JOHNNY SCHOFIELD

Series

Series Name

Mining Review 13th Year

Issue

Issue No.

5

Date Released

Jan 1960

Stories in this Issue:

1. 1STITCH IN TIME
2. 2STOCKS FOR WATTS
3. 3JOHNNY SCHOFIELD
4. 4ON CALL

Story

Story No. within this Issue

3 / 4

Summary

BFI synopsis: the story of Johnny Schofield, ex-miner and collier’s son, now the regular goalkeeper of Birmingham City F.C.
NCB Commentary - The crowd is cheering Johnny Schofield - a collier’s son, once a miner himself and now the regular goal keeper for Birmingham City. Nearly every day Johnny joins the other boys at practice.
For many years he worked underground at Baddesley Colliery, near Atherton. Football was only a secondary occupation. Two years ago he was injured in an explosion at the pit. When he was fit again he decided to earn his whole living from football. He’s 27 years old and, although he signed professional forms for the City when he was 17, this is his first year at first choice goal keeper. Previously, he deputised for Gilbert Merrick.
In between times, Johnny is a keen golfer. He often plays with and old pit mate - Derek Turner, they worked the same face together. While nobody can teach Schofield much about the art of goal keeping, there’s quite a lot the club’s professional, Sidney Warren Greech can tell him about golf.
At every home game during the season, the crowds gather at St. Andrew’s Ground, Birmingham, to watch their favourite team in action. When Mining Review were there Manchester United were the opponents.
The two managers - Matt Busby on the right - discussed the prospects but, however hard they talked, the results still rested on the 22 young men in shorts.
After five years in the First Division, the City haven’t done so well this season and there wass stiff opposition.
In the United side was another miner’s son - Bobby Charlton, there he is, No.10.
The game was a draw, with the ever watchful Schofield right on top of his form. But even the best of goal keepers can’t always keep out that Manchester attack.
The game over, there was time for pondering opportunities lost and gained. And for Schofield and Charlton to compare notes. But their fathers had spent a lifetime in the pits as family background and football and football provided ready topics for conversation - but the youngsters wouldn’t let them talk for long.

Researcher Comments

Commentary recorded 7th December 1959.

Keywords

Mining; Football

Written sources

British Film Institute Databases   Used for synopsis
Film User   Vol.14 No.167 September 1960, p520.
The National Archives COAL 32   /12 Scripts for Mining Review, 1956-1960

Credits:

Production Co.

Documentary Technicians Alliance

Sponsor

National Coal Board