Retired enginner Derek Hempshall was inspired to write his book after seeing a photograph of a 1960s football team in a local newspaper.
Here, he explains more about the book and why he wrote it.
What is the book about?
It is an autobiography of my football career in the 1960-1980 period. I wasn’t good enough to be a professional, I was just a lad who, along with thousands of others, loved kicking a ball around the local park. During these times I played grassroots (also known as junior or amateur) football with several teams, some good, some not so! Over the twenty years, I left school and went to work, met my wife and started a family – in the ever changing world. There is the history of the teams that I played for, backed up with results and league tables, and team photos.
Derek with wife Eileen on the Northern Belle Pullman Train.
Was much research needed to write the book?
Yes, the results and league tables appeared in the Coventry Evening Telegraph over the twenty years, were available only on microfilm at the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum’s History Centre. I spent usually two days per week over nine months copying the information I needed, at a cost of about £500. I got a lot of information about the start of Sunday football from Vic Terry, a former Match Secretary of the League. My best mate since childhood, John Colledge, who played alongside me in many matches, also provided valuable information as did former teammates and supporters
Does your book have a particular message you want to convey?
Yes, although the book is about a period of my life and my football, anybody can write about their memories and experiences. I’ve tried to illustrate the change of lifestyle over two decades, and the way that technology has improved, and that the human race has not learned the lessons history tell us.
Where did you get the idea for the book?
A photograph from 1963, of an amateur football team, Grange United, appeared in the Coventry Telegraph, and reminded me of two matches that were played on my local park, involving that team and another local side Longford Rangers. The supporter of both sides surround the pitch ten to fifteen deep, there must have been two thousand there. I was sixteen years old and had watched football on the park for years. After seeing the photograph, the memories of those matches and the hundreds that I had played during the 60’s and 70’s came flooding back. My head was bursting with all different teams, results, players and matches and cup finals. I had to write it down!
Derek made a Freeman of the City of Coventry. Accompanied by the Master of the Freeman's Guild, the Lord Mayor of Coventry, and Sponsor, Mr Reg Kimber (representing Wickman Limited)
Contact Derek by emailing here:
derekhempshallwriter@yahoo.co.uk
