Old programmes in your collection

[dell boy]

I have just cleared out my loft and found this programme, I dont think there can be an older one in my collection. Have a look in your cupboards and whatever and post some facts from your oldest programme.

Date Monday, 23rd April 1962 - kick off 10.30 (must have left early that day) TORQUAY v SWINDON TOWN

Price of programme: Threepence - 12 pages only but packed with information and some great advertising.

Swindon team: 1. Turner, 2. Wollen, 3. Trollope, 4. Morgan, 5. Given, 6. Woodruff, 7. Summerbee, 8. Hunt, 9. Smith, 10. Atkins, 11 Darcy.

Match sponsor: Keyte's for Carpets

Swindon write up: Today's visitors, Swindon Town, are, of course managed by Bert Head, that former great stalwart from United. I understand that one of his assistants these days is Jack Conley, whose brilliant headers will long be remembered here.
Here are some details of the players from whom today's side will be selected:
Goalkeeper, Mick O'Hara, was transferred from Luton Town in November 1961, and has since played regularly for the first team.
Full backs: Terry Wollen is a local boy who made his debut for the first team when he was sixteen years old. In season 1960-61 he played in most of the first team games but was later displaced by Ken Jones. John Trollope is another local boy who joined the Swindon ground staff from school. He was selected for the first team at the beginning of season 1960-61 when he was 16 and was ever present that term.
Half backs: Keith Morgan joined Swindon as a youth from Westbury, playing for the first team last seasaon. Maurice Owen, the team captain and oldest member of the side. Formerly a centre forward he has had a long and outstanding period of service with the club and played in several representative games. Bob Woodruff, another local born player who went to the club straight from Swindon Schoolboys Team. He has played at centre forward and inside forward in the senior side and his performances have made him the target for several transfer offers.
Forwards: Mike Summerbee is another product of Swindon's youth policy. Another much sought-after player. Ernie Hunt, a member of the first team at 16, he is now 18 and the club have had many offers for him. Hunt was top scorer last season. Jack Smith joined from Watford in the close season. He was formerly with Hartlepool United. Bill Atkins, at present on National Service, joined Swindon from Aston Villa at the end of the 1958-59 season. He played several representative matches while in the army.
Eric Weave, an amateur who was signed in December, on a service engagement with the RAF.

Teams in League Division Three - this fixture was the last home fixture for Torquay United at the time of the programme being published this was the order of the table.

Portsmouth
Grimsby
Bournemouth
Bristol City
Peterborough
QPR
Northampton Town
Reading
Bradford
Swindon Town P40 W13 D15 L12 F66 A67 Pts41 (2 pts for a win in those days)
Hull City
Coventry
Notts County
Watford
Crystal Palace
Port Vale
Southend
Halifax
Shrewsbury
Barnsley
Lincoln
Brentford
Torquay
Newport Co

Of interest: It was the year Accrington Stanley resigned from the football league. The cup final was between Tottenham Hotspur v Burnley.

A selection of the top advertisers:
The best remedy for the WORST cough - Pectoral Balsam of Honey 1'9 and 3'- per bottle from Cocks & Dunsford, Torquay
Pen Repairs and Lighter Service 1'6 from Cyril Edwards, Torquay
At your service - H. T. Franks Dispensing Chemist
M. Wills for Pexwear Overalls
After the match dance at the SPA Ballroom, Art Jennings and his Music
Let Conroy Couch by your Jeweller
Cobley's for Fish and Chips
K. W. Fletcher Ltd for Typewriter Repairs & Sales
Gartrell & Coi Ltd - make a top score with a large range of fireplaces.
For a hot tasy meal visit the Madrepore Fish Cafe - quick and efficient attention in a warm cafe.

Note to Torquay fans:
The new sound equipment on this ground was installed by Plainmoor Radio-Electric Ltd, Torquay.
Season Ticket Holders are respectfully reminded that in order to retain their same seats for next year, they must renew their Season Tickets by the end of May and if they wish to take advantage of the Half-Guinea discount, the Tickets must be paid for by the same date; this discount does not, of course, apply to the 4 1/2 guineas for season tickets.

[Reg Smeeton]

 That's a Torquay prog though...

[dell boy]

That's a Torquay prog though...

v. Swindon

[pauld]

Early bird half guinea discount

[Bob's Orange]

That's a Torquay prog though...

Think you win today's 'pointing out the bleedin obvious' post Reg!

[sonicyouth]

10:30 kick-off? was that unusual?

[dell boy]

10:30 kick-off? was that unusual?

It was played on a Good Friday (Easter), I cant honestly remember if 10.30 was the norm but they also kicked off at 10.30 on Boxing Day against QPR. The pubs closed at 2pm in those days so maybe that had something to do with it.

[Reg Smeeton]

10:30 kick-off? was that unusual?

I once went to a I think Bank Holiday fixture at Plainmoor which kicked off either at 10:30 or 11:00, so it did happen.

[alanmayes]

In the mid 80's we had some very strange kick off times.I can remember we played on
Boxing Day at Southend with a morning kick off and also at home to Hartlepool on a
sunday morning.Macari was sacked later that week on Good Friday.Reinstated the next
week.

I can also remember a game at the CG involving England Under 21's vs Italy with a 5pm
kick off.A certain Gianluca Vialli played and scored in that game.The pitch was an embarrassment!

[Reg Smeeton]

Think you win today's 'pointing out the bleedin obvious' post Reg!

I was a bit disappointed that the antique small businesses etc weren't Swindon.

My first progs are from 1958, and include one v Accrington Stanley.

Most of the advertisers have long gone but a few survive, like the great Ron's Stores, and Wilmer's coal merchants and some of the pubs eg CGH, The Bulldog which must have been more or less brand new, the Crown at Stratton....landlord Frank Plyer was a director and the Southbrook. The Eagle in Regent Street sadly no more.

A BR advertised a half day excursion to London, afternoon or evening, last train 11:50 pm or the mail train 1:00 am next day for 11/3 approx 75p.

The mail train for unknowing was for the mail, papers, etc and a couple of half carriage half goods units were bunged on...for the drunk to get back to Swindon.

[ronnie21]

I once went to a I think Bank Holiday fixture at Plainmoor which kicked off either at 10:30 or 11:00, so it did happen.

Ditto Reg, and there wasn't the M5 to get us down there in double quick time.  The one I went to was on a bank holiday monday I believe, possibly easter and we had played them at home on the good friday.  I believe we also played on the saturday.  Anyway, the game at Torquay I believe we lost 1-0, and their goal scorer was a guy called Ernie Pym.  Seem to remember he had long bushy sideburns but it didn't stop him jumping!!

[sheepshagger]

I have an original 1969 League Cup Final programme - but I guess a lot of people might have this......

[Reg Smeeton]

Ditto Reg, and there wasn't the M5 to get us down there in double quick time.  The one I went to was on a bank holiday monday I believe, possibly easter and we had played them at home on the good friday.  I believe we also played on the saturday.  Anyway, the game at Torquay I believe we lost 1-0, and their goal scorer was a guy called Ernie Pym.  Seem to remember he had long bushy sideburns but it didn't stop him jumping!!

Sounds about right....I seem to recall having to set off at 5:00 or something and deciding it wasn't worth sleeping, which meant was a knackered by the time I got there, and don't remember too much about the match other than losing 

[Reg Smeeton]

 One from 1960 v Walsall here contains the interesting note from the Supporters' Club that Hinton, Skiller ,Nash, Randall, Bourne, Webster, Cope, Giles, Berry, Briggs, Houldsworth, Rutherford, Beecham, Edmonds, Brock (Bristol University Amateur) Wildman, Bryan and Ephgrave are all the goalkeepers who played for STFC between the two  Wars.

[jonny72]

I used to have some from the 30's and 40's but sold them all off a while back when I cleared out all my programmes. There was also one from around 1910, a Charity Cup Semi held at White Hart Lane against QPR (I think), not sure what happened to that as I haven't seen it in a while and can't remember if I sold it or not.

Still got some plenty of old football cards, been meaning to scan the Swindon related ones for a while to post up here. Unfortunately, on account of us being historically shit there aren't a massive amount of cards issued showing players in Swindon colours. Still there are some great ones of Hoddle and Gorman in the 70's and I'm pretty certain there is a Don Rogers one in Place colours.