Gerry Wolstenholme's Blog - Posts Tagged "fleetwood"
A Combative Midfield Player
William (Billy) Ronson 1957-2015
Billy Ronson was born in Fleetwood, where his father Percy was a record-breaking Fleetwood FC player, on 22 January 1957. After schoolboy football, Blackpool signed him as an apprentice professional on 14 August 1972. At the time he was a forward but later became a midfield player. He played only in the junior sides in the 1972/73 season before being signed as a full-time professional on 31 January 1974.
He made his senior debut for Blackpool as a 60th-minute substitute for Micky Walsh in the Lancashire Senior Cup second round tie against Bolton Wanderers on 12 February 1974 when he 'made a lively entry, giving the Blackpool attack more width but the finishing let the visitors down'. Blackpool lost the game 1-0. He also played in the final Central League game of the season against Nottingham Forest reserves on 29 April 1974 when Blackpool won with a Mickey Walsh goal.
Although only playing Central League football at the start of the
1974/75 season his form was good enough to attract attention and he was selected for training with the England Youth team at Lilleshall in September 1974 and again in October 1974.
He subsequently made his League debut for Blackpool against Nottingham Forest in a 0-0 draw on 29 March 1975, also played in a 3-0 defeat by Aston Villa on 19 April 1975 and he made two League appearances and 27 Central League appearances, scoring five goals, in the 1974/75 season. And to crown a fine season, he won the Blackpool Young Player of the Year award, the Harry Glossop Trophy.
He started the 1975/76 season at an unaccustomed centre forward position in the League side, appearing in a 0-0 draw with Fulham on 16 August 1975, but thereafter he was an infrequent member of the League side. His combative style caused Blackpool to suspended him for three games after he had been sent off in a reserve game against Leeds United on 20 March 1976. But, having missed three Central League games, fresh from his suspension, he played what was described as 'his best-yet senior game' in a 0-0 draw with West Bromwich Albion on 31 March 1976 although he 'spurned a couple of good chances by electing to pass square when a dip was in order'. However, up front, he was 'always a handful'. Unfortunately, The Football Association suspended him for three games starting on 1 April 1976 for the same sending offence against Leeds United reserves.
He returned to League action against York City on 19 April 1976 and he scored Blackpool’s equaliser three minutes from time in a 1-1 draw. His 'second League goal crowned a lively second half showing, despite the fact that he had found himself thrust into a strange midfield role'. The goal came after manager Harry Potts 'waved him to the right wing and Alan Ainscow back in midfield'.
And after a 1-0 victory over Sunderland on 20 April 1976 he earned the headlines RONSON LEADS CHAMPAGNE PARADE. Amplifying the headline the comment was 'Young Billy Ronson led the parade with a magnificent display of non-stop effort and skill, which marked his best game for the club. In only his second game back after suspension [sic], Ronson, who scored the equaliser at York, covered every inch of turf in a remarkably assured show of generalship. One minute he was back in defence cooling things down and mopping up anything loose. The next he was sweeping into the attack, prompting and probing. It was a shame he could not score to cap the performance.'
He played 17 League games plus making two substitute appearances, scoring two goals, one League Cup tie and 15 Central League games, scoring two goals, in the 1975/76 season.
He began the 1976/77 season in the pre-season Anglo-Scottish Cup ties and against Burnley on 11 August 1976 he 'had a fine match' and looked 'a more confident player' as he 'did well to keep ticking away in his first match after injury'. Blackpool won 2-1.
Having established himself as a combative midfield player he was rarely out of the side and after a 1-1 draw with Arsenal in the League Cup on 21 September 1976 he earned the headlines RONSON’S DISPLAY ONE TO TREASURE and the supporting comment was 'But only Ronson was getting up regularly in support and I cannot praise his almost single-handed efforts too highly. It was his best game for Blackpool, and one he should treasure.'
In mid-December 1976 manager Allan Brown felt that Dave Tong and Billy Ronson could have been in the reckoning for England Under-21 honours and only Tong’s ankle injury and Ronson’s switch to midfield kept them out of Don Revie’s reckoning. Of Ronson he said, 'If Billy had still been on the wing he would have stood out. Forwards always take glory, but since Billy has moved into midfield he has done all the hard work, but it is seldom the workers who get noticed.'
He missed only one game that season, playing 41 League games, scoring four goals, two FA Cup ties, and four League Cup ties, scoring one goal.
The 1977/78 side saw him in and out of the League side and when substituted against Southampton on 17 December 1977 he was 'clearly upset' and went 'straight to the dressing room after looking angrily at manager Allan Brown' as Blackpool lost 1-0. Knowing that he was unsettled, he was a target for Aston Villa in December 1977 but he said that he would be content to stay at Blackpool provided he played in the first team. Brown commented, 'They want first team soccer and it is only natural that they are upset when they are dropped. But they must always remember that a manager cannot play for them. If they want to stay in the first team they have to fight to maintain their form. If they want a move they have to fight to impress prospective buyers. If they don’t put the effort and tight attitude into their play they will be dropped from the first team and have no chance of moving. It has always been a two-way process. And my experience shows that once a player is reinstated in the first team and he and the team are playing well everyone forgets he is transfer-listed. Really it is meaningless.'
Ronson didn't let the talk of a possible transfer affect his performances and the press comment was 'Ronson battled incessantly to keep Blackpool ticking over when it seemed to many fans that both sides had left the pitch a fortnight ago. He has played consistently well for the past four games' as Blackpool drew 2-2 with Notts County on 7 March 1978. And he finished the 1977/78 season having played 32 League games plus making two substitute appearances, scoring three goals, one FA Cup tie, two League Cup ties and two Central League games.
Along with Jimmy Weston, he missed the start of the 1978/79 season through having played football in the North American League during the summer and on 14 August 1978 manager Bob Stokoe commented. 'As far as we know they are involved in regional play-offs, which could take until the end of the month. We want them back as soon as possible.' In the event he was four weeks late in returning and then Blackpool had to rush clearance through so that he could play for the club.
On his return he said that he would not be keen to go back to America unless it was on a two-year contract. He commented, 'The only way to make it big out there is to sign up a lucrative two-year contract but I have ambitions in English football and I will see if I can fulfil them.' He added, 'The standard of football was remarkably high and they give you the four-star treatment but England is still tops for me.'
He returned to action in a second round League Cup tie against Ipswich Town on 30 August 1978 when his 'presence in midfield was decisive' as he 'buzzed around adding defensive solidity and accuracy in distribution to the department, inspiring his team-mates in counter attacks and directing things with composure and authority' as Blackpool won 2-0.
His consistently good performances were attracting scouts from other clubs and in mid-September 1978 a number of First and Second Division clubs were regularly watching him but Blackpool announced that they were not prepared to sell him. Even so, subsequently moves to Ipswich Town and Aston Villa fell through because neither club would meet Blackpool’s valuation of £150,000, a price tag made to put other clubs off signing him.
In a 1-1 draw with Manchester City in a third round League Cup tie on 4 October 1978 he 'did everything he does best, picking up well, using the ball nicely and controlling the midfield flow with a performance full of authority'. But by mid-November all was not well with manager Bob Stokoe saying that had he had a stronger squad Ronson would have been in the reserve team following some of his displays at the time. He felt that the player’s heart was not in Third Division football.
Stokoe commented, 'Billy thinks I should pat him on the back when I believe he should be criticised for aspects of his game. I am only trying to help the lad become a better player. Had Alan Waldron’s form and attitude been better he would have replaced Billy in the side. I have spoken to Billy about his future at Blackpool. If he wants First division football he has got to prove his ability. I don’t want to keep players who don’t want to play for the club but the current state of the squad means everyone must knuckle down. Billy plays his last game today [11 November 1978] before possibly a three week suspension [he had accumulated 20 penalty points and was to appear before a tribunal the following Tuesday]. If clubs come in for him and he is not prepared to stay and fight for us we will consider it in the appropriate light but I want him to stay and play well for us.'
Ipswich were then back interested in signing him, as were Wolverhampton Wanderers and Millwall. Stokoe spoke of his appearance before the FA hearing and said, 'I have tried my best to help Billy understand that he cannot take out his own personal frustrations by getting involved in incidents on the pitch. In view of some of the blatant offences he has committed to pick up the 20 penalty points I felt I could not defend his conduct.' Rosnon earned a two-match ban.
He knuckled down after the disappointment of suspension and hearing the transfer news and in January 1979 Stokoe commented, 'I am thrilled with Billy’s attitude. It must have been frustrating for him to undergo trials with Villa and Ipswich and then find that neither were prepared to pay what we wanted, but Billy’s first debt is to himself and the team and if he continues to play well he will get his reward.'
But Stokoe had to apologise publicly to Ronson on 21 February 1979 after the news that he had been placed on the transfer list on 19 February had been leaked to the national press before the player had been told. Stokoe commented, 'I am trying to get everyone pulling together and someone in the boardroom has let me and Billy down. Billy had to bind out about it when he picked up his daily paper and this is just not on.' Stokoe then explained that Ronson’s suspension was over the following Saturday and that he would play for the reserve team on the Monday after. He added, 'I have told Billy he will continue in the first team squad although I hope our midfield trio can prove they have the stuff to battle for points away as well as at home. I have not put a fee on Billy. I will try and get the best deal I can and I would prefer player exchanges. We were fined heavily by the FA last season and are already past 100 [penalty points] with 30 matches to go. The way Billy was going he’d get them on his own and the club cannot afford this problem of Billy niggling at referees.'
Scoring two goals in the League game against Chesterfield on 14 March 1979 earned him the headlines with Ronson Shines As Pool Glow. He 'got into good attacking positions and his finishing was clinical' as Blackpool won 3-1.
In late March 1979 there still had been no bids for Ronson from clubs in the First Division, where he wanted to play. He said that should no club bid for him he was happy to give 100% to the Blackpool cause and added, 'I am not upset that clubs have not come in. I’m happy to do my best for Blackpool as I promised I would.' He had bought a house in the area and was to be married in June and had recently appeared on television. Of that Stokoe commented, 'I let Billy go on television recently to state his case and he has had ample chance to say his piece. Now I want him to keep his mouth shut and let the future take care of itself. I have preached to all the players the need to build a team to have players who respect each other and enjoy playing together.'
The club served him with a two-week ban starting with the game against Bury on 7 April 1979 and he went on to miss four matches because on 14 April he received a two-match ban from the FA, but in effect he only missed one game through the suspension for his club ban did not finish until the first of his two games had passed. The FA suspension was his third of the season and encompassed seven matches as he was banned for reaching 20, 30 and then 40 penalty points. He had gathered 19 bookings in two seasons. He stated that he intended to keep out of trouble adding, 'I have not gone out looking for bother with referees, but I will obviously have to do something about it.'
Despite his disciplinary problems, he played 32 League games, scoring three goals, one FA Cup tie, three League Cup ties and two Central League games for Blackpool in the 1978/79 season. But it was to be his final season in the tangerine jersey.
Blackpool transferred him to Cardiff City for a fee of £135,000 on 14 July 1979 and he missed only one League game for Cardiff in his first season at the club and he won the Cardiff Supporters’ Club ‘Player of the Season’ award. He did even better in his second season for he was an ever-present, was deservedly made club captain and he once again won the ‘Player of the Season’ award.
He had played 90 League games and scored four goals for Cardiff City when he was transferred to Wrexham for a fee of £90,000 in October 1981. He played 31 League games plus making one substitute appearance, scoring one goal, four FA Cup ties and three Welsh Cup ties for Wrexham before he was transferred to Barnsley in August 1982 for a fee of £50,000.
Barnsley loaned him out to Birmingham City on 8 November 1985 and he played two League games for the Midlands club. Back at Barnsley, he went on to play 111 League games, make two substitute appearances and score three goals.
He re-joined Blackpool as a non-contract player on a month’s trial in January 1986 but he played only three League games and was not on the winning side in any of them. Blackpool drew 0-0 with Reading on 18 January 1986, and lost 1-0 to Derby County and similarly to Chesterfield on 1 and 4 February 1986.
The club released him after three League games in the 1985/86 season by which time he had played over 200 senior games for the club.
After being released by Blackpool he almost immediately jetted off to America after signing for Baltimore Blast on a two-year contract under ex-Fleetwood goalkeeper Kenny Cooper. He subsequently settled in the United States of America, where he died, aged just 58, on 8 April 2015.
Billy Ronson was born in Fleetwood, where his father Percy was a record-breaking Fleetwood FC player, on 22 January 1957. After schoolboy football, Blackpool signed him as an apprentice professional on 14 August 1972. At the time he was a forward but later became a midfield player. He played only in the junior sides in the 1972/73 season before being signed as a full-time professional on 31 January 1974.
He made his senior debut for Blackpool as a 60th-minute substitute for Micky Walsh in the Lancashire Senior Cup second round tie against Bolton Wanderers on 12 February 1974 when he 'made a lively entry, giving the Blackpool attack more width but the finishing let the visitors down'. Blackpool lost the game 1-0. He also played in the final Central League game of the season against Nottingham Forest reserves on 29 April 1974 when Blackpool won with a Mickey Walsh goal.
Although only playing Central League football at the start of the
1974/75 season his form was good enough to attract attention and he was selected for training with the England Youth team at Lilleshall in September 1974 and again in October 1974.
He subsequently made his League debut for Blackpool against Nottingham Forest in a 0-0 draw on 29 March 1975, also played in a 3-0 defeat by Aston Villa on 19 April 1975 and he made two League appearances and 27 Central League appearances, scoring five goals, in the 1974/75 season. And to crown a fine season, he won the Blackpool Young Player of the Year award, the Harry Glossop Trophy.
He started the 1975/76 season at an unaccustomed centre forward position in the League side, appearing in a 0-0 draw with Fulham on 16 August 1975, but thereafter he was an infrequent member of the League side. His combative style caused Blackpool to suspended him for three games after he had been sent off in a reserve game against Leeds United on 20 March 1976. But, having missed three Central League games, fresh from his suspension, he played what was described as 'his best-yet senior game' in a 0-0 draw with West Bromwich Albion on 31 March 1976 although he 'spurned a couple of good chances by electing to pass square when a dip was in order'. However, up front, he was 'always a handful'. Unfortunately, The Football Association suspended him for three games starting on 1 April 1976 for the same sending offence against Leeds United reserves.
He returned to League action against York City on 19 April 1976 and he scored Blackpool’s equaliser three minutes from time in a 1-1 draw. His 'second League goal crowned a lively second half showing, despite the fact that he had found himself thrust into a strange midfield role'. The goal came after manager Harry Potts 'waved him to the right wing and Alan Ainscow back in midfield'.
And after a 1-0 victory over Sunderland on 20 April 1976 he earned the headlines RONSON LEADS CHAMPAGNE PARADE. Amplifying the headline the comment was 'Young Billy Ronson led the parade with a magnificent display of non-stop effort and skill, which marked his best game for the club. In only his second game back after suspension [sic], Ronson, who scored the equaliser at York, covered every inch of turf in a remarkably assured show of generalship. One minute he was back in defence cooling things down and mopping up anything loose. The next he was sweeping into the attack, prompting and probing. It was a shame he could not score to cap the performance.'
He played 17 League games plus making two substitute appearances, scoring two goals, one League Cup tie and 15 Central League games, scoring two goals, in the 1975/76 season.
He began the 1976/77 season in the pre-season Anglo-Scottish Cup ties and against Burnley on 11 August 1976 he 'had a fine match' and looked 'a more confident player' as he 'did well to keep ticking away in his first match after injury'. Blackpool won 2-1.
Having established himself as a combative midfield player he was rarely out of the side and after a 1-1 draw with Arsenal in the League Cup on 21 September 1976 he earned the headlines RONSON’S DISPLAY ONE TO TREASURE and the supporting comment was 'But only Ronson was getting up regularly in support and I cannot praise his almost single-handed efforts too highly. It was his best game for Blackpool, and one he should treasure.'
In mid-December 1976 manager Allan Brown felt that Dave Tong and Billy Ronson could have been in the reckoning for England Under-21 honours and only Tong’s ankle injury and Ronson’s switch to midfield kept them out of Don Revie’s reckoning. Of Ronson he said, 'If Billy had still been on the wing he would have stood out. Forwards always take glory, but since Billy has moved into midfield he has done all the hard work, but it is seldom the workers who get noticed.'
He missed only one game that season, playing 41 League games, scoring four goals, two FA Cup ties, and four League Cup ties, scoring one goal.
The 1977/78 side saw him in and out of the League side and when substituted against Southampton on 17 December 1977 he was 'clearly upset' and went 'straight to the dressing room after looking angrily at manager Allan Brown' as Blackpool lost 1-0. Knowing that he was unsettled, he was a target for Aston Villa in December 1977 but he said that he would be content to stay at Blackpool provided he played in the first team. Brown commented, 'They want first team soccer and it is only natural that they are upset when they are dropped. But they must always remember that a manager cannot play for them. If they want to stay in the first team they have to fight to maintain their form. If they want a move they have to fight to impress prospective buyers. If they don’t put the effort and tight attitude into their play they will be dropped from the first team and have no chance of moving. It has always been a two-way process. And my experience shows that once a player is reinstated in the first team and he and the team are playing well everyone forgets he is transfer-listed. Really it is meaningless.'
Ronson didn't let the talk of a possible transfer affect his performances and the press comment was 'Ronson battled incessantly to keep Blackpool ticking over when it seemed to many fans that both sides had left the pitch a fortnight ago. He has played consistently well for the past four games' as Blackpool drew 2-2 with Notts County on 7 March 1978. And he finished the 1977/78 season having played 32 League games plus making two substitute appearances, scoring three goals, one FA Cup tie, two League Cup ties and two Central League games.
Along with Jimmy Weston, he missed the start of the 1978/79 season through having played football in the North American League during the summer and on 14 August 1978 manager Bob Stokoe commented. 'As far as we know they are involved in regional play-offs, which could take until the end of the month. We want them back as soon as possible.' In the event he was four weeks late in returning and then Blackpool had to rush clearance through so that he could play for the club.
On his return he said that he would not be keen to go back to America unless it was on a two-year contract. He commented, 'The only way to make it big out there is to sign up a lucrative two-year contract but I have ambitions in English football and I will see if I can fulfil them.' He added, 'The standard of football was remarkably high and they give you the four-star treatment but England is still tops for me.'
He returned to action in a second round League Cup tie against Ipswich Town on 30 August 1978 when his 'presence in midfield was decisive' as he 'buzzed around adding defensive solidity and accuracy in distribution to the department, inspiring his team-mates in counter attacks and directing things with composure and authority' as Blackpool won 2-0.
His consistently good performances were attracting scouts from other clubs and in mid-September 1978 a number of First and Second Division clubs were regularly watching him but Blackpool announced that they were not prepared to sell him. Even so, subsequently moves to Ipswich Town and Aston Villa fell through because neither club would meet Blackpool’s valuation of £150,000, a price tag made to put other clubs off signing him.
In a 1-1 draw with Manchester City in a third round League Cup tie on 4 October 1978 he 'did everything he does best, picking up well, using the ball nicely and controlling the midfield flow with a performance full of authority'. But by mid-November all was not well with manager Bob Stokoe saying that had he had a stronger squad Ronson would have been in the reserve team following some of his displays at the time. He felt that the player’s heart was not in Third Division football.
Stokoe commented, 'Billy thinks I should pat him on the back when I believe he should be criticised for aspects of his game. I am only trying to help the lad become a better player. Had Alan Waldron’s form and attitude been better he would have replaced Billy in the side. I have spoken to Billy about his future at Blackpool. If he wants First division football he has got to prove his ability. I don’t want to keep players who don’t want to play for the club but the current state of the squad means everyone must knuckle down. Billy plays his last game today [11 November 1978] before possibly a three week suspension [he had accumulated 20 penalty points and was to appear before a tribunal the following Tuesday]. If clubs come in for him and he is not prepared to stay and fight for us we will consider it in the appropriate light but I want him to stay and play well for us.'
Ipswich were then back interested in signing him, as were Wolverhampton Wanderers and Millwall. Stokoe spoke of his appearance before the FA hearing and said, 'I have tried my best to help Billy understand that he cannot take out his own personal frustrations by getting involved in incidents on the pitch. In view of some of the blatant offences he has committed to pick up the 20 penalty points I felt I could not defend his conduct.' Rosnon earned a two-match ban.
He knuckled down after the disappointment of suspension and hearing the transfer news and in January 1979 Stokoe commented, 'I am thrilled with Billy’s attitude. It must have been frustrating for him to undergo trials with Villa and Ipswich and then find that neither were prepared to pay what we wanted, but Billy’s first debt is to himself and the team and if he continues to play well he will get his reward.'
But Stokoe had to apologise publicly to Ronson on 21 February 1979 after the news that he had been placed on the transfer list on 19 February had been leaked to the national press before the player had been told. Stokoe commented, 'I am trying to get everyone pulling together and someone in the boardroom has let me and Billy down. Billy had to bind out about it when he picked up his daily paper and this is just not on.' Stokoe then explained that Ronson’s suspension was over the following Saturday and that he would play for the reserve team on the Monday after. He added, 'I have told Billy he will continue in the first team squad although I hope our midfield trio can prove they have the stuff to battle for points away as well as at home. I have not put a fee on Billy. I will try and get the best deal I can and I would prefer player exchanges. We were fined heavily by the FA last season and are already past 100 [penalty points] with 30 matches to go. The way Billy was going he’d get them on his own and the club cannot afford this problem of Billy niggling at referees.'
Scoring two goals in the League game against Chesterfield on 14 March 1979 earned him the headlines with Ronson Shines As Pool Glow. He 'got into good attacking positions and his finishing was clinical' as Blackpool won 3-1.
In late March 1979 there still had been no bids for Ronson from clubs in the First Division, where he wanted to play. He said that should no club bid for him he was happy to give 100% to the Blackpool cause and added, 'I am not upset that clubs have not come in. I’m happy to do my best for Blackpool as I promised I would.' He had bought a house in the area and was to be married in June and had recently appeared on television. Of that Stokoe commented, 'I let Billy go on television recently to state his case and he has had ample chance to say his piece. Now I want him to keep his mouth shut and let the future take care of itself. I have preached to all the players the need to build a team to have players who respect each other and enjoy playing together.'
The club served him with a two-week ban starting with the game against Bury on 7 April 1979 and he went on to miss four matches because on 14 April he received a two-match ban from the FA, but in effect he only missed one game through the suspension for his club ban did not finish until the first of his two games had passed. The FA suspension was his third of the season and encompassed seven matches as he was banned for reaching 20, 30 and then 40 penalty points. He had gathered 19 bookings in two seasons. He stated that he intended to keep out of trouble adding, 'I have not gone out looking for bother with referees, but I will obviously have to do something about it.'
Despite his disciplinary problems, he played 32 League games, scoring three goals, one FA Cup tie, three League Cup ties and two Central League games for Blackpool in the 1978/79 season. But it was to be his final season in the tangerine jersey.
Blackpool transferred him to Cardiff City for a fee of £135,000 on 14 July 1979 and he missed only one League game for Cardiff in his first season at the club and he won the Cardiff Supporters’ Club ‘Player of the Season’ award. He did even better in his second season for he was an ever-present, was deservedly made club captain and he once again won the ‘Player of the Season’ award.
He had played 90 League games and scored four goals for Cardiff City when he was transferred to Wrexham for a fee of £90,000 in October 1981. He played 31 League games plus making one substitute appearance, scoring one goal, four FA Cup ties and three Welsh Cup ties for Wrexham before he was transferred to Barnsley in August 1982 for a fee of £50,000.
Barnsley loaned him out to Birmingham City on 8 November 1985 and he played two League games for the Midlands club. Back at Barnsley, he went on to play 111 League games, make two substitute appearances and score three goals.
He re-joined Blackpool as a non-contract player on a month’s trial in January 1986 but he played only three League games and was not on the winning side in any of them. Blackpool drew 0-0 with Reading on 18 January 1986, and lost 1-0 to Derby County and similarly to Chesterfield on 1 and 4 February 1986.
The club released him after three League games in the 1985/86 season by which time he had played over 200 senior games for the club.
After being released by Blackpool he almost immediately jetted off to America after signing for Baltimore Blast on a two-year contract under ex-Fleetwood goalkeeper Kenny Cooper. He subsequently settled in the United States of America, where he died, aged just 58, on 8 April 2015.
The last of the 1953 Blackpool FA Cup winning side
Cyril Robinson 1929-2019
Cyril Robinson, the last surviving member of Blackpool Football Club's FA Cup winning side of 1953 has died aged 90.
Born in Bulwell, Nottingham, on 4 March 1929, Robinson's talent at half back was spotted by a Blackpool scout after he had played for the England Boys’ Clubs' side. Blackpool duly signed him from Basford Hall Boys’ Club (Nottingham area) on 10 September 1949 after he had been on the books of Mansfield Town as an amateur. Ironically a scout for another Football League club said at the time 'I had my eye on him for a long time and twice I reported to my club about him but they would not listen to me. Now look what has happened, Blackpool stepped in and signed a jolly good prospect.
He spent his first season with Blackpool playing in the junior sides, appearing regularly in the Blackpool ‘B’ side and starring for it when Blackpool defeated Bolton Wanderers ‘B’ 4-0 at the Co-operative Ground, Marton on 22 October 1949. His performances were such that he gained promotion to the Central League side, making his debut at that level against Manchester United reserves on 26 August 1950 when the game was drawn 0-0.
He earned praise from the critics at whatever level he played, for instance when playing for Blackpool ‘B’ on 28 October 1950, Jack Ainscough was 'well supported by wing halves Proctor and Robinson' in his endeavours to keep Fleetwood at bay and in the Blackpool Lancashire Mid-Week League side’s 2-0 victory over Southport on 25 October 1950 'The Blackpool defence had little wrong with it. Cyril Robinson played another fine game, his third in five days as a full back.' Blackpool won the game 2-0.
He played 25 Central League games, scoring one goal, - his first senior goal for the club in a 2-1 defeat by Aston Villa reserves on 13 January 1951 - in the 1950/51 season, proving his versatility by operating between left half and left back.
Due to the strength of the Blackpool first team, he had to wait two years for his debut in the League side and he made it at right half against Middlesbrough on 27 October 1951. And 'he made a most satisfactory debut considering that he was up against will o’ the wisp Mannion' as the game was drawn 2-2. He gave another sound display at left half against West Bromwich Albion on 3 November 1951 as the game ended in a 1-1 draw. And he boosted his reputation even further with a polished performance against mighty Newcastle United on 10 November 1951 and he scored one of Blackpool’s goals, his first League goal, in a 6-3 victory. The press comment was 'Robinson still has to master the finer arts of the game and it would not be wise or fair to lavish praise at this early stage of his career.'
Having returned to his more familiar position of left half, he scored his second League goal for the club in a 4-2 victory over Stoke City on 24 November 1951. Ironically he was not in the side for the following game and it was not until 22 December 1951 that he returned to the League side in a 3-1 victory over Huddersfield Town. And he made his first Christmas Day appearance for the club in the 1-1 draw with Liverpool on 25 December 1951 but the return of Hughie Kelly for the following game saw him out of the side once again.
He ended the 1951/52 season having played 10 League games, scoring two goals, one FA Cup tie and 21 Central League games, scoring one goal. In the Central League side he played most of his games at left half but he also appeared at left back and outside left and he showed his capabilities once again by playing at inside left in a Lancashire Senior Cup tie against Preston North End on 23 January 1952 as Blackpool lost 1-0.
Having played a close season friendly game against Hamburg at Bloomfield Road on 29 April 1952, injury to Eddie Shimwell gave him a place in the League side at left back against Preston North End on 25 August 1952. The game was drawn 1-1 and the comment in the following week’s programme was 'Cyril Robinson, introduced into the team at left full back, was allotted the unenviable task of marking the elusive Tom Finney, and as the object of our visitors appeared to be to utilise the England outside right at every possible opportunity, our young defender had a very busy time indeed, yet he came through with flying colours.'
Despite these plaudits he played only one further League game that season when injury to Hughie Kelly meant a recall to the League side in the final game of the season when he appeared at left half in a disastrous 5-0 defeat by Manchester City. However, there was a silver lining for Robinson as Kelly’s injury also gave him a place in the FA Cup final side against Bolton Wanderers at Wembley on 2 May 1953. He did himself no harm as Blackpool won 4-3 and he gained a Cup-winners medal after having played in only 12 League games and one FA Cup tie for the club. In addition to the Final, he played two League games and 26 Central League games, scoring one goal, in the 1952/53 season.
At the close of the 1952/53 season, along with Dave Durie, Billy Wright, Stanley Hepton and Ken Booth, he was regarded as one 'destined to win fame' at the club. [Ironically of this group, only Durie had an extended Blackpool career.]
The 1953/54 season saw him sidelined from the League side and he did not make his first League appearance of the season until 24 October 1953 when Blackpool defeated Middlesbrough 1-0. His absence was no reflection of his ability, it was simply that Blackpool had a settled team of internationals and seasoned professionals. Indeed he played only four League games in the 1953/54 season - he also played 20 Central League games - but he did give another fine performance in an FA Cup tie as Blackpool defeated Luton Town 2-0 in the third replay of the third round FA Cup tie against Luton Town on 25 January 1954. Charlie Buchan in the Daily Express wrote of the match, 'Rarely have I seen Blackpool’s half backs play better, and really it was a reserve line on duty. John Crosland and Ewan Fenton always met the ball squarely and Cyril Robinson worked like a Trojan in attack and defence.'
After touring the continent and playing in a 2-1 victory over RW Essen on 16 May 1953, it was the same scenario in the 1954/55 season when his only opportunities came when Hughie Kelly was injured. He made six consecutive appearances as a replacement for Kelly before he returned to the Central League side, for which he played 18 games during the season. His final League game for the club turned out to be a 2-1 defeat by Preston North End on 9 October 1954 and the last game he represented Blackpool was in the Central League against Barnsley reserves on 30 April 1955 when Blackpool won 3-1. His lack of opportunities had caused him to ask for a transfer in December 1954 and he was placed on the transfer list at his own request.
His Blackpool career had encompassed 22 League games, scoring two goals, three FA Cup ties, 110 Central League games, scoring three goals, and two European games when he moved on to non-league side Northwich Victoria for the 1955/56 season after Wrexham had been keenly interested in signing him until they eventually dropped out of the bidding.
He spent one season at Northwich Victoria before he returned to League football when he joined Bradford Park Avenue in June 1956. He was immediately made captain at Bradford although he was still training at Blackpool. He went on to play 89 League games and score three goals for the Yorkshire club before being transferred to Southport in July 1959; he played 37 League games for the Sandgrounders.
After his League career he played for a number of non-league sides, Lancaster City for whom he signed in December 1960, Buxton FC, Fleetwood and Blackpool Mechanics, a club that he later managed in the mid-1960s. In addition he spent the summer of 1961 playing for Toronto City in the Eastern Canada Professional Soccer League and he also played for Hellas of Adelaide from 1963-65 when in addition he spent some time with Newcastle FC of Sydney.
He became head groundsman at Bloomfield Road for a number of years after retiring from the playing and administrative side of the game and fine tuned his golf, playing at Blackpool North Shore with his great pal and former team-mate Bill Perry. He also ran a newsagent’s business in Blackpool.
He remained a great supporter of Blackpool Football Club, was much admired by supporters and was ever willing to attend special events. He died, after a lengthy illness, on 9 November 2019.
Cyril Robinson, the last surviving member of Blackpool Football Club's FA Cup winning side of 1953 has died aged 90.
Born in Bulwell, Nottingham, on 4 March 1929, Robinson's talent at half back was spotted by a Blackpool scout after he had played for the England Boys’ Clubs' side. Blackpool duly signed him from Basford Hall Boys’ Club (Nottingham area) on 10 September 1949 after he had been on the books of Mansfield Town as an amateur. Ironically a scout for another Football League club said at the time 'I had my eye on him for a long time and twice I reported to my club about him but they would not listen to me. Now look what has happened, Blackpool stepped in and signed a jolly good prospect.
He spent his first season with Blackpool playing in the junior sides, appearing regularly in the Blackpool ‘B’ side and starring for it when Blackpool defeated Bolton Wanderers ‘B’ 4-0 at the Co-operative Ground, Marton on 22 October 1949. His performances were such that he gained promotion to the Central League side, making his debut at that level against Manchester United reserves on 26 August 1950 when the game was drawn 0-0.
He earned praise from the critics at whatever level he played, for instance when playing for Blackpool ‘B’ on 28 October 1950, Jack Ainscough was 'well supported by wing halves Proctor and Robinson' in his endeavours to keep Fleetwood at bay and in the Blackpool Lancashire Mid-Week League side’s 2-0 victory over Southport on 25 October 1950 'The Blackpool defence had little wrong with it. Cyril Robinson played another fine game, his third in five days as a full back.' Blackpool won the game 2-0.
He played 25 Central League games, scoring one goal, - his first senior goal for the club in a 2-1 defeat by Aston Villa reserves on 13 January 1951 - in the 1950/51 season, proving his versatility by operating between left half and left back.
Due to the strength of the Blackpool first team, he had to wait two years for his debut in the League side and he made it at right half against Middlesbrough on 27 October 1951. And 'he made a most satisfactory debut considering that he was up against will o’ the wisp Mannion' as the game was drawn 2-2. He gave another sound display at left half against West Bromwich Albion on 3 November 1951 as the game ended in a 1-1 draw. And he boosted his reputation even further with a polished performance against mighty Newcastle United on 10 November 1951 and he scored one of Blackpool’s goals, his first League goal, in a 6-3 victory. The press comment was 'Robinson still has to master the finer arts of the game and it would not be wise or fair to lavish praise at this early stage of his career.'
Having returned to his more familiar position of left half, he scored his second League goal for the club in a 4-2 victory over Stoke City on 24 November 1951. Ironically he was not in the side for the following game and it was not until 22 December 1951 that he returned to the League side in a 3-1 victory over Huddersfield Town. And he made his first Christmas Day appearance for the club in the 1-1 draw with Liverpool on 25 December 1951 but the return of Hughie Kelly for the following game saw him out of the side once again.
He ended the 1951/52 season having played 10 League games, scoring two goals, one FA Cup tie and 21 Central League games, scoring one goal. In the Central League side he played most of his games at left half but he also appeared at left back and outside left and he showed his capabilities once again by playing at inside left in a Lancashire Senior Cup tie against Preston North End on 23 January 1952 as Blackpool lost 1-0.
Having played a close season friendly game against Hamburg at Bloomfield Road on 29 April 1952, injury to Eddie Shimwell gave him a place in the League side at left back against Preston North End on 25 August 1952. The game was drawn 1-1 and the comment in the following week’s programme was 'Cyril Robinson, introduced into the team at left full back, was allotted the unenviable task of marking the elusive Tom Finney, and as the object of our visitors appeared to be to utilise the England outside right at every possible opportunity, our young defender had a very busy time indeed, yet he came through with flying colours.'
Despite these plaudits he played only one further League game that season when injury to Hughie Kelly meant a recall to the League side in the final game of the season when he appeared at left half in a disastrous 5-0 defeat by Manchester City. However, there was a silver lining for Robinson as Kelly’s injury also gave him a place in the FA Cup final side against Bolton Wanderers at Wembley on 2 May 1953. He did himself no harm as Blackpool won 4-3 and he gained a Cup-winners medal after having played in only 12 League games and one FA Cup tie for the club. In addition to the Final, he played two League games and 26 Central League games, scoring one goal, in the 1952/53 season.
At the close of the 1952/53 season, along with Dave Durie, Billy Wright, Stanley Hepton and Ken Booth, he was regarded as one 'destined to win fame' at the club. [Ironically of this group, only Durie had an extended Blackpool career.]
The 1953/54 season saw him sidelined from the League side and he did not make his first League appearance of the season until 24 October 1953 when Blackpool defeated Middlesbrough 1-0. His absence was no reflection of his ability, it was simply that Blackpool had a settled team of internationals and seasoned professionals. Indeed he played only four League games in the 1953/54 season - he also played 20 Central League games - but he did give another fine performance in an FA Cup tie as Blackpool defeated Luton Town 2-0 in the third replay of the third round FA Cup tie against Luton Town on 25 January 1954. Charlie Buchan in the Daily Express wrote of the match, 'Rarely have I seen Blackpool’s half backs play better, and really it was a reserve line on duty. John Crosland and Ewan Fenton always met the ball squarely and Cyril Robinson worked like a Trojan in attack and defence.'
After touring the continent and playing in a 2-1 victory over RW Essen on 16 May 1953, it was the same scenario in the 1954/55 season when his only opportunities came when Hughie Kelly was injured. He made six consecutive appearances as a replacement for Kelly before he returned to the Central League side, for which he played 18 games during the season. His final League game for the club turned out to be a 2-1 defeat by Preston North End on 9 October 1954 and the last game he represented Blackpool was in the Central League against Barnsley reserves on 30 April 1955 when Blackpool won 3-1. His lack of opportunities had caused him to ask for a transfer in December 1954 and he was placed on the transfer list at his own request.
His Blackpool career had encompassed 22 League games, scoring two goals, three FA Cup ties, 110 Central League games, scoring three goals, and two European games when he moved on to non-league side Northwich Victoria for the 1955/56 season after Wrexham had been keenly interested in signing him until they eventually dropped out of the bidding.
He spent one season at Northwich Victoria before he returned to League football when he joined Bradford Park Avenue in June 1956. He was immediately made captain at Bradford although he was still training at Blackpool. He went on to play 89 League games and score three goals for the Yorkshire club before being transferred to Southport in July 1959; he played 37 League games for the Sandgrounders.
After his League career he played for a number of non-league sides, Lancaster City for whom he signed in December 1960, Buxton FC, Fleetwood and Blackpool Mechanics, a club that he later managed in the mid-1960s. In addition he spent the summer of 1961 playing for Toronto City in the Eastern Canada Professional Soccer League and he also played for Hellas of Adelaide from 1963-65 when in addition he spent some time with Newcastle FC of Sydney.
He became head groundsman at Bloomfield Road for a number of years after retiring from the playing and administrative side of the game and fine tuned his golf, playing at Blackpool North Shore with his great pal and former team-mate Bill Perry. He also ran a newsagent’s business in Blackpool.
He remained a great supporter of Blackpool Football Club, was much admired by supporters and was ever willing to attend special events. He died, after a lengthy illness, on 9 November 2019.
A Century of League Goals
Thomas (Tommy) White 1939-2019
Tom White was born at Musselburgh on 12 August 1939. He was a bustling centre forward who started his career with Bonnyrigg Rose before moving to Scottish League side Raith Rovers, where he scored 11 goals in 30 games, his career there having been interrupted by two years' National Service. He moved on to St Mirren, where he scored 20 goals in 35 League games before being transferred to Heart of Midlothian, where he played 37 League games, scoring 30 goals, eight Cup games, scoring five goals, and 16 other games, scoring 13 goals, a record of 48 goals that earned him the moniker 'Goal-a-game White'. However, a serious car crash curtailed his career at Hearts, from where he was selected for the Scottish League against the Irish League but he had to withdraw through illness. Also while at Hearts he played for Tottenham Hotspur in The John White Memorial Match for his older brother John White, who was tragically struck by lightning on a golf course aged just 27, against an All Star Scotland XI at White Hart Lane on 10 November 1964, when he scored the first of Spurs' goals in a 6-2 defeat.
He left Hearts finally when he was exchanged for Aberdeen's Don Kerrigan in the summer of 1965 and his brief spell at the club saw him score four goals in 14 games before a move into English football when he joined Crystal Palace along with team-mate John McCormick in May 1966. He went on to play 37 League games, make two substitute appearances and score 13 goals for Palace. He was then signed by Blackpool from Crystal Palace for a fee of £19,000 on 11 March 1968.
He made his League debut for Blackpool against Aston Villa on 16 March 1968 when Blackpool won 1-0 with a goal from Gordon Milne. He scored his first League goal for the Seasiders in his third game when Plymouth Argyle were defeated 2-0 on 30 May 1968. Then after five games in which he failed to score he scored both goals in the 2-0 victory over Portsmouth on 27 April 1968. He scored one further goal, in a 3-1 victory over Derby County on 4 May 1968 which gave him four goals in the 11 League games he played in the 1967/68 season. And he was such a wholehearted player that the endearing chant of 'Tom, Tom, Tom. Tom, Tommy White' regularly rang round the terraces at Bloomfield Road.
He began the 1968/69 season in fine form and he scored both goals in the 2-0 defeat of Hull City on the first day of the season, 10 August 1968, and he featured in the opening 11 games before injury interrupted his season. He was in and out of the side for the remainder of that season as Blackpool tried to replace him with a variety of occasional centre forwards. On one occasion he returned from his injury for his first Central League game of the season and he scored twice as Blackpool defeated Burnley reserves 3-1 on 14 December 1968.
And perhaps not surprisingly, he was 'way below form' as 'the attack seldom functioned smoothly' despite Blackpool defeating Norwich City 2-1 on 19 March 1969. In an injury-hit season he played 22 League games, scoring five goals, one FA Cup tie, two League Cup ties, scoring two goals, and four Central League games, scoring three goals, in the 1968/69 season.
He was unfortunately not fully fit when the 1969/70 season began and on 3 September 1969 Blackpool reluctantly announced that they were ready to listen to offers for him and he was placed on the transfer list.
Supposedly recovered from his ankle injury, he made his first League start of the 1969/70 season against Watford on 20 September 1969. With Blackpool one goal behind, he was replaced after 68 minutes and Blackpool went on to lose 3-0. Although at one time he 'seemed a little slow off the mark' when chasing a Hutchison cross, he did have a couple of memorable moments when on the field. They came when his 'shot on the turn from 16-yards was going low into the corner of the net when Walker dived full length to save' and then when he was 'spoken to by the referee for challenging goalkeeper Walker'.
It was his only League game of the 1969/70 season and it turned out to be his final game for Blackpool, for whom he played 34 League games and scored nine goals plus three Cup ties scoring two goals. Blackpool gave him a free transfer on 19 June 1970 and he immediately joined Bury and went on to play 46 League games, make two substitute appearances and score 13 goals for the club. He had one final League club when he was transferred to Crewe Alexandra in December 1971 but he played only four League games for the club without scoring a goal. However he did score a most creditable total of 100 goals in his 241 senior League games for his various clubs.
He later had a spell with then non-League Fleetwood before he was appointed caretaker-manager of Blackpool in April 1990 after Jimmy Mullen had resigned and he was in charge until the end of the season when Graham Carr was appointed on a permanent basis.
He was later a business man, a hotelier at the Boston Hotel, in Blackpool and served for 12 years on the club’s board of directors until Owen Oyston took over.
He died in Blackpool on 17 December 2019 after a lengthy illness. Tommy White was a wholehearted player and a lovely man and will be sadly missed by family and friends alike.
Tom White was born at Musselburgh on 12 August 1939. He was a bustling centre forward who started his career with Bonnyrigg Rose before moving to Scottish League side Raith Rovers, where he scored 11 goals in 30 games, his career there having been interrupted by two years' National Service. He moved on to St Mirren, where he scored 20 goals in 35 League games before being transferred to Heart of Midlothian, where he played 37 League games, scoring 30 goals, eight Cup games, scoring five goals, and 16 other games, scoring 13 goals, a record of 48 goals that earned him the moniker 'Goal-a-game White'. However, a serious car crash curtailed his career at Hearts, from where he was selected for the Scottish League against the Irish League but he had to withdraw through illness. Also while at Hearts he played for Tottenham Hotspur in The John White Memorial Match for his older brother John White, who was tragically struck by lightning on a golf course aged just 27, against an All Star Scotland XI at White Hart Lane on 10 November 1964, when he scored the first of Spurs' goals in a 6-2 defeat.
He left Hearts finally when he was exchanged for Aberdeen's Don Kerrigan in the summer of 1965 and his brief spell at the club saw him score four goals in 14 games before a move into English football when he joined Crystal Palace along with team-mate John McCormick in May 1966. He went on to play 37 League games, make two substitute appearances and score 13 goals for Palace. He was then signed by Blackpool from Crystal Palace for a fee of £19,000 on 11 March 1968.
He made his League debut for Blackpool against Aston Villa on 16 March 1968 when Blackpool won 1-0 with a goal from Gordon Milne. He scored his first League goal for the Seasiders in his third game when Plymouth Argyle were defeated 2-0 on 30 May 1968. Then after five games in which he failed to score he scored both goals in the 2-0 victory over Portsmouth on 27 April 1968. He scored one further goal, in a 3-1 victory over Derby County on 4 May 1968 which gave him four goals in the 11 League games he played in the 1967/68 season. And he was such a wholehearted player that the endearing chant of 'Tom, Tom, Tom. Tom, Tommy White' regularly rang round the terraces at Bloomfield Road.
He began the 1968/69 season in fine form and he scored both goals in the 2-0 defeat of Hull City on the first day of the season, 10 August 1968, and he featured in the opening 11 games before injury interrupted his season. He was in and out of the side for the remainder of that season as Blackpool tried to replace him with a variety of occasional centre forwards. On one occasion he returned from his injury for his first Central League game of the season and he scored twice as Blackpool defeated Burnley reserves 3-1 on 14 December 1968.
And perhaps not surprisingly, he was 'way below form' as 'the attack seldom functioned smoothly' despite Blackpool defeating Norwich City 2-1 on 19 March 1969. In an injury-hit season he played 22 League games, scoring five goals, one FA Cup tie, two League Cup ties, scoring two goals, and four Central League games, scoring three goals, in the 1968/69 season.
He was unfortunately not fully fit when the 1969/70 season began and on 3 September 1969 Blackpool reluctantly announced that they were ready to listen to offers for him and he was placed on the transfer list.
Supposedly recovered from his ankle injury, he made his first League start of the 1969/70 season against Watford on 20 September 1969. With Blackpool one goal behind, he was replaced after 68 minutes and Blackpool went on to lose 3-0. Although at one time he 'seemed a little slow off the mark' when chasing a Hutchison cross, he did have a couple of memorable moments when on the field. They came when his 'shot on the turn from 16-yards was going low into the corner of the net when Walker dived full length to save' and then when he was 'spoken to by the referee for challenging goalkeeper Walker'.
It was his only League game of the 1969/70 season and it turned out to be his final game for Blackpool, for whom he played 34 League games and scored nine goals plus three Cup ties scoring two goals. Blackpool gave him a free transfer on 19 June 1970 and he immediately joined Bury and went on to play 46 League games, make two substitute appearances and score 13 goals for the club. He had one final League club when he was transferred to Crewe Alexandra in December 1971 but he played only four League games for the club without scoring a goal. However he did score a most creditable total of 100 goals in his 241 senior League games for his various clubs.
He later had a spell with then non-League Fleetwood before he was appointed caretaker-manager of Blackpool in April 1990 after Jimmy Mullen had resigned and he was in charge until the end of the season when Graham Carr was appointed on a permanent basis.
He was later a business man, a hotelier at the Boston Hotel, in Blackpool and served for 12 years on the club’s board of directors until Owen Oyston took over.
He died in Blackpool on 17 December 2019 after a lengthy illness. Tommy White was a wholehearted player and a lovely man and will be sadly missed by family and friends alike.
A Delightful Trip up the Coast
An absorbing couple of hours in the
Fleetwood Museum Bookshop
I am not a great traveller these days but one trip I do enjoy making is the seven-mile journey up the Fylde Coast to Fleetwood. My great friend Laura, with whom I spend many happy hours hunting around charity shops and junk shops for bargains, and I go there approximately once a month to browse in the fabulous Fleetwood Museum Bookshop.
The thing is it is not just browsing for we both come away having purchased any number of books, which is the object of the exercise in supporting the Museum. My excuse – that is if I need one – is that I am subscribing to Sigmund Freud’s view that collecting is compensation for grief. I can say that with some truth because my book collection has grown massively since I lost my dearly beloved wife, Linda, 17 years ago. Laura, a good deal younger than me, does not need an excuse, she just loves books!
The trip to the bookshop has become a regular outing on a given Tuesday and we have made friends with a charming lady who helps to run the shop and it is always a pleasure to meet up with her when we visit. I am afraid that at the time of writing this, having just come home after fish and chips from Pisces, the best fish and chip shop on the Fylde Coast, I have not asked her name. This is very remiss of me and I will rectify the matter on our next visit. Incidentally that is already scheduled for two weeks today, Tuesday 14 September.
On our visits I am never sure what I am going to buy because my tastes are very eclectic and anything I see that I take a fancy to could well go home with me! If I had to be specific, I would say that my two main interests are literature and art, with a strong liking for London, cricket …, should I go on? No, so you will get the idea, anything can find its way to the Wolstenholme library!
So the specifics of this last visit, the purchases from which I have just spent a most enjoyable hour or so looking through, reading the odd introduction or foreword and generally enjoying my purchases over a cup of coffee in the back garden. As I said to the lady in charge as we left, I might not have the time to read them all – I would have to live, say, 839 more years to get through all my books (even if I did not add any more, which is MOST unlikely) but just to enjoy having them in my collection is worth every penny spent. I know they are there amongst the hundreds, nay, thousands, which I own; Laura always teases me about how many that is and her estimate is around 12,000. Of course, she exaggerates as I would estimate it to be perhaps 4 to 5,000. However, be that as it may, there are plenty!
And after this latest visit there are a further 30 volumes. And I thought it would be fun to list them. I should add that they are not all for me for I do buy for my daughter, who, unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, for her, has my bibliomaniac genes in her make-up. I also make purchases as presents for her husband.
The titles this time around and what attracted me to them are:
A Christmas Carol and Other Christmas Writings by Charles Dickens. This is the Penguin Classics edition with an introduction by Michael Slater. I am a massive Dickens collector and any different editions, particularly with new introductions, are likely to end up at home. Incidentally, I was lucky enough to be invited to take part in a symposium with Michael Slater, who I have always admired, last year and an essay of mine accompanied his and a couple of other academics’ writing on the Blackburn Museum website.
Lord Hornblower by CS Forester. I have never read a Hornblower novel but I saw this American edition that had an eye-catching illustrative cover by Douglas Smith and it appealed to me. It will be my first Hornblower read; fancy beginning with the final title in a 10-novel sequence.
Period Piece by Gwen Raverat. I was a secondhand and antiquarian bookseller for many years and this book of reminiscences by Charles Darwin’s granddaughter was a perennial good seller but I never read it so I thought it was about time I did.
Jack Kerouac by Warren French. This title fulfils my literary interest. I have read the informative introduction already, over my coffee, and in the main body of the text the author introduces much of Kerouac’s fiction that does not get the coverage that On the Road gets.
Dear Dodie: The Life of Dodie Smith by Valerie Grove. Another literary title, which I never had in my bookselling days so I thought it was time I owned a copy to read.
Pursuit of Pleasure: High Society in the 1900s by K Middlemas. This tickled my history fancy as it concerns the society and social habits of the Edwardian years.
Tramway Memories by J Joyce. Not the famous J Joyce (I’m pleased to say for his wife said to him on one classic occasion, ‘James, why don’t you write something that people want to read?’) My Dad was a huge tram fan and I always bought him such books as presents so this one was in homage to him as he did pass on those interests, although not quite as strong.
London United Tramways: A History 1894-1933 by Geoffrey Wilson. As well as the tram interest (see above), this combines another main interest of mine London and it also has historical context.
Loving Mr Darcy by Sharon Lathan. I have a number of sequels to Jane Austen’s novels and here is another. At school we read Northanger Abbey for GCE and I was not keen on it, thinking it a girls’ novel but I am now quite a Janeite and I do enjoy how other authors continue famous works.
It’s About Time: the dave brubeck story by Fred M Hall. Jazz is another of my interests and I well remember as a youngster Dave Brubeck’s Take Five entering the charts. It was, to me anyway at the time, a surprise hit as I was a rock ‘n’ roller with a passion for Chuck Berry. But Take Five took the music world by storm and became the first million-selling jazz record, I grew to like it and so I thought I ought to learn something about Dave and his record.
The British Tram by Frank E Wilson. Another for the small tram collection, it is a more ephemeral offering which, for me, adds to the charm.
Wicked Women’s Wit and Humour from Elizabeth I to Ruby Wax edited by Fidelis Morgan. I rather like such books for browsing and when I saw not unsurprisingly Dorothy Parker was oft quoted I couldn’t resist it.
The London Transport Golden Jubilee Book 1933-1983 by Oliver Green and John Reed. This combines my London interest with my interest in the metropolis transport systems so I just had to have it; perhaps this could be my next read!
A Brief History of Life in the Middle Ages by Martyn Whittock. I was not the greatest history scholar at school but as I have got older I find it fascinating to read about how people lived and acted in days of yore.
Churchill’s Grand Alliance: The Anglo-American Special Relationship 1940-57 by John Charmley. My Dad was a Churchill fan although he was a strict Labour voter and we had books on the shelves about him so I was aware of him from a young age. I thought this would be interesting because it looks at a specific aspect of his career.
The Booker Quiz by Christopher Booker. At first I thought this might by a quiz about the Booker Prize and as that is rather modern for my tastes I avoided it. However, I decided to have a closer look at it to discover that it is the author’s name rather than the award and that the quizzes are all literary. I thought it would be fun to have a go, that is until I looked at the first three and answered one question, Who wrote The Prime Minister? Yes, I knew that was Anthony Trollope but other questions left me blank! I will get better, I feel sure as I progress through the book!
The Decline of the Castle by MW Thompson. Architecture and castles in particular have always had a fascination for me so I thought it would be good to appreciate how the latter went into decline. The very minor disappointment is that Pendennis Castle in Falmouth is not mentioned for when we visited when Deborah was young I persuaded her to pretend that we were storming the castle as we made our way up the grassy slopes and once on the battlements that we were firing the cannons at the French! Well, it was fun at the time.
Birds in Your Garden: A month-by-month guide by Tony Soper and Roger Lovegrove. I bought this for Deborah for she has a haven of wildlife, particularly birds, where she lives in Somerset. It has lovely watercolour illustrations by Tony Busby.
Oasis Among the Chimney Pots: The story of a town bird sanctuary by Gwen Haines. Similarly I bought this for Deborah because she will appreciate the author’s efforts in setting up an urban sanctuary.
The Ship: The life and death of the Merchant Sailing Ship 1815-1965 by Basil Greenhill. I have always had an interest in olden day sailing ships ever since my Dad took me to see the Cutty Sark as a nine-year-old. And then, a couple of years ago we visited SS Great Britain and both these feature in this volume. An additional incentive to purchase it came when I opened the cover to discover the pricing of a great friend and former bookselling colleague Bob Dobson’s pricing inside.
LaRousse Encyclopedia of Renaissance and Baroque Art edited by René Huyghe.
The Complete Paintings of Piero della Francesca by Peter Murray and Pierluigi de Veecht.
Degas by Antoine Terrasse.
Klee by Douglas Hall.
An Introduction to The Humanities Illustration Book.
The World of Turner 1775-1851 by Diana Hirsh.
Manet and the Modern Tradition by Anne Coffin Hanson.
Holbein by Radu Boureanu.
The Drawings of Watteau by Malcolm Cormack.
History & Techniques of the great Masters: Toulouse-Lautrec by Christopher Ackroyd.
These art books cover a wide variety of styles and periods which reflect my interests from the Middle Ages and 15th century Italian della Francesca through Turner, a real favourite, the Impressionists, all of whom I enjoy, to the more modern Paul Klee. There are plenty of great images to enjoy even if I don’t get round to reading all of them!
Oh, I almost forgot, I did acquire two children’s books to go along with these purchases.
Noddy and the Roller Skates and The Wars of the Roses. The former reflects my interest in Noddy as he was my very first collectible; I had the whole series and my Dad built a special bookcase to house them into the wall in my bedroom. I don’t have those books now (sadly) but I have reacquired them and still have a sneak read of them when no-one is looking! As for the latter, it also dates back to my youth for it is a Pitkin Pictorial and we used to buy those at various places that we visited so I built up quite a collection. They, too, are gone but I am rebuilding the collection!
So there we have it, a resumé of today’s purchases. I do so hope it has some appeal to the reader(s)!
Fleetwood Museum Bookshop
I am not a great traveller these days but one trip I do enjoy making is the seven-mile journey up the Fylde Coast to Fleetwood. My great friend Laura, with whom I spend many happy hours hunting around charity shops and junk shops for bargains, and I go there approximately once a month to browse in the fabulous Fleetwood Museum Bookshop.
The thing is it is not just browsing for we both come away having purchased any number of books, which is the object of the exercise in supporting the Museum. My excuse – that is if I need one – is that I am subscribing to Sigmund Freud’s view that collecting is compensation for grief. I can say that with some truth because my book collection has grown massively since I lost my dearly beloved wife, Linda, 17 years ago. Laura, a good deal younger than me, does not need an excuse, she just loves books!
The trip to the bookshop has become a regular outing on a given Tuesday and we have made friends with a charming lady who helps to run the shop and it is always a pleasure to meet up with her when we visit. I am afraid that at the time of writing this, having just come home after fish and chips from Pisces, the best fish and chip shop on the Fylde Coast, I have not asked her name. This is very remiss of me and I will rectify the matter on our next visit. Incidentally that is already scheduled for two weeks today, Tuesday 14 September.
On our visits I am never sure what I am going to buy because my tastes are very eclectic and anything I see that I take a fancy to could well go home with me! If I had to be specific, I would say that my two main interests are literature and art, with a strong liking for London, cricket …, should I go on? No, so you will get the idea, anything can find its way to the Wolstenholme library!
So the specifics of this last visit, the purchases from which I have just spent a most enjoyable hour or so looking through, reading the odd introduction or foreword and generally enjoying my purchases over a cup of coffee in the back garden. As I said to the lady in charge as we left, I might not have the time to read them all – I would have to live, say, 839 more years to get through all my books (even if I did not add any more, which is MOST unlikely) but just to enjoy having them in my collection is worth every penny spent. I know they are there amongst the hundreds, nay, thousands, which I own; Laura always teases me about how many that is and her estimate is around 12,000. Of course, she exaggerates as I would estimate it to be perhaps 4 to 5,000. However, be that as it may, there are plenty!
And after this latest visit there are a further 30 volumes. And I thought it would be fun to list them. I should add that they are not all for me for I do buy for my daughter, who, unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, for her, has my bibliomaniac genes in her make-up. I also make purchases as presents for her husband.
The titles this time around and what attracted me to them are:
A Christmas Carol and Other Christmas Writings by Charles Dickens. This is the Penguin Classics edition with an introduction by Michael Slater. I am a massive Dickens collector and any different editions, particularly with new introductions, are likely to end up at home. Incidentally, I was lucky enough to be invited to take part in a symposium with Michael Slater, who I have always admired, last year and an essay of mine accompanied his and a couple of other academics’ writing on the Blackburn Museum website.
Lord Hornblower by CS Forester. I have never read a Hornblower novel but I saw this American edition that had an eye-catching illustrative cover by Douglas Smith and it appealed to me. It will be my first Hornblower read; fancy beginning with the final title in a 10-novel sequence.
Period Piece by Gwen Raverat. I was a secondhand and antiquarian bookseller for many years and this book of reminiscences by Charles Darwin’s granddaughter was a perennial good seller but I never read it so I thought it was about time I did.
Jack Kerouac by Warren French. This title fulfils my literary interest. I have read the informative introduction already, over my coffee, and in the main body of the text the author introduces much of Kerouac’s fiction that does not get the coverage that On the Road gets.
Dear Dodie: The Life of Dodie Smith by Valerie Grove. Another literary title, which I never had in my bookselling days so I thought it was time I owned a copy to read.
Pursuit of Pleasure: High Society in the 1900s by K Middlemas. This tickled my history fancy as it concerns the society and social habits of the Edwardian years.
Tramway Memories by J Joyce. Not the famous J Joyce (I’m pleased to say for his wife said to him on one classic occasion, ‘James, why don’t you write something that people want to read?’) My Dad was a huge tram fan and I always bought him such books as presents so this one was in homage to him as he did pass on those interests, although not quite as strong.
London United Tramways: A History 1894-1933 by Geoffrey Wilson. As well as the tram interest (see above), this combines another main interest of mine London and it also has historical context.
Loving Mr Darcy by Sharon Lathan. I have a number of sequels to Jane Austen’s novels and here is another. At school we read Northanger Abbey for GCE and I was not keen on it, thinking it a girls’ novel but I am now quite a Janeite and I do enjoy how other authors continue famous works.
It’s About Time: the dave brubeck story by Fred M Hall. Jazz is another of my interests and I well remember as a youngster Dave Brubeck’s Take Five entering the charts. It was, to me anyway at the time, a surprise hit as I was a rock ‘n’ roller with a passion for Chuck Berry. But Take Five took the music world by storm and became the first million-selling jazz record, I grew to like it and so I thought I ought to learn something about Dave and his record.
The British Tram by Frank E Wilson. Another for the small tram collection, it is a more ephemeral offering which, for me, adds to the charm.
Wicked Women’s Wit and Humour from Elizabeth I to Ruby Wax edited by Fidelis Morgan. I rather like such books for browsing and when I saw not unsurprisingly Dorothy Parker was oft quoted I couldn’t resist it.
The London Transport Golden Jubilee Book 1933-1983 by Oliver Green and John Reed. This combines my London interest with my interest in the metropolis transport systems so I just had to have it; perhaps this could be my next read!
A Brief History of Life in the Middle Ages by Martyn Whittock. I was not the greatest history scholar at school but as I have got older I find it fascinating to read about how people lived and acted in days of yore.
Churchill’s Grand Alliance: The Anglo-American Special Relationship 1940-57 by John Charmley. My Dad was a Churchill fan although he was a strict Labour voter and we had books on the shelves about him so I was aware of him from a young age. I thought this would be interesting because it looks at a specific aspect of his career.
The Booker Quiz by Christopher Booker. At first I thought this might by a quiz about the Booker Prize and as that is rather modern for my tastes I avoided it. However, I decided to have a closer look at it to discover that it is the author’s name rather than the award and that the quizzes are all literary. I thought it would be fun to have a go, that is until I looked at the first three and answered one question, Who wrote The Prime Minister? Yes, I knew that was Anthony Trollope but other questions left me blank! I will get better, I feel sure as I progress through the book!
The Decline of the Castle by MW Thompson. Architecture and castles in particular have always had a fascination for me so I thought it would be good to appreciate how the latter went into decline. The very minor disappointment is that Pendennis Castle in Falmouth is not mentioned for when we visited when Deborah was young I persuaded her to pretend that we were storming the castle as we made our way up the grassy slopes and once on the battlements that we were firing the cannons at the French! Well, it was fun at the time.
Birds in Your Garden: A month-by-month guide by Tony Soper and Roger Lovegrove. I bought this for Deborah for she has a haven of wildlife, particularly birds, where she lives in Somerset. It has lovely watercolour illustrations by Tony Busby.
Oasis Among the Chimney Pots: The story of a town bird sanctuary by Gwen Haines. Similarly I bought this for Deborah because she will appreciate the author’s efforts in setting up an urban sanctuary.
The Ship: The life and death of the Merchant Sailing Ship 1815-1965 by Basil Greenhill. I have always had an interest in olden day sailing ships ever since my Dad took me to see the Cutty Sark as a nine-year-old. And then, a couple of years ago we visited SS Great Britain and both these feature in this volume. An additional incentive to purchase it came when I opened the cover to discover the pricing of a great friend and former bookselling colleague Bob Dobson’s pricing inside.
LaRousse Encyclopedia of Renaissance and Baroque Art edited by René Huyghe.
The Complete Paintings of Piero della Francesca by Peter Murray and Pierluigi de Veecht.
Degas by Antoine Terrasse.
Klee by Douglas Hall.
An Introduction to The Humanities Illustration Book.
The World of Turner 1775-1851 by Diana Hirsh.
Manet and the Modern Tradition by Anne Coffin Hanson.
Holbein by Radu Boureanu.
The Drawings of Watteau by Malcolm Cormack.
History & Techniques of the great Masters: Toulouse-Lautrec by Christopher Ackroyd.
These art books cover a wide variety of styles and periods which reflect my interests from the Middle Ages and 15th century Italian della Francesca through Turner, a real favourite, the Impressionists, all of whom I enjoy, to the more modern Paul Klee. There are plenty of great images to enjoy even if I don’t get round to reading all of them!
Oh, I almost forgot, I did acquire two children’s books to go along with these purchases.
Noddy and the Roller Skates and The Wars of the Roses. The former reflects my interest in Noddy as he was my very first collectible; I had the whole series and my Dad built a special bookcase to house them into the wall in my bedroom. I don’t have those books now (sadly) but I have reacquired them and still have a sneak read of them when no-one is looking! As for the latter, it also dates back to my youth for it is a Pitkin Pictorial and we used to buy those at various places that we visited so I built up quite a collection. They, too, are gone but I am rebuilding the collection!
So there we have it, a resumé of today’s purchases. I do so hope it has some appeal to the reader(s)!
Mighty Max!
Maxwell Stewart Thompson 1956 - 2023
Max Thompson was born in Liverpool on 31 December 1956 and joined Liverpool as a 15-year-old apprentice, playing in central defence in the ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams, before signing as a professional in January 1974. He became Liverpool’s youngest ever debutant at 17 years 129 days when Bill Shankley picked him for the one League game he played for the club, at centre forward against Tottenham Hotspur in the final game of the 1973/74 season; his record stood until May 2010 when it went to Jack Robinson who played as a 16-year-old. He did play one other first team game in the EUFA Cup side and was a regular member of the championship winning reserve side. And he spent the summer of 1977 playing in America in the North American Soccer League with Dallas Tornadoes, playing 21 games and scoring two goals.
Max also operated as a central defender and it was in that position that he was signed by Blackpool on a month’s loan from Liverpool on 30 December 1977. He had decided to accept the offer in the hope of playing first team football.
He made his Blackpool debut at full back for the Central League side against Preston North End reserves on 31 December 1977 when late in the game he ‘overlapped on the right to put the North End defence in a fix before they cleared’ as the game was drawn 1-1. Coach Derek Armstrong later commented that he was ’highly impressed’ with his performance.
In late January 1978, Blackpool manager Allan Brown was faced with a dilemma because although he wanted to sign Thompson he was concerned that Liverpool might put too high a fee on him. Brown had approached Liverpool manager Bob Paisley but he would not divulge any fee and had been sending his scouts to watch Thompson so that he could get the valuation right! The loan was extended while the two clubs deliberated about an agreed fee.
In the meantime, he made his League debut for Blackpool against Charlton Athletic on 14 January 1978 when Blackpool won 5-1 and he made ‘a notable debut at right back’ in that he was ‘well controlled, strong and classy and got into the opponents’ box more times than any full back since Dave Hatton’s reign’ as Blackpool ’overwhelmed Charlton who hardly managed a fiery attack’.
He kept his place for five games and in a 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur on 11 February 1978, he and Stan McEwan ‘marshalled a fine defence’ as Blackpool drew 2-2. And, his loan having been extended once more, the question was being asked ‘What price Max?’ because by then there was competition from other clubs who wanted to sign the Liverpool reserve. But in the game against Cardiff City on 25 February 1978 he crashed into a barrier and had to leave the field as Blackpool lost 2-1. He was out of the side for three games.
The transfer issue was settled when Blackpool eventually signed him on 8 March 1978 for a then club record fee of £80,000 as the Blackpool management felt that he would make a big impact as a centre half and that he would form a good partnership with either Stan McEwan or Peter Suddaby. Blackpool’s caretaker manager Jimmy Meadow’s view was ‘Thompson has flair and skill and is a valuable asset and the fee was fair.’ Meadows had been appointed following the sacking of Allan Brown, and he immediately had a dilemma as apparently Liverpool had agreed to Thompson playing in America again in the 1978 close season so Blackpool honoured the deal, albeit begrudgingly for Meadows said that deals with American clubs generally caused problems for their English counterparts. Meadows commented, ‘I didn’t want Max to go and he will not be going next year.’
Max returned to the League side for a 2-1 defeat by Bolton Wanderers on 25 March 1978 but in the following match against Sunderland, a 1-1 draw, he injured his hamstring and was sidelined once again.
Fit again and returning to the League side once more as substitute against Millwall on 15 April 1978, he had to replace an injured Alan Ainscow after just half-an-hour and rather than disturb the defence he was played up front as Blackpool lost 2-0.
The view in April 1978 just before the end of the season was ‘The club has four cracking defenders in Peter Suddaby, Maxie Thompson, Stan McEwan and Brian Wilson. But someone has to have the guts to pick two of them and stick to their guns, and have the other two competing for places, and not shift one of them from right back to the left wing in a vain attempt to keep everyone happy.’ Max finished the 1977/78 season having played 11 League games and made one substitute appearance.
In the 1978/79 pre-season he scored his first goal for the club in a friendly game against Fort Lauderdale Strikers on 7 August 1978 when Blackpool won 3-2.
Relegated to Division three, Blackpool appointed Bob Stokoe for a second spell at the club and the manager was upset in August 1978 because there was a hold-up in Thompson being released to return to play in England after his summer playing for Dallas Tornadoes in the North American Soccer League, where he scored two goals in 22 games.
Dallas did not immediately sign the release papers and Blackpool were pressing them as late as 14 August 1978 to do so. Even though Thompson was under contract to Blackpool who now held his registration, he could not play until the release had been signed. Stokoe said, ‘It is not for me to comment on the system that applies in such transfers, but we need Maxie and I hope we sort this one out so that I can have 13 men to pick from on Wednesday.’ In the event he was not available for the Wednesday game, a League Cup second leg tie against Carlisle United.
When he did return to England he had a knee injury that had to be treated and then Blackpool had to rush through clearance so that he was available to play for the club immediately. In the event, he was finally available for the first League game of the season on 19 August 1978 when Blackpool defeated Oxford United 1-0 and his ‘return gave the side more balance’. He was injured in the second half and because Blackpool had by then used their substitute he had to limp on in the attack.
Sadly as Blackpool lost the second League game of the season 5-1 to Watford on 22 August 1978 ‘Paul Gardner and Max Thompson looked lost at the buzzing going on past them.’ But the pair recovered and formed a steady full back partnership for the opening 16 games of the season.
And Max was back to good form in a 1-1 draw with Manchester City in a third round League Cup tie on 4 October 1978 ‘there was no doubt who was the king in defence’, it was Thompson ‘whose timing of tackles was as exquisite as his distribution and who looked, if he can keep his concentration in lesser matches, as if he is going to be one of the most cultured players the club has had’.
He scored his first League goal for Blackpool in a 2-0 victory over Tranmere Rovers on 26 December 1978 although there was some confusion for all the following day’s newspapers credited it as an own goal when Thompson’s shot was deflected into the net. However Blackpool and The Football League both credited the goal to Thompson.
Although he was a first team regular, apart from minor injury problems, in early March 1979 Swansea Town were said to be interested in signing him. Player-manager John Toshack was a former Liverpool colleague of his and was looking for an experienced sweeper whose qualities he was well aware of but obviously Blackpool were not prepared to listen to any offers.
In early April 1979 he was waiting agonisingly to know whether he would need a cartilage operation following a recent injury. He was disappointed with the season to that date for, after Dallas Tornadoes had played him in matches when injured and then given him treatment to play the following game without a rest, he had returned to England carrying the injury. However he overcame this to miss only seven games through injury and suspension but, after missing a few games, he did comment, ‘I just feel like I’ve never been able to get going this season.’ He returned to action on 13 April in a 4-2 defeat by Chester and remained in the side for the rest of the season.
In that game against Chester he scored Blackpool’s equaliser at 1-1 when ‘the ball ran loose and he fired his shot into the roof of the net’, had a penalty given against him that virtually settled the result, and earned a booking for protesting against the decision. The incident occurred when ‘Thompson, who had got away with a number of nudges against the awkward Ian Edwards, this time was blatantly pushed by the Chester and Wales striker. As he fell back he caught the ball, obviously expecting a free kick. Referee Ken Baker, who could have refereed the game from the bath for all the control he had, only saw the handball and that was that.’ He finished the1978/79 season having played 38 League games plus making one substitute appearance, scoring one goal, one FA Cup tie and three League Cup ties.
He was ‘clobbered by Rochdale’s Alan Weir’ in a 1-0 League Cup victory on 11 August 1979. He went to hospital for an X-ray but fortunately there was no fracture of the shin. There was deep bruising and he was undergoing treatment in order to be fit for the opening of the League season. And he was fit for the start of the 1979/80 campaign and took his place in the side against Gillingham on 18 August 1979 when Blackpool won 2-1.
In mid-August 1979 he turned down the early offer of a new contract when his current one was to expire at the end of June 1980. He had by then attracted interest again from Swansea Town.
He was ‘pushed up front in an attempt to get Blackpool going’ against Peterborough United in the League Cup on 5 September 1979 and although he ‘got round the back [and] sent over the best cross of the night, Kellow jumping well planted his header wide of the gaping goal’ as Blackpool lost 1-0. But he aggravated an injury sustained and was obliged to miss five games.
He made his comeback in the Central League side against West Bromwich Albion reserves on 29 September 1979 and he scored one of Blackpool’s goals when he ‘forced a corner kick from the left over the line’ in a 3-3 draw.
When asked about his original move to Blackpool he commented in September 1979, ‘I had been in the reserve side at Liverpool for several seasons and felt I wasn’t getting anywhere. I had heard so much about what it was like to play in The Football League that I wanted to try it for myself, and now know how hard it is. My main ambition is to help get Blackpool out of the Third Division. I know we could have had a better start, but there is a long way to go yet and as long as we learn by our mistakes I think we will go up.’
There was speculation at the end of September 1979 that Blackpool were looking to replace Peter Suddaby, the 10-year veteran, with a younger man. One suggestion was that Blackpool should sell Max Thompson for £150,000 and put John May in the side. But another caretaker manager (until permanently appointed) Stan Ternent still considered Suddaby the best defender on the club’s books. He commented, ‘I have one or two lads in mind in defensive positions but I can only reaffirm my view that I am happy with the squad until such time as it is evident that we need strengthening. I don’t think the time has come yet.’
He returned to League action in a 3-2 defeat by Sheffield United on 3 October and then in a 2-1 defeat by Bury on 10 October 1979 Ternent said he was ‘the only player who played anything like his true form’.
But by 3 November 1979, after Blackpool had won only one of the seven games since his return, he was out of favour and made an appearance for the Central League side against Burnley reserves when Blackpool won the game 1-0. He became unsettled having been left out of the League side but after the club went two further games without a win, he was back in the side against Sheffield Wednesday on 10 November 1979. And he was ’superb’, although he was booked for a trip in the 76th minute, as the game was drawn 1-1.
He continued to show good form, which prompted Ternent to comment, ’The best of Maxie is yet to come.’ This comment followed his two games at centre half, the first time since he signed for the club that he had played two consecutive games in his natural position. He finished the season having played 22 League games plus making two substitute appearances, one FA Cup tie and four League Cup ties.
Blackpool retained his registration when he moved to Seattle Sounders in the United States of America in the summer of 1980. He went on an arrangement whereby there would be ‘a fee to be paid in cash or kind at a later date’. In fact Blackpool had allowed him to go on the understanding that Alan Hudson would be transferred to Blackpool from Seattle but Hudson vetoed such a move and thus Thompson agreed to return to Blackpool after the American season having played five games for Seattle.
But it was not all plain sailing for, in late August 1980, he was still playing in the play-off games in America but there was talk of him returning to Blackpool as cover for the then injured Ricky Sbragia and Jackie Ashurst. Manager Alan Ball commented, ‘We have talented youngsters on the books, but you have to think in terms of a long, hard season and Maxie may come in useful.’
And useful he certainly was for he made his comeback with Blackpool as a substitute, replacing the injured Paul Fletcher, against Walsall on 27 September 1980 when the game was drawn 2-2 before he was retained as a striker for his first League start of the 1980/81 season due poor form of others, an injury to Paul Fletcher and the departure of Ted MacDougall. It was against Sheffield United on 1 October 1980 and he played a great game, scoring both Blackpool’s goals in a 2-1 victory.
From then on he played a variety of positions, always giving of his all and he ended the 1980/81 season having played 21 League games plus making three substitute appearances, scoring five goals, and one FA Cup tie.
But it was to be his final season with Blackpool, for having made 109 appearances, scoring seven goals for the club, he was transferred to Swansea City for a fee of £40,000 on 26 August 1981. At the time Blackpool’s returning manager Allan Brown commented, ‘Max made it clear that he was not happy here so I told him to fix himself up. John Toshack [Swansea manager] said he would be interested if the price was right so I pressed ahead with the deal. I don’t want unhappy players here when I am developing a good team spirit.’
After playing 31 games and scoring two goals for Swansea he was transferred to AFC Bournemouth in August 1983 where, after playing two League games when on loan to Port Vale in November 1983, he played nine League games.
He returned to America between 1983, playing 39 games and scoring six goals for Baltimore Blast and he also had a spell with Portuguese side Associação Académica de Coimbra.
On return to England he played some non-league football, with Northwich Victoria in 1986, Caernarfon Town in 1987, Fleetwood in 1988, Newport County in 1988 and 1989 and Southport from 1989 to 1992. In between he had a brief spell with Swedish club Kramfors-Alliansen Fotboll.
Then, after taking a football injuries course at Lilleshall, he became physiotherapist at Southport, where he also performed the role of assistant-manager, and also physiotherapist at Liverpool with his final role in football being as manager for Knowsley United until they folded in 1997. Life after football saw him as an ambulance driver.
In almost 300 games for his many clubs, Max was a wholehearted player and never gave less than 100% and he will be sadly missed by family and friends after his early death at age 66 on 27 June 2023.
Max Thompson was born in Liverpool on 31 December 1956 and joined Liverpool as a 15-year-old apprentice, playing in central defence in the ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams, before signing as a professional in January 1974. He became Liverpool’s youngest ever debutant at 17 years 129 days when Bill Shankley picked him for the one League game he played for the club, at centre forward against Tottenham Hotspur in the final game of the 1973/74 season; his record stood until May 2010 when it went to Jack Robinson who played as a 16-year-old. He did play one other first team game in the EUFA Cup side and was a regular member of the championship winning reserve side. And he spent the summer of 1977 playing in America in the North American Soccer League with Dallas Tornadoes, playing 21 games and scoring two goals.
Max also operated as a central defender and it was in that position that he was signed by Blackpool on a month’s loan from Liverpool on 30 December 1977. He had decided to accept the offer in the hope of playing first team football.
He made his Blackpool debut at full back for the Central League side against Preston North End reserves on 31 December 1977 when late in the game he ‘overlapped on the right to put the North End defence in a fix before they cleared’ as the game was drawn 1-1. Coach Derek Armstrong later commented that he was ’highly impressed’ with his performance.
In late January 1978, Blackpool manager Allan Brown was faced with a dilemma because although he wanted to sign Thompson he was concerned that Liverpool might put too high a fee on him. Brown had approached Liverpool manager Bob Paisley but he would not divulge any fee and had been sending his scouts to watch Thompson so that he could get the valuation right! The loan was extended while the two clubs deliberated about an agreed fee.
In the meantime, he made his League debut for Blackpool against Charlton Athletic on 14 January 1978 when Blackpool won 5-1 and he made ‘a notable debut at right back’ in that he was ‘well controlled, strong and classy and got into the opponents’ box more times than any full back since Dave Hatton’s reign’ as Blackpool ’overwhelmed Charlton who hardly managed a fiery attack’.
He kept his place for five games and in a 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur on 11 February 1978, he and Stan McEwan ‘marshalled a fine defence’ as Blackpool drew 2-2. And, his loan having been extended once more, the question was being asked ‘What price Max?’ because by then there was competition from other clubs who wanted to sign the Liverpool reserve. But in the game against Cardiff City on 25 February 1978 he crashed into a barrier and had to leave the field as Blackpool lost 2-1. He was out of the side for three games.
The transfer issue was settled when Blackpool eventually signed him on 8 March 1978 for a then club record fee of £80,000 as the Blackpool management felt that he would make a big impact as a centre half and that he would form a good partnership with either Stan McEwan or Peter Suddaby. Blackpool’s caretaker manager Jimmy Meadow’s view was ‘Thompson has flair and skill and is a valuable asset and the fee was fair.’ Meadows had been appointed following the sacking of Allan Brown, and he immediately had a dilemma as apparently Liverpool had agreed to Thompson playing in America again in the 1978 close season so Blackpool honoured the deal, albeit begrudgingly for Meadows said that deals with American clubs generally caused problems for their English counterparts. Meadows commented, ‘I didn’t want Max to go and he will not be going next year.’
Max returned to the League side for a 2-1 defeat by Bolton Wanderers on 25 March 1978 but in the following match against Sunderland, a 1-1 draw, he injured his hamstring and was sidelined once again.
Fit again and returning to the League side once more as substitute against Millwall on 15 April 1978, he had to replace an injured Alan Ainscow after just half-an-hour and rather than disturb the defence he was played up front as Blackpool lost 2-0.
The view in April 1978 just before the end of the season was ‘The club has four cracking defenders in Peter Suddaby, Maxie Thompson, Stan McEwan and Brian Wilson. But someone has to have the guts to pick two of them and stick to their guns, and have the other two competing for places, and not shift one of them from right back to the left wing in a vain attempt to keep everyone happy.’ Max finished the 1977/78 season having played 11 League games and made one substitute appearance.
In the 1978/79 pre-season he scored his first goal for the club in a friendly game against Fort Lauderdale Strikers on 7 August 1978 when Blackpool won 3-2.
Relegated to Division three, Blackpool appointed Bob Stokoe for a second spell at the club and the manager was upset in August 1978 because there was a hold-up in Thompson being released to return to play in England after his summer playing for Dallas Tornadoes in the North American Soccer League, where he scored two goals in 22 games.
Dallas did not immediately sign the release papers and Blackpool were pressing them as late as 14 August 1978 to do so. Even though Thompson was under contract to Blackpool who now held his registration, he could not play until the release had been signed. Stokoe said, ‘It is not for me to comment on the system that applies in such transfers, but we need Maxie and I hope we sort this one out so that I can have 13 men to pick from on Wednesday.’ In the event he was not available for the Wednesday game, a League Cup second leg tie against Carlisle United.
When he did return to England he had a knee injury that had to be treated and then Blackpool had to rush through clearance so that he was available to play for the club immediately. In the event, he was finally available for the first League game of the season on 19 August 1978 when Blackpool defeated Oxford United 1-0 and his ‘return gave the side more balance’. He was injured in the second half and because Blackpool had by then used their substitute he had to limp on in the attack.
Sadly as Blackpool lost the second League game of the season 5-1 to Watford on 22 August 1978 ‘Paul Gardner and Max Thompson looked lost at the buzzing going on past them.’ But the pair recovered and formed a steady full back partnership for the opening 16 games of the season.
And Max was back to good form in a 1-1 draw with Manchester City in a third round League Cup tie on 4 October 1978 ‘there was no doubt who was the king in defence’, it was Thompson ‘whose timing of tackles was as exquisite as his distribution and who looked, if he can keep his concentration in lesser matches, as if he is going to be one of the most cultured players the club has had’.
He scored his first League goal for Blackpool in a 2-0 victory over Tranmere Rovers on 26 December 1978 although there was some confusion for all the following day’s newspapers credited it as an own goal when Thompson’s shot was deflected into the net. However Blackpool and The Football League both credited the goal to Thompson.
Although he was a first team regular, apart from minor injury problems, in early March 1979 Swansea Town were said to be interested in signing him. Player-manager John Toshack was a former Liverpool colleague of his and was looking for an experienced sweeper whose qualities he was well aware of but obviously Blackpool were not prepared to listen to any offers.
In early April 1979 he was waiting agonisingly to know whether he would need a cartilage operation following a recent injury. He was disappointed with the season to that date for, after Dallas Tornadoes had played him in matches when injured and then given him treatment to play the following game without a rest, he had returned to England carrying the injury. However he overcame this to miss only seven games through injury and suspension but, after missing a few games, he did comment, ‘I just feel like I’ve never been able to get going this season.’ He returned to action on 13 April in a 4-2 defeat by Chester and remained in the side for the rest of the season.
In that game against Chester he scored Blackpool’s equaliser at 1-1 when ‘the ball ran loose and he fired his shot into the roof of the net’, had a penalty given against him that virtually settled the result, and earned a booking for protesting against the decision. The incident occurred when ‘Thompson, who had got away with a number of nudges against the awkward Ian Edwards, this time was blatantly pushed by the Chester and Wales striker. As he fell back he caught the ball, obviously expecting a free kick. Referee Ken Baker, who could have refereed the game from the bath for all the control he had, only saw the handball and that was that.’ He finished the1978/79 season having played 38 League games plus making one substitute appearance, scoring one goal, one FA Cup tie and three League Cup ties.
He was ‘clobbered by Rochdale’s Alan Weir’ in a 1-0 League Cup victory on 11 August 1979. He went to hospital for an X-ray but fortunately there was no fracture of the shin. There was deep bruising and he was undergoing treatment in order to be fit for the opening of the League season. And he was fit for the start of the 1979/80 campaign and took his place in the side against Gillingham on 18 August 1979 when Blackpool won 2-1.
In mid-August 1979 he turned down the early offer of a new contract when his current one was to expire at the end of June 1980. He had by then attracted interest again from Swansea Town.
He was ‘pushed up front in an attempt to get Blackpool going’ against Peterborough United in the League Cup on 5 September 1979 and although he ‘got round the back [and] sent over the best cross of the night, Kellow jumping well planted his header wide of the gaping goal’ as Blackpool lost 1-0. But he aggravated an injury sustained and was obliged to miss five games.
He made his comeback in the Central League side against West Bromwich Albion reserves on 29 September 1979 and he scored one of Blackpool’s goals when he ‘forced a corner kick from the left over the line’ in a 3-3 draw.
When asked about his original move to Blackpool he commented in September 1979, ‘I had been in the reserve side at Liverpool for several seasons and felt I wasn’t getting anywhere. I had heard so much about what it was like to play in The Football League that I wanted to try it for myself, and now know how hard it is. My main ambition is to help get Blackpool out of the Third Division. I know we could have had a better start, but there is a long way to go yet and as long as we learn by our mistakes I think we will go up.’
There was speculation at the end of September 1979 that Blackpool were looking to replace Peter Suddaby, the 10-year veteran, with a younger man. One suggestion was that Blackpool should sell Max Thompson for £150,000 and put John May in the side. But another caretaker manager (until permanently appointed) Stan Ternent still considered Suddaby the best defender on the club’s books. He commented, ‘I have one or two lads in mind in defensive positions but I can only reaffirm my view that I am happy with the squad until such time as it is evident that we need strengthening. I don’t think the time has come yet.’
He returned to League action in a 3-2 defeat by Sheffield United on 3 October and then in a 2-1 defeat by Bury on 10 October 1979 Ternent said he was ‘the only player who played anything like his true form’.
But by 3 November 1979, after Blackpool had won only one of the seven games since his return, he was out of favour and made an appearance for the Central League side against Burnley reserves when Blackpool won the game 1-0. He became unsettled having been left out of the League side but after the club went two further games without a win, he was back in the side against Sheffield Wednesday on 10 November 1979. And he was ’superb’, although he was booked for a trip in the 76th minute, as the game was drawn 1-1.
He continued to show good form, which prompted Ternent to comment, ’The best of Maxie is yet to come.’ This comment followed his two games at centre half, the first time since he signed for the club that he had played two consecutive games in his natural position. He finished the season having played 22 League games plus making two substitute appearances, one FA Cup tie and four League Cup ties.
Blackpool retained his registration when he moved to Seattle Sounders in the United States of America in the summer of 1980. He went on an arrangement whereby there would be ‘a fee to be paid in cash or kind at a later date’. In fact Blackpool had allowed him to go on the understanding that Alan Hudson would be transferred to Blackpool from Seattle but Hudson vetoed such a move and thus Thompson agreed to return to Blackpool after the American season having played five games for Seattle.
But it was not all plain sailing for, in late August 1980, he was still playing in the play-off games in America but there was talk of him returning to Blackpool as cover for the then injured Ricky Sbragia and Jackie Ashurst. Manager Alan Ball commented, ‘We have talented youngsters on the books, but you have to think in terms of a long, hard season and Maxie may come in useful.’
And useful he certainly was for he made his comeback with Blackpool as a substitute, replacing the injured Paul Fletcher, against Walsall on 27 September 1980 when the game was drawn 2-2 before he was retained as a striker for his first League start of the 1980/81 season due poor form of others, an injury to Paul Fletcher and the departure of Ted MacDougall. It was against Sheffield United on 1 October 1980 and he played a great game, scoring both Blackpool’s goals in a 2-1 victory.
From then on he played a variety of positions, always giving of his all and he ended the 1980/81 season having played 21 League games plus making three substitute appearances, scoring five goals, and one FA Cup tie.
But it was to be his final season with Blackpool, for having made 109 appearances, scoring seven goals for the club, he was transferred to Swansea City for a fee of £40,000 on 26 August 1981. At the time Blackpool’s returning manager Allan Brown commented, ‘Max made it clear that he was not happy here so I told him to fix himself up. John Toshack [Swansea manager] said he would be interested if the price was right so I pressed ahead with the deal. I don’t want unhappy players here when I am developing a good team spirit.’
After playing 31 games and scoring two goals for Swansea he was transferred to AFC Bournemouth in August 1983 where, after playing two League games when on loan to Port Vale in November 1983, he played nine League games.
He returned to America between 1983, playing 39 games and scoring six goals for Baltimore Blast and he also had a spell with Portuguese side Associação Académica de Coimbra.
On return to England he played some non-league football, with Northwich Victoria in 1986, Caernarfon Town in 1987, Fleetwood in 1988, Newport County in 1988 and 1989 and Southport from 1989 to 1992. In between he had a brief spell with Swedish club Kramfors-Alliansen Fotboll.
Then, after taking a football injuries course at Lilleshall, he became physiotherapist at Southport, where he also performed the role of assistant-manager, and also physiotherapist at Liverpool with his final role in football being as manager for Knowsley United until they folded in 1997. Life after football saw him as an ambulance driver.
In almost 300 games for his many clubs, Max was a wholehearted player and never gave less than 100% and he will be sadly missed by family and friends after his early death at age 66 on 27 June 2023.
