Well, this is a first – we have a guest post from one of the many rugby netball veterans out there. Reg Waite got in touch with me via the blog and then came down to watch this year’s World Cup on the common. It was a true honour to have Reg down and he gave a great speech as he presented the trophy to this year’s winning team – Spartans. Reg brought with him some great pictures that are re-produced below, along with a guest post from Reg himself. Enjoy and do get in touch through the comments section if you have stories or pictures to share.
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Article from Reg White – played for Old Town from early 60s through to the 70s
I visited this year’s NetRugby tournament to supply a photograph of the OLD TOWN team of 1966. Goodwin Trophy Winners, Division 1 Champions and Reserve A Division Runners Up. The picture is below and I’ve added the names of those I can remember. Apologies, but with an aging memory I couldn’t get them all, but hopefully others can add more [just enter your comments under ‘leave a reply’ below – ed]. What a great team, which included:
– Micky Steer – Great player, probably the best captain ever and one of the real ‘hard men’ of that era
– Johnny Williams – A man mountain – quality rugby player (I believe either played or trialled for England)
– Johnny Hammond – An incredible goal scorer. Some would argue the best, but I believd Old Town’s Jimmy Couchman was number 1.
– Johnny White – Manager. Great bloke and really tough player from the years before my time.
I lived overlooking Clapham Common and from early teens watched Rugby Netball (as it was known in my day) most nights of the week. Three, four even five matches a night with hundreds of supporters hugging teh touchlines. A group of us youngsters “Can we borrow a ball mister” played on the sidelines and practiced goal shots during the match half time. At about 15 I joined my favourite team Old Town and played for about two years in the reserves, eager to improve and get in the 1st team.
Over many years we were either winners or thereabouts for the various trophies, our greatest match rivals being Alpha. Besides the great bunch of Old Town players, here’s a few names from some of the other Rugby netball teams – Micky Wheller, Bob Hiller, Archie Hendricks, Malcolm Robertson, Micky Deverson, Roger Underwood.
It would be good to hear from any of the old players.
Thanks,
Reg Waite lindaandreg@hotmail.com
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ps – here are some other random pics Reg supplied – let us know if you know the people in them.
Netrugby news 
Posted by barry white on April 17, 2012 at 9:52 am
just like to leave some names to ad to the old town picture.len hayes. brian manning. symo; is brian symonds.jack( nobby) clark.phillip hayes and another johnny williams. regards barry white
Posted by brian simmonds on April 17, 2012 at 11:40 am
played along side Reg Waite in the old town side of 1966 I remember all the names of that cup and league winning tried to email reg but no feedback regards Brian simmo simmonds
Posted by Don Carter. on December 5, 2013 at 12:02 pm
I have sent copies of photos to Reg and Gareth Thomas without response.I just hope someone can use them on a website.
Posted by Donald Carter on November 16, 2013 at 10:56 am
My name is Don Carter and I captained the Alpha Rugby Netball Club for several years in the 50s and 60s.During that time we won the Divsion 1 title many times and the Goodwin trophy.We had some fine players during this time and from memory these included Jed Cary,Eddy Jennings (who played football for Wimbledon) Sid Evans (who transferred to Alpha from Old Town) John Collier and Maurice Sutcliffe (who both played Rugby for Bec Old Boys) Bill Johncey,Don Pickering and Vic Marriot (who played rugby for the Harlequins and got 4 caps playing for England.one against the All Blacks!) I offer my apologies for those players that I have not mentioned.There were many Welsh rugby players playing for the Exiles at that time.
I enjoyed my rugby netball career immensely and it kept me fit during the summer months ready for the Rugby Union season.
Regards Don Carter.
Posted by Don Carter on November 18, 2013 at 11:25 am
I left a comment a couple of days ago but it seems to have disappeared!I have some old phots including 2 of the Alpha Division 1 winning teams of 1956 and 57.But I dont know how to post them and I guess that the images would likely to be lost like my former comments.
Don Carter.
Posted by Don Carter on November 23, 2013 at 9:48 am
I have posted 2 separate comments but neither has been retained on this site.I wonder where they have gone and what will happen to this one!!!I have also emailed Reg Waite eithout reply.
Don Carter.
Posted by John Williams on April 5, 2014 at 6:12 pm
Hello Reggie,, there were a number of Old Emanuel players around. Back row 5th from left jerry Tearle,then Kevin Clements,Bob Archer,and almost certainly Geoff Price.Front row next to Micky on the right side was Tony Finn.Before Wimbledon FC went professional we had Roy Law the England Amateur Football captain and a number of othe WFC players playing for us. The late Andy Ripley, England back row forward used to play up there.
Posted by Reg Waite on February 17, 2016 at 4:26 pm
Hi John. I was just showing my grandson the netball photo’s and saw your comments.
Hope your well mate. I often think back to those times, the matches, friendship and just how fit we were then. I’m okay, retired now and spend several months a year in Spain. How are you keeping.
My email details lindawaite123@gmail.com
Anyway best wishes to a great Rugby netball player.
Reg.
Posted by Frances Jewell on August 8, 2015 at 11:20 am
Picture front row right side is Brian Manning. My Dad (Len Jewell) played for Wayfarers for many years & was Treasurer for a while, too. Their shirts were red/white hoops & my poor Mum used to wash the team kit every week. As a treat I remember being allowed to carry the match balls (real leather & quite heavy to a small girl). Happy days!
Posted by Phil hayes on December 10, 2017 at 10:35 pm
Brian its phil hayes in australia remember good old days at donalds printing old town
Posted by Phil hayes on October 19, 2018 at 9:05 am
Phil hayes …australia mobile 0412 878 426
Posted by Peter Cullip on March 24, 2018 at 10:02 am
In the small photo on the left I believe it is Micky Wheeler holding the trophy, behind him is Andy Colliard who was the fixture secretary and on the right is George Kennedy who was the general secretary. Without these 2 guys Rugby Netball would have ceased to exist a long time ago.
Posted by Steve Whitall on October 5, 2018 at 11:42 am
Hi just like to say my dad played against Johnny Hammond, he played for Caius, his name was Charlie Whitall. I played with Brian Manning when he played for BCM in the early mid 70’s. We won the trophy twice, the first time beating Alpha when they had more than a few England caps playing for them. The second time was against Old Town.
Posted by Old town on January 6, 2019 at 3:53 pm
My name is Alan Smyth I played for coronations in the 50ies we were the winners. Of goodwin trophy. When it was first played beating àlfa we also won the following year l we played under old town British legion after a change of name part in 1st team part 8n 2nd team when they won 1 stdivion and Goodwin I started playing at 17 in1948 in junior team losing 20 to0 against st Ann’s who won the leaug that year forthe 3rd tlme tuning. But we improved to lose 3 2 at next. Game the following year. St Ann’s and my team joln together to play as Wayfarers3rdteam
Posted by Phil hayes on May 7, 2020 at 11:29 am
Phil hayes here l live in Australia..been here since 1971 regards to the old town boys
Posted by Barry white on November 7, 2023 at 9:12 pm
Hi Phil
Great memories mate how you all doing over there
Regards barry white the youngest of John
Bazconk@hotmail.com