Following on from the last three articles, today Keith Brookman showcases three photographs in his collection.
I have to confess that I’m a serial collector of all things Rovers. I just enjoy delving into the club’s history and collecting what I can along the way. And, at present, photos featuring the club are my latest collecting obsession!
The first of the three featured today is an action press photo taken at Craven Cottage on 5th November 1955 showing Rovers defender Ian Muir and Jackie Pitt going up against Johnny Haynes and Bedford Jezzard (no 9). Rovers were 5-3 winners of that Second Division clash, and this is a very good action photo from that time.
The second was taken before the match against Bristol City, at Eastville, on 1st November 1958. It was the day after the death of Rovers defender Harry Bamford and the photo shows both teams lined up on the pitch along with match officials and club representatives
I just find it to be a very moving photo of a tribute being paid to one of the stalwarts of the Rovers side of the 1950’s. Rovers Director John Hare, in his address to the crowd of 32,104, included these words; ‘Harry Bamford was a great man. He was a great gentleman. He was a great sportsman. He was, indeed, a gentle sportsman. He was the thread of pure gold in the fabric of Bristol Rovers and the great National Game he represented.’
Finally, I’ve included a photo from a match against Liverpool, at Anfield, on 16th April 1960 when Rovers were beaten 4-0. The significance is that the match represented the Liverpool debut of Ian Callaghan, who is in the centre of the photo. It was the first of his 640 league games for the club. Rovers goalkeeper was Howard Radford, while David Pyle and Josser Watling keep an eye on Liverpool’s Jimmy Melia.
If you would like to see your items in the Virtual Museum, please contact infobrheritagesociety@gmail.com in the first instance.
Bristol Rovers Supporters Club; www.bristolroverssc.co.uk
