Vintage Athletes - Part 42

Team Baths

British football (what Americans call soccer) teams had a tradition of taking baths together after the game.  This 1937 photo shows Poyser, MacKenzie, McCulloch and Smith of the Brentford Football Club sharing very cosy quarters.  Note that MacKenzie seems to be gritting his teeth as he sits on some part of Poyser's lap, but Poyser has a big smile.

Arsenal is one of England's professional football teams.  This 1955 photo shows Arsenal player Doug Lishman enjoying a soap foam bath massage, performed by coach Alf Fields and Les Compton.  Based on the position of the coaches' hands and the smirk on coach Alf's face, guess which body part is being massaged.

In this photo of the Stoke City team, the two guys on the left are demonstrating that penises float.

The Celtic Football Club (Glasgow, Scotland) in 1967, apparently trying to see how many guys can fit in two bathtubs.

Jeff Astle of the West Bromwich Albion Football Club drinking a libation from the winners' trophy on May 18, 1968.

After Colchester United beat Leeds United on Feb. 13, 1971, goal-scorers Ray Crawford (left) and Dave Simmons celebrated in the bath.  Presumably these are the shoes that kicked the winning goals, but you may not be looking at the shoes.

Not every team bath is British.  Here's the U.S. Olympic crew team in a Japanese bath at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, captured by LIFE photographer Art Rickerby.  I can't help but wonder what's going on underwater to the very surprised-looking guy in the middle.

We end with the Queens Park Rangers Football Club, based in Shepherd's Bush, London, singing in the shower on March 20, 1974.  From left, Dave Clement, Terry Mancini, Don Givens, Frank McLintock and Mick Leach.  Those are unashamed males!