Our March meeting was once again a full-day event; this year, we celebrated 1966. That was the year England won the World Cup, Hull City won the Third Division title and had a memorable FA Cup run.
There was complimentary tea and coffee for everyone on arrival, and time to catch up with friends before the morning events began, led by Richard Beachell.
Two of our special guests for the day were Chris Simpkin and Mike Williams from the 1965/66 Hull City team. Also joining us were the daughters of Jock Davidson, captain of that team and David Bond, a Hull-born sports writer and friend of the Senior Tigers.
During the morning, we held a 60’s music quiz presented by Tom Wilkinson. A one-off ‘Full House’ game of bingo followed this. We then watched a video of the World Cup final, which brought back great memories for everyone.
Fellow Senior Tiger, Dave Philips, took to the stage to give a presentation entitled “A World Cup Story – My Dad’s Journey”. Dave spoke about his father’s journey to the World Cup final and how he began planning to attend the tournament in 1964. Dave has his father’s 1966 diary, in which he recorded all the train times he took to the matches. His father attended four preliminary round matches, a quarter-final match, a semi-final match and finally the World Cup final held at the old Wembley Stadium. He had a ticket for the 3rd place play-off but gave it away to a cousin. To finish the story, we watched a black-and-white video of the final. “ They think it’s all over – It is now”!
At midday, we held our inaugural annual Ron Betts Memorial Trophy Quiz. Ron, who was a long-standing and loyal supporter of Hull City and a Senior Tiger, sadly passed away last year, and to honour his memory, we decided to hold an annual football quiz, with the prize the Ron Betts Trophy. Six members took part, and Tony Conway was the quiz master. Tony Munzer won the quiz and was presented with the trophy by Ron’s widow, Pat, who is also a Senior Tiger, along with medals for all those who took part.
Then followed a 60s-style lunch of chicken and chips in a basket and black forest gateau. While we had lunch, we had the opportunity to watch a slide show of Ernie Addy’s fundraising for Prostate Cancer Research.
Following lunch, Tony Munzer gave an amusing account of his memories supporting Hull City during the 1965-66 season. Tony got us singing the football ‘chants’ of the time, including the well-known, Waggy, Waggy, Waggy, Oi!, Oi!, Oi! which brought back great memories of our youth.
Next, Pete Smurthwaite gave an account of his adventures travelling to London to watch the FA Cup match against Chelsea. It was Spring 1966 when Pete and his friends from the Newland Youth Club planned to travel down to Stamford Bridge to watch the cup match. They set off by coach from outside the ABC Cinema on Ferensway at 11 pm the night before the match. It sounded like quite an adventure for a group of teenagers. His abiding memory of the match was when Waggy swung around the goalpost after scoring the equaliser, which brought Chelsea back to Hull for the replay. Sadly, we lost 3-1.
Pete had very generously photocopied for everyone his programmes from both the home and away Chelsea matches, and asked that if we wished to take them home, we donate to Ernie’s fundraising. This raised a fantastic £320.00, making the total raised £1,136.00 for Prostate Cancer Research. Well done, Ernie!
Brendon Smurthwaite from the football club brought to the meeting a framed No.9 shirt worn by the legendary Chris Chilton. Brendon told us that the club had been told by the ex-Hull City player Frankie Banks that Chillo’s shirt had been displayed on a pub wall in Southend. Following Chillo’s death, it was going to be auctioned for charity, and they felt it was the right thing to buy it for the football club. Brendon said it was the best piece of memorabilia the club has. Interestingly, he told us that the shirt had been worn by Chillo for a total of five seasons, not like the throw-away ones of today.
Our final guests for the day were Julie and Angela, the daughters of another City legend, Jock Davidson. It will be twelve years next month since Jock passed away, and they didn’t realise how much he meant to the people of Hull until after his death, when they kept receiving memorabilia of Jock. His daughters spoke about their father with pride and gave us an insight into their lives living with a professional footballer as a father. They said it was embarrassing growing up, especially at school, if their father had played badly.
Jock was the longest-serving Scotsman to play for an English team. He came down to Hull at fourteen, but soon went back home to Lanark as he was not happy. But rather than go down the pit with his father, he came back to Hull and stayed with the club for thirty-three years.
On the pitch, Jock was a force to be reckoned with, and Julie told us that her father had broken thirteen opposition players’ legs during his career. It was through his antics on the pitch that the Wildfowler pub on Willerby Road was named after him.
Jock was one of the first players to be inducted into the Wall of Fame, a fitting tribute to a remarkable captain and player. Following his retirement from football, he became a fishmonger, which he did for twelve years. His son eventually joined him in the business.
Julie and Angela gave a fantastic and frank insight into the life of living with their footballer father.
Pat gave her usual vote of thanks to our guests and thanked them for taking the time to join us in celebrating 1966.
To finish the afternoon, we held our raffle, which raised £438.00.
Shirley Cormack
Bingo Winner Dave Philips giving a talk on his Dad’s World Cup Journey
Contestants for the Quiz – Ron Betts Trophy The Ron Betts Trophy and the contestant’s prizes
Winner of the Ron Betts’ Quiz, Tony Munzer with Pat Betts Ernie supporting Prostate Cancer
Tony Munzer introducing the afternoon session Richard showing the Chris Chilton shirt
Members listening to Pete Smurthwaite’s talk Richard interviewing Andy Davidson’s daughters,
. Angela and Julie
Andy Davidson’s daughters, Angela and Julie Special Guests, Chris Simpkin and Mike Williams
