Sir, The recent death of Ivor Vivian Rowland, 86, has broken another link with years after the Second World War when Childrey United (with eight Rowland) and Hanney United (with eight Nobes) could have represented the North Berks League, but, sadly, few of them are still alive. In the years when most players played for the village in which they lived, Hanney’s achievements included winning the North Berks Cup four seasons in a row, a record for which they were awarded a small cup, with several Nobes in their teams, including Harry, Bernard (a Berks & Bucks FA Juniors full back), his twin Bob, Bernard (Doug), Leslie, with Prince William (yes, really) on stand-by.

At Childrey, Ivor skippered from centre half and his brothers Dennis, who also died recently, and Mervyn were regulars and others named Rowland included Ronald, his twin Albert W, Kenneth, Albert J and Joe turned out in those post-war years but in the 1930s, Sid (father of Dennis, Ivor and Mervyn), Bill, Reuben and Ephraim Rowland all played for the club.

Sid, Dennis and Ivor all played for Wantage Town and, after his Royal Navy service on HMS Indefatigable during the Suez Campaign, Ivor turned down offers from professional clubs. Two Rowland families forged another link when Ron, who fought with the Chindits in Burma and played for his Battalion team, married Sid’s elder daughter, Dolly.

The Rowland and Nobes saga covered years from when players wore boots with nailed-in studs, played with a laced-up leather ball (this became a health hazard when wet), often cycled to matches before motorised transport became available (one vehicle crashed with a fatality just outside Wantage when returning from Cholsey), and when players had pride and loyalty to add to their prowess, plain enthusiasm and love of the game without financial reward. RIP.

Jack Loftin

Charlton Village Road

Wantage