Gerry List shared some memories of Stowupland sports –

I played my first game of football for Stowupland at the age of 15 in 1968. Charlie Martin my next-door neighbour put me in the reserves. I had left my football boots at school so Jimmy Hudson lent me a pair of what we called Toe Punters back in the day, they had wooden studs, steel toe caps and came up above the ankles.

Also, in 1968 Rick Langford Stowupland goalkeeper and Jimmy Hudson outfield player started Stowupland cricket club playing their games to the left of the track that runs down to Carter’s farm, opposite where we played football after Duke Bloom had took the cows off the green.

After my first season of changing in the old Retreat that stood at the rear of the today car park, we moved to the pump house owned by Anglian Water board located behind the tin pond where a new house now stands in Birch Close. The tin pond, lads of my age, will remember was full of carp. While mentioning the tin pond as a boy I can also remember the eel pond in the allotment meadow full of eels and the newt pond at the end of Columbine Close full of newts.

In the late 70s Rick moved the cricket club to the sports field changing in portocabins (sic). Rick then put a plan together to get a grant for the cricket club and football club and have a sports and social club. I know Rick spent a lot of time and hard work to get all the grants. A steering committee was formed Rick Langford C. C. Sam skinner F. C. Ron Martin Falcons, Melvyn Douglas V. H. Committee. And in 1991 the S. S. S. C. was opened.

In the season of 1993/1994, I finished playing for Stowupland and hung up my boots. The sports club was built on the back of the village hall. Peter List started Stowupland table tennis club in there not sure when but my wife played there in the mid 60s.and went on to play in the teams. Hope this brings back some memories.