Soccer Focus: reflections on a changing game by John Moynihan (Sportspages 1989)

Sans Blanchflower: a Rout in Barfleur

The population of the charming, gusty Normandy fishing hamlet of Barfleur, near Cherbourg, were convinced they had a famous Irish footballer in their midst. Every shop window round the pretty port blazed with posters declaring Danny Blanchflower would be playing for a less famous football team, Battersea Park de Londres, in a football tournament at the Stade Louis-Debrix.

Veteran, storm-gnarled fishermen hovered over their fourth glass of Calvados and inquired where 'Denny Blunchfleur' was to be found in Barfleur. 'No, sorry,' the English squad members sadly admitted — it had all been a tragic mistake.

The official club handout, sent from a Notting Hill basement with facts about this ubiquitous and decidedly bohemian Sunday club, had mentioned that Danny Blanchflower had turned out once for them in 1966 but had said nothing about him coming to Barfleur. 'He's an awfully busy man, you know. He loves his golf, too.'

The proud Normans wouldn't believe it. 'Monsieur Blunchfleur' was surely limbering up somewhere as Battersea's secret weapon. He was known to the actual squad members on beery duty as 'Danny Baking Powder'. He was certainly going to play for the English team who, according to the locals, would hammer their lads that very afternoon.

It was one of the many charming misunderstandings which tend to happen on these zealous little football tours across the Channel. This was Battersea's third French tour, and, like the previous ones, they didn't win a match; on this occasion they did not score a goal either.