Leyland Red Rose FC

[Jerryt]

Mayfield was our extended neighborhood when I was pre-teen. We lived on Beech Avenue (number 13) when it was still a dirt road with red rock chips in the dirt. Mayfield was a big piece of property, must've been 30 or more acres. Our back garden abutted the fields. The Balshaw's weekly cross-country run went along is southern edge on the way to Park Road (very bad memories for me).

I think the housing development there occurred after we'd emigrated to the US in 1968, but it may have occurred when we were living in the Midlands (Kenilworth and a village called Coven, north of Wolverhampton).


Frank

Here's your answer Frank - Extract from "Church Road" (Houghton):-
"Mayfield
This was the site of the May Festival field events from the first festival in 1889, when the procession began from the schools in Union Street to the Railway Station and then returned to the Mayfield.

Originally known as the Paddocks, the May Festival continued to use the field until the last festival prior to the Second World War in 1936. When the festival recommenced in 1951 for the Festival of Britain, Worden Park had become available following the purchase by the Leyland Urban District Council, so this and subsequent festivals used these facilities while the former festival site together with the adjoining Beechfield estate were eventually developed as a housing estate in 1989."

[admin]

Hi Brian, welcome to the forum...

[anacortesdamp]

Thanks, Jerry. We'd been gone quite a while when that area became housing. Do you remember if Beechfield was the home of the Thomas Hargreaves family?


Frank

[Keith McIntosh]

I think Brian Pilkington played for Red Rose before,Leyland Motors,Chorley,Barrow,Bury,Bolton and Burnley then England in 1954,a Leyland lad,now has an estate agency in Leyland,must be about 80 now.

I had the privilege of meeting Brian & his wife Maureen for a coffee & a chat this afternoon & I told him that he had been mentioned in a post in the Leyland Forum & he was made up Brian is now the Vice Chairman of Chorley FC

I played for Leyland Athletic youth team against Red Rose back in 68/9 on Worden Park & Audrey Malley was the LA Secretary at that time & I still see her occasionally around town.

[Jerryt]

Thanks, Jerry. We'd been gone quite a while when that area became housing. Do you remember if Beechfield was the home of the Thomas Hargreaves family?


Frank

Sorry, I don't remember and cannot find any reference to that - seems Hargreaves was a prominent Mason?

[Frankbaker]

Referring to Leyland Red Rose, I was very privileged to play for the original Red Rose juniors between 1957-1959. The pitch was a few hundred yards on the left up Slater Lane and did indeed run along side of Bannister Brook. I remember us spending many precarious moments fishing the ball out of the stream before it got carried away. George Wallbank was the secretary and his wife used to wash all the kit which was pristeenley laid out under your number on match days. Cliff Dawber was the manager. My first season we were runners up behind English Electric. The year after we finished behind English Electric and Deepdale YC after beating Deepdale 6-3 at home and 4-2 away. However this season was very memorable. I played most of the season on the left wing and was thrilled to be partnering Pip Donnelly. We scored seventy goals between us, Philip scoring 45. Philip Donnelly along with Barry Pilkington were my local heroes at school and was fortunate to play with them in the same forward line for Leyland Schoolboys. The Red Rose team for most of the time was Cookson, Heyes, Dalton, Slater, Ireland, Burgess (Capt), Bell, Bamber, Bennet, Donnelly, Baker.

Very Happy Days.

[noel]

Was that Dave Slater, Frank? Howard Burgess is the only other Burgess I can recall from those days,

[Frankbaker]

Was that Dave Slater, Frank? Howard Burgess is the only other Burgess I can recall from those days,

Hi Noel,
No it was Derek Slater and Dennis Burgess, who was captain.

[noel]

OK cheers Frank. Howard had a brother but it wasn't Dennis. I knew of a Frank Baker years ago, East street?

[Frankbaker]

Yes same name but not me he died some years ago.