Forest Town - St Alban's Church

This photograph appeared in St Alban’s Church Magazine, April 1950, and the Rev. John Spencer in his monthly letter refers to the picture and why the church encouraged the youngsters to play football.

“Those of you who aren’t interested at all in Boys’ Football might be interested to know the reason we plan this activity for the youngsters is to give children of the Church early opportunities for team work, and to train them to become better members of the greater team of Christ’s Holy Church. All our boys come regularly to Church for worship, and to the Sunday School or the Vicar for regular instruction in the Faith . The parents must be most appreciative of Mr Townroe’s kindness in accepting responsibility for ‘away’ matches when the Vicar is tied up with weddings, and to Mr J Higginbotham for giving up two Saturday afternoons of every three in order to referee on their behalf.

The football arrangements often give the Vicar a head-ache, his decisions are not always popular and frequently he is tempted ‘to give it up,’ but when he sees a photograph like the one appearing in this edition, knowing it was taken after a 12 to nil loss, and the lads had returned so happily he thought that the result had been the other way round, he feels that it is worth while after all and carries on. If the Church teaches youngsters to lose gracefully she is doing an important part of her job.