I READ with great interest the letter published by Mr D. K. Wilkes on the Forest schools football teams. It was actually in the 1945/46 season that Mr Ben James introduced Forest schools soccer as a Forest side.
I was invited by Mr James to join the schools side at that time whilst at Bream Boys' School.
We became a successful team and enjoyed many good games both away and at home, playing most of them at either the Broadwell or Coalway club pitches.
In January 1946, I transferred to the old Mining and Technical School at Cinderford in the same class as John Adams, our centre half and skipper, and we continued playing with all those lads Mr Wilkes has mentioned.
I have in my possession a match programme dated Nov 15 1947 for our game against Bristol who had first defeated Yoevil 6 - 0 and our Foresters had beaten Bridgwater in that same round 3 - 0. Our colours were brown and yellow squares for the jerseys with white shorts.
The team that day was BOWDLER, MEEK, PREEST, BARNFIELD, ADAMS, SMITH, CARPENTER, BROWN, BAGLIN, BOSLEY and MORGAN. Reserves WILLIFORD, WORGAN, BALDWIN and JENKINS. The referee was Squadron Leader CURRIE.
Yes, a number of us are certainly still around Mr Wilkes: Sid Barnfield and myself at Lydney. Reg Preest at Chipping Sodbury and Ray Brown still at Coleford, I think.
I was really pleased to have read your letter, which revived those golden memories. – Elwin Morgan, Lydney