THIS photograph dates from 1941, and records a youthful Stourbridge side which had won the Molineux Shield on the Stourbridge FC ground. We have little information on this trophy, but assume that it was connected with Wolverhampton Wanderers, and was maybe just competed for by teams in the Stourbridge area? Our thanks go to Sue Bingham of Brierley Hill, for loaning this picture to us, together with with a log book for the club in question (Westwood Dawes FC), for the 1940/41 season.
Sue’s father, Stan Parton, was a member of the team and is seen on the middle row, second from the right.
We assume that the team coinsisted of young employees of the company, Westwood Dawes and Co, Ltd.
The handwritten logbook lists the fixtures for the season, against sides such as Stambermill, Stourbridge Albion Colts, St Thomas, Stourbridge Athletic, Halesowen Boys Club and Wollaston B.C.
The log book also lists the captain of the first team as B.
Davies, and the vice captain F. Morris, and it was the latter (Frank) who sent the above copy of the team, photo to Stan, back in 1989. (Sue still has the covering letter).
The ages of the team ranged from 14 years and 11 months, in the case of a player named Jukes, up to 18 years and 5 months (Avery). Stan was 15 years and 10 months (in October 1940).
