Remembering Jim Mallon; a hero of 66-67

[Shaun]

I love reading about stuff like this...

Me too. Thanks folks.

[Steelworks End]

I can remember one match at Southport in September 1967, a night game played in atrocious conditions with standing water on large parts of the pitch and more falling from the sky. It really should have been called off.

During the game Jimmy Mallon set off on one of his runs down the right wing, the only part of the field that was relatively playable, albeit very muddy. As he reached the edge of the penalty area Jimmy realised that he wasn't going to get to the ball and tried to pull up. Unfortunately he lost his footing on the slippery surface and aquaplaned on his back for several yards until he collided with the Southport 'keeper.

Making no allowances for the conditions, and oblivious to the evidence of the long skid mark in the mud, the referee harshly sent Jimmy off. Common sense prevailed at the FA (not often you hear that said!) however, and the sending off was withdrawn on appeal. Otherwise, a long suspension for violent conduct could have been the result.

Oh, and Barrow lost 1-0. We always seemed to lose 1-0 whenever I went to Haig Avenue.

[pjdaly]

Farington Blue . . . Steelworks End has listed above the major players from the 66-67 and 67-68 era that have passed on. However I can add three more to the list: local lad Peter Marshall played just one single game in our 66-67 promotion season and it was the very first game of that season. Peter has been gone 20 years sadly. Legendary full-back Larry Carberry also played just one single game in the 66-67 season and he passed away just over a year ago. Larry was legendary not for his time at Barrow but for being a regular in the fabled Ipswich team under Alf Ramsey that won consecutive promotions all the way from the Third Division South to the top flight and then topped it all off by being crowned Champions of England (I think it was 1962). Third addition to the list . . . Alec Alston played 16 league matches in our 66-67 promotion season and my sources tell me . . . quote . . . Alec "died in a Blackpool nursing home just days short of his 72nd birthday. Sadly, he had been suffering from dementia for some years". This was in January 2009.

To the best of my knowledge all the others who featured in 66-67 and 67-68 are still with us. As suggested above, Farington Blue, check out the "Barry Hugman's Footballers" website. It appears to be accurate and reliable and it's the only source that provided me with the info suggesting Jimmy Mallon had passed away.

[SKIPPER]

Like others on here I too was at Bury to see that goal. Never mind Beckham, his was a tap-in by comparison. Another abiding memory of Jim was a trip to Wrexham. After a few scoops in the pub on the corner of the ground we got in to find the game had kicked off and we were playing towards the opposite end. In those days changing ends was easy so we set off to make the trek round. As we walked down the side Jimmy recieved the ball in the full back position before setting off on one of his trademark runs and we followed him all the way up the line giving him some inebriated vocal support, finishing with a superb cross which was tucked away to give us an early lead,unfortunately not held.Just hope that the current squad or those in the near future can give the young 'uns the pleasure Jim and the rest gave me in my teenage years.

[farington blue]

Thanks to pj and others for the info. i'm off to look at barry hugmans footballers website.

[Wintergreen]

Suffolk Blue mentioned left back Chas Edwards; I remember him as Malcolm Edwards (I think) was 'Chas' a nickname perhaps?

[Steelworks End]

Suffolk Blue mentioned left back Chas Edwards; I remember him as Malcolm Edwards (I think) was 'Chas' a nickname perhaps?

Yes it was, I think, or maybe his middle name? But Malcolm was frequently referred to as Chas Edwards.

[SKIPPER]

Suffolk Blue mentioned left back Chas Edwards; I remember him as Malcolm Edwards (I think) was 'Chas' a nickname perhaps?

Always rumoured because he was a frequent visitor to 'Chas' Kendall. May just have been a rumour though.

[kikka]

I too was at Bury that day with others from the family sitting in the main stand somewhere around the half way line so had a terrific view of Jimmy Mallon striking the ball upfield , almost from the touchline in front of us, towards the Bury goal on our right .

It sailed in - and like many have said , it was a moment I still recall vividly after all those years .

[Jim]

Regarding those who are no longer with us, we must also remember our manager in 1967, Don McEvoy, who died in 2004 and his assistant, [SwearFilter] Robinson, who died in 2009. Both were former players.

[The Tomahawk Kid]

RIP Jimmy Mallon. Had the pleasure of seeing him play quite a few times. Brian Arrowsmith once told me a tale about a training ground tussle between himself and Jimmy. He would have made mincemeat out of the likes of Joey Barton etc...

The team he played in and which included: Else, Edwards, Harrison, Arrowsmith, McCarthy, Storf, Hartland, Mulholland for me was our BEST side EVER! Not just because of the fact that they achieved our higest ever league position but because of the way they PLAYED Football.

A lot of forum members say they're not bothered about the type of football we play as long as we win - which is a fair point. However, the team named above were a delight to watch!

My first game was Leicester City FA Cup Rnd 3 in 1968 - from that moment on I was hooked! Me and my mates used to have a kick-about in the Park Saturday morning - and if there was a home game - we'd go home, put on our scarves and trot up to Holker Street to marvel at the length of Mick Hartland's shorts, the dazzling wing play of McCarthy and Storf, the cruching tackles of Mallon and co and the no nonsense attack of Mulholland and Tony Field. Great days! With 5 or 6,000 in Holker Street and the Roofed Holker End in full voice!

It's now 2016 - and I'm hoping to, once again, have a kick-about in the park this coming Saturday morning and then onto the game with York City. Some things never change...

[oldtimer]

Yes Tomahawk Kid, great days and memories. 50 years since promotion, but another milestone seems to have slipped beneath the radar. Between 1921 and 1972 we competed in 44 Football League seasons. Since being voted out of the league in 1972, which to me just seems like yesterday, we have now completed 44 seasons in non league football. The symmetry could be completed by a return to the Football League this season.

[Steelworks End]

Since being voted out of the league in 1972, which to me just seems like yesterday, we have now completed 44 seasons in non league football. The symmetry could be completed by a return to the Football League this season.

I hadn't realised that! That fateful day in 1972 is still fresh in the memory, albeit not a pleasant memory. As someone who first went to Holker Street sometime in the 50s I still think of Barrow as a League club, but of course anyone younger than 50 or so won't remember those days. Frightening.

[Mulholland Drive]

I recall seeing Jim Mallon playing for Greenock Morton in a pre-season friendly at Holker Street. He was an early version of an attacking full back an was impressive on that day. It was not a surprise that on that display alone that Barrow were interested in signing him. He was one of the many shining lights that got us promotion into the Third Division and I fondly remember him.

[Dezil]

Remembering Jim Mallon , I was teenager going in the Frairs pub they had a room at the back of the pub were they played cards @there was Jim playing cards is game was called Don he taught me to play this.
When I got to know him properly we talked football I used to go away to a lot of away games that season @ I think we won 11 games away from home which I think it was a record that season he use to say come gate at a certain time @he would give me free tickets to get in TOP MAN