Football has long been a key part of Huyton’s social and cultural identity. It creates connections, helping young people stay active, build friendships and learn teamwork and resilience.
Local clubs and grassroots pitches are places where dreams take root, and where ambition is shaped. For many, the journey begins with the hope of following in the footsteps of Huyton-born football legends, such as Peter Reid.
This quote is taken from Mark Campbell’s book, Huyton’s Titans, MC Publishing (2022), p.112. Published with permission.
Alan Bleasdale writes:-
"We all know Peter Reid, don't we?
Do we?”
"Of course we do - English legend - loads of trophies and awards - loud and courageous and never say die passion for football and the kind of proper politics that effortlessly presents him as a proper man of the people. After all, he is a man from the people. Real people live on the Mosscroft estate in Huyton, where Peter was brought up.
Oh, and by the way, don't forget his management career. Seen the trophies - seen the clubs he rescued? Put a load of fires out, did Peter. Should have been a fireman."
"Yes, great bloke. But do we really, really know him?"
"..Oh stop it. You're giving me a headache."
"Okay, let me take you back to the Easter of 1970 –
"What is this - Doctor Who?"
“- a hotel on the seafront at Morecambe. Huyton Boys – the whole squad – on a football tour of North Lancashire for the first time in their history, playing local teams in preparation for major cup games at the end of the season.
They were due to play Morecambe Boys on the following afternoon. After dinner as the sun went down and the lights came on all along the promenade, a couple of the lads approached myself and Eddie Kilshaw, a former footballer and without question the finest football coach who ever stood on a touch line, chain smoking and bandy. There were a couple of nervous coughs and no-one could actually look us in the eye until finally a request was made, asking if those who wanted to, could go for a walk, stretch their legs, perhaps venture onto the beach. You know, Sir for an hour or so. Or two.
"One hour" we said.
They were very happy.
So they went. Half an hour or so later, Eddie and I followed them out. We looked at the empty promenade and the deserted beach.
And then we heard the easy laughter and high spirits coming from the nearby amusement arcade. And we laughed as much as they did.
It was then that we noticed that there was still a single light on in one of the bedrooms the boys were booked into.
So, we went up and knocked on the door politely, wondering who it could possibly be who was Billy No Mates And there. sat on his bed furiously cleaning and polishing his football boots, was Peter Reid, the unlikeliest lad in the whole squad to be "Billy No Mates"
Peter looked me straight in the eye and said "We're playing tomorrow."
And that's the end of the story.
You might think it's a disappointing end. With a whimper and not a bang. No sex. No drugs. No alcohol, no rock and roll. But, to be fair to Peter, he was only just fourteen at the time.
You might even say that it makes Peter out to be a bit of a Goody Two Boots. But you don't know Peter Reid, do you?
Peter Reid is a natural born leader - a voice to be heard, listened to and reckoned with. Yes, he could be the life and soul of the party, a lad amongst lads when the game was over. But on the night before the game, Peter Reid was sat alone, cleaning his boots until they were shining. And here's a final thought. There were eighteen members of that Huyton Boys squad in that Morecambe hotel that night in 1970. Some of them, quite a few actually had, as Peter would be the first to agree, as much natural talent as he had. Seventeen lads went to an amusement arcade that night in Morecambe. One lad stayed in his room to clean his boots. One lad went to play for England.
Just a thought. Just a fact.”
