South Yorkshire Times, August 18th, 1951
Manager Matt Taylor Expects Club to be Among League Leaders
Denaby Utd’s Promising Signing’s Give Fans Hope for Better Season
Denaby United fans can take hope of a much-improved Midland League season this year with the new signings made by the club. They showed up more than promisingly in the final practice match on Saturday – practice played through incessant rain. Some of the players were outstanding. For the record the “Reds” incorporating the first team defence, beat the “Whites” which includes the first team attack, 3-2. “Reds” goals came from Showler, on the right wing, Newlands left-wing and Bruce inside-right. New centre-forward Albert Sarson scored both the “Whites” goals. Had the match been a poor one, especially under such conditions, it could have been excusable but after a scrappy start, both teams settled down to play excellent football, with plenty of spectator interest. And although Sarson was the man around who most interest centered it was ex-Mansfield inside-right Roy Cooling who impressed most. Cooling played a beautifully judged game engineered most of the very attractive moves which made the “Whites” attacks superior to the “Reds.” and, combined with Mansfield partner Wheatley, half-back Piper and Rowney, at inside left, as if he had been doing it for a lifetime.
Wheatley and Piper are both good prospects and Southerden from Boston also showed up well. Harston, late Scarborough, played a sound full-back game for the “Reds.” whose attack had Law to thank for this tireless leadership, in partnership with Bruce, Somerskills and Newlands.
Sarson, kept rigidly under control by Lee, had an uneventful game, and even missed a couple of chances but his two goals showed his potentialities. A powerful shot, he is willing to try for goal when within range and should settle down to be a real asset to the side.
Manager Matt Taylor is confidently anticipating a much-improved year. Whereas last year the club finished seventh from the bottom of the table he expects them to go better than seventh from the top this season.
He hopes to build up a really first-rate reserve side – and on Saturday’s showing he already has the nucleus – and looks for the longer run in the English cup. Denaby’s first rate F.A. tie is away to Stocksbridge on September 29th
Signings to date are:
Goalkeeper, Mayhall; Backs, Harston, Williams (Captain), Finney, Rhodes and Beaumont; Half-backs, Southerden, Hibbert, Lee, McGuinness, Hutton, Benton, Shaw and Piper; Forwards, Wheatley, Law, Browning, Cooling, Sarson, Salt, Showler and Short.
Kenneth Showler, signed this week, is an 18-year-old outside-right, who played with Doncaster Rovers last season. Mr. Matt Taylor forecasts a big future for this player; he stands 5ft 7ins and weighs 9st 6lbs. The following are amateurs Geoffrey Watson outside-left aged 21 from the Sheffield district and Howard Finney full-back (19).