Competitive sport loomed large in the lives of coal miners , no more so than at A Winning whose miner’s welfare boasted affiliated football , cricket and rugby teams. The rugby team was very successful in the 1920’s and 30’s so much so that the Derbyshire County side included 12 players from Blackwell. Rumour has it that the Company manager at this time , one J T Todd, poached miners from the Welsh coalfields to work in the companies pits in order for them to qualify to join the team. Unfortunately after the end of WW2 interest in the club declined to such an extent that it was wound up in 1953. The football club was equally successful at the local level. Some players going on to greater things , Willie Layton who went on to play for Sheffield Wednesday , William (Fatty) Fouke who was equally successful in cricket as well as football, playing for Chelsea and Sheffield United and Derbyshire County Cricket Club respectively . The cricket club has a couple of claims to fame among many. They hosted the West Indian Touring side at the Blackwell Ground and that ground holds the record for the highest ninth wicket stand in 1910. This record still stands.
Ian Newham 2025