The Hartley Cup - Help please

[eastanglianclaret]

My octogenarian father is asking for my help to find something for him but I’m struggling. I wondered whether any of the UTC fraternity might be able to help or advise? Back in the 1954/55 school year my father played in the Todmorden Road Junior School Team that won The Hartley Cup. Apparently, at that time, a photograph of that team appeared in The Burnley Express and for many years my father had this photograph. It was however lost some years ago and has never turned up. He would really like to see the photograph again. I have trawled all the internet search possibilities that I can think of without success. My father himself has contacted the Burnley Express and has looked through their archives. He has also tried to trace the players whose names he can remember but to no avail. The Burnley Civic Trust Heritage site has also drawn a blank. I have advised him to contact Burnley Library to see if they have an archive which might contain the photo and he will do this shortly. I cannot think of anywhere else to look. Can anyone on here offer any advice on where he might be able to find/look for a copy of this image? Any help would be most appreciated. Thank you!

UTC

EAC

[Quickenthetempo]

I think the library is your best bet. I know ClaretTony uses the library to search their Burnley Express archives for info in his articles on here.

I'm sure he could advise when he gets back from the match.

[mdd2]

If they beat Heasandford then I played in that Final
Tods were a very good team in those days but I think we beat them in that season but not in the Cup
We lost I think 3-1 but we did score twice
Once for us and once for them

[Rowls]

As Quickenthetempo says, Burnley Central library has microfilm of old newspapers going back for decades.

That might be your best bet.

[mikeS]

The Burnley Expresses are on the online British library Newspaper Collection up to the. end of 1954. Theres a gap of years that haven't been digitised yet.
If you look at the BL Collection online you can get a months subscription which gives access to all the newspapers for around £14.
Ive done a search for you that brought these results from the Burnley Express, but can't get the full page as my credits have run out.
Lancashire Libraries have this available for free.
This is what the search on "Hartley Cup" brought for 1954...

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[FigSlice]

You don’t mention what sources you looked for on the internet, so apologies if you’ve tried these.
1. Local schools still compete for the Hartley Cup. Find and contact the organisers for location of their archive.
2. Do ex pupils of Tod Road school have a Facebook group or similar? They may be able to help.
Good luck with your search.

[eastanglianclaret]

Thank you all for the responses to this. Dad will go to the Library in the new year and I'll keep an eye out for the future digitising of the BE.

mdd2 - His memory isn't absolutely clear but he believes that the opponents in the final were Hargher Clough.

He can also recall the names of a few of his team mates. He says that Peter Irvine was the captain and he believes that this chap went onto to have some connection with Accrington Stanley before emigrating to Australia to take up some sort of sporting role there. He also remembers John Nuttall and Alan Barnes.

Thank you once again for your input. If anyone else has any suggestions then these would be gratefully received/followed up.

UTC
EAC

[eastanglianclaret]

Thanks for the response FigSlice. That's a good idea. My father is under the impression that The Hartley Cup morphed into something else years ago. I'll give finding the current organisers a go. I am aware that there is a Tod Road Junior Facebook page but I have not posted a question it. I will do so though. Thank you again.

[FCBurnley]

I played for Tod Road mid/late fifties. We played in Black and Gold as I remember Don’t remember any cup finals though

[Middle-agedClaret]

What helpful replies!
UTC.

[eastanglianclaret]

I played for Tod Road mid/late fifties. We played in Black and Gold as I remember Don’t remember any cup finals though

My dad recalls that they did indeed play in gold (he says yellow) and black, whereas Hargher Clough played in red and black.

[MT03ALG]

Mike Duffy from Preston (Mike is a Burnley fan) is the Historian of Lancashire Schools' F.A.
Mike may be able to help.

[IanMcL]

If they beat Heasandford then I played in that Final
Tods were a very good team in those days but I think we beat them in that season but not in the Cup
We lost I think 3-1 but we did score twice
Once for us and once for them

Have you got the picture then?

[IanMcL]

This is an intriguing thread. I do hope the picture turns up...and perhaps, some of the school chums.

[mdd2]

Thank you all for the responses to this. Dad will go to the Library in the new year and I'll keep an eye out for the future digitising of the BE.

mdd2 - His memory isn't absolutely clear but he believes that the opponents in the final were Hargher Clough.

He can also recall the names of a few of his team mates. He says that Peter Irvine was the captain and he believes that this chap went onto to have some connection with Accrington Stanley before emigrating to Australia to take up some sort of sporting role there. He also remembers John Nuttall and Alan Barnes.

Thank you once again for your input. If anyone else has any suggestions then these would be gratefully received/followed up.

UTC
EAC

If the game was in 1955 when I was in my last year at Heasandford Junior School before going to BGS that summer we definitely lost to Tod in the final, I dont think it was in 1954. I think the Final was played either in Townley of if Tod has a pitch at their place. From memory the score was 1-0 1-1 2-1 from a corner where we headed into our own net and then 3-1 game over. As you might expect, plenty of cheers and the usual three cheers for Tod from us was a tad muted and wet despite the dry weather. Not sure whether ? Chis Beeston the D of Education's son played but he was in my class at Heasandford before leaving for Lancaster GS (private school)

[mdd2]

Have you got the picture then?

No I have no pictorial evidence but I did play in a final and pretty sure it wasnt 1954 as I was in my final year at Junior School in 1955. I know Trevor Farrell, Derek Cadwalader and Anthony Thorley played for us. Derek was Captain Trevor scored for Tod and Tony was the keeper. Rex Watson would have played too. HAPPY DAYS. Although maybe not that day for us. The team the year before had Pete Pomeroy in goal and he was a brave (maybe stupid) keeper who would dive and get the ball 9/10 from forwards' feet. His son used to post on here but Pete left in 1954 for BGS. I suspect these days Pete would have joined a club and progressed to be a very good GK as he was fearless.

[mdd2]

My dad recalls that they did indeed play in gold (he says yellow) and black, whereas Hargher Clough played in red and black.

Cant be certain but I think we may have been in red and black

[mdd2]

Not that this helps but ......
The Hargher Clough Team.

Report by J.C.M.
After their marathon semi-final with St. John's which lasted for four games, Heasandford Junior School could only make a draw in the Hartley Cup final against Hargher Clough Junior School at Lower Towneley on Saturday the 12th December 1970. Weather and ground conditions were excellent for the time of the year, and a large crowd of parents, teachers and friends enjoyed a feast of good football which lacked nothing - except goals.

Playing down the slope, Heasandford seemed to have the better of the exchanges in the first half with their forwards finding considerable space in which to work. With time and space in his favour, the Heasandford inside forward picked his spot from 10 yards out, but the ball hit the post with the Hargher Clough goalkeeper completely beaten. Throughout, the game was played at a faster tempo than in the semi-finals, and certainly Heasandford showed no signs of fatigue from their earlier battles. After the restart the strength and determination of Hargher Clough began to show, but the tried-and-tested Heasandford defence held firm. At the final whistle neither side had managed to score, although Heasandford had earlier got the ball into the net, but the referee had already blown for offside.
Amid mounting excitement, both teams summoned up reserves of energy as they went all out for the vital goal in the allotted extra time of five minutes each way. Incidents there were aplenty, but still no goals. Extra time ended and it was decided that the trophy should be shared, each team holding it for six months.

Mr K. Happer (headmaster of Lanehead and secretary of the sports committee) presented the Hartley Cup to the captains of both teams, complimenting them for their wholehearted effort and their high degree of skill. The game was refereed by the chairman of the Junior Schools Committee with assistance from linesmen Mr J. Wood (Todmorden Road) and Mr J. Whalley (Coal Clough), also members of the committee. Arrangements were made by Mr R. Lawson (secretary).

[FCBurnley]

My dad recalls that they did indeed play in gold (he says yellow) and black, whereas Hargher Clough played in red and black.

Dad could be right with yellow but for sure it was gold or yellow Think I left in 57 or 58 to go to BGS

[IanMcL]

No I have no pictorial evidence but I did play in a final and pretty sure it wasnt 1954 as I was in my final year at Junior School in 1955. I know Trevor Farrell, Derek Cadwalader and Anthony Thorley played for us. Derek was Captain Trevor scored for Tod and Tony was the keeper. Rex Watson would have played too. HAPPY DAYS. Although maybe not that day for us. The team the year before had Pete Pomeroy in goal and he was a brave (maybe stupid) keeper who would dive and get the ball 9/10 from forwards' feet. His son used to post on here but Pete left in 1954 for BGS. I suspect these days Pete would have joined a club and progressed to be a very good GK as he was fearless.

Good stuff! All adds to the era and the thread.

[eastanglianclaret]

Still on with this! Someone from a FB Tod Road Primary School site kindly posted this photo in response to my question. It's not the one that I'm looking for but, given some of the previous comments on this thread, I wondered if anyone might be interested in seeing it. I believe it to be a Tod Rd Junior football team from some time in the 50s. The FB page mentions a number of names of those on the photograph if anyone wants to follow it up.

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