Football thing of the past

[light up the darkness]

The introduction of fan segregation at the Grange end turnstiles

[Harry Monk]

Anyone interested in football history should read the book "Lost in France". It tells the story of Leigh Richmond ROOSE, a Welsh International Goalkeeper who refused to turn professional. ROOSE was the reason that the FA made a major rule change - Goalkeepers had been allowed to handle all the way to the half way line, and ROOSE exploited this rule to the benefit of the teams he played for.

He lived off "expenses", "appearance fees" and "after dinner speaking" as an amateur, making more in a week than a professional would in a year.

On at least one occasion, whilst signed to play for Stoke City (He lived in London), he missed the train from London to Stoke that would get him there in time for KO, so he chartered a train, and sent the bill to Stoke City.

ROOSE was killed in WWI and his name appeared on a memorial, but was misspelt. A campaign to change the spelling and recognise him has led to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission changing their records. The memorial is due to be amended soon.