West Blatchington Primary School

First football team 1956/57

By Stan Brand

How the team was formed

This is the First Football Team of West Blatchington Junior School, selected back in 1956. The teacher's name was Mr Ken Booth who actually played for The Albion during the late 1940s.  Apparently he saw a group of us each day playing with a tennis ball during each playtime, and decided to form a school team. He walked into our class one day and proceeded to throw a football strip to each boy that he wanted for the team.

When I found the photo the names just flooded back. I think I remember all but one so here goes. As you look at the photo from your right to left we have;

Back row:

Keith Botting, Trevor Evans, Peter Blabber (Blay-ber),Mr Booth, Malcolm Wenban, Stan Brand and John Clarke.

Middle Row:

Georgie Hill, Terry Kirby, Peter Edmunds and Jonnie Strickland.

Front Row:

David Waldron, Don't Know, Simon Elias, Barry Pratt and Alan Gardiner.

I hope everyone of these guys are still with us and thanks for the good times we had together.

Click on the photograph and it will open in a new window.