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In step with Leo Loftus AT the suggestion of his friend and former dancing partner , we have been to Durham for a bit crack with Mr Joseph Leo Loftus . Now 85 , Leo played football when a shilling was a shilling and an outside left could give a greyhound a start . He played for South Shields and Nottingham Forest , both in the second division , captained Bristol City and had been the bit bairn of the Willinton side that won the 1926 Northern League double . Then he played inside left . Now , says Jennie Chilton the other half of the successful pas de deux all he does is play the band . - - ( Jennie , 79 , had been a Northern Echo reader all her life . " I like it for the deaths , " she said . ) Born in Ferryhill Station , Leo was one of three brothers in Chilton Lane United's side until Willington an amateur side - made him an offer he couldn't refuse . In contemporary terms it was five bob and his tea after the game . - " They used to call it travelling expenses , though they'd send a taxi for us anyway . " Usually it was five or six bob , but a bit more if the gate was really good . " We heard they got quite a bit NORTHERN Backtrack By Mike Amos more at Crook , mind . " From Willington he went to South Shields , £ 8 maximum wage and a train pass from Ferryhill station . " You didn't get any transfer money , you were just glad to get signed on . I'd served my time as a joiner , but it was 1927 and money was scarce . " Forest attracted him with sim ilarly arbitrary terms , one of a quartet of Durham lads com pleted by Johnny Dent from Spennymoor , Bobby Heslop of Annfield Plain and Tommy Graham from Hamsterley Mill . Everyone got £ 8 , even Alex James . " Leastways , " he says with a smile , " that's what they told us . " In Bristol he became a bushy haired hero , feted at the sort of banquet from which he still keeps the 12 page menu booklet . You could tell it was an awfully long time ago : the toast list included the Church of all de nominations and yet more ECHC NO improbably the Press . right , " he says , " especially if you " Oh you were well regarded all were the captain . - " But you still didn't get above £ 8 in winter and £ 6 in summer , not unless you were Alex James . " He ended up at Barrow , re turned to live with friends in Nottingham " I was always travelling round too much to bother about women " - and was back in Chilton when he met Jennie at a dance ( " a bit of a dance " ) eight years ago . While he recovers from a fall and a prostate operation , they share a bungalow in Gilesgate she a widow , he a very confirmed bachelor . " I've had one husband , that's enough , " says Jennie . " You never know , " said Leo as we left , " the sort of goal scorers Brian Clough signs , Forest might want to come in for me again . " MEMORIES : memorabilia from Leo's playing days LOFTUS N MEMORY MAN : Leo Loftus at home |
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