Former Monkwick School trio are reunited after 60 years

A trio of former school friends have reunited and are playing football again after more than 60 years.

Richard Arnold, Derrick Saddler and Peter Driver were all members of the all-conquering Monkwick Secondary School year group (now Thomas Lord Audley) in the mid-1960s and now play together for Stanway Rovers Walking Football Club.

The trio first played together in their final year at Monkwick Junior School in 1963 before making the short journey across the road to play for five years at the secondary school.

They became the best school football team in north east Essex, winning trophies in every season thanks to efforts of their highly-respected sports teacher, Peter Hurst.

Up until this time, Wilson Marriage was the premier football school in the area, often providing a pathway to Colchester United, but the rise of Monkwick’s successive football sides altered the balance.

Richard, who played consistently at right-back for those six years, said: “They were great times and we became the dominant school in the area, mainly due to our brilliant sports teacher, Peter Hurst.

“He gave up so much of his spare time to coach not only us, but the other year teams above and below us.

“Two of our team, Alan Dennis and Adrian Webster, went on to sign for Colchester United and our goalkeeper, Colin Potten, signed for Ipswich.

“Alan was on the bench for the famous Colchester v Leeds FA Cup match and Adrian went on to play in fledgling North American Soccer League (NASL).

“He captained Seattle Sounders in the 1977 Soccer Bowl Final against New York Cosmos, which featured Pele, former Brazil captain Carlos Alberto and Germany’s legend Franz Beckenbauer. Not bad for a boy from Monkwick!”

Adrian sadly died of Motor Neurone Disease (MND), in 2023.

Richard and Derrick wanted to do something in his honour and decided that if he had lived, he probably would have given walking football a go.

Derrick said: “Adrian was a true friend, a great human being and we knew he would have taken to walking football.

“We looked around and saw that Stanway Rovers were trying to add players to their walking football squads.

“We went to our first training session and were instantly hooked. To be playing football again, all these years later, was an incredible feeling.

“The guys at Stanway were so welcoming; it’s a very inclusive club and we’ve made some brilliant new mates.”

Peter added: “We’re still looking to add more Over 70s to our squad, so that we can compete in league games next season.

“If anyone fancies giving it a go, we train at The Stanway School on Monday evenings from 5.00pm – I promise you’ll receive a warm welcome.”

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ON STANWAY ROVER WALKING FOOTBALL TEAMS https://www.walkingsports.com/walking-football/united-kingdom/essex/stanway/walking-football-clubs/stanway-rovers-walking-football-teams/

Source: https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/sport/football/26121151.former-monkwick-school-trio-reunited-60-years/

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