Aroundtown Magazine November/December 2022 Edition

SPORT
Meet at the Mont event
Brian Dutton, Brian Hill & Kenny King
Since starting the 125-campaign, Chris
has had many people come forward with
previously untold stories about their
connection to the Montagu Cup.
A tale of two
Kennys
One was Mexborough’s
prolific goal scorer, the other
became a fan favourite on
the other side of the world.
But two young lads called
Kenny started their careers
in the Montagu Cup.
Kenny King, now 86, was part of
the successful Mexborough Tech
Old Boys team of the 1950s. He
joined after leaving the school aged
16 and became a goal scoring
centre-forward. In the 1955-56
season, he scored 68 goals in
34 games, including 14 hat-tricks
and one double hat-trick. Seven of
those goals were in the Montagu
Cup competition.
The following season
Mexborough Tech won the cup,
with Kenny scoring in the 3-2 win
over Hickleton Main. He went
on to play semi-professional for
Mexborough Town, Denaby United,
Worksop Town and Skegness
Town. Kenny was a guest at this
year’s 125th final where he was
reunited with the trophy 65 years
later.
Thrybergh lad Kenny Boden
played for Denaby United in the
1970 final where he set up an 88th
minute winner for Roger Willey to
beat Northcliffe WMC 1-0. He then
emigrated to Australia where he
was voted Australia’s best player
in 1978.
Boden played 13 international
games for the Socceroos, one
of these was in 1980 against an
England team that included Glenn
Hoddle and Bryan Robson. Before
retiring, he played for Newcastle
KB United from 1978 to 1984 where
he became a crowd favourite.
Smith Brothers
Conisbrough brothers Ian,
Gary and Trevor have played
in ten finals between them.
Youngest brother Ian played
in four decades between the
1980s and 2010s.
All three brothers were part of
the winning side in 1988 as they
laced their boots up for underdogs,
Denaby and Cadeby Miners
Welfare. Ian and Gary each scored
to lead their team back from 1-0 to
a 2-1 victory over Swinton Athletic.
In 1991, Denaby and Cadeby
faced off against Swinton Athletic
again, with Gary scoring in yet
another 2-1 win that saw Swinton
sunk by an own goal. Five years
later, Ian claimed his third trophy
with Denaby and Cadeby as they
triumphed 4-2 over Wath Saracens.
Ian carried on playing well into
his 30s for Groves Social who
made the final three times in the
early ‘00s but couldn’t secure a
win. However, they returned in 2010
to bag their first ever win, with Ian
being the oldest player on the pitch
at 41.
Kenny Boden Kenny King 1957
The Needhams
There are many families
who have seen generation
after generation have an
involvement in the Montagu
Cup. But Shaun Needham
and his son Tommy have
collectively been part of 12
cup finals – so far.
opponents which saw Swinton
Athletic bag their first win since
1989. Tommy is now captain of last
year’s finalist, Dog Daisy United,
who will return for the 2023 final.
Smith Brothers
Between 1987 and 2008, Shaun
held various roles at Mexborough
Main Street FC, from kitman to
committee member, and reached
the final eight times during that
period. He then managed Memories
FC who won the 2015 final, where
son Tommy was on the scoresheet
for Memories’ 4-3 win over Swinton
Athletic. Five years later, Tommy was
in the starting XI for his previous
Needhams
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