Youthful pluck pulled off wins

10:43am Thursday 1st May 2008

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HERE they are, the prize-winning Sutton Manor Colliery 16-18 team, pictured in 1949.

They picked up the E. K. Lawrenson memorial rose bowl, says Walter Johnson (extreme right at the front of the group pictured). The trophy was donated, adds Walter, a former Earlestown and St Helens Town player, by a man who perhaps hoped a hometown Haydock team would win the first time it was competed for. There were three strong JOL teams from that area - Haydock St Mark's, Haydock Rovers and Haydock Catholic Club - who were co-favourites.

But Sutton Manor had other ideas. They beat Haydock Rovers 3-2, on their own midden with Manor skipper, Ray Liptrott, marking Cliff Birkett, schoolboy international and Man Utd player, out of the game. Walter slotted in the winner. Then St Mark's were beaten 5-0 on a neutral pitch.

The final, against Haydock Catholic Club, was on St Mark's ground, before a mainly partisan crowd. The winner came from Ikey Roberts, Manor's diminutive centre-forward.

Tall youth, shown back with Rigby, is Ted Forshaw, who had signed for Everton at the time. Later, he changed codes to join Saints. Final hero Ikey also missed the picture call.

Shown (left to right) Middle: J. A. Leyland (secretary), Appleton, Whittall, Brown, Rowley, with Liptrott and Stocks (committee). Front: Carter (committee) Rawlinson, Hilditch, Liptrott (captain) O'Day, Kerfoot, Copson, Johnson.