South Yorkshire Times April 22, 1967

He Beat Fate

Fate put the finger on 10 years old Graham Cooper on Monday and decided to let him play games that will make him remember that day for a long time.

Graham left his home, to Albany Road Kilnhurst, early so that he could be in time to go to the swimming baths with other pupils at Swinton Bridge Jr School.

He had to lots of kit tucked up under his arm – for swimming and football – as Graham is a member of the school football team.

However, on arriving at the school, he found had left his case containing the kit on the bus.

Telephone calls were made to the bus depot, and Graham went out to meet the returning boss to retrieve his tackle.

But to no avail. For some reason the bus did not stop, and Graham return woefully to report to Headmaster Mr W Payne.

Further calls were made, and Mr Payne himself met the bus during the lunch break.

And it all ended happily for Graham, sporting number 11 on the back of his red shirt, scored the only goal when the team played Highgate C.P. school in  a test match to decide who should play Queen Street School in the Don and Dearne school junior league knockout competition quarter-final