Mumbles Rangers Club History

Billy Johns health in the early years of his life deteriorated rapidly. The physical struggles diminished his energies to such an extent that by a very early age he was losing his mobility, and soon afterwards he found himself permanently confined to a wheelchair. For the remainder of his life he was to be virtually totally paralysed. Despite his disability he was an inspiration to others

Billy had many friends, and Billy had a dream, he decided that rather than be led he would make, for him, the monumental effort to lead. His aims were clear - enjoyment for his friends, "his boys" through sporting and other activities and develop a friendship that knew no barriers. Billy's dream was of a club where he could gather around him hard working and committed officials who could nurture and foster its members, and together they could create something that was very "special."

Fifty years on there can be little doubt that Billy Johns' dream is very much alive. Billy's hopes and aspirations for the members of his club live on in the current players and officials and friends of the Mumbles Rangers of today. In spite of the fact that the majority of the clubs present members never had the privilege of knowing Billy Johns, all recognize the privilege of belonging to his club. The massive influence that he had upon all who came in contact with him all those years ago exists still to this day. It is an influence that all who have ever been associated with Mumbles Rangers will have experienced. If he had lived to witness the strength of the club today, his pride would have known no bounds.

It is over half a century now since a young man named Billy Johns decided to found his own club. The late Billy Johns, B.E.M. lived with his devoted parents, George and Lillian Johns, in what was then 65 Higher West Cross Lane (now West Cross Road). From an early age Billy was confined to a wheelchair but that did not affect his enthusiasm for life, and in particular his commitment to the boys of West Cross and Mumbles. It was the tenacity and resolution of a quite remarkable young man backed by a devoted mother’s love and support which led to him first becoming treasurer, then secretary, then manager of “his” team. He wanted “his boys” to enjoy the sports which crippling handicaps made so cruelly impossible for him. Such was his remarkable talent for leadership, that when he decided to leave Oystermouth Youth Club in order to form his own team, almost all the boys left with him. In the first difficult years, Billy Johns not only held “his boys” together, but without resources of any kind, without premises of their own, he laid down the ground rules for all to obey. The response was a total commitment from as loyal a group of youngsters and as assorted a cross-section of young people as you could wish to find anywhere.

In those early post-war years Billy Johns became a familiar figure throughout Mumbles as “his boys” pushed his wheelchair to and from Underhill Park no matter how extreme the weather. His early wheelchair pushers were local boys Derek James, Keith Davies, David Palmer, Alan and Keith Ockwell, Doug Peachey and later Andy Cuthbert, Malcolm Jones, Bob Smith, Kevin McCkoskey, Alan Dawtry, Peter Aspel and countless others. If Mrs. Johns allowed you to push Bill for his haircut over at Silas Macey’s you’d arrived. Former Spurs and Wales footballer Terry Medwin married Silas’s daughter Joyce envied by all the local youngsters!

The year before the club’s formation Billy Johns was involved with Mumbles Youth team based at Oystermouth School, and boasting powerful local players like Jim Pressdee (later of Swansea A.F.C. and Glamorgan C.C.C. fame), Ray and John Hammacott, George Davies ( son of local Aunty Minnie), Shun Bowen From Newton.

Although Billy Johns admired the highly successful Mumbles Albion team and shared others’ pleasure occasionally watching their players beat the best in Swansea – locals like John Budge, Ben Hoppe, the Nash brothers, Peter Elias, Ray “Stormy” Fairweather, etc. he was determined that his boys would be different. They would be special. Ask any member of Mumbles Rangers today about their club - 50 plus years later - and they will answer as one.

Early members like Terry O’Brien recall how they paid 8/6d each towards the cost of their jerseys, which were heavy and “seemed to be made from sail cloth”. In addition they paid 2/6d a week. Expensive? “No, it was our club. We were privileged, (best seats in the Tivoli Cinema were then 1/6d and a pint of Worthington beer cost 1/3d).

An early member recalls how in 1952 at a club meeting in Oystermouth Square at the British Legion Snooker Buildings and Dance Hall where Boots and C.J.’s are now ,the club celebrated that season’s success by approving Billy’s proposal to make 13 players life-members. Terry (Texas) Llewellyn (now Dr. R.T. Llewellyn, Cambridge Don), Alan Okwell, Clive Gammon, Terry O’Brien, Hylton Jolliffe, Roy Lloyd, Danny Sheehan, Bob Aspell, Johnny Davies, Vic Collier (later to become Squadron Leader), and the only 3 non-local Mumbles players – John (Nubs) Norman, Dai (“Mr. Rangers”) Davies and Brian Owen from Brynmill.

Those early years brought undreamed of success on the football field. But real success for Billy Johns was never to be confined to the football field. His dream was to build a clubhouse of their own. Looking back at those early days it seems incredible now that the very early club meetings had to be held in the open air on the side of a football pitch in Underhill Park, often on dark, damp windswept evenings. Soaked through, Bill would often be pushed home by his faithful band of youngsters promising them that “something will turn up”. He told them once – “If we have to we’ll build our own clubhouse”. In 1954 (until 1956) they did just that – on the site of a disused air-raid shelter in “the horses’ field” where Castleacre now stands. After 2 years the club was forced to look elsewhere and relocated to the old Badminton Hall at the top of Norton Road just below the Beaufort Inn.

The search for a clubhouse location has continued unabated for over half a century – including stays in premises in William Street, Oystermouth Square, Oddfellows Hall in the Dunns and currently in a hut built by club members in Underhill Park. Mumbles Rangers has earned the right to be allowed a Clubhouse commemorate with its contribution to the community of Mumbles. Possibly one day Billy Johns’s dream will firstly be fulfilled and the club’s great service to the community fully recognised.

Over the years, Billy Johns club has attracted a loyalty unrivalled by similar organisations. Ex-Cardiff and Wales footballer Steve Gammon was recommended by Billy to the then Cardiff Manager Bill Jones and Steve evens now returns for the club’s Annual Dinner every February, (this year to be held at the Pier Hotel, Mumbles on the 25^th February). The club has produced some outstanding footballers, unlucky not to do well at the highest level – Murray Crook, Phil Davies, Alan Lloyd, Geoff Riley, Derek Rees, Gary Hockley, John Lodge, Phil Vaughan and many more.

But it is the special camaraderie that will always be the hallmark of Mumbles Rangers, Fred Clement, Eric Nicholas, Jeff Fackrell, Keith Billington, Clive Henson, Des Criddle, Chris Parkin, Mike Isaac, Eddie Wade, Jack Thorne, Mike Harvey, Dave Harris, Clive Aston, Les Hockley, Neil Gray, Haydn Lewis can combine a total of over 300 years in service to Mumbles Rangers.

In 1959 the Daily Mirror proclaimed their nausea with the Queens’s New Years Honours list and invited their readers to vote for what they described as “exceptional people”. In January 1959 a panel comprising Lady Joan Braithwaite, Beryl Grey, the Duke of Bedford, Alec S. Dick and Mr. (later Sir) Matt Busby, decided that Billy Johns was their ‘Daily Mirror Man of the Year’. For the youth of Mumbles Billy Johns has been their man of the ‘Century’ and some form of posthumous recognition for this outstanding incredibly brave local man is felt by many to be long overdue. Perhaps a purpose-built clubhouse would be a fitting tribute and memorial to Billy Johns. The club still lives in the hope that someone one day will step forward to recognise and fund such a project?

To continue the story of Mumbles Rangers, Billy Johns overriding ambitions were always for his young members, and throughout his short life he strove to build a clubhouse for his boys. Sadly, on Valentine’s day, February 14^th 1962 Billy lost his fight for life at the age of 33 years, but he left behind wonderful memories and a legacy that is still carried on to this very day. Billy’s dream of a clubhouse of our own will, we hope one day be realised.

In the mid fifties Billy was introduced by Murray Crook to a young Italian, Carlo Prete, who had been sent to Wales by his father to learn English. Carlo idolised Billy and the Italian Connection began. After Carlo’s return to his homeland a visit to Italy was organised, Carlo and his family were to play hosts to Billy and his youngsters. For Billy it was a journey made against all the odds. 36 boys led by Billy traveled from Swansea to Paddington, and to cut costs, stayed overnight in a Salvation Army Hostel, before continuing next day to Dover where they crossed to Calais. They travelled by train through France and Switzerland to Genoa, Italy, a massive journey for Billy. “His boys” watched over his every moment and youngsters, Eddie Wade in particular, and others still in their teens, demonstrated astonishing care and concern for Billy throughout that fortnights stay. Such was the impression they made that in 1975, some 13 years after Billy’s death, Carlo Prete brought over an Italian team to Mumbles as a tribute to “the most incredible man I’ve ever met”.

Carlo had sent Billy a colossal bronzed statuette on a marble base, and, after Billy’s death another breathtakingly beautiful trophy similar in stature. These trophies are today presented to the First and Second Team Players of the Year, and held with pride within the club. They are on display in the Rangers’ trophy cabinet in the White Rose, Mumbles, who offered our trophies a temporary home until the long quest for our own clubhouse becomes reality.

The late 50’s was a bleak time for funds and new kit was badly needed. But Spurs and Wales footballer, Terry Medwin came to the rescue with eleven Welsh International jerseys. They were only numbered 7 and 9, Terry’s positions for Wales. So we fielded a side with six wearing number 7’s and four wearing number 9 on their shirts!

Through the 60’s there was plenty of success on the football field, Hylton Jolliffe’s ‘B’ side having enormous success, and many more achievements by the other sides. Billy’s quest for a clubhouse continued, with many failed applications, but his determination remained as strong as ever.

Billy Johns’s death in 1962 left the club shell-shocked, but still in good hands of club stalwarts like Mende Morgan, John Budge, Club Leader Bob Smith, Secretary Kevin McCloskey and Fred Clement, our home then being The Old Catholic Hall in William Street. But Bob Smith left for South Africa and then came the move to premises in the basement of Oddfellows Hall in the Dunns. The rooms often flooded with the incoming tide and it was an unhealthy existence and this move signalled an era of decline for the club.

But a new era was emerging, Jeff Fackrell (later to be club leader), Clive Henson Secretary and Fixture secretary (now Chairman), Ian Williamson later to become Secretary, and Clive Hemp, the new treasurer, were determined to keep the club going. These were difficult times and it was hand to mouth existence. With the further loss of the premises at Oddfellows Hall, the club sank to its lowest ebb. Meetings were now held at No.11 Glen Road, the home of Fred and Helen Clement and thanks to their hospitality the club was able to survive. Fred Clement has played a big part in our club’s history and is now Club President. His wife Helen must also be mentioned for without the patience and understanding of such wives the Rangers officials would find it difficult to carry out their duties.

It was at this time that the club was offered a strip of concrete in Underhill Park, which had housed the American Nissan Huts during the war and was adjacent to the Rugby Club changing rooms. This was to be the Rangers’ new home and work began immediately. Ken Jones played a major part, ably assisted by Eddie Wade and other club stalwarts, Fred Clement, Jeff Fackrell, Ian Williamson, John Budge, Alan Martin, John Lodge, Clive Henson and Keith Billington to name a few. The main structure was supplied by Marley, the internal walls fittings and fixtures being built by club members. It was not a palace but it was our club and a home. The arrival of Frankie Vaughan to open our own ‘Billy Johns Clubhouse’ was as nice a gesture to the memory of Billy, as one could get. (Frankie first met Billy in November 1958 when he opened our then clubhouse at Norton). Mrs. Johns was present and also Clive Thomas, World Cup referee and Chairman of the Welsh Boys Clubs.

The late 60’s saw the arrival of Reg Nix, an ex-referee, to assist with first team coaching, and Danny Sheehan and Dai Davies who had both seen the first team play in badly faded shirts and despaired at the state of the club. Fortunes blossomed with the purchase of a new set of kit in the old club colours of Yellow, Red and Black and the installation of Danny as club leader. With the arrival of Gerry Griffiths the club took on a new dimension, and on the playing field the phoenix was about to rise from the ashes. Although our football ambitions in returning to the first division were achieved, the search for a clubhouse went on. Our application to build in Oystermouth Quarry, now a car park was quashed; our plans to build behind the car park at Underhill Park were unsuccessful. Our recent joint venture with the Rugby Club fell again on stony ground. But the work carried out by Eric Nicholas, Des Criddle and Chris Parkin in pursuit of Billy’s dream goes on. Other members who have served the club well, must not be forgotten, Malcolm Miller, Ray Thompson, Russell Davies, Kim Thomas and Richard Pothecary have acted as Treasurers, Chris Jones as Secretary, Colin Henson and Keith Billington as Fixture Secretaries, Malcolm Maggs and Jeff Fackrell as club Leaders. Just as in the early years people like Alan Price, Roy Browning and Haydn Griffiths contributed so much.

In 1973 the club began a junior section with the arrival of Alec Sorley, Eric Nicholas, (later Club President), Malcolm Maggs, (later Club Leader), Des Criddle, (later Chairman), Eddie Wade, Mike Harvey, Len Rowden, Bernard Evans, Ivor Owen and Lawrie Buckland. Our Junior section now boasts sides from under 7 through to under 16, and is now one of the largest in Wales thanks to all our junior managers. Some of the more recent junior managers are Chris Parkin ( ex-Junior co-ordinator and secretary, now fixture secretary). Mike Isaac, Haydn Lewis (junior co-ordinator), Mike Podbielski (Secretary) George Kyrillou, Leroy Anderson, Neil Grey (V.P. Club Administrator) Ian Jones, Clive Henson (Chairman), Gwyn Lloyd-Jones, Simon Howells, Lawrence Jones, Renalto Restighini, Paul Skinner, John Cox, Keith Norris, Tom Cox, and all have been with the club for many years.

In 1982 Mike Harvey suggested we hold an Annual Dinner and invite all of the old boys, ‘the original Rangers’ to gain their support and reintroduce them to their club. The first one with 60 members was held at the Langland Court, but soon outgrew this venue to go onto the Caswell Bay. Now 19 years’ later this event is still being held on the last Sunday in February, at the Pier Hotel, Mumbles with over 200 members attending each year and with tickets at a premium. Together with our loyal Sponsors the Vice Presidents are now the club’s main source of income. Since Eric’s retirement as President the V.P. Club is organised by Neil Gray. It costs £10 per annum to join and gives the club invaluable funds to carry on its important work for the community of Mumbles and Swansea.

In November 2000 the club held its 50^th Anniversary celebrations at the Swansea University and present were nine of Billy’s ‘original’ Rangers, Clive Gammon, Terry O’Brien, Hylton Jolliffe, Danny Sheehan, Johnny Davies, Vic Collier, John Norman, Brian Owen and Bob Aspell (son of Wally the club’s legendary first trainer). We were also fortunate that day to have overseas visitors in Dimitris (Jimmy the Greek) Zaraphonitis with friends from Greece, and Bob Smith travelling from South Africa. Bob’s journey was rewarded with deserved Life Membership. Eric Nicholas our outgoing President was there again to mastermind this event with 350 past / present players and wives and friends attending.

For the past four seasons the Rangers Junior section, in September of each year, has held a 5-a-side junior tournament, with teams entering from all over Swansea and Neath. The purpose of this tournament is to remember one of our loyal members, Alan Martin, who was instrumental in helping set up the Junior Sunday Morning sessions. George and Maria Kyrillou are the main forces behind the, organization, with committee members and junior managers assisting on the day, especially Mike Podbielski , his wife June, Chris Parkin, Haydn Lewis and Mike Harvey, one of Alan’s closest friends. June is the canteen lady who supplies hot drinks and refreshments on Saturdays to both Rugby and Soccer supporters in the Park. Last September Alan Martin’s sister Eileen and her husband Brian came over from America to sponsor and watch the tournament.

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