By Carole Dennett
Former Shanklin goalkeeper, and regular supporter, Mike Bolan, has donated his late father’s collection of Isle of Wight football programmes to the club and the IW Observer has been fortunate to get a glimpse into the world of Island soccer, and local life, in the ’70s and ’80s.
Eric Bolan’s treasure trove of local football memorabilia includes programmes from across the Island, with most clubs having weekly productions for fans and visitors. The programmes include advertising by local businesses and traders long since closed, with smaller garages, shops and local beers, such as Ventnor Ales, prominent.
One Whitecroft & Barton programme includes former player, Gareth Williams, who went on to play for Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Hull and Barnsley – a football career pathway that probably no longer exists.
Village sides like St Helens were prominent, as were teams like Shorwell and Merstone Monarchs on Sundays, and town teams like Ryde County Old Boys are captured in a unique collection of memorable matches, and classic cup encounters, and provide an example of the weekly staple of sport and socialisation.
Shanklin FC is currently upgrading its facilities, and developing the playing side, and although printed matchday programmes have now been replaced by Facebook and other social media, many players from the time are still very much a part of keeping football alive on the Island – as visitors to the clubhouses will be able to see on Saturday afternoons.