Life can be strange and full of surprises, something which I, once again, discovered during the week.
Trying to cope with the climbing temperature, and humidity, I was conducting some research for an article and stumbled across a name that I thought looked to be familiar, but, reflecting, I wasn’t sure if there was any connection, or was it a simple case of 2+2=5?
Leaving it on the back burner, for a couple of hours, I just had to revisit and try to find out, was Alwyn Scott McGuffie who played for Luton Town between 1954 and 1964 the same person who ran a Toy Shop I often frequented back in my youth?
The Toy Shop, in question, was on Marsh Road, Leagrave, a twenty minute walk from where I was brought up, in Limbury Mead.
Looking for an answer, it came courtesy of some info stored on the excellent Hatters Heritage, web site, which confirmed that after his Hatters career was over, Alwyn did, indeed, take up the ownership of the very same Toy Shop I visited.
But what I find strange, from my recollections, is that my late father never once mentioned to me Alwyn’s Luton Town connection, even though my father frequented Kenilworth Road on a regular bais during that period and even though he knew I spent my pocket money in there.
Also, I can’t recall Alwyn having any Luton memorabillia on display in his shop.
Sadly, reading the information available, it appears Alwyn returned to Scotland and passed away in 2015.
Living the other side of town these days, close to the airport, I don’t have a clue what business the shop houses these days, but I’m determined to revisit Marsh Road, shortly, to find out.
Do any of our readership recall Alwyn McGuffie playing for the Hatters?
Is so, have you any memories to share?
Plese feel free to do so in the comment facility beneath this article.
COYH
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I remember Alwyn. He was a tall wing half who didn’t get a lot of games.
Sadly didn’t know he had a toy shop, I used to spend my money at Partridges in Chapel Street.
another haunt of mine 🙂 got my first bike in there.
Bit early for me playing wise, but remember the shop & him talking football with me dad & older brother…..
Used to love going to Macguffies as a kid in the 70’s. Didn’t know then that he was an ex-player. He had loads of football memorabilia for sale for all the clubs at the time, always went there to buy my bangers round halloween and airfix models, dont recall any other corner shops at the time selling them. Think it became the Vac Shop after, not sure what it is now, always look at the shops with their old names, like Dillons used to be the newsagents on the corner of Marsh Road and Limbury.
I Can remember the Vac-Shop!
I knew Alwyn very well I was in those days a Sales Rep for a Toy Company Scalextric Model motor racing was my main line but I did also represent other companies Alwyn was a fantastic chap and always a pleasure to meet him every six weeks or so He did talk football with me occasionally I seem to remember him saying that he suffered a lot of injuries and retired from the game earlier than he wanted to He had a Father in law and Brother in law who each owned Toy shops in Saint Albans Alwyn married the Daughter of the Family Alwyn was such a pleasant Bloke that I have never forgotten him even after all these years