Sporting Objects

Nipsy Sticks

A pair of wooden nipsy sticks. Dark in colour, with black handle end. Donated to the museum by Tommy Chambers. Nipsy is an old game which was once popular in South Yorkshire. The aim of the game was simply to a hit a ball or other object as far as possible. The nipsy, which was an egg-shaped piece of wood, is placed on a brick to start the game. The player hits the nipsy with a stick to make it shoot up in the air, then hits it again as far as they can. 

Slazenger Tennis Balls

A large wooden box of 20 multicoloured/neon tennis balls by Slazengers, each ball has the text 'Slazenger' with their recognisable panther logo. This box was used for display in the conference room and later the canteen of the Slazengers Barnsley factory. The donor worked as a maintenance electrician at the factory from September 1967 to June 2002. He loved working at the factory and met his wife there.

 

Handmade Football Shirt

A ladies Monk Bretton football shirt in red with a white breast pocket. On the pocket is a hand stitched M B for Monk Bretton. This shirt was donated to the museum by Amanda Stoner whose Grandma Frieda Stoner wore this shirt when playing football for Monk Bretton in 1926. At the age of 15, she was part of a ladies football team that her father set up to raise funds for the workers effected by the General strike. The money was to go towards food banks to feed the children of the striking families. Her father was Joseph Henry Dodd and it is believed that players designed and made their own kit. The red colour of the team may have been chosen for a reason. The colour was then, and still is today, the colours worn by Barnsley Football club. But, just as importantly red was associated with the labour party which J H Dodd represented for many years as a councillor.

Table Tennis Collection

Dorothy Hyman's Sleeveless White T-shirt

A sleeveless white T-shirt with a logo in the centre of the chest that reads "Olympic Games 1960 Great Britain" and features a union jack flag. A red, white and blue strip runs around the the centre of the waist. Dorothy Hyman wore this t-shirt when competing in the Olympic Games in Rome, Italy in 1960 where she came 2nd in the 100 meters, 3rd in the 200 meters and 6th in the 4 x 100 meters race.

Lady Mason's Bowls

A set of two crown green bowls complete with black labelled bowls bags. White text on the bag reads "Lady Mason's bowls" and has black and silver buckle fasteners and handle. One of the black bowling balls feature the initals MM in black and white. These were kindly donated to the Barnsley Bowling club a few years ago by Lady Mason. Lord and Lady Mason often visited the Miners Rest in Old Town and on a fine day would watch the bowling behind the pub. They were told they often played when on holiday on the East coast and Lady Mason gave the bowls to the club after Lord Mason's death

Bronze Bust of Harold 'Dickie' Bird, OBE

A bust of former cricketer and retired international cricket umpire Harold Dennis "Dickie" Bird, OBE by sculptor Neale Andrew. It was presented by the National Grid to Dickie Bird in September 1996. Neale Andrew has created many portrait sculptures, particularly of sportspeople and his commissioned works stand in locations across Britain.

"Bird's real legacy will be top-quality umpiring. Calm, despite his nervous disposition; consistent, despite his erratic body movements; and unimpeachably impartial despite his obvious love for all things Yorkshire and England" - ESPN Circinfo 

Barnsley Swimming Club Trophy 

Barnsley Swimming Club (men only) was founded in 1879 and celebrated its centenary in 1979. It was formed under the name Barnsley Swimming Club and Humane Society. Barnsley Ladies' Swimming Club was founded in 1898 and amalgamated with the men's club in 1953. The clubs were based at Race Street Baths, but moved to the Metrodome when Race Street Baths closed in 1989.

Yorkshire Amateur Boxing Club Badge

A blue fabric badge for clothing with red border and red text that reads 'Y.A.B.C, 2nd Boxing, 1935-6.' It features a yorkshire rose in white and yellow. The Y.A.B.C, Yorkshire Amateur Boxing Club was a non profit organisation, making amateur boxing accessible to children and adults from all backgrounds. 

Holgate Grammar School Cricket Cap

A black and white/cream cricket cap from Holgate Grammar School with the school emblem on the front above the peak. For Under 13s team and dated to 1971. Six wickets in a game. Holgate Grammar School's origins date back to 1546 when Archbishop Holgate founded a free school at Hemsworth. This was followed in 1660 by the foundation of a school in Barnsley itself by Thomas Keresforth in buildings on Church Street, which now form the Cooper Gallery. 

Football Medal

A football medal from Holy Cross School, won in the 1967-68 football league. Medal shows an enamelled football figure against a small grass pitch, goal post and crowd scene. Set on a silver base or mount with a thin gold trim. Inscribed 'Holy Cross 1967-68' on reverse. The team won the league twice over two consecutive years. Holy Cross School is situated on St. Helen's Boulevard, off Carlton Road in Barnsley. The school came into being in 1967 following the reorganisation of Church of England schools in the borough and was a replacement for St. Marys Boys' School.