Denaby’s Aim: “A Decent Team But Not A Flash One’

Denaby United F.C. have signed eight new professionals for next season and six new amateurs, retaining only five of the last season’s players.

Those signed are: professionals; Donald Oslear (goal-keeper) from Gainsborough; Barry Gover (halfback) from Goole Town; Peter Miller (centre-half) from Frickley Colliery; J. Bailey (half-back) from Matlock Town; L. Hankin (inside-right) from Bowbroom; Bernard Hannaby (inside-forward) from Retford Town.; Paul Swaby (centre-forward) from Gainsborough Trinity; James Collins (forward) from Grantham, formerly of Port Vale and Bradford; amateurs; Graham ‘Nicholson (half-back) from Denaby Tom Hill Y.C.; John Moran (inside-forward) from Goole Towri; William Cope (centre-forward) from Edlington; Anthony MacDonald (inside-forward) from Atlas and Norfolk (Sheffield) ; James Webster (inside-forward) from Goole Town; and Brian Furniss Onside-forward) of Doncaster.

Last season’s players retained are Smethurst, Bedford. Lawley, Allott, and Pilkington.

In his report to the annual meeting of the club held on Sunday, the chairman Mr. J. Ford. said the club had had a poor season in 1957-8, finishing second from the bottom of the table. He thought this had been brought about through lack of scoring power (the club averaged 1.44 goals per match). The club had managed to keep out of debt, and it was reported that there was a balance of £55 8s. 7d. Mr. Ford said “gate” money averaged only about £19 a match for first team matches.

“What can we do with £19?” he asked. “Some say ‘give us a team and you’ll get the “gates” and the money”, but I say “give us the money and we’ll build a team. It’s a question of which came first, the chicken or the egg”, he said.