Published: 29/09/2008 00:00 -
Updated: 29/01/2010 12:37
OO-ER! the title of this blog, coming from me, will raise a few eyebrows I'm sure! (no comments from the peanut gallery!) but turn the clock back 50 odd years to Ashbourne in the 1950s maybe early 60s.
Leys House (still standing and bears its name on its steps) was the home of the late Mr Jack Smith. Honorary member of the shrovetide committee in his day, but Jack goes uncredited today for a lot of reasons.
Firstly, he made shrovetide footballs, taught the skill by the late Mr Percy Chadwick, Jack made many leathers and some were widely used as match balls, even after his death his skill as a ball maker was being put to an uncredited test with the last remaining bals sold to the committee by his brother.
The last of these was the 1990 Wednesday ball turned up by Ian Bates and goaled by Jim Lemon at Clifton.
Jack made and presented a ball to the German Football Squad in 1966 when they were staying locally and training on the recreation ground in Ashbourne.
He also made and sent balls to other towns where simillar games were played and received a collection of commemorative balls in return, from Workington, Jedburgh, and Sedgefield.
Jack also gave us the basis of what is the Roll Of Honour as it is today. researching old newspapers and archives he formed what is now thr roll of honour used annually by the Ashbourne News Telegraph.
Jack was a terrific collector of shrovetide ephemera and collected over a number of years more than 40 played and goaled balls. The oldest being one from 1896.
A number of these balls were decorated and displayed in the bay window of Leys house and also the back bay which overlooked the then Paddock, now the carpark of J Sainsbury.
Alec, his brother, recalls the leathers hung from the ceilings of the front room and in the hallway and particularly remembers an exact replica of the ball painted exactly, of the one turned up by Sir Stanley Matthews in 1966, the actual one remained ungoaled and was presented to Sir Stanley. I think it is good to note at this point how times have changed. It would be impossible i think these days to get ANYONE to sell their leather or one from their family.
I know the ball i own by default has a price. I was offered £1,000 by an international film crew for it, but i would not part with it. it was not goaled by my family but it is mine none the less!
Jack would write to the turners-up if they had their balls returned to them after play if ungoaled, or the goalers.
Sometimes he was met with disappointment and others with delight and the leathers were duly mainly sold to him.
He did, I believe, have one given to him, that turned up in 1951 by Col Ridout. It was ungoaled and given to him as a keepsake.
Jack was the first on the scene at a near fatal road accident involving Col Ridout years later and literally saved his life as he was a proficient first aider. Col Ridout duly presented Jack with the ball he turned up when he was well again.
We must no also forget most of all that Jack was a player. A staunch Down'ard (yay!!) he goaled the second ball in 1954 turned up by the then painter of the ball Jack Roberts. It remains, painted in its original artwork with Jack's surviving brother Alec, himself a staunch player and goaler of a ball in 1967.
Time passes and ill health steals Jack from the world of Shrovetide and he passes away in 1969. Sadly, and almost tragically, his fine collection of leathers was taken after his death in the boot of a car and sold to various public houses in Derby and district, one of which still hangs in the Rising Star, that goaled by the late Ivo Moon.
I managed to recover the 1957 Wednesday ball about to be junked and have that in my posession as well as a 1938 ball which belonged to Jack and was given to me by Alec on my 30th birthday.
I too am fortunate to have copies of all Jack's notes he made and copies of the notes on the original Roll Of Honour, all are treasured pieces of my own extensive shrovetide collection.
Jack is no longer with us but his legacy and love of shrovetide lives on. Thank God for Ashburnians like Jack who lived, and slept our famous and beloved game!...look down on us Jack, and send us some of that Down'ard magic!!!
Leys House (still standing and bears its name on its steps) was the home of the late Mr Jack Smith. Honorary member of the shrovetide committee in his day, but Jack goes uncredited today for a lot of reasons.
Firstly, he made shrovetide footballs, taught the skill by the late Mr Percy Chadwick, Jack made many leathers and some were widely used as match balls, even after his death his skill as a ball maker was being put to an uncredited test with the last remaining bals sold to the committee by his brother.
The last of these was the 1990 Wednesday ball turned up by Ian Bates and goaled by Jim Lemon at Clifton.
Jack made and presented a ball to the German Football Squad in 1966 when they were staying locally and training on the recreation ground in Ashbourne.
He also made and sent balls to other towns where simillar games were played and received a collection of commemorative balls in return, from Workington, Jedburgh, and Sedgefield.
Jack also gave us the basis of what is the Roll Of Honour as it is today. researching old newspapers and archives he formed what is now thr roll of honour used annually by the Ashbourne News Telegraph.
Jack was a terrific collector of shrovetide ephemera and collected over a number of years more than 40 played and goaled balls. The oldest being one from 1896.
A number of these balls were decorated and displayed in the bay window of Leys house and also the back bay which overlooked the then Paddock, now the carpark of J Sainsbury.
Alec, his brother, recalls the leathers hung from the ceilings of the front room and in the hallway and particularly remembers an exact replica of the ball painted exactly, of the one turned up by Sir Stanley Matthews in 1966, the actual one remained ungoaled and was presented to Sir Stanley. I think it is good to note at this point how times have changed. It would be impossible i think these days to get ANYONE to sell their leather or one from their family.
I know the ball i own by default has a price. I was offered £1,000 by an international film crew for it, but i would not part with it. it was not goaled by my family but it is mine none the less!
Jack would write to the turners-up if they had their balls returned to them after play if ungoaled, or the goalers.
Sometimes he was met with disappointment and others with delight and the leathers were duly mainly sold to him.
He did, I believe, have one given to him, that turned up in 1951 by Col Ridout. It was ungoaled and given to him as a keepsake.
Jack was the first on the scene at a near fatal road accident involving Col Ridout years later and literally saved his life as he was a proficient first aider. Col Ridout duly presented Jack with the ball he turned up when he was well again.
We must no also forget most of all that Jack was a player. A staunch Down'ard (yay!!) he goaled the second ball in 1954 turned up by the then painter of the ball Jack Roberts. It remains, painted in its original artwork with Jack's surviving brother Alec, himself a staunch player and goaler of a ball in 1967.
Time passes and ill health steals Jack from the world of Shrovetide and he passes away in 1969. Sadly, and almost tragically, his fine collection of leathers was taken after his death in the boot of a car and sold to various public houses in Derby and district, one of which still hangs in the Rising Star, that goaled by the late Ivo Moon.
I managed to recover the 1957 Wednesday ball about to be junked and have that in my posession as well as a 1938 ball which belonged to Jack and was given to me by Alec on my 30th birthday.
I too am fortunate to have copies of all Jack's notes he made and copies of the notes on the original Roll Of Honour, all are treasured pieces of my own extensive shrovetide collection.
Jack is no longer with us but his legacy and love of shrovetide lives on. Thank God for Ashburnians like Jack who lived, and slept our famous and beloved game!...look down on us Jack, and send us some of that Down'ard magic!!!
