A hospital is appealing for the public's help to solve a 47 year-old mystery over a poem written and sent by its staff to a Manchester United player of the day.
Steven James - now aged 72 - first signed for the Red Devils as a trainee in 1965 and went on to turn professional in the Christmas of 1966.
According to records he made his debut for the club two years later, against Liverpool in October 1968, but went on to be transferred to York City in 1976 under the management of Tommy Docherty.
A year earlier - in October 1975 - staff at Hope Hospital in Salford, now Salford Royal, sent a poem they had written about him to the Manchester Evening News' sports writer, David Meek. It's not known whether the poem was ever published in the newspaper, but it's believed staff who wrote it thought the player wasn't getting the credit he deserved at Old Trafford at the time.
The poem eventually found its way back to Steven - and its now resurfaced after four decades after being found by his aunt inside an envelope of memorabilia.
Steven, who was born in Coseley, near Wolverhampton, and played as a defender, now wants to jog memories to see if he can find out who wrote the poem and thank them.
The Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust said: "We need your help to solve a mystery of our own. On the 4th October, 1975, staff from Salford Royal (then Hope Hospital) sent a poem they had written to sports writer, the late David Meek, from the Manchester Evening News.
"The poem was about a former Manchester United player named Steven R James. He came across it after his Auntie Nora shared an envelope of memorabilia that she had collected about him over the years. The staff who wrote the poem believed that he wasn't getting the credit he deserved.
"A few years ago, Steven decided to start writing his personal memoires and stumbled across the poem as he was going through his things. He was very moved by how much the authors of the poem appreciated his career as a player and that they took the time to write to the newspaper."
Steven told the M.E.N.: "I reach out in the hope that there may just be some of the people that wrote the poem still at the hospital, or maybe some of their extended family and friends so I may extend my heartfelt thanks for the joy it has given me as I approach my 73rd birthday, 47 years since it was first written."
The poem is titled 'The Honourable James: A Poem'.
There are rumblings around the Old Trafford ground,
Regarding the Honourable James.
Why are there no shouts being bandied about,
With regards to the absence of same?
He did a great job, as agreed by the mob
Of supporters and critics alike.
But he never seems to get publicity- yet,
He earns it, the Honourable James.
Twice bashed in the face, then fallen from grace
By the art. Hon Docherty, Tom,
That’s why we don’t hear,
Those roars far and near,
For the Honourable Steven R. James.
Ten years he’s been with them,
The longest of all
Due for a Benefit soon?
Oh, why don’t we see him, Gazelle like and tall,
The quietist man of them all?
So- let’s read next week, from the man David Meek
Concerning the Honourable James,
About how last season, he helped pull them through
And out of Division Two
Steven went on to play for Kidderminster Harriers then Tipton Town and also represented England at youth level.
"This is where you come in," added the hospital.
"If you are familiar with this poem and were involved or know of anyone who helped to write it, let us know. Help us solved this mystery that has stumped Steven for almost 50 years."
Contact Victoria.toiviainen@nca.nhs.uk if you can provide any clues.
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