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Here’s a story that I was told at the weekend by a mate of mine who’s a Chelsea fan. It’s not Rovers related but (I think anyway) absolutely fascinating and definitely of its time. In the years immediately before and after the 2nd world war, Tommy Lawton was the most potent striker in English football. He played for Burnley, Everton & Chelsea scoring an incredible 111 goals in 154 games. In 1945, whilst England’s first choice striker and playing for Chelsea in the first division, he shook the football world to the core by moving from Chelsea to Notts County who at the time were in the bottom half of the Third Division South! In modern day standards it’s like Harry Kane signing for Burton Albion! Why he was choosing to play for Notts County was a question asked by a puzzled nation of football fans and the press who, unsurprisingly, had a field day! Due to the maximum wage, County couldn’t pay him more than he was on at Chelsea. The maximum wage at the time was £14 per week. As with all of these types of things though, it soon came out why he’d agreed to move. It transpired that a Director at County had offered to put Lawton on the payroll of a company that he owned as a ‘clerical worker’ in addition to playing for County! His weekly wage from this company was…£14 per week, so doubling what he could earn in football alone! £28 per week in 1945 was an eye watering wage. Lawton scored 90 goals in 151 games for County before leaving for Brentford. He never played again for England though.
Mrs Teale's humbugs?
The first game I saw at the Rovers my dad took me to see Tommy Lawton play for Notts County, I think 1950 /51 season I was four years old in the old stand at the Town End kicking the boards with the other youngsters, hooked as a supporter for life, and hum bugs to die for.
Lawton did play for England after he moved to Notts County. He was the last third-level player to play for England until Steve Bull did the same.
Quote from: Glyn_Wigley on February 23, 2024, 10:53:35 pmLawton did play for England after he moved to Notts County. He was the last third-level player to play for England until Steve Bull did the same.You remember Johnny (Budgie) Byrne getting a cap for England when he was playing for Crystal Palace in the 4th division?1959/60 or 60/61 if I remember right.
Quote from: idler on February 24, 2024, 09:13:12 amQuote from: Glyn_Wigley on February 23, 2024, 10:53:35 pmLawton did play for England after he moved to Notts County. He was the last third-level player to play for England until Steve Bull did the same.You remember Johnny (Budgie) Byrne getting a cap for England when he was playing for Crystal Palace in the 4th division?1959/60 or 60/61 if I remember right. Ooops! I missed that one but he was a Third Division player, not a Fourth Division player, when he played for England in November 1961.
Quote from: Glyn_Wigley on February 24, 2024, 10:05:56 amQuote from: idler on February 24, 2024, 09:13:12 amQuote from: Glyn_Wigley on February 23, 2024, 10:53:35 pmLawton did play for England after he moved to Notts County. He was the last third-level player to play for England until Steve Bull did the same.You remember Johnny (Budgie) Byrne getting a cap for England when he was playing for Crystal Palace in the 4th division?1959/60 or 60/61 if I remember right. Ooops! I missed that one but he was a Third Division player, not a Fourth Division player, when he played for England in November 1961.My mistake Glyn. They were promoted at the end of the previous season. I remember them beating us 5-1 at Belle Vue in a right thunderstorm when the players went off for ten minutes. Their goalie, Vic Rouse threw his cap to my mate and said here try to keep dry. Dave Sexton was the captain of tgat team.