THE picture published recently in the Nostalgia section of the St Albans Observer print edition of the Bombers, winners of the 1947 Bingham Cox Cup, struck a chord with Mrs Joan Brewer. Her husband Jack was the captain and stands first on the left in the back row.

She told me: "He was born in 1921, so he was 26. It was two years before we got married in 1949.

"There was great excitement .

"The cup was revered the photo was the only time they got so close to it, then it was put away and looked after by the powers-that-be.

"The game was always played on Easter Monday.

"We weren't football mad in my family, unlike Jack's.

"On the right of the back row is Fid Mardling I don't know why, but he was always called Fid.

"Next to him in a jacket is my father-in-law John Brewer, who was the trainer. He won the cup in 1913/1914, and I still have his gold medal.

"Next to him is Mr Crouch, and in front is his son.

"Next to young Crouch is Ken Mead his family had a butcher's in Sandridge Road.

"At the end on the left is Charlie Hands. He was a particular friend of ours.

"The other faces are so familiar, but I can't remember the names.

"It was a real thrill to see the picture."

Well, thanks to goalkeeper Reg Simpkin who sent the picture in, I can reveal all the names, except the genial chap with the wide open collar on the far left can anyone help out here?

June 21, 2002 12:00