Embedded Files
School trips to the Continent
Throughout the Sixties the school continued its practice of taking groups of boys on trips to the Continent. Among the places visited were Ostend, Amsterdam, the Rhineland, Denmark, Switzerland, Austria and Luxembourg. In fact, so popular were these trips, there were years when two parties travelled abroad to different destinations during the same holiday period. Among the staff who helped to organise these were Mr Makin and Mr Deegan.
Trip to Denmark, Easter 1963
In April a school party left for Denmark, led by Mr B. Makin.
Trip to Italy, Whitsuntide 1963
Forty-four boys travelled to Rimini, Italy: the party was led by Mr J. Deegan.
School trip to Italy: Collective Passport document, 1963
The name of the party reads “Boys of St Gregory’s R.C. Technical High School, Manchester”, issued to “44 nationals” travelling to Italy through “France and Switzerland or Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and the Netherlands”. The passport was valid from “29th May, 1963, to 8th June, 1963” and the leader of the party was [Mr] “Joseph Deegan” – a popular history teacher and frequent organiser of continental trips.
The inside of the collective travel document contained lists of the Surname, Christian Name, Place of Birth, Date of Birth, and Place of Residence of each of the 44 boys. Their dates of birth show that they were second and third formers, that is, from the intakes of 1960 and 1961. Although most of the boys resided in Manchester, some resided in Middleton, Macclesfield, Cheadle, Heywood and Handforth. With a handful of exceptions, most of the boys resided in their place of birth. The document also outlined the responsibilities of the leader of the party.
Thumbs up…
This photograph was snapped by pupil David Doolin on the Italy trip. The occasion was a day excursion to San Marino and the three teachers featured are, from left: Mr Arthur Pounder, Mr Joe Deegan and Mr Brian Goodwin.
Recalling the trip nearly sixty years later, David has written the following:
“Originally, the 1963 plan was to visit Switzerland but there was an outbreak of typhoid in Zermatt and everything had to be changed. The venue was switched to Rimini and the European journey was done by train. We couldn’t get couchette berths at short notice and so the trip from the Channel port was by train to Milan, then to Bologna, then on to Rimini. On the overnight leg – Channel port to Milan – boys were trying to sleep on the luggage racks in the compartments, or across the fixed seating, with suitcases filling the gap between the facing bench seats. There wasn’t much sleep to be had that night!”
Trip to Belgium, Whitsuntide 1963
Rob Howard, a third-year pupil at the time, recalls the following memories:
“The school trip to Blankenberge in Belgium took place from Sunday 2nd June to Saturday 8th, 1963. Mr Eamon Burke and Mr John Madden were two of the teachers accompanying the boys. Soon after arriving at the rather seedy hotel one of the kitchen staff stabbed to death one of his colleagues and the police kept everybody inside for a while until the murder suspect was removed. Mr Burke gave us all a pep talk, warning us about being on our best behaviour and in particular not to buy flick knives. The weather was very hot every day and we lads had a great time on the beach and the seafront. I remember riding a choice of wacky bikes around a special oval circuit. There were bikes that only moved when you went up and down on the saddle, bikes that turned left if you turned the handlebars right and vice versa, penny farthings, and all sorts of other weird contraptions – great fun! There was a superb four-piece band at a seafront café which played all the Shadows’ hits every day and kept us lads entertained very well. There were trips out to Dunkirk on the Tuesday and to the huge market at Middleburg in Holland on Thursday, where lots of us bought presents for home. On Wednesday came the news that Pope John XX111 had died, which was a notable talking point. On the last night some of us went to see The Longest Day at the Palladium Cinema. I recall arriving home to Piccadilly Station on Saturday evening, tired out from it all.”
Trip to Ireland, c. 1963-64
A trip took place in the mid-Sixties to the beautiful coastal resort of Skerries, near Dublin. Although details are scarce, it is known that Mr Terence Sheridan was one of the teachers accompanying the boys.
Trip to Ireland, c. 1963-64
Pictured on the trip to Skerries are:
Standing, from left: Ted Tuksa, Louis Jones, Terence Penzer.
Front: Denis Kavanagh.
Manchester Schools’ Football Association
In the early Sixties, the MSFA had a membership of nearly 200 schools which ran more than 350 teams – an achievement worthy of note, for to carry out such a vast organisation, the enthusiasm and self-sacrifice of the city’s sports masters and teachers called for the highest of praise. In no other profession would one find such unselfish contribution in the interests of young people. Teachers taking football teams were owed a debt of gratitude for the patience, devotion, time and toil that they gave so readily.
A surviving MSFA handbook from 1962-63 gives an interesting insight into the organisation of football in the city. The association was very well structured and organised, with many noted persons on its committees. The handbook – priced 6d – had details of leagues, divisions, competitions, fixtures, Cups, trophies, representative matches, schools, team colours, team coaches, venues for matches, age qualifications, ball size, goal height, length of duration of play for each half, league secretaries, and rules of league and cup competitions. It also had information relating to Manchester Boys and Area teams, together with the names of managers and selectors. In addition the book contained photographs, of various quality, of some of the school teams successful in the previous season.
There was a growing concern among officials of the MSFA at this time about the exploitation of players following the removal of F.A. rule 32d, which effectively gave teachers and officials “no protection” from professional clubs.
The MSFA Hon. Secretary had this to say in his Annual Report:
“Are we going to stand aside and see our boys during that critical period of adolescence becoming like chattels in an auction room – going to the highest bidder? We are first and foremost schoolteachers with a genuine sense of duty, and our sole purpose is the welfare of schoolboys. The serious effect of undue interference on boys at so young an age can be extremely damaging.
“Another point, too, that is being overlooked, and let us be realistic, is that the vast majority of teachers will refuse to be pawns in the game for ulterior motives, and the fact that teachers have in the past given endless hours of voluntary service does not mean they will continue to do so in the light of present circumstances.
“Too long have we, the sports masters, tolerated a false impression in the minds of most people, that this work we do is part of our normal duty as teachers, and that our purpose is to provide material for professional clubs.”
Among St Gregory’s teachers taking charge of football teams for the 1962-63 season were Mr Eamon Burke, Mr Tony Day, Mr Kevin Horrocks, Mr Ken Riley and Mr Arthur Pounder. Mr Tony Smith, who for many years had successfully taken teams, is named as the “Secretary” for two of the leagues. Home matches were played at Mersey Bank and Hough End, and the teams’ colours were maroon and yellow.
Area matches.
These were for boys under 14 years of age at the beginning of September. All schools concerned were asked to give the fullest support in the Area Competition by sending their promising boys to the trials.
The aims of the Area matches were: (1) to broaden the basis of representative selection; (2) to develop the talent in individual and combined play with the view of improving the standard of the following season’s representative teams.
For the purpose of the Area Competition, Manchester was divided into five areas – North, South (Wythenshawe), East, West, and Central. Each Area played the others, making a total of four matches from autumn through to Easter.
Badges for boys playing in Area games could be awarded “at the discretion of the responsible Area Committee”.
The Area Committee had a Chairman, Secretary and five Selectors.
St Gregory’s fell into the category of the East Area. Out of interest, the schools included in the East Area at secondary level in 1962-63 were given as below:
Openshaw Technical High School
St Gregory’s Technical High School
Birley Secondary School (Boys)
Grange Secondary School (Boys)
Higher Openshaw Secondary School
Philip’s Park Secondary School
Ravensbury Secondary School (Boys)
Wheler Secondary School
Nicholls Secondary School (Boys)
St Gregory’s, having a large number of boys, often provided several players for the East Area team. For instance, in a match between East Area Boys and South, played at King George V playing fields, Gorton, in 1962, St Gregory’s were represented by five boys – Peter Crawley, Paul Fearon, Brian Johnson, Billy Mansell and Michael Staunton. In the years before 1967, when the comprehensive reorganisation of the state schools in Manchester took place, some schools were rather “small” but still succeeded in winning honours on the football field.
Manchester Boys
The Manchester Boys’ team generally comprised boys from the fourth year. It tended to play in two main knock-out competitions: the English Schools’ Trophy and the Lancashire Schools’ Cup, the latter usually being won by either Manchester or Liverpool. Again, St Gregory’s often provided players for the team.
County Honours
The school often provided boys who represented Lancashire.
International Honours
1935 W. Walsh (St Gregory’s) represented England.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse