Town players reminisce

Andy dropped in on Ernest Womerseley, 81, at Hartshead Manor care home to reminisce and chat about their mutual love of football.

Ernest, from Hartshead, played at Wembley for England Air Training Corps.

He went professional in 1949 and played for Huddersfield town until 1957, while Bill Shankly was the manager.

He said: “It was something I wanted to do. I enjoyed being selected. I got paid £10 a game. I had to have another job, teaching engineering and technical drawing.

“I then went to play for Bradford City – they weren’t rivals at that time.”

He ran summer schools with former Leeds United manager Don Revie, and trained young players in the Huddersfield Town school of excellence.

And he said Andy Booth applied for the school – but Ernest turned him down! He said: “Andy had always been small but he had a growth spurt at 16 and he shot up.”

Andy went on to score at Wembley in 1995 as Town beat Bristol Rovers 2-1 to win the old divison two playoffs.

Ernest went on to scout and found Stuart McCall at Leeds Ashford Road, who went on to play for Bradford City and earned 40 caps for Scotland.

Ernest also did match analysis for Liverpool Football Club under Ron Yates until he was 70.

He also referred at Roberttown and played cricket for Thornhill and Liversedge, and his son Marcus and grandson Jack have followed in his footsteps as keen local football players.

Ernest added: “I have had a good career out of football and sport.”