South Yorkshire Times, April 30th, 1960
A “Top Colliery” Grumble
Cadeby Say, “We Were Not Given Time”
The first heats of the N.C.B. No. 3 Area “Top Colliery” Talent competition have resulted in some dissatisfaction at Cadeby Colliery, who were beaten by the Manvers Main team.
Announcing C the result — Manvers 200 ½ , Cadeby 168 ½ — last Thursday, judge, Mr. F. W. E. Kelly of Silvewood, told a capacity audience at Denaby, “I was very impressed by the performance here tonight. Had Cadeby had better organisation I am sure they would have been a hard team to beat.”
“Not Bad Losers”‘
Mr, Bernard Snodgrass, of Palm Grove, Conisbrough, who was in charge of the Cadeby team, later told the “South Yorkshire Times” he considered this was unfair. “We were not given time to raise a proper team,” he said, adding “We are not bad losers — Manvers were a very good side — but had we been organised, the result might have been vastly different. We asked for the contest to be held on Easter Monday, but Manvers and organising officials refused to agree. Cadeby’s Consultative Committee are to blame for poor organisation.
I was called from home. I knew about this only half-an-hour before the contest was due to be held.”
Jimmy Hanley, of Maple Grove, Conisbrough, who took part, said, “I had to leave the pit early to get there — and I sang both my numbers without proper music.
We had seven in our team, and Manvers had about 20. They gave a varied programme, including a choir. We were just not organised. That’s why we lost.
Tenor Jimmy Noble of Barnburgh Street said, “In my opinion the contest should be held again.”
Date was Arranged
Mr R. Watson, C.I.S.W.O., No. 3 Area Welfare Officer, said this week, “The date of the Cadeby – Manvers competition was fixed at a meeting some weeks earlier. The fault lies at Cadeby, because it looks as though no-one there took any interest in the competition.”
Another official who is concerned with the competition, said, “It seems to me that there was not enough liaison between the Cadeby Committee
“Of course Manvers refused to hold the competition on Easter Monday. The rules state that the date of the contest should be mutually agreed. We gave Cadeby two dates and they chose Thursday.
“I do understand there was quite a lot of disagreement among the Cadeby team, but if there is any fault, it lies at Cadeby, not among the organising officials.”