Unofficial Christ's Hospital Forum

Seeing the recent appeal for players to form an Old Blues football section viewtopic.php?t=1327 set me thinking about the history and development of the game at the School.

When I was there association football was very much an unofficial activity confined to games on the asphalt and pick up games within the House in free time. Bob Hailey formed an informal football club for a chosen few and Bob Sillett and his brother in law ?Mr Hargreaves also helped when he visited. That was basically it though for coaching and involvement from the Masters. There were no official fixtures against other schools or anything like that.

Even so two of my contemporaries, Clive Walters and Iain Swalwell, were good enough to win football blues at Cambridge University in the mid seventies.

I was wondering firstly what, if any, football took place pre Bob Hailey at the School and secondly, now the game is "official" with coaching from ex pros like Steve Gatting, has anybody gone on to play at professional or decent semi pro level from the School?

The official attitude towards football in the 60's/70's can be summed up bt the phrase "not that bl**dy round ball game".

Same as that AKAP.

N.T. Fryer, Housemaster Col. B actively discouraged house members from even TALKING about football !

I managed to develop my love of the sport after leaving in 63, and I'm still actively involved with three grand-children out of four all playing in local youth leagues - 2 of them FEMALE !!.

My brother always claimed he deliberately failed his entrance exam in 1967 because football wasn't played at CH.

Well, we always seemed to be useless at it when I was at school...

By the time members of my year came around, football was probably the most popular of the sports. On the juniors we used to play near enough every evening before prep, and in the seniors we would either play after tea or after prep in the sports centre.

The school supported football more, especially with the arrival of Steve Gatting as first team coach. Steve was a nice bloke, and not one of those patronising ex-professionals that you see on the telly. Before him, Mr Hargreaves was an excellent coach and somebody who did a lot to encourage myself and others to train and play the game. I remember taking part in sessions with him in both the second and third form, which were popular with other members of my year. He wasnt someone you wanted to cross, but he was a nice bloke and put a lot of time and effort into those sessions.

At the top of the school, there was less support for football, partly out of snobbery and partly out of a fear that it could affect the rugby. Myself and others attempted to set up a footballing equivalent to the Wanderers, essentially allowing people to play football in the michaelmas term, as we felt that this should be possible as others were able to play Rugby in the lent term. However, one member of staff, who I wont name, supported the scheme in front of us and then proceeded to discredit it to another member of staff, who told us of this. This member of staff was actually opposed to the idea anyway, but was at least open and honest. I was very disappointed to have been deceived in this way.

As far as I am aware, I dont know of anyone that has gone professional, but it isnt surprising given the lack of emphasis on the game, although this has improved. It is bollocks however to say that we were useless at it while we were at school. I dont remember getting hammered in many games and usually our win draw loss ratio was positive or near enough.

There were some talented players while I was there, but with football being the most popular national sport, there is plenty of competition out there, unlike Rugby. I think the school should put more emphasis on football in the earlier years, as up until the LE, there are far less games compared with Rugby. The trouble is, there is a fear of football as staff know that if football is encouraged more there own sports will suffer accordingly, as it will always be the most popular sport.

CH Football wrote:
*snip*

As far as I am aware, I dont know of anyone that has gone professional, but it isnt surprising given the lack of emphasis on the game, although this has improved. It is bollocks however to say that we were useless at it while we were at school. I dont remember getting hammered in many games and usually our win draw loss ratio was positive or near enough.

*snip*

My school year were useless at football - I don't recall them winning many matches at all...

Having received an e-mail from the head of boys soccer at CH, I was somewhat dismayed to discover the girls at Horsham show little interest in football, though they do play rugby - Shades of the past and snobbery, perhaps.

Ladies/Girls football is taking off rapidly in this country, though I fancy rather to the dismay of some of the dinosaurs at the F.A.

At least Dorking F.C. welcome us, as this link will show:-

http://www.piczo.com/dorking-girls-fc?g=4824671&cr=4

For cat lovers, (NOT school cats), Toby is our new addition, though a lot larger now !!

CH Football wrote:By the time members of my year came around, football was probably the most popular of the sports. On the juniors we used to play near enough every evening before prep, and in the seniors we would either play after tea or after prep in the sports centre.

The school supported football more, especially with the arrival of Steve Gatting as first team coach. Steve was a nice bloke, and not one of those patronising ex-professionals that you see on the telly. Before him, Mr Hargreaves was an excellent coach and somebody who did a lot to encourage myself and others to train and play the game. I remember taking part in sessions with him in both the second and third form, which were popular with other members of my year. He wasnt someone you wanted to cross, but he was a nice bloke and put a lot of time and effort into those sessions.

At the top of the school, there was less support for football, partly out of snobbery and partly out of a fear that it could affect the rugby. Myself and others attempted to set up a footballing equivalent to the Wanderers, essentially allowing people to play football in the michaelmas term, as we felt that this should be possible as others were able to play Rugby in the lent term. However, one member of staff, who I wont name, supported the scheme in front of us and then proceeded to discredit it to another member of staff, who told us of this. This member of staff was actually opposed to the idea anyway, but was at least open and honest. I was very disappointed to have been deceived in this way.

As far as I am aware, I dont know of anyone that has gone professional, but it isnt surprising given the lack of emphasis on the game, although this has improved. It is bollocks however to say that we were useless at it while we were at school. I dont remember getting hammered in many games and usually our win draw loss ratio was positive or near enough.

There were some talented players while I was there, but with football being the most popular national sport, there is plenty of competition out there, unlike Rugby. I think the school should put more emphasis on football in the earlier years, as up until the LE, there are far less games compared with Rugby. The trouble is, there is a fear of football as staff know that if football is encouraged more there own sports will suffer accordingly, as it will always be the most popular sport.

I can't see why there should be a conflict with football and rugby.

As far as I know rugby has only ever been played in the Michaelmas Term (other than a bit of sevens) leaving the Lent Term for other winter sports.

In my day hockey was played in the Lent Term so maybe that could cause a conflict if Masters are keen on hockey but I'm sure it is not rocket science to come up with an acceptable compromise that satisfies afficionados of both sports.

J.R. wrote:Having received an e-mail from the head of boys soccer at CH, I was somewhat dismayed to discover the girls at Horsham show little interest in football, though they do play rugby - Shades of the past and snobbery, perhaps.

Ladies/Girls football is taking off rapidly in this country, though I fancy rather to the dismay of some of the dinosaurs at the F.A.

At least Dorking F.C. welcome us, as this link will show:-

http://www.piczo.com/dorking-girls-fc?g=4824671&cr=4

For cat lovers, (NOT school cats), Toby is our new addition, though a lot larger now !!

Quite a few of the grils on the years below me really pushed for rugby but I don't remember any girl being especially enthusiastic about the round version of football... But I may be wrong!

I think in my last few years girls had the option to play football as an afternoon sport, or maybe they had to I forget. Rugby was really pushed for I remember that as I was on of the first girls to play but had to stop due to other commitments. As far as I'm concerned rugby rocks, and if you join the uni teams rugby is the most social of clubs!!!

Laura M wrote:I think in my last few years girls had the option to play football as an afternoon sport, or maybe they had to I forget. Rugby was really pushed for I remember that as I was on of the first girls to play but had to stop due to other commitments. As far as I'm concerned rugby rocks, and if you join the uni teams rugby is the most social of clubs!!!

And the girls are the most scary....

Great Plum wrote:

Laura M wrote:I think in my last few years girls had the option to play football as an afternoon sport, or maybe they had to I forget. Rugby was really pushed for I remember that as I was on of the first girls to play but had to stop due to other commitments. As far as I'm concerned rugby rocks, and if you join the uni teams rugby is the most social of clubs!!!

And the girls are the most scary....

.......... reminds me of the time I was Secretary of a local Sunday League football team. We were playing a home match at Brockham, near Dorking, and had been allocated a lady referee. I had a key to gain access to the ladies changing rooms which are hardly ever used on a Sunday and escorted the lady ref to show her where the changing room was.

Entered briskly with her, to be confronted by the Dorking ladies rugby team getting ready for a practice session.

As Plum said, scary, or what. The thought of some of those thighs and arms wrapped around ones........

Needless to say, I beat an apologetic and hasty retreat, face bright red and bawdy and suggestive words from from 15 hearty women ringing in my ears !!!

We are not scary!! Our team are rather tiny compared to everyone else in our division, in fact we are in the rather oxymoronic position of being a 100% straight womens rugby team!! We get along rather well with the ladies football team though even if they can go for 90 minutes and we only manage 80!!

Laura M wrote:We are not scary!! Our team are rather tiny compared to everyone else in our division, in fact we are in the rather oxymoronic position of being a 100% straight womens rugby team!! We get along rather well with the ladies football team though even if they can go for 90 minutes and we only manage 80!!

You've no idea how much extra pleasure that extra 10 minutes brings !