Warburton, who preferred a celebratory post-goal handshake to “that poncey kissing you get today from them nancy boys who don’t know they’re born, we had it hard…” found himself left on the bench for the beginning of the Iron’s 1918/19 campaign. It was a brave decision by then boss, Sir Rossington Intraveneous-Drip, who blamed the fact that Nipper had had both of his legs blown off in the trenches at Ypres for his dip in form.
Nevertheless, ‘Nipper’ was the United hero again as he came on in the last minute of the Pilkington Offal Laboratory Cup Semi-Final and got a stump to whippersnapper, 52 year old Ted ‘Gunner’ ‘Milky’ ‘Waggy’ ‘Topper’ Bungleton’s crossfield ball, and knocked it home to secure a famous victory over Pocklington Ladies. The Iron went on to lose 16-1 in the final to Brigg Under 12s.
Unfortunately, ‘Nipper’ died in 1936, but still managed three starts in the reserves in the 1941/42 season, scoring twice.
Brian Laws stated yesterday that “’Nipper’ is like a breathe of old air for the lads, I can see him playing that all important holding-role in team, he’s bringing us experience, determination and a lovely mahogany, coffin finish to our promotion push”. When queried about the usefulness of a decayed, wood encased corpse to a modern, professional football team, Laws replied, “We sold Justin Walker ages ago”.
‘Nipper’s’ family issued a press release after the news broke, it was a bit long and wordy, so I gave up half way through, but I think it said something about legal action, or something.