[BaggyBomber]

......I only played at Birmingham Works level (Champs Div 1 about 1976, no applause required)

You get MY applause, Bomber! I played same level (Lucas's), same time, and it was a pretty good standard. Did you play against Derek Kevan (Ansells)? I did - smashing bloke, as well.

I never played against Kev or at Ansells, talkSAFT and I envy you for having done so.  Weren't the leagues regionalised?  Either way the Works was good standard, tough football and there used to be some great grounds.  Sad to see so many have gone.

Don't want you to think I was a superstar, tS.  I just happened to be in the right place at the right time, when I won my medal.  I was playing in a Sunday league side with my cousin, who had played for Dudley Town at some point.  He was playing, as well, for Belgrave, a factory in Blackheath, and he asked if I'd like to train with them.  I did and about three quarters of the way through the season they asked if I go with them as a sub.  After going with them a couple of times, I was eventually brought on to perform and kept a place to the end of the season.  The last match of the season was against Tubes, Aston somewhere over on the Chester Road, touch-line full of Tubes supporters, and Belgrave had to win or Tubes would have been Champs.  Belgrave had lost to Tubes earlier in the season and we were one down at half-time.  Then, and I'm sure you've had the same thing happen, this tall, young inside forward, Dave ??? literally grabbed the match by the scruff of it's kneck, ran it, scored all the goals and we ran out 4-1 winners.  It often comes back to me.  I believe he had played semi-pro for someone but I never knew his surname nor the surnames of most of the others in the team!  I had played a lot in lower level Birmingham Works previously but was certainly on (or maybe beyond!) the limits of my capability in that team.  Sadly, Belgrave, having sold it's own ground for redevelopment,could not play in the Works Premier Division and I broke my leg at Marsh and Baxters, Brierley Hill ground early next season.  So my time at the "top" was short but sweet.

You still there, talkSAFT? Not nodded off, have you?