SUFC Forever
Manager
A Nottingham Forest supporting friend of mine (who is also a collector of sports memorabilia, autographs etc.) recently sent me a handwritten letter of former Forest and SUFC player Johnny French. Think it must have been written many years ago (it is un-dated) and is in response to questions sent to him by a Miss Nunn. I thought it might be of interest to some of you so thought I would type this in it's full form here -
"Dear Miss Nunn,
I played for three clubs not two. When I was sixteen I went from South Bank Juniors to Middlesbrough and signed professional forms for them when I was seventeen. I played 48 games for Middlesbrough before being called up for the army.
It was while I was in the army that I played my most memorable game. It was not a professional game, it was Royal Armoured Corps Bovington and the 121 Training Regiment Royal Artillery. The two command teams playing in a replay match at the command game Aldershot. Seventy minutes after the start of the Army Cup Final a thunderstorm swept over the ground and a flash of lightning lit up the field. I was taking a throw in at the time with the ball over my head when I felt a burning in my hands and I was knocked to the ground. The lad I was going to throw the ball to was killed and the player who was marking him was also killed. Our left half and the inside right.
The teams first meeting was watched by the King and Queen. I captained the side and had the honour of presenting the King to the players before the game. It was a very sad day and it's a long story. That was my most memorable game, are two games, it was a long week to remember.
The next memory was very, very short. It was at the Southend United ground against Millwall in about 1947 season, give a year or two each way. When I scored a goal 9 seconds from the kick off. The quickest goal ever for Southend United. I also scored 14 goals in one season for Southend, a record for a wing half at Southend
My best Southend United team I played with would be...
Scannell
Loughran
Anderson
French
Sheard
Lawler
Sibley
McAlinden
Wakefield
Davies
Stubbs
I was transferred from Southend to Nottingham Forest by request. The main reason was for a better playing pitch as my wages were still the same.
My best Nottingham Forest team was...
Walker
Whare
Thomas
French
McKinlay
Burkitt
Scott
Martin
Ardron
Capel
Collinridge
After two seasons without missing a game for Forest, I was injured at Rotherham and it ended my career so that is another game I will never forget. I tried to play again after the injury playing against Newcastle twice at inside forward in an FA Cup round and replay, but it was not to be and like all good soldiers, I just faded away.
I hope I have answered your question alright and now you can have my autograph. I was called John at home and signed my name.
Johnny French"
Does anybody know what happened to Johnny French, if he is still alive or not? It is a very nice letter beautifully written and I would be happy to donate it to the club if ever they decided to incorperate a museum into the new ground if it is ever built.
"Dear Miss Nunn,
I played for three clubs not two. When I was sixteen I went from South Bank Juniors to Middlesbrough and signed professional forms for them when I was seventeen. I played 48 games for Middlesbrough before being called up for the army.
It was while I was in the army that I played my most memorable game. It was not a professional game, it was Royal Armoured Corps Bovington and the 121 Training Regiment Royal Artillery. The two command teams playing in a replay match at the command game Aldershot. Seventy minutes after the start of the Army Cup Final a thunderstorm swept over the ground and a flash of lightning lit up the field. I was taking a throw in at the time with the ball over my head when I felt a burning in my hands and I was knocked to the ground. The lad I was going to throw the ball to was killed and the player who was marking him was also killed. Our left half and the inside right.
The teams first meeting was watched by the King and Queen. I captained the side and had the honour of presenting the King to the players before the game. It was a very sad day and it's a long story. That was my most memorable game, are two games, it was a long week to remember.
The next memory was very, very short. It was at the Southend United ground against Millwall in about 1947 season, give a year or two each way. When I scored a goal 9 seconds from the kick off. The quickest goal ever for Southend United. I also scored 14 goals in one season for Southend, a record for a wing half at Southend
My best Southend United team I played with would be...
Scannell
Loughran
Anderson
French
Sheard
Lawler
Sibley
McAlinden
Wakefield
Davies
Stubbs
I was transferred from Southend to Nottingham Forest by request. The main reason was for a better playing pitch as my wages were still the same.
My best Nottingham Forest team was...
Walker
Whare
Thomas
French
McKinlay
Burkitt
Scott
Martin
Ardron
Capel
Collinridge
After two seasons without missing a game for Forest, I was injured at Rotherham and it ended my career so that is another game I will never forget. I tried to play again after the injury playing against Newcastle twice at inside forward in an FA Cup round and replay, but it was not to be and like all good soldiers, I just faded away.
I hope I have answered your question alright and now you can have my autograph. I was called John at home and signed my name.
Johnny French"
Does anybody know what happened to Johnny French, if he is still alive or not? It is a very nice letter beautifully written and I would be happy to donate it to the club if ever they decided to incorperate a museum into the new ground if it is ever built.
