My heritage work with the PFA

 

My heritage work with the Professional Footballers Association (PFA) 2016 - 2020

A)    2016: a plaque to the first ever goalscorer in the football league

In November 2016 the PFA financially supported the blue plaque unveiling that celebrated Bolton Wanderers’ Kenny Davenport as the first ever goalscorer in the football league.

The goal, originally thought to have been an own goal by Aston Villa’s Gershom Cox, was revealed in 2013 when myself and Robert Boyling from the British Library discovered that the kick-off in the Aston Villa game had been delayed.

This meant that Davenport’s goal at 3:47pm on September 8, 1888, for Bolton Wanderers against Derby County signified the first ever football league goal.

The plaque, which was placed in the same area as Wanderers’ former ground, Pikes Lane, was unveiled by Robert and myself in November 2016  with the Mayor of Bolton, and Kenny Davenport’s family in attendance.

I was quoted as saying at the time:

When I was writing my Origins of the Football League book that was published by Amberley I didn’t quite buy that Gershom Cox was the first ever goalscorer in the football league.

Following the unveiling, which was screened live on Granada News, Robert and myself along with my son, Charlie, and PFA Chief Executive, Gordon Taylor, were also welcomed onto the pitch at half-time during Bolton’s 1-0 victory against Coventry City.

Phil Mason, Bolton Wanderers Chaplain, said at the time:

This is such a significant occasion as we gather to celebrate a key moment in Bolton Wanderers football club.

Kenny Davenport was the first Bolton player to play for England and was part of the first group of footballers to become professionals in 1885.

The blue plaque is visible on the Lostock Electrical Projects Company building on Bankfield Street.

 

B)    2018: Overseeing the blue plaques and murals in Blackpool to England stars Jimmy Armfield and Frank Swift

On 6 September 2018, the 1958 Munich hero Harry Gregg made the trip by car and ferry to Blackpool to unveil a plaque at Revoe Library to the Manchester City and England legendary keeper Frank Swift, who on 6 February 1958 sadly perished at Munich airport.

This was one of two blue plaques unveiled on the day. The other was at the nearby Lune Grove entrance of Revoe Learning Academy, which both attended and where twin murals, designed by the current pupils, of the players have also taken pride of place in the new sports based playground. Families of both men attended on the day and the event was attended by a number of football fans of various teams.

I co-ordinated the work to honour these two great players in which the PFA, Blackpool Civic Trust, the school and the two men’s families all worked together to bring to fruition an idea first mooted by Frank’s late daughter Iris to myself when I was writing a biography of her father that was published by DB publishing.

https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sport/football/blue-plaques-unveiled-two-blackpools-favourite-sons-jimmy-armfield-and-frank-swift-999145

C)    November 2018 : A plaque to Fred Spiksley at Gainsborough Trinity FC

The book Flying Over an Olive Grove: the remarkable story of Fred Spiksley, a flawed football hero by myself and Clive and Ralph Nicholson that was first published by Red Axe in 2016 has long since sold out. A paperback edition is set for release by Pen and Sword Publishers in the summer of 2021. The work is now the background to the film on the early history of professional football by Rough Jersey Productions that I set up with the assistance of Clive Nicholson. http://roughjersey.com/

Before moving on to Sheffield Wednesday, Spiksley was a star at his hometown club of Gainsborough Trinity from 1887-1891. In 2018, Trinity decided to put up a plaque at their ground to commemorate him and it was unveiled by Jason Lee from the PFA.

https://www.gainsboroughtrinity.com/commercial/darron-childs-practice

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9Xxmo6LcoM

 

D)   October 2019: Red plaque to John Aston senior at his Manchester school

In October 2019 a red Manchester City Council plaque was unveiled at the school of former pupil John Aston senior, the great Manchester United player and coach who also played for England on many occasions. The chief guest was Brian Kidd, who spoke warmly about how John Aston senior played a great part in developing his talents when he was a young player at Old Trafford in the 1960s. European Cup winner  John Aston junior, who in the weeks leading up to the unveiling had spoken, along with myself, to all the pupils currently at the school, was deeply touched at the day’s events at which Denis Law was present along with a number of former professional footballers including Gordon Taylor, the PFA Chief Executive. Also present were a number of two current school pupils and they gave great speeches.

See also:- https://markwrite.co.uk/my-work-on-behalf-of-the-pfa-to-erect-a-plaque-honouring-john-aston-junior/

 

I was delighted to see the work I had played in co-ordinating the above unveiling prove so productive.

 

E)     June 2021

Thanks to the PFA it is proposed to unveil plaques to Joe Mercer and Stan Cullis at Cambridge Road Primary School that they attended in Ellesmere Port. In early November 2020 I co-ordinated a meeting, at the school and a series of events are being planned surrounding the planned unveilings, which it is great to report will be attended by descendants of these former great players and managers.

 

F)     August 7 2021

Coach Bert Whalley was tragically killed at Munich on 6 February 1958. Before moving in 1934  to Old Trafford as a player, Bert played for Stalybridge Celtic and where the club has agreed to unveil a plaque to honour him prior to a pre-season friendly game on 7 August 2021. Further events are to be organised by the club in conjunction with the PFA.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Memories by Micky Horswill in Backpass Magazine

 

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Ernest Needham was a true footballing great and you can buy a book on him at just £10

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ernest-Needham-Prince-Half-Backs-Extra-Time/dp/B08KBQR4WR/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=ernest+needham&qid=1601644127&sr=8-1

ERNEST NEEDHAM: PRINCE OF HALF-BACKS           

“I shall always think that Needham was the finest footballer I have ever seen.”Herbert Chapman (1932), the greatest manager of his era 

Rough Jersey’s Extra-Time series is dedicated to providing easy and affordable access to rare and important football texts which make enjoyable reading for the supporter who wants to learn more about the great historical figures plus the historian seeking out primary sources of forgotten times in football. 

Ernest Needham is arguably the finest footballer to pull on the red and white stripes of Sheffield United. 

Known as ‘Nudger’ the Chesterfield born player generally occupied the left half position but he could and did play in many other positions. He was a superbly talented player who passed the ball well with both feet, possessed amazing stamina, had an eye for a goal and his never say die attitude was an inspiration to those around him.

As captain of the Sheffield United team, which included Billy Foulke, for a decade, Needham guided his men to become Champions of England by winning the Football League in 1897/98 and then to two FA Cup final triumphs in 1899 and 1902. 

Needham played 464 League and FA cup matches across 18 years for the club. Known as the ‘Prince of Half-Backs’ Needham, who worked as a miner before becoming a professional footballer, was England’s finest player in his position. He played in 16 internationals - winning eleven and losing just two. He captained his country in 1901 to a 6-0 victory over Wales. He was the first Sheffield United player to do so. 

Sadly, a lack of film footage means fans of today cannot ever hope to judge just how good he was. It is through match reports and articles of the time that football fans who love the history of the great game can be transported back to when the early greats played their football. 

In 1912, Needham, who was also a fine cricketer who represented Derbyshire at County Cricket, wrote 12 lengthy articles in The Green Un’, the Sports Special of the Sheffield Star. These articles covered his career, his achievements and disappointments, his thrill of the game, some of his big matches, his toughest opponents and greatest teammates plus his general thoughts on football. 

We have the pleasure of reproducing those articles. Clive Nicholson and Mark Metcalf Rough Jersey Productions

How to contribute financially towards the Halifax 1842 plaque

 

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Selby Town lose to Skegness 4-1 at home in an NCEL fixture on a chilly night

 

A great save, the Selby keeper had a very good game 
and prevented his side from suffering a much heavier defeat 

There is one small seating area behind one of the goals 

I spent the first half with a Skegness director and former player 
and whose son now plays for them although he was missing for 
this game due to injury. It was a good performance by the away side (playing in orange) who were temporarily pegged back briefly at 3-1 but deservedly earned all 3 points. 

Rossington Main drew 0-0 with Emley Town in a NCEL fixture

 

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Sean McGovern - the plan to write a booklet on the disability rights activist

 Sean McGovern - the plan to write a booklet on the disability rights activist 

I am set to write a booklet on Sean’s life for the Unite Education department. Sadly, Sean, died on 6 May 2020, aged 63. He has left behind a number of people who deeply miss him. (*) The labour and trade union movement has also lost a real inspiration. 

Sean wrote a blog (**) from 2010 that contains hundreds of articles up until the end of 2018 when his prolific output faded with just a couple of pieces in 2020. 

If you want to know about the attacks being mounted on disabled people by the ConDem coalition between 2010 and 2015 and then the Tory government from 2015 onwards then it is a mine of information. 

It also shows how New Labour never really bothered about opposing these attacks. Not so Sean, plus those he inspired to fight back, who refused to accept the unnecessary austerity agenda, which has seen the rich rob the poor. 

Sean worked tirelessly to defend and extend the public services and welfare resources that are needed to enable disabled people to participate fully across society. By understanding the need for unity in the face of a common enemy he did all this work by also seeking out support for other marginalised groups facing attacks on their rights and living standards. 

The blog is also packed with everyday observations and Sean’s dry sense of humour, which he could skilfully utilise to attack his political opponents, shines through to create a fair few laughs. 

I have already made contact with Sean’s sister, Colette, who has promised to help in whatever way possible. I also have a growing list of people to interview and I will be expanding on this in due course. I have around another 100 articles from the blog to read. 

If you want to know more and/or to contribute to the work then please get in touch. 

* I can’t hope to match this obituary of Sean that was in the Morning Star from his former partner Claire Glasman. 

https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/f/sean-mcgovern-disability-rights-activist-who-will-be-greatly-missed

** bombasticspastic.blogspot.com : A look at life's quirkiness through a jaundiced eye and a mind open to all except that to which it's hermetically sealed...

BLOOD SUCKERS - how PFI has left a toxic legacy by sucking the NHS dry

 BLOOD SUCKERS - how PFI has left a toxic legacy by sucking the NHS dry 

Note - this was intended to be the words to a brief documentary film but COVID19 has prevented its making so far. 

Private Finance Initiatives (PFI) began under John Major's government in 1992 but was expanded under Labour after 1997. At the 2002 Labour Party conference, Prime Minister Tony Blair assured worried delegates that PFI “isn’t the betrayal of the public services. It’s their renewal.” This was all part of New Labour’s revolution.

Private Finance Initiatives use private money from bankers, construction companies and facilities management firms for major public sector capital projects. Private consortiums build and own the facilities, which are then leased back to the state, in exchange for regular repayments that are considerably higher than if the projects had been funded directly from the public purse. 

In 1998, Alan Milburn, Labour health minister, signed a deal for Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust allowing them to procure under a PFI project the funds to construct a new Halifax hospital, Calderdale Royal Hospital (CRH), costing £65 million. Bovis built the hospital. One of the benefits for Milburn of PFI debts was that they did not form part of Labour’s deficit balance sheet as the costs were passed on to future generations. 

Backing the Halifax deal was local Labour Mp Alice Mahon, desperate to see a new local hospital, plus both major opposition parties nationally and locally.

The PFI contract lasts for 60 years and will cost taxpayers £774 million by 2058 with the total cost of the PFI debt of capital + interest over its 30 year life coming to £290 million, with the rest of the monies covering services such as catering, maintenance, portering and domestics. 

Private investors are able to charge an annual rate of return much higher than others types of investment. Investors can also sell their equity to other investors as has happened regularly at Calderdale Royal Hospital.

In 2016 Trust chief executive Owen Williams reported that 6% - around £22 million - of the trust’s annual £343 budget had been spent on repayments. Attempts to renegotiate with the owners of the debt or even escape the deal were found to be impossible. Some smaller hospital trusts had been able to buy out PFI contracts. In 2014 Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust bought out Hexham General Hospital, which was opened by Tony Blair ten years earlier.  

Faced with such crippling debts Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust sought to close Huddersfield and Accident and Emergency Department, sparking outrage and the largest post war demonstration in Huddersfield in 2016 with 5,000 taking part. The campaign was ultimately successful but only at the expense of the continuing run down in other services at the Huddersfield hospital. 

Calderdale Royal Hospital is one of around 100 PFI Hospitals including the Pinderfield’s Hospital in Wakefield. 

Originally the PFI hospitals cost £11.5 billion but will ultimately cost 7 times that sum at around £80 billion. £2.1 billion was spent on interest repayments by NHS hospital trusts alone in 2018-2019. Particularly badly hit was St Helens and Knowsley, which paid out over 13% - £51 million - of its overall budget in interest repayments.

Despite such high levels of spending a report last year also calculated that many PFI hospitals require significant improvements such as new fire safety hazards and sewage repairs that are calculated to cost around £3 billion. 

Carillion was a major holder of PFI projects with £485 million awarded under Labour between 1997 and 2010, £347 million under the Conservative - Lib Dem coalition between 2010 and 2015 and a further £439 million awarded by the Tories in 2015. 

Carillion collapsed in 2018 and following which the Conservative Government abolished PFI projects. None of which stopped the two PFI hospitals that Carillion was building at the time collapsing  – Royal Liverpool University Hospital and Midland Metropolitan Hospital – are both currently due for completion several years late. 

In August 2019 Boris Johnson promised to upgrade 20 hospitals by boosting NHS spending by £1.8 billion annually. 

This is less than was paid to private bank accounts in PFI repayments in 2019 and which ensures NHS trusts have mountainous ongoing debts with no new money for capital improvements. The ongoing decline in the NHS will thus continue.

“For every PFI hospital built and up and running you could have had 3 hospitals up and running and that includes the staffing as well.” Allyson Pollock - Director of the Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University.

PFI projects were one of the many way used by government’s over the last 40 years plus to dismantle a loved public health service. A mass public mobilisation is needed if we are to reverse these processes in order to keep our health service public for all. 

New Unite oral history leaflet - to be printed in due course

 MEMORY IS THE STORY OF THE FUTURE 

* Have you or someone you know been active, for even a relatively short time, in UNITE or one of its legacy unions?

* Interested in having your experiences recorded?

The Unite oral history project would like to hear from you. www.theunitehistoryproject.org

The memories of interviewees will be making a positive contribution to the writing of six books of 40,000 words each covering the period from 1922, when the Transport and General Workers Union was formed, till 2022. 

By identifying with what has happened in the past interviewees can help guide the actions of present and future trade union activists.  Future generations need you!

Across the Unite North East Yorkshire and Humber (NEYH) region a number of interviews have taken place.

You can hear more by going to 3 edited interviews of Jacob Goddard, a young member from Leeds, paramedic Debbie Wilkinson and bus equalities rep Abdul ‘Tan’ Rashid.

https://www.theunitehistoryproject.org/index.php/resourses/oral-history/85-jacob-goddard

https://www.theunitehistoryproject.org/index.php/resourses/oral-history/84-debbie-wilkinson

https://www.theunitehistoryproject.org/index.php/resourses/oral-history/83-abdul-tanveer-rashid

To be interviewed please email Andy Pearson, Unite NEY&H regional officer at andy.pearson@unitetheunion.org 07718 666580 or Mark Metcalf mcmetcalf@icloud.com 07392 852561 

Design of the Julia Valley blue plaque for Bradford City Centre

 

ALL WEATHER PITCH HEALTH RISKS

 ALL WEATHER PITCH HEALTH RISKS

PM plans to build 2,000 artificial pitches 

Campaigners say they pose risks to players 

Parents and teachers have spoken out about the health and environmental risks
of artificial sports pitches after Boris Johnson announced plans to build thousands of them for England’s bid to host football’s 2030 World Cup. 

Artificial turf allows games to go ahead that would otherwise be postponed. But so-called 3G pitches are often made from used car tyres and contain chemicals such as lead, mercury and benzene. In the Netherlands more than 100 clubs have banned their use for youth games after analysis of 60 showed carcinogen levels to be up to six times higher than would be allowed for consumer products. 

There are currently 4,853 3G fields across the UK, with the government planning to build 2,000 more. But the English Football League (EFL) has outlawed artificial pitches. 

Pitch contact 

In 2013, Lewis Maguire, 13, from Darlington was half way through a 12-week trial as a goalkeeper for Leeds United when he was forced to quit after he became unwell. He was found to have developed Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a form of blood cancer. His father, Nigel, quit as chief executive of NHS Cumbria to look after Lewis, who died in 2018. 

In 2016, Nigel Maguire wrote to sports minister Tracey Crouch highlighting the developments in the Netherlands as well as research by former US international goalkeeper Amy Griffin. Of 150 footballers who had played regularly on 3G fields and had cancer, Griffin discovered that more than 100 were goalkeepers – a position that means the player will be in contact with the pitch surface more than other players. 

Acting sports minister David Evennett replied that football authorities “adhere to the latest independent evidence, which indicates that 3G pitches ... are safe”. 

Maguire remains unconvinced. He wants to see a moratorium on the construction of any 3G pitches, the replacement of rubber with inert materials such as cork and coconut fibres and to ensure that young goalkeepers no longer practice on such fields. 

He called on the Football Association to ensure coaches make players shower after playing or training on 3G pitches, to remove rubber crumb from their bodies and equipment. 

Others point out that 3G pitches only last around 10 years. Viv Mitchell, whose local council built a 3G pitch close to her home in Northampton, pointed out that companies in the Netherlands had refitted pitches in Africa rather than disposing of them responsibly at the end of their life. She calculated that the pitch close to her contained 20,000 tyres. 

“This is going to be a lot of plastic waste and rubber crumb going to landfill every 10 years,” she said. “It is industrial dumping as these pitches won’t last any length of time before they aren’t fit to play any sports on.” 

In reply to Big Issue North’s detailed list of questions, a spokesperson for Defra, the government department responsible for sports fields, said waste tyres are classified as “absolute non-hazardous” by the EU. 

Call for urgent review 

The spokesperson also pointed to a 2017 European Chemicals Agency evaluation that concluded there is a very low level of concern from exposure to substances found in recycled rubber granules used in sports pitches, and that there is “no reason to advise people against playing sports on synthetic turf containing recycled rubber granules as infill material”. 

The spokesperson added: “We are committed to protecting the environment and wildlife including through the regime which regulates chemicals and restricts the use of harmful substances in products. 

“The European Chemicals Agency concluded there is a very low level of concern from exposure to substances found in recycled rubber granules used in sports pitches. A further restriction is being considered that would further lower the concentration limits.” 

According to an FA spokesperson: “Hygiene guidance is being promoted on social media and shared with the county FAs.” 

Tony Gavin, former head of Laurence Jackson School, a specialist sports school in Guisborough, North Yorkshire, said: “There should be an urgent FA review as part of a full government enquiry with legal powers to investigate the whole process, from procurement to construction, including materials used. 

“The priority must be the health, safety and wellbeing of young people. Any ingredients which pose a risk must be identified, highlighted, discontinued and removed immediately.” 

MARK METCALF 

 

Swallownest 1 Ashton Town 0

 Brighter off the pitch than on: Swallownest 1 Ashton Town 0 

This was not a game to remember for long but it was nevertheless an enjoyable enough occasion watched by a crowd of just 97, of which around a third were following the away side. These fans were left disappointed when their side were punished for giving away an unnecessary free kick around 25 yards out in the second period. 

The subsequent hard hit shot took a slight deflection off one of the defending players and although the Ashton Town keeper did remarkably well to switch direction to make a fine save he was left helpless when the ball ran free and one of the Swallownest forwards was first to it and scored from around 4 yards out.  Home fans behind the goal, who had enjoyed sinking a few beers - taken direct into the ground from the clubhouse - and relaxing in the sun, cheered loudly. 

Ashton had been the better side in the first period but had rarely threatened after the break and the home goal was reward for a more adventurous approach by the South Yorkshire side. Ashton pushed forward in search of an equaliser but did not appear confident and apart from a couple of decent corners that left the Swallownest keeper in no man’s land the home goal was never seriously threatened thereafter and the game thus ended in a 1-0 home victory. 

The cost of entry was £5 entry for adults and free for under 16s who attended the match with a full-paying adult. Because of the COVID19 emergency then it was necessary to purchase online tickets to gain entry to Swallownest’s small ground, which can best be described as two and a half sided as their is no entry behind one goal and down one half of the side furthest from the entrance. Behind the dug outs there is a small seated stand and there is also a small stand behind the goal closest to the entrance. The side opposite to the dug outs is all standing on a small path. 

Thai-British language firm teaches its pupils ‘nonsense’

 Thai-British language firm teaches its pupils ‘nonsense’ 

Recruits do not need teaching qualifications 

An Ormskirk man employed as a basic high school English teacher in Thailand has accused the British-Thai company that employed him of providing poor-quality education and withholding his pay. 

David Sheekey said Sine Education Service, a Bangkok company that provides English teachers for Thai schools, recruits unqualified teachers whose lessons go “well over students’ heads.” 

Sheekey moved to Thailand from Uganda, where he had been living with his wife but had been unable to find work and access vital medication. Joining family in Thailand in 2015, be began working for Sine Education Service, whose website says it “provides English conversation courses for government schools all over Thailand. We focus on tackling the challenges that come with delivering English language programs – notably to large classes – through our specially designed courses, delivered by our Sine trained teachers.” 

Training ‘insufficient’ 

The company claims it is in partnership with 40 Thai schools. 

Sine employees are not required to be qualified teachers or to possess a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certificate but they must be “native English speakers from the UK, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Ireland or South Africa” and have a degree. 

Sheekey, who has a social studies BA, a higher education diploma and a TEFL qualification, said he was only give three days training before he was put in front of a class. Sine teachers are meant to provide high school students with between one and four hours English schooling each week. 

“My training was insufficient,” said Sheekey. “The young people are receiving poor quality education. Everything was done on Powerpoint programmes where the language is in technical terms that UK students of similar ages would not understand. It went over the Thai students’ heads.” 

Some of the curriculum that Sheekey, who worked at a government high school in Khon Kaen, was expected to teach left him scratching his head. “Students were informed that in Britain there was a culture of movie watching and not much reading of books. There was other such nonsense presented as facts by the teaching programmes.” 

Sheekey also said the company, which is partly run by British people, was excluding qualified teachers from a number of countries in Africa and Asia where the official language is English because of its recruitment policy. 

UK return 

When he had to take time off work after contracting chicken pox, Sheekey had most of his wages docked. He has not been paid the money he is owed. He left the company and returned to the UK to live in Chester earlier this year. 

Sheekey met his Ugandan wife Sarah in Wigan, where she was seeking asylum. Evidence showed she had been tortured by the Ugandan authorities, but she was nevertheless deported. Sheekey is again looking to find work in Uganda, possibly with his younger daughter who is a lawyer. 

Big Issue North sent questions to the Thai Embassy in London, Sine Education and two members of the British-Thailand Parliamentary Group, Sir Graham Brady and John Spellar, but did not receive any response. 

MARK METCALF 

Using film to rediscover lost working class heroes - Edward McHugh

 Using film to rediscover lost working class heroes 

Edward McHugh at :- https://vimeo.com/roughjersey/mchugh

With Subtitles: https://vimeo.com/roughjersey/mchugh-subtitles

The successful work of Unite rep Luke Agnew from Wallasey for a new headstone to Edward McHugh, an inspirational dockworkers organiser, has been captured in a 10 minute film from Rough Jersey Productions. 

The film is at :- https://vimeo.com/roughjersey/mchugh and subtitles at https://vimeo.com/roughjersey/mchugh-subtitles and please watch it and forward to others you think may be interested 

Irishman Edward McHugh, co-founder of the National Union of Dock Labourers led long, bitter, successful strikes in Glasgow and Liverpool in 1889 and 1890 respectively. 

Earlier he led a Land League mission to the Scottish Highlands  where he helped direct the nascent crofters’ agitation. McHugh later settled down in Birkenhead but in the 1890s he spent time in New York City where he organised the American Longshoreman’s Union and preached Henry George’s gospel that the unequal distribution of land lay behind all social ills.

On his death in 1915, McHugh was buried at Flaybrick Memorial Gardens, Birkenhead but his headstone was destroyed by the German bombing of Merseyside in WWII. 

It was Luke Agnew, a gravedigger at the Gardens, who rediscovered McHugh’s burial spot. When Luke then heard a speaker on his Unite stewards course talk about how trade unionists have erected plaques nationally to honour legendary labour movement figures he became determined to mark Edward’s final resting place. 

As a Unite workplace rep he got support from Mick Whitley, a former UNITE NW regional secretary and now Birkenhead MP, who features in the documentary. 

Funds were raised for the headstone and the Unite Education Department also released a concise booklet on McHugh and which can be downloaded for free at:- https://markwritecouk.files.wordpress.com/2019/06/edward-mchugh-booklet-1.pdf

In June 2019 a crowd of over 75 people assembled to see the new headstone unveiled. Speakers included local MPs and councillors, Unite officials, Helsinki’s Martin Newby, author of a biography of Edward McHugh, plus Kevin Robinson, one of the leaders of the Liverpool Dock Strikers in the mid 1990s.

By following Luke’s successful campaign, Edward McHugh’s life is recreated through a combination of contemporary photographs, moving images and an explanation of the roles McHugh played in the organisations he was so active within. 

The ten-minute film was created by Rough Jersey (RJ) (*) Productions, who earlier this year released a 7 minute documentary on the successful efforts of Bolton Socialist Club members, including Unite’s Martin McMulkin, to honour with a plaque a local man, James Alwyn, who lost his life fighting fascism in Spain in the 1930s. Both documentaries were directed by Adam Marseille and co-produced with Mark Metcalf. 

To watch the Edward McHugh: Rediscovering a lost working class hero documentary go to:- https://vimeo.com/roughjersey/mchugh-subtitles and https://vimeo.com/roughjersey/mchugh

You can also watch the documentary on James Alwyn at:- https://vimeo.com/398711929

If you have an idea for a plaque or headstone to honour a local labour movement figure then please make contact @markmetcalf07 or mcmetcalf@icloud.com

Rough Jersey Productions can be found at:- http://roughjersey.com

RJ is now seeking to raise funds to continue this series of works and any help and/or donations would be appreciated. RJ is also exploring other labour movement works as well as moving forward with its football documentary based around the life of Fred Spiksley.