During the final year of the war, RAF Melton Mowbray boasted a formidable football team. Bolstered by professional talent like Jimmy Learmonth, the squad secured a major victory by winning the Loughborough Charity Cup. Their Commanding Officer, Group Captain Pete Gomez, was an avid supporter and eager to celebrate their success. The team’s high-level roster was managed by Cpl Andy Bramley (of Anstey) and featured notable figures such as Leicester City trainer Bill Maclean and the legendary Clem Stevenson, a former star for Huddersfield Town.
An avid fan and proud of the victory, Gomez invited the team back to the Officers’ Mess for drinks. During the festivities, the CO performed his party trick: Downing a full pint of beer in a single go. Surprised by the feat, Jimmy whispered to a teammate, “Where’s he putting that? Has he got hollow legs?”
To Jimmy’s horror, the CO overheard. Gomez spat out his drink in a burst of laughter and replied, “It’s better than that, Jimmy!” while sharply tapping his leg. To the amazement of the room, the leg was indeed hollow—it was a prosthetic, replacing the limb he had lost in a flying accident earlier in his career. Though Jimmy feared he had crossed a line, Gomez simply laughed it off, the victory and the joke cementing the bond between the officer and his men.
The Team Line-up
Back Row (L-R): Andy Bramley, Bill Maclean, [Unknown], Fl/Lt Ames.
Middle Row (L-R): [Unknown], Alan Brown, Ted Sale, [Unknown], McKie, Oswald Destine, Roy Bentley.
Front Row (L-R): Clem Stevenson, Jimmy Learmonth, Fred Moon, Group Captain Gomez, Bert Brocklehurst, Fred Butcher, Jack Smith.
Note on Professionals: The RAF Melton Mowbray side featured high-level talent, including team manager Cpl Andy Bramley (of Anstey), Leicester City trainer Bill Maclean, and the legendary Clem Stevenson, who famously played for Huddersfield Town.