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  • Workshops and courses: Photography, Wood-turning,
  • Exhibitions and Displays
    • Welwyn Hatfield Sporting Heroes
    • Sporting Heroes - Athletics and Cross Country
    • Sporting Heroes - Football
    • Sporting Heroes - Hockey, Rugby, Cricket and Golf
    • Sporting Heroes - Cycling
    • Sporting Heroes - Sources and Acknowledgements
    • Sporting Heroes - Racquet Sports
    • Sporting Heroes - Swimming & Water Sports
    • Sporting Heroes - Motor Sport, Boxing and Other Disciplines
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• Sport in Welwyn Hatfield
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• Welwyn Hatfield Sports Awards 2013

Sporting Heroes - Football

There have been many notable footballers with local connections. Tommy Southren was born in Sunderland, but came to Welwyn Garden City shortly before the Second World War. He started playing football at the Peartree Boys' Club. Whilst taking part in a football documentary at the Broadwater Studios, he was spotted by George Allison, (then Arsenal Manager), who signed him up on Amateur terms with the club. In 1945, Southren joined the Navy, but on de-mobilisation he re-joined the Peartree Club Old Boys as a winger, remaining with them for a season and a half. It was here that a scout from West Ham spotted him and at 22, he joined West Ham as a professional player. In 1953 he played in the London team, captained by Alf Ramsey in their game against Berlin. Alf Ramsey was then captain of Tottenham Hotspurs and later became Manager of the England World Cup team. Southren later he played for Aston Villa and Bournemouth.

Harry Hibbs played as a goalkeeper for Birmingham City and England between the wars. He made his England debut in November 1929 and was capped a total of 25 times, keeping his place on the team well into the 1930s. At that time he was one of England's most-capped goalkeepers. Hibbs played over 389 games for Birmingham City, including an appearance in the 1931 FA Cup Final. In 1944 he became coach of Walsall, where he stayed for 7 years. In February 1953 he played in goal for de Havillands F.C. He later managed Ware (1960-61 season) and Welwyn Garden City (1962-63 season). He settled in Welwyn Garden City and eventually passed away in Hatfield in 1984.

Paul Price was born in St. Albans, but brought up in Welwyn Garden City, where he attended Moatwood Primary School and Howard Secondary Modern. Paul played for the Welwyn District Boys' Team and for Mid-Herts, before becoming a central defender for Welwyn Garden City F.C. Price then transferred to Luton Town in July 1971 and made 207 appearances for the club, but was beset by injuries. In 1981, he transferred to Spurs for £250,000 and made 62 appearances for them including winning the F.A. Cup in 1982. He later played for Peterborough United, Swansea City and captained the Welsh team.

Mark Halsey, who was born and raised in Welwyn Garden City, played for Barnet and St. Albans City before becoming a referee. He has been a Premier League referee since 1999 and has refereed at an international level. He refereed the F.A. Community Shield match in 2007 between Chelsea and Manchester United, as well as the Football League Cup Final in 2008, between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspurs. There are also three notable international footballers with connections to our district. Bob Wilson the former Arsenal and Scotland goalkeeper lived for many years in Brookmans Park and at one time rented a property in Church Street, Hatfield and is still closely associated with his charity, The Willow Foundation, which based in Old Hatfield. Ian Dowie lived and went to school in Hatfield. He played for several league teams before becoming a Northern Ireland International. Rodney Marsh, who also hails from Hatfield, played for Fulham, Queens Park Rangers and Manchester City before playing internationally for England. He later moved to America and played for the Tampa Bay Rowdies, before becoming a pundit and commentator. Matthew Connolly, formerly a QPR defender went to school in Hatfield and studied Mechanical Engineering at the University of Hertfordshire.

David James, a former pupil of Sir Frederic Osborn School in Welwyn Garden City, is arguably one of the district's best-known sportsmen. He has played for Watford, Liverpool, Aston Villa, West Ham, Manchester City, Portsmouth and England. In February 2009, he became the player with the most appearances in the Premier League. He has also been capped 49 times by England, and won the Football League cup with Liverpool in 1995, the F.A. Cup with Portsmouth in 2008, and runner's up medals in the F.A. Cup with Liverpool and Aston Villa, in 1996 and 2000 respectively. He also holds the Premier League record for the most "clean sheets."

Kelly Smith and Alex Scott from Welwyn Garden City both play for Arsenal Ladies Team and played for Team GB at the 2012 London Olympics.  The team got through to the Quarter final but lost out 2-0 to the Canadians.  Kelly Smith was awarded an MBE in 2008 for services to Football.