A Look Into Histories

Poole Town FC of the Southern League have been in existence since 1890 and now play at Tatnam Ground in School Lane, also known as Black and Gold Stadium but that is not always the case and in 1933 the club moved into Poole Stadium in Wimborne Road.

Sadly, in 1994 after 61 years, the club had to leave despite spending a lot of money on improvements, after a decision made by Poole Council and the stadium was leased to Poole Pirates Speedway and Greyhound Racing with the latter leaving later to leave the stadium just hosting Speedway.

Our Match Programme, an unusual size fold over green and yellow production priced 3d is for their F A Cup 1st Round replay v Watford on Tuesday November 6th 1962, a Football League Division Three side at the time and commanded the record attendance at Wimborne Road of 6,575 though the Press made it 9,126 and one history book in later years even quoted 11,155 so its a case of make your mind up? Fans would have been full of hope and expectation after a 2-2 draw at Vicarage Road on the previous Saturday. There was very little information but bear in mind the club had not much time to prepare. The Car Park was out of use due to the Poole Fair so that also caused congestion.

Poole Town had already beaten Swanage 8-0, Warminster 10-1 and Weymouth 2 0 after a 0-0 draw and were lying 10th of 21 clubs ahead of Romford, with Clacton Town bottom.

The Reserves played in the Western League and all results and tables were on the back page. Programmes in those days always had pen pictures of the opposition which is always good to reminisce on. Watford had one famous name in particular, Terry Mancini whom they said worked as an entertainer at a holiday camp during the close season but he didn’t play being replaced by Vince McNeice on the night. Goalkeeper was Dave Underwood but waiting in the wings with two appearances that season was Pat Jennings!

The Watford scorer of both goals in a 2-1 win was Welshman, George Harris on 6m and 32m whilst, for Poole Town and former Saints player No 10, Denis Pring netted from a Penalty on 29m. At No 8 for Poole Town was Peter Bellett who had scored both at the Weymouth and first Watford game.

Sadly at the end of the season, Poole Town were relegated from the Premier to Division One of the Southern League but would soon return.

Rob Errington, League Historian