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Former Borrowash Wesley Youth Club player and secretary Tom Matchett, now living in Plymouth, shares his memories of his days with Borrowash Vics.

EVER since I left Borrowash in 1954, my very dear friend of more than 70 years, Lily Pidgeon, a regular contributor to the Derby Evening Telegraph's Bygones section, has kept me up to date with all the many changes in the life of the village.

Through a nightly telephone chat, I have learnt how our mutual old friends (and I do mean old) are keeping.

We frequently recall who lived in just about every house in every street in the village, who married who and when, which shops have now closed, which row of cottages was bulldozed to make way for a supermarket.

In fact, over the years, Lily has kept me so well “up to speed” that it’s almost as if I never moved away from the village and all my boyhood and teenage friends.

My name is Tom Matchett, known to everyone as Tominy. I was born in Borrowash, went to Borrowash school under the headship of Miss Johns and her sister, and then to Spondon House under Gaffer Walton. I did National Service in the Royal Navy, where I met my dear wife, Audrey, with whom I have shared more than 55 wonderful years which saw us living in our first home in Victoria Avenue and me returning to work at Coates butchers.

Prior to my naval service and immediately I came home, I was involved with the local football team known as Borrowash Wesley Youth Club, both as a player and secretary.

Borrowash produced very many good footballers with none more outstanding than some we had in our team at that period. The tower of strength in our defence was goalkeeper Roy Rowlands. Keith (Bud) Lees was a truly outstanding centre half and captain, who could head a ball with precision and further than most players could kick one.

Other solid defenders were Brian (Bill) Moore, Arthur (Nip) Anderton, who had a professional trial for Coventry City against Biggles-wade in which he sustained a serious internal injury, from which he thankfully recovered.

This, however, cut short what may have been a successful career in the game.

Albert Anderton, Nip’s elder brother, was right back. He went on to help reform the Borrowash Vics with most of the existing team from the Wesley Youth Club. He was a fervent supporter all his life and became a very proud president of the club.

My cousin, Roy Matchett, led the line with great energy and two great feet when it came to “blasting net busters”. Cyril Towle, to his left, was a two-footed dribbler and forceful striker, while Malc Walchester, to Roy’s right, was a “will o the wisp” who ghosted through a game.

He was a young version of Derby County’s Peter Doherty at that time.

We had fast lads on both of our wings in Barry Fletcher, of Draycott, and Tony Wall, of Ockbrook. Another mesmerising forward was Roy Juffs, of Draycott, who did much to demoralise and finally destroy West End A in that final of 1953, played on Rykneld Rec off Duffield Road.

I was very proud to have been secretary at that time. Assisting on the club committee were Os Towle and Mr Towle Snr, who were Cyril’s father and grandfather respectively, which made it a family affair, together with Os Whyman.

We held our team selection meetings in my front room after a bit of a rift with the youth club leader. But it did not prevent us from going on to be top dogs. Well done to all who were involved.

I left Borrowash to live in Audrey’s home town of Plymouth in 1954, so it would have been the 1953-54 season when the Vics were formed or reborn and played in the Central Alliance which is where Roy Matchett gained that shield as a team member of Borrowash Vics, who went on to enjoy some success and tried to emulate their Borrowash predecessors.

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County:  Derbyshire

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