The Coalville Times 1953

The hope that the Coleorton Viscount Beaumont Youth Club football team might be accepted into Division 2 of the Coalville Football League next season was expressed at the Club’s annual dinner, held at Coleorton School on Saturday.

Last season the team finished champions of the T.S. Bloor, knock-out cup. Age limit for the youth league is 18, and four of the Coleorton players will be inelligible next season, which will mean the breaking up of a winning side. If, however, the team can get into Coalville League in which there is no age limit, the problem will be overcome.

Played 29, Won 24

Mr. R. Hodges, Sports Club Secretary, said the team had had a very successful season, and gave the following figures of matches won and lost. Of 29 matches played, 24 won, 1 drawn, 4 lost, with 148 goals scored against 48. Top scorer was Sketchley, who had 39 goals to his credit.

Mr. Hodges also paid tribute to inside-right Platts, who at the age of 14, had been capped three times for the Leicestershire Schools XI during the season.

Mr. C. V. Knighton, Vice-President of the Coleorton football club during a toast said: “We can be proud that in this small village we have such a splendid football team.”

Mr. S. Houldsworth, Coalville and District Youth Organiser, presented certificates to the following members of the team, to commemorate their winning the league championship: I. Hodges (captain), J. Bettinson, R. Mann, A. Johnson, C. Croson, A. Shaw, L. Box, C. Platts, S. Hodges, D. Sketchley, I. Richards and W. Platts.

Short speeches were made by Mr. M. Shepherd, Mr. I. Hodges, and Mr. D. Sketchley.