I decided to put pen to paper to say a few words about the Old Boys Club. Many of you younger members will possibly not be too familiar with the history of Leek CSOB. It was formed in 1945 immediately following the Second World War by the late schoolmaster Trevor Harvey (It was called Mountside in those days, now known as Leek High School). Mr Harvey was a very strict teacher, he taught most subjects but he enjoyed science and when he walked into the classroom there was a ‘deadly hush,’ you could hear a pin drop - it was so quiet. One could feel his presence as soon as you were in his company. For all that, he was a very fair and honest man, and a person one could respect and look up to. He formed the Club immediately after the Second World War to provide leisure and sport to allow boys to partake in team sports. The war had ravaged life as one knew it prior to the conflict. The Youth Club, in the early days, used the school hall for Badminton, Table Tennis, Snooker etc; snooker was played on a small Billiard Table. He also formed a Gymnastics section (using the school gymnasium, that gymnasium was to be unfortunately burnt down in the 70’s or 8o’s). Trevor’s son Stan Harvey played in goal for the Club in the `1950’s/early 60’s, and Stan sponsored the match v Redgate Clayton which he attended on the 11 October 2014.
Whilst pursuits outside consisted of Football, Cricket and Athletics sections. Obviously the Old Boys Football Section was the beginning of Leek CSOB (Old Boys Football Club) as we now know it. In 1995 I wrote a 50-year Anniversary Brochure 1945-1995 which contained a history of the Club from the beginning until 1995. At the rear of that brochure is a list of the names of all the Players from 1945 to 1995. Many people were involved in the Club at various stages, notably the late founder, Trevor Harvey, Alan Waterfall (Schoolmaster), In the 1940’s the side was run by Ernie Webster (Manager) and Ernie Ward (Trainer), Ernie Webster was the Granddad of present day Referee David Critchlow. The late Ernie Sharrocks was Manager/Secretary during the mid-1950’s to the mid-60’s and then for 11 years the late Harry Lacey ran the Club almost single handedly, with help from his son and former player Dave Lacey, Dave sadly passed away in 2012. In 1974 Harry informed me that he was going to retire and he asked me to become the Manager and run the Club. After some thought and discussion with my wife I took on the task so admirably done by Harry. I personally joined the Old Boys Club in 1955 as a 16 year-old, and I have been a part of the Club for 55 years as a Player, Manager and Club Secretary. In all that time I and many others had strived to acquire a home of our own, and now I am so pleased to see that Pointon Park has become a facility that can best be described as a superb venue for the Club, and a place where CSOB can progress from strength to strength. The present Committee:-Steve Rutter, John Hyde, Dan Hyde, Andrew Hyde, Nick Chawner, Julia Greenwood and John Barratt along with all the other Committee Members and Manager’s are to be congratulated on revitalising the Club, I am so pleased it is in such good hands, they have brought the Club back to life and the new ground provides a wonderful platform for them and the Club to progress.
In 1980 I had decided to write to Ken Hill, to ask him if he would consider becoming the Club’s Chairman, and I was so pleased when Ken accepted the appointment. I had known Ken from our schooldays and I was sure he would be an ideal Chairman for CSOB. Probably, looking back, it was the best days work I ever did for Leek CSOB, Ken and I worked together for a further 26 years on behalf of Leek CSOB, Many Manager’s came and went in those years, Ken had the unenviable task of sacking several managers’ when things did not go well. Ken had the knack of knowing when things on and off the field were not quite right. One former Manager labelled Ken ‘The Hatchet Man’ and another asked him when he was to be sacked, to say he had not been sacked but had left for health reasons.
Over those 55 years I have seen literally hundreds of lads pass through the Old Boys Club, sadly some are now no longer with us, others are now Granddads with their grandsons playing for the Club. That makes me feel really old, and at the same time I am very proud to have enjoyed and met so many people in the game, that has been a great pleasure to me as I have made many friends and have had some great times and games over the years.
Obviously I have many memories and being the Club Captain when we won the Sentinel Cup by 2-1 in 1960 at Vale Park against Stone St Michael’s in front of over 2000 spectators is one of my highlights. It was a special night in the Club’s history. The side that day was: 1 Geoff Hansell [sadly passed away], 2 Ernie Mart. 3 John (Nobby) Steele, 4 Norman Emery, 5 Tim Pollock, 6 Stan White, 7 Duncan Valentine, 8 Tony Lacey, 9 Charlie [Chucker] Clowes (Sadly no longer with us], 10 Dave Lacey [Sadly no longer with us) and myself No 11. [ No substitutes in those days] I have named that side because I wanted you to know that even after all this time whenever we are together there is an affinity with one another and with the Club, and a comradeship that has lasted throughout all our lives, it is only sad that three of them are not with us now. So enjoy your days as a young footballer whatever standard you may achieve, you will make friendships and have sporting memories that will last you all your lives.
In the 80’s we appointed Neil Baker as Manager (Now Crewe Alex Assistant Manager), he stayed two seasons before Leek Town FC asked him to become their Manager. The rest is history.
Probably the most wonderful period for the Old Boys came in the 1990’s under Ken Hill’s time, Ken and I appointed Chris McMullen as our Manager, following the present Vice-Chairman (John Hyde’s) introduction, John was a friend of Chris and John was the middle man so to speak. Chris as you will all know was Jimmy McMullen’s Dad, and under his Managership along with his Assistant Andy Walters, they had a wonderful few years on the field. In the 1994/95 season the Club won the Leek Cup, the Refuge Assurance Midland League Cup, League Champions that meant a big decision was needed by the Management Committee as to whether we could afford to gain promotion to the North West Counties Football League, after much deliberation Ken and I persuaded the Committee to go for it, and we applied to join the League after first agreeing a lease with Leek Town F.C for the Club to play their NWCFL home games at Harrison Park. The Club entered the NWCFL in Division 2 for the 1995/96 season. We finished mid-table, a good consolidating season. Doors opened now we were in this League as we entered the FA Cup for the very first time and the FA Vase. We were drawn against Corby Town away in the FA Cup, they were two Leagues above us in the Pyramid System, and we went to Corby to enjoy the experience. Low and behold we beat them by 4-0 and Matt Sheldon holds the distinction of scoring the Old Boys first ever goal in the FA Cup, and what a blinder it was to. I missed half of the Match as Dave Ritchie (John Ritchie,s son, John was Stoke City’s centre forward) got injured and I had to take him to Kettering Hospital. We went further in the Cup and played Redditch at Harrison Park, another side two leagues above us, we lost 3-2 but put up a tremendous fight in front of 355 spectators, our exploits in the FA Cup earned the Club £5000 from the FA. In the 1996/97 season Chris and Andy were still in charge and they gained promotion to the NWCFL Division One (Now Premier), another big step up the ladder, we now were playing against Newcastle Town, Kidsgrove Athletic, Nantwich Town, Workington, Vauxhall Motors, Blackpool, AFC Liverpool, Bootle, Salford City and the like. One still cannot believe Chris is no longer with us but I know this, he was the most successful Old Boys Manager ever, and although we had our battles from time to time all of us miss him, particularly all the players that had such a successful time under his Managership. After three seasons we were relegated back to Division One, and guess what, we were the first Club to play against FC United of Manchester in an official competitive match when they joined our NWCF League. We played them at Harrison Park in front of 2,580 spectators, the Police made it an all ticket game and I was receiving hundreds of letters prior to that game for tickets from the FC United supporters, and that day we took over £10,000 in gate receipts, canteen proceeds and programme sales. BBC and Sky TV covered the match. Certainly a day to remember, we sold well over 500 meat & potato pies that day. I remember being interviewed by TV and they asked me how much different the game was compared with a normal Saturday match at home, well simply we sold around 25 pies on a normal day with gate receipts of about £110, and you could walk all around Harrison Park as the match was being played, Not when we played FC United you couldn’t, it was well packed. Before that game we had several meetings with Leek Town, FC United, and the Police, and I remember going to Stoke City to get tickets printed for the game. An experience that was unforgettable for everyone involved.
There were lots of players from various eras that played for the Club and stood out for me: I name just a few:-
Alan Peacock, Basil Ball, Lew Fisher and John Shenton from the late 1940’s to the mid 50’s.
1955- 1975:- Maurice Bowcock, Colin Jones, Stan Harvey, Dave Lacey, Tony Lacey, Dick Kryzwicki, John Steele, Geoff Hansell, Russ James, Charlie Clowes, Norman Emery, Stuart Lovenbury, Tony Brooks, Paul Ogden, Geoff Porter, Alan Hill, Stan Trafford, Russ and Dave Owen.
1980;s : Colin Turner, Cliff Talbot, Alan Lockett, Brian Wain, Geoff Birch, Andy Bourne (defender), John Hyde, Mick Nettel, Gary Plant. Howard Clowes, John Berrisford, Phil Braddock, Colin Stair, Lee Mycock, Andy Walters
1990- 2005: Simon Latham, Jason Nagington, Andy Ball, Ian Jones, Matt Sheldon , Dave Hart, Gary Bentley, Steve Callear, David Lowe, Jon Loton, Tim Birch, Dave Ritchie, John Banks, Dan Hyde, Lee Bould, Lyndon Beardmore, Anthony Keates, Rob Drummond, Andy Walker, Alan Nagington, Andy Bourne (forward)
The foregoing are just a few of the players that stood out for me over the years. I am sure there are many more and of course the players now playing for the Club will make good impressions I am sure, and will do the Club and themselves proud.
I would also mention my Mrs, she did the supporters canteen and washed the first team kit for over 25 years, and at the time we had three young children, a thankless task, and we had quite a few new washing machines in the process. She used to moan at me because muddy socks were inside out and white shorts and socks were a big bone of contention. Macca always liked the white shorts and socks, and every year I had an earful from Eunice when new white shorts and socks came on the scene. I used to say to Chris don’t choose white when we had new kits but I was aware I was talking to myself! I think it was only later when I had retired he realised what I was always saying.

STAN THE MAN