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New Jimmy Seed book
JamesSeed
Posts: 17,412
Hi all
Not sure if it's widely known, but I'm in the early stage of researching and writing a new book about the life and times of Jimmy Seed, my grandad.
I'll obviously be using his auto-biography The Jimmy Seed Story as a framework, but hope to fill in some of the gaps as well adding a little more biographical information.
As When Saturday Comes put it: 'As in much of life, the real fascination with The Jimmy Seed Story comes from what it doesn’t tell you. His entire wartime service merits just one paragraph. More intriguing still, his England appearances are afforded a mere four words: “...my playing career with Sunderland, Mid-Rhondda, Spurs, Sheffield Wednesday and, of course, England.” It does make you wonder just how bad it can have been to justify reducing the experience to a conjunction, an adverbial phrase and a proper noun.'
He also had a little sister, Minnie, who, I've discovered, was something of a famous footballer herself during WW1. Can you imagine what it was like for Jimmy coming back from the war having being gassed, only to be ditched by Sunderland, finding himself out of work, and his sister playing in front of 30,000 fans at St James' Park?
Anyway, as research for my book I'm looking for people with Jimmy Seed stories, either surviving players, or their relatives mainly, or people who worked for Charlton perhaps? I'm sure there'll be people out there with tales to tell, or anecdotes at least.
Even the fella I sit next to in upper west was telling me that his dad used to work at the Valley on his school holidays, painting things and doing general odd jobs. Apparently JS used to come out onto the pitch with a shotgun and shoot the pigeons!
Any info or contacts gratefully received.
Thanks!
PS Early research has revealed that in the pre Jimmy Seed era Charlton's average League position was 49th.
In the 23 year Jimmy Seed era it was 11th.
And post Jimmy Seed it has been 32nd. Not including this season.
Makes me proud, at any rate.
And it highlighted for me how, not for the first time in Jimmy's career, the war came at a bad time. After promotion to Div One Charlton finished 2nd, 4th then 3rd, (as many of you know), before the war intervened.
Cheers
Jim
Not sure if it's widely known, but I'm in the early stage of researching and writing a new book about the life and times of Jimmy Seed, my grandad.
I'll obviously be using his auto-biography The Jimmy Seed Story as a framework, but hope to fill in some of the gaps as well adding a little more biographical information.
As When Saturday Comes put it: 'As in much of life, the real fascination with The Jimmy Seed Story comes from what it doesn’t tell you. His entire wartime service merits just one paragraph. More intriguing still, his England appearances are afforded a mere four words: “...my playing career with Sunderland, Mid-Rhondda, Spurs, Sheffield Wednesday and, of course, England.” It does make you wonder just how bad it can have been to justify reducing the experience to a conjunction, an adverbial phrase and a proper noun.'
He also had a little sister, Minnie, who, I've discovered, was something of a famous footballer herself during WW1. Can you imagine what it was like for Jimmy coming back from the war having being gassed, only to be ditched by Sunderland, finding himself out of work, and his sister playing in front of 30,000 fans at St James' Park?
Anyway, as research for my book I'm looking for people with Jimmy Seed stories, either surviving players, or their relatives mainly, or people who worked for Charlton perhaps? I'm sure there'll be people out there with tales to tell, or anecdotes at least.
Even the fella I sit next to in upper west was telling me that his dad used to work at the Valley on his school holidays, painting things and doing general odd jobs. Apparently JS used to come out onto the pitch with a shotgun and shoot the pigeons!
Any info or contacts gratefully received.
Thanks!
PS Early research has revealed that in the pre Jimmy Seed era Charlton's average League position was 49th.
In the 23 year Jimmy Seed era it was 11th.
And post Jimmy Seed it has been 32nd. Not including this season.
Makes me proud, at any rate.
And it highlighted for me how, not for the first time in Jimmy's career, the war came at a bad time. After promotion to Div One Charlton finished 2nd, 4th then 3rd, (as many of you know), before the war intervened.
Cheers
Jim
24
Comments
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Great news, look forward to hearing more.1
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Average 'end of season' position I should have said.0
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Jd, do you know (you must) Martin Seed ?0
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No I don't actually?Covered End said:Jd, do you know (you must) Martin Seed ?
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JD, I worked with a lady in the late 80's/early 90's at an insurance company in Sidcup, I think she was Jimmy's niece but her name escapes me now - she always had a story.1
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Jimmy had nine siblings. There were five brothers and five sisters. Anthony Seed was Charlton's chief coach.
Minnie Seed was the youngest being a couple of years younger than Jimmy.
Angus Seed was also a footballer and a manager. Also a bit of a war hero.1 -
I'm surprised. He lived with a girlfriend of mine in Plumstead and was related to Jimmy.jdmotion said:
No I don't actually?Covered End said:Jd, do you know (you must) Martin Seed ?
I can't remember the relationship, but Martin would probably be about 50 now.
He sat with me in the Charlton end at the play off final, Charlton v Sunderland.1 -
I found this in the museum recently
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Go for it, Jimmy. Can't wait to read the book and more about Minnie too. I was a frustrated female footballer (who had barely kicked a ball) until I put a team together at university, then a league, then a cup competition. I was totally ignorant of the prejudice / banning of official women's football at that time -was just shocked when we had to register with the FA and I realised we had already broken the rules by playing a mixed friendly match. This was in the mid 80s.
Your family and Charlton fans are sure to have some great stories to tell.6 -
Any details in here of interest?
http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamPlyrsBios/PlayersS/BioSeedJM.html
Two-thirds of the way down the page, this has some images of the stadium of Royal Daring Club de Bruxelles from 1923, 2 years after he made his debut match for England there (one with a sabre-toting policeman):
http://www.rwdm-fcbrussels.be/11-FICHES/fiche-galeriephotos1895-1939.html
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Sponsored links:
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Some of Jimmy's brothers emigrated, either to South Africa, or Canada.
Anthony (cafc chief scout) was still in the North East in 1956, when he resigned after Jimmy was sacked.
Angus managed Aldershot, then Barnsley, but died in '53 when just 60 while still managing Barnsley. This must have been a real shock to Jimmy as they'd always been close.
Minnie was in the North East in '56.
I'll be doing more family tree research next year, Minnie being of particular interest.0 -
Does anyone have any more knowledge of Martin, or clues as to his whereabouts?Covered End said:
I'm surprised. He lived with a girlfriend of mine in Plumstead and was related to Jimmy.jdmotion said:
No I don't actually?Covered End said:Jd, do you know (you must) Martin Seed ?
I can't remember the relationship, but Martin would probably be about 50 now.
He sat with me in the Charlton end at the play off final, Charlton v Sunderland.0 -
I've seen the England site, but the Brussels page looks interesting.MountsfieldPark said:Any details in here of interest?
http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamPlyrsBios/PlayersS/BioSeedJM.html
Two-thirds of the way down the page, this has some images of the stadium of Royal Daring Club de Bruxelles from 1923, 2 years after he made his debut match for England there (one with a sabre-toting policeman):
http://www.rwdm-fcbrussels.be/11-FICHES/fiche-galeriephotos1895-1939.html
I'll be looking for any Belgian newspaper articles relating to the '21 match, generally agreed to be England's first match against a 'foreign' team. They weren't such a big deal back then. But historic nonetheless. England didn't bother with such none sense as managers. The players just used to discuss formation and tactics in the dressing room before the game.
Maybe Charlton could try that?
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My uncle Peter Etherton played for Charlton in the war Jim.
I have got a couple of letters sent to my uncle from your grandad.
Not very insightful; however, they do evoke memories of that time. I will scan if possible and inbox to you.Any probs please let me know.2 -
I could get a contact number if you wish (probably).jdmotion said:
Does anyone have any more knowledge of Martin, or clues as to his whereabouts?Covered End said:
I'm surprised. He lived with a girlfriend of mine in Plumstead and was related to Jimmy.jdmotion said:
No I don't actually?Covered End said:Jd, do you know (you must) Martin Seed ?
I can't remember the relationship, but Martin would probably be about 50 now.
He sat with me in the Charlton end at the play off final, Charlton v Sunderland.1 -
On 192.com
Martin J Seed living in SE18 with Terri Sanger 2006/7
Now living in Yeovil Somerset with the same lady .
You have to pay to get the address.2 -
Jim,
I have left you a message in your inbox.0 -
Covered End said:
That'd be great!jdmotion said:
I could get a contact number if you wish (probably).Covered End said:
Does anyone have any more knowledge of Martin, or clues as to his whereabouts?jdmotion said:
Sadly, I don't remember there being much contact with remaining Seeds after granddad died. Because my granny outlived him we tended to see her side of the family more.0 -
Thanks, I could do that if all else fails.Starinnaddick said:On 192.com
Martin J Seed living in SE18 with Terri Sanger 2006/7
Now living in Yeovil Somerset with the same lady .
You have to pay to get the address.
Thanks for the help!0 -
Sponsored links:
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I think Brian Kinsey was one of Jimmy Seed's last signings and he still regularly visits The Valley I believe. I don't know Brian myself but there might be some on here who know him. Wasn't he an Old Roan? There's a few of them on here.
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There's a reference to Minnie Seed here:
https://blythspirit.wordpress.com/2014/03/12/ladies-doing-it-for-themselves/
Scroll down
And she is named in the opposition a couple of times here:
http://www.donmouth.co.uk/womens_football/dick_kerr.html
Two team references here: scroll down to bottom
http://www.donmouth.co.uk/womens_football/cumbrian_munitionettes.html0 -
Is that your account on twitter? @Minnie_Seed0
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Yes it is.MountsfieldPark said:Is that your account on twitter? @Minnie_Seed
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Yes and one of those site's editors was kind enough to send me a database of all the matches she's known to have played in.LenGlover said:There's a reference to Minnie Seed here:
https://blythspirit.wordpress.com/2014/03/12/ladies-doing-it-for-themselves/
Scroll down
And she is named in the opposition a couple of times here:
http://www.donmouth.co.uk/womens_football/dick_kerr.html
Two team references here: scroll down to bottom
http://www.donmouth.co.uk/womens_football/cumbrian_munitionettes.html
Just about to write a couple of letters!1 -
It'd be great to hear from someone who knows him.LenGlover said:I think Brian Kinsey was one of Jimmy Seed's last signings and he still regularly visits The Valley I believe. I don't know Brian myself but there might be some on here who know him. Wasn't he an Old Roan? There's a few of them on here.
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Derek Ufton played under Seed and would know others who did and still with us.jdmotion said:
It'd be great to hear from someone who knows him.LenGlover said:I think Brian Kinsey was one of Jimmy Seed's last signings and he still regularly visits The Valley I believe. I don't know Brian myself but there might be some on here who know him. Wasn't he an Old Roan? There's a few of them on here.
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Not many surviving players from Seeds time.
Brian Kinsey, Derek Ufton, Gordon Jago, Albert Uytenbogaardt, Eddie Firmani, Don Townsend and Bobby Lumley are the only players I can think of.0 -
Sid O'Linn still alive and living in South Africa.
Jago is in the States as is Firmani1 -
I'm pleased to hear that Sid is still around.Henry Irving said:Sid O'Linn still alive and living in South Africa.
Jago is in the States as is Firmani
Do you know anything about Dudley Forbes and Kenny Chamberlain ?
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