FOOTBALL SHORTS IN MY LIFE & IN YEAR 3 AT BULMERSHE COLLEGE...

 Shorts and John McGrath

(& playing football at Bulmershe College)

When I was a small boy, I was fortunate enough to be selected for the district schools’ soccer team but the green and white shirts came with let’s say, spacious white shorts. I combatted this enigma by rolling over the waistband of the shorts three or four times. Yes, that was more like it. They were tighter at the insides of the thighs, although it seemed like I had sails attached to the outsides.

ME IN MY SCHOOL SHORTS...

Professionals who followed this particular fashion usually exposed evil, bulging hamstrings and Neanderthal hair to an unsuspecting public. Perhaps one of the finest exponents of the mode was John McGrath, Southampton’s signing from Newcastle in the 1960s. As a youngster, I may have called him an uncompromising defender but I guess he was a ‘stopper’ and he played like a beast.

THE LEGENDARY JOHN MCGRATH.
168 APPEARANCES FOR SOUTHAMPTON...

I recall a 4^th round FA Cup replay at Villa Park in January 1969 between Second Division Villa and first division Southampton, following a creditable 2-2 draw for the Midlanders at the Dell. Villa’s manager Tommy Docherty conjured up a magical evening at Villa Park before more than 59,000 spectators. That night, John McGrath was in his element, battling away in defence, shorts rolled over several times at the waistband, as if sleeves had been rolled up for the tough task ahead. His mean thighs revealed fearsome gargoyles of wood and he was to mark Lionel Martin…

Lionel’s wing-play had enticed me to Central League games at Villa Park and although he lacked pace, the reserve player could really dribble with the ball, using deft and often unreadable moves to wrong-foot defensive stooges. His crossing of a ball was reasonable too and when he was used as a makeshift centre-forward in the first team, several goals materialised. I met him a number of years later, when he was working in car sales and service at County Garages in Castle Bromwich and I reminded him of this particular game.

LIONEL MARTIN...

Mike Channon opened the scoring for Saints in front of the Holte End, craftily working an opening and shooting low past John Dunn, a goal which was equalised by a rare Peter Broadbent header. A physical encounter ensued until an unforgettable moment arrived at Villa Park. 

ABOVE & BELOW: MIKE CHANNON SCORES FOR SOUTHAMPTON AT VILLA PARK...

Broadbent clipped a decent pass towards Villa’s diminutive right-winger, Dave Rudge, a Wolverhampton lad who had risen through the junior ranks and was liked by Tommy Docherty. The play unfolded towards me as I stood on the Holte End terrace and as Dave Rudge made ground along the Trinity Road flank, I noticed John McGrath’s moment of decision. He took sole responsibility for the situation and his bared thighs were soon in motion. He was fully intending to ambush Rudge, a fleet-footed prey. The predator’s eyes were on the ball, yet should the rumbling defender miss that, then fine, the prey would be taken down instead…

ABOVE & BELOW: PETER BROADBENT'S HEADER SOARS INTO THE SAINTS' NET...

The rolled-over waistband and the wooden thighs were about to mug the good guy as McGrath’s wicked eyes trained on the ball and likely Rudge’s legs too. The Saint bore down on the Villa winger from a central position and launched himself forwards, propelling boots, studs and tree-stump legs like battering rams at a mediaeval door. At the point of impact however, Rudge, probably having sensed the attack, nudged the ball on and sprang over the lunging defender’s committed slide, skipping clear. 

HOW THE SPORTS ARGUS SAW IT...

Gasps were audible as McGrath slid over the touchline, like a baseball batter struggling to make fourth base. The freed Rudge delivered a cross, the unmarked Lionel Martin controlled the ball, swivelled and placed a neat drive past Saints’ goalie Gerry Gurr, thus winning the tie for Villa.

ABOVE & BELOW: LIONEL MARTIN STRIKES VILLA'S WINNING GOAL...

A memorable incident at Villa Park, yet neither Martin, nor Rudge became legends, although McGrath’s stature was already legendary and will always remain so with me, especially when I see the waistband of a pair of shorts being rolled over to make an ill-fitting garment more wearable. 

JOHN MCGRATH SCORES HIS ONLY GOAL FOR SAINTS IN THE 2-2 DRAW AT THE DELL, SOUTHAMPTON...

THE RELEVANT SPORTS ARGUS CARTOON...

In Bulmershe College kickabouts between PE lectures with my mate Martin Phipps behind our hostel, I rolled my shorts over at the waistband, for I WAS John McGrath…

Pete Ray…