Soham Grammarian Autumn 1951
SOCCER
Almost the whole of last year's defence had to be replaced at the beginning of the term and as a result the team had not settled down as a team during the early matches. Perry did not live up to our hopes as a goalkeeper and as we know now it was a mistake playing Roe at centre-forward.
However by half term, with Scarfe in goal, Roe at full-back, and the half-back line playing like lions, a useful combination had come into being. Once again we have failed to lay the Newport bogey, but otherwise we have more than held our own.
The under 14 XI have really stolen the limelight this term. All their matches have been won, they have played good football with spirit and enthusiasm and their performance bodes well for the future.
We congratulate the Shade School on their team this season; they gave an excellent display against our under 15 XI.
1ST XI CHARACTERS
SCARFE - A much better goalkeeper than full-back. Our record would have been better if he had held this position throughout the term.
BULLMAN - Good positional player; hasn't played a bad game to date. Might head the ball more.
ROE - Right-back is undoubtedly his correct position. A rugged tackler, tireless and quick on the ball.
CURRIE -Very good half-back. Controls the ball well and distributes it with great effect. Inclined to hang on to the ball too long.
IBBOTT - No complaints here. A tendency to wander away from the middle too much; otherwise he has had a good season.
DAISLEY - A tower of strength. Tremendous worker who seldom comes out of a tackle without the ball.
BUSH - He must learn to use his speed and get in to the game. He has improved during the season and can become a good winger.
DOCHERTY - Has a vast amount of energy, a necessary quality for an inside-forward. Plays well on the wing too.
HUBBARD - Has played well throughout the term both on the wing and at centreforward. Always trying hard, not afraid of being tackled. A good shot.
KENDALL - The schemer of the forward-line. Has good ball control and passes well. A much harder worker than last year.
BRAY - Always a hard tackler and, although awkward at times, makes up for this by his bustle and energy.
PEACOCK - We expected much of him this year and on odd occasions have got it. Weight has lessened speed here.
Now read report of match played Oct 18th.RAT
SOCCER MATCHES
FIRST ELEVEN
Wednesday, Sept 26th: v Newmarket GS (away)
With five old Colours forming a strong nucleus, the First Eleven began the season with the promise of having yet another successful year. The School were on top during the early stages and Kendall first hit the crossbar and then shot over the top. The Newmarket goalkeeper distinguished himself with an excellent save from a hard Peacock drive. Play became more even after a while, but the School had a goal lead at half-time scored by Hubbard with a high cross-shot.
Half-time 1-0Soon after the resumption, Newmarket equalised when Perry dropped a centre from the right-wing and allowed the opposing centre-forward to score. The School kept up a constant attack but could not score, owing to a resolute Newmarket defence and some very good goalkeeping. On three occasions good shots were charged down and cleared from the goal-line, and in the closing minute a Hubbard shot rebounded from the bar.
Result: School 1, Newmarket 1Saturday, Sept 26th: v March GS (home)
Played in the morning. Conditions were wet and slippery after early fog and the quick-moving School forwards backed up by the two wing-halves gave the March defence a harassing time. Currie was surprised to see a long-range ground shot elude the goalkeeper and so put the School one up. A second was added when a cross drive from Peacock was deflected into goal by an opposing defender. March retaliated and reduced the deficit, but Hubbard put the School further ahead, making the half-time score 3-l.The second half was a reiteration of the Newmarket match, only this time the goals were scored. Roe scored the fourth goal and also the fifth, heading in the rebound when a Kendall shot hit the bar. March were now reduced to spasmodic breakaways, which were easily repulsed by the School defence. Bray scored two more goals with excellent drives from the edge of the penalty area and Hubbard completed the scoring when he netted the eighth.
Result: School 8, March 1Thursday, Oct 11th: v Kings' School, Ely (home)
After an excellent beginning to the match the School's play deteriorated and the Kings' School finished the fresher and more vigorous side. The opening minutes resulted in a spate of corners and from the sixth of these Daisley scored, his high lob dropping just under the bar. The game had not been in progress five minutes when Kendall scored a second goal with a great left-foot shot. The Kings' School, however, pulled themselves together and reduced the School's lead when Perry only partly saved a shot and allowed the ball to cross the fine.
Half-time 2-1The Kings' equaliser came when their inside-left scored from a right-wing corner. The game now became more robust with play swinging from end to end. A penalty was awarded against a Kings' School defender for hands and this gave Kendall the opportunity of making it three-two in favour of the School. Kings', however, fought back and once more levelled the scores when Perry was unceremoniously bundled over the line.
Result: School 3, Kings' School 3Saturday, Oct 13th: v Newport GS (away)
This result was most disappointing as the School did not deserve to lose by three clear goals. Rain begin to fall the moment the game began and made playing conditions difficult. The School set up a series of attacks which resulted in several near misses, but at least one goal should have been scored. It was Newport, however, who opened the scoring when their left-winger scored from close range. The School suffered a further set-back when the Newport right-half scored with a longe-range ground shot, the ball bouncing from the uneven surface over Perry's head.
Half-time 0-2The School more than held their own on the resumption of play with Daisley playing an outstanding game. He was generally dominating the centre of the field and assisting the School forwards. It was Newport, however, who were attacking in the closing stages and they scored a third goal, the ball entering the net in a similar manner to the second goal. These two goals were both misfortunes for Perry who showed his inexperience on a difficult pitch.
Result: School 0, Newport 3Thursday, Oct 18th: v Kings' School, Ely (away)
There comes a time in a sportsman's career when the "rub of the green" favours him. This infrequent occurrence befell Peacock, playing for the first time at centre-forward for the School. Unhappily, he remembers very little of what happened and has to rely solely on reports.This was the first time that the School made changes in the team, Scarfe replacing Perry in goal, Peacock and Roe assuming different positions and Bush coming in on the left-wing. The first half was very even, Peacock scoring first for the School from close in, Kings' equalising, and Peacock regaining the lead with a shot from close range.
Half-time 2-lPeacock scored his third goal from a perfect Hubbard corner. Soon afterwards Peacock suffered concussion when he fell heavily on his head. He retired for several minutes, and though not fully recovered, he returned. Apparently Peacock plays better when bemused, for in the last half-hour he scored four goals from five shots, all from the edge of the penalty area! Kendall, too, scored one goal, but in scoring seven goals Peacock set up an individual School record. "A Lost Week-end" could not possibly rival this experience!
Result: School 8, Kings' School 1Saturday, Oct 20th: v Huntingdon GS (home)
This was the third occasion that the School scored eight goals, although it was not until the second half that the School were completely in charge.Hubbard, with some excellent runs on the right-wing, was having a good game as was Scarfe, who fielded the ball very well in goal and made one particularly good save. It was Hubbard who put the School in the lead, and close on halftime Peacock added a second from a goalmouth mêlée.
Half-time 2-0With wing-halves Daisley and Currie pushing the ball through to the forwards the play was kept constantly in the Huntingdon half. In one spell of ten minutes, four more goals were added. Peacock scored the third and bundled the goalie over for the fourth. Docherty, playing his first game, scored the fifth, while Bush, showing more confidence, scored the sixth. Peacock and Bush added the last two goals. The Huntingdon skipper, moving up into the forward-line, scored their solitary goal.
Result: School 8, Huntingdon 1Wednesday, Nov 7th: v Newport GS (home)
The School had yet another keen struggle with Newport in an evenly matched game, losing by the odd goal in three. Play swung from end to end and Scarfe in the School goal made several good saves. The School forwards, however, lacked thrust down the middle and the Newport goalkeeper did not have many shots to save. From a good centre by Hubbard, Peacock headed wide of an open goal. Soon afterwards Newport took the lead, their right-winger receiving a good pass from the centre-forward to score. The School retaliated strongly, but at half-time were still a goal down.
Half-time 0-1After ten minutes of the second half, the School suffered a further set-back. Newport's second goal was a personal tragedy for Roe, who turned a shot that would have passed outside into his own goal. Hubbard, the best of the School forwards, made the score two-one when a hard shot was deflected into the net by a Newport defender. The strong Newport defence, however, conceded no more goals.
Result: School 1, Newport 2Saturday, Nov 10th: v Saffron Walden FS (away)
The School had no difficulty in beating Saffron Walden by three goals to one. Saffron Walden relied mainly on the speed of their centre-forward and outside-left in attack and it was a passing movement between these two players which produced the first goal, From a breakaway the Walden centre-forward squared the ball across the goalmouth for the left-winger to run in and score. Bush, however, soon equalised when he headed in a cross-field pass. It was Bush who gave the School the lead, when, beating his full-back, he scored from short range.
Half-time 2-1The Saffron Walden defence did well to keep the School forwards from scoring in the second half. On several occasions the ball was scrambled away when a goal seemed imminent. It was from the penalty spot that the School obtained their third goal. Following a foul on Daisley, Kendall scored from the resulting penalty, the goalkeeper managing to get his hand to the ball but failing to stop it. The game, which never reached great heights, ended with Saffron Walden penned in their own half but preventing any further score.
Result: School 3, Saffron Walden 1Saturday, Nov 17th: v March GS (away)
The opening period of the match saw March in the ascendency, but once the School had settled down they quickly assumed the initiative. With Ibbott playing a strong game at centre-half, the March forwards failed to penetrate far into the penalty-area and Scarfe dealt competently with the long-range shots.With the School inside-forwards swinging the ball out to the wings and forcing March on to the defensive, the School seemed the more likely to score. Hubbard, taking a long through pass, cut in and scored with a good ground shot. He scored a second goal in a similar manner. Bush might have added a third, but the ball bounced from the bar and was cleared.
Half-time 2-0The School had the better of the second half and the defence had few March attacks to deal with. Bray scored the third School goal when, beating his half-back, he scored with a good left-foot drive. Peacock was unfortunate in having a goal
given offside when he headed a defender's faulty clearance into the net. However, just on full-time, he scored the fourth goal when a good shot from Currie was parried only on the goal-line.
Result: School 4, March 0Saturday, Nov 24th: v King Edward, Bury (home)
A high wind and heavy ground were not conducive to good football. With the wind behind them, Bury went ahead when a high lob dropped under the bar. Although play was mainly in the School half the equaliser came from the best concerted move of the forwards, Bush centreing the ball for Hubbard to head an excellent goal.
Half-time 1-lEarly in the second half, Hubbard ran on to a loose ball in the penalty area and made the score two-one. The Bury defence defended stubbornly, and their goal keeper was playing a sound game. An injury to Peacock saw the School forward line shuffled and Bury scored an equalising goal. A left-wing corner, however, gave Docherty the opportunity to score the winning goal for the School from close range.
Result: School 3, Bury 2Wednesday, Nov 28th: v Saffron Walden FS (home)
The game was played under conditions similar to those of the previous game with Bury. With a strong wind assisting the School, a three goals' lead was built up by half-time. From a left-wing corner, Hubbard headed in the first goal. Kendall made the score two-nought when he scored with a beautiful drive from the edge of the area, the best goal of the match. Daisley made the total three when he worked well out to the right and then scored with a high cross-shot.
Half-time 3-0In murky light, Saffron Walden did more of the attacking and, after twenty minutes' play, Daisley neutralised his own goal when he deflected the ball past Scarfe. Hubbard, however, added a fourth goal for the School when he chased a long through pass from Bray and hooked the ball over the goalkeeper's hands into the net.
Result: School 4, Saffron Walden 1Saturday, Dec 1st: v Huntingdon GS (away)
Huntingdon had three opportunities and scored three good goals ; the School had numerous opportunities and yet scored the same number. The School took some time to get accustomed to the narrow pitch and the forwards never really settled down. Huntingdon scored first, but Kendall quickly equalised. The forwards failed to finish good approach work and the two best shots came from wing-halves Currie and Bray, the latter hitting the bar from thirty yards. Huntingdon led at half-time through an opportunist goal by their right-half.
Half-time 1-2Straight from the kick-off the School equalised, Hubbard scoring from close range. The Huntingdon goalkeeper was playing a brilliant game, but was helped by indifferent shooting. Huntingdon again took the lead from a corner-kick. The School retaliated strongly and from one of their many attacks, Bush levelled the scores.
Result: School 3, Huntingdon 3Saturday, Dec 8th: v King Edward VI, Bury (away)
Soon after the star:, Docherty gave the School the lead and with such a promising beginning, the School settled down to play some very good football and generally dominated the first-half. An overhead kick by Kendall gave Peacock the chance to score with a good header. Hubbard made the total three when he out stripped the Bury defence and scored with a well placed ground shot.
Half-time 3-0The standard of play deteriorated considerably in the second half. A strong, blustering wind assisted Bury and they attacked with great fervour, and their centre-forward reduced the School lead. The game now developed into a grim, hard struggle and Bury scored a second goal. The School defence played determinedly, but the forward-line was making little progress against the robust Bury halves. In failing light, Bury equalised with an opportunist goal by their centre-forward and strove for the lead. The final whistle, however, came as a welcome relief to both sides.
Result: School 3, Bury 3
SECOND ELEVEN
Saturday, Sept 29th: v March GS 2nd XI (home)
At first the play was even, but gradually the School began to press more heavily. Neal and Bush both came near to scoring, but generally our finishing was weak. Just before half-time Bush scored a deserved goal from close range.
Half-time 1-0Soon after the restart, Starling increased our lead with a good shot from the wing. Our third goal came when Sykes scored from a goalmouth scramble. March fought back strongly, and scored twice through defensive blunders. However, the School defence held out until the end.
Result: School 3, March 2Thursday, Oct 11th: v Kings' School 2nd XI (home)
Kings' soon found their feet and scored first, making it two soon afterwards. We then attacked strongly and Docherty scored two snap goals shortly before half-time, thus levelling the scores.
Half-time 2-2Docherty quickly completed his hat-trick after the interval, but the Kings' soon equalised with a lob. They then subjected our defence to fierce pressure, and we only just lasted out. Bush was always a source of danger to the Kings' defence.
Result: School 3, Kings' School 3Thursday, Oct 18th: v Kings' School 2nd XI (away).
The School pressed strongly, and were soon rewarded with a goal by Neal. A few minutes later Nicholls increased our lead with a speculative long shot. The Kings' fought back, but the shooting of their forwards was poor and no further goals resulted.
Half-time 2-0Neal scored his second goal from close range, and with our forwards combining well, Rouse increased our lead from Neal's pass. Sykes scored our fifth goal shortly before the end with a well-placed shot.
Result: School 5, Kings' School 0Saturday, Oct 20th: v Huntingdon GS 2nd XI (home)
Owing to the absence of two of its regular members, our 2nd XI was reshuffled and consequently weakened. Neal scored first for the School, but Huntingdon equalised within a minute. Soon afterwards they went ahead, but we equalised through Neal before half-time.
Half-time 2-2Huntingdon pressed hard in the second half and took the lead, but Burton levelled the scores. Huntingdon lasted the pace better, and took the lead for the third time, holding it until the end.
Result: School 3, Huntingdon 4Saturday, Nov 17th: v March GS 2nd XI (away)
Although again being a partly depleted side, we played quite well against a strong March side, and only lack of incisiveness near goal prevented us from having a lead at the interval.
Half-time 0-0The School had the advantage of a slight breeze, and attacked almost continually. But the forwards missed chance after chance, and then March broke away and scored a good goal. Just before time Sykes had an easy chance to equalise, but missed an open goal from about three yards.
Result: School 0, March 1Saturday, Dec 1st: v Huntingdon GS 2nd XI (away)
The School kicked off, and Sykes scored an early goal. Huntingdon then scored twice, but we fought back and regained the lead, Sykes scoring both times. Huntingdon equalised, but Sykes restored our lead just before half-time.
Half-time 4-3Huntingdon again drew level soon after the restart, and then Sykes scored his fifth goal. The opposing goalkeeper unfortunately broke his nose, but the remaining ten men fought desperately and equalised for the fourth time. Shortly before the end, Neal scored the winning goal from close range.
Result: School 6, Huntingdon 5CAR
UNDER 14 ELEVEN RESULTS
Sept 29th v March GS Home Won 7-6
Oct 13th v Newport GS Away Won 5-3
Nov 7th v Newport GS Home Won 3-2
Nov 10th v Saffron Walden Away Won 5-0
Nov 17th v March GS Away Won 3-2
Nov 24th v Bury Home Won 12-0
Nov 28th v Saffron Walden Home Won 11-2
Dec 8th v Bury Away Won 5-4UNDER 15 ELEVEN
Oct 24th v Shade School Home Lost 3-9
Nov 22nd v Shade School Away Lost 1-6UNDER 13 ELEVEN
Oct 27th v St. Faith's Away Lost 2-3
Nov 17th v St. Faith's Home Won 4-3
If you can add recollections or photos to this page, please contact the editor
last update 4 Dec 2007