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Somerset County Herald and Taunton Courier Saturday 24 Sep 1960
Page 12 Column 3 and 4
SPORTS MAGAZINE
SPORTSMEN IN U.S.A.
News of Two Former Taunton Footballers
A FORMER Taunton soccer player, Mervyn OATEN, who was outside-left for British Railways (Taunton), the British Railways youth team, and Exeter City A side about six years ago, is back in Taunton on a three-week visit from his home in Hollywood, Florida, U.S.A., to see his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John SALTER, 46, Wood Street. He has brought his American bride (nee Mariene GEINTZ) with him.
MR. and MRS. OATEN
Mervyn, who is 26, and was educated at Priory Secondary Modern School, Taunton, emigrated to America in 1956, after doing National Service with the R.A.F. He served an apprenticeship as a carpenter when he left school and works in Hollywood.
He and his wife – they have been married for just over a year – flew to Prestwick Airport (Glasgow) from Hollywood via New York, and arrived in Taunton by train on Thursday of last week. Before flying back to the States they will visit London, Paris and Amsterdam. Mrs. OATEN is a secretary with Eastern Airlines.
Mervyn says that he does not get any soccer in Florida, because it is too hot for the game. Instead he plays 'paddle-ball,' a form of squash. He hopes to watch a First Division match while he is in London.
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MERVYN also gave us news of another former local footballer, Ron HEENAN, who emigrated to Toronto, Canada, when Mervyn went to America.
Ron, who is 25 and who went to St. Andrew's School, used to play soccer for Taunton Town and Taunton British Railways. He also represented the British Army on the Rhine when he was in Germany. In Canada he played for the Canadian Scots side in the Senior Canadian League and was awarded a plaque as the best footballer of the year while with the club.
Ron came home to Taunton for Christmas in 1957 and married a local girl, Miss Anita BALDRY. He took her back to Toronto with him. They moved south to Hollywood, Florida, last year, and now live near Mr. and Mrs. OATEN. Ron is an electrician and works with Mervyn's American brother-in-law, Mr. Wilbur MEADOWS, who married Miss Edwina OATEN during the war.