Flashback to 2002: Support for football club and firefighters go on strike

Stephen Dean, of Ditton Priors near Bridgnorth, announced he was sponsoring Telford United’s home and away games against Hereford United on Boxing Day and January 1.

And to confirm his support he had designed and produced 150 specially commissioned Telford United mugs to be sold at the club’s shop.

Mr Dean, who previously worked for Wedgwood in Stoke-on-Trent, said he had always been a football fan and used to play in his youth.

He added: “It all started because I was looking at new areas I could go into because I always like to generate new interests.

“I used to play football and have an interest in the sport so I made enquiries with Telford United because they are a local club.”

Mr Dean said that after offering to sponsor two games the club asked him to supply a range of mugs for fans.

“Over the years I have been to Telford games and it’s nice to see a local side develop and progress," he explained.

Robin Eaves, Telford United commercial manager, said the club was delighted to strike a deal with James Dean Pottery. 

He said: “We were using a company a lot further away than James Dean but we are really trying to use companies from Shropshire for anything we need. It’s got to be a two way thing and then it can be of a benefit to everyone.”

Meanwhile, hundreds of shoppers made their way to the County Showground in Stafford to get their hands on homemade produce.

The Annual Markets Day, organised by Staffordshire WI Market Society, was a complete sell-out.Society chairwoman Audrey Kelsall was due to greet the audience in the Ingestre Suite, before handing over to Pat Dyer, an enthusiastic collector from Shrewsbury.

He was to talk about the development of kitchen and home equipment over the last 500 years, and also identify items brought in by the public.

The Reverend John Eley from Suffolk, known as The Cooking Canon, was set to entertain the audience with his Cook In.

Throughout the day WI Market stalls were selling festive goods, and four charities -Katharine House Hospice in Stafford, St Giles Hospice near Lichfield, the RNLI and Leukaemia Care - were selling Christmas cards and seasonal items.

The event came as Britain's first firefighters' strike in 25 years got under way.

Up to 50,000 firefighters were on strike for 48 hours, with the missing emergency cover provided by the army using vintage green goddess tenders.Fire Brigades Union (FBU) was seeking a 40% pay rise for crew members to £30,000 a year and had already rejected an offer of 11.3% over two years.

Among those who had spoken out about their pay was 30-year-old Bridgnorth firefighter and father-of-two Andrew Williams, who was also a van driver.

He said he had no choice but to get another job because his £17,300 salary was not enough to look after his family.

He said: "You can be doing up to 70 hours a week just to try and keep your head above water really. A lot of people have other jobs on the watch but it is very trying especially with the time coming up to Christmas."

Deputy prime minister, John Prescott, branded the strike "unnecessary and unreasonable" and said it put lives at risk. He had appealed to firefighters saying: "Be reasonable, not unreasonable - suspend the strike. I appeal to all firefighters - don't walk, talk."

Around 1,600 military personnel were brought into the region to provide emergency cover, with soldiers being shipped in from as far afield at Germany to man the 40-year-old vehicles.

Companies were told make their own final preparations, checking their own firefighting equipment was up to scratch and reviewing emergency procedures to ensure staff were not put at risk during the 48-hour strike.

Schools were told to stop using bunsen burners in science lessons.

At 6pm on November 13, firefighters across the country emerged from their stations at 6pm to begin a 48-hour picket.

Minutes later, Green Goddess appliances started responding to emergency calls – most minor and some false and hoax alarms.Up and down the country, there were many reports of firefighters leaving their picket lines to offer help and assistance to the Army at major incidents.

The strike began a series of walk-outs, totalling 15 days.In June 2003, the nine-month dispute came to an end after union officials agreed a final deal worth 16 per cent over the course of two-and-a-half years.