As a former player & committee member(1953-1965) before emigrating to Canada in 1965 I must congratulate all the contributors to the historical record.

As a 16 year old I still remember my first game at Port Sunlight & my subsequent elevation to the first team where I remained until my retirement through injury(three broken legs) except for my two years in the R.A.F. where I was fortunate to play for the Group Command & finally the R.A.F. against the Navy at Twickenam in 1960.

I would have loved to have taken part in the oral history & my experiences with such characters as Bert Taylor, Peter Sutton, Nat France, Vic Dutton, Kevin Higgins (my Thursday night drinking partner) D. Jones & exceptional players like Geof Baker, J. McMullan, the Bradys, Roy Stockly, Frank Wilson, Bob Grace, Joe Colford ,Ted Hughes and many more. Our longest trips in those days were Furness v York both overnight stays with subsequent stays. Travel was mostly at our own expense & games on the Wirral meant train to Liverpool, underground to Birkenhead & local bus to our destination. Some highlights included Crewe (probably the easiest game on the schedule) but they always provided a good meal after the game & Blackpool area teams because we always ended up in Blackpool

Unfortunately many of my former team mates are no longer with us but I note they are given space in the annals. Bob Wasson was visiting Vancouver when he suffered a major heart attack &was on life support before passing away. I visited the hospital several times however it is unlikely he knew I was there. I did meet with his son who came to Canada to make the arrangements . Other ex old boys I met in Vancouver were Tom Bebbington-touring with the Colts & Alan Wilson (whose mother taught me at Warrington Road School & Alan Woods who is rated one of Canada's top artists.

Although the teams I played with were considered to be of a high caliber it gives me & I am sure all the oldtimers great pleasure to see subsequent teams achieved greater success & just maybe they laid the groundwork for the on the field success & business accumen.

Please convey my congratulations to all the contributors of the book & the oral presentation.

Yours sincerely Danny O'Neill

D. O'Neill
131-16275 15th Avenue
Surrey, B.C.
Canada V4A1L4

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According to Messrs Hunt, Patmore and Lambert, the team consisted of (Back row L to R: Roy Stockley, Nat France, Ken Vernon, Brian Doyle, Alan Whitby, Garth Tollitt, Dave Caldwell and Skimmer Connolly.

Front row L to R: Cyril Clarke, Fred Laws, Walter Ellis, Sam Patmore, Mervyn Jones, Brian Clarke and Danny O'Neill)

Should anyone disagree, don't shoot the messenger