Acre Rigg Secondary Modern School

Acre Rigg Secondary Modern School, class photo c.1967/68.

Back row: Fred Felton, Kevin Mugridge, Keith Davison, John Robinson, Gary Woodgate, Steven Morton, Brian Best, Alan Edwards, Dave Heckles, Jan Brecon. Middle row: Jenny Alderton, [u], Madge Betts, [u], [u], [u], Lucy Alcook. Front row: [u], [u], [u], [u], Miss Stonely, [u], [u], Tina Henry, Elaine Williams.

I went to Acre Rigg Infants and Juniors, as did our two children. After that I went to Acre Rigg Secondary Modern, which is no longer there. Brian Little was in my year group, although not in the same class as me. He became a famous footballer. I played with him in the school team once. I only had the one game. Brian was incredible. I couldn’t believe how fast he was. No one on the opposing team could get close to him. He also played for East Durham Boys, which is where he was spotted by a scout for Aston Villa who he went on to play for.

Fred Felton

Brian Little joined Aston Villa as an apprentice in 1969 and went on to make 302 senior appearances for the club, scoring 82 goals and collecting League Cup Winners’ medals in 1975 and 1977 before his career was cut short due to injury in 1980. He went on to have a long and successful career in football management, including a spell as manager of Aston Villa.