Here’s another picture supplied by Allen ‘Sploosh’ Quirk of New Zealand, this time featuring his club side Peel before a match at King George V Park in 1958.
Particularly noteworthy is the size of the late Bill Campbell’s shorts. ‘Big Bill’, as he was affectionately known, was a formidable sight in the Peel defence. There was enough material in his shorts to kit out an entire team these days.
(Back row, l-r): Robin Arrowsmith, Michael Roney, Edward ‘Teddy’ Kelly, Bill Campbell, Allen Quirk, Donald ‘Deek’ Quirk. (Front): Maurice Kelly, Stewart Quirk (brother of Sploosh), Terry Vincent, Gordon ‘Biff’ Lowey and Bobby Thompson
The Division One match between Pulrose United and Peel took place on November 15 and was won 2-1 by the westerners.
Biff Lowey gave Peel the lead after 12 minutes, which they held until early in the second half when Chris Cowley equalised for Pully. Ten minutes from time, Robin Arrowsmith moved up from full-back to the forward line to force home the winner.
Little is known about Robert William ‘Bobby’ Thompson. On the rear of the photo it states ‘Sheila Quayle’s boyfriend’. He was living in Station Road, Peel and would have been 18 at the time. He only made six appearances for Peel (three each for the first team and Combination), scoring two goals (one for each side), all in the first half of the 1958-59 season.