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Wealth of entertaining stories in ‘Tinpot: Football’s Forgotten Tournaments’

A new book exploring some of the most obscure and forgettable tournaments in UK football history is reviewed by Eric Brown…

BY ERIC BROWN

Anyone wanting to flummox their mates down the pub with a football quiz question should avoid asking what was Bobby Charlton’s final appearance for England.

Most football academics will recall the sight of a bemused Charlton being hauled off the Leon pitch for Colin Bell with England leading West Germany in their 1970 World Cup quarter-final.

Alf Ramsey’s ill-fated substitution turned the game in the Germans’ favour and defeat prevented Ramsey’s world champions from challenging for a second successive final.

No, if you want to cause head-scratching and blank looks among those same pals, ask them when Charlton NEXT appeared on a football pitch.

Even the most committed United fans will struggle to recall it was seven weeks later when England legend Charlton, his international career now over, scored twice against Reading in a Watney Cup tie in Berkshire.

The Watney Cup was one of those late unlamented tournaments conjured up by football authorities anxious to create a cash boost for their clubs in the days of dwindling attendances before TV income propped up the sport.

Author Simon Turner has produced a book dedicated to the memory of such competitions as the Anglo-Italian League Cup, the Anglo-Scottish Cup, The Texaco Cup, the Full Members Cup, the Simod Cup, the Mercantile Credit Cup and many more.

It might seem like snooze material but it’s not just for soccer nerds.

Behind the title of “Tinpot – Football’s Forgotten Tournaments” lies a wealth of entertaining stories.

The tournaments were received with contrasting interest by clubs, players and fans. Some of the bigger clubs of the day refused to enter and others fielded reserve sides while smaller outfits welcomed an unexpected payday.

Oldham Athletic, for example, were able to build a new stand running the length of their Boundary Park ground with payouts from Ford Sporting League. It stood for 40 years and witnessed Premier League football under Joe Royle. The Ford League was a league with no fixtures.

The vehicle manufacturers made £2,500 available each month for the league club on their best behaviour with the least bookings and sendings-off. Oldham won eight months in a row and also pocketed a £50,000 bonus for being hailed “the cleanest team.” Runners-up Crewe banked £30,000.

No wonder smaller clubs loved it. The competition lasted only one season. Ford pulled out after a series of strikes cost the company dearly.

Some of these strange tournaments recorded large crowds, especially if the final was staged at Wembley.

But often indifference reigned. The Full Members Cup clash between Oxford and Shrewsbury, for example, set a new low. Just 12 visiting fans thought it worth making the 240-mile round trip. They were outnumbered by police and stewards guarding them.

It seems the Anglo-Scottish Cup still resides with the last winners Chesterfield as no one displayed any interest in retrieving it on the tournament’s demise.

Mr Turner has bravely wandered into untrod territory with his exploration of these weird match-ups and unearthed a vault of yarns which will surely earn the teller a round or two in the local.

One slight omission though. The book would have benefited greatly from an index. To trace the deeds of Tranmere Rovers, Walsall or Wigan Athletic many pages must be diligently searched before the relevant section is located.

Tinpot, Football’s Forgotten Tournaments, by Simon Turner is published by Pitch Publishing, price £14.99.

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