Mylander - Issue 83

From inside the community Although at St Helena School he had played at centre forward, including a few games for the School, his recollection is that he played mid-field for Mile End Rangers. Bob recalls playing in one of the double games away at Rowhedge, for he played alongside Roy Folley who had been a distinguished midfield player at senior level with Harwich and Parkeston and, although in his twilight as a player, was arguably the best player on the pitch. Bob cannot now remember the result from 57 years ago, but he does recall “Mixie” slotting home a penalty with a shot which went in off the inside of the post. Bob did not play much after that. In September 1963 he joined the Colchester Gazette (in those days published only on a Tuesday) and Essex County Standard as a junior reporter. His first memory of Mile End Recreation Ground is walking down Ford’s Lane, as a toddler, with his Mother 70 years ago to the play equipment. Today’s more modern equipment is located on the same site as the equipment was seven decades ago. It was on Mile End Recreation Ground that Bob watched his first football – local clubs being Mile End Rovers, Col-Tey Rovers and Colchester North End. There was just a single rugby pitch. The pavilion, if it could be called that, was said to be a redundant wooden hospital ward which had been brought there after the First World War. It could have been. No flush toilets. Very basic. During the 1950s Colchester Rugby Club built their own clubhouse with bar, and a breezeblock extension was built to the decrepit pavilion for a splash bath. The third football pitch made way for a second rugby pitch before a third rugby pitch was added when an adjoining fruit field (towards Braiswick Lane) was added to the Recreation Ground. There was a cricket square between the two football pitches (and for a time a second square between the rugby pitches). There was also a grass tennis court. Bob recalls that the two “home” cricket teams were NALGO (National Association of Local Government Officers) and General Post Office Sports & Social Club. 32