The rebuilding of Celtic after the Second World War
The personal memories of Keith Wilkinson
Bower Fold in 1943

 

Bower Fold in 1943

I’m not certain whether my memories start in 1945 or 1946; however, I was 12 years old. My father, Tom Wilkinson, was the secretary to a group of me calling themselves the Working Men’s Committee. Who formed them, or how the formation came about, I do not know. What I do recall, however, was that on odd occasions, they would meet at our house in Castle Hall. The house was only a two-up-two-down, which meant that my mother and I would have to go out. Fortunately, my grandparents lived next door!

I can recall the names of some of the members of the committee, but not all. There was my dad, Wright Walker, Ernie Fletcher, Frank Higgs and Roland (Rolly) Andrews. Rolly had long been associated with Celtic before the war. He was “Skip Boy”, the name given to the lad who looked after the kit.

Thinking back, there must have been some contact to the previous Celtic management and a source of finance, not to mention access to the ground – which had been closed all the war years.

I, along with sons of other committee members, helped to clear the ground. The stand at the Mottram End had been badly damaged in a gale, and I recall going there and seeing that the roof was hanging off, and whole area generally dangerous. When I next visited, the roof was off and only the wooden stanchions still stood. The working party I was part were given the job of whitening the wooden railings around the playing pitch while another group took down the stanchions. Paint being scarce in those post-war years we whitewashed them with lime.

The grass on the pitch had got very long, and was cut by Mr. Wade, a farmer from old Mottram Road. We all assisted him in loading his cart for hay and taking it up to the farm. I recall that the grass cutting in the first few games left rather a lot to be desired!

I also remember players coming to our house to sign for Celtic, and also going all over what is now Greater Manchester (on the bus of course!) to sign players that had been recommended to him. By whom, I do not know.

Squad 1948

 

Bower Fold 1913

The names on the photo (48/49) that can be remembered are: Back Row (left to right)
Mr. Bates (club secretary), Sydney Heywood (trainer and my Uncle), Mr Grundy (Director), Wright Walker, Tommy Blackhurst (first player and a local lad), Ernie Fletcher (man in a trilby next to the goalkeeper), Wilf Stanion (player to the left of the goalkeeper), Tom Wilkinson (the next non-player, and my father), Dick Wolfendale (knelt by the referee), Walter Bardsley (groundsman). And the face peering over the fence – yours truly!

In that first season after the war, I think it was the Committee, or at least a few members of it, who picked the team. I seem to recall that they were in the Manchester Amateur League, but I’m by no means certain of that. Rolly Andrews was “Skip Boy” again, whilst Arthur Morton acted as the trainer (what we call a physio now). We called him “the man with the magic sponge”. I think that Arthur had pre-war connections with the club. The groundsman was Walter Bardsley.

I recall that my dad’s involvement with the first team only lasted one season, after which a board of directors was reformed. However, the committee went on to form and manage the second team – who proved to be quite useful. They played in the Manchester League, the first team having gone on to play in the Cheshire League. Sydney Heywood became the second team’s trainer. He was a friend of Arthur Morton, and both were ex-S.J.A.B. members, and very well versed in first aid.

I remember the second team winning the Gilchrist Cup, and a party for them and their families being thrown by the club at the Conservative Club on Mottram Road. The guest of honour was Frank Swift, the Manchester City and England goalkeeper who lost his life at Munich with Manchester United. He was a reporter for the Manchester Evening News.

During that year, I acted as “Skip Boy” to the second team, cleaning boots, etc, and getting any repairs done by my Granddad, who was a clog and shoe-maker on Stocks Lane (all free of charge, which caused a fair few family arguments, I can tell you!). I also acted as a ball boy.

The teams used to travel on a coach run by Melba Motors, picked up on Great Aytoun Street in Manchester.