Recently, some of Ted’s friends in town have taken to calling him “Chelsea” because he was wearing a hat with the blue and white colours associated with that football team. To put the record straight, Ted is not a Chelsea supporter, he just wears that hat to keep his head warm.

However, from when he was 10 years old until he was 16 (1942-1948), he was involved with Wymondham Town FC. He and his best mates, Chicky and Wally, used to watch the matches at King’s Head Meadow and at Browick Road Park. They made new friends there including Pickie Morris and Sid Bann.

In those days, the star players were the Seaman brothers, David and Morris, and Harvey who worked at the Co-op, and the big derby match was against Attleborough.

Wymondham Town involved young people in the life of the club and, under the wings of a local primary school teacher, Mrs Barnicoat, found them jobs to do. Ted put out chairs for the fans and recalls that the price for the best seats was two shillings and sixpence.

Leslie Barnard, who ran a café, oversaw the tickets, and transported the team’s football kits in his Ford Popular motorcar. A 20-seat Simpsons bus ferried the players and the manager to the away games.

Naturally, the children took time to “muck about” as Ted puts it, with their own matches. They used the club’s equipment to draw white lines on the grass and make their own mini-pitches. Ted especially enjoyed dribbling the ball.

The football club also gave children insights into life after school (the leaving age was 14 in those days). Ted used to have conversations with the former ‘old boys’ at his school, Harvey Lever and Ernie Mann, to find out about the world of work. Indeed, he and his mates met future employers at the club such as local farmers and the fire brigade, who provided first aid cover for the matches.

Wymondham Town FC had a rich social life; there were parties, buffets, and Ted’s first social dances with girls. He learned to twirl them around at high speed and even to flip them upside down if they asked. And Ted still has his dance moves, so watch out ladies!