Great history!

[Laurel Lane Lamper]

Thanks for your quick response Lamper. As I get older I don`t know if my memory plays tricks on me. I once thought Villa had won the European Cup, imagine that !

We do have to keep reminding ourselves don't we......

[YeltzDoc]

I think That's the pic of Dot I saw last week when I sorted those out that are now the official site, I mentioned it to Dot on Monday night and I'd forgotten her maiden name.
It'll be a few days before I can look for it.

Nice one Chas. I'm sure it would be of interest to many on here.

The half- time draw man stiil comes to The Grove, he sits in The Harry Rudge Stand, I think his name is Roger.

It is Roger, I used to chat with him as best I could on the bus into Birmingham sometimes. The shorter gent was Steve, more commonly referred to as "Ferret" who served in the Yeltz Bar for years, I think.

I saw him at Belper, along with a few other blasts from the past (me included...).

[Laurel Lane Lamper]

Steve is Ant Brettle's brother/ cousin. As we're reminiscing (again!), Roger Wood was at Tommy's funeral

[YeltzDoc]

I know Halesowen's a small, tight-knit community, but he's his brother AND his cousin??

[RobYeltz]

I really enjoyed reading this item. Thanks Chas!

[Laurel Lane Lamper]

Does anyone know who the catering team were?

It's been mentioned on here before but newcomers may like to know that the half-time cuppa was served out of the hatch on the side of the old pavilion/changing rooms in china mugs. It was tradition after you'd drunk your cuppa to hang the mug on a spike of the adjacent iron railings before making your way back over to watch the 2nd half.
When I first started going to The Grove tea was also served out of a hatch in the back wall of the Old Hawne Lane stand.

[Johnny Bud]

The ferret is indeed Ant Brettle's brother!

He is without doubt the worst football referee in the world and has threatened to send me off many times

[KenR]

Mr Lamper, had n't Colin Siviter used to serve the tea from the aforementioned hatch in the Old Hawne Lane stand ?

[Laurel Lane Lamper]

You may be right there KenR, I don't remember him serving there. I wonder if the Club benefitted with Palethorpes pork pies etc. from him.....we had plenty at home and they were marvellous! Nearly as good as the ones I used to supply to the Club, which continue to be available from Thornhill Butchers.....

[Laurel Lane Lamper]

I think That's the pic of Dot I saw last week when I sorted those out that are now the official site, I mentioned it to Dot on Monday night and I'd forgotten her maiden name.
It'll be a few days before I can look for it.

Doc, here's that photo of Dot I had in mind, it's also been added to Facebook