John Roach, a Striker from Shropshire By Tony Onslow
Today a grade two listed building - the main engineering works of The Cambrian Railway Company once employed many of the people who lived in the Welsh Marches town of Oswestry and provided the local football team with several players. One such person, who also represented Everton, was John Roach
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Born April 1863, he was the 3rd child ofMartin, a Labourer, and his WifeBridget who together had moved to Shropshire from their birthplace in theCounty Mayo across the Irish Sea.John had begun to work, as a Blacksmiths Striker, in the foundry of the Cambrian Company when he started playing football for the Oswestry White Stars who shared a ground with the local cricket club. On the 29th of December 1883, the little Shropshire club found themselves in the limelight having received a home FA Cup draw with the famous Queens Park club from Glasgowwho were renowned for playing quality football with a strong emphasis based on teamwork. Their visit created a great deal of interest and special trains were “laid-on” from all areas of the Welsh Marches which produced a record crowd, reported to be over 3,000 people, to theVictoria Road ground. John Roach took his place on the left side of the Oswestry forward line where he was accompanied by a certain George Farmer. The Salopians held their own during the first half - and trailed 2-1 at the break, but the Scots overwhelmed them in the second half to win the tie by 7 goals to 1.
Later that season both Farmer...