Sheffield Independent – Tuesday 14 August 1928

Building Up a Sound Team.
Promising Talent And Ripe Experience.
Denaby United’s Prospects.

Denaby United, after a bad season, have made a thorough overhaul and face the new season with quiet confidence. Mr. W. Astbury has returned to the management as financial secretary, and Mr. Tom Swinburn, the Midland League referee, is team manager.

The clubs policy in team-building has been to seek out the most promising junior talent in the making, not the ready-made article. Consequently a team with several new faces will seen when the season opens. The old players retained are chiefly defenders. They are: Birch (goal), the old Chesterfield player from Grenoside; Taylor (in his eighth season with the club) and Rodgers the Kilnhurst Player (backs). Clegg, Ogley and Windle (who has made ever consecutive appearances in the Midland League team, and will take a benefit in the coming season) will constitute an unchanged halt-back line. Jenkins, the Welshman, and Kelly, last year’s goal-scoring centre-forward (forwards).

The New Comers.

Two of the new-comers come from the South Kirkby team that won the Doncaster Senior League Championship last season; Cartwright, left – back, and Martin, outside-left.

Sanderson, the big centre-half of the Denaby Institute Athletic Club; Smith, the Conisborough Welfare centre forward and one of the district leading junior goal-scorers; and C. L. Finney, from Goldthorpe—who has had trials with his brother’s club, Bury-are among the notable young players added to the strength.

Claypole. a goalkeeper irom Whinney Hill; Turner the Ecclesheld outside left; Hammond an inside forward or half-back from Denaby Church, Lunn, a promising inside forward from Conisborough Welfare; and Blyth, the Roman Terrace right half, who drew considerable attention in the Montagu Cup final tie at Mexborough on Good Friday.

The New Trainer

There are several others, who will make a strong reserve team and keep competition keen for places in the Midland League side.

A recent acquisition is Albert Green, the voung player who joined the club a couple of seasons ago, but went on to The Wednesday. He has returned and is expected to take his old place at inside left.

Considerable  improvements to the ground are nearing completion, and an entirely new committee management has been appointed. Mr. W Lawley from Frickley has been the new trainer. He played for Denaby tor over 20 years-for 15 years as Captain

Denaby United have secured a big and promising young goalkeeper in John H Speight, 24 years of age, 6ft. tall, and 12st 10lbs. in weight. Last season he was with the Frickley Colliery F.C. and as an understudy to Bromage played several impressive games.