Do You Remember …………… Harry Welsh?

A well known goal scorer on the local football scene with Paxmans, Harry dropped down a couple of Divisions to join Wivenhoe Rangers as a 26 year old for the beginning of the 1968/69 campaign and netted 57 goals as the club gained Promotion from the Colchester & East Essex League Second Division. He played for the club over the next decade as we moved  from local Colchester League Junior football and up through the Essex & Suffolk Border League. His last first team appearance was on 5th May 1979 away to Parkeston Railway when he came off the substitute’s bench to score in a 4-1 Border League Premier Division victory. In total he scored 304 goals in 412 First and Reserve team appearances before hanging up his boots and becoming first team coach under Manager Geoff Bennett for a while.

As a Committee member Harry eventually became Club President and for many years raised the club’s profile and brought in sponsorship. He also had a five game spell as first team caretaker manager (along with another ex- player Bob Duffett) from 11th December 1986 to 21st January 1987 during our first season in the Isthmian League Division Two (North). Honoured with Life Membership to the club, even after stepping down as President he continued to be a regular on the Broad Lane terraces as a supporter. Harry passed away in January 2007 and his contribution to Wivenhoe both on and off the field was immense.

1972/73 – Harry lines up with his Rangers team mates for an early season photo. The club went on to win the Essex & Suffolk Border League First Division Championship and the Tolleshunt D’Arcy Memorial Cup that year. Back Row; Bobby Hanks (3rd from left), Don Castle (5th), Mick Hatch(6th), Bobby Coppin (Manager).

Front; Trevor Endean (1st left), Tony Winter (2nd), Harry Welsh (4th) and Mick Sutton (5th).

Other players we know to be in this picture are Dave Willshire, Trevor Cocksedge, Freddie Whymark and Dave Miller. If you can match the names to faces please let us know.