A History Of Liverpool Thespians - Tony Scoggo

Tony Scoggo was born Anthony Scoggins on the 6th of May 1936 in Liverpool and has always lived in the Vauxhall area of the city. After 12 years seagoing service aboard cruise liners he became aware of the accelerating decline in the industry and came ashore. The only suitable job he could find was in the ship repair business, however the wages were so low that he found the need to supplement them by joining a band as a guitar player. They regularly did shows for many varied charities and this developed into fund raising for local community activities. While having a drink at the Stanley Park Hotel, Ricky Tomlinson was invited to get up and sing with the 'Hi-Fi Three', who comprised Tommy Scully on vocals, Brian Edwards, a docker, on bass and Tony Scoggins (Scoggo) on rhythm guitar. Ricky was then invited to join the band who became 'Hobo Rick & the Hi-Fi Three'.

In December 1981 he first appeared on TV in BBC1's 'Play For Today' with Colin Welland, Ricky Tomlinson and Peter Kerrigan in a film written by Jim Allen. He next appeared as Ritchie Malone, the son of George Malone, in five episodes of Alan Bleasedale's  'Boys from the Blackstuff (1982). Following a minor part in 'Give us a Break' (1983) he was the Mercedes driver 'Cold Eyes' in Alan Bleasedale's 'No Surrender' (1985) when on New Year's Eve, two groups of older men face each other down after a scheduling mix-up forces them to share a Liverpool pub. An ex-singer, who had inherited a Liverpool nightclub with a dubious past, finds himself in for a few surprises. Tension boils inherently as one group consists of dedicated Irish Roman Catholics and the other are devoted Protestants.There followed more minor roles in 'Out of Order (1987) and two episodes of Bread (1986-89). Tony appeared in two episodes of 'Dr. Who' (1986), 'Hallett (Terror of the Vervoids)' under two aliases, Grenville and Enzu.

In Dr Who (1986)

Although in 2 episodes of 'Bread' (1986-89), he became best known in the television soap opera 'Brookside' in which he played Matty Nolan from 1982 to 1992. Matthew Nolan was born in the mid to late 1930s in Liverpool, and was around the same age as Bobby Grant, born 1937, who Matty would later become friends with. In September 1958, Matty had a brief fling with Sheila Grant at around the time she married Bobby. Sheila always knew that Matty was the father of her first born child Barry Grant in June 1959. Bobby assumed he was Barry's father. Bobby never knew he was not Barry's biological father. 

as Matty Nolan in 'Brookside

Tony had developed an interest in politics while working on the Vauxhall Community Development Project in the early 1970s and he resumed this interest when he decided to give up acting in the 1990s to become councillor in Knowsley. As a Labour councillor, Tony took part in the Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council elections of 1999, 2003 and 2004. In 2003, he was Knowsley Council's Cabinet Member for Leisure, Community and Culture.

see also :- http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2023/10/a-history-of-liverpool-thespians-helen.html