South Yorkshire Times September 26, 1959
Denaby Youth Leader Leaving For Sussex
Mr. R. Walsh, Leader of the Tom Hill Youth Club, Denaby Main, is leaving the West Riding Youth Service in order to take up a new appointment as District Youth Leader, with responsibility for the Area, at Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex.
Mr. Walsh took up his appointment as full time Youth Leader at the Tom Hill Youth Club, Denaby, in May, 1951. Since then the club has been prominent in its many varied activities.
The club’s football teams have achieved many distinctions, having won at some time or other most of the local trophies (including the Montagu Cup). During Mr. Walsh’s period as Youth Leader the Under 18 team have won the League Championship and cup several times, the Under 21 team won the as League and Cup when the League was in action.
The Under 16 team have won the Doncaster Under 16 League three years in succession and are the present holders. ‘
Such is the club spirit at Tom Hill that those ex-club members, too old to be members at 21, have formed themselves into an Old Boys’ Association attached to the club and such is the demand for membership that a limit had to be fixed and the number restricted to a manageable total.
The Old Boys’ joined the Doncaster League 2nd Division in 195 and in their second season became League champions earning promotion to the First Division; they continued their success last season _ by winning the Mexborough Montagu Cup and the Doncaster Senior League 2nd Division Cup.
On The Continent
In addition to local football the club have competed twice on the continent (Germany ) are in International Youth Tournaments, receiving a trophy on one occasion for third place. Two teams from Germany have been entertained in Denaby by the Club and a series of local matches arranged for them.
Other sporting activities of the club include competing in the Evening Cricket League for the six seasons during which time they have won their section three times in four years and the major trophy once.
The club have supplied a large number of players for local in the club teams.
In the Don and Dearne Youth Athletics Competitions the club has I achieved its usual success by winning the Area Trophy.
On a higher sporting note several Youth Club players have had trials with Football League Clubs and among those playing today are Sawyer and Swan currently at Rotherham United and Des Harvey at Doncaster Rovers.
Craft Work
Other club activities have been in such a variety of subjects as Basketry, Craftwork, Stage and Ballet, swimming, woodwork. F.A. coaching and physical recreation. The club’s proud record is that not one of these groups, run under the auspices of the Rockingham Evening Institute has ever closed through lack of support on the part of members. These classes have been running continuously for the last six or seven years.
During the last six years five pantomimes have been produced at the club by Mr. Eric Smith, and Lena Morris. Many first class drama productions have also been presented by Youth Club members and they have twice won the Don and Dearne Area Drama Festival. Last year was high-lighted by the club not only winning the Mexborough Divisional Cup but by the tremendous achievement in coming second in the West Riding Area Championships.
Another prominent feature of the Club activities introduced by Mr. Walsh, is that of the club holidays. Several parties from Germany totalling over 100 have been entertained by the Tom Hill Y.C. and the club itself has present six of its annual holidays on the continent.
Camping Holiday
In addition, for the last three’ years a party of 20-30 boys has accompanied Mr. Walsh on a camping holiday at Reighton Gap near Bridlington, where an annual football fixture with a Bridlington Youth Club has always resulted in victory for Tom Hill.
Parties have also gone away for club holidays to south Wales, the New Forest (twice) and the Isle of Wight. staying at Youth Holiday Centres.