The Trickies

First Team News and Views
1

Hello , I hope that someone can help me with a Witton Albion query.

I am a Wrexham fan and I am writing a history of the 1902/03 season.

Both Wrexham & Witton were engaged in the Combination League that year and although Wrexham ran out as the eventual winners Witton were one of the serious challengers that season.

In fact so highly were they regarded that the Wrexham club actually hired a train to transport three of their players who had missed the connection to Northwich. Such a move would attract comment today, in 1903 it was almost unheard of.

The Combination was quite a strong League, Chester, Tranmere, Nantwich and others were all involved.

I have found information about Witton to be a bit elusive. In 1903 the club were playing at a ground called Magdala Place.

Their nickname was the “Trickies” and they had a decent side with many of their team having representative honours with Cheshire.

I have full names for most of the Witton players and am trying to fill in the blanks.

Could anybody help me with this or point me in the direction of someone who can?

My e mail address is lindsayjones@talktalk.net

Many thanks and good luck for the coming season.

Witton Albion

@ Wrexham
1 George Barber - jack
2 Bill Sutton
3 Berry
4 Lambert Isherwood
5 George Drinkwater
6 Teddy Kettle
7 billy Armitage
8 Trow
9 Jack Forster
10 White
11[b] Shaw /b

@ Witton

  1. George Barber - jack
    2.Bill Sutton
    3.Duncan Cooper
    4.Joe Forster
    5.George Drinkwater
    6.Teddy Kettle
    7.Edwyn Hughes
    8.Billy Armitage
    9.Jack Forster
    10.Trow
  2. C Short - came from Warrington
2

hi linsay, the chap who could possible help you is phil chadwick.

i think he is on holiday again.:ohmy:

i am sure he will have the answer your question.

3

Brilliant.

I have to ask the obvious question, why the “Trickies” ?

4

No 4 lambert isherwood was my great grandfather.i am led to belive he scored the winning goal when witton won the crewe and district cup in 1894.he then went on to play for the other trickies before he returned to witton

5

That sounds about right.In the reports ive been looking at he keeps being referred to as the “veteran” but the guy was only about 29.He was recalled for the game at Wrexham because Joe Foster was given a bit of a run around at Witton.

In 1894 he would have been about 20.

He played representative matches for Cheshire as well.

PS - If you send me your e mail address ive got a census file on Mr Isherwood.

6

thanks for that lindsay,but i allready have him on three census reports going back to 1881 when he was seven.the medal for the match i was refering to is now in the possesion of an elderly aunt of mine

7

You’ve got them down on the team sheets as Foster, but from match reports I’ve seen in “The SOA” Jack and Joe’s surname is Forster I think they were brothers. Also the keeper Barber’s first name is down as Jack and Armitage goes by the first name Billy, but probably born William.

8

Yes Leroy you are right.Forster it is.I have a note somewhere that there was a Sam Forster on the clubs books as well. Got a report that Bill Sutton was being watched by man City as well.

Cmon the Albion.- Look after these things.My great great grandfather played three times for wales and won five welssh cups but there is nothing in the family any more, not even a decent picture.