Ship Inn football team from around 1973 (From Dorset Echo)

Ship Inn football team from around 1973

2:07pm Tuesday 17th January 2012 in Looking Back

PHOTOGRAPHER Idris Martin has been in touch with this picture that dates back to the early days of the Weymouth & District Pubs League.

It is of the football team attached to the Ship Inn at Upwey and was taken around 1973/4.

The team was one of the founder members of the league and the picture was taken at an end of season tour game against the Seven Salmon in Avonmouth, near Bristol.

Idris said: “The landlord of the Ship at the time, if my memory serves right, was former Royal Navy man ‘Smudger’ Smith who had only recently taken over the licence from Bill Taylor.

“Bill’s brother Les was the landlord of the Seven Salmon and the two pubs’ football sides met at the end of every season in a friendly game.”

The line up is, back row left to right: Ken Gordge (at the time ruled out with a knee injury), unknown (a Royal Navy man), Cliff Taylor, Dave Bridge, Tony Holden, Unknown (Royal Navy man), Mike Gale.

Front row left to right: Paul Dennis, Idris Martin, Mike Perry, Bobby Grey.

Idris added: “After the game we took on the hosts at pub games, darts, pool, crib and then the only time I have ever attempted to down a yard of ale, I failed miserably and then quickly threw up what I had managed to down.”

Idris recently spoke to Dave Bridge and Ken Gordge and together they tried to name the original pub’s league teams.

They came up with Ship Inn, Water Polo Sports, Sun Inn, Devenish Herberts, Knights in the Bottom and the London.

The Cove, Brewer’s Arms from Martinstown and the Kingswood Hotel all joined soon after and Idris would love to hear from some of the other players.

So would we, so please do get in touch with any memories and photographs.