It’s about time we had more sport on this blog, so at the top is a 1960s soccer team pic sent by Les Williams. Can anyone pinpoint the date? The caption says:Gele Athletic, who consolidated their position at the top of the Dyserth Area by beating the champions, Rhyl Wanderers, 2-1 at the Coronation Gardens, Rhyl, on Saturday. Left to right, back row: W. Miller, trainer; J. Whitney, S. Brewerton, H. Williams, M. McGregor, K. Lamb, M. Snelson, J. Gizzi; front: T. Roberts, J. Jones, J. Holt, A. Jones and B. Morris.
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Also pictured is Randolph ‘Randy’ Turpin (born 1928, died 1966) who was one of Europe’s leading Middleweight boxers of the 1940s and 1950s. He was no stranger to Rhyl having been based for a while at Gwrych Castle, Abergele, where he trained with helpers from Rhyl.
In 1951 in London, Randy beat Sugar Ray Robinson and won the world title; suddenly he became a national hero and some of his glory rubbed off on North Wales.
George Owen is still looking for a film made about Randy Turpin at Gwrych; the soundtrack includes a recording by a local children's choir. If you have information about the film please send an email to: rhyl.colin.jones@live.co.uk
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