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CROFT-The History of a village

 By Alan Sharpe, 2003  

Page 214

The highlight of his career was in 1966 when England beat Germany at Wembley. Several Crofters, including Alan Sharpe were lucky enough to be behind the goals that day. In 1969 Roger was transferred to Bolton wanderers for £32,000.
In 2000, he was honoured and became Roger Hunt M.B.E. but remained the same modest man who had played for the local team in Croft.
Roger later sold his house and moved to Croft.
Another player who lived in New Lane for a few years was Alec Lindsay - the England and Liverpool full back.
Athletics
Mr. Sam Taylor, a Croft resident was highly regarded asa trainer. He was interested in all sport and he was even involved with the Ladies Hockey team. He was the usual starter and handicapper in the Village Sports for over a period of thirty years.
A 1927 Church magazine gives notice of a Fete Day and of open races to be held on Walkers Field, near the Church on Lady Lane.
Men entering these open races of five events, 100 yards, 220 yards, 80 yards juniors, 440 yards and obstacle races, had to pay an entry fee or send a postal order for the correct amount to the race secretary Mr. Roy Jones, Orford House, Lady Lane, Croft, three days before the races. These amateur sports were under the auspices of the Northern Counties Athletic Association 7 and were the first races held by the N.C.A.A. in conjunction with the Croft Fete.
Prize money for each event was 1st - £3, 2nd - £1 10s, 3rd - 10 shillings.
Considering that at the time, just after the 1926 National Strike, a Croft man's wage would be £2 to £3 per week for working 50 to 54 hours, it is understandable that there was great rivalry between competitors.
Some of the competitors travelled quite a distance by train and then walked from Culcheth Station before entering a gruelling race!
By 1939, however, the Reverend Chadwick is on record as having said that the fete and walking day was losing its support and that the Council school was determined to go its own way. So, there seems to have been some lack of support and dispute over the races, which consequently were discontinued. Schools by now, had established sports teams and races, etc. and after 1939 many local young men were once again involved in War time activities.
Edwina Fenney of Lady Lane was a very good athlete. From a high school level of performance, she went on to represent Lancashire in the Junior Northern Counties Championship at 100yards and 150 yards in 1961 and 1962. In 1969, she represented Lancashire at senior level, in the Northern Counties Championship. She was a member of the Warrington Athletics Club (and was fast enough to catch her husband Roy Wood there, too!). Roy was a cross-country runner representing Lancashire at Junior and Senior level in 1964. 1965 was his most successful season- winning the seniors at Liverpool, West Lancs and second in the Northern Championships. Edwina and Roy later married and came to live at Hop Pole Farm.
Roy's father was from Ashton in Makerfield and he represented Great Britain in the marathon in the 1928 Olympics at Amsterdam and in the 1934 Empire Games in London.

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