A Sporting Memoire (excluding cricket - see separate item)

 I have had a very active sports life. When I was 14 my father enrolled me at Swansea YMCA boxing club (I was a southpaw) and it stood me in good stead when joined the RAF.  I boxed against the army apprentices but got disqualified for unsportsmanlike behaviour when I finished up on top of my opponent with blood from my nose splattered over his white vest.  I was banned for life!

 When I was 15, I was selected to join Swansea boys club and was part of a pool (I suppose it would be called an academy now) who trained and played at the Vetch Field (Swansea were in the old 2nd Division in those days and had 4 or 5 Welsh Internationals).

 At Halton I got my school colours for soccer and must mention three special games in 1953-4 season against Watford: Len Goulden, ex England winger, was their coach and played at right back.  He kept advising the guy marking me.  After the game he asked me if I wanted to leave the RAF and sign-on for Watford.  Portsmouth under 19’s at Fratton Park in front of a 7,000 crowd, mainly Navy guys; and I missed an open goal from the 6 yd line!  I can still see them cheering and waving their caps.  England under 19’s at Iffley Road, Oxford. They were coached by Walter Winterbottom who became the 15’s full-time coach of the English FA in 1962.  I played a few games for the school cricket team but not enough to get my colours.  I scored 48 against Eton and got 4 for 20 bowling left arm off-breaks against Harrow.

 During my 1st full tour in Germany (1956 - '60) I played soccer for RAF Oldenberg in the 1936 Olympic Stadium, Berlin.  It was quite eerie in that all stone stadium.  Two years later I got picked for a Captain’s select XV (at scrum half) for 2nd TAF against the Berlin army garrison.  The following year I captained RAF Gutersloh cricket team, again in Berlin, on Maifeld (part of the 1936 Olympic complex) and took a hat-trick bowling off-spin.  It was my birthday too.

 In 1966 I captained Nicosia cricket team against Hubara Cricket Club in Kuwait.  The Sheik sent his VC I0 to transport for us. We ‘flag stopped’ Damascus to refuel (cheaper).  On my posting to RAF Fairford in 1968 I played cricket for Highworth CC and then for Cricklade when we moved here.

 J E Lee, Dec 2019