Embedded Files
East Area football team, 1971-72
Back row, from left: John Lowey (St Gregory’s), Malcolm Murray (St Gregory’s), D. Woolley, Neil Girling (St Gregory’s), W. Oldham, T. Kelly, Kevin Grimsley (St Gregory’s).
Front row, from left: P. Kudiersky, S. Massey, D. Bailey, G. Keary, C. Valentine.
The East Area team was selected from players from the following schools:
St Luke’s R.C. Secondary, St John the Evangelist Sec. Boys, Bishop Greer, St Francis R.C. Secondary, St Gregory’s Grammar, Burnage High, Spurley Hey High, Central High, Wright Robinson High, SS Peter & Paul Secondary, Nicholls-Ardwick High.
1st year football players pictured with Mr Dan Tranter, 1971-72
Back row, from left: Michael McCleary, Philip Giblin, Eamon Cox, Derek Henshall, John Timmons, Anthony Cooke, Michael Budd, Peter Keaney, Francis Bailey.
Front row, from left: Martin Kelly, Christopher Perry, Francis Carolan, Christopher Hewitt, Stephen Flannery, William Connolly, Gerard Williams, Paul Egan.
Photograph taken at the back of the school near the metalwork rooms.
1971 intake soccer teams: some notes
Coached by Mr Dan Tranter from September 1971 to April 1975.
1972-73 – won the Manchester Cup beating St Bede’s 3-2 in the final at Nell Lane.
Team: Steven Flannery, Jerry Williams, Francis Bailey, Paul Cregan, Eamon Cox, Michael Budd, Billy Connolly, Chris Hewitt (Capt.), John Timmons, Francis Carolan, Michael McCleary.
Other players in the squad included Jimmy Dolan, Christopher Gallagher and Chris Allott.
Captained by Chris Hewitt for most of the time.
1973-74 – won the Manchester Catholic Cup beating St Anthony’s (Moston) in the final played at St Mark’s, Didsbury.
1974-75 – Chris Hewitt selected for Manchester Boys’ Under-15 squad.
1975-76 – Coached by Mr D. Kirkham.
1975-76 – Now in fifth year several boys were included in the 1st XI team, such as John Timmons, Michael Budd, Chris Hewitt and Francis Bailey. Played alongside Kevin Grimsley, Ged Doherty, Vinny Stephenson and Mike Williams. Team coached by Mr Mike Wilmot, head of PE.
1976-77 – 1st XI now coached by Mr Frank Hennessy and included players from the year below, such as Mike Napier, Martin Burke, Mark Grimsley and Paul Usher.
In the spring of 1977, the 1st XI reached the final of the Manchester Under-18 Cup competition, where they drew with St Augustine’s in a game played at the Manchester FA County Ground on Brantingham Road. The trophy was shared. (This trophy was also won in season 1977-78, post-reorganisation.)
St Gregory’s also played matches against teams from West Germany: once at St Mark’s and, on another occasion, at St Gregory’s.
Display of school soccer trophies and medal won by Chris Hewitt (1971-78)
Example of football trophy
Inscription reads: MANCHESTER SCHOOLS’ FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION.
Many boys were presented with a similar trophy, some on more than one occasion.
Reverse side of football trophy
Christopher Hewitt has added his name to this, the original inscription reading:
U/13 TROPHY FINAL 1973 WINNER.
2nd year football team pictured with Mr Mike O’Brien, 1971-72
Back row, from left: Mr Mike O’Brien, Chris Brown, Martin Duffy, Martin Fox, Charlie Martin, Colm Kane, Henry Smith.
Front row, from left: Peter Williams, Chris Dunphy, Danny Walsh, Bernard Armstrong, Robert Carter, Stephen Jones.
Manchester Boys, 1971-72
Included on the photograph is Peter Selley (St Gregory’s), who is pictured sixth from the left on the back row.
Combined first and second-year football squad, 1972
Players are, from left: Eamon Cox, Francis Bailey, James Dolan, Christopher Hewitt, Michael Budd, Robert Carter, Stephen Flannery, Danny Walsh, (Unidentified small boy at back), Martin Conlon, Charlie Martin, Christopher Brown, Stephen Jones, Colm Kane.
Pictured at the back are teachers Mr Michael O’Brien, left, who was in charge of the second-year boys, and Mr Dan Tranter, who took the first years.
This team was a combination of first and second-year players in a challenge match set up against St Robert’s of Longsight, who were a very good local Sunday league side. The idea was to see which side were the better team. Several boys who would normally be on the Greg’s team – such as John Timmons, Francis Carolan and Eugene Morris – are missing because they were playing for St Robert’s. Although the score is not remembered, Martin Conlon scored a couple of goals and it is thought Greg’s won.
The game was played at St Robert’s playing fields, Slade Lane. The pitches are still there to this day and can be seen from the train just after the Levenshulme Station stop on the way to Piccadilly. The photograph is clear and colourful and the urban background adds to the historic sense of the occasion.
1st year football team, 1972-73
Back row, from left: Mr John Baxter, John Corrigan, Mark Healey, Mike Napier, Paul Usher, Alan Blades, Steve Cawley, D. O’Brien, Lawrence O’Connor.
Front row, from left: Mark Pearson, Mark Grimsley, Paul O’Reilley, Richard Judge, Paul Mulligan, Tony Bray.
3rd year football team, 1972-73
Back row, from left: Mr Mike O’Brien, Stephen Jones, Ian Donoghue, Paul Kelly, Danny Walsh, Colm Kane, Chris Dunphy
Front row, from left: Robert Carter, Unidentified (J. Dunne?), Anthony Massie, Chris Brown, Martin Duffy, Charlie Martin, Martin Conlon.
Manchester Boys, 1972-73
Standing, from left: Mr L. Cassidy, Mr R. Woods, D. Bradley (North Manchester High), W. Williams (Poundswick High), John Lowey (St Gregory’s Grammar), B. Coyle (North Manchester High), Mr F. Briggs, S. Winning (North Manchester High), M. Bickerstaff, P. Coyne, C. Bolton (Burnage High), Mr F. Hill, Mr J. D. Murphy.
Kneeling, from left: G. Cooney (St Ignatius), A. Grimshaw (St Anthony’s), A. Jolley (Poundswick High), R. Botham (Sharston High), G. Felix (Yew Tree), Malcolm Murray (St Gregory’s Grammar), A. Taylor (Xaverian).
Manchester Catholic Cup U15 victory, 1972-73
Standing, from left: Kenny Milburn, John Lowey, Sean Laverty, Brendan Houlihan, Paddy Kelly, John Dineen, Neil Girling, Malcolm Murray, Ged Doherty, Mr Mike Wilmot.
Front row, from left: Martin Bruton, Fintan Coffey, Mike Hanrahan, Kevin Grimsley (capt.), Vinny Stephenson, Joey Kelly.
St Gregory’s defeated St Bede’s 2-1 in the final, which was played at the Manchester F.A. County Ground, Brantingham Road, Whalley Range.
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