Middlewood Road: Has it always been our training ground?

[Utah Owl]

While we are at it I'm sure Dunsby will enlighten you all on some very unusual training methods and locations of Len Ashurst and Tony Tomms. 

Hope he's got copies of the cartoons as well as the press cuttings! 

[Neal M]

As a schoolkid I used to watch them train at Owlerton stadium from 1958 to about 1962. You could just walk in and watch the sessions.

I remember seeing Albert Quixall just before he went to Man Utd for a British record fee. Also vivid memories of Springett, Kay, Fantham, Swan in training sessions...... particularly Fantham swearing at Springett for some reason.

All 5 players were England internationals, although Kay was at Everton when he won his only cap.

Don't know where else they might have trained.

Springett at a Wednesday training session would have been a rarity.

He lived in London and generally trained at Loftus Rd during the week. He essentially commuted to Sheffield for home games.

[dunsbyowl]

Training in 1935 behind the Old North Stand where the Gym was built now shop and car park !

 

 

[KivoOwl]

[dunsbyowl]

 

Great spot Lee!

[dunsbyowl]

Best Wednesday cartoon of all time  ( You have got to be a certain age )

 

[nevthelodgemoorowl]

That's it above the Cartoon in ref to Len Ashurst & Tony Tomms training methods.

 

Drop the players on the wild moors and leave them to stew for a couple of days.....Result  abject failure.

 

The joke around the WMC's at the time was 'we were on the up as the first team managed a 0-0 draw in a practice game v 11 Dustbins.  

[w.owl]

I believe the land was purchased by the club in 1966 and was previously allotments.

correct i lived on wynn gardens at the time,and watched it being built.I think they use to train on the pitch before it was built