Soham Grammarians - Football, School Year 1955-56

1st XI photo

Soham Grammarian New Year 1956

SOCCER NOTES

This season, for the first time since the war, the First XI have not been beaten, but our hopes of winning all our matches were dashed towards the end of the term when we could only draw at Thetford after having beaten them at home by a very large margin. However, apart from this setback, the First XI have been justly rewarded for their skill and determination. There have been a number of "feasts" of soccer on the school field this year which would have satisfied the keenest critic.

More than half of the previous year's team were available from the start, and it was soon realised that a number of players who would have been welcome assets to the team in a normal year would be disappointed.

A number of positional changes were made and amply justified. Our captain, Scotting, was moved from full-back to centre-half, and Cropley from outside-left to left-half. A place was found at centre-forward for T Murfitt who had played several games at full-back during the previous season, and Peers came in at outside-left-his usual position.

The right wing of Burton and South remained, as did inside-left Guiver, and left-back Dennis, and with Moore taking over from Scotting at right-back, all we needed was a goalkeeper. The job was too much for Peacock who tried hard, but Cobbin until he left school and then Ellingham tided us over nicely. The team had not long been started when Gammon began to lay a strong claim to the centre-forward position, and eventually he came in at that position, and Cox took over at outside-left.

After the team positions had been determined, the side played very well together. The weaknesses were hard to find, and apart from a little staleness towards the end of term, the games were played with great spirit. One or two features need a special mention: the sometimes scintillating combination of South and Burton; the tireless foraging of Guiver and Cropley; Aspinall's heading; and the solidity of Scotting's defence.

Our thanks to the Old Boys, particularly Daisley and Fuller, for fielding such a strong team. The Old Boys' match this year was a great joy to all who saw it.

For the second year in succession the Second XI won all their games, and many of this year's team will be in the First XI of next year. They get little of the limelight while doing an efficient job.

Now to cast a shadow over the soccer picture. Our junior XIs have not come up to the standards expected of them: both the Under 14 XI and the Under 15 XI have shown that soccer in the middle school leaves a lot to be desired. Jackson is an exceptionally fine player, but he is in a sea of mediocrity; perhaps we shall have a number of late developers. At the Under 13 level St. Faith's took their revenge for last season.

To end on a note of encouragement, this year's intake, from a soccer point of view, seems to be well up to standard.

Lastly, to all those referees and linesmen, masters and boys alike, who gave up their time, a big "Thank you."

And now for warmer days - I see "George" has oiled the bats!

RAT

FOOTBALL

Sept 21: School v Newmarket GS (away). Won 3-0 (Burton, Murfitt, Guiver).
The small margin of three goals does not give a true indication of the School's superiority in this match. The School forwards attacked the Newmarket defence right from the start but were unable to score until Burton eventually put the School ahead following a goal-mouth scramble.
Half-time: School 1, Newmarket 0

The second half followed the same pattern as the first, and Murfitt scored the second goal following good work by Burton. The School forwards were finishing poorly, but shortly before the end Guiver, after dribbling across the goal shot past the Newmarket goalkeeper.
Result: School 3, Newmarket 0

Sept 24: School v March GS (home). Won 16-1 (Murfitt 5, Peers 5, Guiver 4, South (pen.), Burton)

Oct 1: School v Newport GS (home). Won 7-0 (Murfitt 4, Guiver, South, Burton)
The game started evenly, but the School took the lead when Murfitt scored after receiving a fine through pass from Cropley. Murfitt scored twice more before half-time, putting the School three ahead.
Half-time: School 3, Newport 0

The School resumed strongly and immediately Burton headed a good goal from South's corner. Newport then attacked, but Cobbin saved well from the centre-forward. The School broke away and South flicked the ball past the advancing goalkeeper. Murfitt added the sixth goal from Peers' pass and Guiver completed the scoring with a beautiful header from Burton's accurate centre.
Result: School 7, Newport 0

Oct 8: School v Thetford GS (home). Won 14-2 (Guiver 7, Murfitt 4, South, Burton, 1 og.)
Oct 15 : School v Huntingdon GS (home). Won 15 -0 (Murfitt 7, Guiver 3, Burton 2, Cropley 2, Peers)
Oct 22: School v King Edward VI School, Bury (away). Won 9-1 (Murfitt 4, Guiver 2, Aspinall, Cropley, South)

Oct 29: School v Saffron Walden FS (away). Won 5-2 (Murfitt 2, Guiver 2, Cox)
The School opened strongly, but it was not until midway through the first half that Murfitt put the School ahead after good work by South and Simper. Just before half-time Saffron Walden equalised when an awkwardly bouncing ball deceived Cobbin.
Half-time: School 1 Saffron Walden 1

Soon after the resumption Saffron Walden took the lead with a lucky goal off the right-winger's knee. However, straight from the kick-off Guiver ran through and scored a great goal. Encouraged by this, the School added further goals through Guiver, Cox and Murfitt.
Result: School 5, Saffron Walden 2

Nov 9: School v Newmarket GS (home). Won 11-1 (Burton 3, Guiver 3, Cox 2, 1 og., South (pen.), Murfitt)
Nov 19: School v King Edward VI School, Bury (home). Won 10-2 (Gammon 6, Cox 2, Guiver, 1 og.)

Nov 23: School v Newport GS (home). Won 6-0 (Guiver 3, South 2, Gammon)
There was little to choose between the two teams at the start, but after a goalmouth scramble South shot past an unsighted goalkeeper. Guiver added a second goal after receiving a good pass from Burton, and Gammon scored with a powerful drive from outside the penalty area.
Half-time: School 3, Newport 0

Guiver soon put the School further ahead with a well-placed shot and a good header from South's centre. The School continued to press strongly, and South completed the scoring by chasing a loose ball and slipping it past the goalkeeper.
Result: School 6, Newport 0

Nov 26: School v Saffron Walden FS (home). Won 7-3 (Cox 3, South 2, Burton, Cropley)
Saffron Walden attacked strongly, but the School defence held out. The School forwards then took the initiative and after South had opened the scoring, Cox added two more goals before the interval.
Half-time: School 3, Saffron Walden 0

Although Saffron Walden quickly reduced the lead, Cox scored the School's fourth goal from Aspinall's cross, and after South and Burton had added further goals, Cropley completed the School's scoring with a well-placed free-kick. Defensive errors gave Saffron Walden two more goals, but the School finished well on top.
Result: School 7, Saffron Walden 3

Dec 3: School v Thetford GS (away). Drew 4-4 (Guiver 2, Burton, 1 og.)
Playing on a pitch which made good football impossible, the School had to be content with a draw against a clever and very determined Thetford side who fought back after being two goals down. Thetford attacked strongly at the beginning and their centre-forward scored with a fine shot. Although Burton dribbled right through to equalise for the School, Thetford again went into the lead. But the School attacked again and dominated the game after Guiver had scored two good goals and an unlucky Thetford defender had put the ball into his own goal.
Half-time: School 4, Thetford 2

The School were given a severe shock in the second half, for Thetford attacked in a determined manner. The School defence held out well until mid-way through the half when Thetford scored two goals in quick succession to put them level. This stung the School into action, but try as they might the Thetford defence and the condition of the pitch beat them, and they were unable to score the winning goal.
Result: School 4, Thetford 4

Dec 10: School v Huntingdon GS (away). Won 4-2 (Cox 2, Gammon, 1 og.)
The game opened scrappily, and although the School twice took the lead through Gammon and Cox, Huntingdon equalised each time. The School gained a half-time lead as a result of an own goal by a Huntingdon defender.
Half-time: School 3, Huntingdon 2

The School attacked almost continuously in the second half, but were only able to score one more goal through Cox.
Result: School 4, Huntingdon 2

Dec 17: School v Old Boys (home). Won 5-4 (Guiver 3, Burton, South)
The School's last game promised to be one of the best of the season, for the Old Boys fielded a very strong team. The School had not yet been beaten, and they played as if determined to keep their record. On a very wet pitch, the game opened evenly, but the School were playing better together and went ahead through South. Guiver increased the lead with a well-placed shot, but Kendall opened the Old Boys' scoring with a shot from an oblique angle.
Half-time: School 2, Old Boys 1

The School quickly went further ahead with goals from Burton and Guiver. At this stage it appeared that the School would run out easy winners. After Bray had scored for the Old Boys, Guiver scored the School's fifth following a good pass from Gammon. From this point onwards the Old Boys went all out into the attack, but although they reduced the arrears with two good goals, the School defence managed to hold out and keep their narrow one-goal lead.
Result: School 5, Old Boys 4

AHS


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last update 4 Dec 2007