A MAN who was part of a cup-winning Colwyn Bay school football team is hoping to reconvene with his former team-mates for a 70th anniversary reunion.
Allan Barham, 84, played as a striker for the Pendorlan School side who beat Llandudno’s secondary school 2-1 in the final of the Gillespie Cup in 1952.
A frame, including a team photo of the 1952 side, cuttings from a match report of the final, and a picture from 1972, when the team played against the boys from the school who were the same age they were at the time, hangs on the wall of The Pen-y-Bryn pub in Colwyn Bay.
And Allan is trying to get back in touch with members of his school team, who upset the odds in Llandudno in 1952.
A meet-up has been pencilled in for 12pm on Friday, May 20 at The Pen-y-Bryn pub.
Allan, who now lives in Llanbedr-y-Cennin, said: “It (the 1952 final) caused a bit of a stir at the time because it turned out to be a local derby; Llandudno and Colwyn Bay.
“Being 70 years ago, I’ve been wondering if there are any of us left. It would be nice, if any of these lads are still alive, if we could get together.
“There’s one (picture) taken later in 1972, by which time, we’re all shapes and sizes!
“We had an extremely good keeper, called Reg Large, who went on to be Colwyn Bay’s wicket keeper. He was a local actor, too; he was very talented. I remember he had a trial for Blackburn Rovers.
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“We’re going to have it in May, because that was the end of the football season, when the cup final was played.
“We were very much the underdogs; Llandudno had drawn a few games that season but hadn’t actually lost, but on the day, we beat them 2-1.
“I was centre forward, and very proud of myself, too, because whoever the reporter was wrote that four players were the pick of the Colwyn Bay team, including myself.
“He said Colwyn Bay played some very attractive football - especially in attack!
“The last time I saw anyone from the team was probably about 10 to 15 years ago. I don’t know of any having died or moved away; it would be great if all 11 turned up.”
If you’d like to get in touch with Allan, you can email him at: allan.barham@btinternet.com.
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