22 minute read
Sport
from Palatinate 852
by Palatinate
Sport George Camsell: from Citizen starlet to Ayresome angel
Joe Harston
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Immortalised in bronze by the Ayresome gates, George Camsell now stands proud amongst fellow Middlesbrough legends Wilf Mannion and George Hardwick. 95 years after an (almost) untouchable goalscoring season in the English second tier.
Very few English players in the history of the game boast records like those that Camsell amassed within the famed 1926-27 season and beyond in his illustrious career that began on our doorstep in Framwellgate Moor, where he was born in 1902.
Typical of a Durham youngster, Camsell worked as a miner however his tour around the county’s smaller football teams in the early 1920s would become known as the origin of a legacy to be held in high regard over a century later.
Speaking to BBC Tees last month, George’s granddaughter, Helen told the story of how a young pit boy became one of the most prolific goal scorers in English football history. While employed by his local mine at Framwellgate Moor, Camsell took part in a strike which resulted in the miners playing football. “The lads were just having a kickabout and that’s when he was spo ed,” laughed Helen as she fondly recalled the stories of her late grandpa.
It meant that between 1920 and 1923, Camsell applied his trade at numerous teams around the area including Tow Law and Esh (Joe Harston)
excellence at the Ayresome gates – is long overdue.
In 2015, the BBC described him in a piece as “the best English player you have never heard of”, although as the pride of Durham and Middlesbrough’s greatest-ever goal scorer, we can only hope that this majestic tribute to a great man changes that.
Sanjay Suri
In the last two years, the traditional summer break in Formula One has been followed by a triple header: Spa Francorchamps in Belgium, Zandvoort in The Netherlands and Monza in Italy. These three have a lot in common. They are all oldschool tracks, they are all historical tracks and they all a ract a loud and partisan fanbase.
Whilst Monza’s place on the calendar is secure so long as Ferrari are on the grid, and Zandvoort surely retaining its place so long as Max Verstappen is racing, Spa’s future is very much in doubt.
Many have claimed that it is ‘too good’ or ‘too historic’ to be removed but is this the case? This year’s race was a relatively dull affair, where most overtakes were comfortable, DRS assisted ones down the Kemmel Straight.
The problem that Spa has is the opposite to Monaco — it is too easy to overtake. If you are in DRS range along the Kemmel Straight, you will most likely have the overtake done before the braking zone at Les Combes. If you go for a move at the Bus-Stop Chicane, it is difficult to defend as it is easy to squeeze your opponent out of room, such is the nature of chicanes in racing.
Remember in Silverstone this year when Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez ba led for nearly an entire lap, regularly changing positions throughout? This is the kind of racing you very Winning. However it was his time at Durham City AFC – while in his early 20s – where his eye for goal was recognised by one of the North East’s biggest names.
Camsell found himself at Durham City in 1924, where he turned out not to be such a mainstay. Leading the side from the front as one of the division’s most dangerous marksmen, he ne ed 21 goals in 20 appearances, and within a season Middlesbrough came knocking.
City were offered £500 to allow their goalscoring threat to make the short journey south to Teesside and by accepting it, history would be made.
Signing in October 1925, Camsell’s start at Middlesbrough was a steady one. Dr Tosh Warwick – who is currently working on a biography of the Boro legend – explained how the striker was eased gently into the first team, scoring three goals in the second tier that season while scoring a heap more for the reserves. After all, going from a miner to a second division footballer in several years is an almighty leap and not one that the club expected Camsell to take in his stride.
However, local newspapers knew exactly what the boy was capable of – describing the transfer as a “capture of great importance” and a “bolt out of the blue”. Those who had seen Camsell’s goal record at Durham were convinced this was quite a coup for the Teessiders.
Just a year later Camsell would write his name into the history books as his goal-scoring talent reached phenomenal, unprecedented heights. That season, the 59 goals he ne ed made records as the most goals scored in a singular season in English football history as he led the line in Middlesbrough’s table-topping campaign.
His goal tally still stands firm as the most goals scored in a second tier season and if it wasn’t for Dixie Dean’s 60 top-flight goals for Everton just a year later, George Camsell could be a household name and not just in the North East.
Camsell’s 63 goals in all competitions that season was an outstanding introduction to a sterling career that would reach its climax in 1939 upon the start of the Second World War, still at Middlesbrough – the club he had fallen in love with. His official goal tally reached a remarkable 345, a club record he still holds to this day.
An a acker of Camsell’s pedigree doesn’t just apply his trade at club level though, so England were bound to call him up. Representing the Three Lions, he continued se ing untouchable records. His outstanding sum of 18 goals in nine games is the best goal-togame ratio in England history. Yet another record that is unlikely to be improved in the modern game.
Camsell worked in Teesside’s factories throughout the war before returning to Middlesbrough FC where he would undertake various roles until 1963. As a coach and scout, he is famed for scouting the legendary Brian Clough who rivalled Camsell’s records himself, scoring 197 goals in 213 appearances for The Boro.
Whilst best known for the outstanding numbers he racked up, Camsell’s commitment to Middlesbrough was unquantifiable leading many to believe that his statue – completing a trio of
rarely see in Spa. Once the overtake is done, it is done. The other car does not get the opportunity to fight alongside through a sequence of corners.
There have been few iconic racing moments at Spa in the turbo-hybrid era. In 2014, Hamilton and Nico Rosberg had their first of many clashes, allowing Daniel Ricciardo to take a surprise win. In 2018, Hamilton and Sebastian Ve el went four-wide into Les Combes on Lap One alongside two Force India cars very much punching above their weight.
Spa is without a doubt a historic track, but that is not why a circuit should stay on the calendar. Both the Nurburgring and Hockenheimring do not look like they will be hosting F1 in the near future, despite the la er hosting the “race of the decade” in 2019 according to the official F1 website. After all, there are still plenty of historic tracks currently on the 2023 calendar anyway. Silverstone rarely fails to produce fantastic wheel-to-wheel racing. Interlagos throws up unpredictable races and represents Brazil’s influence on F1. Even Monaco, although often creating mundane racing with next to no overtakes, has the glitz and glamour synonymous with F1 and will always a ract celebrities and be loved by the drivers.
Granted, Spa does a ract excellent fans. They kept the noise up in 2021, despite not seeing a single racing lap. It is just across the border for the ‘Orange Army’, who come out in numbers to support Verstappen. Yet we see them at plenty of other races. It seems that Zandvoort has now outshone Spa as Verstappen’s true home race.
One must also question whether Spa is safe enough. Eau Rouge and Radillon is a thrilling section to both drive and watch, but it has a sinister side. Lando Norris was lucky to walk away unhurt following a big shunt in qualifying in 2021. And it has only been three years since Formula Two driver Anthoine Hubert lost his life at the same place.
The installation of gravel traps and increase in run-off area will have helped, and F1 is a dangerous sport where big crashes are sadly inevitable. Yet it is possible to have a track that punishes mistakes but does not threaten lives. The new iteration of Imola is a prime example, as well as the Red Bull Ring in Austria.
F1 is eager to expand its market in other areas, such as the USA, Africa and Asia. As more races get added to the calendar, some have to make way, and it is the European ones that look most vulnerable. Circuit Paul Ricard in France has been dropped, despite France having lots of history in motorsport.
Spa will always be loved by F1 fans. Yet, the sport is evolving rapidly, and the calendar needs to change too. There are worse tracks on the calendar, but one must be pragmatic. If Monaco goes, F1 loses a large chunk of its core identity. Races in the Middle East provide the sport with money. Whether this is ethically right is a debate for another day.
What makes Spa exciting is hardly unique. Perhaps it gets overhyped as it is the first race back after the summer break. F1 fans are so starved of racing action that they talk about Spa non-stop in the weeks preceding the race. The noisy fans and history are seen across Europe these days and, although corners like Eau Rouge, Pouhon and Blanchimont are memorable, they are less of a challenge for modern F1 cars which can take them flat-out.
Should Spa fall off the calendar, it will be sorely missed. There will be discontent amongst fans, but that might fade in the coming years. Although people still wish for places like Hockenheim and Sepang to return to F1, the noise around them is significantly less. It could well be that Spa will be replaced by Kyalami Circuit in South Africa for the 2024 season, marking F1’s first return to Africa for over 30 years. A bi er pill for traditional fans to swallow, but surely a step in the right direction for the sport.
Francois Lambregts via Flickr
Sport Are the PureGym findings all that pure?
Oliver Jervis
Durham’s sports scene is revered across the country and beyond for its high-quality output. As much can be observed from the list of alumni the University is constantly able to churn out, whether it be in the form of gold medal winning Olympians (a nod towards Jonathon Edwards & more), Commonwealth champions, or rising stars such as BUCS Super Rugby all-time try-scorer Fred Davies. Moreover, it can also be seen in the recent Good University Guide produced by The Times.
This position of athletic notoriety across the metaphorical field of sport has only been reinforced by the recent findings of PureGym, suggesting that Team Durham is a force to be reckoned with for any university in the United Kingdom – even in the eyes of the likes of Oxford, Cambridge and high-flyers Loughborough.
Yet, questions remain regarding the culture presently residing within the visually merry climes of Maiden Castle’s many courts and pitches. Earlier this year, a Palatinate investigation revealed that serious issues had corrupted the University’s elite sports teams, with claims of ‘racism, elitism and intimidation’ arising.
Thus, this is evidently a body with fundamental problems that require an effective solution. As an organisation operating on the frontline of student sport, Team Durham must ask itself what it values more: ceaseless successful performances in the BUCS rankings accompanied by an intensely toxic culture, or an environment more accustomed to the ethical values consistently preached about by the University in their emails with undetermined results?
When observing the current response to the issues of the day infesting Maiden Castle, one builds the impression that the former approach is presently preferred by Team Durham. participate in the 18 sports offered by the University. Additionally, it does not seem to include the 75% supposedly deterred from joining Team Durham due to their financial demands according to a recent survey by Durham’s 93% Club.
More questions instead, therefore, hang over the head of the University. In which direction is it seeking to go? At what point is it desirable to promote a real feeling of equality on the student sports scene?
In the midst of an oft-referred to cost-of-living crisis, is it really acceptable for Team Durham to continue to ignore those most in need? Furthermore, from a purely sporting perspective, how much talent is the organisation willing to let go in order to cut its own costs?
One issue that requires particular addressal is accessibility. Due to the turmoil surrounding the aforementioned claims concerning Durham’s elite sports teams, this specific ma er has seemingly been neglected by the powers that be. In essence, it is deserving of a lot more a ention – especially in the light of PureGym’s recent glorifying study.
To provide ample context, in the closing weeks of the last academic year Durham’s 93% Club (a student group aiming to help state students at university level) ran a ‘cut the costs’ campaign which sought to address this accessibility problem.
With the intention of securing an effective solution for underprivileged students, they tendered an open le er to the University providing several proposals seeking to remedy the inequalities currently presiding at Maiden Castle.
These included the imposition of a means-tested subsidy similar to the college-level participation fund, an expansion of sports-related grants aimed at those starting at novice-level, and an increase in effective dialogue between Team Durham and students when it came to ma ers like financial accessibility.
When asked by Palatinate regarding Team Durham’s response to this campaign, Luke Alsford – last year’s 93% Club President – said: “The 93% Club’s campaign was acknowledged, but not acted upon. We know from communications with multiple Team Durham clubs and from a meeting with Team Durham’s then-President Chris Lennon, that our campaign was acknowledged and the awareness raised of the astronomical costs of Team DU sports (sometimes exceeding £250) was welcomed.
“However, what we learnt from our campaign is that while Team Durham likes to allude to its accessibility and openness, it is stubbornly and single-mindedly focused on developing the sporting talent of those who are already good enough and can afford to participate.”
With this in mind, it is necessary to ask oneself several questions. For example, Team Durham’s mo o is notoriously “Inspiring the Extraordinary”. Yet, if these claims are found to be true, who suffices as “extraordinary” nowadays?
At present, this appears to refer to those who can endure the oftenoverwhelming costs required to
Before arriving in Durham, prospective students are promised an El Dorado of opportunity, including the advantages of stateof-the-art sports facilities that are deceivingly portrayed as easily accessible.
Nevertheless, if this current trend of ignorance towards the needy – to put it in a rather Dickensian fashion – is allowed to continue, then a rewriting of Team Durham’s mo o and publicity propaganda must happen with immediate effect.
Whether any meaningful action will be taken by the University hierarchy during the upcoming academic year remains to be seen. Meanwhile, studies from the likes of PureGym can only paper over the cracks for so long. (Oliver Jervis)
DWFC: the Wildcats hoping to Beth Hepple (Durham Women FC) prowl for promotion
Maddie Parker
Palatinate recently reported that Durham Women FC were entering adulthood. Now, three games into the season, the question remains as to whether the team will find themselves emerging out of their adolescence with enough of the fervour of their youth to send the Wildcats prowling up the table and towards a coveted position in the WSL.
We can imagine the FA Women’s Championship as Durham’s first professional job. Over the past few years they have se led in well, acquainted themselves with their colleagues and polished up their Linkedin profiles. Sure, they have enjoyed their stint here and made some lasting memories but there is definitely more they can give, and the 2022/23 season is their time to prove it. Like every good working adult, they are gunning for that promotion.
Naturally however, with adulthood comes a level of responsibility that teenage excuses simply will not cover for. Joining other teams in the championship with a switch to full-time training is both a vital pledge to professionalism and will hopefully be a huge boost for the club’s competitiveness. However, the days of being a team in transition are coming to a close and Durham’s loyal fanbase will be hoping for more than the mediocre sixth place finish of last season.
The standard and intensity of the new regime - described by star striker Beth Hepple as “the best it has ever been” - has already effected positive change down at Maiden Castle. A club record a endance of 1,668 spectators flocked from either side of the River Wear to watch a well-fought 1-1 draw in the opening fixture of the season against rivals Sunderland.
Riding on the wave of the Lionesses’ Euros victory this summer however, the increased ticket sales, TV views and interest surrounding the Wildcats will likely also be enjoyed by their championship counterparts. Much like anyone in this promotion race, Durham must find a way to stand out.
Manager Lee Sanders’ solution comes through his summer signings who accompany a plethora of long-serving Wildcats signing their first professional contracts with the club. Notable additions include midfielders Maria Farrugia and Saoirse Noonan - the la er scored a brace in Durham’s convincing 3-1 triumph against Blackburn on Sunday.
Reflecting on the impact of her incoming team members after clinching their first three points of the season, defender Sarah Robson commented, “They’ve been identified for a reason to come to our club because they’re great players that are going to make us be er.
“You’ve seen today that’s the best they’ve played before - they were outstanding and we are really happy they are part of our family now and they are going to push us on. We want to be be er and this is the start of it.”
But there’s a continuing sentiment hanging over the Wildcats’ performances during the past few seasons. “We’re just happy because we have been playing really well over the last couple of games and we just haven’t been ge ing the results.” Kelly, is simply too tempting.
Fast approaching for Durham also is the FA Women’s League Cup, where they will face Sheffield United on October 2nd. Robson looks forward to “a competition where everybody gets some minutes and you play against some of the best teams in the country.”
She followed by echoing a wider message in the women’s game, calling for increased fan turnouts and praising their ardent support thus far. In return, the team hopes for a return to second and third place finishes that were commonplace for the club in the past few seasons.
So the scene is set as DWFC embark on their journey of adulthood. They will be pu ing in the hours down at their Maiden Castle office, hoping soon it could be a fortress of WSL football. If they are to hone in on that single promotion spot however, the Wildcats will need to harness that distinct Durham charm and get their elbows out - all while inevitably having the utmost fun. After all, isn’t that what adulting is all about?
Crucially however - in a league that is notoriously difficult to escape - Durham won’t just need to ensure they win when they are on top form but they’ll need to find a way to be triumphant when they are underperforming too.
So who are the Wildcats’ main competitors? Teams like Bristol and London City - who came within touching distance of the top flight last season - seem unwaveringly focused with their flying starts to the campaign. The thought of WSL football, where they would play the likes of Leah Williamson and Chloe
Sport
Joe Harston pays tribute to one of Durham City’s greatest ever players.
Maddie Parker discusses Durham Women’s start to the campaign.
Durham wins Sports University of the Year
Oliver Jervis
The Times and Sunday Times have named Durham as the 2023 Sports University of the Year in their recently published Good University Guide, reaffirming the university’s status as being a centre for sporting excellence.
The rankings noted Durham’s continued strong performance in the British University and Colleges Sport League (BUCS), after the university placed 3rd in the 2021-22 season. Durham has ranked within the top 3 of the BUCS every year since 2012.
The rankings also note that “Durham’s collegiate system encourages high participation rates throughout the university.” Durham boasts that over 75% of students take part in physical activity, from collegiate level right up to universitywide sports teams.
It comes as a study released by PureGym earlier this year named Durham University as the most prolific producer of professional athletes in the United Kingdom, beating the likes of Oxford, Cambridge, Loughborough and Edinburgh.
The 141 sports stars among Durham’s alumni ensures that they are 55 athletes beyond second placed Oxford, whilst Cambridge are sat in third spot with 73 of their graduates competing professionally.
Loughborough – who are ranked first worldwide for sports academia and have Lord Coe among their alumni – are in fourth place with 38 professional sports graduates. Edinburgh completes the top five with a total of 31 professionals.
Those representing Durham University on the world’s biggest sport stages include several
household names, such as former international rhythmic gymnast Gabby Logan, former Olympic gold medallist Jonathon Edwards and excricketer Holly Colvin.
Evidence suggests that the University has been aided in these efforts through the 12 sporting scholarships it hands out to selected students annually, whilst Team Durham possesses one of the largest internal programmes in Britain, with 18 sports being played across 700 different teams.
Nevertheless, Durham and other UK universities are dwarfed by universities in the USA when it comes to producing professional athletes. According to PureGym’s extended study, the University of Florida holds top spot under the flight of the star-spangled banner, with an immense 750 professional athletes produced.
Second place is occupied by the University of Michigan, whose 633 professional stars include NFL legend Tom Brady and serial Olympic gold medal winner Michael Phelps. To reinforce the superiority of the USA, the top ten athlete-producing universities boast at least 200 sports stars each.
Stephen Rowe, the Chief Marketing Officer at PureGym, told Palatinate Sport that “We feel this is a great accolade for Durham University. Whatever sport a prospective student might be passionate about, a dream scenario for them will likely be to make a career out of playing it.
“To know that you can study a broad range of subjects, while being nurtured from a sporting point of view is no doubt going to be a big pull for many prospective students. University alumni can play a part for some students in choosing where they go and from a sporting standpoint, this ticks a big box.”
Bristol Bears’ player Fred Davies – Durham Men’s 1XV captain last year and the BUCS’ all-time try scorer – also commented about PureGym’s findings: “I think coming to Durham I always had the dream to pursue a career in rugby and push on as far as I could. Early on I recognised that the university pathway was a viable one for both exposure to high level fixtures and recognition from premiership sides.
“Teammates throughout my tenure at the university were regularly being picked up by premiership clubs and therefore
(Oliver Jervis)
the connections were fairly organic. Going through student life you develop a wide range of skills which are aptly transferable to a career in professional sport; time management, resilience, independence and the ability to adapt in new environments. Certainly, my time at Durham aided in developing all of those assets.”
When speaking about what distinguishes Durham from other sports-focused universities, Davies explained how “The Durham schedule is pre y manic. Sometimes, it can be frustrating when, as a student athlete, you are left to spin the plates of academics and performance. I know at other universities this balance can be skewed.
“However, with Durham’s clear focus on academic excellence, you develop a great resilience and “find a way” mentality to balance your lifestyle. Sometimes I felt it was a hindrance to my athletic development. However, looking back now, it taught me valuable life lessons and provided me with the tools to handle these situations in the future.”
Durham City AFC
Citizens endure rough start to the season
A winless start for the Citizens means the club are currently wallowing at the bo om of Division One of the Wearside League. This has been brought about by the concession of 89 goals, with only one in their favour.
Following last season’s relegation, a mighty challenge to remain in the division is at hand. Cycling
Tour of Britain 2022 cancelled early
Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the AJ Bell Tour of Britain ended prematurely after its fifth stage. Gonzalo Serrano (ESP) was named as winner. Mathijs Paasschens (BEL) and Ma hew Teggart (IRL) were crowned King of the Mountains and Sprint winner respectively.
Team Durham
Durham Uni sport sign deal with Castore
A fresh partnership deal with Castore and Kitlocker has been announced by Team Durham. The brand will now been the central kit supplier for the University’s elite sports teams.
Ma Keogh, Durham University’s Sports Clothing Coordinator said:
“As a top sporting university, our athletes need the very best when it comes to kit. Therefore, I’m really excited to see how the partnership develops between Durham University and Kitlocker and look forward to seeing all of our Team Durham athletes ki ed out in the fantastic new Castore range.”
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