(Copyright Coxhoe Local History Group)
Ernie Woods
There are a number of similarities in the careers of Ernie and Jack Elcoat and the difficulties of playing competitively at an amateur level while providing for families by working full time at the pit.
A Bowburn lad, Ernie has retired to Coxhoe and lives in a bungalow at Green Crescent.
Ernie had a classic background, in common with many others in local pit villages, and developed his soccer skills in the back streets of the pitmen’s rows.
There was no official league during World War ll but soccer interest was maintained in school by playing friendly matches with local schools.
When he left school he joined the cadets so he could represent their football team along with a good group of Bowburn lads who remained together for many years. “They were very talented and good pals”, says Ernie.
They played Junior football for four years and then moved together to Coxhoe Athletic in season 1948-49. That was a great year for football and for friendship with Ernie and eight pals performing for Coxhoe.
The players were:
Jacky Street (Coundon) -goalkeeper
Ces Barron (Coxhoe) – goalkeeper
Bill Barron (Coxhoe)
Jack Hughes (West Cornforth)
Reg Pennock )
Doug Tennick )
Fred Tennick ) Bowburn
Ernie Woods )
Joe Davis )
Jonny Snook )
Ray Willey )
Marty Lynn )
The best player was undoubtedly Marty Lynn, who wore glasses. He never headed the ball. I played on the wing and the team inevitably, won the Ferryhill and District League and were finalists in the Hospital Cup.
Ernie says, with some remorse “We were beaten by Tudhoe FC who called on half of the Ferryhill Athletic Northern League team to represent them in the final.
Secretary at Coxhoe was Billy Arnold and H.Q. at the Victoria pub where landlord Ally Ord was very generous.
Ernie had trials for Newcastle United and played in the same team as Bobby Robson and Ray Wood who later played goalkeeper for Manchester United. He also found travelling was very lengthy and difficult for a village lad.
He moved up a step and played for Wingate in the Wearside League for two seasons, one season as champion and tipped by one point in the next.
He sustained a bad injury at the pit, being crushed by tubs. By this time he lived at Kelloe, spent months recuperating and was only persuaded to play for Cassop when Ned Wilson, the secretary’s Uncle, came to see and persuaded him to stage a comeback.
Ernie enjoyed playing for Cassop more than anywhere else. They won the Ferryhill District League three times and the Durham Amateur Cup.
“When Jack Elcoat came that was when we had a team – what an acquisition” says Ernie. “All good lads at Cassop – the team they built was incredible”.
They fell apart after Ronnie Gittens moved South. Ernie moved to Bowburn where Billy Arnold (Coxhoe) was now secretary. Ernie was captain and later secretary for the club.
Ernie’s career was highly successful and he too had a taste of excellence at various levels. While he never actually said so the importance of good team spirit shine through Ernie’s many pleasurable years of participation in local soccer.
Coxhoe Local History Group 