Anyone remember Alex Donaldson's sports shop in Gorton?

[ColinBellsjockstrap]

Hi,

Just wondered if any older Blues remembered this well known sports shop, which was situated at 777 Hyde Road, in Gorton, on the corner with Rowsley Street. Across the road was "Cowan's Cycles" and a petrol station. It was about four blocks down from the Gorton cross street, on the opposite side to Belle Vue.

Alex used to play for Manchester City,..From Wiki:-

Donaldson played for minor teams Belgrave, Balmoral United and Ripley Athletic before being given his big chance with a trial at Sheffield United, the trial was not a success. However, he was signed by Bolton Wanderers in 1912 from Ripley Athletic and made his debut against Chelsea on 7 September 1912. He made a total of 147 appearances for Bolton over six seasons, scoring six goals. During the war he also guested for Leicester Fosse and Port Vale. He later continued his career with Sunderland, Manchester City, Chorley and Ashton National.

This photograph was taken in 1959, and my Dad bought the business in 1960, and ran it until 1972, when he sold it to an uncle of mine. It was demolished in 1974.

The shop also sold Dinky Toys, scout uniforms and airfix kits etc. The main competition was Roy Clarke's shop,near Maine Road and Hurley's Sports shop in Piccadilly. This was obviously before the days of JJB, Sports Direct etc.

I can remember when the Corgi James Bond "Goldfinger" car came out around 1965, people were queuing round the block for it.... He used to sell "Tommy Docherty" football boots with a hard brown toecap and knock in studs for 32/6...lol! I can remember when the first "Adidas Santiago" football boots came out, with screw in studs...they seemed like space age....Also Adidas "Gym", probably the worlds first "proper" white training shoe....

Happy days..

 

[Burnage Is Blue]

didnt Donald Francis run coaches from the office up the road??? sELECTER TRAVEL?

 

[BrianW]

Yes I remember it well, as a kid I used to buy my plastic kits from there.

Though by the dates I guess it was your dad I bought them from rather than Mr Donaldson. Never had the least idea there was a connection with City.

I suppose the next thing will be that Sivoris had shares in the club and that Dennis Law's dad used to drive a 210 trolleybus. It's a small world...

 

[snatch]

I remember it, but I am sure it was actually on Cross Street rather than Hyde Rd?

My mum bought me a pair of Adidas Beckanbauer with 3 bright green stripes and metal studs from there. I took them home and wouldn't take them off in the house. I think she also bought me a pair of Adidas Atletico boots and the Engand kit with the red white and blue top and elasticated wrists from the same shop. yep, great memories.

Gorton Market lost its character years ago and the recently re built mini retail park is fucking horrible.

 

[ColinBellsjockstrap]

Yes I remember it well, as a kid I used to buy my plastic kits from there.

Though by the dates I guess it was your dad I bought them from rather than Mr Donaldson. Never had the least idea there was a connection with City.

I suppose the next thing will be that Sivoris had shares in the club and that Dennis Law's dad used to drive a 210 trolleybus. It's a small world...

Ah, yes Sivoris and Levaggis...Ice cream....

Also on Gorton Cross Street...Wheeler's stores, Jerina's butchers, Phil Green's hardware shop, and on Hyde road Crawford's butcher's....I still see his son who is a top barrister now. I used to go to Abbey Hey junior school....still got my report from 1957........pmsl.

Used to get the 53 bus as a kid to go and watch the likes of Johnny Crossan, Derek Kevan, Jimmy Murray and Dave Bacuzzi.....after I had ben to the Saturday matinee at the Essoldo, or Apollo at Ardwick Green...All the kids used to stamp their feet when the cowboys came over the hill to save the townsfolk from the Indians....:-))<br /><br />-- Tue Jul 20, 2010 7:17 pm --<br /><br />

didnt Donald Francis run coaches from the office up the road??? sELECTER TRAVEL?

Yes, that's right, up Hyde Road I seem to remember....

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

An' who remembers the DonSupperBar on Stockport Road, famed for school dinners before the likes of Jamie Pillock and the ban on turkey twizzlers! Half of one of those over-sized baguettes from the baker in the same block, eat the soft inside, and hollowed out ready for the chips to be dumped into the excavation.

 

[ColinBellsjockstrap]

I remember it, but I am sure it was actually on Cross Street rather than Hyde Rd?

My mum bought me a pair of Adidas Beckanbauer with 3 bright green stripes and metal studs from there. I took them home and wouldn't take them off in the house. I think she also bought me a pair of Adidas Atletico boots and the Engand kit with the red white and blue top and elasticated wrists from the same shop. yep, great memories.

Gorton Market lost its character years ago and the recently re built mini retail park is fucking horrible.

The shop was definitely on Hyde Road, but when my uncle took over in '72, he may have moved to Cross Street for a short while when the shop was demolished in 1974, (I can't remember)....This would tie in with the Adidas shoes era and green stripes.

My uncle later moved to Ashton Old Road, Higher Openshaw, near the Ogden Lane traffic lights, where he traded till retirement.

 

[Breadsnapper]

I remember Cowans cycles well and the music shop a bit further up. I used to have drum lessons there.