Athletic Union Officers

The senior elected officers of the Athletic Union were originally known as the President and Lady President, and later as the President and Vice-President.

Every day students walk past the Brian Stokes memorial by the Chancellor's Building, and perhaps wonder, "Who was Brian Stokes?"

Brian Stokes (1929-1999) was a Founding Graduate of the Class of 1954 - one of 157 students who first crossed Keele's threshold in 1950. He was the founding President of the Athletic Union and a founder member of the Keele Society, which represents all Keele alumni. He had a distinguished career but we remember him most for his lifelong service to Keele, including many years as a member of the University Council.

Making history

The very first match of the Keele Soccer First XI was University College of North Staffordshire versus Birmingham (away as Keele had no pitch) in October 1950.

Photo right: The first Soccer First XI 1950-1951

Back: Bryan Saunders, John Gregory, Len Woodford (GK), Mike Fox, Jim Preston, Harold Pearson

Front: Fred Hughes, David Thompson, John Thomas (Captain), Eddie Derbyshire, John Hilton

Photo right: The First Tennis Team 1950-1951

Back: ? Underwood, Bryan Saunders, Reg Ward, Geoff Little

Front: Len Woodford, John Lloyd, Brian Lawton

Tennis photo provided by Founding Graduate Reg Ward (1954)

Photo right: The Soccer First XI 1951-1952

Back: Usman Shah Abdul "Alf" Afridi, Bryan Saunders, John Gregory, Len Woodford (GK), Brian Stokes, Gordon Musk, Unidentified

Front: Brian Hopkins, Brian Lawton, Dave Thompson (Capt), John Thomas, John Pleavin

Keele's First Professional Footballer

Brian Hopkins (1955), played for Keele University before joining Port Vale as an amateur in August 1957. He made his debut in a 6-1 home win over Aldershot on 21 December 1957 and got his second game in a 1-0 defeat at Coventry City on Christmas day of that year. He never played for the Vale again and was transferred to Burton Albion FC in March 1958.

Boxing

Photo right: Keele Boxers, 1956

Keele Boxers with their inspirational coach Sam Pearson (a professional boxer in the 1930s). Among the students are Phil Edmondson (1959), Mike Steele (1958) and Terry Prince (1958). At 6'5" Sam Pearson was known as a gentle giant; he had fought bouts with Primo Carnera and later became Chair of the North Staffordshire and South Cheshire Ex-Boxers Association.

Photo provided by Chris Harrison (1968)

Photo right: This photo must be one of the earliest of a Keele rugby shirt. This is Ron Decker (1954), an American exchange student to Keele from Swarthmore, 1953-1954. I wonder whether he attempted a forward pass?

The First Meeting of the AU

Photo right: Athletic Union Minutes Book - Page 1 1951 - the very first meeting of the AU, 13th February 1951.

Signed by Brian Stokes (1954), Rosamund Robson (1954), David Jeakins (1954), Arthur Richardson (1954), David B Thompson (1954), Freda Harman (1956), Robert Lee (1954)