SportsArchive
Some Cradley sports history from the archives...
Following the death of Frank Hare in 2019, 'The Cradley Sports Club' is no longer in existence. The private Facebook Cradley Sports Club group still remains...
This is the 1954 Cradley St. James football team after having beaten Pendock in the final of the Mason Cup that year. The cup was named after the landlord of the Three Horse Shoes pub Harry Mason (Barnards Green I guess as the photo was found by Don Smith of Poolbrook) .
Back Row L to R : Bill Plaskett(Don's uncle), Derek Smith (no relation) , Roy Smith(Don's brother), Reg Gardener, Lol James, , Don Smith, Walter Baker(club Chairman).
Front row L to R: George Baker, Austin Cole, Bernard Atkinson , Albert Smith(Don's brother and captain), Edgar Green and Michael Godsall. Missing was Les Philpotts.
We have established a trophy in the name of Mike Godsall who did so much for the club and the match is an invitation game played at our Fun Day last August. Mike's daughter Carol presented the cup to her Son Patrick who was captain of Cradley Sports for the day . We beat Newtown Sports for the record. Carol's daughter Louise also plays for the club's girls team.
From John Lawrence - "Attached is the football picture - circa 1907 around the time that my Grandparents ran the Crown public house so they may have been hung on the wall there (pictures not Grandparents!). My Grandfather (James George Lawrence) is third from the left (as you look at the picture - has a moustache).
Also attached is a picture outside the Lion Pub at Stiffords Bridge - Licensee Sarah Jane Lawrence c. 1920.
Also at Stiffords Bridge - a car with my Great Grandmother Charlotte Lawrence and her daughter Beatrice (great Aunt).
Also attached Mathon WI - c. 1950 taken outside the Village hall. House I was born in can be seen behind them."
Members of Cradley Quoits Club - Cup Winners 1907 - 1909. Submitted by John Lawrence, at Cradley school from 1952 to 1958. (Mr Keep - Headmaster). His Grandfather ran the Crown Inn at Cradley in 1913 and subsequently moved to the old Mill house in Mathon.
Message received 4 July 2006 - Sir: Viewing the recently posted Quoits Club picture, I recognized my Grandfather, Richard Blight, (bottom row, on the right). Mr. Blight, a gardner and quarryman, was a long-time resident of Cradley. He was a veteran of the First War. He enjoyed the Crown, the New Inn, and the Cliffe in Mathon. Mr. Grandmother, Fannie Blight, nee Pitt, was from Cradley. My grandparents lived in the Firs, which was across from the Crown, just behind St. Catherine's. My Mother was born in the house. In 1944, My Mother and my Dad, then an American GI stationed with an Army hospital near Malvern, were married in Cradley church. In the 1950's, my Mother and I would visit Cradley from America. My Grandparents are buried in Cradley churchyard. Incidentally, the older gentleman at the top row, left, in the picture is Mr. Fred Fincher, who lived at Fincher's Corner. I enjoy the Cradley website. Sincerely, John George, Texas.