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Carford City

From EverybodyWiki Bios & Wiki

Carford City
         
Full nameCarford City
Founded1884
GroundCity Ground, Carford, England
LeagueFirst Division


Carford City are a fictional football team that appeared in the Bristish comic Roy of the Rovers and in Tiger the Sports Library. It was founded in 1884. Colours were blue and white.

The club also appeared in the ROTR comic strip Hammersmith F.C. {Fairly Cool!} from 18/05/91 to 03/10/92 alongside Stamford Sports.[1]

History

Early years

According to the Tiger the Sports Library, it was founded in 1884 by a group of workers at the old Albion Foundry to make sure of their Saturday football. Like many of the football clubs of those days, they played under plum-coloured shirts under the name Albion Irownworks. The first ground was located in the water-meadows next to the foundry.

Soon the club prospered, and entered the old Northern Section of the Football League, which was absorbed into the League as a Third Division in the season 1921-22.

With the famous " Fighting Five " forward line of those days-Staples, Bennett, Cotton, Jeyes and Wallbanks (the father of City's 1961 popular trainer, Geoff Wallbanks) it didn't take Carford long to fight its way up into the Second Division.

In 1928 Carford were promoted to the First Division. They've had their ups and downs since.

1960

The city has a paper, the Carford Gazette and often the club's news was there. In 1961 they were promoted to the First Division again. The lineup in 1961/62 against champions Eastoke United[lower-alpha 1] in the First Division on Sept. 16, 1961, was: 1.TOWERS, 2.Harris, 3.Brown, 4." Bomber " Reeves, 5.Reilly, 6.Racey, 7.Jimmy Maskell, 10.Neil Morgan, 8.DAYIS, 9.Dave " Drifter " Donaldson, 11.Dick Roper.

Carfored City kits in 1961-62

In 1963/64 as they fought off the challenge f defending champions, Melchester Rovers, and others to win the First Division Championship. But over the next few years they would not add to their trophy cabinet, as Melchester, Portdean, Eastoke United and Kingsbay would all win the league title.

1970s

Carford's next trophy arrived in 1972/73 as they won the F.A. Cup and followed it up immediately by winning the 1973/74 European Cup Winners Cup. However the strain of competing on two fronts meant City's league form suffered and they would suffer the indignity of relegation in the same week a lifting a European trophy.

Languishing at the bottom of Division 2, City's defence of the Cup Winners Cup would last only one round, as Melchester Rovers knocked them out in 1974/75 on their way to victory in the final over Greeks Niarkos. Manager Archie Mille, the former Melboro' and England winger, was credited with transforming City, his tough team always providing stiff challenges for opponents. However with City so off form, Miller would leave in disgrace, after a massive touchline bust-up with Melchester manager, and former friend, Tony Storme, he was sacked, taking up the role of chief scout for a sympathetic Storme.

Melchester Rovers vs Carford City (Richie Davis).

Carford in their smart white and black strip were becoming a force in cup competitions and somehow the 75/76 found them in Div1. A a 4-2 defeat in the 5th Round of the 1975/76 League Cup to a dominant Rovers ended their hunt for trophies for another year.

The next few seasons would see Rovers repeatedly beat Carford without conceding, Roy Race scored four in 76/77 in a 5-0 win. Led by Richie Davis, City were defeated 2-0 in 78/79 thanks to some inspired tactics by stand-in manager, Ben Galloway. On the way to the title Rovers would again thrash City, this time 3-0, on the opening day.

1980s

1980/81, saw two amazing matches, both drawn 2-2. Carford would fight for the title with Everpool and Danefield United, eventually finishing third, after leading at the midway point. City had again established themselves as one of the strongest teams in the country. In the eighties they would constantly challenge at the top end of the table. Players such as England international Carl 'The Hunter' Hunt, winger Brian Foulkes and new skipper Mike Gladwin formed the spine of the side, with Norman Jackson, the goalie who Roy Race couldn't beat. Managed by Dennis Blair and inspired by German superstar, Kurt Gruber, City were a special side, mixing flair and steel.

But despite the world-class players, Blair's side would not win a trophy. Dyanmic midfielder, Carl Hunt was transferred to Melchester Rovers at the start of the 1984/85 season and go on to win the Cup Winner's Cup in his first year. Hunt would score against his first side in 85/86 in a 5-1 win in the League Cup. Probably Carford City's best ever player would die tragically at the end of that season in the Basran Disaster.

City, like Rovers, were in a rebuilding phase, after the departure of the superstars of the early 80s. Everything was going to plan in the 1987/88 season, as Carford topped the table in April. Despite a heavy opening day defeat to Rovers (4-0), City would only lose the title to Melchester on the final day of the season. Due to cup commitments, Rovers had one game left to play after their F.A. Cup Final deafeat to Weston Villa, and needed to beat Stambridge City to overhaul Carford's lead at the top. A last minute own-goal would deny City.

Success was limited in the next few years, an F.A. Cup Quarter-final the highlight of the 1989/90 season. By now Carford were back wearing their original blue and white colours, rather than the white and black combination.

1990s

In an effort to improve, City smashed their transfer record with the signing of Tynecaster United striker, Phil Stevens. The goal-poacher supreme's debut coming in the first match of the 1991/92 season versus Melchester Rovers. Stevens would net an impressive double, a fierce drive and powerful header, beating international goalie Andy Styles.

But the pairing of Stevens and star goalie Eric Sutton could not find success as Carford were relegated. Their spell in the second tier was brief, as City were promoted in second place in 1997/98, behind Brentfield. They would celebrate their return to the top flight with a great run to the semi-finals of the F.A. Cup in 98/99, where a goal from top attacking midfielder Gary Bracken would send Melchester Rovers into the final.

2000s

City quickly reestablished themselves as one of the top teams in the country and would challenge for the title in 2000/01 before fading to finish third.

Honours

Note that all records are fictional, as of the 2000/01 season. Info may be incomplete.

League

Cups

European

Colours and kits

In 1961 the colours were blue and white.

Colours: White shirts, black shorts or blue shirts with white sleeves and shorts

Rivalries

Stadium

Seasons

Notable players

Breakdown

1961-62

  • DAVE " DRIFTER " DONALDSON (centre-forward and skipper): former Schoolboy International, Dave joined Carford as a junior. He made his way into the First team the season after he signed for City. He also loves cricket.
  • DICK ROPER (outside-left): had a brilliant career as an amateur player before he joined Carford. Worked as a draughtsman in an engineering works.
  • RON TOWERS (goalkeeper): was transferred from Brenham United two seasons ago (in 1959). An ex-R.A.F. man, skilled as a fitter and mechanic. He is a keen motor-racing enthusiast and drives a vintage Bentley which he services himself
  • MIKE MORGAN (inside-left): the foremost " schemer " of the team, Mike joined Carford only last season from Middleton Athletic. Despite his Welsh-sounding name, Mike's a Scot who hails from Braedee. He came into the limelight early on in his career, playing in many school-boy representative games.
  • ALBERT REEVES (right-half): known as " Bomber " to City fans, he's an ex-Royal Marine Commando, who won the Army light-heavy-weight boxing championship before he joined Carford. Teaches boxing at the Central Youth Club three evenings each week.
  • SEAN REILLY (centre-half): City's hard-tackling pivot is the only Irishman in the team. Played for Donnymount in his home country before signing on for Carford. Has a fine tenor voice and frequently entertains the boys on their away game coach journeys.
  • KEN TRACEY (left-half): another player with a sparkling career in the Carford Junior team before he made his mark in the League. Ken's main interest off the field is to play the cornet with a trad jazz band, the Carford City Stompers.
  • JIMMY MASKELL (outside-right): making his debut in the First team this week, Jimmy has played in many junior games. He joined Carford as an office-boy to Alf Perry at the age of fifteen. An outstanding sprinter who has taken home many Cups from the athletics fields, Jimmy finds his speed a useful attribute on the wing.
  • PETER BROWN (left-back): joined Carford from Portsea Town three years ago. Played Soccer for the Royal Navy, in which he served for five years. Pete's the most-travelled man in the team—he's been pretty nearly all over the world.
  • STAN DAVIS (inside-right): a real City stalwart, Stan has been play-ing for Carford longer than any of his team-mates. A keen golfer, Stan plays his eighteen holes regularly every Sunday.
  • DON HARRIS (right-back): a Carford lad born and bred, Don was discovered by a City talent scout while playing for a factory team. He's something of a local historian, and promises to write the full story of Carford City F.C. from its earliest days when he can find the time !

Notable managers

Best players

Notable players -

G - Norman Jackson, Eric Sutton
D - Mike Gladwin, Frank Tyler, Kurt Gruber, Cruncher Coggin
M - Richie Davis, Carl Hunt, Brian Foulkes, Colin Daley, Don Weston
F - Phil Stevens, Mickey Rockford

Comments (by Storky)

  • Carford City have been one of the main rivals of Melchester Rovers since the mid-70s, rarely providing anything but a stiff challenge for the superstars of Mel Park. They had their fair share of star players too, obviously Carl Hunt and Kurt Gruber being stand out players from the early 80, and Phil Stevens was probably the top centre-forward in England in the early 90s.
  • Carl Hunt, Richie Davis and Mike Gladwin were great captains, it's just a shame that City could not sustain their success of the 70s. Perhaps in the years to come Carford can regain a place as title challengers, who knows...?

Sources

Champions

External links

References

  1. ↑ ROY OF THE ROVERS STORIES

Notes

  1. ↑ Eastoke United had red and white colours, and lineup was: 1.PEAVEY, 2.RITCHIE, 3.CLARK, 4.DICKENS, 5.Cooper, 6.BRADY, 7.ATKINS, 8.HEDLEY, 11.SMITH, 10.PINNOCK, 9.DAWSON

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