I doubt that too many of today's players will work in a chip shop when their playing days are over. 144 appearances doesn't seem like a lot, did his knee injury curtail his career?
He never fully recovered from the knee injury, leaving the club at the age of thirty-one. WWII main reason for only 144 appearances.
That's a great post Bushman. I love the photo of Albert and Arthur in their chippy. Jefferson and Smith were also sports teachers at my school. They were both very good at encouraging us kids to develop and play various sports at perhaps a higher level than we otherwise would of expected to. I remember Albert and Arthur telling us stories about the war and about playing for QPR on the sky blue ILEA school bus which took us from the Bush over to Warren Farm. They were both great men, every kid had a lot of respect for both of them.
I kept in touch with Jeff & Smudger for many years after I left the Wren. They were both smashing blokes.
Cheers Roller, I enjoyed that. That's good to hear Bm. I used to see Arthur about after I left school as he lived in Bloemfontein Ave ( Opposite the away entrance Ellerslie Road. ) I never really saw Albert again sadly. I also remember going to play football three nights a week in Canberra School. It was run by Arthur on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday night between 7 and 9pm. 'Jefferson's' was very popular and he would get at least 25 lads turn up every night. Albert used to help out occasionally, and to think that they did it all for free! I can remember my grandad telling me about Smith and Jefferson in their playing days, he was quite intrigued when I told him that they worked at my school. Although my grandad has passed away now he seemed to have good memories of them both. I think it's difficult to have a thread about either gentleman without talking about the other. They were like brothers. RIP Albert and Arthur. Thanks for many great childhood memories.
This is a good thread and a lot of my memories are identical to 9's re the footie at canberra school and the old ILEA buses to Warren Farm..... My late father used to tell me about Arthur and how he perfected the slidding tackle at full back which either took both ball and player or just the player....both perfectly allowable in those days.....
