IN THE Bugle edition 927 dated 3rd June 2010, we published an article on page 3 of Mr. Foote retiring as headmaster from Kings Hill School, Wednesbury, with school leavers of July 1948.
Now, Bernard R. Startin, of Park Hall, Walsall, takes the story back a couple of months.... “Prior to that, in May of 1948 our school football team played Holyhead Road School team on Darlaston Football Ground in the final of the Albion Shield and we won 3-1.
“In the Bugle edition of the 25th November 2004, I wrote an article about the game and asked if anyone of the players had a copy of the photograph of the team with the Shield, as I had lost my copy.
“There was a very good response from the remaining lads and we subsequently had a number of get togethers to reminisce about the game and old times. Our centre forward Gilbert Farnell, who scored two goals in that game, was able to give me a copy of the photograph, which I now supply, and greatly treasure.
Gilbert was a very strong player, fast and with a tremendous right foot shot. He also played for South East Staffs Boys team with Norman Deeley of Holyhead Road and later Wolves/England.
We called Gilbert 'Cannonball Kid' after the popular comic footballing star of that time.
One of the anecdotes that came to light during our get togethers was a comment made to him by the Holyhed Road Sports Teacher, who was also one of the South East Staffs Boys coaches.
Gilbert had this terrific right foot shot but never kicked the ball with his left foot. During the second half of the final game there was a scrimmage in the Holyhead Road penalty area and Gilbert fell over. As he lay on the ground the ball bounced in front of him, he swung his left foot at it and scored a goal. After the game the Holyhead Road teacher ruefully said to him "Just our luck, that the first time you have ever kicked a ball with your left foot you scored against us."
Kings Hill School all-time footballing star was of course the great Billy Walker who played for his one and only club Aston Villa in 531 games and scored 244 goals. He played for England 18 times over 12 years from 1920 to 1932 and captained them on three occasions. He scored nine goals for England and one of his goals was a record maker. It was his country's first goal at the then 'New' Wembley Stadium on 12th April 1924.
Records show that when he was an amateur player with Old Athletic, Wednesbury, in 1915 he once scored nine goals in forty minutes in one match. Some goal scoring! During the 1930's Billy Walker donated a set of Aston Villa claret and blue football strips to Kings Hill School and my late brother Ray Startin played in one of these during a Shield (not sure which) final win against Slater Street Darlaston in 1936/37.
He was always very proud of this and his medal presented by Billy Walker after the match.
From the attached photograph, our 1948 Albion Shield team members are:- Back Row: left to right, Lesley Handley, Mr. Foote (Headmaster), Gilbert Farnell, Geoff Shilton, John Myatt, Cliff Rowland, Mr. Garner (Sports Teacher), Tom Jones.
Front Row: Alan Clark (Reserve), Robert Paskin, Brian Eaton, Alan Holden (Captain), Bernard Startin, Geoff Mason.
Sadly, some lads are no longer with us, but they are very fondly remembered for a very happy day in our lives.
If any of the players' relatives wish to contact me I would be more than pleased to hear from them”.
(Bernard Startin, 01922 622016).
