Soham Grammarian Spring 1958
SOCCER NOTES
The 1957 season was exciting for more reasons than one, for besides enjoying an unbeaten season for two years running, we had the added pleasure of watching the fortunes of JJ Fordham, our captain of four seasons ago, in the Oxford team. John Fordham was awarded his 'Blue' and on the following Saturday assisted the Old Boys to defeat the School team for the first time in the last match of the season.
However, as six of the old 1956 side had returned to School, we expected, and got together, a strong XI. Down the middle of the field the centre forward, centre half and goalkeeper had all returned; one full back, one half back and one inside forward were also available from last year. The newcomers, Cox, Jarvis, Yardy and Parish, soon claimed the remaining places, and team changes after the Asian 'flu had passed were very few.
Burton, the captain, perhaps the best ball player the School has ever had, set a good example throughout the season and it would be foolish not to recognise his value to us. Gammon as usual scored the impossibles and missed the sitters; Moore was like a rock in defence; Ellingham in goal dealt efficiently with what came his way, and there was really no weakness in the side anywhere.
The proof of the pudding is in the eating, and the fact that we were unbeaten by any school team is ample testimony to the team's all round ability. A word of warning here may not come amiss: Burton, Moore, Tassell, Ellingham, Herod and Gammon, all old colours, will certainly not be with us next year, but in case this causes too much despondency, we remember how well Clarke, Harley and others from the Second XI have filled in when necessary.
The Second XI have won all their matches for the fifth year running; the Under 15's were undefeated too. Our thanks are due to Mr. Fleet for taking charge of the Under 14's - they more than held their own.
We must, of course, say our usual 'thank-you' to all referees and linesmen.
Colours were awarded during the season to Tassell, Ward, and Cox.
RAT
FIRST XI MATCHES
Sept 18th School v Newmarket GS (away). Won 7-0
Sept 21st School v March GS (home). Won 3-0
Sept 28th School v Newport GS (away). Won 4-1
Oct 5th School v Thetford GS (home). Won 5-1
Oct 12th School v Huntingdon GS (home). Won 5-2
Oct 19th School v Bury GS (home). Won 11-0
Oct 20th School v Saffron Walden FS (away). Won 4-0
Oct 30th School v Newport GS (home). Won 4-2
Nov 6th School v Newmarket GS (home). Won 10-0
Nov 9th School v March GS (away). Won 5-1
Nov 16th School v Bury GS (away). Won 7-2
Nov 23rd School v Saffron Walden FS (home). Won 9-1
Nov 30th School v Thetford GS (away). Drew 2-2
Dec 14th School v Old Boys (home). Lost 3-4Goalscorers -
Gammon 40; Burton 15; Parish 10; Yardy 6; Jarvis 5; Tassell 1; Moore 1; Herod 1; Parr 1SECOND XI MATCHES
Sept 21st School v March GS Won 14-0
Oct 5th School v Thetford GS Won 5-1
Oct 19th School v Bury GS Drew 2-2
Nov 9th School v March GS Won 4-2
Nov 16th School v Bury GS Won 3-1
Nov 30th School v Thetford GS Won 7-0Goalrcorers -
Parish 10; Smith 5; Brown 5; Holmes 3; Bishop 3; Parr 2; Clarke 2; Whitehead 1; Munns 1; Hunt 1; Murton 1; Bourne 1UNDER 14 XI MATCHES
Sept 21st School v March GS Drew 5-5
Sept 28th School v Newport GS Won 4-2
Oct 5th School v Thetford GS Won 7-0
Oct 12th School v Huntingdon GS Won 10-0
Oct 19th School v Bury GS Won 9-3
Oct 30th School v Newport GS Won 8-0
Nov 9th School v March GS Lost 3-8
Nov 16th School v Bury GS Drew 4-4
Nov 30th School v Thetford GS Lost 1-5UNDER 15 XI MATCHES
Oct 26th School v Saffron Walden FS Won 7-0
Nov 23rd School v Saffron Walden FS Won 4-3UNDER 13 XI MATCH
Oct 26th School v St. Faith's. Won 5-0
TWO FIRST XI MATCHES
School 2. Thetford 2.
Played at Thetford on November 30thThe season was one of so much triumph that I think it is only fair to report a game which did not result in a victory for the School. The Thetford game is always con templated with apprehension and usually justly so. I think Thetford regard Soham's visit rather in the same way as Walsall would a visit from the Wolves. Their idea is to tackle robustly and quickly and to kick the ball hard upfield in the hope that one of their forwards will find a way through to goal.
Although knowing what to expect, the School team is invariably upset by these tactics. Yardy headed the School into an early lead, but Thetford equalised before half-time. The School team fought desperately hard in the second half and when Burton flicked in a Tassell corner about ten minutes from the end it seemed as if the Thetford "hoodoo" had been overcome, but a few minutes before the final whistle the ball was nestling in the net behind Ellingham and Thetford had saved the game.
SCHOOL v OLD BOYS.
[Lost 3-4]
Played at Soham on December 14th.In recent years the Old Boys have been determined to lower the School's colours and consequently they have fielded their strongest available sides. This year was no exception as the team shows. It was:
Cobbin
Blake, South N
South A, Scotting, Guiver
Fretwell, Cropley, Hobbs I, Fordham, Cox AThe School team was weakened by the absence of Moore but we knew that Clarke was an adequate deputy.
The Old Boys settled down surprisingly well as a team and Fretwell soon shot them into the lead. But the School team then realised that their opponents were not invincible and two quick goals by Parish and Herod put them ahead. Although Fretwell equalised, the School had a 3-2 half-time lead through a Gammon penalty. It can rightly be said that during the first-half the School team played some of the best football seen on the school field for many years and there can be no higher praise than that. Ward played solidly at centre-half and the wing-halves Tassell and Herod worked tirelessly. Herod must be specially commended for the way in which he subdued Fordham. The forwards moved the ball well and with a little more steadiness in front of goal would have had an appreciable lead.
In the second half the Old Boys asserted their supremacy and goals by Fordham and Fretwell gave them victory. The supreme effort in the first half seemed to have tired many of the School team, but although the strength had gone the spirit was still there and everyone fought magnificently until the end and each contributed a memorable share to this "game of the season".
GLB, VI Arts
If you can add recollections or photos to this page, please contact the editor
last update 3 Dec 2007