Jimmy Carlyle
Fast facts:
Born: 1927 (?), Canada
Lived: Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Position: Goalkeeper
First played: 1949
Last played: 1963
Other teams played for:
Whitley Bees
In a baptism of fire, Jimmy Carlyle (born 1927?) made his debut for Durham on 21 January 1950, in front of a remarkable 5,130 crowd as the Wasps took on an England team at the city rink.
Having been part of the squad since 1949, replacing the regular Durham goalminder Larry Clattenburg, Carlyle had not only ‘big skates’ to fill but also the added pressure of facing down a selection of England’s top amateur goal-poachers, coached by Wembley Lions legend, Lou Bates.
In a surprisingly even-matched game, it was during the second period that the young Carlyle found himself fully under the glare of the spotlight - after Wasps’ defender Ronnie Sancaster hacked down an England player infront of the Carlyle’s goal.
England were duly awarded a penalty shot.
Suddenly, in excess of 5,000 pairs of eyes were now all focused on the 24 year-old Canadian bricklayer from Newcastle between the pipes.
One of those pairs of eyes belonged to the Newcastle Evening Chronicle’s ice hockey reporter L.O. Hetherington, who eloquently described how the scene played out in the tense and densely packed Durham rink:
“An expectant hush fell over the big crowd as the Wasps’ second choice netminder, youthful Jimmy Carlyle crouched in readiness. Roy Hartnett (Sussex) who had made a fine display for England was given the task of taking the shot.
He skated on to the puck and moved in on the target in a menacing and purposeful fashion - but Carlyle was not overawed.
He hurled himself flat on the ice as Harnett flashed in his shot from three feet, smothered the puck and was immediately showered with congratulations from his team-mates. Harnett appeared bewildered at failing to score.”
Jimmy Carlyle, (second from right, pictured with Wasps’ team mates in ‘The Nest’ during the Durham v England game, January 1950
Despite passing the test-of-all-tests with flying colours, he was iced by Coach Booth in only two further games in that season but retained his place as back-up goalie in the squad that went on to win the 1950 B.I.H.A Amateur Cup for the first time. This would be the first of five cup winners plaques that he would collect in his 14 year career.
The end of November during the 1950/51 season, saw Carlyle given the golden opportunity of getting a decent run of regular games under his belt as countryman Larry Clattenburg ended up sidelined through injury.
By the time the Wasps’ first choice goalie was fit to return, Carlyle had put in a number of impressive performances to the point that Wasps’ manager, J.J. Smith was reluctant to drop him.
Jimmy was finally promoted to to number one spot by the start of the next season, after the departure of Clattenburg from the Wasps’ ranks during the summer, opening with a 4-1 win over Glasgow Mohawks in October 1951.
Renowned for risking life and limbic nerve for his team with theatrical and fearless dives, Carlyle dramatically split his chin open during in a game ‘52, while hurling himself onto a puck that was headed goalward from the blade of a Falkirk Lion’s stick. As was standard practice for the time, a ‘quick-fix’ surgical stitch was performed by the team’s ‘Doc George’ in the dressing room - Jimmy reportedly back out between the pipes less than a minute later.
Such were the perils of being a helmetless goalie in the 1950’s that inevitably calamity struck once again a year later. However, this time not just one Carlyle would need medical attention - so would his sister, Florence.
In the Northern Amateur Tournament game against Wembley Terriers, Jimmy was knocked out cold after taking a puck to the face from a close range shot on goal. Naturally, his concerned sibling raced down the stands to check on the welfare of her brother after he was carried off the ice, but in her moment of panic, she tripped and fell headlong to the bottom, resulting in both of them simultaneously receiving emergency treatment under the stands from the team doctor.
Jimmy’s finest moment in a Wasps’ jersey came in March of 1953, as the Wasps lined up to face a Great Britain side at the Durham rink.
Reported as being one of the best games ever played at the rink to date by Durham, not only did his team beat Great Britain, but Jimmy himself also achieved his own personal lifetime ambition: a shut-out, in an emphatic with a 5-0 win for Wasps.
Describing Carlyle’s performance, the Sunderland Echo’s hockey correspondent wrote:
“Britain were all out, make no mistake about it, but somehow didn’t click infront of goal. This may have been due to of course Carlyle’s superb display in which he brought off many near-miraculous saves often diving fearlessly at the feet of the oncoming forwards.”
Commemorative trophy awarded to Jimmy Carlyle for shutting out Great Britain. Photo: (Carlyle family)
Jimmy’s last game as a Wasp - on Durham ice at least, came in spring of 1955, after 5 years with the Wearsiders as Wasps were knocked out of the annual cup play offs by Glasgow Mustangs at the semi-final stage.
In a move that stunned North East hockey fans, the club disbanded that summer, but after a year of no hockey in the region, reformed as ‘The Wasps’ for the 1956/57 season, based out of the recently opened and larger ‘sister rink’ at Whitley Bay. Carlyle was part of the backbone of that team, who would go on to lift the B.I.H.A cup once again that season.
In May 1957, Carlyle had the honour of being one of two Canadian-born players to play for England, the other spot going to team-mate and Wasps’ legend Earl Carlson. Their rare selection by the British ice Hockey Association was made in honour of both mens’ services to amateur ice hockey in England.
After a successful season at the new seaside rink, ‘The Wasps’ effectively split into two, half remained at Whitley Bay, becoming the Whitley Bay Bees, while the remainder returned to their original home in Durham. Jimmy opted to remain at Whitley, along with other former Durham stalwarts including, Gordie Belmore, Butch Cartwright, Joe Bell, and Dave Lammin.
The Bees, who also competed in the Northern Amateur Tournament alongside and against the Wasps earned back to back BIHA trophy wins in both 1959 and 1960, temporarily wresting the crown of the ‘North East’s top team’ away from their so-called ‘big brothers’, and setting the foundations for a passionate Durham and Whitley ice-hockey rivalry that would continue until the mid 1990s.
No better was that Wasps-Bees fan-rivalry articulated, (although perhaps rather cruelly), than in February 1960, just before an intensely anticipated Whitley v Durham derby clash at Hillheads.
With the two teams about to take to the ice, the Whitley rink received what turned out to be a hoax phone (quite possibly made by someone with a Wearside accent) informing them of an ‘accident at Mr.Carlyle’s home and that he should return there immediately’.
There hadn’t been. Relieved but furious, by the time he returned to the rink from his Newcastle home, Bees were 2-1 down and eventually lost to their arch enemies 6-3. Speaking after the game, Jimmy commented ruefully:
“If I ever find out who made that call, I’ll wring his neck.”
Carlyle played throughout all five seasons of Bees’ short but sweet existence, who, along with Durham were forced to disband in the summer of 1962. (The second time in a decade for Wasps)
With no ‘senior’ hockey played at either rink owned by the Smith family, a core nucleus of players, including Carlyle kept things going in a fashion for a handful of seasons, playing sporadic invitation games at other rinks around the country.
Carlyle’s last recorded game took place on 31st March 1963 where he was listed as Captain for ‘Durham Bees’ in an encounter at Brighton Sports Stadium against the Brighton Tigers.
Jimmy Carlyle passed away in September 1973 at the age of 46. He left behind a wife, two children and a lasting legacy at both Durham and Whitley Bay rinks.
