Row 2: 1 Geoff Norris, 2 Jeff Robinson, 3 Michael Goulding, 4 Brian Cooper, 5 Robert Teague, 6 Mike Williams, 7 Dave Haggar, 8 Geoff Howell.
Row 1: 1 Alan Mark, 2 Gwyn Richards, 3 Alan (know as Alfie) Saunders, 4 Billy Hoare, 5 Robert Baldwin, 6 Keith Ward.

Janet wrote (Aug 2008): "My Dad Billy Hoare played for Mushet Football club and was in the first ever line up and scored their first goal. Think this was about 1966/67 when he was about 18/19. He also played for Milkwall before this".

Thanks also to Dave Nash who added (Sept 2008): "Mushet F.C. was formed mainly by Brian Cooper and presumably was so called because he lived in Mushet Place, Coleford at that time. I would suggest, although I'm not certain, that this picture may well have been taken 2 or 3 years later than the suggested date, say around 1970. They played their Home matches at Coalway Recreation Ground".

Thanks also to Ann Sargent and to Keith Ward who added (Sept 2008): "Robert Teague was captain during our first season (1967)".

Can anyone tell us anything more about Mushet F.C. ?.

Bryan Cooper added (October 2011): "... Dave Nash is correct. I formed Mushet United initially simply to play friendly matches. The early days proved extremely successful with the team winning all of its friendlies including a 2-2 draw with Bristol Rovers youth team and a 1-0 win over Cardiff City youth team. Our euphoria was soon halted when we played Cardiff in the rematch in Cardiff and lost 11-0. To ensure victory Cardiff fielded most of their Football Combination side and a future international at centre forward... I am proud that I formed and played for Mushet and that the Club is still in existence".

Robert (Bob) Teague added (August 2016): "... I live in Australia now but the photo brings back so many memories. Mushet United was formed (I think in 1969) so that some keen soccer players who socialised together could also play soccer together. The name was based on Mushet Place which was where Bryan Cooper lived and where the original discussions were held. We had no kit so we wrote to Cardiff City and Bristol Rovers and asked for gear. They offered us friendly games which we accepted. I will always remember when we played Cardiff City Youth team at home. We borrowed the Worrall Hill Recreation Ground and advertised the game. Cardiff City were then in the top flight (the old Football League Division 1) and they had won the FA Youth Cup in the previous year. We expected them to send their 5th or 6th Youth team but instead they sent their top Youth team. It included players who had been flow down from Scotland and some players from Cardiff City reserves. Jimmy Scoular the Cardiff City first team manager and ex-Welsh international was on the sidelines! We advertised the game on posters around the local area and more than 100 spectators turned up. We were totally outplayed but defended like true foresters! We only had one attempt on goal which was near the end of the game and yes Billy Hoare scored with a header from a corner and we won 1-0! The Mushet legend was born! I would prefer to forget the return match in Cardiff later in the season when we were whacked 11-0. Billy would probably also prefer to forget that the car he was in crashed on the way from the game to the post-match celebration of our 1-0 win! At the start of the next season we applied to join the North Gloucestershire League and to the annoyance of many we were admitted immediately to Division 3 of their 4 divisions".

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