Hellesdon’s football history is celebrated in new book

A new book full of stories from Hellesdon’s footballing past has been published to mark the centenary of a local league’s foundation.

July 30 this year will mark exactly 100 years since the formation of the Norwich Business Houses Football League, a competition which at its peak provided for 63 teams on Saturday afternoons. Sadly, the league ended in 2017, but Norwich accountant Paul Oxbury has chronicled the 93-year history of the League in a 332-page book called Close of Business.

COVER STORY: Paul Oxbury with his new book.

As its name suggests, the league initially existed for the football clubs of companies and firms but it evolved as the city, industry and the local football scene changed.

Clubs representing churches, new housing estates and youth centres joined the competition, as did teams as diverse as the Boys Brigade and HM Prison Norwich. Many will recall Hellesdon dominating the Anglian Combination in the early 1970s, but their meteoric rise started on September 14, 1963 in the Business Houses League. The book explains how the club’s 7-1 opening day win over Autowrappers led to unprecedented success.
There is also focus on the title wins of the likes Boundary Inn and Anglia Windows, and reflection with former Norfolk centrehalf Tim Sayer about the positive role Hellesdon Hospital FC played in his own and other young players’ development.

The book also explores the history of many of Hellesdon’s current and former venues. There is a fascinating insight into the opening of grounds at The Firs (owned by Sexton, Son & Everard), Heath Crescent (Jarrolds), Hellesdon Recreation Ground (first used by Mann Egerton) and Horsford Manor (Anglian Windows).

HOME TURF: A plan of the ground at Heath Crescent.

As well as enjoying League success, Hellesdon Hospital also lifted the Shoe Trades Charity Cup. The trophy was donated by Henry Sexton in 1929 for competition between the city’s many shoe firms, and early finals were played at the Nest and Carrow Road in front of four figure crowds.
As the shoe industry waned, so the Business Houses League committee took over the running of the competition and over the years it was able to make a pleasing contribution to local charities and good causes.

Close of Business is available in store at Jarrolds and the City Bookshop, and online via Amazon.

A LABOUR OF LOVE

The book is a four-year labour of love for Paul, who said: “It was a mixture of relief and delight when the book was finished. I met some great characters of the local game when researching the book and am pleased it was able to bring back some great memories for many of these unsung heroes who keep the local game going.

“I played local football for 15 years for Thorpe School Old Boys and then Norwich Union, playing in the Business Houses League and Shoe Trades Cup final for the latter. I am a keen watcher of local football from a young age and happy to watch games at all levels.”

The book took about four years to write and was a follow-up to another, published in 2014, about the Norwich Thursday League.

Paul, a former Thorpe St Andrew High School pupil, added: “I plan to do one more hopefully, but that will then be it!”