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News
Ex-Players in contact
Cliff Jones has been in contact to give me some information.
He played for Park in the late Fifties , from February 1957, when he scored 11 times before the end of the season.
The following season 1957-8, he netted 29, including 7 in a game on March 1st 1958 in an 11-1 win at Lavendon Reserves.
By the early Sixties, he`d attracted the eye of Rushden United and joined them instead. He remembers playing with Tom
Hoodleff, Dougie Groome, Denis Tear, Brian Sinfield, Jim Dickens and Derek "Chas" Allen . He remembers Gordon Wait
as well, who went on to be a prominent figure in County football, and is currently is a Life Vice President
of the Northamptonshire Football Association.
A random phone call lead to a happy meeting recently, when Denis Tear got in contact to say that he was back in the area
for a visit, and had a photo that I might be interested in. Consequently, he came round and handed me a photo of Rushden Park
March 10 1956, which I duly scanned, and is now in the photo section. Now living in Hitchin, Denis remembered all of the names
except one (which I hope someone can supply, please?)It was great listening to his stories, including one about Chas Allen`s
split shorts, which I could n`t possibly mention.He told me about his days playing for St Mary`s Youth, and Souldrop. It was
great meeting Denis, and I was very grateful that he took the trouble to come and see me and put some faces to the now familiar
names of over fifty years ago.What a thoroughly nice bloke.
Nigel Duff has contacted me as well,playing for Rushden Park for 16 seasons from the late 70s.He tells me that the side
began in a Higham Ferrers engineering factory called John Orme and began it's life playing Sunday morning friendlies under
that name before gaining league status in the Rushden and District Sunday League.The club`s ground was at the rear of the
old Higham station which Ormes co shared with Chamberlain FC.When Woodley's reclaimed their field both teams had to relocate,and
the John Orme Storm moved to Jubilee Park. Nige is n`t sure when exactly the name change took place,but he`s sure he played
a good few years under the John Orme name.The club grew and eventually moved to Spencer Park and soon Saturday and Sunday
sides and reserve teams followed. Nigel played up to the age of 32 when his knees became a problem.He fondly recalls playing
with the likes of Al Smith, Al Yorke,Stan Cain,Jim Lowe,Kev Roberts,Livvy Maughn,Baz,Gerry etc in
"the old days" and the likes of Gary Johnson, Mark Brawn,Mark Johnson, Tony Jupp,Pat Smith,Neil Wilshere,(my
contemporaries) just before he retired. He pays tribute to his brother, Brian, the secretary of Rushden Park "without
whom none of this would ever have been possible without the years of hard work by an unsung hero" Nigel thinks Brian
served the club for nearly twenty years " doing a fine job".
Thankfully, Brian "Mr.Rushden Park" Duff himself has been in contact, and has scanned some of his collection
of photos of Park Teams, and has donated the old kits that the Park wore.Cue sigh of relief from Mrs. Duff.
I`ll put them up soon and shall probably require some help with the names, as some of the shots are from Saturday teams.
"I would love to see this site suceed and wish you all the best," Nigel Duff.
Good work Nigel, I hope to hear from you again soon.Thanks.
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