From the archives: LMFC in the 1950s

Andy/29 Jul, 21/1205/0

Thank you Keith Slater (of the Long Melford Historical & Archaeological Society) for sharing these Suffolk Free Press newspaper articles about the football club in the 1950s.

24th January, 1950: A record crowd of 2,500 invaded Stoneylands at Melford and saw the long awaited “local derby” between the Village and Sudbury town who won 7-1, the crowd stood four deep all round the pitch and gate receipts totalled £101 18s 6d, a jet roared over Stoneylands during Saturday’s clash and from it Flt Lieut Curtis caught a fleeting glance of the game he had hoped to play in but at the last minute he was detailed flying duties, another diversion was caused by a goods train chugging past at walking pace with the driver and fireman on top of the coal tender calling for the score.

7th February, 1950: Les Elms the popular Long Melford player has entered the R.A.F. for his period of National service.

4th April, 1950: Ernie Weiser the Long Melford popular right half has played his last game for the club at Friars Street on Saturday, he sailed for Germany yesterday.

2nd May, 1950: It is expected Ernie Weiser will strengthen Melford by returning, he returned to Germany but he says prospects are not good and he will come back to England.

2nd January, 1951: Les Elms the Long Melford player who is 19 years of age who started playing for the Villagers when he was 15 has been asked to sign for Ipswich Town, during the week-end, Les who is at present doing his National Service, declined to say if he has accepted the offer.

(From the Tom Hastie Newspaper Archive with kind permission of the Foxearth & District Local History Society).

Les Elms is pictured above receiving the Suffolk Senior Cup from the Earl of Stradbrook at Portman Road, 1952.

Long Melford Historical & Archaeological Society can be found on Facebook where photos and articles relating to LMFC can often be seen.