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There were many gifted pupils at St Gregory’s in the 1930s, but three stand out for particular mention – Johnny Cusick, William Walsh and Tony Waddington, each of whom rose to national prominence in his sport.
John Cusick, Featherweight Boxing Champion of Great Britain and the British Empire, 1939-40
Johnny ‘Nipper’ Cusick
Johnny Cusick, who was born in Hulme, was one of the most famous sporting personalities to come from St Gregory’s. A contemporary of the likes of Jackie Brown and Johnny King, he fought his way to become British and Empire featherweight champion and chalked up nearly 300 boxing victories.
The following letter, written by Michael Jeffries, a classmate of his, was published in the Manchester Evening News in 2001:
“We sat together at the same desk at St Gregory’s High School and during one period [lesson], he showed me a magnificent gold watch and chain he had won as an amateur boxer under the name of “Nipper” Cusick. He used to demonstrate his boxing skills at the school Christmas parties against various boys.
“At the same time we were all football crazy, and Cusick was captain of St Gregory’s, who won the Payne Shield four times. He was one of the finest players I had ever seen, being extremely clever with his footwork in the style of Alex James. I only managed to make the class team, but he was picked for Manchester Boys.
“I felt he would become a professional footballer, but he became a boxer. The authorities wouldn’t allow him to call himself Nipper, so he fought under his real name, beating Jackie Brown and later Johnny King.”
On one occasion Johnny Cusick visited the school and everyone clamoured around him as he walked in the schoolyard.
William Walsh
William “Billy” Walsh (1921-2006), also referred to as Willie Walsh, was born in Dublin, but moved to Gorton, Manchester, at the age of seven, eventually attending St Gregory’s. At school he distinguished himself as one of the finest players of his age group. Playing as a half-back, word of his progress spread and soon the selectors of England schoolboys courted him. It wasn’t long before he won representative honours but Manchester City, the club favoured by his mother, appeared oblivious to his development, much to her chagrin.
Mrs Walsh took control of the situation and frog-marched young Billy into then manager Wilf Wild’s office at Maine Road. It worked!
Speaking many years later, Billy recalled:
“Anyway, after my mother had waltzed me in [to the manager’s office], the directors decided to give me a job as an office boy. It was a great experience. I worked with Wilf and Matt Busby and it was tremendous. I stayed there from when I was 14 but still things never went to plan.”
Shortly after he had agreed terms with City, Manchester United lodged a complaint with the Football Association, claiming that Billy was in fact their player.
“My teacher [at St Gregory’s] was called Johnny Bill and he was a [youth] coach at United,” said Billy. “When he saw how I was developing, he asked me to sign something in school and I thought nothing of it. It was a contract for United!
“I only ever wanted to play for City, though, and there ended up being a big meeting between the two clubs and FA officials at Villa Park (Aston Villa’s ground).
William Walsh – an outstanding footballer
“I remember sitting in the boardroom and someone asked me who I wanted to play for.
“I immediately chose City, the FA let me [play for City] but City were fined five guineas.”
After playing as an amateur for City, Billy turned professional in 1938. The Second World War delayed his full debut for City, his first appearance coming in a wartime league game at home to Stoke City in November 1939. During the war, he worked as a miner and made 227 wartime league appearances for City, scoring eight goals. He also played a further 67 wartime cup games, his wartime appearances becoming a City record.
In the four seasons after the war, Billy made 118 appearances for City. In 1951, he signed for Chelmsford United on a free-transfer and later played for other clubs.
As an international, Billy Walsh had the distinction of representing four national teams: England Schoolboys XI, Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and New Zealand. After emigrating to New Zealand, he played in an unofficial game for their national team. He eventually moved to Australia and settled in Queensland.
In his day he played with and against some of the best footballers around. In 2003 he and several other former Manchester City players returned for the last game at Maine Road. He died in 2006, aged 85, and his ashes were interred at the Garden of Remembrance at the City of Manchester Stadium.
Tony Waddington
Tony Waddington was born in Openshaw, Manchester, in 1924. He excelled as a football player, playing as an amateur with Manchester United in his early career. Later he joined Crewe Alexandra where he made 179 post-war appearances, but a serious knee injury received during his service in the Navy forced him into early retirement.
Tony Waddington went into football coaching and management. After managing Crewe, he eventually became manager of Stoke City in 1960. Among his achievements was the fact of bringing big-name players to the Victoria Ground. These included the likes of 46-year-old Stanley Matthews – a living football legend at the time – Dennis Viollet, Jimmy McIlroy, Roy Vernon and George Eastham, all of whom added experience to his Stoke City squad.
In 1964, Stoke reached the League Cup final only to be beaten 4-3 over two legs.
He bought Gordon Banks in 1967, one of the world’s great goalkeepers, from Leicester City for a fee of £52,000.
In 1972, his team again reached the League Cup final where they defeated Chelsea; this opened the doors for Stoke City’s first venture into Europe which, unfortunately, was short-lived.
In 1974, Stoke purchased Alan Hudson from Chelsea for £240,000. An accident to Gordon Banks saw Stoke splash a world-record fee of over £300,000 for Leicester keeper, Peter Shilton.
Tony Waddington remained as manager of Stoke for many years during which he brought attractive players and some success. He died in January 1994, aged 69.
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