Norfolk and Suffolk Thursday football remembered in new book

And now the "almost forgotten" history of a popular cup competition has come back to the fore thanks to Paul Oxbury.

Shining the spotlight on a time when the advent of early closing from work on Thursday's sparked a footballing phenomenon across Norwich, Lowestoft, Great Yarmouth and towns across Norfolk, a new book follows the glorious history of a much-loved cup contest.

Mr Oxbury, 54, has written his third book on local football, with his latest - The Midweek Men - highlighting the Norfolk Thursday Football Cup.

The new book following the history of the Norfolk Thursday Football Cup by Paul Oxbury. Picture: Paul Oxbury (Image: Paul Oxbury)

The prominent county cup competition for Thursday clubs was run by the Norfolk County Football Association between 1904 and 2000.

As "a huge fan of local football", Mr Oxbury said his latest self-published book recalls "the now almost forgotten world of Thursday football in Lowestoft".

He said: "The book charts the history of the Norfolk Thursday Cup and from 1934 onwards, despite their affiliation to the Suffolk County FA, several clubs from south of the border were permitted to enter.

"With the advent of early closing Thursday was, to a great extent, the Lowestoft, Great Yarmouth and Norwich shopkeepers’ holiday and football was initially arranged on that day of the week to provide sport and exercise for this section of the community."

The 1981 final between Norwich Post Office and City College. Picture: Newsquest (Image: Newsquest)

Such was the popularity that at the start of the 20th century Lowestoft had two Thursday Football Leagues.

However, Mr Oxbury said: "But administrative issues eventually led to their cessation, with the town’s midweek sides switching to the Yarmouth Thursday League which had been formed in 1911."

'All-conquering'

With Lowestoft Co-op the first club to enter the Norfolk county cup competition, over subsequent years they and other sides - such as Lowestoft Wanderers, Lowestoft Rangers, Lowestoft Railway Social and Lowestoft Police - battled for cup glory, with their home games at either Walmer Road (the home ground of Kirkley and Pakefield FC) or The Lord Nelson ground.

Mr Oxbury said: "Wanderers were, by far, the most successful.

"In 1950 they became the first Suffolk side to win a Norfolk county cup competition when they beat Yarmouth Nondescripts 1-0 in the final at The Wellesley Ground and the local press reported how the team carried the trophy through the streets of Lowestoft in triumph, before celebrations continued at the Palais de Danse."

The book also recounts the club’s "heartbreaking" cup final defeats at Carrow Road in 1953 and 1954, and highlights the club’s chairman Charles Nichols and president John Woodrow.

Mr Oxbury said: "Although Thursday football died out in Lowestoft in the mid-60s, many players associated with Lowestoft Town and Kirkley continued to enjoy Thursday Cup success - including well-known names such as Jimmy Moran, Alan Arber, Richard Hatch, Mark Crowe and Simon West - who all made their mark on the competition."

The 1994 final between F.C. Lakeside and Yarmouth Post Office which was held at an unusual venue, Blundeston Prison. Picture: Newsquest (Image: Newsquest) In 1994 history was made when the Thursday cup final was held outside Norfolk for the first time - with HMP Blundeston the unlikely setting for the game.

The all-conquering prison team FC Lakeside ensured the cup returned to Suffolk when they beat Yarmouth Post Office 5-3.

Priced at £14.99 the 247-page book is available from City Bookshop in Norwich or by emailing themidweekmen@gmail.com