This is the fourth time a ‘Roy of the Rovers’ issue has been featured in the series. Mark Dickinson of Accrington won ¬£2 for successfully requesting a picture of Leighton James scoring the first goal in a 2-0 win over Liverpool. ‘Leighton Lashes Home the First Against Liverpool’ !
The caption reads: ‘Leighton James won’t forget this moment. He’s recently joined QPR and was seeking his first goal for the club. This is it ! And Champions Liverpool are the unfortunate opposition. Other players (left to right) are Dave Needham, Ray Clemence, Peter Eastoe, Alan Hansen and Emlyn Hughes. Rangers eventually ended up winning by two-nil.’
First up are ‘Smith & Son’ – Barry Smith and his young son Danny were the managerial team that ran Third Division club Grandon Town. In a League Cup Fourth Round replay against mighty Thamesmeade at Grandon’s ground, Barry was forced to play Danny at inside-left when his squad was hit by an injury crisis. Then, in the second-half, Danny opened the scoring with a great goal, but…
This is followed by ‘The Football’ – Terry Jackson owned the football and he had made an enemy of the local bully, Jack Harker, after sending him off in a soccer match which Terry was refereeing. Eager for revenge, Harker planned to break into Terry’s house. Late one night, Terry heard a noise…
The latest on ‘Roy of the Rovers’ covers two pages, which are also in colour. When the England team manager was injured in a car crash, Roy Race…player-manager of mighty Melchester Rovers…was invited to take over the England squad for a vital, World Cup warm-up match against Holland. Now, as officials scanned the team that Roy had selected…
‘The Hard Man’ – Johnny Dexter, the recently signed midfield star of Real Granpala, a top Spanish club, was determined to score a goal in a league match at Marlona. A fierce shot from Johnny was put behind for a corner and as the corner came across…
‘Tommy’s Troubles’ – Tommy Barnes and his pal, Ginger Collins, went to a school where there was no soccer…only rugby…so they formed their own soccer team, Barnes United. One weekend there was no play because of snow and Tommy and Ginger built a sledge and went out on the hillside. They were on the sledge-run when Adam Waller and Cyril Swate, Tommy’s “enemies”, pushed them off course…
‘Simon’s Secret’ – Simon Benson was not very good at football but he sometimes played for his school. Then he had an accident and was given ‘implants’ in his left leg, right hand and ear and became a ‘bionic’ boy. He was given the chance to take part in a penalty-kicking competition at a local professional football ground…
‘The Safest Hands in Soccer’ – Gordon Stewart, brilliant young goalkeeper with Second Division Tynefield City, had played yet another outstanding game for the club, against free-scoring league leaders Barktown…and his great display had been watched by England Under 21 manager Ron Levy !
Last up is ‘Mike’s Mini Men’ – Mike Dailey had won his way through to the County Table Football Finals, where he was due to play his old friend Martin Fisher. But Mike had other things on his mind. He had left his skateboard, a Christmas present from his parents, at the local playing fields and he was afraid it had been stolen’.
On the back page is a colour pic of Charlton’s Mike Flanagan who was to join the R’s two years later.
Steve Russell