The Dart(s) Board

The 5th Searcher knowing my love of Jimmy Greaves bought me a book to read
For all fans of football even if not for the London clubs and also for those Darts Fan in their late 60's into their 70's I thoroughly recommend this book.
The book is "GREAVSIE" and for the first half of the book through the 1950's up to 1961 Pages 1-230 you will be amazed to remember just how many things he mentions that will bring back memories in life for various topics for those aged 60's - 70's or will be an eye opener for all fans of football who were not aware of the actions the FA & Football League carried out in the 50's mainly blocking good new ideas that the league clubs had at the time.
Just a few of the things he mentions in the 50's few people with tellies, catching the only screening of football matches at the cinema with Pathe news
Bill Haley, Teddy Boys, Charles Buchan's Football Monthly, Nit & Cough nurses at school and finally Myxomatosis (Google that one )
For all footballing fans the FA/Football League prohibiting the entry into the European cup in 1953 & later not allowing clubs to fly their teams either in the U.K. or abroad to games it was coach or train and many more strange decisions all changing in much later years.
Hopefully enjoy the read and bring back memories &/or be surprised that changes had not been actioned in the 50's

That sounds like an interesting read. Might give that a go sometime as my Dad, who stood on the terraces at Stamford Bridge as a kid (before starting to support Dartford later on), used to tell me how good Greaves was as a player. I’ve heard some stories and Greavsie’s goal scoring stats were brilliant. Be good to learn about what footballing life was like in his day.

Also, love the idea of a little book thread if this turns into one, as I’m always looking for new footy books to read.

Thanks Trevor B

Disco Stu

The first half of Greaves book I mention pages 1-230 are all about Chelsea and for me as a Spurs fan from 1961 when he joined them as from page 231
I think the idea of section for all footballing books is a good idea as well

As a Spurs fan then, The Glory Game by Hunter Davies is a good read.

As a journalist, Davies had plenty of inside access to Tottenham during their 1971/72 season. Access to a football club that was rare for a writer then as it is now. Although nowadays we’re saturated with documentaries on Amazon Prime, Netflix and Disney + instead.

Thanks Disco Stu

I have made a note and will look out for this book.
I have only been to 3 Spurs games all in the 60's at White Hart Lane against Arsenal West Ham & Man, Utd but you can image the players I saw in all of the teams and too many to mention.
Dartford was always my priority from age 5 to 76 as we lived close to the ground and it is the names of the Darts players up to a few years ago that I can recall and have my favourites but these days I can't remember the recent or current names as they seem to swop around do much.

Trevor B wrote: Fri Sep 27, 2024 12:15 pm The 5th Searcher knowing my love of Jimmy Greaves bought me a book to read
For all fans of football even if not for the London clubs and also for those Darts Fan in their late 60's into their 70's I thoroughly recommend this book.
The book is "GREAVSIE" and for the first half of the book through the 1950's up to 1961 Pages 1-230 you will be amazed to remember just how many things he mentions that will bring back memories in life for various topics for those aged 60's - 70's or will be an eye opener for all fans of football who were not aware of the actions the FA & Football League carried out in the 50's mainly blocking good new ideas that the league clubs had at the time.
Just a few of the things he mentions in the 50's few people with tellies, catching the only screening of football matches at the cinema with Pathe news
Bill Haley, Teddy Boys, Charles Buchan's Football Monthly, Nit & Cough nurses at school and finally Myxomatosis (Google that one )
For all footballing fans the FA/Football League prohibiting the entry into the European cup in 1953 & later not allowing clubs to fly their teams either in the U.K. or abroad to games it was coach or train and many more strange decisions all changing in much later years.
Hopefully enjoy the read and bring back memories &/or be surprised that changes had not been actioned in the 50's

Sounds like my sort of book, Trev, so I’ll definitely be purchasing a copy. Really interested in that era both from a footballing and social history aspect. Certainly have no interest in reading about today’s overpaid, pampered footballers.

Skip wrote

Sounds like my sort of book, Trev, so I’ll definitely be purchasing a copy. Really interested in that era both from a footballing and social history aspect. Certainly have no interest in reading about today’s overpaid, pampered footballers.

Skip I totally agree with you about todays overpaid footballers diving rather than staying on their feet and the footballing authorities constantly changing the rules for corners goal kicks etc and we won't mention the fact that the linesmen aren't allowed to make any worthwhile decisions and even then ask a third party to look at the replay and even call the ref over before a goal or offside is given. bl**dy ridiculous
But you are of an era when the things that crop up in the book for social history will jog lots of memories with one of my favourites being the line up of thirteen years old boys at the Dartford Tech and how we had to suffer not just the nit nurse but also the drop your trousers with her holding your balls and asking you to cough.
My final comment for all the fans that go back a long way and will remember this I would ask both you and Spike for the best Darts magazines ever
"WHEN ARE YOU BRINGING BACK THE BEST READ EVER "THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL"

Trevor B wrote: Sun Sep 29, 2024 9:39 am Skip wrote

Sounds like my sort of book, Trev, so I’ll definitely be purchasing a copy. Really interested in that era both from a footballing and social history aspect. Certainly have no interest in reading about today’s overpaid, pampered footballers.

Skip I totally agree with you about todays overpaid footballers diving rather than staying on their feet and the footballing authorities constantly changing the rules for corners goal kicks etc and we won't mention the fact that the linesmen aren't allowed to make any worthwhile decisions and even then ask a third party to look at the replay and even call the ref over before a goal or offside is given. bl**dy ridiculous
But you are of an era when the things that crop up in the book for social history will jog lots of memories with one of my favourites being the line up of thirteen years old boys at the Dartford Tech and how we had to suffer not just the nit nurse but also the drop your trousers with her holding your balls and asking you to cough.
My final comment for all the fans that go back a long way and will remember this I would ask both you and Spike for the best Darts magazines ever
"WHEN ARE YOU BRINGING BACK THE BEST READ EVER "THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL"

Love the memories and thanks for your very kind comments, Trev. In fact I think I heard Keir Starmer mention similar in his speech at the Labour Party conference; something along the lines that there is ‘Light at the end of the tunnel’ although I think that was in reference to the current state of the economy! Spike has occasionally toyed with the idea of restarting the ‘Light’ in the years since the last issue was published during the 90s and even penned a few articles.

What a period in the Darts history for us to hang on to the coat tails of the fanzine phenomenon, inspired by the exploits of Peter Taylor’s free scoring, cup winning squad from the latter years at our Watling Street home. It wasn’t difficult having the motivation to write stories, comedy sketches, take photos, draw cartoons and ultimately produce ‘Light’ merchandise including t shirts, inflatable penguins (another phenomenon we rode the back of) and badges for and about the only club we love.

I remember the first issue had to be produced stealthily via work office photocopiers with the proceeds from sales providing enough revenue for us to engage the services of Dave Pointer to print, fold and staple issue two onwards. I wonder if Dave still has the printing press in his garage? On glossy paper it did look the absolute nuts for an amateur magazine. And that view was shared by the fanzine fraternity when various copies were featured in other publications. In fact we used to sell 100-150 copies per issue via Sports Pages bookshop in Charing Cross Road which was the Mecca for fanzines from all over the UK. The owner once told me that it regularly outsold many Football League club versions. I’ll doubt there are many supporters under the age of 30 that even knows what a fanzine is now that particular phase has passed?

But for me that shipped has sailed, it’s great to look back on that period (35 years ago and counting!) but moving house has opened up a whole new part of the country to explore. And now the missus has rediscovered the fun of watching football at this level, we’re enjoying the delights of the Isthmian North following Felixstowe and Walton United around East Anglia. With Felixstowe’s ground almost literally on our doorstep, combined with more exciting football than I’ve witnessed for sometime, has helped make the switch easier. Also, the move coinciding with the dirge on offer from Dowson and his shower pretty much put me off of travelling up and down the A12 and the Dartford crossing for home matches. In fact it was generally the away travel with mates that I looked forward to most as it provided the opportunity to put the world to rights…after we’d sorted out the team’s deficiencies, of course.

I’ve great memories of following the Darts since 77 with the one constant being Spike and me sharing the tears of joy and pain for almost the best part of half a century. It was the midweek trips in Spike’s car to the likes of far flung Yeovil and Burton and Telford when staying awake on the return journey was the order of the day. Getting home at silly o’clock and a few hours kip before giving the alarm clock a slap and setting off for work at Dartford post office. One particularly ’epic’ journey being after a Friday night preseason friendly at Dover. Staying till the final whistle meant we missed the last train connection to Dartford. So we got the train to Chatham (which arrived at 23.25) with every intention of getting a cab to Dartford. But as a wind up, we told the other fella we were travelling with, that we was going to walk to Dartford. He threw an almighty strop so of course that made up our minds. We were definitely going to walk! I rolled home at 4am and Spike at 4.30am. The benefits of living in east Dartford from my perspective. Still we weren’t all bad as we ‘dropped off’ our other mate in Gravesend on the way.

Anyway, it’s nice to have the occasional trawl through the packs of photos taken mainly during the late 80s and early 90s on mammoth away trips up north or via the chuffer out of Waterloo, when we were all a lot younger, fitter and mobile. Raising a pint is about as adventurous as it gets for me these days…

Those were the good old days Skip and long gone unfortunately for us but at least we have memories along side a few other Darts fans of the Taylor era.
I can remember when poker suddenly sprang on the scene and there was 4 or 5 of us into the bar at 12.00 midday on game days enjoying a few hands and for me the very occasional win and after a couple of seasons it stopped after we got bored or fans left and I haven't played since.
Always good to see you when you do make the trip down and you and the family enjoy the other teams as you are not missing much with The Darts at the moment

Regards Trevor

Skip

I've read on a little bit more with Greavsie now in the later 1950's and he mentions a certain Tony Nicholas signing for Chelsea
You must remember him signing for The Darts at the start of the 1966-67 season and a very good centre forward and top scorer for two seasons before moving on to Cambridge then returning for another short spell with us.

Pat Nevin’s Accidental Footballer is a cracking read if anyone is looking for an autobiography. His music taste isn’t too bad either!

Trevor B wrote: Thu Oct 03, 2024 3:32 pm Skip

I've read on a little bit more with Greavsie now in the later 1950's and he mentions a certain Tony Nicholas signing for Chelsea
You must remember him signing for The Darts at the start of the 1966-67 season and a very good centre forward and top scorer for two seasons before moving on to Cambridge then returning for another short spell with us.

Trev,

Tony Nicholas was a bit before my time but I do remember the name having bought stacks of old Dartford programmes when I did start my DFC love affair .

No doubt we’ll catch up when I’m down at PP or a trip to Essex when Felixstowe aren’t playing. Plenty more trips down memory lane to be trodden. Fingers crossed both teams progress in the Trophy today and a possible match up in the first round proper.

I have a copy of 'From the Den to Wembley' Tommy Sampson's autobiography if anyone would like it.