The historic annual match for the John Ingram Memorial Shield was contested as a pre-season fixture each August or September between Solihull Division Police and Silhill FC Veterans (formerly of the Central Warwickshire Over 35's League), latterly made up of a Silhill Select XI.
This game was played in fond memory of John Ingram, a West Midlands Police Inspector based at Birmingham International Airport who died tragically whilst playing football as the player / manager of Silhill Veterans. Amongst many highlights, man-of-the-match Ingram had shot the 2-2 equaliser for Silhill Veterans against Arden Vale Teamen which enabled Silhill to beat Massey Ferguson to the 1983 Central Warwickshire Over 35's League Championship.
John collapsed and died on the pitch at the age of 46 after suffering a heart attack in a friendly between his team and Sheldene FC at the West Warwickshire Club, Olton. John Ingram (11th July 1944 to 24th August 1990) was cremated at Robin Hood, attended by a congregation of hundreds of people including a large number of serving officers. The service on Wednesday 5th September 1990 finished with the traditional soccer hymn "Abide With Me".
John had taken the field for Bromsgrove Rovers aged only 16 and then played police representative soccer for 28 years, including games for the British Police team.
Of the 23 contests for the John Ingram Memorial Shield up to and including 2013, Solihull Division Police won nine and Silhill ten, with four close encounters drawn (2-2 / 1999, 4-4 / 2008, 3-3 / 2011, 4-4 / 2013), by convention without extra time or penalties. The final match, the 23rd, was played in front of a large crowd at Sharmans Cross Road on Sunday afternoon 1st September 2013.
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