Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 10 May 1924

An Interesting Season

How the Local Midland League Clubs Fared

Mexborough’s Primacy

In the season just ended the four Midland League clubs in this district had seriously varied fortunes. They tasted among them a good many of the sweets of the game, and a considerable share of the bitter. Two of them finished among the first half dozen clubs in the table, and two in the lower half of the table. At times during the eight months there were possibilities of honours coming this way. Denaby United raised great hopes by making a magnificent bid for the championship, only to dash them. Mexborough, who have been the more consistent of the four, once looked like being serious challengers for the top place. On the other hand, Wath have been struggling gamely for three parts of the season to keep away from the last two or three places, and only in the last lap have they put on such a fine spurt as has lifted them a little out of the ruck. Wombwell have moved contrariwise. About the middle of the season they were achieving quite a respectable place near the “half-way” line, but they had a dreadful spell, and ended up last of the four. To Mexborough go the chief honours of the season among the South Yorkshire Midland League clubs.

Mexborough’s Good Season

Mexborough have had one of their best seasons since they won the championship in the days of the older club, in 1897. Except for one weak period towards the end of March and the earlier days of April, they have been fairly consistent, and that in spite of very numerous and serious difficulties which have faced the committee. All through the season, the committee have been striving to re-make a forward line upset by the failure of Bowen, the suspension of Walker, and the transfer of Waterfield to Barnsley. To this end, they have taken the right steps, those of trying young players from junior clubs, who appeared to hold some promise of development into useful players. They were fortunate in their search for a centre-forward, which ended soon in the finding of Tommy Allen, who has led the line successfully.

The difficulties were also eased by the signing of Lawrie Burkinshaw, though he was not able to assist them much at first through injury. But still the line has not given full satisfaction until almost the last games of the season, when two very promising young players, Beresford and Seagrave, were put on trial and gave promise of being the material wanted.

Under these circumstances, the consistency of the side has been rather remarkable, and full credit must be given to those who have appeared more regularly and kept the side together. The halves have been good throughout the season, and one of the outstanding features of the season’s play has been the form of Sexton, who is one of the best halves in Midland League football at present. Harry Kay has also shown great form since he took over the centre-half position, and Hill has been a success at right-half. The defence, though not always blameless, has done well on the whole. The introduction of Gilding in goal strengthened a decidedly weak spot. Glover, the captain of the side, has played in every game, and has usually played well, on occasions, particularly well. Tommy Roberts has had some bad luck, but has rendered great service, and was honoured by being selected for the Rest of the League against the Champions, but was unable to play through injury.

One of the best pieces of work the club did was to get hold of Cyril Bramley, who has not more than one or two equals—if those—among the outside-rights who have played in Midland League football this season. Rarely does Bramley have a day “off form,” and many are the defenders who have put in one of their hardest day’s work when they were facing the little winger. Bramley is the only other player besides Glover who has turned out in every game for the club.

In the F.A. Cup competition, Mexborough were knocked out by Denaby, after beating Liver­sedge and York.

The Midland League scorers during the season were: Allen 20, Walker 10, Armitage 8, Bramley 7, Burkinshaw 6, Kay 4, Bowen 3, Goodison 3, Waterfield 2, Hill 2, Watts 2, Radford 2, Seagrave 2, Butterell 1, Walker 1, Armitage 1, Bowen 2, and Butterell scored in the cup-ties.

Denaby’s Strange Fluctuations

On turning to Denaby United during the season, one has to tell a remarkable story. They have had one of the queerest seasons in their history. They started off by going to September 8th without defeat, and the critics began to prophecy great things for them. They appeared to be the side of the season, and their play caused more than one good judge to count them as likely to assume to win the championship. Then came a bad patch, but it did not last long. On December 1st commenced one of the most remarkable periods in the records of any local club, in that day until March 1st Denaby did not know defeat. Twelve league games were won on end, and the visions of the championship, and of new Midland League records grew stronger and stronger.

As a result of that great run, Mansfield’s position at the head of affairs had become doubtful and insecure. The onlookers were watching the struggle with keen interest, and many were looking to Denaby to achieve their ambition, and oust Mansfield from the top place.

Then came the reaction. On March 1st, the mighty Denaby went down, in surprising fashion on their own ground, to Rotherham County. From that day onwards, all hope steadily faded, and the team who had carried everything before them rapidly went to pieces. There were one or two threats to return to power—notably when Worksop were beaten twice in six days, and vengeance was visited on Rotherham County. But they were only flashes. The team were not the same Denaby we had known, and the last few weeks of the season that had promised to be the greatest the club has known, ended sadly and gloomily in disaster and defeat.

Many things have to be said in the effort to explain away the collapse. The men could not stay the terrific pace for one thing. Then it has to be remembered that, while economic considerations control the actions of clubs and players to the extent they do at present, an outstanding junior side is not likely to remain a side for long. Junior players of merit are bound to wander into other and better spheres. So it happened with Denaby. Servien, Briggs and Kennedy, three players who were the source of much of Denaby’s power, went to higher-class clubs. Others were found to take their places, but it was not the same. The new men did very well—for a time. Pickett came into the forward line. Probably—and this is the opinion of a considerable number of those who have watched Denaby this season—nothing has had so great an influence on the fortunes of the club as the departure of Sam Kennedy. Certain it is that the centre-half position has not been so dominantly well filled since he went.

Of course, it has not to be forgotten that Denaby have had a good season. The only reason why one writes in such a disappointed strain is because of the very high promise they themselves held out. They have not done at all badly, and in the ordinary way everyone would have been very well pleased. They finished in sixth place in the table, with 48 points. The bitterest pill is that Mexborough have finished higher, for the rivalry between the two is very keen, and nobody dearly loves to do something better than the other.

In the English Cup competition, Denaby had a very good run, and only failed when they got among the League clubs, and had to meet Lincoln City.

The Midland League goal scorers were: Godfrey 23, Shaw 14, Pickett 9, Hamilton 9, Cooper 9, Kennedy 8, Servien 8, Briggs 8, Damms 7, Burkinshaw 4, Hill 3, Jackson 2, Cooper 1, Flanagan 1, Brown 1.

In the cup-ties, goals were scored by Godfrey 7, Chambers 4, Shaw 3, Briggs 2, and Servien.

Wath Up Against It

The season has not been a great one for the Wath Club. From a playing point of view they have had none too good a time, and their difficulties have been added to by reason of the poor support accorded the games on the Athletic Ground. There has been a threat of withdrawing from Midland League football on account of the heavy losses incurred, but there appears to be good reason now to believe that the club will carry on for at least another season in that company in the hope of better things.

The team did not start badly, but in October, November and December they struck a very bad patch. A check was given to the run of failure by two fine wins over Wombwell and Mansfield during the Christmas and New Year holiday season, and things did not go so badly until the end of February, when another period of depression settled on the side, and they could do nothing right. They went from February 23rd to April 5th without a victory. But on April 5th Bowen, the ex-Mexborough centre-forward, took over the leadership of the attack, and for some time appeared from then to work with new vigour and harmony. Denaby, Scunthorpe and York were beaten in succession, and the season was wound up very successfully, with 12 points gained out of the last eight matches, the best run the side had had during the season.

In the F.A. Cup competition, after beating Brodsworth in the first round of the qualifying competition, the side failed against Frickley after a replay. The three goals scored in the competition were obtained by Goodison 2 and Cox 1.

In the Midland League games the scorers were: Allcock 11, Talbot 7, Retford 6, Simcox 4, Cox 3, Dawber 3, Goodison 3, Sykes 2, Ratclaw 1, Ward 1, Bolsover 1, and Miller 1.

Wombwell’s Struggles

Wombwell have had a season of severe struggle against adversity. Up to a point the team did do badly, and at one period of the season the club stood well up in the table. But in February started a dreadful period. After beating Sutton Forest at Jockey Lane, on February 2nd, the club did not again know success until April 5th. Eight successive games were lost, and in twelve matches only three points were gained. Such a spell, of course, meant a steady drop towards the wrong end of the table, and although the side did better in the last two or three games, they could not make up the ground lost, and thus they have the unenviable distinction of finishing lowest of the four local Midland League clubs.

One of the notable events of the season was the securing of Allcock, the Liversedge centre-forward, who has done some very good work for the club, and who cannot be blamed for their many failures.

After beating Bentley Colliery in the first of the preliminary rounds of the F.A. Cup competition, the side failed against Frickley after a replay. The three goals scored in the competition were obtained by Goodison 2 and Cox 1.

In the Midland League games the scorers were: Allcock 11, Talbot 7, Retford 6, Simcox 4, Cox 3, Dawber 3, Goodison 3, Sykes 2, Ratclaw 1, Ward 1, Bolsover 1, and Miller 1.

The club has been faced with serious financial difficulties during the season, but a big effort was made to win public support, and an enthusiastic public meeting gave a brighter outlook. The struggle still remains before the club, but there are hopes of better things.