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Post by northantsash on Nov 13, 2010 12:33:05 GMT
Aimed more at the older stokies who might have seen Oscroft play, but what a phenomenal record 329 appearances 106 goals from the Stoke A-Z. That all for a left winger.
How good was he?
Cheers, Ash
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Post by magwitch on Nov 13, 2010 12:55:56 GMT
Harry Oscroft was one of the best left wingers in the country on his day. Very similar in style and build to the other Harry, Harry Burrows, he had a powerful left foot shot allied to devastating pace, and his direct style was perfect for the perfect longball distribution of Frank Bowyer. In those days he was subject to sliding tackles, poor pitches, and heavy leather balls but seldom seemed to be injured. In my opinion, Oscroft and Bowyer were the only two Stoke forwards in the mid-fifties who were good enough to play in the First Division.
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ianbuckley
Academy Starlet
Neil, my Godfather
Posts: 184
Location: Cheshire
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Post by ianbuckley on Nov 13, 2010 13:44:11 GMT
I lived next door to Harry Oscroft in the 1950s and concur whole heartedly with magwitchs comments.
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Post by hoofmagic on Nov 13, 2010 14:26:58 GMT
watched oscroft mant times in the fifties, and he was a class act and a joy to watch.
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Post by nott1 on Nov 13, 2010 17:16:45 GMT
One of the Victoria Ground legends!
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Post by surreystokie on Nov 14, 2010 19:06:52 GMT
Harry was like a greyhound and a great favourite.
A marvellous story from around fifteen/twenty yrs. ago: I was sitting on the back row of the Ipswitch away stand, when the fellow alongside me asked if I had supported Stoke City for long. When I said that my first game was in the late forties and I'd been behind them ever since, he then asked if I remembered Harry Oscroft. "My God, it's you!" I said, when the penny dropped. And it was.
I don't know how much of the match I missed, but we had quite a chat about old times.
Truly a day to remember. How lucky I've been, with so many such experiences, thanks to football.
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Post by vickyground on Nov 14, 2010 19:15:44 GMT
Harry was like a greyhound and a great favorite. A marvelous story from around fifteen/twenty yrs. ago: I was sitting on the back row of the Ipswitch away stand, when the fellow alongside me asked if I had supported Stoke City for long. When I said that my first game was in the late forties and I'd been behind them ever since, he then asked if I remembered Harry Oscroft. "My God, it's you!" I said, when the penny dropped. And it was. I don't know how much of the match I missed, but we had quite a chat about old times. Truly a day to remember. How lucky I've been, with so many such experiences, thanks to football. What a great story. I remember him as one of my favorite players, he had a cannon like shot, better that Bobby Charlton and he was so fast, he seemed to fly and went around the full back as if he was not there and either have a crack at goal himself, or send in a devastating cross. Thanks for the memory.
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Post by towraytek on Nov 14, 2010 19:25:08 GMT
I can't guarantee the truth of this but I was told years ago that Oscroft was the subject of one of a classic Sentinel misprints when it reported that so-and-so 'passed the ball to Oscroft who shit in the corner of the net from 25 yards'.
Ek
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Post by mermaidsal on Nov 14, 2010 19:37:46 GMT
He died less than two years ago: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_OscroftDid he stay in touch with the club, or vice-versa? Don't think I ever heard of him at any SCFC events in my time?
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Post by mermaidsal on Nov 14, 2010 19:39:36 GMT
Harry was like a greyhound and a great favourite. A marvellous story from around fifteen/twenty yrs. ago: I was sitting on the back row of the Ipswitch away stand, when the fellow alongside me asked if I had supported Stoke City for long. When I said that my first game was in the late forties and I'd been behind them ever since, he then asked if I remembered Harry Oscroft. "My God, it's you!" I said, when the penny dropped. And it was. I don't know how much of the match I missed, but we had quite a chat about old times. Truly a day to remember. How lucky I've been, with so many such experiences, thanks to football. What a brilliant story!!
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Post by swampySCFC on Nov 14, 2010 19:57:07 GMT
Harry was like a greyhound and a great favourite. A marvellous story from around fifteen/twenty yrs. ago: I was sitting on the back row of the Ipswitch away stand, when the fellow alongside me asked if I had supported Stoke City for long. When I said that my first game was in the late forties and I'd been behind them ever since, he then asked if I remembered Harry Oscroft. "My God, it's you!" I said, when the penny dropped. And it was. I don't know how much of the match I missed, but we had quite a chat about old times. Truly a day to remember. How lucky I've been, with so many such experiences, thanks to football. What a brilliant story!! Jesus its stuff like that that makes it all worthwhile. Can you imagine any of todays lot doing that
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Post by OldStokie on Nov 14, 2010 20:03:57 GMT
He was a great player and a great servant to Stoke. Part of this super team who entertained us in the 50's.
Robertson. Bourne. McCue. Mountford (F), Thompson. Sellars. Malkin. Bowyer. Finney. King. Oscroft.
OS.
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Post by foxfield on Nov 14, 2010 22:29:00 GMT
I remember telling this little tale on this MB some years ago. I think it was an away match at Wolves. In the old days the ball was a leather casey with a rubber inner tube. It was blown up and laces fastened the hole where the inner tue ( or bladder ) went in the leather ball. Harry Oscroft had a shot at goal and the bladder came out through the laces. The ball and the bladder stayed attached together and both failed to enter the net.
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Post by Olgrligm on Nov 14, 2010 22:43:52 GMT
He died less than two years ago: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_OscroftDid he stay in touch with the club, or vice-versa? Don't think I ever heard of him at any SCFC events in my time? After looking on that wikipedia article, their only reference for the news is this post from OS.
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Post by donaldingleton on Nov 15, 2010 7:24:06 GMT
OS, I would agree with you, that was a good team, but I recall a forward line of:- Coleman Bowyer King Kelly and Oscroft
Where did big George Kelly come from? Was it from some Scottish team, with another player as part of the deal?
d.
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Post by surreystokie on Nov 15, 2010 13:10:47 GMT
donald, afraid I can't answer your question but I cn say that of the two wingers you mention, one was like lightening and the other could score! I could only afford to see home games, when on holiday from college, in Yorkshire, and I happened to be home, for half term (February '57 or '58)) when Tim Coleman scored his seven! I asked Harry about any SCFC ties, but he said that he lost touch, once he moved East, to Suffolk. I think, thanks to modern technology and a greater awareness of club history, we would now have kept tabs on Harry. Wonder if there is to be a Big Binge, in 2013, for our 150th celebrations? If so, they can omit the likes of Des Backos.
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Post by baystokie on Nov 15, 2010 13:31:30 GMT
donald - 'Grace' Kelly cost £4,000 from Aberdeen. It was stated at the time that he had NEVER played a first team game in the Scottish League!
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Post by OldStokie on Nov 15, 2010 13:58:01 GMT
OS, I would agree with you, that was a good team, but I recall a forward line of:- Coleman Bowyer King Kelly and Oscroft Where did big George Kelly come from? Was it from some Scottish team, with another player as part of the deal? d. Donald... baystokie has answered your question. I remember that forward line well, too. I also remember when the two inside forwards were Stringbean Kelly and Little Joey Hutton. It was funny to watch. Kelly was about 6' 2" and little Joey was about 4' 9" tall. But they made a good pairing. One would leapfrog defenders and the other would run between their legs. I was at that game against Lincoln when Tim Coleman scored his 7 goals from the wing. If my memory serves me right, he played on the left wing that day? I may be wrong. I often am. I know he could have scored ten that day. I also think that that season, we were scoring 5's and 6's as well as that win. It was a good time to be a Stokie. OS.
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Post by donaldingleton on Nov 15, 2010 14:55:03 GMT
OS - happy days, eh!!
Further to the George Kelly - after some research, I agree yes he did come from Aberdeen. Joe Hutton came from Ayr United, in the same deal that brought Bobby Cairns down here. Ironically, Cairns was the 'makeweight' in the deal, although I think we can agree that his contribution to the team was eventually greater than Hutton's.
Here's a tester for you! Can you recall Johnny McCue finding a hole in the pitch - a damaged land drain it turned out to be, I think. It was at the Stoke End, at the Butler Street corner of the penalty area, and play was stopped after McCue's foot went in up to his ankle!! ;D
Finally, re Tim Coleman's seven goals - who scored the eigth?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 15, 2010 15:14:40 GMT
never saw him play - my dad took his place for a few games in the late fiftys - i know he was a hard act to follow - he did'nt do a bad job for some of the games though
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Post by Deleted on Nov 15, 2010 15:23:32 GMT
does any one see tony allen about? - i've got a shirt im trying to get signed by players my dad played with - i know a lot are not with us now - i've got johnny king donald ratcliffe and eric skeels + my dad before he passed away - im looking for tony allen at the moment
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Post by podolipotter on Nov 15, 2010 16:07:55 GMT
Ozzy Oscroft - wow! He was stood about a yard from where the goal line meets the left hand penalty area line and the ball dropped on his left foot which volleyed it straight as an arrow over the keepers head and inside the far post. Van Basten? Harry was way before him with that one. (I think it was in Stoke's 6-0 win over Notts County). He was without doubt the oldest-looking footballer I ever saw - but by god he was a good un.
Before Stoke 8-0 over Lincoln, I popped into a bookies on Honeywall and listened as the first horse of my treble bet won, then off down the match, see Tim score his seven and ?? (who did score the other one) before back to the bookies to find that my treble had come in and with £10.00 in my pocket, it was back down to Stoke centre and into Montague Burtons to buy myself my first suit off the peg. What a day that was!!
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Post by donaldingleton on Nov 15, 2010 16:17:58 GMT
OK then, the rest of us. Who was "sonofthunder's" Dad? He has given a few clues, so have a guess - and , please have respect for the man in your comments/answers!
'sot', can you tell us when the correct answer has been posted?
My guess is that his name is Frank Mountford.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 15, 2010 16:34:16 GMT
jimmy wallace (as in my signature picture)
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Post by podolipotter on Nov 15, 2010 16:35:25 GMT
George Kelly - I seem to recall we called him "Spider" and even "Nat Jackley" for the way he stretched his neck.
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Post by lancer on Nov 15, 2010 16:41:20 GMT
Harry Oscroft was one of the best left wingers in the country on his day. Very similar in style and build to the other Harry, Harry Burrows, he had a powerful left foot shot allied to devastating pace, and his direct style was perfect for the perfect longball distribution of Frank Bowyer. In those days he was subject to sliding tackles, poor pitches, and heavy leather balls but seldom seemed to be injured. In my opinion, Oscroft and Bowyer were the only two Stoke forwards in the mid-fifties who were good enough to play in the First Division. Spot on, mag. Burrows was certainly in the Oscroft mould. Strong, maybe a bit faster than Harry O, but both had great control and passing ability, and took a hell of a lot of shifting off the ball. Don't think many players anywhere though, had the power of a shot as Harry B, his shots were fearsome. Two great players in their own right, and both as hard as nails, rarely injured, or rarely showed that they were.
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Post by OldStokie on Nov 15, 2010 22:06:06 GMT
OS - happy days, eh!! Further to the George Kelly - after some research, I agree yes he did come from Aberdeen. Joe Hutton came from Ayr United, in the same deal that brought Bobby Cairns down here. Ironically, Cairns was the 'makeweight' in the deal, although I think we can agree that his contribution to the team was eventually greater than Hutton's. Here's a tester for you! Can you recall Johnny McCue finding a hole in the pitch - a damaged land drain it turned out to be, I think. It was at the Stoke End, at the Butler Street corner of the penalty area, and play was stopped after McCue's foot went in up to his ankle!! ;D Finally, re Tim Coleman's seven goals - who scored the eigth? I'm 99.99% certain it was Kingy who scored the other goal, donald. But then again, I have been known to be wrong. (See comments below my post.) I can't remember that incident with McCue with his foot in a hole. I remember plenty of him putting it up oppositions arses though. sot, it must be great to have had a dad who played for us. I'll bet you're as proud as punch. Kelly was also known as 'Grace'. lancer, respectfully, I have to disagree. Yes, Burrows had a tremendous shot on him, and so did Harry O, but Franky Bowyer, IMHO, had the hardest shot I've ever seen in nogger. I've seen him bost the net a few times after he'd caught it perfectly on the volley. This is getting a bit like a Dad's Army thread. OS.
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Post by magwitch on Nov 17, 2010 16:43:21 GMT
I agree completely with OS about Frankie Bowyer's shooting. It was awesome when he connected properly, and his long ball passing was the best I have ever seen from any other player. By the sixties plastic balls were used, and Burrows' shooting would not have appeared quite so powerful with the leather balls used in the fifties. This thread could be described as 'Dad's Army' or more accurately 'All Our Yesterdays' which would allow it to go back even further to the day of the grandads. My grandfather was transferred from Port Vale to Stoke before WW1, and was possibly the first footballer ever to be bought by Stoke from Port Vale.
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Post by podolipotter on Nov 17, 2010 17:01:14 GMT
OS and Magwitch - spot on. Frankie Bowyer hammered it - but I seem to recall Ferenc Puskas busting the post either before, or during one of the celebratory Stan Matthews matches? Am I dreaming, or did this really happen??
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Post by gilberto on Nov 17, 2010 20:32:36 GMT
just posted this in the historical sub-board idea thread but it probably should be on this one as everyone is talking about the 50's sides.... the £150 team. no oscroft in this article but ive got loads of articles about him and photos as well. i'll put them all up when i get time..
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