South Yorkshire Times May 1,1965
Fancy Smith’s hat-trick in Denaby charity match
The crowd at Denaby’s Tickhill Square football ground on Sunday roared as the well built player dressed in blue and white trotted onto the pitch, smilingly leading his team forward. For this was the man they had come to see – television’s “Fancy Smith” – Brian Blessed.
Brian was playing his second game at Denaby – the first was in 1963 – and he was backed by many well-known names – Walter Ardron, Billy Barker, Jacky Brownsword, Henry Cockburn, Derek Cox, Tommy Cummings, Jeff Evans, Frank Foster, Freddy Goodwin, Ian Greaves, Gladstone Guest, Harry Hough, C.W. (Bill) James, Frank Marshall, John McGrath, Alan Parkinson, Brian Sawyer, Jack Selkirk, Billy Thompson, Barry Webster and Charlie Williams.
Referee was to have been Bill Levers, but, due to his non-arrival, linesmen Johnny Jeffcote and Sammy Walsh filled the gap.
The two teams were playing in blue and white, “Fancy Smith’s Sports”, and in red and white, “Jock Weir’s Select”.
Select went straight into the attack and, after five minutes Barry Webster had his powerful shot turned round the post by Sports’ ‘keeper Jeff Evans, and another Barry Webster try was gathered up by the Sports’ goalkeeper after 11 minutes play. Five minutes later the ball was again at the other end and Brian Sawyer, trying too hard, hit the ball over the bar.
Harry Hough clears
The first goal of the match came in the 22nd minute when Select inside-right ALAN PARKINSON beat Jeff Evans after a goalmouth tussle.
Centre-forward Brian Blessed’s first attempt at goal was after half and hour, but this fine long shot was cleared by ‘keeper Harry Hough.
The ensuing play was very even until half time, with Sports trying very hard to pull back that one goal deficit, and when the whistle blew the pitch was invaded by hundreds of children – either trying to get autographs, or souvenirs from “Fancy”, who went down beneath the surging masses.
The blues, on the restart of the game, were placed on the defensive as Select right winger Bill James shot high over the bar.
Brian Blessed received the ball subsequently, but his first shot, in the 50th minute, went far wide. However, he got the ball again two minutes later, and this time his shot hit the post and was kicked in by BRIAN SAWYER to equalise.
Cox converts
Eleven minutes later, Brian Sawyer was again in the Select area, and his inside pass was hammered home by DEREK COX.
After the centre, goalkeeper Harry Hough came out as far as the half-way mark, and laid the ball at the feet of BARRY WEBSTER, who scored Select’s second goal after 70 minutes.
The first goal from BRIAN BLESSED came five minutes later, when the TV star put his team back in the lead. Two minutes later, WALTER ARDRON equalised, but BRIAN BLESSED’S second goal came after 84 minutes, when he ambled down the pitch and shot, and he scored his hat-trick two minutes later.
The last goal of the match was in the last minute, when BARRY WEBSTER fought his way through the Sports’ defence to score. Result: Fancy Smith’s Sports 5, Jock Weir’s Select 4.