Description:This photograph was taken looking north east from bottom of Harold Street, Smallthorne before the housing estates were developed. They now occupy the open space in the foreground.
The spoil tip belonged to Norton (Ford Green) Colliery, now lowered and landscaped. This is now a mixture of open space, retail and housing development. The straight road running to the top of the picture beyond the tip is the A53 (Leek New Road).
The large building to the left of the two houses is Norton Cricket Club and Miner's Welfare, on Community Drive. The ground was also the home of Norton United FC. Sir Garfield (Gary) Sobers, the great West Indian cricketer, played for Norton CC in the North Staffs & South Cheshire League in 1964,1965 and 1967. He was instrumental in Norton winning the League title in these three seasons. The first West Indian professional who played for Norton was Manny Martindale in the 1950s, followed by Sir Frank Worrell. Clubs were only allowed one professional but between 1964 and 1967 Gary Sobers and his wicket-keeper brother and a fast bowler named Dave Wilson all played for the club. Sobers was the professional, while his brother and Wilson were officially working for the club Chairman Tommy Talbot's painting and decorating business.