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Tony Walpole was born in Liverpool in March 1939. He started working life as an apprentice, aged 15, with Farnham (Freddie) Maxwell at Blewbury in Berkshire, having answered an advert in the Liverpool Echo.
Tony Walpole was born in Liverpool in March 1939. He started working life as an apprentice, aged 15, with Farnham (Freddie) Maxwell at Blewbury in Berkshire, having answered an advert in the Liverpool Echo.
He was paid 5 shillings a week plus clothes, board and bed. Maxwell’s Irish-born head lad, a man named Louie, took Tony to be measured for a pair of jodhpurs and brand-new leather riding boots. Tony looked after a horse named Little Creep and rode out on the Berkshire Downs gallops. Sadly, he had not been there all that long when his father died, necessitating a return to Liverpool.
He was paid 5 shillings a week plus clothes, board and bed. Maxwell’s Irish-born head lad, a man named Louie, took Tony to be measured for a pair of jodhpurs and brand-new leather riding boots. Tony looked after a horse named Little Creep and rode out on the Berkshire Downs gallops. Sadly, he had not been there all that long when his father died, necessitating a return to Liverpool.
Later on, he became apprenticed to Newmarket trainer Percy Allden but soon realised that he was just cheap labour. Few of Allden’s apprentices were given rides in races, and then only on no-hopers or non-triers, as was the accepted practice among many trainers of that era.
Later on, he became apprenticed to Newmarket trainer Percy Allden but soon realised that he was just cheap labour. Few of Allden’s apprentices were given rides in races, and then only on no-hopers or non-triers, as was the accepted practice among many trainers of that era.
Disillusioned and without ever looking like having a ride in public, Tony left racing and, in 1963, moved into the world of bookmaking, handling the distribution of the Jackson & Lowe racing sheets.
Disillusioned and without ever looking like having a ride in public, Tony left racing and, in 1963, moved into the world of bookmaking, handling the distribution of the Jackson & Lowe racing sheets.
In 1975 he founded Birmingham-based Super Soccer, producing football coupons, betting slips and football odds for bookmakers. They became the UK’s biggest provider of coupons, producing over 100 million a year. Over the years they introduced a variety of different coupons to keep the putters interested.
In 1975 he founded Birmingham-based Super Soccer, producing football coupons, betting slips and football odds for bookmakers. They became the UK’s biggest provider of coupons, producing over 100 million a year. Over the years they introduced a variety of different coupons to keep the putters interested.
The company employed its own odds compilers. Much of the groundwork of football odds worldwide originated from Super Soccer’s Oddsfeed – an automated service which enables bookmakers’ betting systems – with many internet firms using their odds as a guide.
The company employed its own odds compilers. Much of the groundwork of football odds worldwide originated from Super Soccer’s Oddsfeed – an automated service which enables bookmakers’ betting systems – with many internet firms using their odds as a guide.
Having reached the age of 80, Tony finally decided to take a back seat from the day-to-day operations, confident in the knowledge he was leaving his business in the hands of experienced staff who were well capable of advancing the company’s service into the future.
Having reached the age of 80, Tony finally decided to take a back seat from the day-to-day operations, confident in the knowledge he was leaving his business in the hands of experienced staff who were well capable of advancing the company’s service into the future.
In 2010 he wrote a poem recalling his time as an apprentice at Maxwell’s stables. The last two verses read:
In 2010 he wrote a poem recalling his time as an apprentice at Maxwell’s stables. The last two verses read:
I remember the Lads in the yard to this day,
I remember the Lads in the yard to this day,
Louise, Eugene, Reggie and Pete,
Louise, Eugene, Reggie and Pete,
Fifty years have galloped by so fast,
Fifty years have galloped by so fast,
And never again did we meet.
And never again did we meet.
I’ll always remember the jodhpurs,
I’ll always remember the jodhpurs,
And boots like I’d not seen before,
And boots like I’d not seen before,
So thank you (so long gone Mr. Maxwell),
So thank you (so long gone Mr. Maxwell),
It was a good start in life, that’s for sure.
It was a good start in life, that’s for sure.
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