Football Programmes Centre

Pete’s Picture Palace

I bought these as I was sure I could identify the 6 players featured, if not the land-lady.

They aren't dated and the only info on backs are the press stamps.

I think the man in the bath, back, right, is the same bloke who's having a cuppa (left). His features are similar, the lines across his forehead etc.

See what you think and let me know please.

Stamped Daily Mail London.

Stamped Provincial Press Southport.

This is the badge blown up but it may not be any help at all.

So as always I'd love to have some ideas please and would be very grateful.

Thanks in anticipation.

Sherlock

Five and In · Joined: 15 Sep 2015 Posts: 1020 Location: Dawlish, Devon

My first thought was Ron Flowers, but probably incorrect.

Flaming Pie · Joined: 26 Nov 2016 Posts: 511

The bloke near the taps , receding hair, has the look of the Burnley / Everton player from the 1940s and early 50s ,Harry Potts. Later a very successful Burnley Manager. Don’t think the man in the deckchair is the same. Could well be one of those wartime games , when players guested for the likes of Southport or Tranmere?

Pete’s Picture Palace · Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2018 6:06 pm Post subject:

Thanks Pie, but the more I look at the bloke by the taps and the one in the chair, I'm convinced it's the same bloke. He has exactly the same lines across his forehead and the same hairline even though in one he's wet.

I have tried a Burnley man on them already and he says not. I thought it was a Burnley badge but it isn't.

Given the press stamps, it could be anywhere too. But not too sure the Daily Mail London would be snapping Tranmere or Southport players, no offence of course.

Sherlock

Flaming Pie · Joined: 26 Nov 2016 Posts: 511

The other bloke near the taps looks familiar as well Pete. I’ll have a think about that. The receding hair man also has a look of the Arsenal and England player George Male, but don’t think it’s him.

Pete’s Picture Palace · Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2018 6:33 pm Post subject:

Yes, not quite George Male, he was rounder in the face.

They look so familiar, but I've had them a few weeks and got nowhere. Very frustrating.

Rocky · Joined: 15 Jun 2009 Posts: 1368

Although the 2nd photo has a 50’s feel about it, as previously mentioned could it be Ron Flowers in the latter stages of his career at Northampton (late 60’s). Does the grainy pic below show any resemblance or is it a trip to spec-savers for me? The badge on his jacket is difficult to decipher but again could it be Northampton?

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Pete’s Picture Palace · Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2018 7:52 pm Post subject:

Sorry guys but it can't be Ron Flowers.

If it was him, it would be very late in his career to have that hairline. And would he have been in digs with a landlady then?

He had a full head of hair in all his playing days.

And the photo looks 40's/50's to me......

Pete’s Picture Palace · Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2018 7:54 pm Post subject:

Flaming Pie · Joined: 26 Nov 2016 Posts: 511

Definately late 1940s early 50s. By late 50s a bit of a Teddyboy/ Elvis hairstyle is coming in. With not being able to pick out a football star of the era in the pic s , is it a less well known team who had a cup run? The papers would have run a story on them. Norwich / Port Vale? A team like that. They probably stayed in digs during their cup runs. Is it an international team before they played at Wembley? But wouldn’t they have stayed in a hotel. Are you sure it is Football Pete? Could be a rugby team before and after a Wembley Final? Definately a tough search!

Pete’s Picture Palace · Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2018 8:19 pm Post subject:

Cricketers crossed my mind too.

A lower league team in a cup run is a maybe - Port Vale, York City....

Lot of work to do on this.

Cheers!

Pete’s Picture Palace · Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2018 1:01 am Post subject:

Someone has suggested the tea-drinker might be Tommy Johnston, ex Orient, Blackburn etc. What do you guys reckon?

Not so sure, myself.

sharrowblade · Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2018 1:20 pm Post subject:

Just throw this into the mix - Arthur Woodruff - drinking tea in his Workington Town blazer. Confused

Ok, I'm off to the game now Get My Coat

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1881Orient · Joined: 24 Jul 2017 Posts: 74

Pete’s Picture Palace wrote:

Someone has suggested the tea-drinker might be Tommy Johnston, ex Orient, Blackburn etc. What do you guys reckon?

Not so sure, myself.

100% no. Not at all - that's not our TJ.

Flaming Pie · Joined: 26 Nov 2016 Posts: 511

I think the lady giving out the tea is Mrs Doyle. She had probably just given the lads a good bath. Is there a Craggy lsland postmark on the back Pete?

Pete’s Picture Palace · Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2018 10:33 pm Post subject:

Thank you 1881Orient - I'll pass that on to my contact who thinks it is.

Sharrow - nice try but I don't think it's Arthur Woodruff. Thanks for looking.

Pie - now now. Behave.

Very Happy

Flaming Pie · Joined: 26 Nov 2016 Posts: 511

Pete, the tea drinker could be the key. If you check out a team photo of Clyde FC 1948 , back row is a player who looks very like the fair haired bloke. Don’t know his name, nor why a London paper would be running a story about Clyde. Is it a early 1950s Scottish League team v England League 11 in London. I know Jock Stein played in one of these games, but don’t think he was ever a full international . Was the tea drinker in the team? Did he move on to an English club?

Bluewinner · Joined: 12 Apr 2017 Posts: 13

Clyde played Arsenal at Highbury on 20th September 1955 in a friendly/floodlight match. There is a picture of the squad in the programme, and at a push the players in the bath at the back could be: left Johnny Divers, right Albert Murphy. The front players I am much less sure about but possibly David Laing and Tommy Ring. However, I stand to be corrected but I thought Arsenal had a large sunken bath, not bath tubs, so I am not sure that it is Highbury in the picture.

Rocky · Joined: 15 Jun 2009 Posts: 1368

Flaming Pie wrote:

If you check out a team photo of Clyde FC 1948 , back row is a player who looks very like the fair haired bloke.

This fella F.P.?

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Pete’s Picture Palace · Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2018 11:57 am Post subject:

Some good suggestions there - I like the idea of it being Clyde or perhaps another Scots team on a friendly visit to London. Palace played Clyde in October 1954 at Selhurst and also Queen of the South (twice), Third Lanark, St Mirren & Hamilton Accies. I got the Clyde programme out - no photos in there. These clubs must have played at other London grounds then too - and not only London grounds presumably.

I'll contact a Clyde man and see what he says.

Thank you all

Sherlock