Chapter 7. 1971-1986

By the start of the seventies, the impetus of the World Cup had established us on a plateau which has carried through to date, with the addition of a Seventh Team and (just) an Eighth Team plus Veteran sides. A somewhat streamlined account of this period may be appropriate.

The First and Reserve Teams have moved gently up and down, in step, between the middles of their respective First and Second Divisions, the Reserves peaking as runners-up in Junior 1 in 1972.

The Thirds were also curiously in step between Minor A and B. but Ken Adams XI started the period as second, champions and second of their top division, haunted by Old Bealonians.

The Fourth XI followed them into Minor A one season later having lost only one game in three seasons, stayed there two seasons, then collapsed steadily into their present home in Minor D.

The Sixths, starting league life in the first year, have fallen in step with the Fifths; the respective Divisional patterns have been: for the Sixths, Minor Division E, then D followed by C, D and then down to E again; for the Fifths, Minor Divisions G,F,E,F, and then back to G. Successful teams hold together for years on end. While the Council can’t hold its staff, the Club can’t keep players consistently together.

Started well in cups – The Thirds and Fourths confirmed league form by each winning their League Cups and, when the Reserves went out narrowly to Southgate Olympic, Dave Freestone played most of the match with a broken arm.

In 1973 the First and the Reserves won, and the Thirds and Fourths lost, their respective League Cup finals; for the last named it was their third in four years.

So, looking back, in the twenty-five years since the war, the Club has seen two troughs and two commanding heights. The peak of the first was winning the AFA Cup in 1958. Currently, Witan is within reach of the final peak of a Senior Division 1 Championship, having appeared at the head of the table in AFA Record for February 1972. All the other sides have been picking up championships, promotions and League Cups over the past several seasons, and the Club strength is firmly established in depth. If and when the next depression comes, we shall indeed be fortunate if the same loyalty is evident as saw us through the last periods of constant adverse results and re-election.

1971/2

With the demise of Licensing, our President, E W Newberry, retired and James Kennedy, C.O. of Parks, became the third since the war, the Club’s Officers remaining otherwise unchanged.

Three years before, a lease on the southward extension of the ground had been taken from the Hospital Board and, on this, our fourth pitch now came into use, and a Seventh Team into existence to occupy it but Harry Holloway, from 1947, becoming only intermittent in his appearances. The Sixths went into the League and, like the Fifths before them, won the lowest Minor Division at the first time of asking. Up to fifty new recruits offered, sixteen including a couple up to reserve strength, were taken on to make up the optimum squad and, as usual, the Reserves varied between a dozen and nil from week to week. A count made at this juncture showed 450 or so players through the books since 1947.

This season we left the top dressing-room to the hockey men and our visitors, and took our forty-four bods down to our present quarters, more or less as they stood when the Blood Transfusion Service left, and subject to the provision of a bath room the next year; the biggest of the many teething troubles was traipsing up to the top for a bath. It was also necessary to start our standing segregation on the veranda for tea because, with a fourth home team on the extra pitch every week, there was no longer room at Belmont for Witan to sit with the visiting teams. Congestion at the bar got progressively worse and then became uninhabitable all because of unfinished work; teams had to be allocated for washing up.

Two footballs were lost in the first two weeks; a suggestion that keepers should accept responsibility was proposed but this, no doubt, was when Ron White quietly took on the further service of whipping spares away at kick off.

In January, Dave Forest (Parks) took a Witan team to East London Stadium in a Charity Match against a Top Ten X1 in support of The Noah’s Ark Children’s Venture, a charity which provided recreational opportunities for inner city children. This was a significant event for the Club, supporting a charity promoted by well-known names in the entertainment world and from which their Top Ten X1 was drawn; the inclusion here of the official programme advertising the match, which was diplomatically drawn at 5 – 5, is appropriate. A somewhat light-hearted account of the event and game is to be found in Words of Witan Magazine, No.7, page 7, starting with the words ‘The scene, East London Stadium Dressing Room ….’

Poster advertising a charity soccer match on January 2, 1972, featuring The Top Ten XI vs. Witan AFC at East London Stadium. The event is in aid of Noah's Ark Children's Venture, with a kick-off time at 3 p.m. Admission by program, priced at 20p.

A list of individuals with short descriptions of their professional backgrounds. It includes occupations like TV actors, radio DJs, music producers, and boxers, mentioning notable appearances, roles, or achievements each person is known for. The text references various media and entertainment associations, such as Radio 1, TV shows, bands, and sports affiliations.

Text describing the Noah's Ark Children's Venture, an initiative to provide recreational facilities for children from urban communities. Established in 1970, the venture offers holidays and camping trips, involving locations like Ipswich, Gresham, and Folkstone. It supports Adventure Playgrounds and engages with local industry, national and local organizations for growth and funding.

The internet provides additional information about the Venture which continues to operate today and has gone from strength to strength over the intervening 50 odd years. Its name, Noah’s Ark, stems from the pub of that name in which the inaugural meeting of the enterprise took place in the 1960’s, but it was really in the 1970’s that their fortunes took off with sponsorship by Sir Thomas and Lady Bazley who donated 17 acres of woodland and an old RAF building for accommodation at Macaroni Wood, Eastleach, Cirencester, Gloucestershire. In 1979, Reg Castree, a Lewisham Councillor, was instrumental in obtaining an Urban Aid Grant for the Venture enabling much needed renovation and upgrading of facilities to be undertaken.

In 1982, this core funding was taken over by the London Borough of Lewisham who continued to provide financial assistance up to 2019; thereafter, the Venture has relied on its own fundraising strategies. Patrons of the Venture have included Graham Hill, of racing car fame, and Glenda Jackson the actress and MP.

Since 2010, austerity has caused the demise of many adventure playgrounds and youth clubs resulting in the Venture having to diversify towards Special Needs School, adult groups, Scout groups and other similar organisations.

Today (2024) the Venture provides residential facilities for disadvantaged and disabled children and young people; it has three buildings at the wood: Bazley House and Castree House, which provide modern residential facilities sleeping up to 51 persons, plus McVicar House which houses a sports hall and classroom. The accommodation and facilities can be hired by youth organizations and adult groups countrywide but continues to be particularly aimed at those catering for inner city children.

Witan are pleased to have aided, albeit only in a small way, this worthy Children’s enterprise.

At the end of the season, in a game against Bunny Austin’s new hobby, Egham Town, we were well out of our class, though the hospitality was as one might expect. The Christmas dance at Belmont was followed by a very good one with dinner at Dolphin Square and by a riverboat shuffle in June organised by Jenny Chapman. Rennie Quinn, having proved that members could be induced to write themselves a Club magazine, after a season’s gap, “Words” was produced by John Russell (twice in the season).

Chris Gilham and Terry Ginn were both now playing regularly for the representative side. The First Team were half-way in Senior 1, Reserves one short of the very top. Ken Adam’s Thirds started their running battle by losing Minor A Championship to Old Bealonians but won the League Cup, Fourths topped the next division, and the Fifths ran-up in Minor E. Dave Freestone played much of our cup final with a broken arm.

After the First Team beat Mill Hill 4 - 1, the referee stated our first half performance was the best he had seen in the SOL for many years.

The Fourths beat Nat West Fourths 7 - 0 in the Novets Cup (effectively Nat West’s Reserves following their merger with Midland Bank). The game marked the first appearance of Ron Crennell whose previous club was Stenhousemuir. He went straight into the First Team the following week but, unfortunately, only stayed with us for one season, deciding to take-up walking instead.

An 11 - 0 loss to BBC by our Sevenths caused the Captain to report, ‘BBC’s task was made a lot easier by frequent mis-kicking, mis-trapping, poor covering and general non-participation’.

The 1972 Easter Tour was to Tiefenbach, Southern Germany, where we were billeted in the houses of Tiefenbach players and supporters. Match results: Tiefenbach, lost 8 - 4; Pfaffenrot, lost 3 – 2; Allemania, lost 4 – 1. See Chapter 9: Easter Tours Abroad, for more details; also, Edition No.8, Words of Witan, page 9.

A very fine season closed with a special event, in particular for myself. It started with wide agreement it was more than time we had another reunion whilst I was still around to pick up the men-of-LCC past. As our last Club Dinner was even further back, this settled the format with the simplest location being County Hall. As a final ingredient, I was given carte blanche / considerable latitude to invite, as guests, VIP’s and friends of the Club who were also particular friends of mine, to also celebrate my impending retirement from the Council.

Thanks to intensive organisation by the Witan Committee, it was a roaring success much enjoyed by our guests who were:

From the AFA: Clarrie Oakes (Hon Secy), Jack Trenaman, Bill Chivers

The SOL: Dennis Billinghurst, John Williams (Hon & Asst Secs)

Sports Club: David Wilkinson, Cliff Darlow, Bert Magennis (Inter-Dept)

Officers from the BBC, Old Owens, Old Mercers (close friends of 7th XI)

Individuals: Rob Vaughan, A Brimacombe, (of 1910), Ron White, Tom Lindley, and three Club Referees, Peter Stracey, Sandy Tolmie and one other.

There were a dozen men from the 1930’s, several dozen from the early post-war years who were otherwise out of touch, and gratifying support from over fifty current players. The main exchange of speeches between Les Williamson of Old Owens, a favourite speaker in AFA circles, and our own David (Nic) Nicholson went like a bomb; Brimacome presented us with the photo of his team (see photo page 23) which hangs in the bar; he then left for Arundel to a standing ovation.

A group of people are seated at a formal dinner table with wine bottles and glasses. A woman stands with a microphone, speaking. The setting seems to be a banquet in an indoor venue with curtains in the background.

Witan Reunion Dinner 1972.

Julia O’Keeffe responds to the toast ‘The Ladies’ – Spud and Florrie Murphy are on the extreme left.

I value this further opportunity of thanking Witan and the organisers for providing this utterly satisfying farewell occasion at County Hall from which I was otherwise only too happy to shake the dust. The centenary of the Club is up in 1991/2. My thanks also (1) to the Backroom and (2) to the relays of members who have prepared, drafted and issued team sheet.

Summary of the season:

1st Team Senior 1, finished sixth

2nds Junior 1, Finished second – there a bit longer. Went out in 3rd round of AFA Junior Cup to Southgate Olympic 3-5

3rds Minor A, finished second to Beals, won League Cup 3-1 aet

4ths Minor B, Champions, won League Mander Cup, only lost one game in three seasons.

5ths Minor E, runners-up

6ths Minor G, champions

7ths New team

A newspaper clipping with the title 'Top Ten XI Personalities.' It mentions selected notable figures including Kevin O'Shea, Ed 'Stewpot' Stewart, Norman Rossington, Graham Haberfield, Bryan Marshall, and Junior Campbell. Each name is followed by a brief description of their background or achievements. The text specifies that the selection is dependent on engagements permitting.

Text box listing thank you notes to various individuals and groups. Includes names like Miki Anthony, Jim McHenry, John Cohen, Kenneth Cope, Rory MacDonald, George Cohen, Douglas Fielding, and Tony Camera. Mentions roles like recording star, trainer, commentator, and ex-footballer, as well as charities and clubs like Noah's Ark Children's Venture and Witan Amateur Football Club.

A lineup card for two soccer teams: Top Ten XI and Witan. Top Ten XI players have white shirts, navy shorts, and red socks. Witan players have green shirts, white shorts, and green socks. Each team lists players and substitutes, with names handwritten.

A black and white print advertisement featuring a message of support from "The Prospect of Whitby," a St. George's Tavern, to N.A.C.V. It includes contact details for Mrs. J. Cox at Deptford Adventure Playground for further information on helping children in crowded urban areas.

A vintage photo of a soccer team on a grass field, with nine men standing and four kneeling, wearing light blue jerseys and dark shorts. A soccer ball is in front of the group. Buildings and other people playing are visible in the background.

Witan 2nd XI 1971-72

Back: Barry Heavens, Dave Suff, Charlie O’Keeffe, John Bennett, Alan Marks, Dave Freestone.

Front: Ray Michael, Dave May, John Percival, Steve Howe, Graham Berkins.

Vintage photo of a soccer team posing outdoors in light blue uniforms, with ten players in all. One player is wearing a red kit, typical for a goalkeeper. Background includes trees and a building.

Witan 4th XI 1971-72 - Winners S.O.L. Mander Cup and Minor Div B.

Back: Don Parry, Bernie Byrne, Bob Carr, Rennie Quinn, T erry Burcombe, Ken Hyland.

Front: Gary Hudson, Dave Angus, Ned O’Keeffe, Bernie Sadler, Graham Brewer.

A vintage soccer team photo with eleven men in light blue jerseys and shorts standing on a soccer field. The goalkeeper in the back row wears a yellow jersey. A net and houses are visible in the background.

Witan 4th XI 1971.

Back: Billy Jones, Ken Hyland, Bernie Sadler, Phil Gayford, Rennie Quinn, Bernie Byrne, John Bennett.

Front: Dave Carter, Ned O’Keeffe, Ron Ellis, Frank Whiting.

Vintage soccer team photo with players in uniform posing on a field.

Witan 3rd XI 1971/72. Winners S.O.L. Minor Cup and runners up in Minor Div A.

Back: Chris Harber, Alan Neale, Jim Richards, Phil Gayford, Steve Leonard, John Russell

Front: Les Terry, Frank Whiting, Ken Adams, George Peters, Dave Carter.

1972/3

In the summer we were able, for the first time, to test the consoling remark of our host after defeating us on an earlier Easter Tour – “Never mind, if we come over, we shall be drunk and you will win” – with Alemannia and Tiefenbach making the return visit. Alemannia produced a first and a veteran team and we won both, convincingly, 4 - 1 but mainly renewed old friendships for the short time they were able to stay at Belmont. A month later, against Tiefenbach, our mid-field and Terry Ginn had a field day to the tune of 3 – 1, and, in a long evening, we convinced them they were welcome.

Sammy recalls being 'promoted' to play against Alemannia's Vets. Our team included Gerry Noakes at centre forward and Charlie Boxall on the right wing. As Charlie had, by all accounts, been in a prisoner of war in Japan, it seems he had a slight dislike of any people from an Axis Alliance country. This might possible explain why he rode roughshod over (and even through) anyone who had the temerity to try to tackle him when he was in possession of the ball (and even when he wasn't). Two of their defenders were overheard complaining to their manager about the tenacity of Charlie, saying 'we came to play a friendly game of football, not to have our legs broken!'. Notwithstanding this (or possibly because of it), Charlie scored two goals, one a magnificent cross field power shot that simply flew into the far top corner of their goal. At the end of the game, as Charlie reached the touch line where his wife was waiting, she was overhead to say, as she put his sports jacket around his shoulders, 'There dear, did you enjoy that?'. There is no doubt he did – very much so! It needs to be recorded Charlie must have been approaching 60 at that time, with Gerry not far behind.

Trevor Chambers took over as Editor of “Words”, with Jim Richards as his assistant, a post he held until mid-1976 during which time he managed to generate considerable life and controversy. Gerry Noakes and Charlie Boxall were elected Life Members, and the latter has indeed justified our confidence. Chris Gilham and Mick Moore got their League representative badges (for 5 matches). The election of skippers, on 28th October, confirmed the appointments so far made by the Selection Committee. Concerns were regularly aired over late and sometimes non-arrivals – disciplinary action, included suspension, was threatened. For the Christmas Party at Belmont, players paid 20p and any number of ladies came complimentary. A Ladies Night was proposed for June in the West End.

Senior 1 again consisted of Old Boys Teams except for us and Penguins. Mill Hill have since moved up and down in alternate years; Palmers Green and Centymca have now contributed to the watering down of the Old Boys dominance.

Terry Ginn was one of barely half a dozen absolutely outstanding players who had played for us in twenty-five years – a man with all the time and room he wanted, memorable power shooting and length passing, the only criticism being that he never gave the Club as much as he did for Licensing in the departmentals – and he was now poached by Corinthian Casuals. The First Team, nevertheless, finished sixth in Senior 1; in the cup they needed four goes to eliminate Furness Withy of Division 3 but went on to beat Fairlop in the final; we staged the Junior Final at Belmont the same day.

This was Ken Adams’s last of three fantastically successful seasons as skipper of the Third XI; they topped Minor A for the third time and won the League Cup against Parmiters; he has of course appeared at all levels since, to the present Sevenths and Veterans, leading the Fifths in 1977/8.

A vintage group photo of a soccer team, consisting of ten men in blue jerseys and one in a red jersey, posing on a grass field. One man is holding a trophy.

Witan 1st XI 1972/73. Winners S.O.L. Senior Cup.

Back: Dave Suff, George West, Chris Gilham, Charlie O’Keeffe, Steve Howe, Del Key.

Front: Dave Taggart, Pete Randall, Trevor Chambers, Mick Moore, Graham Berkins.

A soccer team group photo with players wearing white jerseys and shorts, posing indoors. Two large trophies are placed in front of them on the floor.

Witan 3rd XI 1972/73. Winners S.O.L. Minor Cup and Minor Div. A.

Back: Les Terry, Steve Leonard, Alan Neale, Don Parry, Alan Marks, Ned O’Keeffe.

Front: John Richardson, Steve Hofford, Ken Adams (capt), Andy Mansfield, George Peters.

A vintage team photo featuring eleven men in matching sports uniforms, including long-sleeve tops, shorts, and knee-length socks. They are posed in two rows inside a wood-paneled room. The back row is standing while the front row is seated on chairs.

Witan 3rd XI 1972/73. Winners S.O.L. Minor Cup and Minor Div. A.

Back: Alan Marks, Henry Campbell, Tom Sammons, Phil Gayford, John Russell, Graham Brewer, Bob Carr.

Front: Jim Richards, Andy Mansfield, Peter Mewes, Ken Adams, Steve Howe, Eric Kersey.

The Fourth XI were just below middle in that division, but reached their League Cup Final, losing to Grammarians. The Fifths came third in Minor D, as did the Sixths two sections lower, but the former appeared in our fourth cup final of the season, and the latter were promoted.

The Fifths had their cup run in Second Novets Cup – now Senior and Junior Novets – going out in the 4th round to Civil Service by the odd goal. Team: Parry, Prodger, Clark, Blakeney, Quinn, Slade, Angus, Richardson, O’Keeffe, Hiller. Rapley.

On 23rd December, of three games at Belmont, those involving the Reserves and the Fifths were abandoned because of fog but the Thirds and Sevenths concluded their games, winning 3 - 0 and losing 1 - 4 respectively.

The Sixth X1 won 14 - 1 away to Southgate County, Coleman scoring 8.

Senior Cup - lost to Actonians 0 - 2 in the 1st round. We have been playing Actonians off and on since the mid 1930’s and have pushed them fairly hard even in their powerful latter years. This season, they beat Southgate Olympic 4 - 0 in the AFA Cup Final but, in an earlier round, we held them 0 - 2, described as a close game. Note, also, our similar performances against Penguins, another winner of that Cup.

The Burntwood Final (fifth and lower teams) struck a somewhat sour note for Witan, part of a rather narrow and misguided attitude that was growing in selection. They reported in “Words” that it was their third such final in four years, but their ever-present central defender (?Quinn?) and their free scoring centre forward (O’Keeffe) were whipped from them during the week and, even then (and playing most of the game without an injured player), they only lost 1 - 0. The situation was a departure from our practice of sheltering sides in late cup rounds, and only got worse. The team: Parry, Prodger, Slade, Hiller, Richardson, Holland, Quinn, Hetherington, Rapley, Hudson and Forrest.

At the League dinner, we won the Elbourne Trophy for sportsmanship, hospitality, etc. but suffered at the hands of one speaker who “when he had an hour to spare, dropped into queue at Witan’s bar”. So, at last, we did something about it, establishing a cupboard with trays of glasses and 7-pint cans of beer which could be issued to visitors without joining the log-jam at the bar; it died when some captains forgot to settle.

The Club has always been too easy-going about collecting subs, probably still is, without actually losing very many, but this season we started asterisking players who were in arrears. There is an extraordinary reluctance to take a cheque along to a match early in the season for our pretty minimal sum. At the other end of a financial scale, this was the year that the Council voted the money to provide a new tea room and kitchen, much larger than the present, which would have become a lounge bar; the proposal sank under a series of financial crises.

The Easter Tour was to Holland where we beat Lens 3 - 0, lost 3 - 5 to SVLV Sassenheim and lost 1 - 4 to Voorschooten. Easter Monday was spent exploring Amsterdam. (See Chapter 9, Easter Tours Abroad, for details; also, Edition 9, Words of Witan, at Item 6.

The following conjecture in the summer edition of ‘Words of Witan’:

1. Official report that AGM …. By a majority of one …. Agreed that lower sides should be protected for Cup matches.

2 Complaints by Reserve skipper that failure to maintain success was due to, inter alia, ‘Calls from some lower cup sides’ (Even on its own merits …..).

3 Fifths in third Burntwood final in 4 years. A central defender and a free-scoring centre forward (both ever present) were moved up during the week and replaced with slightly square pegs. Mastered disruption well but lost 0 - 1.

Summary of the Season:

1sts Senior 1, finished sixth, beat Old Fairlopians 4 - 1 in League Cup Final. We staged Junior Final at Belmont on the same day.

2nds Junior 1, finished sixth.

3rds Minor A, champions, 3rd success for Adams, Leonard and Richards, beat Old Parmiterians in League Cup.

4ths Minor B, eighth, runners up to Old Grammarians 1V in League Cup, 3rd final in 4 years.

5ths Minor D, finished third, runners up to Old Parmiterians V in League Cup.

6ths Minor F, finished third and promoted.

7ths Friendlies.

The season ended with Newman vacating the Chair of the Selection Committee, on which he had served for over twenty-five years; the job has not, I think, since been filled, nor the end-product again proved so reliable.

1973/4

This season saw the end of Ken Adams’ fantastically successful run as skipper of the Third X1 (70/71, winners of Minor Cup and Minor Div. B; 71/72, winners of Minor Cup and 2nd in Div. A; 72/73, winners of both the Minor Cup and Div. A). He did, of course, often appear at various levels until 77/78 and was Captain of the Fifths in 1977/78.

At the end of the Season, Mick Moore left London and the Club after nine invaluable seasons; he was, with Trevor Chambers and (in his prime) Chris Gilham, a mainstay of the First Team; he was a first-class Fixtures Secretary and, for the League, the Team Secretary for their Rep side.

In December, Neil Clark finished several seasons’ sterling work as Assistant Team Secretary and an even longer run as a featherweight defender – nicknamed The Animal, constantly called on for aggro and an admirable skipper of the Sixth Team.

Jeff Cohen started a Darts League and a Christmas Disco was proposed.

‘Words of Witan’ included the following definition of ‘Keeping’ – ‘In the back of the team, as in the back of a cinema, you miss most of the action at the front but get your own brand of action – mouth and hands being your most vital assets’. Make what you will of that.

AGM decided to seek membership of Southern Amateur League (SAL) in spite of the fact that their absolute requirement was high and sustained playing strength; not unexpectedly, we were rejected (as happened in 1911). In the future, this criterion may change; meanwhile, Witan will have to win something big for the first time, and then stay at the top. They only want the cream.

The Gym at Beaufoy is now free for ILEA and our members.

St James’ Gate (Guinness) were entertained on a Sunday in March resulting in a 3 – 1 win for them. A long social evening followed during which they (with some help from us) drank all our not insubstantial stock of beer and then resorted to drinking whatever was left on offer. The evening was further enlivened by the Irish tradition of calling on individual members to sing, a tradition which the Witan players were more than reluctant to join in.

The 1974 Easter Tour was to Dublin. Aer Lingus: lost 0 - 1. St James’ Gate (Guinness): lost 0 – 2. Ormond Villa: lost 1 – 3. See more details in Chapter 9: Easter Tours Abroad, and in Edition 11, Words of Witan at page 12.

This year and next, an August trip to a squat of Chris Gilham’s in-laws in the Isle of Wight with football thrown in. Games were against Wroxall which was won 4 – 2 but the two teams we entered in the Six-a-Side competition at Ryde were quickly eliminated. More information on this trip can be found in Edition 10 of Words of Witan magazine at Page 8.

At the end of the season, the Sevenths lost one of their finest and most social fixtures with the disbandment of Old Mercers who we had first played at Wembley Park in 1925. Mick Collyer played in a Rep game at the Bank of England against them in their last game.

Amazingly, invited back to the Isle of Wight and drew two games.

The BBC run their interdepartmental as a Six-a-Side Tournament and, many years back, laid on the same facility for the SOL. This season, with their departure to the London Commercial League after a ‘palace revolution’, Witan took over the organisation, then and since, with admirable help from our members led by Mick Moore. Help was also received from BBC’s regular organisers.

Got through a couple of rounds in several AFA Cups but this was Surrey Cups year; got to the semi-final where we lost to Muirhead Sports 4 - 2 after twice leading; they went on to win the final. We were also Junior Cup Finalists, losing to Old Westminster Citizens 2 – 0.

End of season final positions:

Senior 1 1st team Eighth, lost semi-final of League Cup to Camden,

Junior 1 Reserves Third

League A 3rd Team Runners-up to Beals

League B 4th Team Seventh

League C 5th Team Next to bottom (runners down?)

League E 6th Team Eighth

7th Team Friendlies only

1974/5.

In the mid 1950’s, the requirement for staff to work at County Hall on Saturdays ceased and the Club’s fortunes entered a trough as players switched to their local sides. By the end of the decade, the trough had spread through all the sides. However, the staging of the World Cup in England in 1966 plus the bonus of England’s win caused an upsurge in our fortunes – a bit like all those tennis players who suddenly fill the public tennis courts immediately after Wimbledon Fortnight. We now appear to be entering another period of retrenchment.

Les Higgs, who had played for Surrey Youths, joined at the start of the season, reached the First XI and, at the end, began his many-sided service to the Club in charge of training sessions. There was talk of the Southern Olympian and Nemean leagues being amalgamated.

The present soccer dressing rooms, separate from the Clubhouse, were now brought into full use. The main teething problem was flooding of the whole area when the showers were left on.

Xmas dance and social at the Clubhouse advertised as 20p entrance with Geoff Cohen on guitar and vocals by Derek Price.

The 1975 Easter Tour was to our old friends Tiefenbach in Germany where the local police had been advised that visitors from England were being entertained over the weekend and pub closing hours should not apply – to reinforce matters, the doors to the local pub were removed so that it couldn’t close! See Chapter 9 for full details of the Tour plus in Edition No. 14, Words of Witan, Items 7 and 10. Match results were as follows:

Probach 1 Witan 0; followed by a dance in Tiefenbach

Tiefenbach 1 Witan 3

Tiefenbach Vets 0 Witan 4

At the end of the season Trevor Chambers (ten seasons) grew tired of travelling from Potters Bar for home games, transferred to Palmers Green, relinquished the editorship of Words, and handed over to Colin Hudnott.

In the only year that I have not been at the SOL Sixes, Witan won it 2 – 0, against Old Bealonians.

See photo below of Colin Hudnott holding the Cup.

Colin Hudnott

Del Price

Alan Marks

Steve Round

Steve Howe

Russ Kew

Profits on bar reduced by over-night pilfering.

26 players appeared for the First XI. Compare Surrey Cup – down full year, League sixes – down same year.

After a quiet year, Fifths again had a run in the AFA Junior Novets Cup up to the 5th round including an away win at Silhill, Birmingham 3 - 2 after extra time; we beat West Wickham twice in Junior Novets 5 - 1 and 10 - 1. After the first game, they had objected to a player in our team; we were a man short but, as the First Team were present, their game having been cancelled at short notice, one of them filled in, playing out of position. Their objection was upheld so we were determined to make a point by beating them by a bigger margin in the rematch – which we did to the tune of 10 – 1. But, once again, Southgate Olympic were the fly in the ointment in the 6th round, beating us by 4 - 2.

Last year, we ran the League six-a side’s; now we took on the monster task of running the AFA Senior Cup Final (Catford beaten by Kew), with some 400 spectators, having none of the ready-made facilities of the more normal venues at (say) BBC or the big Banks. It was reckoned, by the AFA management, to have been an ideally pleasant and “amateur” occasion. Thanks for this happy result is due to the very many Club members who contributed, but it would be wrong not to mention Bob Carr for the bars, Christine Kay (soon to be Carr) for the catering, Ron White for the playing facilities, and Ned overall.

John Newman’s last season as Chairman of selectors, not being able to see enough games to do the job to his satisfaction. This meant he had been a major influence on how the Council’s XI’s turned out each Saturday as a Selector, Captain, Chairman and long-running Team Secretary since the late 1940’s. Also, of course, in the back room in a dozen capacities – the Club has never had a finer servant.

A person in a pink shirt and gray trousers holding a silver trophy, standing in a garden.

Colin Hudnott holding the SOL Sixes Cup; Season 1974/5. Beating Old Bealonians 2 – 0

Colin Hudnott recalls playing for the Reserves in the Surrey Junior Cup semi-final against Corinthian Casuals ‘A’ where, much to their surprise, we beat them 2 – 0 with Steve Howe scoring two breakaway goals, but also says the rest of the game was like ‘the Alamo’! Unfortunately, our luck then ran out in the Final, against Old Westminster Citizens, and we lost 2 – 0.

Over the August Bank Holiday, Witan again visited the Isle of Wight and their exploits are documented in Edition 12 of Words of Witan magazine at Item 7. Results: against Ventnor Reserves, drew 1 – 1, and against Wroxall, drew 2 – 2.

The outcome of the season:

S1 1st Team Next to bottom, won League six-a-sides

J1 Reserves 4th, Surrey AFA finalists, lost to Old Westminster Citizens

MA 3rd Team 7th, used 40-odd players

MA 4th Team Bottom, out in semi-final of League (Mander) Cup to Monovians

D 5th Team Sixth

E 6th Team Eighth

7th Team Friendlies

The third tour to the Isle of Wight took place in August an account of which can be found in Edition 14½, Words of Witan magazine at Item 4. Results were: against Wroxall, lost 5 – 2 and against Ventnor Reserves, lost 3 – 0.

1975/6.

Agitation for hot meals continued (as at away games). With a name like mine, I think I’m entitled to comment that the slide was escalating – no hot potatoes!

A very sociable season. September started with a barbecue and disco, another disco early November, the usual for Christmas, Steve Smith’s in February.

We again ran the AFA Senior Final (Old Aloysians v West Wickham) after other possible host clubs had come unstuck, and largely the same band of enthusiasts again did Witan immense credit; we were now very much on the map.

A tour to Northumberland, proposed by Jim Richards, was confidently mooted at the end of January, endorsed in February, and pulled back early March as our prospective opponents, Wooler F C, turned us down.

However, Mike Hetherington recalls a Tyne and Wear County Council team visiting Belmont. Witan used a mixed bag of players from any of our 7 teams but mainly from those who attended training (and drinking) on Wednesday nights plus regulars from the 6th Team who he played for. The T & W team were, similarly, a mixed bunch who played occasional friendlies in their locality. Clearly, a good evening followed the game as Mike cannot remember who won nor which team he played for!

Out of the blue on 15 March Ned received an invitation to return to Pfaffenrodt – which goes a long way to justify the standard of discipline we have always tried to maintain on tour. A rather ‘tongue-in-cheek’ account of this tour, belying somewhat the aforesaid comment, is contained in Edition No 15, Words of Witan Magazine at item 5 and also in Edition 16 at Item 6. Results: against Allemania, won 3 – 2; against Pfaffenrot, lost 5 – 2 and against Allemania Vets, lost 1 – 0.

Les Higgs played repeatedly and with credit for the League Representative Sides (particularly valued for his distribution) but did not achieve the five occasions needed for a League Badge.

Cup-wise (as they now say) we concentrated on the league (as they’ve always said) though the Fifths again did best. They won the first round of their AFA Minor Cup in unusual circumstances – away to Old Uxonians, who failed to provide either nets or match ball, and then promptly conceded, allowing us to reach the Third Round against Civil Service – were we were slaughtered. We also reached the semi-final of the League Cup against Fulham Compton Old Boys which is worth a mention – at 80 minutes we led 4 - 2, they equalised in injury time and won in extra time. The real nonsense was that they, then, couldn’t raise a team for the semi-final and scratched!

However, the concentration [on the League] wasn’t adequate, five sides being relegated. The First XI achieved relative respectability (having dropped to their proper level a year earlier) and finished 5th with a few goals scored (Beswick 30, Gilham 25). For the rest of the teams, in 68 games up to February they had only scored 89 goals.

The outcome of the season:

S2 1st Team Fifth

J1 Reserves Bottom

A 3rd Team Bottom

B 4th Team Bottom

D 5th Team Bottom

E 6th Team Next to bottom

7th Team Friendlies

Group of men posing in soccer uniforms on a field, wearing green jerseys and shorts.

Witan 1st IX mid-late 70’s .

Back: Les Higgs, Roger Hiller, Colin Hudnott, Russ Kew, Chris Gilham, Bob Carr, Del Price.

Front: Alan Marks, Pete Randall, Eric Kersey, Steve Round, Dave May.

1976/7

John Newman severed last connection apart from one more AGM – did not stand for re-election.

Les Higgs – Darts matches organized against other sports clubs, eg Hoover. He was also spreading the name of Witan with sweatshirts and holdalls. The only previous “commercial” enterprise was Freddy Wise holding stocks of glucose tablets for sale – to a generation which put rather more energy into Saturday only games?

We took a party to a stag night at Charlton FC.

Xmas disco and another in February as fund raiser, inter alia, for an American Tour.

Until I started putting recent seasons together, I hadn’t realized what an affinity the Fifth XI had for the AFA Novets Cup. All other sides won at most two rounds, but they won four and, in the fifth round, they went out 0 - 3 to Lloyds Bank. They also reached the quarter final of the Burntwood [Cup], drew with Old Parmiterians, then lost by the only goal.

Fixture arrangements had grown progressively more confused over several seasons since Mick Moore’s departure, so Colin Hudnott took over as Match Secretary and retired from Words; after a short struggle for the succession, Geoff Prodger became Editor and, we hope, will remain for a long stint.

The Seconds and Thirds started the fight back, coming third and fourth in the League respectively and, remarkably, all the others came seventh, which is reckoned a lucky number.

The Sevenths put 7 past William & Glyn Bank yet, somehow, contrived to lose 7 - 10.

The American Tour, proposed for Autumn 1977 – 2 fixtures – deferred. Considerable funds were being invested in Building Society. Therefore, no Easter Tour in 77, so Tieffenbach asked over here.

Three of the goalkeeping positions were filled by the O’Keeffe brothers, all converts from Gaelic Football.

We ran AFA Junior Final: Norsemen v Barclays Bank.

To ensure we continued to have a presence at League functions, the Club resumed old sponsoring of one place at the League Dinner but C Hudnott forgot the date and didn’t attend.

Outcome of the season:

S2 1st Seventh

J2 Res Third

MB 3rd Fourth

C 4th Seventh

E 5th Seventh

F 6th Seventh

7th Friendlies

1977/8

Xmas disco, darts matches.

A cliff-hanging Mander Cup final against Mill Hill Village 4th. A long-range goal given away after 5 minutes, our equalizer with five to go, and 1 - 4 down at the end after Extra Time.

To come into line with the rest of English football, the AFA re-christened its cup for reserve teams as “Intermediate” and so pro-rata. This seemed to encourage the Seconds who got through three rounds, but the Fifths didn’t like the plain Novets label, and went straight out.

Pete Randall gave up Captaincy, admirably done and (he says) enjoyed.

September 77, visit from Allemania – poor support? Once again, debt to our two ladies – Mrs Graham and her daughter, Janet. Provided transport to go from town but rough on drivers re the return.

Vintage soccer team photo with players in light blue jerseys and black shorts, standing and kneeling on a grass field.

Mander Cup Final April 1978. Witan 1 - 4 Millhill (aet)

Back: Matt Archdeacon, Tony Hill, Geoff Prodger, Ned O’Keeffe, Dave Freestone, Bob Smith.

Front: John Slade, Dave May, Tony Belton, Steve Smith, Dave Gibson.

A very inconsistent season. Firsts, Reserves and Fourths all running for promotion at one point, but all sides also at the other end of tables on occasions. For instance, Firsts mentioned as top at Christmas, 28 goals, 18 games, only 3 goalless draws. Les Higgs a) injured, b) job in provinces. Thanks even if his membership was relatively short.

Could not, on our own, support American tour (Autumn 78) but not entirely ruled out; however, the considerable deposits paid back and ownership of accrued interest caused much heart searching / Club loyalty. Information, regarding the tour possibilities, passed to League.

Started present system of keeping team shirts together and issuing each week to players turning out – not that many box-ups so far.

Funny year. Tour quote to Trier @ £70 got no support as too expensive, though last [tour] cost £50.

We took up an offer of an ultimate tour to Sedan in France if we would first invite them over here. Pretty soon, this turned into an invite to stay in members’ houses at Easter 78 on assumption we reciprocated; difficulties in London explained, we looked into possible dormitory accommodation. Travel costs only to our bods £30. In the event, they enjoyed the same diabolical weather and consequent fixture congestion, as we did and were obliged to play League games over Easter. No Tour. Return visit could only be at Whitsun – cricket season.

Outcome of the season:

S2 1st Next bottom, but reprieved by a new club

J2 Res Fourth, lost semi-final of League Cup to Old Monovians

B 3rd Champions in the last match after a poor start

C 4th Seventh, Mander Cup, lost final in extra time

E 5th Tenth

F 6th Next to bottom

7th W7, D5, L12, 69 for 95 against; all very enjoyable and perhaps the best yet.

1978/9

The Easter Tour was revived and was based in Trier, Germany. See Item 5, Edition 21 of Word of Witan for an account of the tour. Results: lost to Besseringen 3 - 1 and to Trier Ruiver 1 - 0.

Three League Cup finals were staged at Belmont on the same day:

Senior Cup – G.W.R. v Old Finchleians

Minor Cup – Old Parmiterians 3rds v Old Libertians 3rds, and

Burntwood Cup – Old Parmiterians 1V v Mill Hill 1V

Final League positions:

S2 First Team Ninth

J2 Second Team Winners

Ma Third Team Tenth

Mc Forth Team Ninth

Me Fifth Team Fifth

Mr Sixth Team Sixth

Seventh Team Friendlies

In May, the Belgium capital, Brussels, celebrated its Millennium and hosted a Football Tournament to mark the occasion, inviting Council teams from European capitals to take part; The GLC entered a team, drawn from Witan and the various Departmental teams. A report of events is in Edition 21, Words of Witan, Item 9 on page 17. In summary, the Council, team fared well, winning against Amsterdam 3 – 1, against Rome 1 – 0 and against Luxembourg 3 – 0 to top their group and reach the semi-finals; there, they played against Copenhagen winning 1 - 0 but the final was, unfortunately, lost to Dublin 1 – 0.

Witan All Stars v Architects 28th April 1979

Barry Udall has left the Council’s service for the more fertile pastures of the private sector. A few weeks before his departure he met Les Franklin in Service Circular (they bump into each other regularly in the Service Circular) and a few drinks later decided that Barry’s departure could be appropriately marked by a football match between an Architects team of his era (middle 60s!) and a Witan X1 of comparable vintage.

Thus, it was, on Saturday the 28th of April, boots and togs that had not seen the light of day for many years, were retrieved from attic’s, box rooms, coal bunkers et-al, smuggled out of doors under the eyes of suspicious wives and ferried to Belmont, there to be stretched onto bodies that had lost a certain amount (though, generally, surprisingly little) of their youthful trimness. Derek Brammer, who arrived from Grimsby sans boots, borrowed a pair from Ned (apparently, not his scoring ones, as you’ll see). Thinks! If Ned has more than one pair, he’ll be playing (sorry, turning out) for years yet!

The game attracted Witan’s largest gate for years and those attending deserve individual mention: ‘Jock’ Conners belying his 70 years (he said he has a young wife who keeps him on his toes!) – ‘Lang may yer lum reek’ Jock (if any non-Scotsmen think that’s rude, it’s not) – Charles Boxall, Ron White, John and Betty Newman, the Percival’s, Rick Nelson’s wife and Julia O’Keeffe plus a sprinkling of Third Team players who had taken part in the preceding curtain raiser. Spud must have felt nonplussed by the vociferous competition, to his normally lone ‘encouraging’ voice, provided by those accompanying him on the touch line.

There was a dramatic late change to the published Witan line-up – Ned moved from goalkeeper to centre-forward and Don (Cinderella) Parry (he always misses the ball!) took over in goal. ‘I knew Ned would do something like that’ muttered Freestone, ‘I didn’t believe the team sheet which showed him in goal!’. The teams therefore lined up as follows:

Architects (orange shirts): Sammons, Sartorio, Bonser, Carter, Brammer, Leonard, Little, Udall, Spragg, Noakes and Nelson

Witan (blue shirts): Parry, Jones, Percival, Burcombe, Bussey (sub Cook), Freestone, Peters, Oakland, Franklin, O’Keeffe and Hudson.

The game got off to a brisk start with all demonstrating that the passing of time had not altered their style of play, whatever it had done to their pace. Indeed, Brammer’s extra girth had added to his ability to obstruct (ask Ned); Bonser’s plimsoles did not inhibit his sliding tackle, though opponents were less likely to be scared than in days of yore. Bussey played like a two-year-old and paid the penalty after about 20 minutes when he went off with a pulled muscle to be replaced by Cook, much to the chagrin of Boxall who had grown restless on the line and was eager to join the fray.

It became apparent from an early stage that Witan had the edge. They seemed to be more motivated – perhaps by Franklin’s example and obscene exhortations. Though Noakes forced an excellent reflex save from Parry, the Architect’s attack was largely blunted by the policing of Nelson by Jones. Well, remembering Nelson’s dislike for tackles from behind, Jones sailed into him time after time as the ball arrived at Nelson’s feet. How much this attention bothered Ricky was demonstrated by an incident late in the second-half: seeing another pass floating towards him and, again, hearing Jones’ feet pounding up behind him, Ricky’s anguished cry of ‘Not yet Billy, wait until the ball arrives!’, rang around the ground.

Half time arrived with Witan leading 4 – 0 (3 to O’Keeffe and 1 to Hudson). Architects made some switches during the interval, including moving a demoralised Sammons to the right wing with Spragg taking over in goal. Witan continued to press forward up the hill, maintaining the pace of the first half despite a personal appeal from Percival to ‘make the ball do the work lads, not your legs’ (self-interest John?). Two further goals followed, from O’Keefe and Freestone, though Sammons was unlucky with a good attempt at the other end.

At this stage. Peter Stracey, whose handling of the game had been excellent, decided Architects needed some reward for their efforts, and awarded them a penalty for an innocuous incident in the Witan box – at least that’s Oakland’s version of events. Udall’s run up for the penalty kick started in his own half and Parry’s quick duck in the goal saved him from decapitation. Peter called time shortly afterwards leaving Witan 6 – 1 winners.

Predictably, a long session developed in the bar afterwards, with many a game being replayed. The best wishes and apologies for absence of several people who had been unable to attend were passed on. The general feeling was that it had been an enjoyable and worthwhile day and should be repeated again. I wonder how many had the same sentiments the next morning when aching muscles made their presence felt. The Club was relieved that all except Tom Bussey came through the event unscathed and therefore did not need to worry about receiving abusive letters from upset wives. Neither was a complaint received from Tom Bussey’s wife; thank you Tom – however you managed to calm the situation!

‘Did you enjoy the game, Dave?’ Freestone was asked during the evening. He replied that his wife had instructed him to ‘Have a good game and enjoy yourself’, and he had replied, ‘I will – if Ned doesn’t score!