A Memorable Day At Silsden
Tue 21st December 2010 | Silsden | By Ian Templeman
Saturday 11th December 2010 will go down in the history of Silsden AFC as the day they began a new chapter in the club's history.
The day saw Silsden host Bacup Borough in a Premier Division clash, but also saw the official opening of the "Asda Foundation" Stadium.
Club Press Officer Jim Rosser takes a look back at the day, when he took the opportunity to speak to many former players and officials who returned to Keighley Road from far and wide to take part in a very special occasion.
Saturday 11th December will go down in the club history as the official opening of the "Asda Foundation" Stadium, but to most who attended, 257 to be exact, it was much much more. We had returned home and so begin a new chapter in the history of our great club.
We dedicated the main stand to the McNulty family, who over the past couple of decades have worked tirelessly in making Silsden AFC what it is today - John, Sean, Jason and families, congratulations and thanks.
The 100 + guests had a great time reminiscing about the past, and some are hopefully planning visits back in the future to watch a game or two.
Many thanks to all who helped in any way at all to making it a superb day.
We have had "Scroll of Thanks" framed and placed in the Sports Club. It hopefully lists all the contributors in labour or contributions who helped us to achieve our "Football's Coming Home" Target. Electronic copies are available for anyone who wants to print some off.
At the "Official opening of the "ASDA FOUNDATION STADIUM" numerous ex-players recounted their stories of Silsden Past.
The oldest players who met up again were eighty-five year old life President, Arthur Tillotson, who played at centre forward or centre half, Eric Inman(83) left half, seventy-eight year old Jeff Atkinson and Herbert Spencer. Arthur joined the club in 1946 and Jeff in 1948 when the club ran two teams, one in the Aire-Wharfe League and one in the Craven League. The team played in front of regular crowds of over 200.
All three players appear on the 1950 photo of the friendly match at Silsden between Bradford City and Silsden (which was published on the league website a couple of weeks ago). The match was played to celebrate the opening of new changing rooms, which had been converted from an old air-raid shelter. These became the cricket club changing rooms, which were demolished in 2008. They were in the top corner of the new car park.
The game was not a very friendly affair with Silsden taking an early lead. City did equalise but had a man sent off who was suspended for two Football League games! To crown it all, the local vicar was reprimanded for using ...bad language!
Morris Dugdale, visiting with his wife Eileen, joined Silsden in 1953. He went to Eastwood School in Keighley. Most of the Keighley lads, who played with the Central Youth Team, joined Keighley Central but Morris chose Silsden.
"The Team was managed by Stanley Wass and Peter Clarkson. I played until I was eighteen when I did national Service before rejoining Silsden two years later. At that time the Keighley Cup Finals were played at 6pm on F.A. Cup Final Day. We used to go to Stanley Wass' house to watch the F.A. Final on a nine-inch, black and white T.V, being fed by Mrs Wass before moving on to the Keighley Final"
There were a lot of stories from the Sixties, Seventies and Eighties.
Stuart Coe, now living in Carlisle, was a founder member of Silsden Utd. (More of the AFC later).
"Initially we played home and away friendlies with Askam Bryan Agricultural College. I recall the home game ending with a "good night" at the Bridge Inn. I played with Tom Tillotson and his brother Maurice who went on to play for Huddersfield Town and Antwerp."
Peter Ward and his wife Glenice had travelled up from Southwell, Nottinghamshire, to meet up with his former team mates. Peter, originally from Leicester, had been transferred to the Skipton branch of the (now) Nat. West Bank. "From 1976 to 1986 I was the Secretary, Treasurer, Bus Driver, Manager and Fund Raiser. Initially that was with Silsden United, who played in "The Park".
"That season in the Keighley Sunday Cup, Silsden United, with mainly players from Silsden, beat their illustrious neighbours, Silsden AFC, 2-1. At the end of the 1976-77 season, Silsden AFC, with players largely from the Keighley area, were once again, for the third time in six seasons, thrown out of the league for violent and abusive conduct by players and officials both on and off the field!"
"The Trustees, who had taken control of the ground, then offered it to United, as a Sunday side......who had to change their name to Silsden AFC. AFC went on to join the WRCFA County Amateur League Division One"
Peter recalls: " We held a meeting in Silsden Town Hall in 1980, when over 200 attended, with the aim of setting up two Junior sides. We got funding from Nat West Bank and Skipton Building Society." Peter brought with him his original 1970 tracksuit top, white, with his name emblazoned on the back.
The members of the teams he managed gave him a lot of "stick" for still having it and many recalled "The Hill" that was relentlessly running up and down the steep slopes of the park. Bob (Football's coming home mastermind), Barry and Steve Thomas were all involved in the club at this time.
Sam Whitaker, now living in Swindon, had fond memories of the late seventies and early eighties. Undoubtedly the highlight of the era was finally beating Magnet in the 1984 Keighley Cup Final. Magnet had won it for the previous 11 years but finally Silsden got the better of them, winning 2-1 with goals from Sam himself and Colin Guest. Pat Kennedy had thought that Andrew Isherwood, once of Silsden Town, had scored the winner but Sam confirmed that Isherwood had scored the winner in a different year.
When Silsden were playing in the Sunday League in the Eighties goalkeeper, Peter Kaye recalled: "Normally we managed to get to the pub after a game. Pubs only opened 12.00 to 2.00pm but one Sunday for some reason we had a late kick off. I was in goal and late in the game I threw the ball out to centre half, Fred Pickles. Immediately I ran behind the net to get the pegs out for a swift getaway. Meanwhile Fred passed the ball back not seeing that I had my studs stuck in the net. Hanging on helplessly, I watched the ball trickle into the empty net....and we were late to the pub."
Peter also recalled refereeing at Silsden. "A bad tackle involving two players resulted in me sending both off. The Silsden player was Andy McDonald. I was his Best Man at his wedding - Andy has never forgiven me for sending him off!".
Paul Dinsdale also recalls a story regarding Andy McDonald. There had been a problem with the drains, near the main stand. It was a Wednesday training night and when the local Fire Brigade were passing, they were accosted and asked if they could flush out the drains....as part of their training.
Andy McDonald was late. "I was just putting my coat on" he said, "when my wife asked "Where do you think you're going?" "Football club" he replied. "Not in your best shoes" she responded. "They're not my best shoes" was Andy's retort. He got short shrift from his wife - " Well if they're not your best ones why are you wearing them in the house then?". Andy was late for training!!!!!
A Memorable Day At Silsden
Tue 21st December 2010 | Silsden
By Ian Templeman
Saturday 11th December 2010 will go down in the history of Silsden AFC as the day they began a new chapter in the club's history.
The day saw Silsden host Bacup Borough in a Premier Division clash, but also saw the official opening of the "Asda Foundation" Stadium.
Club Press Officer Jim Rosser takes a look back at the day, when he took the opportunity to speak to many former players and officials who returned to Keighley Road from far and wide to take part in a very special occasion.
Saturday 11th December will go down in the club history as the official opening of the "Asda Foundation" Stadium, but to most who attended, 257 to be exact, it was much much more. We had returned home and so begin a new chapter in the history of our great club.
We dedicated the main stand to the McNulty family, who over the past couple of decades have worked tirelessly in making Silsden AFC what it is today - John, Sean, Jason and families, congratulations and thanks.
The 100 + guests had a great time reminiscing about the past, and some are hopefully planning visits back in the future to watch a game or two.
Many thanks to all who helped in any way at all to making it a superb day.
We have had "Scroll of Thanks" framed and placed in the Sports Club. It hopefully lists all the contributors in labour or contributions who helped us to achieve our "Football's Coming Home" Target. Electronic copies are available for anyone who wants to print some off.
At the "Official opening of the "ASDA FOUNDATION STADIUM" numerous ex-players recounted their stories of Silsden Past.
The oldest players who met up again were eighty-five year old life President, Arthur Tillotson, who played at centre forward or centre half, Eric Inman(83) left half, seventy-eight year old Jeff Atkinson and Herbert Spencer. Arthur joined the club in 1946 and Jeff in 1948 when the club ran two teams, one in the Aire-Wharfe League and one in the Craven League. The team played in front of regular crowds of over 200.
All three players appear on the 1950 photo of the friendly match at Silsden between Bradford City and Silsden (which was published on the league website a couple of weeks ago). The match was played to celebrate the opening of new changing rooms, which had been converted from an old air-raid shelter. These became the cricket club changing rooms, which were demolished in 2008. They were in the top corner of the new car park.
The game was not a very friendly affair with Silsden taking an early lead. City did equalise but had a man sent off who was suspended for two Football League games! To crown it all, the local vicar was reprimanded for using ...bad language!
Morris Dugdale, visiting with his wife Eileen, joined Silsden in 1953. He went to Eastwood School in Keighley. Most of the Keighley lads, who played with the Central Youth Team, joined Keighley Central but Morris chose Silsden.
"The Team was managed by Stanley Wass and Peter Clarkson. I played until I was eighteen when I did national Service before rejoining Silsden two years later. At that time the Keighley Cup Finals were played at 6pm on F.A. Cup Final Day. We used to go to Stanley Wass' house to watch the F.A. Final on a nine-inch, black and white T.V, being fed by Mrs Wass before moving on to the Keighley Final"
There were a lot of stories from the Sixties, Seventies and Eighties.
Stuart Coe, now living in Carlisle, was a founder member of Silsden Utd. (More of the AFC later).
"Initially we played home and away friendlies with Askam Bryan Agricultural College. I recall the home game ending with a "good night" at the Bridge Inn. I played with Tom Tillotson and his brother Maurice who went on to play for Huddersfield Town and Antwerp."
Peter Ward and his wife Glenice had travelled up from Southwell, Nottinghamshire, to meet up with his former team mates. Peter, originally from Leicester, had been transferred to the Skipton branch of the (now) Nat. West Bank. "From 1976 to 1986 I was the Secretary, Treasurer, Bus Driver, Manager and Fund Raiser. Initially that was with Silsden United, who played in "The Park".
"That season in the Keighley Sunday Cup, Silsden United, with mainly players from Silsden, beat their illustrious neighbours, Silsden AFC, 2-1. At the end of the 1976-77 season, Silsden AFC, with players largely from the Keighley area, were once again, for the third time in six seasons, thrown out of the league for violent and abusive conduct by players and officials both on and off the field!"
"The Trustees, who had taken control of the ground, then offered it to United, as a Sunday side......who had to change their name to Silsden AFC. AFC went on to join the WRCFA County Amateur League Division One"
Peter recalls: " We held a meeting in Silsden Town Hall in 1980, when over 200 attended, with the aim of setting up two Junior sides. We got funding from Nat West Bank and Skipton Building Society." Peter brought with him his original 1970 tracksuit top, white, with his name emblazoned on the back.
The members of the teams he managed gave him a lot of "stick" for still having it and many recalled "The Hill" that was relentlessly running up and down the steep slopes of the park. Bob (Football's coming home mastermind), Barry and Steve Thomas were all involved in the club at this time.
Sam Whitaker, now living in Swindon, had fond memories of the late seventies and early eighties. Undoubtedly the highlight of the era was finally beating Magnet in the 1984 Keighley Cup Final. Magnet had won it for the previous 11 years but finally Silsden got the better of them, winning 2-1 with goals from Sam himself and Colin Guest. Pat Kennedy had thought that Andrew Isherwood, once of Silsden Town, had scored the winner but Sam confirmed that Isherwood had scored the winner in a different year.
When Silsden were playing in the Sunday League in the Eighties goalkeeper, Peter Kaye recalled: "Normally we managed to get to the pub after a game. Pubs only opened 12.00 to 2.00pm but one Sunday for some reason we had a late kick off. I was in goal and late in the game I threw the ball out to centre half, Fred Pickles. Immediately I ran behind the net to get the pegs out for a swift getaway. Meanwhile Fred passed the ball back not seeing that I had my studs stuck in the net. Hanging on helplessly, I watched the ball trickle into the empty net....and we were late to the pub."
Peter also recalled refereeing at Silsden. "A bad tackle involving two players resulted in me sending both off. The Silsden player was Andy McDonald. I was his Best Man at his wedding - Andy has never forgiven me for sending him off!".
Paul Dinsdale also recalls a story regarding Andy McDonald. There had been a problem with the drains, near the main stand. It was a Wednesday training night and when the local Fire Brigade were passing, they were accosted and asked if they could flush out the drains....as part of their training.
Andy McDonald was late. "I was just putting my coat on" he said, "when my wife asked "Where do you think you're going?" "Football club" he replied. "Not in your best shoes" she responded. "They're not my best shoes" was Andy's retort. He got short shrift from his wife - " Well if they're not your best ones why are you wearing them in the house then?". Andy was late for training!!!!!
