South Yorkshire Times May 21, 1955
These Clubs Are The Backbone Of The League
Rotherham United’s Edlington-born Jack Selkirk told guests at the 300-strong Denaby United Supporters’ Club annual dinner on Friday evening: ‘It’s nearly like coming home. I used to watch Denaby from the hills when I was a small boy. I could see the shirts and I could see the colours. That was about all – but I’d watched Denaby. I never got t play for you but somehow I have always had Denaby United at the back of my mind because it seems to be one of those clubs people don’t like to see struggling. Clubs like Denaby are the backbone of the Midland League.’
Selkirk said it was to their great credit that they kept the Midlands League standard flying in face of all the difficulties they had had to contend with. He spoke highly of the Supporters’ Club and of their own at Rotherham, which was extremely active. Supporters’ Clubs did a grand job – taking so much of the expense which would otherwise fall on the parent club.
One’s Own Town.
Denaby’s other footballing guest, Roy Swinbourne, of Wolves, said ‘I can’t express how it make one feel to be invited back to one’s own town by one’s own people. I was very relieved when I saw Denaby United had escaped the necessity for re-application to the Midland League – in spite of what Jack Selkirk might have thought about it when Denaby pipped them for the league championship.’ (Laughter).
Great credit was due to the side for having put up such a splendid fight under adverse conditions. When things were going wrong and a side was losing the going was really tough. ‘You have a grand lot of supporters. We haven’t a supporters’ club at Wolverhampton. I think it’s a great pity because by this means you get that friendliness between the players on the field and the supporters off the field. I ask you to rise to drink – to yourselves – and I wish you every success next season’.
The Supporters’ Club President, Mr. J. Greathead, said he was no supporters’ club at Wolverhampton. Apparently at Denaby, they had something even Wolverhampton hadn’t got. They had just over 300 members and when, remembering of industrial troubles, he could look round and see about a third of them there that evening, he thought it was very good indeed. He was grateful to local clubs for the help they had afforded. Somehow, this last season, Denaby Utd. just hadn’t seemed to get going properly. He hoped the better fortune of the last few matches would be with them when they reappeared in in season 1955-6. Next season he hoped every member of the Supporters’ Club would each try to get two more. ‘Lets make it about 800, and then when we give Denaby, a shout they’ll really hear us.’
Mr. G. A. Allport (secretary) proposed the Visitors, and the response was by Jack Selkirk.
Their Aim.
Chairman Mr. J. Taylor mentioned that Denaby Supporters’. Club was affiliated to the National Federation of Football Supporters’ Club and he also referred to the insurance scheme they had adopted. He hoped in the near future they would have everybody members of supporters’ clubs of some kind or another, according to the sport I which they are interested. That was their aim. They were not making a gift to Denaby that evening, but in the very near future they would again be handing a cheque to the parent club. He, too, expressed his gratitude for the cooperation they received from local clubs.