“THERE is a sports complex in my hometown of Newry, which includes some soccer pitches. It is called Jennings Park. Nothing that I have achieved in football has given
me more pleasure.”
And `big Pat’ Jennings added in his autobiography: “It was on that meadow, without any dressing-rooms or showers, that I played my first competitive games. But I
still recall the tears that I shed when my team reached a Cup Final, and I was dropped because I was too small and too young.
“Little did I realise the Cup Finals that lay ahead at Wembley, or that those soccer pitches would be named in my honour. We took our football very seriously, and put in
as much effort as if it was an FA Cup Final at Wembley, instead of an old meadow. Goal-posts were a luxury, with the rub-down of a towel after a match, then running
home with the mud still clinging to us.”
Fellow FA Cup and International hero, Peter McParland, had previously played for the same Shamrock Rovers Club at the Meadow pitch, managed by Ritchie Hollywood and
Frankie “Midge” O’Hanlon. Later, he hit the `glory-trail` with Aston Villa, and Northern Ireland in the World Cup.
Overlooking Jennings Park was the residence of another Newry sporting hero, Gerry Brown of St John Bosco Club, Abbey CBS, Newry Mitchels and Down fame. Warden at the
Bosco Club, he guided Abbey CBS squads to MacRory Cup triumphs; helped to found John Mitchels GFC, - which swiftly won the County Senior Championship, - and was in
charge of the Mourne side, which regained the Sam Maguire Cup in 1968.
Meanwhile, just around the corner, lived sports all-rounder John Fearon, who won FAI Cup medals with Dundalk and represented the League of Ireland. He also coached
Peter McParland and Pat Jennings, as well as a brace of champion boxers, including Dan McAlinden, British Heavy-weight Champion. The modest bus-conductor received a
top award from Newry and Mourne district council, for services to sport.
The Orchard County was represented at the Meadow estate by Dessie Jennings, goalkeeper for Carrickcruppen and the Armagh county side. Other notable sportsmen were
Gerard McGuigan, prominent with Damolly FC; sons of Peter Jackson, representing the St John Bosco Youth Club; also, former Meadow resident and council chairman
Pat McElroy, who managed Newry Bosco and Ulster Farmers sides to triumph in the Carnbane League.
A new football era had beckoned in Newry, with the establishment of the Meadow League in the mid-50’s. Behind its formation was a band of enthusiasts, including
`Sticks` Morgan, `Biff` Grimes, `Tubs` Keenan, `Beano` Smith, Pat Hillen and Jimmy Heaney. They invested an immense amount of time and energy to ensure that
local footballers and fans had plenty of sport to enjoy.
Matches at the Meadow were a tremendous attraction, bringing the people of the frontier town together as never before. Huge crowds lined the railings, enjoying the
football and the craic. The enthusiasm shown was almost fanatical, in support of teams like Ballybot, Park View, Newry Celtic, Young Arsenal, Mountain View, Crusaders
and Bessbrook’s Green Road.
Sportsman, entrepreneur, social security expert, pundit and later chairman of Newry and Mourne district council, Eugene Markey recalled that period in his book,
`Newry’s Unsung Heroes.` He wrote: “The men who started the Meadow League really cared for the youth of the town and district.
“While Newry and Mourne Council has done tremendous work in the field of sport and recreation, they should have honoured those pioneers like `Sticks` Morgan, by naming
a football pitch after them. Remember, Pat Jennings launches his fabulous career at the Meadow; and had it not been for `Sticks` and people like him, Pat might never
have become a footballer.”
And the versatile Eugene, - who contributed a weekly soccer column for me during the 60’s and 70’s, - described how `Biff` Grimes, manager of the Ballybot side,
was “looked up to with awe by the young players. `Biff’s Babes` were unorthodox but effective in the confined spaces of the Meadow.
“But `Biff’s` career was dramatically halted, when sentenced to one month’s imprisonment at Crumlin Road Jail in Belfast, for throwing an iron grate through the
plate-glass window of a shop. The whole town was stunned by the severity of the sentence. And the players were heart-broken, though we struggled on with Pat Hillen,
well-known referee and traffic warden, as manager.
“After every match at the Meadow, players and supporters would march to `Biff’s home at Needham (now Patrick) Street. They would stop outside, shout three cheers,
and present the Ballybot share of the gate-money to his wife, Violet, in order to ensure that she did not go short, during his enforced absence.
“When he was released, `Biff` did not let his spell as a guest of Her Majesty go to waste. Many’s the night he regaled the punters at Nan Rice’s public house with
recollections of how he had occupied the same cell as Eamon de Valera, in the `Big House` on the Crumlin Road,” Eugene Markey commented.
Another player on the Ballybot side was Pat Power. Describing his boyhood years in the Meadow League, he stated: “Our generation had to scratch for a living in order
to survive. There was no TV or foreign duds, no pockets full of money; and most of our parents slaved in Drumalane or Bessbrook mills.
“There were no Sports Centres or Arts Centres; and no council-provided playing-fields. Yet, despite the drawbacks, a higher percentage of young people played football
than today. And we didn’t have to be coaxed or chauffeured to football games at that time.
“Those were the days when neighbours were like families; everyone kept their front doors open, and no one tried to `keep up with the Jones`. We looked forward to
the blackberry season, when everyone flocked to Mick Gavaghan’s shop, with a variety of utensils. The proceeds were used for admission to the cinemas, where we
marvelled at the antics of `Hop-A-Long Cassidy’ or the Bowery Boys.”
An esteemed sportsman was the late John Fearon, son of legendary trade union leader, James Fearon. John died prematurely of cancer. A special plaque in his honour
was unveiled by Bishop Francis Brooks to mark Youth International Year, “in recognition of his loyalty and dedication to the St John Bosco Club.”
Having twice won FAI Cup medals with Dundalk, and represented the League of Ireland, John Fearon later became player and manager of Newry Town; player and
physio-therapist with Portadown, followed by a spell with Ballymena, before returning to Newry Town FC, when he coached a promising young goalkeeper named Pat
Jennings.
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