Soccer from Rotherham to Vancouver

My Grandfather Albert Speed came to Canada in August of 1928 from England on a Government Emigration Scheme to work on a farm in Saskatchewan. Being a former Steel Mill worker, Albert had no experience working on a farm so I can't even imagine what the experience must have been like for him. After the harvest, instead of returning home, he went west to Vancouver to see what opportunities existed. England was going through some very difficult social and economic problems during this time period so going to Vancouver seemed like a good opportunity. Fortunately for Albert, he had an uncle and aunt living in Vancouver which made it much easier for him to start a new life and get established. Part of getting established was to find a job and get on a soccer team. Within 3 months of his arrival in Canada, Albert found a job with Woodward's Department Store as a steam engineer and was signed by Hudson's Bay Department Store as a non-employee to play in the Wednesday League. Woodward's didn't have a team in the Wednesday league in 1928 but he played with them the following season. Albert played his first game with the Hudson's Bay against Couver Rangers on November 7, 1928. The Bay won 3-1 and Albert scored a goal, probably his first in Canada. He was also mentioned in the game report in the Vancouver Province.

Vancouver Province - November 8, 1928

Before coming to Canada, Albert played on a variety of teams in Rotherham from the junior level to semi-professional. In 1921, his team, Bryan's Nibs, won the Rotherham and District Football Competition Boys League. Some tough looking men in the photo of Albert's team.

Bryan's Nibs - Junior Football Club 1920-1921
Rotherham, Yorkshire, England
Albert Speed, front row second from right

Winners medal - 1920-21 Rotherham & District FC Boys League

Albert played 4 seasons in the Vancouver Wednesday League. The Wednesday League was in existence for almost 30 years consisting of mainly company teams.  It was a unique league because a team couldn't field more than two non-employees for a game. This rule caused a lot of issues and protests over the years. It was a very competitive league with a large local following. The local newspapers covered the Wednesday League with extensive match reports and news. Albert played inside left forward. In those days it was common to play the W-M formation of 2 wingers, 1 striker, 2 inside forwards, 2 halfbacks, 3 defenders and a keeper. Games were very offensive. Judging from many newspaper articles I read, games were very physical. Physical contact with the keeper was common. Shouldering the keeper over the goal line while in possession of the ball often resulted in a legitimate goal. Imagine a keeper jumping in the air catching the ball only to be driven into the net by a forward. It doesn't seem fair. Apparently some forwards carried dirt in their pockets to throw dirt in the keeper's face when trying to catch the ball. I don't think this would be deemed fair play by FIFA! Although Albert was only 5 feet 2 inches tall he scored a lot of headers. In the 1931-32 season, Woodward's didn't do well in the league but did much better in the Spalding Cup competition. Unfortunately they lost in the final against Hudson's Bay. In three seasons Albert scored over 30 goals.

Albert Speed - Woodward's FC 1932

Albert posing in his Woodward's strip in front of his house. I'm impressed by the shape of the boots and laces. They don't look very comfortable.

Game Report for Spalding Cup Semi-Final, April 20, 1932
Woodward's FC versus B.C. Electric FC

Albert was part of the all start team that played Woodfibre FC in Woodfibre on April 24, 1932. In this picture, the team is wearing Spencer's Department Store FC strip. According to the following report is was an exciting game with lots of goals.

Vancouver Sun - Wednesday League all star team game against Woodfibre FC on April 24, 1932