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Manchester Boys, 1974-75
Back row: Chris Hewitt (St Gregory’s) first player from left.
Chris helped the team to win two trophies: The County Cup, beating Salford Boys over two legs in the final, and the Manchester Evening News Trophy, defeating Stockport Boys over two legs in the final.
Presentation of new football trophy, 1975
When the school football team went on a tour of Canada in 1974, they were presented with a magnificent commemorative trophy by the Niagara Peninsular Minor Soccer League for presentation to the Manchester Schools Football Association. At a presentation in the school hall in April 1975, Mr Frank Hill, the MSFA’s secretary, received the trophy from the headmaster Mr Tony Smith in front of a large assembly of boys.
The intention was that the trophy would be played for by fourth-year boys in secondary schools and would be called the Trillium Trophy. The trophy featured four footballers standing at each corner of a wooden base with a fifth player perched on the lid of the cup.
Included in the photograph are, from left: Mr Dan Tranter, who was the teacher in charge of the trip to Canada, Mr Frank Hill and Mr Tony Smith.
This photograph, together with a caption, was featured the following day – 30th April – in the Manchester Evening News on the very day that Mr Tranter left the school to begin his appointment as a deputy headteacher at a school in Kent.
Mr Dan Tranter (1971-75)
Appointed in January 1971 to teach metalwork, Mr Tranter played a key role in the organisation of extra-curricular activities and, as stated earlier, was the driving force behind efforts to obtain a coach which could be used for regular school trips. Together with other colleagues he arranged trips for various purposes, including annual visits to London. On the day of his departure from the school in April 1975, Mr Smith paid tribute at a leaving presentation to his dedicated service and commitment and to the value to the boys of all that he had done for them.
Fourth-year football success, December 1975
Managed by Mr Frank Hennessy, the Under-15 football team had a very successful 1975-76 season, winning two trophies in the process. The first was the Manchester Schools Cup which was played in the autumn and culminated with the final being held in December. In order for matches to be played at that time of the year, they kicked off in the early afternoon. The final was played at the Manchester F.A. County Ground, which was a private single pitch next door to St Bede’s pitches on Brantingham Road. The pitch was well maintained and always in good condition. Completing the final before Christmas enabled the winners to qualify for the national version of the competition which continued into the following term: this format only applied at U15 level. What follows below is a typed copy of programme notes written by Mr Hennessy prior to the final against Ducie High School.
Team
Peter Ryan (3rd year), Peter Redfern, Mike Napier, Lawrence O’Connor, Mark Grimsley, Alan Blades, Martin Burke, Tommy Green, Paul Usher, Mark Healey, Wayne Moss. Substitutes: Paul O’Reilly, Richard Judge.
The same team was also successful in winning the Manchester Catholic Schools’ Cup in the spring of 1976.
Although no photographs have been discovered of these historic achievements, most of the boys are pictured elsewhere in this work.
First-year football success, 1976
Coached by Mr Paul Body, Head of Geography, the 1975-76 first-year football team had a very successful season which culminated in victory in the Manchester Schools’ cup final. Among the boys in the squad were: Philip Ryan, John Fitzpatrick, Terence Burke, Anthony Barlow, Anthony Stiles, Mark Shaw, Michael Rogan, Paul Crook, Francis Uzokwe, Paul Callaghan, Anthony Meade, Paul Dear, Gary Boyle, John Henry, O’Shea, Hyland and Rutter. Efforts to obtain a photograph of the team have, regrettably, proved unsuccessful.
John Lowey (Greg’s 1969-74) playing in the same game as the great Pele, 1976-77
John spent three seasons with Manchester United, two as a professional, but never made the breakthrough as a regular in the first-team squad. He was allowed to join Chicago Sting of the North American Soccer League in 1976 on a free transfer. Pele played for New York Cosmos from 1975 to 1977 and the photograph shows the two players playing in the same game. Pele’s famous number 10 can be seen on his shorts.
Author’s note: I can recall watching a game at Old Trafford in about 1976 between a Manchester United team of current players and the European Cup winning team of 1968. John Lowey played for the current United team in what I believe to be his only appearance for the first team.
On returning from the USA, John played for several clubs.
Football successes, 1977
Coached by Mr Frank Hennessy, 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. The trophy was shared, which is what they did in those days rather than play extra time. Among the players on the team were Chris Hewitt, John Timmons and Mike Williams (Captain).
The Manchester Under-15 Catholic Cup was shared by St Gregory’s and St Peter’s (Prestwich) following a 1-1 draw in the final in which Mike Davies got Greg’s off to a great start after scoring in the first minute.
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