Ret Frem
Norsemen Legends Story: #1 "All We Hear Is Radio Denbigh!"
6 Mar @ 2:30pm
As a new feature we are looking to get some classic Norsemen stories straight from the mouths of some of the finest Norsemen Legends.
Today’s story is a classic Tale of a Deft (or deaf?), Slow, Winger who played in goal and his goal-net Radio!
Firstly a bit about our featured Legend,
Name: Terry Steedman
Years at Norsemen: 1962 – 1984(ish)
Position: Midfield
Other: Terry is now a Vice President of Norsemen Football Club
As a new feature we are looking to get some classic Norsemen stories straight from the mouths of some of the finest Norsemen Legends.
Today’s story is a classic Tale of a Deft (or deaf?), Slow, Winger who played in goal and his goal-net Radio!
Firstly a bit about our featured Legend,
Name: Terry Steedman
Years at Norsemen: 1962 – 1984(ish)
Position: Midfield
Other: Terry is now a Vice President of Norsemen Football Club
"I joined Norsemen, having played for Crouch End Vampires 1st eleven for three years. My family moved from Hornsey to Enfield, and in those days owning a car in your 20's was out of the question. It was almost impossible to get to and from the games, so I moved to the Norsemen. I was proposed by David Abbey who at that time was the 1st team goal keeper. We played together for a Sunday side called Enfield Corinthians, which was a team made up of players representing many north London SAL clubs. The team was pretty good, and twice reached the semi finals of the all England Sunday Amateur Cup, only to be beaten by a team called 'Sommerstown'. Sommerstown was a team made up of semi-pro's from Wimbledon, who were at the highest level in 'shamateur' football (they were generally paid by wealthy benefactors).
I joined Norsemen in approximately 1962 at the age of 20, and played in the reserves through to the 6th team, which I captained in 1982. That year we won the Novets Cup, beating Barclays Bank 4-3 in the final. Over my time at the Norsemen I played about 3 years in the reserves, 8 years in the A team, 6 years in the B's, 3years in the C's, and about three years in the D's. In all I played league football for 22 seasons, and then about three years in vets football until we moved to Norfolk in the late 1980's.With the Norsemen in 1965 (if my memory is correct) we won the league and cup whilst playing for the A team .
I continued to play 6 a side football in Norfolk, and retired from active football at 62years of age. I think I am one of many players who played similar lengths of time, e.g. Mike Denbigh, Nigel Chamberlain, George Jackson, David Ansell, Pete Withers, and many many more. I was very lucky to have played with Eric Bailey, Peter Joy, John Camm, John Rickets, John Humm, Terry Mellis... when you get back to remembering the old times there are so very many. Benyon Winsor was the stalwart of the club in those days, but Bernie Caffrey, Cliff Topping, Olley Lodge, Lister Hudson, Alex Cameron have all played their part in what for me was just a great time."
Now onto this week’s Story from Terry…
“Well now about Mike Denbigh!
He played as a goalkeeper and sometimes a deft (but slow) winger, and at the time we are talking about he was playing in goal for the 3rd eleven at Church Street in a league game.
For the life of me I cannot remember who we were playing against, or for that matter what was the final result. The captain of the Norsemen side was a true old style 'stopper' centre half, Peter Rogers. Peter was coming towards the end of his playing time, but had played in 1st team Isthmian League (which was in those days just about the best amateur standard). He was a big chap, over 6ft tall and physically large; his boots compared with my size 8's were enormous. He was the sort of player that you never ever got in his way, or if you did you would suffer the consequences!
Mike was never the greatest of goalkeepers, and his concentration never his best attribute. He was best at dead kicking and even in the worst conditions could kick a goal kick over the half way line which was good in those days bearing in mind the way footballs were made in those days. His work involved the insurance industry which was linked to the stock exchange. At that time 'inside' trading was rife, and brokers were paid very high wages, and compared with most salaries at that time he earned twice or three times others earnings. Due to his income Mike used to gamble heavily on Saturdays, often betting large sums of money each Saturday on horse racing. During that time we also had a petrol crisis, and petrol had to be rationed to ensure there was enough to go around. At exactly that same week, Mike purchased a 6.3litre Pontiac car, the consumption was about 10mpg!
The particular day in question, we were playing on the second pitch at Church Street, and it was in the middle of winter, very wet and muddy conditions. The game was very tight and there was little difference between both teams. From memory Norseman were the first to score, and then I remember us scoring a second. Then the opposition broke away and got through our defence. Mike missed all this as he was leaning against the goal post listening to his radio which he left on the ground at the back of the goal for the racing results. He would often do this, or even turn his back on his game to speak to the players or even supporters on the 3rd pitch adjacent. At that moment the opposing forward shot for goal, Mike was too busy listening to the racing. Having scored the forward turned to celebrate, and farmer Rogers did no more that stamp on Mike’s radio, leaving it in pieces.
He never left his radio in the goal again!”
A great story from Terry, one that brings a smile to your face every time you read it.
Now you know why we sing,
“All We Hear is Radio Denbigh! Radio, Denbigh!”
Keep an eye out for our Next Instalment of.....
NORSEMEN LEGENDS STORIES!
WALK TALL YOU BLUE GIANTS!
I joined Norsemen in approximately 1962 at the age of 20, and played in the reserves through to the 6th team, which I captained in 1982. That year we won the Novets Cup, beating Barclays Bank 4-3 in the final. Over my time at the Norsemen I played about 3 years in the reserves, 8 years in the A team, 6 years in the B's, 3years in the C's, and about three years in the D's. In all I played league football for 22 seasons, and then about three years in vets football until we moved to Norfolk in the late 1980's.With the Norsemen in 1965 (if my memory is correct) we won the league and cup whilst playing for the A team .
I continued to play 6 a side football in Norfolk, and retired from active football at 62years of age. I think I am one of many players who played similar lengths of time, e.g. Mike Denbigh, Nigel Chamberlain, George Jackson, David Ansell, Pete Withers, and many many more. I was very lucky to have played with Eric Bailey, Peter Joy, John Camm, John Rickets, John Humm, Terry Mellis... when you get back to remembering the old times there are so very many. Benyon Winsor was the stalwart of the club in those days, but Bernie Caffrey, Cliff Topping, Olley Lodge, Lister Hudson, Alex Cameron have all played their part in what for me was just a great time."
Now onto this week’s Story from Terry…
“Well now about Mike Denbigh!
He played as a goalkeeper and sometimes a deft (but slow) winger, and at the time we are talking about he was playing in goal for the 3rd eleven at Church Street in a league game.
For the life of me I cannot remember who we were playing against, or for that matter what was the final result. The captain of the Norsemen side was a true old style 'stopper' centre half, Peter Rogers. Peter was coming towards the end of his playing time, but had played in 1st team Isthmian League (which was in those days just about the best amateur standard). He was a big chap, over 6ft tall and physically large; his boots compared with my size 8's were enormous. He was the sort of player that you never ever got in his way, or if you did you would suffer the consequences!
Mike was never the greatest of goalkeepers, and his concentration never his best attribute. He was best at dead kicking and even in the worst conditions could kick a goal kick over the half way line which was good in those days bearing in mind the way footballs were made in those days. His work involved the insurance industry which was linked to the stock exchange. At that time 'inside' trading was rife, and brokers were paid very high wages, and compared with most salaries at that time he earned twice or three times others earnings. Due to his income Mike used to gamble heavily on Saturdays, often betting large sums of money each Saturday on horse racing. During that time we also had a petrol crisis, and petrol had to be rationed to ensure there was enough to go around. At exactly that same week, Mike purchased a 6.3litre Pontiac car, the consumption was about 10mpg!
The particular day in question, we were playing on the second pitch at Church Street, and it was in the middle of winter, very wet and muddy conditions. The game was very tight and there was little difference between both teams. From memory Norseman were the first to score, and then I remember us scoring a second. Then the opposition broke away and got through our defence. Mike missed all this as he was leaning against the goal post listening to his radio which he left on the ground at the back of the goal for the racing results. He would often do this, or even turn his back on his game to speak to the players or even supporters on the 3rd pitch adjacent. At that moment the opposing forward shot for goal, Mike was too busy listening to the racing. Having scored the forward turned to celebrate, and farmer Rogers did no more that stamp on Mike’s radio, leaving it in pieces.
He never left his radio in the goal again!”
A great story from Terry, one that brings a smile to your face every time you read it.
Now you know why we sing,
“All We Hear is Radio Denbigh! Radio, Denbigh!”
Keep an eye out for our Next Instalment of.....
NORSEMEN LEGENDS STORIES!
WALK TALL YOU BLUE GIANTS!
