Witan in Luxembourg - Easter 1966

L - R:  Back Row:  Andy Mansfield, David (Nic) Nicholson, Ray Johnson, Bernie Sadler, Tommy Sammons, Alec Whiteman, Ned O’Keeffe.

Front Row:  John Percival, Dooley, Eric Goss, Duncan Carter.

Easter 1967 - Luxembourg

Spud wrote the following account which he said London Town couldn’t find room for:

Witan Return to Luxembourg.

This time last year the Staff Soccer Club, Witan, in a report in the London Town gazette of their 1966 Luxembourg Tour, recorded a unanimous decision to do it all again in 1967.   Accompanied by Old Cestrefeldians, a Witan party of 16 duly returned at Easter to this very congenial stamping ground, and the utmost good will was in evidence throughout between all the tourists and with our opponents.

The Party comprised:  Sadler, Neal, Whiteman, Burcombe, Duncan Carter, Pheasant, Chambers, Goss, Gross, Percival, Sammons, Johnson, Murphy, Eleanor McBean (Bernie’s sister-in-law), plus two wives – Mrs Carter and Mrs Johnson.

Amis des Sport Schifflange v Witan.

Our one bar causality of Friday night coming well up to scratch, we proceeded on Saturday to Schifflange (an iron-mining village a few miles southwest out of Luxembourg City on the French border) and met the same great welcome from the Club Amis des Sports (Division 5) as did Monovians last year.   Our pennant was duly exchanged for an endorsed engraving of a mine scene and we kicked off on a glorious spring afternoon on a large, somewhat bumpy pitch but pretty much what we are used to in London. The home side would have been tricky if allowed their head, but we imposed our game on their slow build-up; they worked well in mid-field triangles but produced little other than long range shots.   Out of the very many opportunities Witan created, Goss converted one from just inside the box and Gross picked up a long ball, created space as usual, carried it down the middle through a strong interception, and drove it hard and wide of the goalkeeper.   The home side lost a player in considerable pain from an apparently simple tackle and, of course, was substituted.

Within a minute of changing over we were 3 ahead from Goss’s pertinacity in following-up a back pass, and we now began to play some really attractive and progressive football; Schifflange took a goal from a penalty for hands, but Pheasant immediately attacked down the right and his strong angled shot was parried to Percival who safely pushed it in.

The scoring was finalised at an unrepresentative 4 - 2 when the Alan Ball of our forward line (Goss) read a difficult situation well, marked it and steered the ball into our box, then left it to Sammons who wasn’t there, and so conceded (as last year) an own goal.   The game was marred at the end by a crippling injury to our key constructive forward, Chambers, whose work rate had been notable; we are indebted to the home trainer for the prompt and thorough aid he gave; one of our backs, Neil, had suffered a less obvious injury and was also not fit for Sunday.

Result:   Schifflange 2 – Witan 4

Team: Sammons, Neal, Whiteman, Sadler, Burcombe, Carter, Pheasant, Chambers, Goss, Gross, Percival.

The evening’s entertainment was chaired by Amis’s Secretary who had, over the years, entertained Hendon and other illustrious tourists, and bore out his claim to know what was due to guests with an endless supply of the local wine; Witan reciprocating with lapel badges and Club ties.   The party reached new heights when the coach came through from France with Cestrefeldians who were somewhat overawed by a civic reception, march to the War Memorial behind a band, and a banquet.   Home officials came back with us to our hotel for a return of hospitality.

Even for blasé second-year tourists there was ample entertainment for the free mornings and long nights of the weekend, including a return to Charley's Night Club.   Cestrefeldians of Saturday night, and members of both parties on Sunday, found a Teutonic pub with steins of all sizes, medals presented for emptying the largest, great welcome and a riotous crowded evening of song and dance.   [Editor:  Henri Funk beer was another intoxicant we enjoyed being reunited with, as was, on a more sober note, the 'Chocolate Mousse' restaurant, as it had now become known as, which was a favourite not only with ladies.]

Breakfast was not for all on Sunday morning, but we mustered our 10 fit men in reasonably good condition, found some food in spite of a series of electricity failures, and welcomed as guest player the Cestrefeldians Secretary who was to do us proud.   In spite of a complete breakdown in the weather by midday, it was good to see Diekirch and meet old friends again in their new, more spacious café/pavilion with its fine changing rooms, and to find that our last-year guest player, Jean Pierre, was out against us.

Diekirch v Witan.

The Young Boys Club (Division 2) had a pennant this time and we were ready with ours for exchange.   The game started in soaking conditions which deteriorated in the middle with a ten-minute cloudburst.   Witan made masterly use of the puddles but suffered acutely in the same old off-side trap, even after we had twice shown how to spring it early on, and found the opposition materially stiffer that last year and still with superior technical skills; it was fortunate they were not able to play the transferred Neudorf star centre half!

They opened with twenty minutes of continuous pressure, from fast short passing movements, relieved only once when we reached their goalmouth and had three or four unsuccessful stabs at the ball bobbing about there.   Diekirch then took a simple goal:  a gentle cross to the spot tempted Sammons out only to be lobbed by a header before he could regain his line.   More goals against seemed likely, but we took a grip with a retreating defence (which they were unable to solve for a long time) and were able to equalise before half-time when Goss capitalised on a somewhat technical penalty decision.

Resuming after half time (refreshed by mint tea), our team was engulfed in waves of attack and, inevitable, Sammons got one on a narrow angle which he couldn’t take from their massive inside forward who combined power drives with agile footwork.   Almost at one, our skipper handled with barely discernible intent, and the penalty left Diekirch two up.   They may have eased up fractionally, and our defence were not again really penetrated for the rest of the game.   Our forwards pulled back a goal with 15 minutes left when Pheasant kept possession down the touchline and along the bye-line and drove low and hard across goal for Goss to steer it in.   For the rest of the game the forwards, driven on by Percival, made gallant attempts for the equaliser.   Comparison of players would indeed be odious but, particularly in this game, note should be made of the performance under pressure of two players not from the top echelons, Carter and Whiteman.   Sadler led the side admirably on and off the field.

Team: Sammons, Carter, Whiteman, Sadler, Burcombe, Percival, Pheasant, Gross, Goss, a Cestrefeldian Guest, Johnson.

A sporting game, enjoyable to watch, in which the home side spent five minutes in our half for every one we had in theirs, but one we should undoubtedly not have lost had we not had to reshuffle.

A fraternal meal with the home players followed and, amid the exchange of formal courtesies, came the firm suggestion from Diekirch that this ought to be an annual event, except for the year their ship came in when we could see they were made welcome in London; this idea we pursued a few times but without result.   The evening’s entertainment was, as before, found at Charlie’s Night Club, but Cestrefeldians had found a Teutonic Pub and we joined them for steins of all sizes, a medal for emptying the largest at 5 litres, all resulting in a fairly riotous evening.

It is recalled that Ray Johnson, who now worked for HM Customs and Excise, had ascertained which officers would be on duty at Dover on the date of our return; he assured everyone that he knew one of the officers so any ‘over the limit’ purchases of drink, cigarettes etc., would not encounter difficulty.   On entering the Dover Customs Hall, it was quickly apparent by Ray’s behaviour that the colleague he had anticipated to see was not there.   The outcome of what was now rapidly becoming a ‘contraband’ issue is unknown, since the author of this recollection, together with several others in the party, deemed it prudent to physically distance ourselves from those likely to encounter a problem if asked to open bags – this despite precautions by some of placing wet, soggy, smelly football gear at the top of their bags.

Easter 1968 - Switzerland

Tommy Sammons (better known to Witan as Sam or Sammy) has written this contribution about this Easter Tour which he helped organise.

‘My mother came from the only Italian speaking county of Switzerland – Ticino – where her brother and three sisters still worked the family’s mountain farm – they were true peasant farmers; each summer I would holiday there and help them.   Spud had noticed the small Swiss-flag lapel badge I wore in my jacket and had tentatively enquired whether a Swiss Tour would be possible.  Whilst over there in the summer of 1966, I saw a poster proclaiming an evening football match at Bodio, a small town some 10 miles further down the valley; I decided to go and watch.   It was soon evident that the standard of football was not very high thus the notion of a Witan Easter Tour to these parts became more of a possibility.   Additionally, because of the relative remoteness of the area, a team from London was likely to be given a good Reception afterwards – even if we beat them, which seemed most likely!

The mountain hamlet in which my relatives lived was small – 8 houses only – one of which was a holiday home for a family from the county capital town, Bellinzona, much further down the valley.   My elderly aunt – all dressed in black and who had never been further than 20 miles from her hamlet – declared the occupant was an international football referee.   ‘Really’, I said with a benign smile; how would she know, their whole lives had been taken up with working the land to scratch an existence and I’m sure none of them had any idea about the game of football.

Of course, my scepticism was totally misplaced and she was right, he was indeed an international referee – Emilio Guidi – not a household name, particularly outside Switzerland, but what referees of that era (or, indeed, this era) are.   He was well connected within the Ticino Football Association and offered to help in finding fixtures.   He enquired about our playing strength.   On reflection, this may have become a bit exaggerated (as you will see from the results and the poster, reproduced below, advertising one of the games), especially when I explained our Club was the GLC’s football club, the emphasis in his mind being on the word ‘London’ which he understood – he spoke little English but was conversant with some football phrases, such as ‘early bath’.

Once back in England, I corresponded with him with a view to arranging a tour at Easter 1967 and he put me in touch with the Chairman of FC Locarno, Aldo Zaro, who, he had ascertained, would be willing to play us.   Unfortunately, for reasons I cannot now discover, Witan decided not to tour Switzerland in 1967 but there was a tentative agreement that Locarno would be willing to entertain us at Easter 1968.

At Easter 1967 we again toured Luxembourg, an account of which is set out earlier.

In the summer and autumn of 1967, I again liaised with Emilio Guidi with a view to a Swiss Tour at Easter 1968 but, by December 1967, only one of the desired 3 fixtures had been confirmed – FC Mendrisiostar; also, after several rejections, hotel accommodation at the Hotel ABC, a family-run hotel in Lugano, had finally been put in place for our party which now numbered 20.   We opted for travel by train as being the cheapest method and Spud, after overcoming several difficulties, finally arranged this for 16 persons – the other four deciding to make the journey by car.

The tour party comprised the following:   Terry Burcombe, Jenny Crozier (guest), Chris Gilham, Eric Goss, Russ Kingshott (+ wife Jean, guests), Dave Mortlock, Spud Murphy, Alan Neal, Ned O’Keeffe, Doug Pierce (guest), John Percival, Bernie Sadler, Tommy Sammons, Marc Sartorio, and Nobby Clarke, plus Trevor Chambers, Dave Carter, Gary Hudson and Mick Moore who travelled by car.   We were a little short on Club Members for the tour so Russ Kingshott of Old Cheyneans, who had played for Chelsea Juniors, and Doug Pearce of Old Hendonians, were invited to join us.   Spud recalls meeting Doug Pearce, some years later, at a Nemean League dinner, where they both spent a very pleasant half hour reminiscing.

Despite the assistance of Emilio Guidi, it was proving quite difficult to arrange the two remaining fixtures particularly as correspondence received was in Italian necessitating replies in that language; I was starting to overstay my welcome by imposing so often on the free services of friends and relatives for translations.   I decided the quickest way of sorting things out would be to spend Christmas in Switzerland where I could meet the various people involved and agree things face to face; I felt that would also engender confidence in our intentions to make the tour work.   Accordingly, with the help of Emilio, I met various officials of Mendrisio, Locarno and Gambarogno and agreed the fixtures, which were subsequently confirmed by letters.

By the end of March, all was now in place; everyone (nearly) had paid the requisite amounts to Spud and we were ready to go.   Then, on 29th March, two weeks before we were due to leave, we received a registered letter from Locarno informing us nobody was allowed to play football on Easter Sunday, 14th April, and thus they could not play us!   It transpired there was some doubt whether this was true but there was no point in arguing and a substitute fixture needed to be found urgently.

Frantic phone calls to Emilio Guidi over the next few days resulted in a phone conversation with Giuseppe Albertoni, President of FC Giubiasco, who agreed to play us on Friday evening under floodlights.   What a relief!

Our fixtures were thus as follows:

Friday 12/4     FC Giubiasco at Giubiasco  ko 8.00pm

Saturday 13/4 FC Gambarogno at Magadino  ko 4.00pm       

Monday 15/4 FC Mendrisiostar at Mendrisio  ko 10.00am

It is interesting to look at the positions these clubs occupied in the Swiss football leagues.  

At that time, the Swiss had four National Leagues – Division A (1st tier), Division B (2nd tier), Division 1 (3rd tier) and Division 2 (4th tier) corresponding to our Premiership, Championship, 1st Division and 2nd Division.   There are several more regional Divisions below these, similar to our old Conference North and South.

Mendrisio and Locarno were in Division 1 with Gambarogno and Giubiasco in Division 2.   Mendrisio were in with a chance of promotion to Division B so were the strongest of the three.   With hindsight, in some respects, it was fortunate for us that Locarno withdrew!   To gauge the size of the task we had saddled ourselves with, the English Football League comprises 22 professional tiers; our amateur league, if the tier system were theoretically continued, would be several more tiers further down!

On Thursday, 11th April, those of the Tour Party who were travelling by train all met at Victoria Station (by the Bar) for the evening boat train; the mood was jolly!   Spud had been successful in reserving Couchettes for us all thus the overnight journey to Lugano was completed in relative comfort and we arrived at the Hotel A B C in Lugano around midday on the Friday to warm, Mediterranean sunshine, and to find the car party already there and commending the local wine and beer which had been sampled – in moderation of course bearing in mind our match that evening with Giubiasco.

The car party had left County Hall at lunchtime on Thursday in Trevor Chamber’s Cortina GT;  their journey was not quite as uneventful as the train journey, as Mick Moore recalls: early on Good Friday morning, ‘somewhere in France’ their isolation, on a perfectly straight road, was disturbed by a Renault 2CV who decided to join the road, from the right, immediately in front of them;  Mick, who was driving at the time, went to overtake this slower car on the left when it decided to make a left turn!   His quick thinking and judicious use of the accelerator enabled our playing strength to remain intact – just!

It should be noted it is some 600 miles from London to Lugano and the north-east part of France had not yet been introduced to motorways, thus their car journey was mainly on ‘A’ type single carriageway roads plus a Swiss mountain pass – The Gotthard Pass – thrown in for good measure; to have accomplished all this in under 24 hours was no mean feat and they were entitled to be (by their own admission) somewhat tired on arrival.   Was this the reason we lost the game that evening or was it because it was the first time Witan wore the new light blue kit and players didn’t recognise each other?   Or were we all dazzled by playing under lights for the first time?

Spud recalls, as a matter of interest, the basic cost by overnight train (with Couchettes) and boat, was £30 each, the Club finding £16 in overheads; looking back to the 1950’s, it had been a major job of persuasion for teams on tour in England to afford £6/7 a head.

Once hotel rooms had been allocated, John Percival thought it best to collect, from each person, the money we had to pay the hotel, this before it was spent on other delights.   John and I then proceeded to the local bank where we produced £140 to be changed into Swiss Francs – in those days that was a lot of money, the Exchange Rate was about 10 Swiss Francs to the Pound whereas, now, it’s about 10 times less!    Perhaps we looked too young or two scruffy to have such a large wodge of notes – it was of course all in used £1 and £5 notes; the counter clerk looked somewhat concerned and disappeared into the back of the bank saying he would return shortly.   We had visions of having to explain to the police where we had got the money from!   The counter clerk returned, still looking somewhat grave, and in a quiet voice confided, because the amount was quite large, he had been authorised to give us a better rate of exchange than normal.  Phew!

At lunch in the hotel, whilst the main course was being eaten, a huge man in Chef’s apparel appeared in the dining-room; this was the owner/chef, Jon Wieser, who enquired whether the food was ok; wisely, all chorused everything was very good – which, in fairness, it was.  

The afternoon was taken up with sightseeing and exploring Lugano and preparing for that evening’s match.

Giubiasco v Witan.

The evening match against Giubiasco was Witan’s first experience of playing under floodlights and also of wearing the new light blue shirts the Club was to use from now on.  

The team comprised:  Sammons, Goss, Mortlock, Burcombe, Carter, Sadler, Pierce, Moore, O’Keeffe, Hudson, and Gilham.

I don’t remember much about the match other than we were awarded a penalty in the second half.   Being a goalkeeper, I’d never scored a goal in any sort of competitive game (discounting the numerous own-goals I’m sure you all remember), I realised this was my opportunity to put that right – and gain international fame to boot.   I immediately ran from my goal up-field shouting my demand that I should be allowed to take the kick.   Foolishly, I was listened to.   Their goalkeeper was a large, hefty person so I decided to put my kick to his left corner of the goal.   Then I did the psychology bit of looking carefully at the spot I has chosen in order to make him go the other way.   I ran up and took the kick hitting the ball hard.   It was quite a good shot and he would have stood no chance of saving it, had it gone where intended.   Instead, to my horror, the ball went about head height straight in the middle of the goal.   Now many penalties are scored that way because the goalkeeper, anticipating where the shot will be placed, dives out of the way to one or other corner of the goal; unfortunately, their goalkeeper just stood there – and caught the ball!   There then ensued a mad, unseemly, dash to get back to our goal before the ball did!   Fortunately, our players sufficiently held up our opponents and their opportunity passed.

By all accounts we played quite well but still lost 3 – 0.   Whether the dazzling effect of the lights or the unfamiliarity of needing to pass to players in blue, rather than green, influenced the scoreline is debatable.

Gambarogno v Witan

Our team consisted of Sammons, Mortlock, Sartorio, Neal, Carter, Burcombe, Chambers, Percival, O’Keeffe, Kingshott and Hudson.

We lost the match 2 - 0.   As you can see from the reproduction below, the poster advertising the match, was not quite accurate – how Oxford got connected to Witan is a mystery.     (Ed: one possible explanation is that Sammy lived in Oxford Gardens at the time of corresponding to organise the tour); where they got the impression we played in the London 2nd Division was, perhaps, drawn from the name London County Council plus an attempt by Emilio Guidi to make us as attractive opponents as possible and get us a good after-match Reception; if so, in the latter, he was most successful, as recounted below.  The Fr.3 admission charge, with no exceptions, was about 25p at the exchange rate prevailing at the time.

Spud has penned an account of this tour in the Chapter about Season 1967/8 and someone called 'A Tourist' has also recorded comments, as have others.   These have been plagiarised and amalgamated here as it seemed appropriate to provide as full a record as possible about tour events in this dedicated Chapter.

All are unanimous in recording the Reception after the Gambarogno match was the best of the tour and really fantastic, confirmed by Mick Moore saying it was, if anything, too good!   It was held in their club house, a large country-club type building overlooking the lake, Lago Maggiore.  Once there, Spud recalls, we wandered around the building until an open door was found leading into a small bar with light refreshments where we were made welcome by the few people therein.   Nothing much happened for some time until we were ushered upstairs to a large room overlooking the lake with the twinkling lights of Locarno and Ascona on the far side; in the centre of the room several white-coated and hatted chefs were tending two charcoal grills; we were seated at candle-lit tables decorated by bottles of wine, constantly renewed, and treated to a sumptuous meal.   Many of our opponents spoke enough English to ensure a convivial evening was enjoyed by all.

However, the evening ended somewhat in disarray, partly due to Gary (Cassanova) Hudson taking a fancy to the wife of our opponents President – a smashing piece who was only in her late fifties! – and partly because, uncharacteristically, a few members had imbibed one glass too many.   In the forefront of this latter group was Chris Gilham who, on emerging from the coach back at our hotel, promptly collapsed on the pavement and had to be carried into the hotel.   It became apparent the local wine and the medication he was taking were not compatible and his condition had become quite serious.   The hotel summoned Dr Elvezio Minotti and we explained we needed Chris to be footballing fit for our sternest match on Monday; he examined Chris and wrote out the usual unintelligible prescription from which the words ‘2 or 3 immediately’ stood out.   The doctor gave us directions to an all-night chemist where we obtained the pills which, thankfully, worked like magic.   The cost of the pills was 6.90 Sfr, about 70p at the prevailing exchange rate!   What a bargain!

Sunday was a free day and many took the opportunity of ascending the local mountain, Monte Salvatore – by funicular railway of course as enough energy had already been spent on the two earlier games and we still had one to go, which was also thought to be the strongest opposition we would face.

Mendrisiostar v Witan.

Unfortunately, but probably inevitably on the last day of a tour, Witan was at its lowest ebb physically, widespread cramp adding to our more obvious disabilities.

Mendrisio put out a flyer advertising our match.  It read as follows:

‘Mendrisiostar  v  Witan of London. A grand international game at Mendrisio on Easter Monday.

The green turf of the cities football ground sets the scene for a game against the Londoner’s who are in a similar division to our National Division B [just a slight exaggeration!].   Followers of football have the opportunity of seeing an English team of some standing and also of viewing a demonstration of good football,

The home club will field its strongest side and, without the over-riding demand of winning three points, which occupies the teams throughout the year, this friendly match should provide very entertaining football.   It is an occasion no fan should miss.

The game is due to start at 10.15am, a time considered necessary so that supporters can have the afternoon free for other important sporting events [It was the day of the Swiss Cup Final] and also that the players may have ideal conditions for the game.

For this important game it is probable that the technical Mendrisio will include one or two of their very good reserve players who played well in their last game.   The reserves do not lack in promise and many are ready for the big step to the senior side.   This game against Witan will be the opportunity for a few to stake their respective claims.

The game, therefore, is important also from this viewpoint and the appointment on the 15th next is not to be missed by anyone.’

The stadium – for that was what it was – at Mendrisio had spectators on the terraces numbering some 400 and the players of both teams were announced over the loudspeakers as we ran out; for Witan, the biggest cheer came when the name Sartorio was announced!   Spud recalls the Mendrisio Kop were much impressed by Mick Moore's play and accorded him the title 'mighty mouse piccolino'.

The Witan Team was:   Sammons, Sartorio, Neal, Percival, Pearce, Sadler, Moore, Goss, Chambers, Kingshott and Gilham; with O’Keeffe, Burcombe, Carter, Hudson and Mortlock listed as substitutes.   That only left Spud, Nobby Clarke, Jenny Crozier and Jean Kingshott to provide vocal support.   Before the game, there was the usual exchange of Banners in the centre circle where Bernie Sadler (Captain) was presented with a magnificent bunch of flowers and two large baskets of goodies so big he had to utilise the services of Eric Goss to carry them away.

As we had feared, Mendrisio were a class too good for us but, despite them having the majority of possession, we absorbed quite a lot of pressure and survived a few goalmouth scrambles to lead at half time courtesy of a well taken goal by our guest centre-forward, Russ Kingshott, who, latching onto a through ball, placed the ball into the net to the keeper’s left– an excellent striker’s goal.

We started the second half ok but they soon equalised; after that, as Mick Moore describes, it was all downhill for us as the tour’s exertions, on – and off – the pitch, took its inevitable toll; at one stage, Spud had to insist on sending back on a player who had previously been substituted!  The final score was 3 – 1 to Mendrisio.   At the final whistle, several youngsters came onto the pitch seeking our autographs – it seems one has to travel to foreign countries for our footballing skills to be fully appreciated!

Thereafter, we repaired to Mendrisio’s ‘club house’ – a lovely restaurant in the nearby mountains reached, as Spud recalls, 'by a triumph of coach driving' up winding mountain roads.  On arrival, we were each offered a small glass of an aperitif which most found so bitter as to be undrinkable; however, being the seasoned diplomats that we were, this fact was discretely hidden from our hosts.  Subsequent enquiry revealed the aperitif to be Cynar (pronounced Chinar), a liqueur derived from the artichoke and often drunk in these parts.   Unfortunately, so good was our diplomacy that, on departure, we were presented with several 1 litre bottles of the stuff which, needless to say, somehow remained on the top shelf in the bar at Belmont until its closure in 1986!   Mindful of the number of bottles given, we did wonder whether they disliked it as much as we did.

We were entertained to a meal of local salami, ham etc. accompanied by salad – and wine of course.  The meal was preceded by a few words of welcome from their Secretary, Luciano Garrobio, to which I attempted a reply in Italian.   As soon as I started, all their team fell about laughing.   I knew my Italian was decidedly of the ‘pigeon’ variety, but I subsequently discovered I was, to boot, using the local peasant dialect of my relations more northerly mountain region which was really not the thing to use in the sophisticated southern part of the county in which Mendrisio is situated.   Should have left it all to Marc Sartorio!

Mick Moore recalls the celebrations were of a more restrained nature this time, confirming that fatigue had definitely set in but also, perhaps, due in part to the fact that we played in the morning because the Swiss Cup Final was being played that afternoon and they wished to watch it on television.

At the Reception we were presented with a photo of their team autographed by all their players (see below); the adverts around their ground, depicting the logo ‘riri’, is the advertising for their sponsors, RIRI Zip Fasteners.

This game warranted a report in the Swiss Italian sports newspaper, L’eco Dello Sport of 16th April 1968 which, inevitably centring on their team, reads as follows:

‘After their good win on Saturday in Zurich against Blue Stars, Mendrisiostar made use of the Easter Monday holiday to play a friendly match against the English team, Witan.

Even though they had played a hard championship game 2 days earlier, the footballers of Mendrisiostar played this game with diligent workmanship, dominating the valiant English team throughout the 90 minutes.   Immediately a goal in arrears, Mendrisiostar rallied, counter-attacked and then passed into the lead with two goals from Mombelli and one from Serena.

The visitors, even though they showed great effort, did not threaten the goal of the locals, defended in the first half by Carminati and in the second half by Henauer.

The few people present – 400 – had the opportunity to admire the vitality of their players especially Poma and Allio who were on top form.   On his return to the team at the end of the first half – after a prolonged absence – Fantuzzi demonstrated he was back to full fitness. 

The referee, Mr Grassi of Novazzano, had his task made easy by the correctness of play by the 22 players on the field.

That only so few supporters were present is partly due to the day being grey and somewhat uninviting.

Mendrisiostar put out the following team:   Carminati, (Henauer), Rasconi, Fusi, Guarisco, Poma, Barollo, Allio, Serena, Mombelli, Villa, Soldini (Fantuzzi)’

Someone had brought a cine camera with him and made a recording of several parts of the game.   This 8mm cine film has subsequently been transcribed into video format and, latterly, into CD format.   Not only were parts of the match recorded but so too were a sample of the spectacular local scenic views prevalent in this part of ‘Italian’ Switzerland.   Tours of other years are also included in part - 1969 to Luxembourg & France and 1970 to Germany.

On returning to our hotel to prepare for the return journey, the person, wanting to be known only as 'Former Tourist' records, in terms utilising a considerable degree of poetic licence, that Spud had an altercation with a sports car.   The account went as follows:  'Spud, with a brilliant piece of footwork Harry Holloway would have been proud of (dainty, delicate but yet so sure and positive) and with a rhythmic swaying of the hips, managed to send the sports car driver the wrong way twice in the space of seconds.   Completely baffled and hypnotised by this swaying person, the driver did what any Norman Hunter of the road would have done faced with such a phenomenon – he chopped Spud down viciously, hurled him into the air and caught him neatly on his bonnet.   Spud, in fact, looked to be quite hurt and walked with a decided limp for the remainder of the tour’.

Whilst the results of the matches were disappointing in that we lost all three – against Giubiasco  3 – 0,  against Gambarogno  2 – 0  and against Mendrisiostar 3 – 1, nevertheless, overall, the tour itself was most successful, thoroughly enjoyable and the receptions we were accorded far surpassing any expectations we may have had in that regard;  we were given the most cordial of welcomes by all the clubs we played against who had obviously gone to an immense amount of trouble and expense to ensure we were admirably treated.  We suspect this was due, in no small part, to the actions of Emilio Guidi who had been instrumental in obtaining these fixtures for us and, clearly, had used his influence and standing in the footballing circles of Ticino (and, indeed, of Switzerland) to ensure we were very well received.

The return train journey overnight on Monday was ‘quiet’ with the car party suffering the most from tiredness and it is questionable how much actual work was accomplished in the GLC offices on the Tuesday!’

The No 2 edition of ‘Words of Witan’, November 1969, contained a brief note about the progress of F C Mendrisiostar in the season following our 1968 Easter visit.   It read:   ‘At the time we played them, they were at the top of Swiss Division 1 and were in with a good chance of promotion to Swiss National Division B, a promotion they were eventually successful in achieving.   They have also had a good run in the Swiss National Cup and newspaper comment gives them a very good chance of beating their opponents in the next round and entering the last 16.  It is interesting to note, in their last cup game, only four changes had been made from the team we played!’

Easter 1969 - France & Luxembourg

The following account of this tour, by I C Murphy (Spud), was published in the July 1969 issue of the Greater London Council Staff Gazette, ‘London Town’, augmented by additional comments made by others and also further comments of Spud’s, initially included in the section on the season concerned – 1968/9.  Further, and somewhat disingenuous, comments can be found in Edition 1 of Words of Witan, Page 1.

The tour was ‘on’ only by the skin of its teeth.   In February we lost our former travel agent, Page & Moy, and were forced to reconstruct the trip on the basis of train travel and seeking our own fixtures, which proved difficult and were to eventually change yet again.   Then there was the problem of hotels:  we could find none that came up to the standard to which we have become accustomed.   Eventually, via F C Shifflange (our opponents in 1967), we ended up with a not-very-good tour company based in Kent, with whom they were connected; this company came up with accommodation in two hotels and three games including the one we had requested – against St Marie aux Chênes, France.   From much subsequent evidence, the boss of this company had established (and still maintains) a monopoly of fixtures over a wide area at £25 a go, from our payments.  This man insisted we play his Schifflange who, it transpired, were somewhat reluctant opponents; the third game was against Noertzange, a Luxembourg town a couple of miles east of Schifflange and about 6 miles south of Luxembourg City.  

The tour company changed our travel arrangements which were now by our own coach throughout plus ferry across the channel.   The journey started eventfully enough:  we left the County Hall carpark on the Thursday afternoon minus Mick Moore but, being quite resourceful, he managed to catch us up at Dover by taking a train.   Luxembourg City was reached at about 11.30 pm but fatigue did not prevent some of the tourists from sampling the wine of the country and watching TV until 3 in the morning.   This was the first tour on which our accommodation was split between two hotels which, although cheap, were undeniably cheerful.

The Club’s playing strength was less than in previous years and the three fixtures (for which we used 18 players) had therefore been set a little lower.   However, our increasingly shop-soiled players were to acquit themselves well, particularly the eight men from the 3rd and 4th elevens.  The Tour Party included Sartorio, Quinn, Pete Randall, Appleby, Percival, Moore, Courtis (a guest), O’Keeffe, Chambers, Sammons, Dave Carter, Berkins, Richardson, Richards, Jones, Cook, Oakland, Clark and Burgess.

Good Friday greeted us with bright weather which, fortunately (and for the first time in four trips), remained constant throughout the weekend.   Schifflange, whom we beat the last time we met, were considered our strongest opponents so the following team was deployed:

Sammons, Sartorio, Quinn, Randall, Appleby, Percival (Capt), Moore, Courtis (guest), O’Keeffe, Chambers and Gilham.

A game variously described both from the field and the touchline as dreary, disappointing and composed of defensive lapses and missed chances, finished with us losing 2 – 1.   The hospitality was also muted, Good Friday precluding meat, and the wine not flowing in the usual way.   However, in a long evening, all was forgotten at Pub 13 (German draft beer, singing Americans) and later at Charlie’s Bar where there were one or two fine cabaret acts.

Alarming rumours passes between the two hotels on the Saturday morning as to the state of the party after the night before but lunchtime revealed no total casualties and everyone looked reasonably presentable for the welcoming ceremony, we had been advised would take place later at Ste Marie aux Chênes, across the border in France.   Ste Marie is some 30 miles south of Luxembourg City, near the town of Metz, and is about the same distance from Verdun.   The proximity to Verdun is relevant as the stupendous reception we encountered before and after the game was, in large part, due to residual good will from World War 1 when the Verdun area was the subject of intense and prolonged fighting resulting in the loss of some 400,000 each of German and French lives; the German offensive being finally called off when the British entered the battle.

On our way to St. Marie aux Chênes, our driver took us round three sides of a square, and through one town several times, but our late arrival in no way impeded St Marie’s fantastic welcome. 

Forewarned by the 1967 report from Cestrefeldians, we were expecting some sort of reception on arrival but, in the event, were astonished and gratified by its extent.  The band, drum majorettes and three-quarters of the population were congregated outside the Mairie; the Mayor, an ex-player and lifelong supporter of the local football club, received us and took as many of the party as could be squeezed in to a Civic Reception.   Champagne was a very welcome gesture, no one suspected ulterior motives, and we reciprocated with formal greetings from London signed by the Chairman of the Council.

As we came out, the band struck up again and we proceeded to the ground, about half a mile away, in procession accompanied by all the sporting notables and half the population of the village, led by the band and drum majorettes.  National anthems were played and the Union Jack flew alongside the Tricolour.   The newcomers in our party were surprised to find people actually paying to watch Witan!   The game was preceded by more counter-marching and national anthems – rather like Wembley.   Lapel badges, plaques and pennants were exchanged with our hosts.   John Percival made friends with the majorettes.

Witan in Luxembourg - Easter 1969.

Reception group waiting for Witan’s arrival in St. Marie-Aux-Chines.

Inevitably, we fielded a somewhat ‘hung over’ 2nd eleven against St. Marie who, without warning from our tour agent, had augmented their side by six guest players (and used at least six substitutes).   Not surprisingly, at one point we were 5 – 2 down.   The sympathetic attitude of the home officials to those of us on the touch-line was reminiscent of one club who once talked of paying a return visit to England adding ‘….then we shall be drunk and you can beat us.’.

The game was fast, our opponents hard and with something of an English style, and the pitch parched and uneven.   In the second half, our 3rd eleven link man, Richards, developed a crippling blister so we put on one of our two substitutes, a normally defensive player, Carter.   Somehow, this started an all-out attack and we recovered to 5 – 4 and almost forced a draw.   It turned out to be a very diplomatic result to a game appreciated by players and spectators alike.

The Witan team was:  Sammons, Quinn, Richards/Carter, Jones/Sartorio, Percival (Capt), Cook/ Randall, Moore, Oakland, Chambers and Gilham.

The club reception which followed (the Mayor in the chair ‘with his other hat on’) was a roaring success.   The language barrier was soon surmounted, our plates were never empty and the local wine flowed generously and much of the evening was spent singing familiar WW1 songs such as ‘Tipperary’.   The evening ended with two choirs in full competition and regular rallying cries of ‘l’année prochaine’ but that never happened.   This was undoubtedly the highlight of the tour, a fixture no one will forget or ever want to; Mick Moore has particular reason for remembering as he unaccountably ‘lost’ his teeth on the way back to Luxembourg – something to do with the amount of wine consumed and the motion of the coach!

Sunday was altogether a day of relaxation, based on a trip (for the first time) through the Duchy and by boat along the Moselle River to Remich for lunch in the sun, then continuing, in a similar leisurely manner, to the game at Noertzange.   This was the match for those who had not had a full quota of games, and the first for the 3rd eleven skipper, Billy Jones, who had been resting an injury for several weeks; alas, he lasted only ten minutes!   Commiserations to him and his mate, whose blistered foot was now badly swollen.   The game was otherwise uneventful – except that it gave us one of our rare touring wins, 4 – 2.

Our team was:  Sammons, Clarke, Appleby, Richards/Sartorio, Jones (Capt), Randall, Richardson, Burgess/Gilham, O’Keeffe, Courtis and Oakland.

A short exchange of pleasantries and mementos with our hosts followed including, for some, their only sight of the locally painted hard-boiled eggs of Easter.   The evening was spent in various adopted bars, though it began with dinner for the whole party in Witan’s ‘usual’ restaurant which, under new management, no longer served chocolate mousse.   This was not the only change noticed by old hands:  the First World War plane which, since that time, had been stuck nose-down in a roadside hedge, was now lying in a heap on the verge of a road improvement, although the hedge was still there; more of a loss was Cestrefeldians’ German pub, also in new hands and very humdrum – no singing, no dancing, no steins, no welcome.

Players in all teams, living all over London and in only casual contact, even on Saturdays in the season, were, from the start, a Club for this occasion; the team spirit engendered in these games was the most rewarding aspect of the tour and must clearly be to the Club’s advantage when we get down to the serious business of the 1969 – 70 season.

Easter 1970 - Germany.

After looking at tours to Ireland, The Rhine, Liechtenstein, St Marie aux Chênes and elsewhere in France (never at home), a reputable Agent, Marian's New Continental Tours, specialising in organising continental football matches, provided Ned O’Keeffe (now tour organiser ex-officio), Sammy and John Percival with a trip to Cologne, very ‘packaged’ as to teams to play, grounds, hotel and hospitality, this in contrast to the previous tours which we had either totally organised ourselves or had a large input into arrangements.  

Marian's Director, Gustaaf Impens, was most meticulous in his dealings with us, even to watching the 1st team play in order to obtain an impression of our strength!    Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately), this was against Old Wilsonians who were top of the league at that time; we played abysmally and consequently lost 4 – 0.   Later, at the return fixture in December, we triumphed 4 – 2; Gustaaf Impens was informed of this and told this was the first defeat OW's had suffered and the first league goals they had conceded.   All this must have confused him as to our actual playing strength, but the clubs he arranged for us to play against turned out to be well balanced to our standard of football resulting in appropriately competitive matches.   Whether he had taken into account the possibility of our footballing ability diminishing as the tour progressed, is not known.

As is customary, the tour started from the County Hall carpark from where we travelled by coach to Gatwick and our British United Airways flight in a BAC1-11 to Cologne.   A further coach ride of about one hour saw us at our hotel – Hotel Elite in the Meister Gerhard Str., centrally located for the night life in Cologne!

The all-male party comprised 23:     Ken Appleby, Terry Burcombe, B Buckley, Russ Burgess, Dave Carter, Trevor Chambers, Nobby Clark, Chris Gilham, Mick Moore, Spud Murphy, Ned O'Keeffe, John Percival, Rennie Quinn, Graham Berkins, Pete Randall, Jim Richards, John Richardson, John Russell and Dave Suff (and, subsequently, Tommy Sammons – see below for reasons).   Non-playing guests were:  Max Wall, Paul Berry and Tom Forrester (Best Man at Rennie Quinn's wedding).

This was the year Mexico hosted the World Cup.   In Cologne we noticed large inflatable balloons, comprising a yellow sombrero encapsulating half a football, hanging from numerous buildings and structures – such as petrol station canopies.   As a souvenir of the tour, one of these was purloined and found its way to Belmont where it hung in the bar area for some years.   I am reliable informed that the dent in the roof of the car, parked immediately below the acquired balloon, would easily have been pushed out.

Rennie Quinn put together this account of the Tour for Edition 5 of Words of Witan:

‘In the first place we got off to an unfortunate start in that Barry Heavens had to cry off at the last moment as a result of an accident.   No doubt we’ll hear the full story from him when we re-start training – I believe a woman driver was involved!!!   His place was taken by Tommy Sammons – always a handy bloke to have a long – you can always stick him in goal out of the way.   I can imagine what his comments were when, during the first match in Mexico (World Cup), a goalkeeper was penalised for holding the ball – German referee too.

Witan were in good form from the very beginning, forcing the coach driver to stop three times on the way to Gatwick – in fact we only got as far as Brixton when the first halt was called – what a shower.

Once on the plane we were all impressed by the cool, calm way in which Trevor Chambers helped those who were a little frightened of making what was their first flight.   These tours cost him a fortune in underwear.

Once in Cologne the tour settled down to its usual pattern, resulting in hangovers all round and Gilham and Chambers causing everyone to wait, including the EBOG’s (East Barnet Old Grammarians), while they staggered onto the coach for a trip down the Rhine Valley.   It’s a pity the driver couldn’t speak a word of English and, believe it or not, they have just as big traffic jams on Bank Holidays in Germany as we do in England.   One benefit we could do with over here in such circumstances was the Police Helicopter hovering low over the stationary traffic giving out verbal information by loudspeaker as to what had happened and how long the delay would be – much better than our current motorway matrix systems which usually indicate an accident ahead – but which had happened two days earlier!

However, everyone was in good humour the next day when we had an enjoyable trip and lunch on a rather smart river boat followed by a good win over a rather weak side who gave us a really good after-the-match reception.   The later receptions never reached the standard of this one.’

I'm sure Rennie won't mind the insertion here of a couple of incidents:  Mick Moore recalls this was probably the tour in which Spud, displaying his knowledge of how wine should be drunk, complained vehemently on being served with an enormous hinged carafe of white wine that was not chilled, “is nicht kalt, nicht kalt!!” he insisted, whereupon the waiter replied in perfect English “Moselle wine is drunk at room temperature – Sir!”

The second incident also involved Spud who was standing midway along the aisle of our coach, with his back to the driver, holding forth on the tactics we should adopt for the forthcoming match.   Suddenly, and without warning, the coach driver slammed on his breaks whereupon Spud lost his footing and was catapulted along the coach, only coming to rest when his head hit the engine cowling next to the driver.   There was silence - everyone thought Spud had been seriously hurt, but not a bit of it.   Spud got to his feet, shook his head and continued outlining his strategy for the next game as if nothing had happened!   This was typical of Spud – nothing got in the way of football matters.

Back to Rennie's account.  ‘The second game was of a much better standard and enjoyed by both players and spectators (noisy lot) even though it was played on a clinker pitch.   The third game was notable for two things in particular:  the first was that Chambers was made captain – solely, I’m sure, to take his mind off the impending flight; the second was that Ned played in goal.   For the first 15 minutes Ned would insist on kicking the ball straight to the opposition.   I’m sure he’d made an agreement with them whereby they would kick it straight back at him so he could boast of this ‘superb positioning’.   Gilham was full of praise, but then he’s hoping Ned will go back to goalkeeping so that he, Gilham, can become the Club’s top scorer.

The journey home was fairly uneventful except that we were provided with a heavily armed escort at the very impressive Cologne Airport (actually they were after the ‘bovver’ boys, Clark and Burgess) and Terry Burcombe nearly induced absolute panic by remarking he thought the wing was about to fall off.

Our thanks for a very enjoyable tour all due to Sammons and Percival who did so much hard work in organising it all and, of course, to Spud for holding it all together.   The three guests all expressed their thanks for an enjoyable trip and we are particularly indebted to Max for his speech making and interpretations.

As a final note, will the rotter who pinched Tom Forrester’s hat please return it as soon as possible as he is still worrying about it.’

Match Reports now follow.

Brohtal  v  Witan     Saturday 28th March 1970    Report by Dave Carter.

The match was played on a grass pitch, not quite full size.   Straight from the kick-off, Witan moved the ball about well.   An early attack brought a shot from Gilham that was blocked, the ball falling to John Russell’s feet who shot over from 15 yards.   Witan’s first goal came after 6 minutes; Berkins collected the ball in midfield and swept a pinpoint pass out to Pete Randall overlapping down the right wing, who floated a great ball to the far post where Gilham rose with the goalkeeper to glance the ball into the far side of the net.

Witan had taken almost complete control of the midfield with Suff and Burcombe dominant in the air.   Our second goal came from a move started by Appleby who slipped the ball to inside forward Chambers who passed to Russell on the right; the wing man beat the full back yet again and crossed to Gilham who laid the ball off to Moore.   Moore’s first shot hit the bar but the rebound fell at his feet for him to blast the ball in off the post.   After 13 minutes, Chambers collected the ball after a goalmouth scramble; he coolly stood on the ball and, with a nonchalant movement of his hips (this sent two defenders the wrong way and a lady spectator into ecstasy) he chipped the ball into the top corner of the goal. Just after this, Brohtal had the first real attack which produced a goal.   Their left winger got the ball outside the area, cut inside and beat Sammons with a hard, low shot just inside the post.   Apart from this one attack, Brohtal were devoid of ideas against a strong Witan side.

Witan’s fourth came after 17 minutes.   A long ball down the middle, found Russell free to flick the ball over the goalkeeper for a very well-taken goal.   With Brohtal’s marking almost non-existent by this stage, Berkins had two chances in quick succession – one rattled the crossbar and the other was put wide.   The crowd of 20 (8 Witan subs) were by this time getting restless but this was relieved by a Brohtal spectator donating gin to us.   Just before half–time, Witan’s captain, Percival, showed a fine example of international liaison by heading the ball straight to Brohtal’s left winger, who passed the ball to his centre forward who cracked the ball passed a rather amazed and slow-moving Sammy.

Half time came and went and, straight from the restart, Gilham found space again to put in a good shot which the keeper just managed to fist way.   Berkins, doing his best work in midfield, made a sterling run from inside his own half only to lose the ball just outside their penalty area.

Brohtal, who had brought on three subs at half time, seemed to be moving better up front.   Chambers roaming around the penalty area was causing great panic, but shot wide after a fine piece of ball control.   Chambers, again finding space, tripped over the ball whilst trying to waltz around the goalkeeper (due mainly to lowered suspension of his stomach muscles).   18 minutes into the second half, Gilham collected the ball outside the area and slipped the ball passed the advancing goalkeeper for number five. Moore was put through the middle after a Brohtal attack had broken down but the keeper robbed him of the ball 30 yards out.

A free kick in the Witan penalty area came to nothing for Brohtal.   With Witan swinging the ball about, the Brohtal defence was getting very stretched.   Appleby (the wind) broke down the left wing to shoot hard and low but was foiled by the goalkeeper who just managed to scramble the ball away,

Sammy (maybe suffering from nerves) had trouble with a high cross.   He was again lucky to kick the ball away from the fast-approaching centre forward.   The game by this time was getting a little scrappy.

With 6 minutes left, Gilham smashed the ball in from a couple of yards after two shots from Moore and Berkins had been blocked.   In the closing seconds, Moore, unable to control the ball properly, shot just wide.

Result:   BROHTAL 2    WITAN 6

Team:    Sammons, Suff, Burcombe, Percival (Capt), Appleby, Moore, Pete Randall, Berkins, Russell, Chambers, Gilham.

D.J.K. Sudwest  v  Witan.      Sunday 29th March 1970          Report by Pete Randall

The second match of the Rhine Tour, against D.K.W, was anticipated with a certain amount of suspicion.   The tour organisers had informed us the hardest fixture would be the first one and the standard of opposition would thereafter progressively decline.   The Brohtal match, however, had been so easy that we feared the usual tour cock-up might have been made.

It was decided to start the game with the team as originally selected which was:

Sammons, Richards, Quinn, Percival, Appleby, Carter, Berkins, Richardson, O’Keeffe, Gilham and Moore.

The first shock, on arrival at the ground, was to find that the game was to be played on a cinder pitch made soft by overnight rain; the second was to see our opponents in the changing room – they actually looked like footballers with hardly a spare tyre between them.

The game started at a fast pace and it was immediately apparent that the game was not going to be anything like as easy as the previous days.   Play moved from end to end without any real chances being created until the referee made the first of his many mysterious decisions by awarding an indirect free kick to D.J.K. about 5 yards from the Witan goal line.   Apparently, the rule in Germany is that the goalkeeper must clear the ball within ten seconds.   Sammy, who’s not too hot on English rules, didn’t have a clue about this one and the inevitable conclusion to this episode, despite the combined efforts of the Witan players on the goal line and the vocal support of our Chairman, was a goal to D.J.K.

This spurred Witan to attack with renewed enthusiasm and one attack ended with Appleby sending in a rasping drive which produces a spectacular save from the German keeper (or, as Ken himself says, he was just bloody lucky!).   Enthusiasm was rewarded when a cross from the left found Richardson unmarked near goal and he hung in the air like a professional to score with a well-placed header.

Momentary hesitation in defence resulted in D.J.K. regaining the lead but, shortly before half time, Gilham seized on an optimistic through ball and scored from the rebound after the goalkeeper failed to hold his first shot.   Half time came with the score level but the advantage clearly in Witan’s favour, thanks to Spud’s one-man impersonation of ‘The Shed’ (or ‘North Bank’ if you prefer) with notable assistance from our own skinhead, Neil Clark.

Early in the second half Ned O’Keeffe, Witan’s answer to George Best, attempted to score with the first of his Gaelic specials (for those who have never seen Ned in action, that’s a shot from about 10 yards out at an angle of 2 degrees with the ball 3 feet in the air), much to the annoyance of the German centre-half who was clearly under the impression Ned was trying to decapitate him.   A few minutes later, however, the same move led to Ned scoring and Witan taking the lead for the first time.   Shortly after this Carter, who had run himself to a standstill, was substituted for Pete Randall and, during a period of pressure, D.J.K. equalised in a goalmouth scramble.

The remainder of the game was dominated by the display of the referee who decided to ignore some fine examples of body-checking and hacking by D.J.K.    The Piece-de-Resistance of his display came late in the game when a certain goal was stopped by a superb fingertip save – by the left-back standing on the goal-line.   The referee whistled for an infringement and up stepped Gilham to take the penalty, only to find a free kick for off-side had been awarded to D.J.K.   ‘The Shed’ demonstrated his feelings!

So, the game ended in a 3 – 3 draw but, in this case, it really was true to say Witan scored a moral victory.   Wait until we get them at home in the second leg!

Result:   D.J.K. SUDWEST 3 – WITAN 3.

SSV Eintracht  v  Witan    Monday 30th March 1970    Report by Tommy Sammons.

The day was cloudy and the pitch red shale.

Play in the opening stages was fairly even but it soon became clear many of our opponents, although designated ‘older players’ by the tour organiser, had seen a much better standard of football in the past.   This was particularly true of their captain and inside-left who, although small in stature, moved the ball with precise accuracy and was the architect of their attack.

In the opening minutes of the game, Chambers was put through the middle but shot weakly at the keeper.   After fifteen minutes they began to take the upper hand although their finishing was poor – a free kick came to nought and a break in the right ended with a weakly hit shot cum centre across goal; a shot by their left winger was over the bar.   O’Keeffe in goal had yet to be really tested.   Witan managed to attack once in this period when Randall put Chambers through on the right but his cross shot was not reached by anyone as it passed across the face of their goal.

Our play was disjointed at this stage and many passes went astray unlike our opponents whose close passing game looked good and, even if their build-up was slow, they kept possession for longer periods that we did.   It was felt encouragement from the line was needed – no doubt Appleby’s instructions to ‘Aggro Neil’ helped our little winger to buzz, with effect, any opponent encountered – inevitably twice his size!

Witan’s appeals for a penalty after apparent hand-ball were turned down and, shortly afterwards, their right winger hit a low shot which struck the left-hand post of our goal with O’Keeffe beaten; lucky the posts and crossbar were so thick – at least 9 inches square!   A good clearance by O’Keeffe was headed on by Chambers to put Russell through but their big centre-half cleared with a timely interception before any advantage could be taken – close marking was a feature of their defence.

An unusual feature of the match was Chambers being outdone in a department we all know he usually triumphs hands-down – the tummy girth measurement – he was up against a centre-half of enormous proportions – as wide as he was tall, and that was at least 6 foot.   He was also a clever footballer (the centre-half that is), solid as a rock, and Chambers, on the few occasions he was able to elude him, had to employ all his skill and craft to do so.

The centre-half, although king-pin of their defence for 99% of the game, was also SSV’s undoing:  a flighted back-pass to their keeper by their left-half from outside the box was deflected by the centre-half as, for some reason, he tried to head clear, and the ball crept into the bottom right-hand corner of their goal.

Thus, Witan found themselves in the lead at half-time and had a chance to increase it soon after when a bad clearance from their keeper found Russell but his shot was high.   Witan continued to press and, following a corner, Quinn hit a good shot but, again, just high.   Further corners were forced but were wasted.   Following a good build-up on the left, Carter hit a good hook shot – again, just over.   Seems we still had high heads from the previous evening.

Then they started to counter-attack and Witan were put under a lot of pressure for some time.   However, it was not so intense as in the first half, mainly due to O’Keeffe’s clearances now passing the half-way line as he gradually became ‘acclimatised’ to playing in goal again.

Carter created a good break on the right with a beautiful hand-ball on the blind side of the referee (who was otherwise quite efficient), but the final shot by Chambers was blocked.   Another effort by Chambers (the centre-half was tiring by now), lacked power – so it appeared was Chambers!

A bad back-pass by Carter went for a corner but, from the kick, their outside-right shot over the bar.   O’Keeffe was handling quite well now and took out one corner in stylish manner, also doing well to hold a high shot with opponents closing in.   Their left-winger finally evened the score beating O’Keeffe with a low shot to the near post after cutting into the angle of the area, the ball being deflected slightly after hitting a defender.

As the final whistle approached, Burgess and their winger prepared themselves for the reception afterwards with a little dance over the ball which Quinn couldn’t resist in joining.   However, we still had enough defenders back to deal with the final attack, when the music stopped, and the winger crossed the ball into the goal-mouth.

Result:  SSV  EINTRACHT 1 – WITAN 1.

Team: O’Keeffe, Richardson, Burcombe, Quinn, Burgess, Suff, Dave Carter, Russell, Chambers (Capt), Clark and Pete Randall.

Easter 1971 – Liechtenstein.

Following several recent Easter Tours to European countries, we had concluded that playing in the smaller countries meant our standard of football was more highly regarded than at home and the receptions after games that much better.   Using this philosophy to its utmost, a small sub-committee of Moore, Percival and Sammons decided that Liechtenstein would be our destination for Easter 1971 – as you will learn, you can’t get much smaller than that!   To augment this more official account of the tour, you are also recommended to read the additional material in Edition 6 of Words of Witan, at page 13.

As early as July 1970, ‘Words’ announced this Tour and the long run-in proved useful in ironing out all the inevitable problems that arise in organising such events ourselves.

Liechtenstein, officially known as the Principality of Liechtenstein, is a German speaking microstate at the eastern end of Switzerland and bordering Austria.   It is a constitutional monarchy headed by the Prince of Liechtenstein.   In 1971, it had a population of about 22,000 and has an area of 62 square miles but only 3 police officers – a fact noted with glee by many of the party.   Its capital is Vaduz (where we stayed) and its largest town is Schaan (who we played).   It has many ties to Switzerland and uses the Swiss Franc for its currency; Liechtenstein clubs play in the Swiss Leagues.   Like Switzerland, it’s not in the European Union – some would say ‘lucky them’!

Seeking our own fixtures, travel arrangements and hotel had ultimately proved successful in Switzerland so it was decided to try this approach again.

However, despite considerable efforts on the part of the organising committee, the problem we had encountered in Switzerland – of clubs not being allowed to play on Good Friday and Easter Sunday – was insurmountable this time, despite representations on our behalf by the Swiss Football Association to the Church Authorities.   Because of this and the backlog of league fixtures (must have been a bad winter weather-wise), clubs came and went almost up to our departure date.   Fortunately, the Swiss club, FC Buchs, based in the Rhine town of Buchs just across the border with Liechtenstein, stepped in at the last moment but they too had a fixtures backlog and could only put out their veterans’ team – we smelt a win coming!   Thus, we looked to Germany (no ban there) to ensure we had a third fixture; FC Wangen, based nearby in the picturesque town of Wangen im Allgäu, came to our aid.

A long-running postal strike in England hampered finalising details of matches; this proved worryingly complex and lengthy, not to mention costly to the Club because of the number of international phone calls needed (but which the Sports Club recouped for us from the Grant).   Thus, the aimed-for leisurely conclusion to arrangements, degenerated into a last-minute scramble with clubs and hotels, just as we had experienced in past years.   In the end, our tour of Liechtenstein became more international that intended with matches being played in Germany and Switzerland as well as in Liechtenstein.  The final program being as follows:

             Saturday 10th April 1971    F C Buchs Vets (Switzerland)        K.O.  4.15 pm

             Sunday 11th April 1971      F C Wangen (Germany)                 K.O.  4.00 pm

             Monday 12th April 1971     F C Schaan (Liechtenstein)           K.O.  10.00 am

Schaan and the first eleven of Buchs are in Swiss League 2, the 4th tier of Swiss football, with Wangen in the 7th tier of German League football.

This was the largest group the Club had ever taken on tour numbering 29 in all; these comprised 18 players:  Clyde, Dave Carter, Duncan Carter, Gilkes, Ginn, Howe, Hudson, Jones, Michael, Moore, Nelson, O’Keeffe, Percival, Richardson, Sammons, Sartorio, Shorey, Suff, plus 11 supporters:  Mr & Mrs Collis, Mrs Clyde, Mr Elam, Mr Gasser, Mrs Hudson, Miss O’Keeffe, Mrs O’Keeffe, Miss Robb, Mrs Sammons, Mrs Sartorio.  

A further possible problem had been flagged up by Ray Johnson who, although a Club member, currently worked for H M Customs and Excise.   He had become aware that supporters, journeying abroad with AFC Pinner, had been prevented from travelling by the Board of Trade as they had not been bona-fide members of the Pinner club for at least 6 months.   The decision was therefore taken to enrol all non-member supporters travelling with us as Honorary Members of Witan as of 7th September 1970, curiously 6 month and a day before our departure date.

It needs to be recorded here that this tour would not have taken place without the invaluable efforts of Rob Vaughan (Sheen Old Grammarians); his day job involved organising school sporting trips abroad and his knowledge and experience in that field was most advantageous; he was also fluent in German, the language of Liechtenstein and adjoining Swiss Cantons, which was more than useful as most correspondence received was in German.   He was also instrumental in arranging the game against F C Wangen.

Following much correspondence with various hotels, the Hotel Vaduzerhof, a resplendent hotel in the centre of Vaduz, was booked; however, in the event, whilst the rooms were good, the service and meals were poor.   There only remained to finalize how to get to Liechtenstein.   Having looked at various possibilities, we approached Transcosmos Travel in early September 1970 who proposed return charter flights in a BAC 111 at an extremely good price of £14 per person.   In January 1971 Transcosmos told us the charter company had not come through with a contract document and so we had now been booked on Swissair scheduled flights.   In the end, we travelled on British Airways scheduled flights between Gatwick and Zurich!   But at no extra cost!   Earlier tentative arrangements for coach travel between Zurich and Vaduz with Danzas Travel were firmed up and it was agreed we would keep the coach for the duration of our tour to effect transport to the various matches.   Finally, everything was in place and all we had now to do was to ‘GO’.

As there was no football allowed on Good Friday, a coach tour of the spectacular mountainous Liechtenstein countryside was undertaken which included views of the Princes’ palace residence – a castle looking like something out of the fairytale books.

‘A Supporter’ wrote this account of the off-field part of the tour:

‘As with most of our past tours, on the Thursday evening before Easter, we started at that famous European launching point – the County Hall Car Park!   However, unlike previous tours, our journey to our hotel in Vaduz, Liechtenstein, was verging on the luxurious – coach to Heathrow, a BEA Trident scheduled flight to Zurich (prawn cocktail, a delicious variety of salad, fruit & cream, cheese & biscuits and coffee included) served by a tall, gorgeous Hostess with very long legs – so I’m told.   Thereafter, luxury coach through the spectacular countryside and mountains of Switzerland (since this was at night, I took this on advice) arriving at our resplendent hotel at the late and unscheduled hour of 1.30 am only to find the hotel bar shut, even for ‘travellers’.   The position was somewhat alleviated by the production of numerous bottles of whisky, gin etc. by Dick Collis, friend of Sammy (and many others for life!!) and the tour got off to a traditional start.   Our late arrival was because a certain Irishman (who shall remain nameless) had to take time out to fill in a Property Irregularity Report Form at Zurich Airport – he had allowed someone else to walk off with his Witan-paid-for football kit!   I am pleased to say, thanks to the valiant efforts of the airport authorities and Swiss Rail, his suitcase was able to be collected from Buchs station the next afternoon, well in time for the game on Saturday.  

Next morning, Good Friday, those of us who came down in time for breakfast enjoyed a typical continental breakfast and then proceeded to give the town the once-over to assess the lie of the land.    Two managed to slip away on the pretext of arranging the coach travel for the tour which, by all accounts, was accomplished by means of a whisky party.

After an early lunch, we typical British tourists (and three others) clambered into our coach for the educational part of the tour – a trip around the towns and countryside of the Principality including a hike (unwanted by some) up a hill (a mountain to the same some) to visit a ruined castle.   After such a strenuous day, Witan retired early that evening – to the bar.

After the Monday morning game against Schaan, we adjourned to their ‘Clublokal’ – a rather nice restaurant named Rössle at the northern end of Schaan where we were entertained to a splendid lunch in a large hall-like room the walls of which were bedecked with the banners of teams they had played against over the years and our pendent was added to the array.   The afternoon soon took on a familiar form with much toasting and ‘zigger zaggers’ during which Dave Carter managed to spill his beer all down the front of his trousers.  Sympathy for Dave’s predicament abounded, none more than from Dave Suff who immediately proffered a pair of Flower Power Bermuda shorts which Dave Carter wore for the rest of the afternoon promoting many catcalls and wolf whistles.   The trousers were left aside to dry but, ‘somehow’ went missing during the remainder of our time at the restaurant which had to be curtailed because of the return flight timings.   So, we left the Rössle Restaurant early in the afternoon with a crate of beer and Dave in his colourful Bermuda Shorts; he was reunited with his trousers in the Ordinance Arms that evening but not before he had travelled back to England in the Bermuda Shorts much to the amusement of Customs officials at each end of the flight, the Cabin Crew and other passengers on the aircraft.

Our Monday afternoon coach journey back to Zurich Airport was a retrace of the outward route only this time we could actually see the splendid Swiss countryside as we passed through on our way to the BEA Flight to Heathrow and then back to that famous European launching point once more – The County Hall Car Park; and then, for some, on to the Ordinance Arms for a reuniting with English beer – and trousers for one.’

Saturday:  Game against FC Buchs Vets (Switzerland).

Our game at 4.15pm followed Buchs 1st Eleven Swiss League game at 2.30pm against Näfels (see poster at end of this report) which they won thereby making for an even jollier evening than was expected.   Our relatively more youthful side won this encounter against their Vets side 3 – 1.   However, Buchs had two distinct advantages – a great character at centre-forward in Heinz Bolter, their very large and fit President (take note O’Keeffe) and a magnificently agile goalkeeper (no comment!) but Witan prevailed in the end with O’Keeffe adding yet another ‘European’ goal to his tally.

Our team was:  Sammons, Dave Carter, Jones, Michael, Suff, Sartorio, Richardson, Howe, O’Keeffe, Duncan Carter, Nelson.

Sunday:  The game against FC Wangen (Germany).

This was the strongest fixture of the tour and was lost 5 - 3 to the ‘A’ side of the club which had met Bayern Munich in a cup game, Beckenbauer and all, their side being composed of a mixture of 1st and 2nd team players.   A smooth evening of beer and cheese is recorded.

Monday:  Game against FC Schaan    Won 7 – 0

We overwhelmed Schaan and, towards the end of the match, when leading 7 – 0, Percival was heard imploring Sammons to let in at least one goal – his (materialistic) reasoning being we would get a better after-match Reception if they could at least score a consolation goal.     Sammy, seeing this was his opportunity of keeping (for the first time?) a clean sheet said not likely!   As it turned out, it is unlikely the reception could have been any better.

We subsequently found out that Schaan had included a Liechtenstein international in their team; however, because of the score, we were left wondering about the standard his compatriots played at!

Further views, reports and comments on the Tour can be found in Edition No 6 of Words of Witan, at page 13.

Easter 1972 - Southern Germany.

The following account appeared in the December 1972 Edition (Edition No 8) of Word of Witan at Page 9: (thought to be by Trevor Chambers).

This tour broke new ground yet again – in more senses than one.   A highly mobile weekend was planned which involved travel by air, Luton to Frankfurt, then long coach rides north to Tiefenbach for one game and south to Karlsruhe for two further games.

[Ed note:   The party included Pete Randall, Gary Hudson, Derek Price, Dave Carter, Steve Howe, Terry Ginn, John Richardson, John Percival, Ned O'Keeffe, Chris Gilham, Mick & Dorothy Moore and Colin Hudnott.]

The first two days were spent in the small village of Tiefenbach.   For the first time in the Club’s experience on tour, half the party were ‘billeted out’ with German families.   The four married couples plus our officials, O’Keeffe and Percival, and Gilham were housed in a nearby hotel though they were allocated other German families for feeding purposes.   The President of Tiefenbach F C paired us off with our German hosts at the initial Reception.   O’Keeffe, with the usual luck of the Irish, found himself being entertained by not one, but five, young ladies.   He obviously fared well as he always had a large appetite (for food that is!); Gilham was allocated to a very attractive young lady, but for feeding purposes only.   We had trouble getting him back to the hotel each night with him muttering this was the first time in his life he had ever been chaperoned.

Two uproarious evenings ensued:  the first a general booze-up, the second a dance and general booze-up.   Several of our players paired off well during the evenings; one of them (who shall remain nameless) has, in fact, returned to the scene of play, this time for 10 days.   Derek took his football gear with him as a cover.   We hope he has learnt some German since the last time as he knew none then but we suppose the lack of chat will cut down the length of time involved in preliminaries.

After a morning’s site seeing tour round a very fine baroque palace in nearby Weilberg, we turned to our first football match.   The inevitable whitewash we had avoided (just) on many previous occasions on tour finally caught up with us.   Because of continuous heavy rain, we were not allowed to use the excellent grass pitch in the nearby town and had to play on an appalling sodden cinder pitch in their village.   This was partially to blame for the result, but the final score still made dismal reading at 8–4 to Tiefenbach.   But our hosts’ hospitality was magnificent to the end.

The hotel party were most put out on the morning we left the village.   While waiting in the village square for the billeted-out players to gather, they saw them arriving individually, escorted by their hosts and/or hostesses (who, incidentally, were carrying all their gear and treating them like lords).   Even more annoying was the news several of them, not only had their football gear washed, but their football boots cleaned, to boot!  (excuse the pun).

From then on, the remainder of the tour passed very quickly.   A long coach trip south to the small village of Pfaffenrot in the Black Forest, a superb lunch (which several players passed up at the time and several later on), a game on a muddy pitch where we (and particularly Pete Randall) felt much more at home and a highly diplomatic result of losing 3-2.   Ginn played a true skipper’s role in missing twice in the last five minutes to ensure they bought the beer in the evening.   A good night ensued thereafter with several members of the party requiring a great deal of assistance onto the coach.   A head count revealed our goalkeeper, Colin Hudnott, was missing; after a search, he was discovered to be the cause of the long queue for the Lavatory – he had, in fact, passes out inside.   The following day he disclaimed all knowledge of what had transpired.

Your reporter was not aware first hand of what ensued during the night at the hotel but it was reported to him the Club treasurer, John Richardson, having gone rigid earlier in the evening and been put to bed, developed hallucinations of possible long-felt childhood desires of wanting to be a guardsman.   He was discovered marching up and down the corridor, carrying in the shouldered-arms position, the Club’s cardboard roll containing copies of posters collected.   The noise aroused the hotel porter who twice relieved John of his sentry duty but John stuck firmly to his guns (I mean roll) and went back on sentry turn.   The night porter retired hurt, muttering Germanic oaths.

On the last day, a very weary contingent arrived at Alemannia for the final game.   The pre-lunch round of drinks showed the state of the party – all lemonades (non-fizzy type).   The ensuing match saw the whole of the Witan party on the field at some time during the game.   We went close many times but lost 4 – 0.   However, we made a good impression and Alemannia gave us a good send off in our dash back along the crowded autobahn to catch the plane home.

Many teams encountered on our tours threatened to pay us a return visit to London and Belmont with the oft-repeated addendum 'then we can be drunk and you can win!'.   Whilst not being too sure about the 'drunk' bit, it is to be noted both these sides made the return visit:  in September, Alemannia came with two sides, one a Vets side, and we won both games 4-1; Tiefenbach visited in October and we won that encounter too, 3-1.

Easter 1973 – Amsterdam.

The tour was this time scouted by our Chris Harber in Holland, where he worked for Phillips before returning to sea with his Master’s ticket.   Chris visited Amsterdam in December 1972, met with officials of possible opponents, including Voorschoten who we subsequently played, discussed after-match reception plus entertainment and also investigated several hotels for our accommodation; the tour would have been considerably more difficult to arrange and less entertaining without his generous help.   Sammy once more did the devilling over here but left Colin Hudnott to do the actual keeping.  Edition No 9, Words of Witan, at Item 6, contains more details of the Tour.

From past experience, we should by now have been aware of the difficulties likely to occur when the Club organises all the aspects of a tour abroad – in principle, the same problems arise each time resulting in last minute frantic activity to ensure the tour goes ahead.   Nevertheless, with eternal optimism that all would be different this time, we embarked on organising the tour.

This time, we commenced simultaneously on all fronts.   Travel by coach throughout seemed the best option, so coach companies were approached and Birch Brothers finally employed.   They suggested and organised the channel crossing using the Dover-Zeebrugge route as being the most economical but which involved a four-hour night crossing arriving in the early hours of Friday morning thus ensuring a disturbed night.  There were a number of places available in 4 berth cabins at the cost each of 75p!!   But the disturbed night and the berths probably went unnoticed by tourists as the ship’s bar was open throughout the crossing.

Hotels proved most difficult to book as our party numbered 25.   Apparently, there are a few people over there who grow flowers and hordes of people go to look at them growing – must be as exciting as watching paint drying, but each to his own I suppose.   After so many rejections in Amsterdam itself, we looked at other towns and, with the help of Frames Tours, at last found places in the well-appointed Holiday Inn Hotel in Utrecht, Holland’s third city, some 25 miles south of Amsterdam.   Accommodation was in twin-bedded en-suite rooms with the hotel’s facilities bordering on the first class:  heated indoor pool, sauna, dog kennels (for those who upset their wives), beauty parlour and, no doubt of particular interest to Chris Gilham (see the 1968 Swiss tour), a doctor on 24-hour call!

A small last-minute panic of our own making (or rather Sammy's) was the forgetting of our coach driver when the room reservations were made; fortunately, a single room was found for him and the need (for Sammy) to inform him he had to sleep in the coach was avoided.

Three matches were desired and we were indebted to Old Strandians F C who gave us an introduction to F C Lens who became our first game; Voorschoten were instrumental in finding us a third game when the now familiar ‘yes we can play you’ and then, a short time before departure, a ‘sorry, no we can’t now play you’ situation arose with our original third fixture.   The following three games were finally arranged:

Lens                           Friday 20th April at 19.30 (under lights)

GWS Sassenheim   Saturday 21st April at 16.30

SVLV Voorschoten  Sunday 22nd April at 14.00

 Monday 23rd was a free day and a sightseeing tour of Amsterdam was planned.

An issue not encountered on past tours was the need for vaccination against smallpox (I know it’s Amsterdam but you did read that correctly) and the obtaining of a certificate confirming this, as we were informed the Belgium or Dutch customs authorities could require proof each person had had the jab or they would not be allowed to enter the country.

Our party numbered 25 as follows:   M Anthony, R Carr, Mr & Mrs Cooke, Dave Carter, S Howe, L Dwan (guest), C Gilham, E Richardson (guest), C Harber, B Heavens, Mr & Mrs Hudnott, Mr & Mrs Hudson, D Suff, C Jerrett, I Murphy, M Nolan (guest), E O’Keeffe, J Richards, J Richardson, Mr & Mrs Sartorio, D Taggart.

After a disorderly start from County Hall, we drove non-stop to Dover to have any chance of catching the boat. Everyone, however, was recovered enough to beat FC Lens 3 - 0 under floods on Good Friday.

The Saturday KO was an hour or more earlier than we had been advised through channels, and FC Voorschoten had gone home, but it only needed a brief debate to bring them back and their reward was 5 - 3 win.

Sunday brought hospitality from FC Sassenheim, several hours eating, drinking and dancing with our hosts and the four wives in our party.  The game?  One penalty each with ten minutes to go, then lost 1 - 4!

Tour results:

            Lens:  won 3 – 0;      SVLS Sassenheim:  lost 5 – 3;     Voorschooten: Lost 4 – 1

Easter 1974 - Dublin                    

 The 1974 Easter Tour was to Dublin.   Initially, some members were reluctant because of ‘The Troubles’ in Northern Ireland but were assured these had not spilled over to ‘The South’ and, indeed, like the England Rugby Team, we would receive an even warmer welcome for travelling.   A full account of the Tour can be found at Page 12, Edition 11 of Words of Witan.  Games and results were as follows:

Aer Lingus – lost 0-1 on Good Friday which is a ‘Dry Day’ in Ireland.   However, local guests were allowed alcoholic drinks in their rooms so, orders like ’12 pints of Guinness and 7 pints of Heineken to room 35 please’ followed 30 minutes later by a similar order for Room 39, became the norm throughout the evening.   One of the Aer Lingus players turned up with a suitcase full of miniature bottles – filched from the airline?

St James’ Gate (Guinness) – lost 0 - 2 (their revenge for their defeat at Belmont).   Afterwards, they had organised a meal followed by a dance for us at their club house.   They had, however, learnt one lesson from their visit to us – no Witan member was asked to go on stage to sing with the band, except for our own token Irishman, Ned O’Keeffe.  On learning that we had a free day for sight-seeing on Tuesday before catching the evening boat, they suggested that one of the sights worth seeing was a video tour of the brewery followed by a free glass of Guinness.   This proposal was well received and 16 people turned up, had the tour and then sat down for their glass of Guinness.   By the time they were thrown out by the barman at the 5 o’clock closing time, more than 150 free glasses had been downed. 

Ormond Villa – lost 1 - 3.   They were based in Kilkenny so a coach trip from Dublin was necessary.   Unfortunately, the coach broke down en-route and a relief had to be sent for.   There was no way of contacting Villa but they were still waiting when we arrived – 2 hours late.   The changing facilities were primitive – an open cattle byre with no washing facilities, so post-match deodorant was in heavy demand.   Another long social evening followed, with a medieval banquet and dance having been laid on for us in Kilkenny Castle.

Easter 1975 –Tiefenbach, Southern Germany.     

The 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!  

Pete Randall, who captained the side, wrote this review of the tour for the August 1975 issue of Words of Witan (Issue No 14).   Further comment is to be found in the same Issue at Page 13.

‘There’s one advantage of writing a tour report months after the event has taken place – it’s easy to pick out the highlights, and I’m sure all of this year’s tourists have their own pleasant memories.

Needless to say, the tour began in the customary manner with people arriving at Victoria Station from all directions, in all conditions, both before and after the deadline for catching the train.  Organised chaos abounded everywhere.  Besides present Club members, there were a few new faces, the McScottish contingent, and some not so new – welcome back, Mickey Moore.  A few brave girls graced the occasion: Mrs Ned, Mrs Les and Mrs Carr (just a slip of the pen Bob).

The journey was a numbing experience on crowded trains and a crowded boat that seemed endless, until it ended.  Chris Gilham attempted to set a record for confusing the maximum number of Witan tourists. (not too difficult to do) by getting lost somewhere in the Fatherland but, summing up his considerable powers, even he eventually managed to reach our destination.  This was Tiefenbach, where formal greetings were exchanged with our hosts and, for those who had been before, some old acquaintanceships were renewed.  The raffle for accommodation then took place and the German losers were penalised by having to put up with an English guest.  The Witan leftovers and volunteers were put up at a nearby hotel.  The Friday evening was quiet, with most of our party managing to get at least two hours’ sleep after a drink or two – or three or four.  (NB. This was obviously a cunning German tactic).

The first match of the tour took place on Saturday against a local side from a nearby village, Probach. This game was a great disappointment to all concerned and our inept performance bought a 1 - 0 defeat in a poor match.  The few Tiefenbach supporters who watched this were clearly worried – not that we would beat their team the next day, but would we be unable to even give them a reasonable game?  This fear was strengthened when we saw the last few minutes of Tiefenbach’s League game which, on an appalling mud-bound, Mill Hill Village type pitch, they won I – 0.

On the Saturday evening Witan were guests at the Tiefenbach Easter Dance but the day’s events had had their effect.   Some of us reduced our drinking considerably, whilst others decided that we had nothing to lose and increase their capacity.   One way or another, we still only had a couple of hours’ sleep!

Sunday’s game was one of those rare occasions where everything Witan did seemed to go right.   We took the initiative from the start and our style clearly unsettled and, occasionally, upset our opponents.   We turned round at half time with a one goal lead and, despite an early second half disruption due to injury, this was quickly increased.   After Witan missed a penalty, Tiefenbach immediately scored and came back into the game.    However, a late goal put the result beyond dispute and we finished 3 - 1 winners.  All our goals were good and everyone, including the subs, played well.   Even Spud, the famous Witan Gruppenfuhrer, appeared pleased.   A good evening followed which our defeated hosts seemed to enjoy as much as we did.  Congratulations are due to the Scottish party for their fine demonstration of the ancient Highland sport of roof scaling.

The final game on any Witan tour is always a special occasion.   By the third match, the well-balanced X1 selected at the tour’s outset is usually non-existent for various reasons and this, once again, proved to be the case.   Our opponents were a Tiefenbach Veterans X1 (a veteran appearing to be anyone tall or wide and vaguely over 30).   A few minutes before the appointed kick off time, at the unearthly hour of 10.15am, the ground was still devoid of Witan players but, gradually, they began to trickle in from various directions.   By kick-off time, the eleven players who had arrived, some merely to spectate, heckle or sunbath, took the field.   Overconfidence was high however and, although we failed to reach the heights of the previous day, we played competently and ran out winners 4 – 0.

Thus ended the footballing side of the tour – not a bad performance overall.  Little time was left to change, wash, pack and eat if we were to snatch a farewell drink, but most of us seem to manage this quite well.  Many of the locals accompanied us to the station but, surprisingly, this was not to make sure that no one escaped, but rather to wish us a fond farewell.  The hospitality extended to us has been tremendous and it was with a touch of sadness that we said goodbye to our friends. The journey back was similar to the journey out, the only difference being that we failed to lose Chris – perhaps we’ll try again next year.

In conclusion, thanks are due to Herr Murphy and Herr O’Keeffe for all the hard work they put in to get the tour organised.

Where shall we go next Easter?’

Match results:

Probach 1 Witan 0; followed by a dance in Tiefenbach

Tiefenbach 1 Witan 3

Tiefenbach Vets 0 Witan 4

Easter 1983 – Skibbereen, Republic of Ireland.

The tour began briskly with an early opportunity for Pete Randall to demonstrate his organisational abilities when he was presented with the formidable task of persuading tourists’ they would be better off on the coach than in the pub.   Against all the odds, this was eventually achieved and, amidst grumbling, we departed.   Next came a period of silence as a mark of respect for the absent, and greatly missed, Spud.  However, all sorts of merriment were soon dashed as we were treated to a selection of tunes from the Ned O’Keeffe Easy Listening Music Library, rivalled for tedium only by the moaning of K.J. Anderton.

Most enjoyed a comfortable crossing, the possible exception being Big Trev, our driver.  Now Big Trev is not a man noted for his sylph-like figure nor is he blessed with an abundance of physical agility – Chris Gillham in 10 years if you like.  Big Trev was apparently unable to squeeze his girth from the coach and thus spent the night incarcerated in the ship’s hold.

Friday, April 1st.

The party rolled into Skibbereen early that morning, to the accompaniment of murmurs of appreciation at the beauty of the countryside and of bewilderment that somewhere so pretty should produce the O’Keeffe’s.

The coach inched its way down the throbbing thoroughfares to the very heart of the town, by the optional roundabouts. Here we learnt that the two Witan teams were required to compete and the first game that afternoon was to be Witan A versus Witan B.   As if this were not enough, there was a further severe setback as it became apparent that, being Good Friday, alcohol was unattainable.

This new blow to morale clearly affected Witan B more, as they showed all the character of a herd of wildebeest in chalking up a 0 - 10 defeat in a game with fewer highlights than Jerry Brown’s hair.  Scorers for Witan A were: Anderton (4), Wilshire, Chapman, Barnacle, Houghton (penalty), Buddon and a real corker from Belton (o.g.).

The evening was an unnerving experience, the state of sobriety being alien to many tourists.  In attempts to stave off permanent psychological disorders, conversation centred on the quality of the mixed grill, the amount of head on a strawberry milkshake and whether tea could be served in a straight glass.

Saturday, April 2nd.

The previous day’s lack of alcohol was remedied forthwith as tourists indulged in a lunchtime session of some note.   Numerous pints of creamy foaming Guinness were dispatched.  It was a delightful time, in direct contrast to the Witan B match which followed immediately afterwards.  The local paper reported that Witan B took the field looking to be “over their tiredness” and “in much better form”.  This was a surprising analysis in light of the fact that most of the side were struggling to run off the effects of five pints of Guinness on an uneven, stodgy pitch.

Despite Ned ‘Local Boy Makes Good’ O’Keeffe. Giving Witan B the lead, the game was eventually won 4 - 1 by Skibbereen Dynamos.

Witan A later played West End United, a team from Cork, and secured an impressive 6 - 0 victory.   Scorers were Barnacle (4) Anderton and Brown, but not Houghton who missed a penalty.  This result earned Witan a place in the final versus host club Skibbereen Dynamos, who had earlier beaten West End 2 – 0.

This match was marred by an eye injury to Tom Chapman, who was taken straight to hospital in Cork where he spent the remainder of the tour.

To say Saturday night was an improvement on Friday would be like saying Diego Maradona is a better player than Cuddly O’Brien.  The key to social success was simple: find out what Barnacle was doing and do the opposite.

This was, above all, the night Witan AFC discovered Richie’s Nightclub.  This nightspot, which made base camp on Mount Everest look like Wood Green Shopping Centre, soon became a favourite haunt of the more degenerate tourists, especially KJ Anderton who, at last, found somewhere where he appeared overdressed, and celebrated by redesigning much of the local furniture.

A good time was had by all with language difficulties fortunately at a minimum; there were just two problems:  we didn’t understand them and they didn’t understand us!  Joe Kinane fared better than most, but then Joe’s gotta lotta bottle.

Sunday, April the 3rd.

Thus, the day of the big final dawned, slowly for most.   Firstly, Witan B had to complete their fixtures with a game against West End.   According to ever-alert local reporter, “The toll of the previous day’s games showed on the players”.  I find this a rather naïve conclusion considering Saturday evenings escapades.

The game was played in driving wind and rain for the most part, with Witan B offering only a sporadic challenge. The prolific Ned O’Keeffe notched again and there was a spectacular goal from that widely travelled Witan man – A Ringer – but the B’s eventually lost 2 - 6.

The final was a competitive clash in which Witan’s superior class was equalised by the determination of Skibbereen Dynamos. This point was illustrated by the dismissal, not before time, of a Skibbereen player for kicking.    Why anyone should bother to kick SJ Round, is still being debated.

The only goal of the game was scored after half an hour following good work by Ken Anderton playing, as usual, with all the finesse of a Brixton Street riot, which created the chance for Rocky Barnacle to score from close range, a feat he was to repeat later that evening.

Victory celebrations began early in a charming hostelry with an attractive display of plastic buckets hanging from the ceiling.

The action later transferred to a Social Club disco where the musical element in the touring party treated the ensemble to a selection of traditional Witan melodies. The hardened socialisers, possibly dissatisfied with the range of pregnant schoolgirls on offer, then succumbed to the lure of yet another sordid episode at Richie’s Nightclub.   Marvellous entertainment was on hand and a special tribute is paid to Rocky Barnacle for a public exhibition of his talents.

Monday, April 4th.

This was a day of rest.  Every opportunity was taken to admire the beautiful scenery.  The more adventurous tourists journeyed to the coast and were rewarded by finding a bar with a fine view.

The afternoon was spent watching a local bowls match, the only sport in the world which is more tense for spectators than competitors.  In essence, hundreds of people firstly dull their reactions by consumption of much Guinness.  They then go and stand in a narrow country lane hemmed in on each side by thick hedgerow.  Then, from a distance of 75 to 100 yards, a local celebrity hurls a cast iron ball, the size of an orange, at the crowd. From this point onwards, great consternation is detected in the crowd which, as the missile approaches, scatters in all directions, with people hurling themselves into dense undergrowth and vaulting over fences.  The crowd then regathers further down the lane, doubtless stimulated by the challenge of the changing environment, and the whole process is repeated as another hostile thrower tries his luck.  This continues until either the course is completed or one of the crowds is killed.

The presentation, dinner and dance were held in the evening.  A bottle of Poiteen was procured for an aperitif and the meal itself was notable for its potato content.  No complaint from Pete ‘Several Spuds’ Metcalf in that department.   [For the uninitiated, Poiteen is a strong, 80% proof, potato-based spirit, originally distilled illegally in private properties and normally provided surreptitiously in lemonade bottles wrapped in newspaper!   In recent years, its production has been legitimised and is now produced commercially].

After the meal, our esteemed captain, R Button Esq. lurched up to collect a real monster of a trophy on behalf of the Club, plus individual trophies for the Witan A squad, including the absent, but not forgotten, Tom Chapman.

Then the dancing began.  The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly Jeff Cohen’s rendition of “Ruby”.  He was justly rewarded by a grapple with now infamous Eileen, a local lass with more ball control than many Witan players.  He was followed on stage by an Irishman who delivered a curious version of “Rhinestone Cowboy”, possibly retitled “Limestone Cowboy” which was as intelligible as the Swedish Chef in the bath. Rapturous applause persuaded him to do an encore, which was just as bad.  Lastly, Ritchie himself treated us to one of his celebrated Grand National commentaries.  Unfortunately for him, the horse he backed was beaten, appropriately enough, by a short head.

Only a few really professional socialites made it to Chez Richie’s after that.

Tuesday, April 5th.

The day of the Civic Reception.  To which your intrepid correspondent was volunteered to attend.  It began brightly, with a foray into the large well stocked drinks cupboard and then, to the sound of contented quaffing, the Mayor of Skibbereen rose to welcome Witan AFC to his town.  He was presumably unaware of the impending departure of our coach, due in 30 minutes, which would terminate our 4½ day stay.  He was not alone in this as evidenced by the remaining 6 counsellors getting to their feet and taking it in turns and says exactly the same thing.  Mirth, from the Witan benches was poorly controlled.  Particularly so when the Deputy Mayor revealed the extent of his cunning intellect by proudly showing us the thoroughness of his preparation – he had written “Witan” on the back of his hand to ensure he would not forget who he was welcoming.  I couldn’t get a glimpse of his other hand to see if it had “Skibbereen” written on it.

Proceedings concluded with Ned saying something sensible at last and thanking the townsfolk for their efforts in making us welcome.  Finally, the historic moment was recorded on file as we stood proudly representing Witan A.F.C., Guinness stains emblazoned on our shirt fronts.

Thus, homeward it was, detouring to pick up Tom from hospital and for a last Guinness stop at Wexford.  But this time, many weary tourists had decided that Guinness is probably good for you.

The Tour was comprehensively reported in the local newspaper, the ‘Southern Star’, in a more traditional journalistic style, as follows:

English Team Winners of Easter Tournament.

The Joe Cottom Memorial Trophy was presented to Roger Budden, the Captain of Witan ‘A’, at a function in Lissard House Hotel on Easter Monday night last.   The presentation was held after a weekend of hectic soccer activity in Skibbereen.  Two English and two Irish teams took part in the first Joe Cottom Memorial Tournament.  The Tournament, which is to be an annual event, will be played each Easter and will be hosted by the Dynamos Club.

The four teams involved over the weekend were Witan ‘A’, Witan, ‘B’, West End United and Skibbereen Dynamos.  Witan, who had travelled from London for the tournament, had two Skibbereen brothers, Charlie and Ned O’Keeffe, among their party, and West End (Cork) have had many great encounters with Dynamos in the past.   The magnificent perpetual trophy for the winning team, and Plaques for the winners and runners-up, were presented by the Cottom family, with Mr Ritchie Cottom representing the family at the prize-giving function.

Witan ‘A’ 10 – Witan ‘B’ 0.

The first game of the tournament was played between the two London sides and, contrary to what the score might suggest, the game was very entertaining and good to watch.   Both sides were a little tired having just travelled from London that day but, nevertheless, they served up some great football.   Witan ‘A’ were clearly on top right through, but great spirit by Witan ‘B’, saw them well deserving of better things than the 10 – 0 defeat they conceded.  They conceded some very easy goals and had they been as sharp as they can be, they would have had at least a couple of goals themselves.   Scorers for Witan ‘A’ were Ken Anderton (4), Tom Chapman, Rob Barnacle, Kevin Houghton (pen), Kevin Willsher, Roger Budden and Tony Belton (og).

Saturday.

Witan ‘B’ 1 – Dynamos 4.

The activities began at 2:00 PM on Saturday afternoon with the clash between Witan ‘B’ and Dynamos.  Witan, now over their tiredness from travelling and having had a run about the previous day, were in much better form and, for the early part of the match, proved to be quite a handful for the local lads.  In fact, Witan scored first; a loose ball outside the Dynamos area was picked up by Ned O’Keeffe, who shot wide of Mick McCarthy in goal to give Witan the lead.

The goal seemed to lift the Dynamos that bit and they piled on the pressure, looking for the equaliser.  It came in the form of a beautiful goal from Harry Thornhill.   A corner by the Dynamos was headed clear and, when the clearance fell to Harry, his first time shot blazed all the way to the net. It looked like ending level at the break, but, just before the interval, Philip O’Regan gave Dynamos the lead.

The second-half saw Dynamos begin again where they had left off, on the attack.  They pounded the Witan goal and should have had four or five goals in the first 15 minutes of the half.   Squandered chances, plus some great goalkeeping by Charlie O’Keeffe in the Witan goal, kept the score at 2 - 1 up to halfway through the half.  Then Gene O’Donovan increase the Dynamos lead when he was in fast to tuck away a shot that Charley O’Keeffe couldn’t hold.  Eight minutes later, Philip O’Regan sealed the outcome when he made it 4 - 1 to the Dynamos. This win now saw Dynamos with maximum points from their games, so they qualified for the final on Sunday.

Witan ‘A’ 6 – West End United 0

The second match of the Saturday showed Witan ‘A’ to be a really class side and they beat West End most convincingly.  From the very beginning, they had West End in trouble and it seemed only a matter of time before they put their mark on the scoreboard.  It took them just 12 minutes to go into the lead when Rob Barnacle got the first of his four goals of the afternoon.  Despite their dominance, they were made to work very hard by the West End lads who fought for everything and the scores that did come Witan’s way, we’re hard got.  At half time they led by 3 - 0.  The second-half went very much the same way as the first, with Witan looking very strong indeed.  They added another three goals in this half to end up winners by 6 – 0.

Final Day.

Witan ‘B’  2  –  West End United  6.

The match was to decide the 3rd and 4th placings for the tournament and was played at 2:30 on Sunday afternoon. The toll of the previous day’s games showed on the players and although the competition was fierce, the players did tire a lot towards the end. The most impressive player on the field was Denis Calfrey who got a well-deserved hat-trick.  The best goal of the match was, however, scored by a Skibbereen man - Tony Walsh – who was playing with Witan for the match – and hit a fierce volley from outside the area which gave keeper Alan Crowley no charge.  By half time, West End had shown their dominance on the scoreboard by leading 3 – 0.  The second-half did see Witan come back with some great football but, despite two good goals, they could not contain the Cork City lads.  The final score was 6 – 2 for West End.   Scorers for West End were Denis Calfrey (3), Derek Leary, Liam Gillon and Liam Good.   Witan scorers were Ned O’Keeffe, and Tony Walsh.

Superb Final

Witan ‘A’  1  –  Dynamos  0

The final got underway at 6:00 PM on Sunday evening and was without doubt one of the best games seen at Schull Road for many a long day.   Witan clearly had the edge over the local side, but the determination and spirit of the Dynamos was more than a match for the talented English lads.  The game was played throughout at a very fast pace and, despite this being the teams’ third game in as many days, all players seem to be in top gear.

Dynamos, who have had trouble settling down early in matches throughout the season, got straight to their task and the Witan defence had to be at their brilliant best to contain the locals.  It was Witan who created the first chance and this brought a fine save from Mick McCarthy following a powerful header from Rob Barnacle. It was tit-for-tat all the way, with both teams creating openings at one end and doing well to contain the opposition at the other end.

The only score of the match came in the 30th minute when a break down the left was finished to the net by Rob Barnacle to give Witan the lead.  Ten minutes later, Dynamos came as close to scoring as a team can:  a mix up in the Witan area saw Gene O’Donovan push the ball past the keeper, the ball bounced on the line and was cleared.   Play continued despite the furious claims for a goal by the Skibb lads.   However, this disappointment did not stop the Dynamos and they continued to attack until the interval.

The second-half began very badly for the locals, and they allowed Witan to get a hold on the game.   For the first 30 minutes of the half, Witan controlled the game and only for brilliant work by Harry Thornhill they might have added to their one goal lead.   However, Dynamos held out and with about ¼ of an hour remaining and everything to play for, Dynamos threw caution to the wind and launched attack after attack on the Witan goal. Dynamos came close on a few occasions and in particular one shot from Tadhg Buckley, three minutes from the end, brought out the best in Steve Fowler in the Witan goal.   However, try as they might, Dynamos failed to score and Witan won by their single goal.

Witan:  Steve Fowler, Kevin Houghton, Roger Hiller, Roger Budden (Capt.), Robin Hankin, Kevin Willsher, Steve Round, Tom Chapman, Joe Breen, Rob Barnacle, Ken Anderton, Tony Earl and Gerry Brown.

The trophies were presented by Mr Richie Cottom on behalf of the Cottom family.   Mr Cottom thanked the teams taking part and, in particular, praised the finalists who put on an exhibition of football that was, indeed, a fitting tribute to his late brother, Joe Cottom.   Mr Ned O’Keeffe, speaking on behalf of the Witan Club, also praised the sides in the tournament and, in particular, paid special tribute to Tony Walsh, whose organisation and hard work made the weekend such a success.

During the final, as a result of an innocuous challenge, Tom Chapman suffered a slightly detached retina and had to be taken to the Cork City Hospital where he was detained.   Fortunately, he was fit to be released and picked up by the team coach on the way back to London.   On the morning of departure from Skibbereen. the teams were given a Civic Reception by the Town Council and presented with a copy of the town’s Coat of Arms.