Fond memories of junior football

It reminds me of when my late husband Ivan and his late friend Ron Gascoigne or “Gassa” - as everyone knew him - started Warwick West End Football in the 1960s. The headquarters was the Foresters’ yard in Crompton Street until the clubhouse was built on the Hampton Road, which started from a seven and six Spot the Ball.

They started Leamington Boys’ League, which is now Mid-Warwickshire Boys’ League, because it snowballed.

We had lots of support and a great deal of work was done. One day Ivan and Ron walked across the Common to sort two more pitches out. There was already a pitch near the Tote building that was burned down. Warwick Rangers used to play there.

As we lived in a big house in Hampton Street, the goalposts were kept at the side of our house and the lads would take them across the common when they had games to play.

On Monday morning I used to go up to a temporary council office, next to the Lord Leycester Hotel in Jury Street, to book one of the pitches. It cost seven shillings and sixpence. (Staff always knew who would be first through the door).

This government has now stopped Under 16 free swimming; closed many play centres and youth clubs; and yet have the audacity to tell us that children are obese.

I will meet Councillor Doody and anyone else to find out why they are doing this. Are we going back to the days when lads and men had to put coats on the ground for goalposts?

Go the the Records Office, Cllr Doody, when we petitioned to keep the common free for all.

It went to arbitration, Sir Desmond Heap came from London and it was passed that nothing could be built on the common and it was to be kept as parkland, forever and ever. - Jane M. Rees, Chichester Lane, Hampton Magna.