Magpie Miscellany Part 20
The Card
The vista above is not the latest council plan for the development of the town centre, it is in fact Maidenhead relocated to the Potteries for a scene in the silver screen adaptation of Arnold Bennett’s Five Towns Edwardian comic novel The Card.
Starring Alec Guinness, the movie was made in 1951, with filming planned at York Road for November 17th, when a Pinewood Studios unit would record match scenes at lunchtime and crowd scenes from the afternoon’s Corinthian League fixture against Maidstone United.
The film followed the adventures of the ambitious “Card” Denry Machin (Guinness), who whilst winning the affections of Valerie Hobson, Glynis Johns and Petula Clark, also makes his fortune. This enabled him to buy local hero Callear, the greatest centre forward in England, for his failing local football club Bursley (Burslem).
York Road thus became the home of Bursley for the day. 22 local footballers were paid £2 to act as extras, wearing old style kits. Filming started at 12:30 pm with free entry offered up to 1:30 pm to encourage a sizeable crowd for the cameras. MUFC committee member Pat Hansen and Old Maidonian Cyril Burdett became film stars for a day.
The fire brigade were called upon to remove a TV aerial from a house in York Road to maintain the period look, and later supplied rain from a hose. A Maidenhead Advertiser hoarding became one for the Staffordshire Advertiser whilst pottery kilns were later painted onto the backdrop. Two extra goals had to be set up for the cameras.
Burley wore blue shirts with shorts down below the knee. Players were provided with side whiskers and moustaches. Local goalkeeper John Buxton of Social FC was too good, saving balls he was meant to let in. The director reminded him that he was meant to be a “lousy goalie”.
The first scene saw Bursley lose in the rain in front of a deserted stand. The second, saw new signing Callear make his debut in some style, inspiring his team to a 15-0 win. He had the head of a professional actor and the feet of Hayes inside left Ron Stanton (who has previously played for the Magpies). The York Road crowd were required to perform a pitch invasion to celebrate with the victorious Bursley team.
At 2:30 pm, teenage film star Petula Clark kicked the Corinthian League match off with the assistance of captains Gee (Magpies) and Kinch (Stones). Maidenhead lost 4-2 to Maidstone. This was the Stones first win of the season, and the Magpies fifth defeat in a row. Following rain and a further soaking by the fire brigade, the pitch was in a bad state, turning the game into something of a “mudlark”.
Maidstone adapted best to the conditions “they kicked hard and often, and used the long ball to good effect”. By the end of the game Maidenhead had been “completely outplayed and disheartened”. Pederick had given Maidenhead a lead in the twentieth minute but Hopkins equalised ten minutes later. Marles put Maidstone ahead five minutes into the second half. Werrell levelled the score with half an hour to go only for goals from Mills and Marles to decide the match in the away team’s favour.
The film was released to mixed reviews in 1952 but received an Oscar Nomination for Best Sound Recording. Petula Clark released a version of the theme tune with lyrics written by her long time musical partner Joe “The Piano” Henderson.
63 years later, in a pleasing twist, Burslem’s real football club, Port Vale, drew the Magpies in the FA Cup First Round. After a draw at Vale Park, the replay at York Road was the first match in United’s history to be televised live.
Sources:
One for Sorrow, Two for Joy, Mark Smith, 2011
You Tube: Trailer, Theme song, Full Movie
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