Just how good was King Alick?

[Lifelong supporter]

This brought back memories and just about reflects what I thought of the great man at the time.
Although, in fairness, you probably had to see him to believe it wasn't just hype.
A few good anecdotes in there as well.

http://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/sport/football/doncaster-rovers/the-catt-chronicles-part-one-king-alick-and-the-doncaster-rovers-cup-thrillers-1-8235065

[ballysbackin]

Alick Jeffrey will never IMO be in danger of being caught as "The Greatest Player Ever" to have played for Donny. Not even the current "cult hero" Copps could be in the same discussion as being great.
The irony of it was that despite an absence of 8 years from the game due to two broken legs. Trying to make a comeback at "Skegness Town AFC" Singing in pubs to get some money which then obviously had it's pitfalls of an increased waistline and then a spell in Australia, WEll all this probably saved his life because he would have been a "Busby Babe" and would in all probability been on the plane that should never have taken off in Germany but did so on the direct orders of the F.A. and they acted all caring and concerned.
I was at Alick's return game and all through his time at Donny would never accept any criticism of the great man. He was approachable and would spend time talking to fans, and at the end of the day and after the terrible accident when another "Great" John Nicholson was killed he still went on the pitch for his corn and to entertain the crowds. He became a regular in the stands.

Irony in Deed . Sheer Brilliance . For those who did not see him play "Boy did you miss the man. He scored many brilliant goals and the one that nobody else would have dared. was a header from outside the penalty area on a muddy day in the FA Cup game at Halifax's Shay it hit the back of the net.. Sadly we still lost.

This is of course only my "Very Biased" opinion

[arkseyrover]

I too had the privilege of seeing 'the king' both before and after his broken legs. Words cannot describe his talents and I just wish another diamond like Alick could be unearthed by Rovers. He could do everything - create, score (with his head and both feet), tackle, pass from one end of the field to another, dribble etc. To say he was without equals is wrong as he would have been spoken of in the same breath as Pele, Eusabio and Best. He was that good. Of course, as well as Rovers loss he was a loss to England where he would have been a fixture for years and, along with the lost generation of Busby Babe talent killed at Munich, would have helped England win numerous world cups. He was simply awesome.

[Alickismyhero]

I was there as well Bally for Alick's first return game. Its a period in Donny's history I will never forget. He is of course "MY HERO" That partnership with Sheffield and the promotion season fight with Bradford with Kevin Hector, memories, great memories.
On a visit back to the village my father said he would take me out for a pint, nothing special in that! He took me to the Fox PH and to my surprise Alick was the landlord. Now to those who don't know the Fox lets say it wasn't the best pub in Yorkshire. It was very sad to see the great man serving beer there with his 3 England caps proudly showing above the bar. I am sorry to say I never had a word with him on that occasion.
My personal memory of Alick was back in 1965/66 when my school team played in two area finals. We lost both to Hatfield but the consolation was Alick gave me my runners up medal. It meant the world to me.

[drfc1951]

I never saw before he broke his leg,my grandad was taking me to my first match for my 5th birthday , and Alick broke his leg the week before.

[selby]

I was listening to to an interview on the radio with Jimmy Armfield just as Rooney was being touted as a boy wonder for England.
    He was asked if he had seen any other player as good at such a young age,he replied that  he had unfortunatly played in an U23s game when a bad injury had finished the career of Alick.
    He went on to say he had everything the young Rooney had and how the rest of the squad were in awe of his ability in training,and what a loss he was to English football together with a fullback called Geoff Hall who died of polio, and Brian Clough with a broken leg, plus the Busby Babes.
    It was a cursed generation which could have seen us be a top top nation from 1958 to  the mid 70s.

[selby]

  Some older fans may remember another great striker for the Rovers called Colin Booth,if my memory is correct I think he came on as substitute for Alick at Bristol.
  Jimmy Murphy assistant manager to Matt Busby at Man U.wrote  in his biography that if Alick  had not broken his leg Bobby Charlton would have never worn the number 9 shirt for them.

[ballysbackin]

Colin Booth was a good player no doubt but not in Alick's league. But Boothy could certainly score many good goals too

[nortikorner]

Peter Kitchen was good but not has good as alick

[Bentley Bullet]

Alick seemed to ping the ball as opposed to kicking it, with very little movement of his leg (either). What appeared to be a tap at goal was often a net buster.

After returning from injury once he had a run out in the reserves and won the game virtually on his own, scoring a hat trick at a canter. He was the most influential player I have ever seen.

[ScillyRover]

You're right about the little movement of his leg Bentley B. Alick is the only player I have ever seen take a penalty stood directly over the ball, draw his leg back and whack the back of the net with such force. None of this 5+ yards run up to the ball that most players do these days. He was awesome and an absolute delight to watch.

[Bezza]

many fond memories of Alick, to see him and Laurie Sheffield playing together was a joy

[Bentley Bullet]

The Jeffrey/Sheffield partnership was sublime.

[niteowler]

I can only reiterate what has been said above, the lad was a genius.  I  have been going to see Rovers since 1953 but cannot remember exactly when he arrived on the scene but remember him  playing alongside the likes of Booth,Williams ,Broadbent, Sheffield etc. I am  glad that he played when he did because i think if he had been born say in the 1990s he would have had all his natural skills coached out of him by the modern coaching guru's, he was a natural and made the game look so easy.Him and his mate Charlie Williams loved nothing more than getting up on the stage in the Two Palfreys in Cantley(now Shut) on a saturday night and giving us all a song.

[RoversDave]

http://www.rsssf.com/tablese/eng-u23-intres-det.html

If you scroll down to the France game in 1956, you'll see Stan Anderson was also in the team, and a few other well known names.

[Goole Rover]

He was unbelievable, unfortunately I only saw him after his horrific injuries. My first glimpse of the King was against Preston North End in the league cup, he hit the post from around 20 yards I'm sure the post bent twelve inches. I maybe wrong but I believe he scored the only goal in front of a 16,000 plus crowd. We must however never forget the hammer that paved the way for him on so many occasions that being the great Laurie Sheffield, a great centre forward and a great bloke off the field. My Dad would say "if you think Alick is the King Laurie Sheffield must be the Prince" he thought Laurie was as good. Two fantastic players who made my teenage years that bit more special.

[Bentley Bullet]

I used to chat to ex Hungary international Johnny Haas a few years ago. He was in the squad that beat England 6-3 in 1953. He was more impressed with Sheffield than Jeffrey. He told me that Laurie Sheffield was a fantastic player, and was a nightmare to play against because he was 'very strong'.

Haas became a Workington Town legend later on in his career.

[ballysbackin]

Did we get Sheffield from Newport County (off top of my head) ?  I also saw him go for a ball at Notts County one Saturday, the keeper jumped to catch the ball and Laurie put him and ball in the net. Decision ....Goal

[Bentley Bullet]

Yes he came from Newport.

[Bentley Bullet]

I seem to remember an incident against Barnsley (I think) at Belle Vue when A Dingles player fouled Jeffrey, and Sheffield laid him out while Jeffrey was receiving all the attention on the floor.

Jeffrey was a bit of an enigma. He was a gentleman on the pitch, but apparently loved a scrap off it!

When he retired he took over what was well known as one of the roughest pubs in Doncaster, the Fox at Stainforth, and later the Black Bull in Doncaster town market place, another rough house in those days.

[idler]

I used to chat to ex Hungary international Johnny Haas a few years ago. He was in the squad that beat England 6-3 in 1953. He was more impressed with Sheffield than Jeffrey. He told me that Laurie Sheffield was a fantastic player, and was a nightmare to play against because he was 'very strong'.

Haas became a Workington Town legend later on in his career.

I used to play footy in Westfield park Balby with Johnny as he lived on Carr Hill and worked for Carr Hill Tyres. Used to see him round town in the late sixties, Masquerade or Penny Farthing. A good lad.

[Bentley Bullet]

Yes, that's him idler. I used to chat to him in the British Ropes club on Carr Hill, now sadly demolished.

[idler]

I lived on St. Catherine's Ave and worked at Paragon Plastics on Cross Bank then so used to go in the Ropes club sometimes for a pint and game of darts. Happy days, and cheap, about 10p a pint.😢

[Al4475]

Unfortunately I'm too young to have seen alick play! However I have been lucky enough to play against Kevin Hector -  God he could play!

[Al4475]

Unfortunately I'm too young to have seen alick play! However I have been lucky enough to play against Kevin Hector -  God he could play!

[BobG]

I only saw Alick after he came back. But I've still ended up with several anecdotes showing just how good he was.

1) That Friday night 1-1 draw away at Swansea City when we won the 4th Div 10 years or so back, I was accosted by an old Swansea supporter before the match. He wanted to talk about Alick Jeffrey. Best player he'd ever seen he said.

2) Charlie Williams, in his autobio I think, went on about this cheeky 16 year old trainee saying to Charlie that he'd never catch him - and then proving the point while pinging 40 yard guided missiles into the stride of the wingers.

3) And the first of my three unique memories: a benefit match at the Plant Works ground sometime in the 70's Alick, fat as a pig and slow as a snail, standing in the middle of the park demanding the ball be played to him by Stan Anderson, Peter Kitchen, Brendan and co. And then pointing, imperiously, where he wanted the whole lot of them while he dictated the whole damn game without moving more than 10 yards in any direction.

4) I've described this one before. It still mystifies me. Alick, tanking down the Main Stand side towards the Town End. Being caught by a guy running up from  behind and a guy cutting in ahead of him from his left. Nearest Rovers player inside Alick but behind another opponent who was behind and left of Alick. Alick running into a blind alley and nowhere to go. Only it wasn't. Somehow, and please don't ask me how, Alick continued running full pelt towards the Town End whilst the ball shot upwards, backwards and inside to Alick's left to land at the feet of the Rovers player behind that opponent. How can a ball go backwards, upwards over an opponent and left when the player kicking it is running flat out straight ahead? I've got no idea. But it did. I saw it do it.

5) I was at Alick's testimonial at BV. All sorts of superstars played that night. One incident that stands out for me was Bobby Charlton, clean through on goal, about on the 6 yard line, easy peasy to score, but he stopped, looked around and waited, seeing if Alick could get up in time for him to break the net. He couldn't, so Bobby slammed it in instead. But a lovely gesture and, maybe, an acknowledgement of just how awesomely good that guy was.

And last, I have had a number of pints served me by Alick in his Black Bull days. He had his caps on display behind the bar. Him and his lad got hauled up in court once for roughing up some bloke there....

Bob

[bangormaine]

Whilst I agree that Alick was untouchable as a player he was also a character on the pitch. How many times just before a penalty would he walk up to our goalie and "tell him" where the opponent was going to place the spot kick. For some reason it made the penalty taker very nervous, and several spot kicks were missed.

[BobG]

Did we get Sheffield from Newport County (off top of my head) ?  I also saw him go for a ball at Notts County one Saturday, the keeper jumped to catch the ball and Laurie put him and ball in the net. Decision ....Goal

That happened to Kim Book at Sincil Bank once Bally. I was incensed at the time It was the start of a bad day. I think we lost 3-0 in the end. Fryatt? Froggatt? Might have been the name of the bloke who barged Kim into the net? Modern goalies wouldn't know what had hit them would they?!

BobG

[albie]

I was there Bob, and it was Dixie Macneill you are thinking of. Him and Percy Freeman were a double act at the time, and played football the old "Nat Lofthouse" way.

Laurie Sheffield was a top player at timing his jump to meet the ball in the air. Not the tallest by any means, but strong and won a high percentage of his headers.

[Bezza]

only the other day i was flying back from Malaga , and was sat next to an old lad from Redcar ,we were talking football and he brought up Alicks name remembering him from his young days.not only Doncaster people who remember King Alick he is still remembered around the country.