How good were these schoolboy footballers?
Many of the articles on site are informative and interesting but sometimes it is good to have a controversial edge. If that is how you feel, and you were born in 1944 or 1945, this article might be for you! It’s all about rating some of the local school team footballers that were parading their stuff at sometime during the period 1957/1960.
My long term memory is good, but not brilliant, so if you do not agree with any aspect of these ratings or I have used incorrect name details do tell me [I am sure that you will]. I would like to see some disagreement. By the way it is not the time for wilting wall flowers so I have not exhibited undue or false modesty!
My long term memory is good, but not brilliant, so if you do not agree with any aspect of these ratings or I have used incorrect name details do tell me [I am sure that you will]. I would like to see some disagreement. By the way it is not the time for wilting wall flowers so I have not exhibited undue or false modesty!
Brief pen pictures and ratings out of a hundred:
Norman Ferguson [82/100]
I played both with and against Norman Ferguson. He was a skilful and intelligent forward. He represented Durham and District Schoolboys and I believe that he went on to play Northern League football; please correct me if I am mistaken about that.
David Maddox [80/100]
Played wing half initially but went on to be a fine and commanding centre half. He was a good captain. David went on to represent Durham at a more senior level.
Phillip Stoddart [77/100]
Diminutive centre forward but had clever feet and good positional sense. Scored lots of goals both at school and junior level.
Billy Greenwell [75/100]
I recall him as being an inside forward. He played the game with a great deal of skill and maturity.
Neil Crawford [74/100]
Played well for Bearpark School in its very successful 1958/9 season. He was also a good wing half for Ushaw Moor School the following year in what was a higher league. He got little rest in 1959/60 largely because of a generally ineffective forward line in front of him.
Wilf Bell [73/100]
Made his debut at outside left for Ushaw Moor County School at Waterhouses on a gluepot of a pitch. Represented Durham and District Boys in the same position before switching to full back and later centre half. Went on to play for Durham Technical College and the London Branch of the Derby County Supporters Club [!].
Peter Finlay [73/100]
I think his name was Peter but I might be wrong. Anyway he played left half for Ushaw Moor County and although he was fairly small in stature at that time - he was a bonny fighter and an asset to the team.
David Gerrard [73/100]
A very good goalkeeper and one of the reasons why Ushaw Moor County did so well in 1958/59.He went on to play for the village junior team that had a magnificent season in 1960/61. I think that he could have gone further in the game.
Alan Jones [73/100]
Alan and John Vasey were the pick of an otherwise very disappointing forward line in 1959/60. Alan went on to play some good football in local circles.
Tommy Wilkinson [72/100]
A very good tackler with good positional sense. Attacked when he saw the chance to do so.
Alan Burns [69/100]
Played right half for Ushaw Moor County. Decent tackler and passer of the ball. He read the game pretty well.
John Vasey [69/100]
Played at outside right although had experience at wing half. He was a good dribbler and used his brain to counteract a lack of wing pace. He was difficult to dispossess and a positive asset. Went on to play for Brandon Juniors.
Denis Pinkney [68/100]
Began as a very useful outside left and scored a wonderful goal against Waterhouses in a cup final from that position. Harry Barlow switched him to centre forward but with moderate success.
Arthur Snaith [68/100]
Part of the very good division two side Bearpark in 1958/59. I recall that he shone for Ushaw Moor Modern against St Leonard’s School in an away 1-1 draw.
Robert Moore [65/100]
A useful but inconsistent inside forward for Ushaw Moor Modern. He played well against Brandon in an away 4-3 defeat and scored one of the goals. He could and should have scored more.
David Bellamy [62/100]
A very useful member of the excellent Bearpark team of 1958/59 but struggled to settle in division one with Ushaw Moor Modern in 1959/60. He was not alone in that.
Wilf Bell
Johnny Weirs [76/100]
Often played at outside right for Waterhouses Modern. He had a great deal of pace which caused problems for several school team defences.He didn't damage Ushaw Moor County in the league cup final in 59/60. He won an FA Amateur Cup winners' medal with Crook Town a few years later. I have no doubt that he developed a more refined change of pace and dummy and fully deserved his coveted medal.
Eric Clegg [66/100]
I recall that he scored against Sherburn County when playing at inside left. He had a degree of pace and was full of running and enthusiasm.
(Comment this)
He did play wing half for Brandon Juniors however.
Clearly he has not seen this article but when he does I am sure to lose a pint of beer next year[if not a friendship!]. (Comment this)
John[?] Minnis
Goalkeeper for Ushaw Moor Modern in 1959/60.He was not tall enough to dominate his goal area but he was keen and fairly agile.We once conceded two late goals after leading 1-0 for most of an away match on a freezing day. I was frustrated and unfairly blamed John for the very last goal -I compared him to David Gerrard [our 1958/59 Ushaw Moor County goalkeeper]who had enough height to have tipped the shot over the bar. John protested to Harry Barlow and Harry agreed that I was wrong to blame the keeper.It did not quite end there but it is pointless to go on about such things!
John Minnis rating 65/100 None of these ratings are to be taken too seriously and can be argued about one day around a few pints in a warm pub [if its winter]. (Comment this)