England v Colombia

[phild]

and the Turks head F.C. from wednesbury in the 60s,if it moves lads f@kin kick it.

Another famous pub that as long gone

[mickd1961]

I can give you chapter and verse on Caves FC from the mid 80’s Minn.

A whole new level of vile scum.

Absolute bottom dwellers.

[mickd1961]

There was a team called Anchor Star in the Dudley and Cradley league in the mid 80’s who were a horrible bunch of lowlife.

I played up front in those days and got kicked up in the air throughout the match.

My fellow forward Steve Garrington pulled the ball back from the goal line and I came sliding in to hammer the ball home.

Their Lino put the flag up for offside which was a physical impossibility and the weak ref chalked my goal off.

At the end of the match their brute of a centre half offered me his hand and I turned by back on him and walked off.

Next thing I knew I’d been “flat armed” across the back of the neck and poleaxed.

As I lay face down in the mud this animal walked over me from my ankles right up my body and finished off with my head!

I left a full sized imprint in the pitch!

There were some absolute thugs in Sunday football and a lot of p I s s poor refs.

[The Minn Junta]

Agree Mick, I've faced some filthy sides down the years, British Queen (Dudley) Caves (Dudley) being up there with the 'best'.

Non of them could touch Woodside United though from Holly Hall, Dudley, they could mix it AND play. I think they hold the record for winning the Dudley and Cradley League Premier division for 11 seasons on the bounce. The standard of the league dropped over the years and they moved to the Kiddy League where they really upset all the carrot crunchers by dominating there aswell, albeit in close competition with Grange.

As you're from up the Lye Mick you may know a few players I played with in my youth. I was about 17 when they were in their 30's. Chrissy Patrick, Chris Kirkham, Billy Ball (gk) Neil Leverton, Micky Bradley, Stewart Robson?

[mickd1961]

Hi Minn,

I’m 57 in October and I played Sunday’s until I was 43,I’m not sure if your age but I’m guessing you’re 40+?

I only know one of those names,I played in the same side for many years with Neil Leverton.

Levo was ultra cool under pressure....too f kin cool for his actual ability!

I played right back in my latter years and often had to “sweep up” behind Levo and Carl Peters ........milk could turn quicker than that pair!

I liked Levo but his biggest fault was that it was never his fault....he was often at the scene of the crime but never ( apparently ) the culprit.

Decent player though and way ahead of me in ability but miles behind me in effort and work ethic.

We played from the Shrubbery Cottage in Old Swinford as VSK 200 and then from the Bird in Hand in Old Swinford as Bird Rangers and then Active FC.

We had some really decent older players and some good kids like Rob Taylor who ended up playing up front for Stourbridge FC with the prolific Mark Bellingham.

I’m sure we are acquainted with other local names.....we may have even played with each other or against!!

Who did you play for Minn.

[ststephenbaggie]

Hi Minn,

I’m 57 in October and I played Sunday’s until I was 43,I’m not sure if your age but I’m guessing you’re 40+?

I only know one of those names,I played in the same side for many years with Neil Leverton.

Levo was ultra cool under pressure....too f kin cool for his actual ability!

I played right back in my latter years and often had to “sweep up” behind Levo and Carl Peters ........milk could turn quicker than that pair!

I liked Levo but his biggest fault was that it was never his fault....he was often at the scene of the crime but never ( apparently ) the culprit.

Decent player though and way ahead of me in ability but miles behind me in effort and work ethic.

We played from the Shrubbery Cottage in Old Swinford as VSK 200 and then from the Bird in Hand in Old Swinford as Bird Rangers and then Active FC.

We had some really decent older players and some good kids like Rob Taylor who ended up playing up front for Stourbridge FC with the prolific Mark Bellingham.

I’m sure we are acquainted with other local names.....we may have even played with each other or against!!

Who did you play for Minn.

Love it. Only on here could you go from Columbia & Brazil to the Dudley & Cradley League. In the eighties I played for Terry Saunders Sporting Investments in the South Birmingham Sunday League. There you could run a reign of terror with a balloon on a stick.

[Q165]

I played in the South Birmingham Sunday League about 67-71.

[The Minn Junta]

Hi Minn,

I’m 57 in October and I played Sunday’s until I was 43,I’m not sure if your age but I’m guessing you’re 40+?

I only know one of those names,I played in the same side for many years with Neil Leverton.

Levo was ultra cool under pressure....too f kin cool for his actual ability!

I played right back in my latter years and often had to “sweep up” behind Levo and Carl Peters ........milk could turn quicker than that pair!

I liked Levo but his biggest fault was that it was never his fault....he was often at the scene of the crime but never ( apparently ) the culprit.

Decent player though and way ahead of me in ability but miles behind me in effort and work ethic.

We played from the Shrubbery Cottage in Old Swinford as VSK 200 and then from the Bird in Hand in Old Swinford as Bird Rangers and then Active FC.

We had some really decent older players and some good kids like Rob Taylor who ended up playing up front for Stourbridge FC with the prolific Mark Bellingham.

I’m sure we are acquainted with other local names.....we may have even played with each other or against!!

Who did you play for Minn.

I mentioned those names as I know you're a bit older, I'm 46 myself. It must have been around 1989 when I played for Lye Rangers, that's when I played with the players I mentioned. I must have only been there for one season, maybe two I can't honestly remember. I know one thing, I deeply regret not taking it more serious, I loved the beer too much, but who didn't?
I went onto another local club then tore my ankle ligaments at Hadley Stadium on the astro turf, this was the worst thing that could have happened. I spent several years out of the game and only returned to playing properly at the age of 31.

I remember Neil Leverton as he reminded me of Ian Rush/John Aldridge in appearance, black brushed back hair and moustache! Half decent player as I recall, got us a few goals.

We'll have to have a pint one of the days, I'll tell you a bit more about who I played for and managed later on, I don't like talking too openly on here to be honest.

Yes, I know the Shrub well, still does the best Guinness in Stourbridge.

Do you remember 'Jesus' who played for Caves?


Any ode up, what the fux this got to do with England and Colombia?!��

(Apologies all, I think I actually derailed this one!)

[mickd1961]

Levo actually looked like the Yorkshire Ripper .........given a choice I’d go for Peter Sutcliffe when it came to finishing off a move.

Astro turf Minn.....a pet hate,the creation of the devil!

Did you ever go in the Station or the Shovel at Lye?

An old school mate of mine Fat Simon ( Sam ) Murray ran the Shovel for years and was a decent footballer for a fat lad and in the 70’s and 80’s the Dubberley’s ran the Station and Keith the son was a rough house centre half who played with my brother for the Grange school.