Garry's Memories of Junior Football.

Our current 1st Team manager Garry Rawcliffe,with 20 years experience in Amateur football, recalls some of the good and bad times of being a football manager.

A View From the Past

Like most parents, I first became involved with Thornton-Cleveleys Football Club when I took my eldest son to training at the old Millfield High School over eighteen years ago, when he was six years old.
Being a keen football fan, I stayed to watch him train and could not understand why I was the only parent to do so.
I discovered like many people before and after me that I had three letters written across my forehead that were invisible to me, but others could see very distinctly.
They spelt the word Mug, and just a month later I was put to work coaching a small group of six and seven year old boys under the watchful eyes of the Under 8’s manager George Hewitt together with the first football coach I ever met, and to this day the finest football coach I have ever met Dave Mann.

This small group of boys expanded on a weekly basis and by the time we reached Under 8’s we had a squad of eighteen youngsters.
In those days the competitive league started at Under 9’s so the Under 8’s played a number of friendlies. I was no different to anyone else and knew no better, so at Under 8’s we played nearly twenty games of eleven-a-side football, sometimes on adult size pitches.
I know that sounds ridiculous and indeed it was ridiculous, with the benefit of hindsight, but as I have said, no one knew any different.

Having three sons, I was, like most parents determined to spend an equal amount of time and effort with each of them and so in effect I ended up running my own version of a soccer school which eventually led me to be coaching four nights a week, coaching from the touchline on a Saturday morning and managing my eldest son’s side on a Sunday afternoon.
It had its benefits in that I enjoyed it and it kept me away from the wife (something that became permanent at a later date).
It also kept me in reasonable shape.

In those early years I coached in five different age groups, but was extensively involved with the three age groups my sons were involved in.
We had a reasonable amount of equipment and armed with the tips and methods I had picked up from Dave Mann, and some ideas of my own, each group of youngsters were well coached with the main aim to make them comfortable with a ball.
Another aim of course was to prepare them in readiness for the Under 9’s season, to form a team that could compete at the top end of the league they were about to enter.
Whilst the current soccer school has more equipment and coaches, it has yet to achieve the standards that these teams from the past achieved.

I will talk about these teams’ achievements later, but for now I will leave you with pictures of some of the youngsters from that year.
You may recognise some of them!

Thornton-Cleveleys Football Club History

In 1995 Thornton-Cleveleys Junior Football Club merged with the open age teams of Thornton International FC, previously known as ICI, to form Thornton-Cleveleys Sports Club, which is now based at New Bourne Park, Bourne Road, Thornton.

TCFC Senior Section.
According to records in the local library, ICI Ltd sponsored a football team for their workers in the early 1900’s.
Unfortunately we do not have any records or photographs, prior to 1932.

We do have an undated photograph of a team known as "Thornton Jubliee Football Club", for which we have no further information.
A team known as Trunnah United played locally in the early 1950’s.
Brian Rawcliffe, father of the current first team manager, played for this team, and hopefully we will record some of his memories here.

The present senior side was formed in July 1980 when Ronnie Andrews brought the Thornton Catholic Club side to ICI.
They joined the West Lancashire League in August 1981 with Mike Sillis as manager.
The Reserve side managed by Ronnie Andrews played in the premier division of the Blackpool and Fylde Football Combination.

In 1982 the first team were Division Two Champions.
By 1987 the Reserve side had moved to the West Lancashire League Reserve division and in 1991 they won the league championship.

In the 1991/92 season the first team were once again West Lancs Division Two Champions, and also runners-up in the Presidents Cup.
More recently, the first team won the Tavern Cup in April 2003 and the Reserves were double winners in the 2003/04 season being both Reserve Division 2 champions and winning the Housten Cup.

To be continued...

Trunnah United

Trunnah United was a local team formed during the late 1940’s by Les and Leo McGuirk and Ken Parker.
Brian Rawcliffe, father of the well-known first team dynasty, played for the side between 1950 and 1954.
The team colours were red shirts with white sleeves and white shorts.
Home ground was on Butts Fields, where Red Marsh Industrial Estate is now.
Main opposition were from Fleetwood - Fleetwood United, Fleetwood Celtic and British Railways, as well as local team Burn Naze.

Brian remembers:"Sometimes we used to go to play in ‘Indian Country’, that is, Over Wyre.
The Over Wyre teams played all their games at home because they couldn’t find Shard Bridge.
The only trophies we won were for drinking pints!
Although we were the first team to beat Fleetwood United.
They had been unbeaten for two seasons.
We also played at Highbury in semi-final of the Fleetwood Medal Competition where we lost 1-0.
Not everyone played at Highbury in those days, only in special events.

When asked if he had any special memories of his playing days, Brian said:
Getting changed behind hedgerows and air-raid shelters.
You put your trousers on over your shorts, along with the mud on your legs.
We didn’t have showers or changing rooms.
We had goal posts, but no nets. And I remember the pubs better than the teams!
Obviously like father, like son - and grandsons.

Thornton-Cleveleys Gala

Another dip into the memory banks has resulted in this dodgy team.
In the glory days of Thornton-Cleveleys Gala, the senior 5-a-side football tournament was a not to be missed event.
A reliable source informed me that it wasn’t the winning that mattered - it was the taking part (believe that and you’ll believe anything).
Many locally famous and infamous names took part, usually aided by crates of their favourite liquid refreshment and other dodgy stimulants.
One of the last, and arguably most successful sides is pictured below.
No prizes for recognising the line up but we could run a competition on who has gained the most weight or lost the most hair.
As for the results, they were at the wrong end of some poor refereeing decisions from very biased officials and lost in the semi-finals on penalties, having not conceded any goals in open play.
However the lone striker didn’t score any either.

For the record, the line up is
back row: John Beaumont (defence), "Wally" Wallbank (goal keeper), Steve Richmond (midfield):
front row: Lee Keegan (running round doing everything because he had the young legs), Garry Rawcliffe (striker).

1980s

A look back into the 1980s has brought these two photographs to light.
They are the ICI first and second team squads of the 1986/87 season, taken on the old ground, behind the International Club before the housing estate was built.
A few familiar faces here - no prizes for spotting Alan Harrison Senior, or Steve Andrews.
At the end of the 1985 season Billy Markham had taken over the management of the first team from Dave Massey after they had been relegated from the West Lancs First Divison.
At the end of the season, ICI’s C Dust was top scorer of the division with 23 goals, and P Smith was third with 18 goals.
1987 saw manager Bob Chippendale take the second team to the Housten Cup final, narrowly losing to Burnley United at Chorley’s Victory Park ground.

Club secretary John Wright (seated first left front row with first team) won the Harold Ashworth Rosebowl for "Secretary of the Season " in April 1984.

TCFC Juniors 1980s

Looking back to the early 1980’s and the Reeve family have joined the newly-formed TCFC Juniors.
By the 1982/83 season there were Thornton teams playing in each age group of the Blackpool and District Youth League from under 9 to under 13.
Bob managed the under 9 side and his wife, Carol took over from Margaret Andrew as General Secretary.
It was during this time that social events and fund raising increased as the club tried to raise enough money to build a base with changing facilities on the field at the end of Brown Street.
Some famous names appeared on Bob’s team sheet - Stephen Kelly, son of Graham Kelly (who performed the official opening of the present clubhouse in 2001), and Andrew Tinsley, son of Alan Tinsley, player and one-time manager of Fleetwood Town, amongst other local teams.
Bob remembers Graham Kelly "running the line" whenever he came to watch his son play.

The following season this team, now playing at under 10’s, was awarded the "Sporting Team of the Year" trophy and Bob himself won the "Manager of the Year".
They were invited to the Mayor of Wyre’s parlour for a celebration tea and presentation.
The Mayor at the time was Councillor Tom Croft who had a long association with Thornton-Cleveleys Juniors and was for some years Honorary President.

Ian Sugden

Ian Sugden was manager of a junior team for seven years from 1990.
He was helped along the way by Dave Mann, who coached not only this squad but also many other local boys.
Dave served as Thornton’s Junior League Secretary for several years and was awarded Secretary of the Year by Blackpool & District Youth League.
His son Mike is captain of the current first team.
Here are some of Ian’s thoughts as he looked back at the end of his seven-year career in management:

"You turn up to watch your son play, take him training, then help them put the balls away, then Bob’s your uncle it’s you asking some other sucker to help you put the balls away.
So from the roots of a cold wet Saturday morning a bond was formed.
We, myself and Dave Mann, decided right from the start that FUN and social family enjoyment was the way forward off the pitch and FUN, skill development (did anyone else know of Coerver training?) and good behaviour were paramount on it."
(they were all, parents and lads, pretty well behaved off it as well).
We had trips away combining footy and fun, Knowsley Safari Park, Old Trafford, Stockport, Wales and Holland and we even ran two sides at one time, the Tigers and the Tornadoes.
We were very lucky to experience a bit of success as the years went on and I suspect this helped in the fact that I didn’t ever have to run the line or put up a net."

Garry's Managerial Debut

First team manager, Garry Rawcliffe made his debut as a junior manager in the 1990/91 season.
His Under 9’s team apparently made a fair start to the season, and after nine games they had moved up to fifth place in the league.
Included in this opening spell was a notable 3-2 victory over Wyre Juniors, who were to finish runners-up in the league, and a goalless draw with Clifton who were the eventual league champions.
The lads worked hard in training (did they have a choice?) and by the last third of the season their form improved dramatically, enabling them to reach the semi-final of the cup, after hard-fought victories over Our Lady (after a replay) and BJFF with a winning goal in the last minute.
Unfortunately, in the semi-final they went down 2-0 to Foxhall at Stanley Park Oval.
The team eventually finished ninth in the league.

I’m sure Andy Rawcliffe will appreciate the photograph.
Apparently, "when he gets his attitude right he will develop into a fine footballer."

Backrow (left to right): Michael Brogden, Christopher Peacock, James Southworth, Robert Holland, Lee Keegan, Philip Potter, Davie Abbott Hull, Jack Joseph an Keith Bullen;
Frontrow (left to right): Ross Edwards, Robert Lawrie, Andrew Rawcliffe, John Wallbank, Stuart Sanderson, Shaun Till, Craig Tarrant.

1990’s George Hewitt

During the early 1990’s George Hewitt trained the youngest members of TCFC.
He would produce a squad of under 9’s and pass them on to a "volunteer" parent to manage as they started on the road to football fame and fortune.
The under 9 team of the 1993/94 season was managed by well-known local physio Tony Battle - who had white hair even then.
This very successful side were unbeaten for the first two years of their existence, both in the league and cup competitions.
After a dip in form at under 12’s further successes followed in later years.
First team manager Garry Rawcliffe was also part of this management team and he ran the training sessions and helped on match days, when available.
Mark Bowley was assistant manager.

The squad included current first team regular Jason Rawcliffe, as well as Ben Duxbury, Matty Clarke, Jamie Hastings and Chris Bowley.
Others who had some professional successes were Darren Kempson (Formerly Preston North End, now Crewe), Martin Moran (formerly Manchester United, now at Fleetwood Town) and David Stephenson (Blackburn Rovers, amongst others).

San Diego 2003

In May 2003, the U14 squad managed by Dale Saxon made the trip of a lifetime to play football in the United States.
Other adults assisting Dale were Dave Wilson, present Seniors’ Secretary Eric Rolinson and Mike Smith.
The visit centred on San Diego, where Dale had been two years previously, to watch his son Dan play in a tournament for Blackpool Under 12’s.

The squad departed from the clubhouse at 8.30am (GMT) on Monday 19 May 2003 and at 9.00am (Pacific Time) on Tuesday 20 May 2003 they were in San Diego - training in readiness for the tournament they were due to play in from Saturday 24 May until Tuesday 27 May.
In between the boys had a great time, with a desert jeep tour, visits to San Diego Zoo and Balbao Park.
They also played several friendlies against local teams.
They arrived home on Friday 30 May, after twelve exhausting but very enjoyable days.

The touring party included: Bobby Jones, Steven Rolinson, Chris Draper, Ben Smith, Dane Matthews, Charles Park, Steve Barnes, Anthony Wilson, Mark Adams, Dan Saxon, Sam, Gordon, Scott Gowland, Kyle Webster, Kevin Murray, Scott Dobbie, Chris Threlfall, and Matthew Ogden.

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If anyone is interested in finding out more about the football club, or can let us know more about our history, please contact the clubhouse on 01253 869666.