Reminiscences of Rotherham
by G. Gummer, J.P.
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winnings had to go to the club. No strangers or friends of any member wereallowed to play or come into the field without the consent of the members then present. Another rule provided that swearing was punishable by a fine of one penny.
Early in these notes I referred to the match played at Babs Croft between an All-England team and a Rotherham team of cricketers. Another match of equal interest at the time was a two-days’ affair for charity, played between the clown cricketers and a local team in which Tom Bell, Bob Holland, E. W. Hodgkinson, Joe Smith, W. H. Bellamy, W. G. Haggard and others took part. We also had another match worth mentioning between the Yorkshire eleven and 20 of Rotherham and district. In the Yorkshire team were Geo.Ullyet,Ephraim Lockwood Bates, Grimshaw, Hill, Tom Emmett, L. Hall, Geo. Pindar, and Peate, whilst Tom Corbett, John Aizlewood, J. T. Rawlin, W Nicholson, Harris, T Ainsworth, R. E. Hodgkinson, , and Natty Trueman figured on the Rotherham side. Rotherham scored (two innings) 321, York shire 278. John Aizlewood made 91 runs not out, the highest score in the match. The meritorious performance of John Aiziewood secured him a trial in the Yorkshire Team matches.
FOOTBALL: LUNAR ROVERS
My connection with organised football commenced when a few enthusiastic shop assistants, with others who were unable to play during the day, formed the Lunar Rovers Football Club, for the purpose primarily of playing the game an moonlight nights and at holiday times. To appreciate their object one has to remember that in the seventies there were no Thursday afternoons off and no early closing . A field in Doacaster road at the bottom of Middle lane having been hired from Mr. John Moorhouse,matches were arranged with clubs such as Doncaster Amateurs, Sheffield St. George’s, Hallamshire, Pitsmoor, Effingham Brass Works. Kimberworth and Greasbro’. Our headquarters were at Long staffes Bank dining rooms, and our colours were navy blue and white. The first year’s officials were: Captain, John Birks, an assistant in Dodson’s, ironmongers, College street, now a prosperous tradesman in Mansfield and a member of the Town Council; Vice captain, Robert Thompson, a young solicitor, son of Mr. R. M. Thompson, referred to earlier in these notes. Robert Thompson left Rother ham when a young man to commence business in Manchester, where he established a very succesful practice; Treasurer, F. W. Radford, an assistant in Haggard’s, ironmongers, Westgate and subsequently manager for one of the largest houses in Upper Thames street, London, Honorary secretary, W, Wordsworth, the present chairman of Rotherham United Football Club, who was succeeded a year or two later by his brother, Arthur Wordsworth, who did so much in those and later days to further the interest of the game in Rotherham. The following were elected to form a committee, viz., Geo. Foster, C. Cotching, E. Thirlwell, E. J. Watson, A. Ward, and H. Foster. In the second season, Clem Sibray became captain and John Birk vice- captain Arthur Wordsworth and John Aizlewood acting as joint secretaries. On referring to some fixture cards kindly lent me by Mr. Arthur Wordsworth, I find mentioned thereon the names of many young men once most familiar to me. Alas, many have departed from this life, whilst others have left the town. What old follower of the game, paticularly those who took any interest in the doings of the Amateur Club, can forget such names as A. E. Aizlewood, a half-back, and now a member of the firm of Hart, Moss and Co.; R. J. Brown. goalkeeper; John Aizlewood, and W. H. Shephard, full-backs (all these, I am pleased to say, are still with us). W. Smith, of Moorgate Grove. another full-back, W. Nicholson, whose father was employed for many years at Bentley’s Brewery, Joe Johnson, who has held a most responsible position at Cammell's for the last 40 years, Robert Marsh, son of Alderman Marsh, H. Gibbs, W. Atlen, Harry Blackrmoor,E. Elnor, I. I. Carr, S. Pullen, and C. R. Massey - all well-known names in, the late seventies.
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