manchester sports guild folk club

Subject: manchester sports guild
From: GUEST,VIN
Date: 10 Jul 01 - 04:42 PM

ANYBODY REMEMBER THE MANCHESTER SPORTS GUILD FOLK CLUB IN THE 60'S, 70'S?

Subject: RE: manchester sports guild
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 10 Jul 01 - 05:56 PM

I thougt if you could remember the 60's you weren't really there!

I remember seeing a couple of blokes there who called themselves the Humblebums. Some Scots git called Connely and a no hoper called Rafferty. There was some other bloke called Harding there as well. None of them ever got anywhere ...;-)

I very nearly nicked the old MSG sign from round the back of the Cathederal before they did up the shop fronts about 10 years ago. I never got round to it but I've still got the memories though.

Thanks for reminding us.

Cheers

Dave the Gnome

Subject: RE: manchester sports guild
From: Anglo
Date: 10 Jul 01 - 06:17 PM

Early-mid 60s there used to be a folk night at MSG emceed by someone called Drony. Those were the days when the "big" local group was Folk Song Northwest, till Frank Duffy left them to pursue a solo career, (I don't think he ever caught it), and they became the Northwest Folk Four. I'd get down to MSG occasionally but it was a bit of a zoo. (I did live in the more refined Victoria Park).

Subject: RE: manchester sports guild
From: Noreen
Date: 10 Jul 01 - 06:27 PM

That's what MSG stood for?! I've heard many people talk about it, but it was well before my time, you know.... :0)

Noreen

Subject: RE: manchester sports guild
From: Anglo
Date: 10 Jul 01 - 06:54 PM

Ah, yes, Noreen, certainly before your time - I could tell by looking at the photo gallery :-)

I suspect I too could covet that concertina.

Back then I just had an old guitar I was teaching myself to play, playing in a "bluegrass" band with Alan Hodson and a couple of other folks. I don't remember it as well as I might - it was the 60s, after all.

Subject: RE: manchester sports guild
From: Llanfair
Date: 11 Jul 01 - 04:23 AM

I used to go regularly, I loved it!!! Saw Carthy and Swarbrick a few times, Mike Harding, Marie Little, Magna Carta, and loads more. I used to go to Harry Boardman's club as well.
That was in the days when there was no fear of being mugged or murdered in Manchester late at night, and I could safely get the last bus home to Northenden!
Cheers, Bron.

Subject: RE: manchester sports guild
From: John J
Date: 11 Jul 01 - 08:04 AM

MSG? Nah sorry mate. Never heard of it (lately).

Subject: RE: manchester sports guild
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 11 Jul 01 - 10:04 AM

Course you have, John. Just visit your local Chinese takeaway and look for the tin of Mono Sodium Glutomate (sp ?)

Makes my beef in black bean sauce taste great;-)

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: manchester sports guild
From: GUEST,JohnB
Date: 11 Jul 01 - 12:53 PM

Yeah, I remember MSG, it was a great place. I could not afford to go there too often though, my apprentice pay as it was. I remember nursing one beer all night. Bigger test though, anyone remember "The Old House At Home Folk Club" JohnB

Subject: RE: manchester sports guild
From: bill\sables
Date: 11 Jul 01 - 12:56 PM

I remember being booked there in the late 60s

Subject: RE: manchester sports guild
From: GUEST,davejones
Date: 11 Jul 01 - 02:39 PM

Yes Vin,Ido remember MSG.I was a child of 20,it was a great place.It seemed that Martin Carthy was on every week,Idon't think he was but one's memory fades.I always maintained that it was in the basement but I'm assured by many that it was upstairs.Again, it was the Sixties,was there,butdon't remember.

Subject: RE: manchester sports guild
From: Llanfair
Date: 11 Jul 01 - 02:44 PM

The room felt like a basement room, but I think the jazz was downstairs.
Cheers, Bron.

Subject: RE: manchester sports guild
From: 8_Pints
Date: 11 Jul 01 - 02:49 PM

Spent many a happy Saturday there. Saw Nick Jones, Pete Bellamy, Tony Rose (get well soon!), Carthy and some bloke called Tony Capstick who emigrated to Yorkshire.

First met Sue there (look at us now!).

Anyone remember "Jenks" on the door? What a character!

Nostalgia ain't what it used to be *BG*

Bob vG

Subject: RE: manchester sports guild
From: Roughyed
Date: 11 Jul 01 - 02:59 PM

I remember the Beggarmen recording a live LP there. (I was underage, honest)

Subject: RE: manchester sports guild
From: GUEST,VIN
Date: 11 Jul 01 - 04:58 PM

HEY GOOD RESPONSE. THE BEGGARMEN - RECORDED AT MSG AND THE CROWN & ANCHOR (STILL GOT THE LP). WHO REMEMBERS TOM & SMILEY - BLUEGRASS DUO, RECKON YOU SHOULD ANGLO! THE CLUB USED TO BE UPSTAIRS AS JAZZ (MAYNARD FURGUSSON TYPES I THINK) WAS DOWNSTAIRS - THEN THE FOLK MOVED DOWNSTAIRS WITH MR JENKS - SMALL CHAP WITH GLASSES, IN CHARGE - THE LATE AND GREAT ALEX CAMPBELL USED TO CALL HIM MR JINKS!! ON THE LAST NIGHT WITH MIKE OOOH-YA-OOOH-YA HARDING PERFORMING, SOMEONE BURST OR BROKE SUMMAT IN THE MEN'S BOG AND CAUSED A FLOOD. CARTHY & SWARB ALWAYS PACKED THE PLACE AS DID MAGNA CARTA, BLACKPOOL TAVERNERS ALTHOUGH BIG PETE (GAWD REST HIS SOUL) NEARLY FILLED THE PLACE HIMSELF. WHAT WAS DRONY'S REAL NAME???

Subject: RE: manchester sports guild
From: Anglo
Date: 11 Jul 01 - 06:39 PM

Yes, I do remember Tom & Smiley (vaguely, I admit). And as to Drony's real name, though, sorry I haven't a clue.

Subject: RE: manchester sports guild
From: 8_Pints
Date: 11 Jul 01 - 08:36 PM

I remember going there after my Saturday job in Safeways! Went one week with a couple of friends (Liz and Pete, Bron) after I'd split up with my boyfriend and some bloke chatted me up. We've been married for 24 years!

We have a very old LP (1967) that was a live recording at the club featuring the Taverners, Mary Asquith and Sheila, the Penine Folk, Harry Ogden, Lyn Taylor and Ken Wilson.

I seem to remember a duo called Ad Hoc and a group called Gypsy's Kiss. There was also a very young Paul Brady with the Johnsons. Anybody who was anybody I guess!

Sue vG

Subject: RE: manchester sports guild
From: Bluebeard
Date: 11 Jul 01 - 11:42 PM

Bloody 'ell, that's brought back a few memories! I remember seeing Tom and Smiley there(still got their LP) and a few months later I was playing at some folk pub in Ashton-under-Lyne and so were they. MSG.. a great place.

Subject: RE: manchester sports guild
From: Llanfair
Date: 12 Jul 01 - 03:12 AM

Aha, 8 pints!!!! I'm with you now!!!!!
I've never come across anywhere like the MSG, though fire regs would have shut the place down!
Cheers, Bron.

Subject: RE: manchester sports guild
From: John J at home
Date: 12 Jul 01 - 03:37 AM

I saw Mary Asquith a couple of weeks ago at the Bull's Head, Mobberley session. I don't know what happened to Harry Ogden, he ran a folk type programme on Piccadilly Radio now and then but he seems to have sunk without trace! Re: The Old House at Home folk club, wasn't that in Blackely or somewhere?

JJ

Subject: RE: manchester sports guild
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 12 Jul 01 - 03:50 AM

Harry Ogden went on to become landlord of the Marble Arch for a while where he also ran a good folk club. Saw him a few months ago and he is into photography now if I remember rightly - or that might have been the time before!

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: manchester sports guild
From: RoyH (Burl)
Date: 12 Jul 01 - 09:27 AM

Aaaahhh memories. I sang there several times in the mid-sixties, early in my career. I was trying to play guitar in those days before common sense reigned. I remember Jenks too. Famously candid, to say the least. I shared the bill one night with an excellent banjo player named Roger Knowles. He went on to a long career too, played in Europe a lot. Haven't seen him in years. Anybody know what he's doing now? His wife was a good trad style singer. Great days, large audiences.

Subject: RE: manchester sports guild
From: GUEST,JohnB
Date: 12 Jul 01 - 12:23 PM

Yes JohnJ, the Old House at Home FC was basically in the middle of ICI in Blakely. It was probably Mike Hardings first club. I guess it must be a 60's thing or something worse but I can't think of anybody who I saw at MSG. JohnB

Subject: RE: manchester sports guild
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 12 Jul 01 - 05:33 PM

Can I bend the thread a little bit and ask who remembers th New Orleans club in Newcastle?

Jock

Subject: RE: manchester sports guild
From: GUEST,Phillip Pearson
Date: 16 Jul 08 - 07:09 AM

Drony's name was John Dronsfield. He was a lecturer in graphic design and the Manchester College of Art and Design.

Subject: RE: manchester sports guild
From: GUEST,GUEST, Jeremy Moyes
Date: 17 Jul 08 - 02:33 AM

I remember seeing Alex Campbell at the MSG. Half way through the evening, Alex (true to form) was clearly the worse for wear, downing pints with whisky chasers. The crowd began to get roudy, as Alex's singing deteriorated and he began to bicker with members of the audience. I remember Alex asking a couple of lads to join him outside, as things were rapidly spinning out of control. Then he sang "The Last Thing on my Mind" - the Tom Paxton song - and I can still feel the deafening quiet that descended on the place. Don't ask me when that was - I'd guess '66 but maybe someone out there has a better memory - but it was pure Alex - and I've not forgotten that moment.

Subject: RE: manchester sports guild
From: Bryn Pugh
Date: 17 Jul 08 - 05:32 AM

Happy days indeed. I was one of the squad of MCs, at three and a half guineas a pop.

Frank Duffy's Singers' Club on a Monday, later taken over by the ineffable Drony (John Dronsfield) was amazing. You paid one and three to entertain people who had paid one and three to be entertained. Great place for trying out new material, though.

I packed it in in 1972, I think - and I am almost certain that I was MC on the night that Alex was the top line, mentioned above.

We shall never see its like again, or of that grisly old bastard, Jenks, who ran the gaff.

Any other members of "Mancunian Way" out there ?

Subject: RE: manchester sports guild
From: Vin2
Date: 17 Jul 08 - 06:08 AM

I saw Alex a couple of times at MSG - late sixties / early seventies methinks. A towering figure indeed, but as you say when he launced into Tom Paxton songs like Last Thing On My Mind and the beautiful Victoria Dines Alone, he showed his gentler side and held the audience spellbound. A great character - the only one who could call Jenks 'Mr Jinks' and get away with it!! Still got an LP where he introduces people like 'an up-an-coming folk singer' called Sandy Denny. A great character, great singer/muscician 'yeah oh yeah'!

See you guys at Saddleworth festival this w/end? I'll be camped near the food tent wearing me well worn Mudcat t/shirt!

Subject: RE: manchester sports guild
From: Mary Humphreys
Date: 17 Jul 08 - 10:56 AM

I remember MSG - the folk clulb was definitely upstairs and the jazz downstairs. The room was painted dark colours - or was that just the nicotine on the walls?
I saw AL Lloyd there, Ewan & Peggy, Harry Boardman and most of all I remember the Grehan sisters who played Irish music like I had never heard it before.
Funny - I don't remember seeing Carthy,but maybe that was a three pints evening....Frank Duffy used to MC the singers nights, then later was replaced by Drony. Didn't realise he was a lecturer - but there were a lot of teachers about then in folk music.
THe Old House at Home was probably the best-hidden venue in Greater Manchester. I remember doing a gig there and having to walk home to Fallowfield carrying a banjo because the buses had all stopped at 11.30 and there were no all-night buses or taxis to be seen. Wouldn't do it now! Too old / not daft enough!
See you at Saddleworth.

Subject: RE: manchester sports guild
From: GUEST,Chris P.
Date: 18 Jul 08 - 06:43 AM

Hello Mary! You were there too? The MSG has never been displaced in my affections, except perhaps by the RAOB club in Leeds. I remember as well as the above, Jackie & Bridy (spelling?) and Donovan with Gypsey Dave in the background. And the waiter (and anyone else walking in front of the stage) braving John Connolley's banter.

Subject: RE: manchester sports guild
From: Bryn Pugh
Date: 18 Jul 08 - 06:53 AM

In which year did the "Guild" close ?

Anyone up for a reunion, Christ knows how many years after ?

If so, who, and where ?

Subject: RE: manchester sports guild
From: GUEST,T.Downes
Date: 21 Sep 08 - 01:54 PM

Sadly,Frank Duffy died recently.I used to love the song he sang about an irish brass band who ended up bashing each other with their instruments !!Anyone remember the song ?Maybe its gone forever like dear Frank.

Subject: RE: manchester sports guild
From: Bernard
Date: 21 Sep 08 - 05:16 PM

Rosie Hardman (and Bob Axford), Neil Innes (and the Bonzo band)... of course I don't remember!!

;o)

Subject: RE: manchester sports guild
From: doncatterall
Date: 21 Sep 08 - 05:48 PM

have posted on another thread on this - Jenks cursing because Carthy had gone off to play with Steeleye - Capstick standing in ETC............

a great club!!!!!!!!!!

when I first went it was folk upstairs & jazz downstairs (& some terrific blues nights)

latterly folk in the basement - I remember the last night with some joker called Harding

one of the best nights - Noel Murphy & Draft Porridge.

Don

Subject: RE: manchester sports guild
From: GUEST,mike cahill
Date: 21 Sep 08 - 06:41 PM

saw Hamish Imlach down a bottle or so of whisky there while doing his set (briliantly) I was sat behind one of the cast iron supports, come to think of it every seat was behind one or another. he was so good I bought a load of his LP's trying to re-capture the moment, he just wasn't the same sober

Subject: RE: manchester sports guild
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 22 Sep 08 - 04:04 AM

Noel Murphy and Draft Porridge!!!!!!!!

A bass player who's name I cannot remember and Davey Johnston, guitar and tenor banjo, demon player - joined Elton John and plays with him still I believe.

Cheers

L in C

Subject: RE: manchester sports guild
From: GUEST,Graham Bradshaw
Date: 22 Sep 08 - 04:11 AM

Ah yes - Draught Porridge. I remember queing up outside the Troubadour in London and not getting in, but listening from outside.

Later saw them properly at our own club in Surbiton.
The bass player was Ron Chesterman and of course the inimitable Davey Johnston (better known as Shaggis). As you say, still with Elton John. And still very flamoyant, but never matching those halcyon days. No doubt made a few more bob than he did with DP.

G

Subject: RE: manchester sports guild
From: GUEST,Graham Bradshaw
Date: 22 Sep 08 - 04:23 AM

Forgot to say in previous post, I played at MSG several times in the late 60s - with Derek Sarjeant Trio. We drove all the way up from Surbiton - which in those days was nearly a whole days jaunt (pre M6), although thinking about it, it's not much different post M6!! But you couldn't be late. If the contract said start at 8.00, if you were late, Jenks used to dock your fee, even if you weren't due on till 9.00. Disley, who also used to do it regularly, never got his full fee!!

Also, on the subject of Alex Campbell, we always used to say that he had opened and closed more clubs than anybody else. He was a favourite for the opening night as he was a guaranteed 'full house' to get things off to a good start. And usually a few months later, there he was again closing things down. (Yes, even in those great days, clubs used to close frequently - usually because of landlords/breweries etc - but often through lack of support. If you didn't get the formula right even then, things failed. Nothing changes really. The difference was there were always new ones starting up).

Alex was a lovely man, but after a few whiskies did get a bit morose, and I can remember us sending him home after the interval at Surbiton as he was no longer capable of finishing off the night. But we still booked him back time aand time again. There was no one to match him for engaging an audience when he was on form.

G

Subject: RE: manchester sports guild
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 22 Sep 08 - 04:32 AM

I saw some lovely photo's of you from those days Graham, only last week.

JM

Subject: RE: manchester sports guild
From: GUEST,Greycap
Date: 22 Sep 08 - 05:14 AM

Hey, Burl,
I'm still around playing and singing. So is Eileen, my wife.
Roger Knowles

Subject: RE: manchester sports guild
From: greg stephens
Date: 22 Sep 08 - 06:39 AM

I played a gig there with the Original Callity Band, but I wasn't familiar with the place otherwise, not being a Mancunian. That would have been mid 70's, I suppose.

Subject: RE: manchester sports guild
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 22 Sep 08 - 07:23 AM

Late 60s early 70s? We had a club in Ellesmere Port and we would have people on Sunday who had been at MSG on Saturday.

Cheers

L in C

Subject: RE: manchester sports guild
From: Vin2
Date: 22 Sep 08 - 11:56 AM

I can picture the rooms now - jazz donwnstairs originally (i think Maynard Fergusson was guest a couple of times) and folk upstairs where i first saw Carthy/Swarb. Then downstairs in larger room, bar on left as you go in and stage in middle on right with the 'bogs' at the back which flooded on the last night as Harding did his bit (on stage singing i mean).

I remember the Old House at Home too Mary; down Bottomley Side way. I work at M/C Uni now - didn't you used to run the folk club hear a few years ago. By the way - fab gig at Saddleworth!

Vin

Subject: RE: manchester sports guild
From: Vin2
Date: 23 Sep 08 - 07:41 AM

Saw Dando Shaft there & the original Magna Carta toooo

Subject: RE: manchester sports guild
From: doncatterall
Date: 23 Sep 08 - 08:01 AM

Dando Shaft - great band saw them several times and seem to remember them doing a "reunion" concert in Didsbury.
Polly Bolton who sang with them (though not in the original line-up) had an amazing voice.
Also had Martin Jenkins on mandoline.
Bumped into their tabla player in Sidmouth many years ago & they were not doing anything then - are they still together in any form?

Don

Subject: RE: manchester sports guild
From: RoyH (Burl)
Date: 23 Sep 08 - 03:05 PM

Hello Greycap and Eileen, Glad to hear that your still singing and playing.Hope I might heaar you again somewherre sometime. Best Wishes, Burl/Roy

Subject: RE: manchester sports guild
From: skipy
Date: 23 Sep 08 - 03:45 PM

I used to go quite often in 1971 & 72! Used to hitchhike over from RAF Coningsby (in uniform) go to the guild & then lay my sleeping bag down in some old railway arches (within staggering distance) & crash out! Nearly came a croper one night when a lorry revesed in!
Skipy

Subject: RE: manchester sports guild
From: Vin2
Date: 26 Sep 08 - 08:52 AM

Thought Polly Bolton was with Dando from the beginning. Eeee tis a sad day when yer learn nowt!

Subject: RE: manchester sports guild
From: doncatterall
Date: 26 Sep 08 - 12:07 PM

Dando Shaft's first album certainly didn't have her on it and she wasn't with them the first couple of times I saw them.

Don

Subject: RE: manchester sports guild
From: scouse
Date: 27 Sep 08 - 04:51 AM

I did the MC Job there once maybe twice?? Can't really remember. I think I got the gig through a guy called Stan Jardine(Anyone remember Him?)I can remember one of my play lists was The Grehan Sisters and The Mathews Brothers.. Somewhere in the back of mind Christy Moore was there as well (Everyone got very drunk on Newcastle Brown)..I remember a guy called Pete Smith and someone who ran the Owdam Folk Club (Paul ????)!!! Did A gig out there and remember being in the middle of nowhere.

As Aye,

Phil.