On This Day

It was the early days of 'CENTRE SPOT' and typewritten issue No 18 with apologies that it was taking five days to reach some clubs, declared that Wivenhoe Town were still top of the league table with 34 points despite a 1-2 home defeat by East Thurrock United.

In second place four points behind but with three games in hand were champions, Maldon Town, 3-2 winners at Stansted. Sadly due to a 50th minute goal, our last remaining FA Vase club, Witham Town lost their 3rd Round tie at Buckingham Town.

In the Herts Senior Trophy round two, Sawbridgeworth Town lost 0-1 to Hoddesdon Town. There was an amazing score in the Essex Intermediate Cup when Purfleet beat Grays Reserves 8-4 with Burns (3) and Craig Bellamy (2) helping to achieve that score line. This was the season when three 'First teams' were in the Division One, Purfleet, Southend Manor and Stambridge United.

The sad story was Coggeshall Town who were 10 points adrift in the Senior Section having lost 1-2 to Canvey Island and bottom of the Reserve Section too. Woodford Town Reserves were still unbeaten after 16 games, having gone through the whole of the previous season as Loughton Athletic, also unbeaten.

Eton Manor issued a single sheet programme v Civil Service FC which meant that every Senior club had issued at some point that season.

The Senior Section consisted of 17 clubs but no member club at the time has continued in membership to this day after we lost Stansted though, one, after a time away and in 15th place has returned to us, Halstead Town.

In the Football League old Division One, Oxford United drew 2-2 with West Bromwich Albion. In Division 3, Brentford beat Bury 1-0 and in Division 4, Burnley beat Leyton Orient 1-0.

Robert Errington, President & League Historian