.

Among top-notch players from local opposing sides were Albert (Jock) Johnson, later of Warrington, Albert Pimblett (St Helens Recs and Warrington) and Harry Pimblett (Belle Vue Rangers).

But Eric's rugby enthusiasm cut little ice with his soccer diehard dad who was on the books of Bolton Wanderers before the first world war, but never quite broke through to the senior squad.

"He hauled me off to Peasley Cross Athletic to watch a 'proper' game with a''proper' ball." Among Athletic's stars was a centre-half called Grice, later transferred to Oldham, who, as part of the fee, sent their team to play a friendly against the Peasley Cross team.

"My father died in 1938, but he showed me that football was, indeed, worth watching and I have attended matches as far apart as Liverpool, Manchester, Sunderland, Derby, Aston Villa, Chelsea and Arsenal."

Although he never played a game of soccer in his life, Eric was captivated by the blossoming talents of a teenaged winger he once saw playing for Stoke at Anfield. None other than the great Stanley Matthews!

But Rugby League has always remained Eric's first sporting love. He recalls "drooling" over a rugby ball, presented to Higher Grade by international Alf Ellaby who had grabbed it after the final whistle sounded in a Test match in Australia.

This treasured trophy was then kept in a glass case in headmaster Ben Griffiths' study; and Eric last saw it on display in the Saints Restaurant a few years ago.

MANY thanks to Albert and Eric for those memory-jerking sporting details.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.