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Welcome

Westwood Works 1903-2003

Football

The employees of Werner, Pfleiderer & Perkins started a football club in the 1904/5 season. Games were played on the Paul Pry Ground at Walton but in 1910 moved to the G.N. Railway Ground at the bottom of Westwood Bridge. After some difficulties with the Railway Authorities, they moved to the Showground in Millfield. A problem with sub-letting led to the rental of some land next to the Aublet Harry factory across Westfield Road from Westwood Works in 1911. With the acquisition of the Alma Road Ground in 1919, the Football Section had its own home ground at last.

1940 - 1969                           1946: Westwood Works Football Team 1947: 1st v 2nd team 1947/48: Westwood Works 1st Team 1951/2: Knock-out Cup Runners-up Medal 1951/2: Minor Cup Winners' Shield 1952: Westwood  Works Junior Football Team 1953/54: Westwood Works beat Raunds in the Northants Junior Cup               1955: Football Section 1957: Experimental Department Football Team 1958: Oundle 1 - Westwood 3 in P'boro League Div.1. 1958/59: Stamford 4 - Westwood 3 in P'boro League Div 1 1959: Westwood Works Team 1959: Male v Female Football Match 1959: Apprentices Football Team             Westwood Works Football Team (Late 1950's) 1962/63: Westwood Juniors Football Team 1968: Westwood Works beat Bedewell 1960s: Football Team   1960s: Mixed Football Teams

1980 onwards
1980: John Peake presents Les Hill with a memento to record 40 years of service to the Football Section	1980: Bert Bullock receives a memento from Les Hill marking 40 years of service to the Football Section	1980: Les Hill and Bert Bulloch with the mementos they received at the Dinner & Dance	1980: 75th Anniversary Team	1981: Charity Match v ex-Posh Players	1982: Section Awards Ceremony	1983: Baker Perkins Holdings Charity Football Team
1984/85: The First BP Football Club Programme	1984/85: BP Apprentices	1985/86: UCFL Division 1 Winners	1985: BP United Counties League Team	Baker Perkins Football Club's Record 1985 - 1991 (Courtesy of FCHD)	1986: BP beat ICA in PFA Sunday Cup	1987: Floodlights installed at Alma Road
1988: Staff vs. Works Match (Works)	1988: Staff vs. Works Match (Staff)	1995: Staff Challenge Match	Date?: Jim Farrow about to save the day	Date?: Football Team

The Sunday Combination League

The Accountants' line up for the 1970/71 season included: Kevin Arbon, John Hewerdine, Peter Henson, Ken Owen, Bob Rawlings (Captain), Ken Aldous, Mick Sexton, Roy Greenwood, Peter Shorey, Nigel King, Robbie Brown, Brian Swann, Trevor Ward and Paul Pikett.

The Sunday Combination League continued until 1997 when it merged with another local league – the Mid-Anglia League – to form the Peterborough Sunday Morning Football League.

For more Football photographs, see the links below:

Married vs Singles Matches

Staff Thomas joined Baker Perkins as an apprentice in 1951 and participated in many of the activities of the Sports Club. We are fortunate that Staff has made a record of much of his time at Baker Perkins and we are grateful for his permission to use extracts on this website. Here, Staff recalls playing football for Westwood:

“Early on in life, at 12, 13 and 14 years of age, I played soccer for Walton Youth Club. Also, at that age I was made to play for Deacon’s School at Rugby football. W.A.S. Saul, my P.T. teacher threatened me with extra homework if I didn’t play rugby for the school 2nd XI. So, I had to do both as I had enough homework to do as it was. Therefore, my proper soccer career didn’t take off until I got to Baker Perkins.

As a 16 year old at Baker Perkins, I went to training and match trials to get a look in on the soccer front. I happened to get into the 2nd XI as a left back even though my natural foot was my right. However, time would tell that the left was as good as the right. We played in the Peterborough League and learned our football the hard way, wind, rain and even snow. The snow was cleared off the lines of the pitch but after about ten minutes the leather ball became so heavy it couldn’t be kicked 20 yards. The ref carried on, though, and we finished the match. Yes, we played with leather balls in those days, and God help you if you headed it right on that lace! Stars in your eyes! The ball was heavy in the wet and quite heavy when it was dry. It took a good goal kick to pass the half way line with the regulation-sized ball.

Some of the grounds were all right pitch and grass-wise, but a few left a lot to be desired. Elton had an undulating pitch. When you took a goal kick or a free kick straight down the ground if it hit the undulation facing you the ball came back towards you. Even the penalty spot was in a hollow. You couldn’t see the entire goalie. At Stilton football club if you kicked the ball out of the ground, you could have cars running over it. Their bath was a galvanised portable one in the dressing room. At least Alma Road pavilion had lovely showers to clean you off before having your pint. If you played at Benwick, they were a tough side and not many teams won there. We beat them one year and the referee and linesman had to get on our bus to change back into normal clothes and only when the crowd had gone could come out and drive home! They were a rough lot! I remember George Jennings being our centre half, what a commanding player; he was very, very good so he, for one, could lift the team up. Very fast in the lazy style of his, but he was good! My captain in those days was Tom Wilsoncroft, Taffy Goodwin in goal; I was left back and Diddly Driver right back. Fiery Newson halfback, Stonge Clarke and Bob Browning forwards, Porky Johnson anywhere, and big John Winsworth!

By the time I was 18, I suppose I was big enough to join the 1st XI. Some of the 1st XI had retired! In the left back position in the 1st team was a man called Dusty Miller. When inclement weather came – snow, wind and rain, he used to cry off injured. So occasionally, I was drafted in and, being a novice, was helped by the older men.

So, the team as I remember it was – Jim Farrow in goal (I had to take his goal kicks), I was left back, Diddly Driver right back, George Jennings half back, Bernard Coltman centre half, Les Henson half back, Barry Sambells, Jack (Give me the Ball) Larman, Mick Bean, Bob Browning, Les Bennett, Fred Watkins, Mick Bean; Ron Coltman used to play in Peterborough 1st Division and played for Baker Perkins against Forgrove of Leeds Directors’ football match, and also against Bedewell of Newcastle!

I played in that team until I went into the R.A.F. when I was 21. Playing football had a different feel to it from cricket. When a football match was over, then it was shower and off home, ready for going out dancing in the evening, on Saturdays, of course.

Once I was picked for a team that made me quite proud. I was one player chosen for a Peterborough XI to play against Peterborough United Football team! I don’t remember much about our team, only that we played in front of a very big crowd and the money raised went to charity.

I remember some of the Peterborough team – George Swindon, manager and ex-Arsenal goalkeeper; Norman Rigby, club captain; Bernard Shaw, half back; Jimmy Longworth, forward; Andy Donaldson, centre forward; Georgie Haire, winger; Ellis Stafford, and a few county players. I can’t remember the result, but I believe Peterborough United lost to us.”