Hi all
Not sure if it's widely known, but I'm in the early stage of researching and writing a new book about the life and times of Jimmy Seed, my grandad.
I'll obviously be using his auto-biography The Jimmy Seed Story as a framework, but hope to fill in some of the gaps as well adding a little more biographical information.
As When Saturday Comes put it: 'As in much of life, the real fascination with The Jimmy Seed Story comes from what it doesn’t tell you. His entire wartime service merits just one paragraph. More intriguing still, his England appearances are afforded a mere four words: “...my playing career with Sunderland, Mid-Rhondda, Spurs, Sheffield Wednesday and, of course, England.” It does make you wonder just how bad it can have been to justify reducing the experience to a conjunction, an adverbial phrase and a proper noun.'
He also had a little sister, Minnie, who, I've discovered, was something of a famous footballer herself during WW1. Can you imagine what it was like for Jimmy coming back from the war having being gassed, only to be ditched by Sunderland, finding himself out of work, and his sister playing in front of 30,000 fans at St James' Park?
Anyway, as research for my book I'm looking for people with Jimmy Seed stories, either surviving players, or their relatives mainly, or people who worked for Charlton perhaps? I'm sure there'll be people out there with tales to tell, or anecdotes at least.
Even the fella I sit next to in upper west was telling me that his dad used to work at the Valley on his school holidays, painting things and doing general odd jobs. Apparently JS used to come out onto the pitch with a shotgun and shoot the pigeons!
Any info or contacts gratefully received.
Thanks!
PS Early research has revealed that in the pre Jimmy Seed era Charlton's average League position was 49th.
In the 23 year Jimmy Seed era it was 11th.
And post Jimmy Seed it has been 32nd. Not including this season.
Makes me proud, at any rate.
And it highlighted for me how, not for the first time in Jimmy's career, the war came at a bad time. After promotion to Div One Charlton finished 2nd, 4th then 3rd, (as many of you know), before the war intervened.
Cheers
Jim
24
Comments
Minnie Seed was the youngest being a couple of years younger than Jimmy.
Angus Seed was also a footballer and a manager. Also a bit of a war hero.
I can't remember the relationship, but Martin would probably be about 50 now.
He sat with me in the Charlton end at the play off final, Charlton v Sunderland.
Your family and Charlton fans are sure to have some great stories to tell.
http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamPlyrsBios/PlayersS/BioSeedJM.html
Two-thirds of the way down the page, this has some images of the stadium of Royal Daring Club de Bruxelles from 1923, 2 years after he made his debut match for England there (one with a sabre-toting policeman):
http://www.rwdm-fcbrussels.be/11-FICHES/fiche-galeriephotos1895-1939.html
Anthony (cafc chief scout) was still in the North East in 1956, when he resigned after Jimmy was sacked.
Angus managed Aldershot, then Barnsley, but died in '53 when just 60 while still managing Barnsley. This must have been a real shock to Jimmy as they'd always been close.
Minnie was in the North East in '56.
I'll be doing more family tree research next year, Minnie being of particular interest.
I'll be looking for any Belgian newspaper articles relating to the '21 match, generally agreed to be England's first match against a 'foreign' team. They weren't such a big deal back then. But historic nonetheless. England didn't bother with such none sense as managers. The players just used to discuss formation and tactics in the dressing room before the game.
Maybe Charlton could try that?
I have got a couple of letters sent to my uncle from your grandad.
Not very insightful; however, they do evoke memories of that time. I will scan if possible and inbox to you.Any probs please let me know.
Martin J Seed living in SE18 with Terri Sanger 2006/7
Now living in Yeovil Somerset with the same lady .
You have to pay to get the address.
I have left you a message in your inbox.
Thanks for the help!
https://blythspirit.wordpress.com/2014/03/12/ladies-doing-it-for-themselves/
Scroll down
And she is named in the opposition a couple of times here:
http://www.donmouth.co.uk/womens_football/dick_kerr.html
Two team references here: scroll down to bottom
http://www.donmouth.co.uk/womens_football/cumbrian_munitionettes.html
Just about to write a couple of letters!
Brian Kinsey, Derek Ufton, Gordon Jago, Albert Uytenbogaardt, Eddie Firmani, Don Townsend and Bobby Lumley are the only players I can think of.
Jago is in the States as is Firmani
Do you know anything about Dudley Forbes and Kenny Chamberlain ?