Stan Frankland R.I.P.
Tributes to Manager of 1952 Boys Champions
From the Ilford Recorder Thursday 30th March 2006
A former teacher who led a boys’ football team to victory in a national cup competition has died aged 84, writes Marc Walker.
Stan Frankland was a teacher at Mayfield County Secondary School for Boys, Goodmayes Lane, and will be remembered for leading the Ilford Schools Football Team to glory as champions of England, in the under 15 team’s famous 1951/52 season. Stan, who died last week, had battled Alzheimer’s for the last five years. Under his management and in one season, the boys became Essex Champions by winning the Corinthian Shield Trophy, London Champions after they triumphed in the Robert Johnson Cup and National Champions by winning the English Schools Shield. A crowd close to 16,000 saw the team play in the national final in Wales against Swansea Boys, with 1,000 people travelling from Ilford to cheer them on.
When the victorious team returned they were given a heroes’ welcome. Stan’s widow Mary said: ‘We drove around Ilford on the bus with the cup up front. The town centre was closed and there were crowds of people. Stan was was very well respected and very well known in in Redbridge.’ A civic reception was held at Ilford Town Hall for Stan and his team, where the modest coach was reported by the ‘Recorder’ at the time saying: ‘The job was simple. When 16 boys turn up to training every night of the week, what more can you ask? My regard for them will never fade even when these trophies tarnish.’ Outside right, Tony Morgan’s father J. V. Morgan presented Stan with an inscribed silver salver, on behalf of the boys presents.
Stan’s son John, who was a young boy at the time of the celebrations, said: ‘It’s something people will remember him for. He spent his whole teaching career in Ilford. He used to play for what’s now Dagenham and Redbridge, but his great achievement was with Ilford Boys.’
Team photo taken at Vetch Field Stadium, Swansea, 1952
With Mr. C. Barbrook (Chairman) on the left and Stan on the right
Standing Left to Right – Roy Parker, Brian Skingley, Brian Watson
Trevor Spencer, Don Barnard, John Blunt
Sitting Left to Right – Tony Morgan, Tommy Radmall, Micky Cole
George Godfrey, David Crockett
The landlord of the Cauliflower Pub at Seven Kings, Mr. & Mrs. Mickleburgh, did all the catering for the Ilford Boys Matches and they very kindly took the lads and the masters for a free trip to the Holiday Camp at Hopton for a few days.
The Squad at Hopton
Standing: Stan Frankland, Micky Cole, Roy Parker, Brian Watson, Brian Rugely, John Blunt, Brian Skingley, Trevor Spencer, George Godfrey.
Kneeling: Roy Goulden, Tony Morgan, Don Barnard, Tommy Radmall, David Crockett, Peter Wilson.
Reunion photo (fifty years on) 2002
Back Row Left to Right – Jim Lyall, Tommy Radmall, Tony Drane
Micky Cole, Roy Parker, Don Barnard
Front Row Left to Right – David Crockett, Tony Morgan, Stan Frankland
Bill Carter, John Blunt, Brian Watson
I read with some sadness about the death of Stan Frankland. I knew him in three stages of my life. As a child, seeing him serving in Symonds Sweet shop in Oxlow Lane, Dagenham. Then, when I was in Albion Road Primary School in 1947 he took over the football team for a while. Then, when I started teaching at Mayfield in 1963, he was a colleague. I shall always remember his keen attitude and his infectious smile and laughter.
Brian Davis
Very sad to read of the passing of Stan Frankland. He was a hero and role model for my entire career as a P.E. teacher. In my four years on the Mayfield staff I learned more from him than anyone. Pat Carney
I replaced John Archer in 1968 and remember Stan Frankland telling me, when he found out which classes I was teaching, to teach with the door open.
Iain Palot
So sorry to hear of the passing of Stan Frankland, a great teacher and a brilliant motivator. He pushed you all the way because he knew what you could achieve. A great man gone, I will never forget him.
Syd Smith 1959/64.
Very sad to have just found out about Mr Frankland. I was at Mayfield in the 1950’s and was a member of the school swimming team which reached the English National Schools Swimming Championships and came second by 100th of a second. He was a great teacher, R.I.P.
So sad to hear about Stan. He gave everything for Mayfield and improved everybody he came into contact with. Everybody’s favourite teacher.
David Macaulay
Does anyone remember the master Mr Norman Rimmel from the mid 1950’s? He was a tall slender sort of chap and always wore a grey suit. He taught us maths. I heard he left to become a barrister. He rode an old James motorcycle wearing a huge black oilskin mac that billowed out in the wind. We nicknamed him ‘The Phantom rider’.
Apart from Mr Norman Rimmel there are a few other masters that I remember from the middle to late 1950’s that no one ever seem to mention. These were, Mr Ormerod, taught English. Mr Harvey, Maths and drove a M11 Ford Consul which he said he’d bought from the money he’d saved by giving up smoking. Mr Hickie, technical drawing. Mr Marriot, woodwork, he also apparently owned the full size wooden aeroplane propeller which was stored in the west side cloakroom. Mr Fry, RE. Mr Birchinall PT and English. Mr Chalk, not sure what he taught. Mr Francis, pottery. Mr Gregory, music. Mr Moore, RE and music.
I think the photo below will be of interest to all those who knew my father and his connections with Ilford Boys Football and West Ham United. Four generations of Male Franklands. The stone is located in the Ronnie Boyce section lower left adjacent to entrance J to the West Ham Stadium.
It is with sad regret that I write to inform you that my father Roy Parker (pictured above) passed away on 12th November 2018. Dad would often reminisce about being part of the Ilford Schools Football Team and was extremely proud to have been part of their success as champions of England, in the under 15 team’s famous 1951/52 season. He had fond memories of Stan Frankland, with whom he remained friends, and the many other friends he made during those glory days. If anyone has a memory they would like to share my family and I would be pleased to hear from you. (Scroll to top of page to view photos)
There was also a pottery master during my time at Mayfield called Mr Francis, who’s pottery workroom was adjacent to Harry Brahams art room in the outbuilding at the back of the rear playground. He also smoked a bent Peterson pipe. We called him ”Cop it” because that’s what he always said if you were naughty.