By Alan Piper, SOUTHMEAD RESIDENT
I have been involved with local football since moving to Southmead in 1971, so it is of great interest to me to find out about teams from Southmead and to ask other Residents for their recollections.
I have found out that the teams from the 1950s and 1960s were – Southmead Sports, Southmead United, Southmead Athletic, Southmead Youth Club, Southcliffe, Half Southmead, Half Hartcliffe, Southmead Community, St Stephens Youth Club and the successful Greenway Sports from the Downs. Also there were school teams – Fonthill Road, Doncaster Road, Embleton Road plus Greenway at Senior Level.
There were a few players who went on – Peter Barnes played for England Boys and Bristol Boys, he was also on the books for Bristol Rovers and Tottenham. Fred Mawditt played for Bristol Boys and also Bristol City. Alfie Shiner played for Bristol Boys but sadly illness slowed his football career. Jeff Sage played for Bath City. There are more lads who went on in the game I am sure – do you know any?
After the 1966 World Cup (we all know how that went!) a group of lads got together and reformed Southmead Baptist Football Club. After a few seasons in the old Church of England League, and not being the best, they renamed themselves as Southmead Athletic and joined the Suburban league.
After a shaky start they rose through the league winning titles and cups and now represent Southmead in the Glos County League playing at the old Pen Park School playing field on Saturday afternoons.
Please let me know if you have any stories or photos to share about sport in Southmead and I will include them next time.
Pic above: one from the archives. Do you know anyone in this pic or where it is? If so do get in touch via The Mead.