Greetings. My name is Rod Beatson and I played for Garstang FC between 1963 and 1970 when we moved to Lancaster, then London and, eventually, in 1986 to North Carolina in the USA. I came across this team photograph recently and hoped that I could scan and send it to you to include on your site.

Bert Freeman Tony Billington Rod Beatson Fred Jenkinson John Neild John Cross Les Foden Eddie Livesey   Tony Pegg Will Bradshaw Lance Dickinson George Reynolds Brian Cross

This was the 1964 Garstang FC First Eleven. Here are the names, with some dubious commentary, although as it was 45 years ago, I make no apology for misrepresentation.

Back row L to R:
Bert Freeman - Eddie Livesey brought Bert in as a trainer and I'm sure he, Eddie, will be able to give more detail.
Tony Billington - Full back par excellence. Tony and I used to vie for who was fastest when we had races during training.
Rod Beatson - Yours truly. I played full back and centre half (central defender) most of the time but I remember one season playing in all ten outside positions. However, Fred Jenkinson would not let me anywhere near the goal line - especially when I accidentally put one past him in an important Guildhall Cup match - and we lost. I don't think Eddie was too pleased.
Fred Jenkinson - A rock of a goalkeeper and one of the most loyal team members
John Neild - John and I used to swap positions as full-back and centre half as I recall
John Cross - midfield I think
Les Foden - mid-field, I recall Les being very tricky
Eddie Livesey - the one and only.
Front row L to R:
Tony Pegg - A good friend of mine and very creative in midfield or up front
Will Bradshaw - A fast, direct right winger.
Lance Dickinson - a tenacious midfielder in the mold of Alan Ball (for those that remember him from the 1966 World Cup) and a great captain.
George Reynolds - An aggressive and dangerous striker*
Brian Cross - A fast and dangerous left winger.

I would like to wish everyone in Garstang, and the footballers of Garstang FC, all the very best. I visit Garstang from time to time to see my relatives and I will be back in July to check up on everyone.
All the very best

Rod Beatson
February 22nd 2009

*Note: George Reynolds was Ian Wormleighton's great uncle. George died of leukemia in 1986.