The Erdington Road Swifts football team 1912

[Aulus]

To judge by the state of this photograph, my grandfather must have treasured it and kept in his pocket for years!

He died in 1974, so I'm afraid I can't find out what colour their strip was.  He said he was twelve when this was taken, which puts it in 1912.  Erdington Road was at the time (probably still is, as it still exists) a street of boarding houses in the Central Drive/Revoe area of Blackpool.

My grandfather is on the right in the middle row.  The face of the boy on the left of the middle row intrigues me slightly, as it's not the caucasian face you'd expect in Lancashire in the early years of the 20th century.  I presume he must be the child of circus performers or other travelling folk who had settled in Lancashire. 

Would anyone like to have a go at restoring the photograph?

[Shaztoni]

here's my attempt, not quite finished yet.

Sharon.

[Aulus]

Oo, that's looking good, Sharon, for a work in progress!

[cazza59]

Hi Aulus

A couple from me.

Caz

[Aulus]

Nice.  Thanks very much.

Now I can see them more clearly, I wonder if the marks on the wall, are where they've been kicking the ball.

[Rachels]

Still fiddling with this one 

Rachel