KES Football

KES Football 1st XI 1939-40

?, ?, ?, Swift, ?, ?;
?, P J Wheatley, T R Buckley (captain), ?, ?;
?, ?.

Photo courtesy of Dorothy Buckley

Notes on back say:
" King Edward VII School, Sheffield England, 1st XI Soccer Team 1939-40
T. R. Buckley (captain) centre, middle row."

Sargent, Jeffries, Parkin, Hutton, Wigley, Ashford, Fletcher, Rhodes, Gilfillan, Stamp

KES Mag March 1940

THE weather this Term has prevented the 1st XI from completing a successful season. By the end of last Term the team was playing very well, but only two games have-been played so far this Term in neither of which did the School encounter much opposition.

Every member of the team knows his own faults, but criticism of the team will not be out of place if other footballers in the School, especially those who hope to be in next year's eleven, study them and try to avoid the same faults. Swift has been a reliable goal­keeper, but needs to pay much more attention to collecting a ball cleanly, especially a high ball, and not just pushing it down on to the ground first and then collecting it. His anticipation when running out has not been very good. The two backs, Sargent and Jeffries, have both been resolute and determined tacklers, but could still make better use of the ball in their clearances by clearing to an unmarked man. Both backs too, should remember that it is most important that they recover their positions quickly after going to tackle a man. Jeffries must remember that a full-back should never dribble. Parkin, the centre half-back, another deter­mined tackler, must remember always to mark the centre-forward closely and never wander away from him, especially up-field. One of the reasons why Wheatley has scored so many goals this season has been that he has been able to shake off the opposing centre-half with surprising ease and has been unmarked when passes came to him. Accurate marking and covering are essential in a good defence and a steady improvement in both these points has been noticeable throughout the season. The wing-halves in Football to-day have probably the hardest job of all. Hutton and Wigley have not been as accurate in their marking as they might have been, for it is generally from the inside forwards that attacks are started. The wingmen, Ashford and Fletcher, have been much too slow and missed many fine chances of cutting in and scoring themselves. The days when School wingmen did that seem a long time ago. The wingers should also remember to centre the ball either squarely or a little behind, but never forward into the goalkeeper's reach. At inside forward, Rhodes, Gilfillan, Stamp and Buckley have all been guilty of failing to challenge the opposing wing-half when the latter was taking the ball up the field. If the inside fails to do this it means that one of the defenders must come up to tackle and in so doing always leaves an unmarked opponent in the attack ready for a pass.

The heading of the reserves of the team has been very poor. Boys in the School never seem to make any serious attempt to learn how to head the ball correctly until they reach the 1st XI. A School 1st XI should not have to be taught the technique but the tactics of the game, and I am sure the 1st XI of future years would be greatly improved if the footballers in the School would at least try to be able to head the ball correctly and kick with both feet, before they reach the first team.

Finally I would like to take this opportunity of thanking Mr. Whiteley, who was in charge of the 1st XI last Term, in the absence of Mr. Waterhouse, for his excellent advice and criticism of the team, and Mr. Wheeler for his expert refereeing of the games at Whiteley Woods. Thanks also are due to the Headmaster for his coaching at the very beginning of the season.

T. R. B.