Lovell's Athletic Memorabilia

Must admit, I really enjoyed reading King Billy's comments, especially the description of Rexville.

Sadly, I wasn't born until 1968, just a year before Lovell's folded - so have no first hand recollections of this wonderful little club, nor indeed the Rexville ground - of which I long to see a picture of one day. Surely one or two must exist somewhere? We live in hope, eh.

Anyway, back to my point - Billy's musings whetted my appetite, at least allowing me to paint a visual in my mind at last of how this charming ground might have looked. So much so, I couldn't resist asking my chum Ray Taylor for a detailed description of the place too, along with his own memories of this gutsy club that threatens to, but must not be allowed to become scandously forgotten.

Here are his delightful recollections of Rexville & Lovell's Athletic ...



I visited Rexville to see about six Lovell's Athletic home games between 1958 and I think about 1969. My first visit was to see a Southern League game against Worcester City which finished goalless on the first day of the 1958-59 season, and I clearly remember seeing Roy Paul who was a Welsh international, and who captained Manchester City to the 1956 FA Cup Final, as player manager of Worcester - I clearly remember him taking a throw-in, in front of me on the 'popular bank' with his blue and white striped shirt. He was an iconic figure because I had seen him on TV and in publications like Charles Buchan's Football Monthly in Man City kit. I remember being devastated to get home and hear County had got stuffed at Norwich.

The main entrance to the ground from the road took you into an unterraced covered enclosure behind the goal where Lovell's fans used to gather to exchange banter with Ray Cross (I think I have his Christian name correct), a veteran keeper who was part of the Lovell's furniture. The side to the left looking from the covered enclosure was an unterraced bank with vegetation, and behind it were, I think brambles and blackberry bushes. You could stand there with a slight slope down to the pitch.

Behind the goal was I think a similar unterraced free standing area, while there was a small stand opposite with seating and behind which were the changing rooms.

I also saw Lovell's play Llanelly (no i on the end then) in a Welsh Cup game probably in the same season, and I saw Headington United, captained by 'Big Fat' Ron Atkinson in a Southern League game, and I think I saw Gloucester City, possibly in the FA Cup.

In their Welsh Cup days towards the end of the sixties, I saw Lovell's play County reserves (County won 4-0 and had Graham Reynolds and David Pugh playing) and Llanelli, who had now changed the y to an i. They played in red shirts and black shorts when I first saw them, though I think they changed to blue shorts in their dying days. You wouldn't have wanted to be there with a crowd of more than a couple of hundred, because there was no terracing in sight.

I think my memories are pretty accurate and I hope they give you some flavour of my favourite alternative venue to Somerton as a young lad.

This is posted on behalf on King Billy

Good to have your response about Lovells. I did have programmes, but over

the years have sadly lost them. The only item I've still got, which I'll

have to hang on to, is Tommy Lawton's autograph, when he came down to

Rexville in the late 1950's as Manager of Kettering Town. I always remember

the dressing room door opening and this huge man coming out surrounded by

steam and the strong smell of the old muscle rub that used to be sold in

jars. He had an immaculate parting right down the centre of his head.

Lovells were the first team to beat Kettering in the league that season -

they had a good record like the present County.

I used to support Lovells when the County were away, and saw them in the

old Southern League against teams like Hereford and Boston. They also put

up a great fight against Cardiff City in a Welsh Cup final at Somerton Park

in the early 1960's. It was a sad loss when they threw in the towel. I also

liked the Lovells shops in Newport, which sold sweets and cakes.

I loved going to Rexville. I can recall an old corrageted roof

behind a goal and just a fence behind the other one. I think there was a

small stand. After so many years, it's difficult to picture it, though.

However, I can still picture Somerton Park completely - even the old social

club in front of the players' entrance before they moved it over neare the

main gate. Occasionally, I still dream I'm there!!

One thing I still laugh about was a clash between a big Lovells player and

a small Boston one. The Boston bloke said something, and the Lovells player

responded, "What are you going to do about it, Tom Thumb!!" Being right on

the touchline you could here every word.

I recall also the Hereford goalie in the late 50's had the habit of jumping

up off the ground and not raising his hands. Quite arrogantly, he could

sense the ball was going just over the bar. Soon after I saw them in

Lovells, Hereford were drawn against the County at Somerton Park in the FA

Cup. He tried to do it again, but he was against better players and a

dipping shot completely caught him out. A long range shot curled in over

his head as he jumped up without raising his hands. I think County went on to

have a good cup run that year.

Thank you for your comment Credge.

IT'S GREAT TO SEE SOMEONE REMEMBERING WHAT WAS AT ONE TIME ONE OF THE BEST TEAMS IN THE UK (AND THAT'S NO EXADURRATION)- IT'S A SCANDAL THAT THIS IS STILL SUCH A LITTLE KNOWN FACT- WELL DONE MATE