Spartan Sports Team Photographs

Back Row L to R. Gazz Marsland, Ian Buck, ?, George Malone, John Haggart, Dave Kelway, ?
Front Row L to R. Bindy West, Wingnut Wingfield, Shiner Bright, Knobby Clarke, Slinger Wood, Cally Callaghan

Photograph taken during a sports day in Port Canaveral Florida circa 1984. We were invited to play against the United States Coastguard. Behind the players is a thick wood (mangrove), every time the ball was kicked into there, the Americans would all stand around waiting for one of us to retrieve the ball. After the ball had gone in a dozen times, one of our players asked the Americans if they were going to get the ball sometime? 'No way', came the reply, its full of alligators, snakes and poisonous spiders!!!!

Dave Hodder, Sandy Sanderson, Phil Sumners, ?, Steve Jones, Lt Turner,?, ?
Slinger Wood,?,?, Tank Harvey, Jeff Jeffries, Aus Walters, Pet Downton, Dave Kelway,?

In the evening a barbecue was organised, by some ex-pats who put on an excellent spread with plenty of liquid refreshment. During the barbecue one of the crew decided to capture an armadillo and drag it tail first towards the party. All the ex-pats leapt onto the table, informing us to do the same as the armadillo could be rabid. The armadillo was spitting blood by this time, and wanted to take a chunk out of the matelot hanging on for dear life on the end of its tail. Fortunately the Armadillo was released without injury to it or it's captor.

Just a few of the 60 junior rates that shared the mess, on return to UK circa 1984. Some of the names Scouse Hazeldean, Paul Masters, Nobby Clarke, Gazz Marsland, Jeff Jeffries, Buck Rogers, Biffo Smith, Cally, Blood Reid, John Haggart.