Golden Gordon

With no Poppies news of note this month, last month, next month but maybe a smidgeon of a tit bit in June (last week we fed on the crumbs of a Paul Cox chat in which he revealed that “initial conversations” have taken place with “certain players”, and consulted wise old men for clues to the meaning of such gnomic utterances), it’s probably as good a time as any to look back.

On the FB group Rob’s Unforgettable Kettering, Glyn Dobbs pops up regularly to post images taken with his trusty camera. Usually these are either a scenic shot of ducks waddling into Wicksteed Park Lake or a ‘spot the face you know’ team photo or presentation evening from a window of 1984-87 when Glyn seems to have been extraordinarily busy, attending every occasion of any note in the borough until mysteriously the gigs seem to have dried up. Why?  Who can say. Maybe the North Park Club skittles league enforcers applied their ‘no paparazzi’ rule a little too vigorously.       

But just recently Glyn dipped further back into his archive to offer a Poppies photo and a lovely one it is too.  I can’t stop admiring it.    

We’re seeing a snapshot from a home game, I’m guessing circa 1975, where Gordon Livesey in the Poppies goal is having a joke with fans at the Tin Hat end. It’s obviously more than an idle quip because the man two to the left is leaning in intently, as if listening to a particularly interesting observation. However there is clearly humour in what Gordon is saying, judging by the widespread smiles. Though not enough to amuse Joan Bambridge, the lifelong scourge of anyone wearing a no.1 shirt, who won’t allow her guard to drop just because this one is on our side.

Aside from Joan I recognise a number of faces in this photo, mostly people I couldn’t name but they were part of the fabric of going to a game. What I like the most about this image is the obvious camaraderie, the friendliness and the intimacy of the exchange. This was a bit before my time as a regular Poppies watcher but even a few years later there was still a good natured edge to proceedings, where opposition players would smile and pass a comment without risking an earful. Unless of course they played for Runcorn.

So anyway, thanks Glyn for sharing this and if you're seeking a gallery for nostalgic Poppies photography, I'd say now is a good time.