Highfield Road

I thought that the bit of waste ground was due to bomb damage but the maps show the missing houses were gone before 1937. Probably one more than was strictly necessary. Maybe the proximity to the war explains why they never tidied it up properly until afterwards?

BACK TO FOOTBALL at Highfield road. I walked many match-day Saturdays from Foleshill to Highfield Road. Remember Ted Roberts, 'Plum' Warner, Harry Barrett and Alf Wood (goalie). The chant at that time was 'UP THE BANTS' as they were then known as 'The Bantams' a name now adopted by a current club ? Great days when you supported a team of sporting men not a publicity Business as now and when only outright success will satisfy.

Remember them well. George Mason Bruce Lockhart all brought up in the English football tradition. No diving if an opponent blew on you.

The old grey matter has just clicked back in. I think it was Norman Lockhart on the left wing, he also used to take most of the penalty kicks. Yes George Mason centre-half, Dick Mason (brother?) Left back and later Ian Jameson inside left and Reg Mathews (Great keeper) took over from dear old Alf Wood who had the art of making most saves spectacular.

Correct it was Norman, Alf Wood was a good keeper, his only fault was to punch the ball instead of catching it thus losing control of the ball.

Another one for the Highfield Rd.memory bank. Christmas Time- City are playing on a snow cleared pitch. From the stands comes the strains of-Nowell-Nowell-Nowell-Nowell, not just carol singing but giving encouragement to talented half back Noel Simpson to get stuck in. I remember something similar happening at Filbert Street when we played away to Leicester City. Oh the grey matter has clicked in again. With Jimmy Hill taking over, and the team becoming known as the 'Sky Blues' Quite a few new players signed up but who remembers the left wing pair Capel inside and Colliingdrige on the wing. (not sure of the spelling) but I believe they had played together at Nottingham? and seemed to know where each other would be on the pitch when on the attack. My great memory of the pair was the great winning goal that Capel scored away against Huddersfield when City had a good run in the FA Cup I was supporting behind the target goalposts on that day willing Capel, during an attack to 'Stick it in this corner'. Which he duly did, after then getting a bit of 'agro' from the home supporters through over use of my noisy rattle. A great day out.