In the early years after World War 1, City teams were a blend of pre-war veterans and promising local amateurs. There was little success, but as the older players left the game, City began to sign better players to improve the team.

The local amateurs had now gained experience, and 1924/25 season saw everything come together at last.

Three local men, all forwards, were very highly rated and two of them, Norman Holliday and Arthur Hall, followed the same route to Worcester, via local junior club Worcester Rovers and then Badsey Rangers, a top amateur team in Midlands football. Hall would play his last season at Worcester. A local postmaster, his job was about to take him to Leicester.

Charlie “Chipper” Tongue was a tricky winger who had joined City from Bromsgrove Rovers in 1922, the same year that daring goalkeeper Chris Crutchley signed for City from West Bromwich Albion Reserves. Chris was highly rated and had only been kept out at West Brom by the veteran Hubert Pearson, a regular for 20 years.

The full-backs were Arthur Bentley, signed from Sheffield Wednesday in 1921 and Alf Young, signed from Willenhall in 1923.

The regular half back line comprised John Oakley, Bill Wilson, and Harry Parkes. Oakley had joined from Birmingham amateur football, Wilson had joined from Stafford Rangers in 1923. After a superb season at Worcester in 1924/25 he was signed by Bristol Rovers, and had a good Football League career. Left half Harry Parkes was signed in 1924, after starring in a successful Cradley Heath team.

During the summer of 1924 the vastly experienced (Crewe, Villa, QPR and Stockport) forward Harry Edgley was signed. Sadly, a broken leg in the first match finished his career. To replace him City made an inspired signing from Wellington Town, Dave Reid, who scored 5 goals in one game when City defeated Hednesford 9-2 in January 1925. The other forward position was taken by Arthur Ballard, yet another Birmingham amateur who was to prove invaluable as a late season replacement for any injured team-mates.

The season was notable for a good FA Cup run, and defeats of Hereford Thistle, Kidderminster, Bilston, Wellington and Stourbridge were achieved before eventual defeat 1-3 at Boston.

On Boxing Day 1924, a crowd of 8,975 watched City’s away match against Kidderminster Harriers at Aggborough, although it was estimated that many more fans climbed in free of charge due to a broken fence. The two local sides were competing to win the league and City lost 0-1.

Anxious not to lose ground to their biggest rivals, City began to recruit a fresh supply of forwards, including Syd Higgs from Burton, Bill Tustin, a Wednesbury amateur and Clem Warren of Walsall, to keep the goals flowing.

A new ground attendance record of 9,721 was set for the return game against Kidderminster Harriers at St. George’s Lane on Good Friday 1925. The match was what today would be called a “six pointer.” City gained revenge with a 2-0 win. However, the title was not decided until the final day of the season, when we travelled to Burton and Harriers entertained Stourbridge. Both games were drawn and City secured the title by the narrowest of margins, on goal average.

The players and staff lined up for a commemorative team photo with the championship shield over the summer. They are:

Front row – Charlie Tongue, Dave Reid, Arthur Hall, Bill Wilson.
Seated - Harry Parkes, Norman Holliday, Arthur Bentley, Alf Young, John Oakley, Syd Higgs, Bill Tustin, Horton, Arthur Ballard
Goalkeeper Chris Crutchley is in the middle of the back row.

The Official History of Worcester City FC is available to purchase in our online store which also includes the final game programme from our last game at St Georges Lane.