Where the story of Cambridge United comes alive
100 YEARS OF COCONUTS
  • Home
  • History
    • Early days
    • The war years
    • Post-war era
    • The Abbey Stadium story
  • Memories
    • Coconuts TV
    • Radio Coconuts
    • Stories >
      • Abbey & East Barnwell people
      • Teddy Bowd/Vic Phillips
      • Randall Butt
      • Bill Cawdery
      • Len Pettit
      • Coconuts volunteers
      • John & Diane Cole
      • Roger & Sue Flack
      • Tom Gurney
      • John & Keith Hallam
      • Neil Hudson
      • Robin Mansfield
      • Percy Neal
      • Nick Pettitt/Tom Taylor
      • Colin Proctor
      • Matt Ramsay
      • Gary Stroud
    • Matches
    • Match reports
    • Legendary moments
    • People >
      • Teddy Bowd
      • Ed Chapman
      • Wilf Mannion
      • Roy McFarland
      • Reg Smart
      • Wes Maughan
  • Collection
    • GALLERY
    • Cambridge News Sports Papers >
      • Cambridge Sports Papers Pre 1964
      • Cambridge Sports Papers 1964/65
      • Cambridge Sports Papers 1965/66
      • Cambridge Sports Papers Post 1967
    • 1960's Scrapbooks
    • John Docherty Years
    • Data >
      • Abbey United 1913-1920
  • Coconuts/CFU
    • Happy Harry's Shop
    • The Story of the U's
    • Contact us
    • CFU
  • Blog

Marvellous Morgans

6/13/2018

Comments

 
An edited version of this article appeared in the Cambridge United matchday programme for the match against Crawley Town on 22 August 2015.
 
In a certain row of the main stand on any match day, at least three Morgans, sometimes more, can be found sitting. None of them are related, at least not closely, and they originate from far-flung corners of these islands. There are a lot of them about and, predictably, Morgans loom large in the story of Cambridge United.

You won’t be talking about Supporters’ Club history for long, for example, before someone mentions Jenny Morgan who, alongside the equally legendary Lil Harrison, was a stalwart of the committee in the 1950s and beyond.

Old-school supporters recall with fondness queuing for the tea bar at which Mesdames Morgan and Harrison dispensed the half-time cups that cheered.

You can still see the serving hatches if you sidle along behind the enclosure for disabled supporters at the pitchward end of the Supporters’ Club. Breeze-blocked in for many years now, they will one day soon, perhaps, be reduced to rubble.

This corner of the Abbey is stiff with history. Cast your eyes up and to the left and you’ll espy the centre of 100 Years of Coconuts’ world: the ruins of the little tower where Jack Morgan first dropped I’ve Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts, by Billy Cotton and his Band, on his gramophone turntable for the entertainment of the Abbey faithful.

Jack – one of four sons of Jenny and Dick Morgan who inherited the Abbey habit – supported the U’s throughout his 92 years. He remembered clambering over the club's roof to set up the speakers that would relay the glad tidings of a United win to the neighbourhood; there were no eardrum-wobbling PA systems in those days.

​United lost a lifelong friend when Jack died in 2016. We were lucky enough to be able to record some of his memories before he left us.

Another Morgan brother was Arthur, who made his name as a goalkeeper but turned out for Abbey United in a multitude of positions, full back, wing half, inside forward and centre forward among them. Try to imagine Liam Hughes with side-parted, dark, wavy hair and baggy shorts.
Picture
Above, Cambridge United Supporters' Club management committee for 1957/58, with Jenny Morgan front row, far right. Below, supporters Sheila Munn (left) and Rosa Craft pin rosettes on the lapels of players Arthur Morgan (left) and Bob Bishop. Bottom, Jack Morgan in 2015.
Picture
Picture
Arthur played 110 first team games for United between 1947 and 1955. His greatest moment came on 26 November 1953, when his stupendous performance in goal allowed the U’s to beat Newport County 2-1 away in an FA Cup first round replay.

He was chaired from the pitch that afternoon by fans including brother Jack, who had hotfooted it to Newport from Wembley: Hungary’s Magical Magyars had humiliated England by six goals to three the previous night.

But Arthur’s biggest thrills in football came from beating United’s closest rivals in the pulsating derbies of the 1950s. ‘With so many locals involved, the beer always seemed to taste better after we had defeated the City,’ he recalled.

Arthur is best remembered by Cambridge people, however, for his 40-plus years as the devoted custodian of Parker’s Piece, which ended with his retirement in the late 1980s. He died in 2012.
Comments

Percy's progress

1/6/2017

Comments

 
In the old days, if you left a Newmarket Road pub only to realise you’d still got a bit of a thirst on, you didn’t have to go far to put the matter right. Around the time Abbey United was formed, early in the last century, there was a boozer every 36 yards on an average stretch of the fabled thoroughfare.

Nowadays you’ll need stout walking boots if you want to visit the only three pubs that remain: the Wrestlers, the Corner House and the Burleigh Arms. But renovations at the old Seven Stars promise to bring a lost hostelry back to life – and reawaken memories of the shop that once nestled alongside the pub.

The fishing tackle emporium of the larger than life Percy Anderson met the needs of generations of Cambridge anglers, and it was for that pursuit that Percy was best known. Crowned UK national champion in 1974 and Europe’s top angler three years later, he rejoiced in passing on his skills and knowledge, running his legendary summer teach-ins for local kids for 40 years until shortly before his death, aged 75, in 2006.

Everyone who knew Percy has a story to tell; ask the likes of Ian Darler or Rodney Slack if you need to flex your chuckle muscle. Ian’s tale of the exposed rump is a belter, as is Rodney’s colourful recounting of the mannequin incident, and there’s plenty more where they came from.

But Percy’s competitive exploits were not confined to the riverbank: he competed at county level at indoor and outdoor bowls, snooker, pool and table tennis, and he was a very useful centre forward who flirted with football’s big time.

After rising through the Abbey ranks, he made his United Counties League debut in a 2-2 home draw with Corby Town in September 1950. The goals didn’t flow too freely – he scored three in 11 first team games – but First Division West Brom were interested and in May 1951, after netting four times in three trial matches, the 20-year-old Percy signed a professional contract. As you’ll see when you visit The Story of the U’s in the Supporters’ Club, the Throstles promised to reward United if ‘the boy Anderson’ made the grade.

Sad to say, he didn’t. After missing out on the Albion’s first team for two seasons, he moved on to Stockport County of Division Three North, for whom he played his only Football League game during the 1953/54 season.
Perhaps pining for the Cam, he returned to the Abbey in May 1954 and enjoyed a run in the side in the first half
Picture
Percy Armstrong (second right) listens to player-manager Bill Whittaker's dressing room talk before Cambridge United's FA Cup first round proper match at Torquay United on 20 November 1954. Others, back from left: Teddy Bowd, Peter Dobson, Harry Bullen; lower from left: Bob Bishop, Len Crowe, Russell Crane, Arthur Morgan, Jack Thomas. Torquay won 4-0.
Picture
The Seven Stars, Newmarket Road, probably 1920s. Occasion unknown.
of the following season. The goals again proved hard to come by, however, and after a 1-0 defeat at Clacton in January 1955 he was loaned out to Great Yarmouth Town of the Eastern Counties League, his U’s career at an end. The United career stats: seven goals in 29 games.

Percy made many a keepnet bulge in angling matches, but the Newmarket Road goal nets were often empty. When he did score he made sure everyone knew about it, and in later life he was fond of recreating his successes on the Abbey pitch. If you get a chance, ask Ian. Bet you can’t keep a straight face.


This article appeared in the Cambridge United matchday programme for the game against Notts County on ​2 January 2017.
Comments

​Jack Morgan, 1924-2016

5/5/2016

Comments

 
The Cambridge United family has lost a much-loved and esteemed member with the death of Jack Morgan at the age of 92 on April 26.

Renowned as the man who first played ‘I’ve Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts’ over the tannoy, Jack belonged to a diehard U’s family. His mother and father worked tirelessly for the club and Supporters’ Club and his brother Arthur played 110 first-team games between 1947 and 1955; usually but not always in goal.

Jack was born in the Hills Road area of Cambridge in 1924. His family subsequently moved to Ditton Fields; a hotbed of United support. He and his three brothers were soon enthusiastic supporters and later, like his parents, he served on the Supporters’ Club committee.

As Abbey United progressed towards professionalism and the Football League, it was the norm for supporters to help out with all manner of jobs. Jack remembered scrubbing floors and marking the pitch, but a highlight of his work was the playing of records, perched in the little box that still adorns the north-west corner of the ground, through the tannoy on match days.

Supporter Robin Mansfield recalled Jack taking him to his first U’s game in 1955. ‘It was he who first decided to play that record [Coconuts] whenever we had a win,’ he said. ‘I have asked Jack why he chose that particular record. His reply was: “It was purely accidental. I had a pile of records in front of me and thought this one would do!” He just carried on playing it and the tradition continues to the present day.’

Jack, who turned out at right half for United Reserves ‘when they were short’, worked at Marshall’s during World War II. He later became a rent collector for
Picture
Cambridge City Council before being promoted to housing manager, and then worked for the Rent Officers’ Association throughout the East of England.
He and his wife Audrey had one daughter, Jane, and a granddaughter, Sophie.

The funeral service will be held on Cambridge City Crematorium’s East Chapel on Thursday, May 12 at 12.15pm. Jack’s family has requested that no black be worn.
​
Jack talked about his life when Radio Coconuts visited his Chesterton home last year. The recording can be found at 100yearsofcoconuts.co.uk/radio-coconuts.html. Robin Mansfield’s story is at 100yearsofcoconuts.co.uk/robin-mansfield.html.
Comments

    Happy Harry's blog

    I'm the living embodiment of the spirit of the U's, and I'll be blogging whenever I've got news for you, as long as I don't miss my tea. 

    Archives

    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015

    Categories

    All
    100 Years Of Coconuts
    1966 World Cup
    1967/68
    1968/69
    1969/70
    1970/71
    1970s
    1971/72
    1972/73
    1977/78
    1998/99
    Abbey
    Abbey Lounge
    Abbey Meadows Primary School
    Abbey People
    Abbey Stadium
    Abbey United
    Alan Biley
    Alan Comfort
    Alan Guild
    Alan Moore
    Alan O'Neill
    Albert 'Twitter' Dring
    Allan Harris
    Allotments End
    Alva Anderson
    Amber News
    Andrew Bennett
    Andrew Stephen
    Andy Beattie
    Anglo-Italian Cup
    Apprentice
    Arsenal
    Arthur Morgan
    Autographs
    Barnwell
    Barnwell At War
    Barnwell & Fen Ditton Local History Society
    Barnwell Military Hospital
    Bernard Moore
    Bert Johnson
    Big Lunch
    Bill Cassidy
    Bill Cawdery
    Bill Leivers
    Bill Whittaker
    Billy Day
    Billy Liddell
    Billy Wall
    Billy Welsh
    Bob Bishop
    Bobby Langton
    Bobby Moore
    Bolton
    Book
    Brendon Batson
    Brian Clough
    Brian Doyle
    Brian Grant
    Brian Greenhalgh
    Brian Hart
    Brian Holmes
    Brian Moore
    Brian Whitmore
    Brighton & Hove Albion
    Bruce Rioch
    Bud Houghton
    Bury
    Bury Town
    Cambridge Brickmaking
    Cambridge City
    Cambridge Fans United
    Cambridge Football
    Cambridge Independent
    Cambridge News
    Cambridgeshire Collection
    Cambridgeshire FA
    Cambridgeshire Professional Cup
    Cambridge Sports Tours
    Cambridge Town
    Cambridge United
    Cambridge United 1968/69
    Cambridge United 1969/70
    Cambridge United 1979
    Cambridge United Community Trust
    Cambridge United Former Players' Association
    Cambridge United Hall Of Fame
    Cambridge United Supporters' Club
    Cambridge United Youth
    Cambridge University
    Cambridge University Association Football Club
    Camtax
    Carlo Corazzin
    Catons Lane
    Celery & Coconuts
    CFU
    Champagne & Corona
    Charlton Athletic
    Chelmsford City
    Chelsea
    Chesham United
    Christmas
    Chris Turner
    Cobh Ramblers
    Coconuts
    Coconuts Events
    Coconuts TV
    Coconuts Volunteers
    Coldhams Common
    Colin Harper
    Colin Meldrum
    Colin Proctor
    Community
    Conrad Lodziak
    Cork City
    Corona End
    Corona Soft Drinks
    Cremation
    Crystal Palace
    CUFPA
    Cystal Palece
    Dan Chillingworth
    Dan Gleeson
    Danny Blanchflower
    Danny O'Shea
    Danny Potter
    Dave Doggett
    Dave Kitson
    Dave Matthew Jones
    Dave Matthew-Jones
    Dave Stringer
    David Crown
    David Forde
    David Lill
    Dean Barrick
    Demba Traoré
    Dennis Walker
    Derby County
    Derek Finch
    Derek Hales
    Derek Haylock
    Derrick Christie
    Dimitar Mitov
    Dion Dublin
    Ditton Walk
    Dudley Arliss
    East Anglian League
    Eastern Counties League
    Eddie Robinson
    England
    FA Cup
    Fen Ditton
    Fenner's
    Fergus O'Donoghue
    Fields In Trust
    First Great Eastern Hospital
    Floyd Streete
    Football League
    Football League Review
    Forever United
    Former Players
    Former Players' Association
    Fred Mansfield
    Gainsborough Trinity
    Gareth Ainsworth
    Gary Clayton
    Gary Deegan
    Gary Harwood
    Gary Johnson
    Gearóid Morrissey
    Geoff Hudson
    George Alsop
    George Best
    George Harris
    George Reilly
    Gerry Baker
    Gordon Sweetzer
    Graham Atkinson
    Graham Daniels
    Graham Felton
    Graham Smith
    Graham Ward
    Graham Watson
    Grange Road
    Great Shelford
    Great Yarmouth Town
    Greg Reid
    Habbin Stand
    Hall Of Fame
    Harry Bullen
    Hartlepool
    Harvey Cornwell
    Henry Clement Francis
    Heritage Lottery Fund
    Ian Ashbee
    Ian Atkins
    Ian Darler
    Ian Hutchinson
    Inter City Trickle
    Ipswich Town
    I've Got A Lovely Bunch Of Coconuts
    Ivett & Reed
    Jack Bannister
    Jack Bishop
    Jackie Milburn
    Jackie Scurr
    Jack Mansell
    Jack Morgan
    Jack Thomas
    Jack Woolley
    Jamie Barnwell
    Jamie Murray
    Jenny Morgan
    Jez George
    Jim Ayers
    Jimmy Quinn
    Jimmy Thompson
    Jim Sharkey
    Jim White
    Jody Craddock
    Joe Gallego
    John Beck
    John Docherty
    John Little
    John McGlashan
    John McKinven
    Johnny Hancocks
    John Ryan
    John Saunders
    John Taylor
    Jonas Axeldal
    Jon Challinor
    Jules Rimet Trophy
    Keith Lindsey
    Ken Shellito
    Kettering Town
    Kevin Austin
    Kevin Barry
    Kevin Tully
    King's Lynn
    Kit Carson
    Kits
    Len Crowe
    Len Saward
    Leon Legge
    Les Holloway
    Leyton Orient
    Liam Hughes
    Liam O'Neil
    Light Blues
    Lil Harrison
    Lindsay Smith
    Lionel Perez
    Local Derby
    Lovely Bunch
    Luke Chadwick
    Malcolm Lindsay
    Malcolm Webster
    Manchester United
    Marcus Gynn
    Mark Albrighton
    Mark Cooper
    Mark Sale
    Martin Butler
    Martin Ling
    Marvin The Moose
    Mel Slack
    Michael Kyd
    Mick Leach
    Middlesbrough
    Mike Flanagan
    Mike Petty
    Mini Museum
    Mini-museum
    Mitchell Springett
    Multiple Sclerosis
    Museum Of Cambridge
    My Favourite Match
    National Football Museum
    National Playing Fields Association
    Neil Rioch
    Newmarket Road Roughs
    Nicknames
    Nick Pope
    Northampton Town
    Obituary
    Ömer Riza
    Own Goal
    Oxford United
    Paddy Harris
    Pat Kruse
    Pat Quartermain
    Pat Saward
    Paul Barry
    Paul Daw
    Paul Jeffrey
    Paul Raynor
    Paul Wanless
    Percy Anderson
    Peter Bowstead
    Peter Dobson
    Peter Graham
    Peter Hobbs
    Peter Leggett
    Peter Phillips
    Peter Reeve
    Peter Ward
    PFA Bobby Moore Fair Play Trophy
    Phil Baker
    Phil Chapple
    Phil Hayes
    Pools
    Pop Up Displays
    Pop-up Displays
    Povel Ramel
    Programme
    Progressive Coaches
    Pye
    Q&A
    Randall Butt
    Ray Freeman
    Ray Proctor
    Reg Smart
    Remembering Fifty Years Ago
    Remembering Thirty Years Ago
    Richard Money
    Risen From The Dust
    Robbie Cooke
    Robbie Simpson
    Robin Hardy
    Robin Mansfield
    Rodney Slack
    Roger Gibbins
    Roger Waters
    Roly Horrey
    Ron Atkinson
    Rotherham United
    Roy Kirk
    Roy McFarland
    Russell Crane
    Saffron Walden Town
    Sam McCrory
    San Diego Toros
    Seniors World Cup
    Seven Stars
    Shane Tudor
    Sheffield Wednesday
    Shirts
    Sid High
    Simon Dobbin
    Simon Lankester
    SK Brann
    Social History
    Soham Town Rangers
    Southern League
    Southern League Cup
    Sporting Memories
    Stackridge
    Stan Cullis
    Stan Cutter
    Steve Butler
    Steve Claridge
    Steve Fallon
    Steve Palmer
    Steve Slade
    Steve Spriggs
    Stockport County
    Strips
    Stuart-wood
    Subbuteo
    Supporters
    Teddy Bowd
    Terry Eades
    Terry Venables
    Tes Bramble
    Testimonial Match
    The Blizzard
    The Globe
    The John Docherty Years
    #thepastwillsoonbepresent
    The Story Of The U's
    Tickle Sanderson
    Tom Finney
    Tom Hussey
    Tommy Horsfall
    Tommy Taylor
    Tom Youngs
    Tony Butcher
    Tony Gallego
    Tony Scully
    Tony Willson
    Torquay United
    Trevor Benjamin
    Trevor Brooking
    Trevor Roberts
    United Counties League
    Vertical Editions
    Veterans' Football
    Vic Akers
    Vic Phillips
    Waterbeach
    Wayne Hatswell
    West Bromwich Albion
    West Ham United
    What Dreams Are (Not Quite) Made Of
    What's On In Cambridge
    Wilf Mannion
    Willie Watson
    Windy Miller
    Wolverhampton Wanderers
    World War I
    World War II
    Wycombe Wanderers
    Yeovil Town
    Youth
    Zema Abbey

    RSS Feed

UNITED IN ENDEAVOUR