By Richard Mann
Looking back
over 60 years the memories often appear in black and white, but memories of my
winter Saturdays were often pink and blue.
A short
walk from the bus stop opposite Ruskin Park took us along Champion Hill to the
old ground. Dad bought the folded single sheet pink programme before we rattled
through the turnstile and crunched our way along the cinder terraces to join the
school caps, flat caps, school blazers, belted raincoats and de-mob overcoats
to our favourite spot.
Leaning on
rail, halfway up the terrace just short of the halfway line, opposite the
players’ tunnel, we waited to be joined by George and Fred, two of mum’s
brothers. The stylus on the club record player hissed and clicked its way into
the same familiar light orchestral pieces which were only interrupted to
announce the team changes. Cheers or groans met the inclusion or omission of a
crowd favourite while I scribbled the details in our programme.
The teams
in their collared shirts, high waisted shorts, dubbined ankle length boots and
thick shin-padded socks entered to cheers from the home supporters, and from
the usually small band of away supporters who stood behind the goal at the
Champion Hill end. The opposing teams included those who have since joined the Football
League like Wimbledon, Barnet and Wycombe Wanderers.
Other than
a 6-6 draw with Kingstonian it’s difficult to remember details of particular
games, but memories of certain players remain with me, and how the way they
played revealed something of their character or personal hinterland.
Photo: From the collection of former DHFC player Ron Eastland
Memories
are not history but recollections fed through the imagination. I think of Dave
Darvill, the goalkeeper as Dulwich’s own Bert Trautmann; fair-haired, groomed,
meticulous and un-showy, tugging the net, marking out the centre of the
goalmouth and tossing his cap into the corner of the goal, to be used when the
sun began to sink. At right-back, No.2, the programme announced The Rev.
Cowley; athletic, enthusiastic and committed, doing his absolute best to ‘fight
the good fight’ in footballing terms. Tom Jover, former Olympic sprinter
featured on the left-wing and whose speed could see him arriving ahead of the
pass that was intended for him. John
‘Jack’ Everitt on the right-wing; square
jawed, direct and brave, could have been an infantry man, while Ron Crisp at
wing-half or inside-forward was the quiet, reserved calculating timer of the
run that saw him arrive just in time to steer a perfect header past the
goalkeeper. Captain Ernie Skipper at centre-half brought the same authority and
leadership to the role which served him as a school headmaster but Les Brown
with that Bobby Charlton quality of, a scorer of great goals rather than a
great scorer of goals, was my favourite. Playing with great energy and a smile,
an attempt at the outrageous was never far from his mind as he placed the ball
for a free-kick 40 yards out.
Amongst the
teams I saw were a German representative side which included Helmut Rahn who
scored Germany’s winner in their 3-2 victory over the favourites Hungary in the
1954 World Cup Final. An African team played in bare feet, and with National
Service still in force I saw Eddie Clamp of Wolves and Albert Quixall of
Sheffield Wednesday, both England internationals, represent the British Army.
Cricket
shared the sporting calendar with football and those talented in both games
found time to play both. Doug Insole played cricket for Essex and on the wing
for Corinthian Casuals and Dulwich often featured Arthur Phebey who also played
cricket for Kent. It was Arthur Phebey who brought out my uncle Fred’s full
range of coaching skills as he stood, like a batsman taking in the position of
the fielders, with his foot on the ball while deciding where his next pass
should go. “Get rid of it!” was uncle Fred’s advice.
Fred died
last November; he was the youngest of mum’s eight brothers. I went to his
funeral and he wore his Dulwich Hamlet tie for his journey to the next world.
He was 91.
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