reformed into national Third and Fourth Divisions. Our opponents on my debut, Colchester United, had been members of the Third Division South and so no one at Chesterfield knew anything about them. Or Colchester us. Teams didn’t spy on theopposition at the time, especially at this level of football. They played it off the cuff and decided what tactics to use as a game unfolded. The emphasis was on individual rather than collective effort. Anyway, Duggie Livingstone’s pre-match team talk comprised a few clichés about ‘taking the game to them’ and ‘playing to our strengths’, the latter meaning nothing to me as nobody had told me what our strengths as a team were. I might as well have been away with the reserves because despite making my first team debut, Duggie virtually ignored me. It was only when the bell rang to signal that we should take to the pitch, that my manager directed any conversation to me, and only then, when prompted by Dave Blakey. We stood up and formed a crocodile line in readiness to leave the dressing room. I was a couple of places behind Dave, who, aware that Duggie Livingstone had said nothing about what was expected of me, jerked his head in my direction to indicate he should. At first it didn’t click with Duggie, then his face lit up.
‘Oh, aye! Gordon?’
‘Yes, boss?’ I said, eager to hear his words of wisdom.
‘Good luck, son,’ Duggie said, smiling broadly.
Now well versed in my expected role I sprinted down the tunnel and out in front of the 7,140 fans present to witness my league debut.
The result was a 2–2 draw, with our goals coming from Bryan Frear and Maurice Galley. Despite conceding two goals I came off the field quite satisfied with my own performance, feeling that neither could be put down to goalkeeping error. Back in the dressing room my team mates told me I’d done well, which raised my spirits even more. Even Duggie Livingstone said ‘Well done.’
‘Played it just like you told me, boss,’ I replied.
That night’s
Sheffield Green’Un
reported that, ‘Debutant Gordon Banks produced a competent performance in goal.’ I slept that night, I can tell you.
I was given another chance to win over the sceptical Chesterfieldfaithful because I was selected for the following game, a 1–1 home draw against Norwich City, and during the remainder of the season I missed only three matches, through injury.
There were some sizeable attendances in the Third Division in those days. I played in front of over 11,000 at Wrexham, 13,000 at Carlisle United, 15,000 at Notts County, in excess of 17,000 at Plymouth Argyle and 20,505 at Norwich City. Even our home attendances picked up, most noticeably against Hull City and Mansfield Town, against whom we drew crowds of more than 10,000. Chesterfield finished the season a respectable sixteenth – way off the promotion places but well clear of the relegation trapdoor. I was enjoying my football immensely and loved the camaraderie of my team mates, a number of whom are good friends to this day. They were a great bunch of lads and very colourful characters.
Right back Ivor Seemley was a Sheffield lad like me, who had started his career at Sheffield Wednesday. After eight years at Hillsborough he wanted regular first team football and had spent two seasons with Stockport County before joining us. Ivor was a solid player who, following my move to Leicester City, lost his place in the first team only to win it back in the most unusual circumstances when his replacement, Ray De Grucy, was stung in the eye by a wasp during training!
Our other full back, Gerry Sears, was a Chesterfield lad who had been spotted playing for a local youth team. Originally an outside left, Gerry dropped back into defence where he proved himself to be a capable left back. He had one of the sweetest left feet I’ve ever seen. We used to joke he could have used it to open tin cans.
Our right half, Gerry Clarke, came from Barrow Hill, just outside
‘Oh, aye! Gordon?’
‘Yes, boss?’ I said, eager to hear his words of wisdom.
‘Good luck, son,’ Duggie said, smiling broadly.
Now well versed in my expected role I sprinted down the tunnel and out in front of the 7,140 fans present to witness my league debut.
The result was a 2–2 draw, with our goals coming from Bryan Frear and Maurice Galley. Despite conceding two goals I came off the field quite satisfied with my own performance, feeling that neither could be put down to goalkeeping error. Back in the dressing room my team mates told me I’d done well, which raised my spirits even more. Even Duggie Livingstone said ‘Well done.’
‘Played it just like you told me, boss,’ I replied.
That night’s
Sheffield Green’Un
reported that, ‘Debutant Gordon Banks produced a competent performance in goal.’ I slept that night, I can tell you.
I was given another chance to win over the sceptical Chesterfieldfaithful because I was selected for the following game, a 1–1 home draw against Norwich City, and during the remainder of the season I missed only three matches, through injury.
There were some sizeable attendances in the Third Division in those days. I played in front of over 11,000 at Wrexham, 13,000 at Carlisle United, 15,000 at Notts County, in excess of 17,000 at Plymouth Argyle and 20,505 at Norwich City. Even our home attendances picked up, most noticeably against Hull City and Mansfield Town, against whom we drew crowds of more than 10,000. Chesterfield finished the season a respectable sixteenth – way off the promotion places but well clear of the relegation trapdoor. I was enjoying my football immensely and loved the camaraderie of my team mates, a number of whom are good friends to this day. They were a great bunch of lads and very colourful characters.
Right back Ivor Seemley was a Sheffield lad like me, who had started his career at Sheffield Wednesday. After eight years at Hillsborough he wanted regular first team football and had spent two seasons with Stockport County before joining us. Ivor was a solid player who, following my move to Leicester City, lost his place in the first team only to win it back in the most unusual circumstances when his replacement, Ray De Grucy, was stung in the eye by a wasp during training!
Our other full back, Gerry Sears, was a Chesterfield lad who had been spotted playing for a local youth team. Originally an outside left, Gerry dropped back into defence where he proved himself to be a capable left back. He had one of the sweetest left feet I’ve ever seen. We used to joke he could have used it to open tin cans.
Our right half, Gerry Clarke, came from Barrow Hill, just outside
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