FOOTBALL at its highest level certainly got you talking!

We reported on the sad demise of Scapegoat Hill Football Club after 70 years.

And many former amateur players in the town have recalled their memories of games high on the windswept hill.

Graham Johnson, of Salendine Nook, said: "It was always a tough fixture on two fronts up at Scape.

"When I played against them in the late 60s for Almondbury WMC they had quite a good side plus, with the ground being circa 1,200ft above sea level, it was worth four goals' home advantage.

"I remember playing towards the Bolster Moor end when the wind was so strong that every time our goalkeeper took a dead ball kick the wind blew it back over the goalposts for a corner - until he got wise and rolled the ball out, which straightaway put the defence under pressure."

And Michael Lenaghan said: "It was with great sadness I read your feature on the demise of Scape FC.

"My father David played for them for many years and sadly last year he died. He played alongside the likes of Ronnie Wasp, Mick Chapman, "Chewy", Phil Shepard and Jez Brook, to name but a few.

"In those days they used to get changed in the old cottage building, with its massive stone bath. We would then walk onto the pitch with the quarry down one side, where the home supporters would stand; the likes of David Micklethwaite and co.

"We helped the players put the nets up, sitting on their shoulders as we were the small ones.

"The match would come and go, hail, rain, snow and sun. You could get the lot in 90 minutes."

David Piggott, now studying at university, was sent a cutting of the story. He said: "

I am just one of the proud few to have pulled on the Scape shirt, who have endured `the Hockey' and its unforgiving features and witnessed games postponed due to `excessive wind'.

"But it is because of all its idiosyncrasies that Scapegoat Hill FC will find a special place in the memories of everyone who played there."

District league chairman Frank Beaumont played against Scapegoat Hill many times, including a cup final while with Bradley Rangers.

"I am as saddened as anyone by their demise," he said. "They joined the league in 1921 and were distinguished members for a long time.

"It is very sad to lose them but their memory will never go. Their record of tieing for the league title will never be repeated, as teams now level would settle things with a play-off."

Leslie Westcott, 72, of Lindley, added: "I joined Scapegoat Hill in 1950 and played for at least a dozen seasons.

"I recall one game, against the Polish team KKS Silesia, when their players walked off because it was so cold."