George Pateman: Flexible 'Rhubarb'

[anthony.brown]

From the Hertfordshire Express Saturday 18th October 1930

Express Pen Sketches
George Pateman

George Pateman claims to have played for Hitchin in every position except that of goalkeeper.
Pateman, better known on the football pitch as 'Rhubarb', was born at Hitchin and attended St Andrews School in that town, and the Pixmore School at Letchworth. He played Hitchin and District League football for the latter school. At the age of 14 he joined Hitchin Union Jacks playing for them for three seasons, in one of which they were runners-up in the North Herts League Division I, being also finalists in the Herts Cup, when at St Albans they lost to Waltham Town by 6-2. For the next two seasons he played for Hitchin Blue Cross, securing a Stevenage Nursing Fund Cup winner's medal, a finalist's honours (in a year when the Brigade drew with Knebworth, and no medals were awarded), and playing in the semi-final of the Hitchin Hospital Cup.
Walsworth, in their last season before their extinction, secured Pateman's support, and after that he came to Hitchin, where he has been awarded a Hospital Cup winner's medal, Herts Charity Shield winner's medal, and he has also helped the Club to become runners-up in the Spartan League.
Pateman is married and lives at Walsworth. He is a hard worker, and is very enthusiastic; on several occasions he has played for Hitchin after working a 'night turn'.