 GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

by Iain McCartney

The Manchester United Graves Society doesn’t simply concentrate on the burial places of those who wore the shirt, but also attempts to find cremation details where and when they apply. Some notable names were cremated.

On the other side of the railway line that runs parallel with the main stand at Old Trafford is Railway Road and the majority of supporters, if not all of those, taking this route to the ground on a match-day are unaware that they are passing by the home of a player who features prominently in the history of Manchester United.

Living at number 68 was Enoch “Knocker” West, a strong, robust centre forward of the old school type who had signed for Sheffield United in November 1903, but it wasn’t until he returned to his home county and joined Nottingham Forest that he came to the fore, helping them to the Second Division title in season 1906-07 with 14 goals, going on to score 93 goals in 168 appearances. He also had the distinction of being the first Forest player to be sent off.

June 1910 saw the prolific scorer sign for United, scoring on his debut against Woolwich Arsenal and forging a noted partnership with Sandy Turnbull, scoring 19 to the Scot’s 18 in that title winning first season of 1910‑11.

But his goals, whilst bringing additional Football League representative honours did not bring continued success at club level and his playing career came to an abrupt end as 1914-15 came to a close and not simply due to the advent of the First World War.

A Good Friday fixture against Liverpool at Old Trafford on April 2nd 1915, which ended 2-0 in United’s favour, was rocked with controversy, when West, along with seven other players, three from United and four from Liverpool, were found guilty of fixing the result. On the morning of the match, FA representatives, Mr Fredrick Wall and Mr Arthur Kingscott, visited the ground to discuss arrangements for the forthcoming FA Cup Final, to be held at the Old Trafford on April 24th and it was rather fortunate that they had to leave prior to the start of the game as the events of that particular afternoon produced much debate in the days and weeks ahead.

As the rain poured down, the 15,000 crowd had to endure more than the adverse weather conditions, with the performances of both teams producing some very dubious play.

United began the game quite promisingly and indeed opened the scoring with a goal from Anderson. Liverpool, however, were expected to take both points, as United were not enjoying the best of seasons, sitting in a precarious position, third bottom of the league with only eight games remaining and a place in Division Two beckoning.

However, as the first half progressed, the visitors showed little appetite for the game and play sluggishly dragged on to the interval. Half time opinion suggested that the second fortyfive minutes would see the home side up against it, as their Lancashire neighbours committed themselves more to attack and began to show their true form. As it was to turn out, this was not the case and it soon became obvious to a large majority of the crowd that they were witnessing something a little more involved than a simple game of football. Voices of displeasure soon began to echo around the ground.

Play continued to be rather mundane, until a United attack on the visitor’s goal saw a Liverpool defender being penalised and a penalty kick being awarded. Much to the crowd’s amazement, centre half O’Connell stepped up to take the spot-kick instead of the regular penalty taker Anderson. Seconds later, O’Connell’s effort gave the goalkeeper no cause for concern, as it flew well wide of the post. the end, Liverpool’s Pagnam almost pulled a goal back, but his shot rebounded off the crossbar, when it looked easier to score. For his effort, he received a severe reprimand from some of his team mates, as the crowd looked on in disbelief.

Two valuable points for United, but the press were not lacking in comment on the fixture. “the most uninteresting game ever seen at the ground” wrote the ‘Sporting Chronicle’ correspondent, while the Daily Dispatch reporter penned “United’s West was clearly employed in the second half in kicking the ball as far out of play as he could”.

A couple of weeks after the match a letter, signed ‘Football King’ appeared in the ‘Sporting Chronicle’ on behalf of a firm of bookmakers, asking if anyone could help with information relating to several players betting on the United – Liverpool match ending in a 2-0 win for the home side? This opened a can of worms and although the finger of suspicion was pointed at several United players, they managed to keep their minds on playing, with relegation to the Second Division being avoided.

In the meantime, a committee was assembled by the Football League to investigate the allegations arising from the match and the referee, John Sharpe, was even quoted as saying that following the penalty incident, he “suspected that something was amiss”, but decided to continue with the game, although it was the most extraordinary match that he had ever officiated over. United manager John Robson, was also disgusted by the performances of both teams and had left the ground before the final whistle. Following many hours of questioning players from both sides, the investigating committee announced that four Liverpool players, along with A. Turnbull, West and Whalley of United were to be suspended sine-die from football.

Much was made of the case, and ‘Knocker’ West went to great lengths to declare his innocence in the matter. So incensed was he, that he decided to take the matter to court. Prior to a home match during the First World War, he even stood outside Old Trafford, having made the short journey from his home in nearby Railway Road, handing out leaflets which stated that he was prepared to give £50, quite a sum in those days, to any Red Cross Fund, if anyone could prove that he had placed a bet, or won any money, from the Good Friday fixture. No one ever came forward.

On July 5th 1917, some two years after the eventful confrontation, the court case opened and while some players denied all knowledge of any attempts to fix the outcome of the game,

others, including Sheldon of Liverpool (and a former United player) suggested otherwise. It was revealed that on the morning of the match, he had journeyed to Manchester alone, meeting up with his former United team mates Turnbull, Whalley and West in the Dog and Partridge pub close to Old Trafford. After much conversation and debating, it was agreed that the result of the game would be 2-0 to United, with a goal in each half. Sheldon had been approached previously and had made arrangements with some of his Liverpool team mates regarding fixing the result and everything could be finalised.

The seeds for the infamous fixed game were sown only a short walk from West’s home and indeed, United’s Old Trafford home.

West was also involved in another rather unsavoury incident in the Dog and Partridge in May 1919 when he assaulted United manager Jack Robson. Refused permission by the United manager to play in a fixture at Blackpool, West approached Robson, who also lived nearby on Warwick Road, pulling at his coat and when he turned round, West punched him in the face. When someone came to Robson’s aid, he too was assaulted.

Hauled in front of the Manchester County Police Court, West could only admit the assault and was fined £10 and placed on probation for twelve months. There was no forthcoming apology to Jack Robson.

Following the War, all the players, except for West had their bans lifted and it was not until some thirty years later that the man from Railway Road was given a belated reprieve.

Enoch West was cremated at Agecroft Crematorium on September 18th 1965.

In a career which spanned some twenty years, local Cork sides Western Rovers and Cork Athletic were the first ports of call before the superbly named twenty-year-old Noel Euchuria Cornelius Cantwell [try making a chant out of that name] made the decision to join West Ham United in 1952. He quickly settled in his new surroundings and made the step up from junior level to the Football League in his first season, whilst also making the transformation from forward line to defence with the same remarkable ease.

A year later, he was winning the first of his thirty-six Republic of Ireland international caps, against Luxembourg. Season 1957-58 saw the Hammers lift the Second Division title, giving Cantwell a bigger stage on which to display his undoubted talents, which were soon to catch the attention, of amongst others, Matt Busby, who was still in the process of team building following the Munich disaster. Liking what he saw, the United manager approached West Ham and following negotiations, a fee of £29,500 prised him away from London’s East End to the banks of the ship canal in November 1960.

He was quick to settle in the north of England and his arrival helped to strengthen the United defence that was in much need of some stability, and following his United debut in a friendly against Bayern Munich on 21 November, he took over the left-back position for the trip to Cardiff five days later, his presence doing little to prevent a 3-0 defeat at the hands of the Welshmen. Results, however, quickly improved with Cantwell becoming a rock in the sometimes-frail defence.

United’s defensive fragilities surfaced once again in the early months of season 1961-62 and injury prevented Cantwell from helping to stop the ever-increasing goals against column, missing 19 league fixtures before returning, rather surprisingly at centreforward against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park. He would have been better employed as an extra defender, as United lost 3-0, but four days later at Burnley, the international footballer and cricketer scored in the 3-1 win, adding another against Arsenal in the following fixture.

In 1962-63, returning to the side in October, Busby made him captain and despite the continuing poor form at First Division level, United strode towards Wembley and the FA Cup Final, with Cantwell lifting the trophy following the 3-1 victory over Leicester City.

In January 1963, however, he lost his place in the starting line up to Tony Dunne, who was switched from right to left back and from then until April 1965, he was to make only

Season 1965-66 added a further twenty-three League starts to his list of appearances, but by the beginning of the following season, it became obvious that his days at Old Trafford were numbered and despite not being a regular first team player, he could be depended upon when he was called into the side, but with those first team appearances few and far between he decided to hang up his boots early in season 1967-68, relinquish his position as Chairman of the PFA and take up the post of manager with Coventry City, whilst holding a similar post with the Republic of Ireland.

The move into management had come completely out of the blue, but Cantwell, keen to be involved in the coaching side of the game, quickly adapted to the new role, gaining many admirers, as he transformed Coventry City from an ordinary, run of the mill side, to one capable of holding their own in the top section of the First Division.

Seven years later he joined Fourth Division Peterborough United as manager, but in 1977, he was tempted to America and the North American Soccer League, firstly with the New England Tea Men, for one season, and then with the Jacksonville Tea Men up until 1982.

He re-joined Peterborough in December 1986, again as manager, becoming general manager of the club in 1988. He gave up this post, however, a year later, retiring from the game, spending his time running the New Inn public house in Peterborough.

Noel passed away on September 8th 2005 and more than 1,000 mourners, including former team mates Bobby Charlton and Denis Law, attended the requiem mass in Peterborough Cathedral. His ashes were scattered at Cork Cricket Ground following the death of his wife in January 2017.

At Manchester Crematorium there is a dedication in the remembrance book for February to “Byrne, Roger William. Born 8th September 1929, died February 6th 1958. Captain of Manchester United F.C. and English International.”

This is sadly the only memorial to the captain of the Busby Babes. It may well be the only memorial, but the memories of this outstanding full back still linger on today. Roger Byrne was a local lad, born in Gorton and attended Abbey Hey junior school and Burnage Grammar school. Despite this success, he felt uncomfortable playing in that forward position, so much so, that he asked for a transfer, which although granted, was never to materialise and he was soon back in his favoured left back position.

He was a strong minded, but well-liked individual, who had numerous attributes which made him such an outstanding defender and he was an obvious successor to Johnny Carey as club captain.

Made his England debut in 1954 and went on to play thirty-three consecutive games, whilst also winning ‘B’ and Football League international honours.

With United, he led them to consecutive First division titles in 1956 and 1957, as well as the

FA Cup Final in 1957, but two days short of his twenty-ninth birthday, he was to perish alongside his team mates at Munich.

His funeral was held at Flixton Parish Church.

His ashes were scattered in the rose garden at the crematorium.

surprisingly failed to make his station football team.

His footballing career began at Ryder Brow Youth Club and it was from here that he joined United. His formative years, however, were not as a defender, but either on the left side of midfield or on the left wing.

His United debut was made at left back against Liverpool at Anfield on November 21st 1951, but in the final half dozen games of that championship winning season, he starred at outside left, scoring seven goals.