The 1950s hey? The postwar era was in full swing, the baby boom had bloomed, Britain had a new Queen, the world had its first taste of colour TV, Mount Everest was conquered for the first time, the first organ transplant in human history took place, the first satellite is launched, and American geneticists James Watson and Francis Crick discover a little something called he double helix structure of deoxyribonucleic acid. Or as the bloke in the pub called it - DNA.

And all that before the European Union or Brexit was even a thing. Who’d have thought?

Yes sir, the 1950s was a hell of a decade but it wasn’t all Elvis Presley, poodle skirts and conical bras you know. There was football too, and lots of it. In fact the 1950s has long been recognized as the decade when football in Britain and further abroad changed its game.

The first European Cup was held in 1955-56 and was won by that decade’s greatest club side, Real Madrid.

Yet it would be a while before the silky skills of the continent would impact on the British game.

Just check out this lovely bunch of lads. It’s the Mardy and District A.F.C. squad from the 1953/54 season. No doubt absolute masters of the kick and rush game, but blithely contemptuous of the somewhat fey European approach to passing and possession. But then, as is now, the most important thing was, every Jack lad one of them was game! And you can’t say fairer than that.

Here’s the names of the gentlemen in the pic, kindly supplied by Macky Skinner.

From left to right, standing tall in the back row we have R.S. Bailey (secretary) , R. Hooper, D. James, V. James, D. O’ Connell, L. Bailey, R. Cartright, E. Stockham, W. Benenna, C. Burrows, I. Williams, S. Hornby.

Sandwiched in the middle we have W. Jones (Trainer), C. Thomas, J. Probert, G. Bird, G. Galliers, G. Powell, G. Jones, L. Hoffman

Sitting pretty in the front row we have J. Savagar (Treasurer), D. Rooke, E. Watkins, C. Owers, J. Evans, D. Bailey, T.O’Rielly, B. Allen, B. Savagar, D. Cowles (Chairman), D. Salter (Vice Chairman).

And sitting on the pavement we have R. Townsend, N. Wylie, and M. Hornby.

If you’ve got any engaging and striking pictures from the past (they don’t just have to be sport related!) that could do with an airing and benefit from the oxygen of publicity, then why let them

linger and gather dust in the drawer a day longer? Send them to [email protected]. Alternatively you can do things the old fashioned way and pick up the telephone and ring Tim Butters on 01873 852187 (30).