Been rather quiet on the forum so if anybody fancies a little read here goes.

The County was Ralph Hunts 8th league club.

He is even now Norwich City's record goal scorer.

Ralph joined us from Port Vale at the start of the 62-63 season.
He built up a superb partnership with Joe Bonson, the equivalent to Tynan/Aldo many years later.

Also feeding him from the wing was Ex Manchester United star Colin Webster who was a regular after the Munich tragedy.

In the 2 seasons he managed a total of 37 league goals, 27 in his first season.

He cost the club £2k to sign him up.

A bit clumber some but superb in the air with thick blond hair.

Got many signed photos of him.

After 2 years he moved onto Chesterfield scoring 10 goals in 21games before tragically being killed in a car accident returning from watching Peterborough play who were their competition in a forthcoming round of the FA cup.

Just 31 years old tragic end.

Reading on a Norwich forum that he still remembered, in fact his wife passed just this year as well.

Will do Joe next.

Hope you enjoyed the read.

Ably supported by Laurie Sheffield.

During the same period Billy Lucas signed Joe Bonson from Scunthorpe.
He had started his career at the Wolves getting into the First 11 when Wolves were in the old Division 1.
He really got noticed after joining Cardiff and scoring 37 league goals for them 1 every other game.

Joe made the same number of appearances as Ralph but actually scored 10 more goals in those 2 seasons. Huge total of 47!

Joe finished his career a few years later at Lincoln still scoring regularly.

Joe passed at the very young age of 55 back in Wolverhampton where his career started.

Laurie Sheffield next.

All the best and enjoy the read of some of our stars of the period.

Ralph Hunt was my favourite player when I was a child. I was devastated when he was killed.

Blackandamber wrote:Ralph Hunt was my favourite player when I was a child. I was devastated when he was killed.

Hello mate.

Yes it was tragic and still in prime of his career.

Laurie Sheffield was a legend at Barry Town in the Old Southern league scoring 78 goals under every other game ratio.
Billy Lucas signed him before Ralph and Joe had arrived and the 3 of them played together.
2 inside forwards and one centre forward.
He stayed another season after the other 2 had moved on again scoring 46 league goals for the club.
in a few seasons the 3 of them had scored over 130 league goals between them.
That will never happen again.
Remember one evening game against Notts County when Somerton was full of scouts eying the late great Jeff Astle.
Laurie played him off the park that night.
Keith Fry was also playing for Notts County on the wing having played for us a few years previously.
Soon after he left to join Doncaster for £10k and continued playing for 7 other clubs including Doncaster twice.
At the age of 78 he was still playing in a very successful Doncaster walking football team.
Still with us at 80.

Cheers for reading this.

Looking at Hunts record,it seems incredible that the Grimsby manager in particular,would even consider selling him with that amazing goal ratio.He did a swap with Swindon winger Jones,then Swindon let him go having scored 15 in 25 games.He had a good scoring record but clubs still sold him for peanuts.Lucas sold him to balance the books,something he did every year through necessity but,why did other managers do the same.

I was at the Notts County match when Astle was about to be sold for £25,000. Laurie Sheffield was brilliant, only about 5 ft. 8 with a fantastically strong torso.

Same team: Granville Smith: cracking little winger and crowd favourite.

Special branch wrote:Same team: Granville Smith: cracking little winger and crowd favourite.

Will do Granny in the week on a quiet day.

Cheers

Ok. I'll branch out(!) : a lovely little 1-0 win at Workington and fun on the beach and in pub at Blackpool on the way back.Anyone else on the coach?

Frank Nouble 3 wrote: Will do Granny in the week on a quiet day.

Cheers

Sounds all wrong that does.

whoareya wrote:

Frank Nouble 3 wrote: Will do Granny in the week on a quiet day.

Cheers

Sounds all wrong that does.

Must admit made me laugh out loud that

Okay then.

"Its time to do Granny"

Granville (Granny) Smith only played for 2 league clubs.

After a very promising start for Bristol Rovers he became out of favour and Billy Lucas signed him after only 20 odd games for Rovers.

Granny played for 7 seasons for us throughout the Hunt, Bonson, Sheffield era until going Non league with Bath in his early thirties.

Right winger and a regular on the team sheet throughout.

241 league games with 38 goals, pretty good for a winger.

Smashing chap and still with us in his early 80's.

He was forced to go to France to have a replacement hip in his 60's as the waiting time in the UK was horrendous.

18 months just to see a consultant.

Like the others got many signed photos of him from that time.

Cheers.

Thanks for that. I still remember his grin as he took corners and his swivel. In the Sheffield Wednesday match he was on the left wing with Colin Webster on the right.The only other member of the team still alive is Johnny Bird. ( I think)