On This Day

Great Wakering Rovers were very much the in-form team and seven points ahead of Ford United at the top of the table having beaten Saffron Walden Town 3-1 thanks to Gabby Levin, Paul Flack and Neil Ramsay and now on 30 games without defeat in the league. Ford United won 5-0 at Bowers United with three from Billy Powell and one apiece from Jeff Wood and Reg Gardiner.

In the Harry Fisher Memorial Trophy Round Two an ESL favourite, Gary Hart was a hat-trick man supported by Harvey in Stansted’s 4 0 success over Basildon United whilst there was a surprise at Leslie Field with Burnham Ramblers winning 1- against Concord Rangers, Graeme Brown the scorer.

Back to the League table, Eton Manor were propping up the 15 clubs with Tony Macklin of Concord Rangers and Jeff Wood of Ford United both on 15 goals. Gary Hart of Stansted and Des Charlery of Ford with 12, 11 of which had been scored at Brentwood.

Great Wakering Rovers had bought their floodlights from Deri Park, Rainham Town but were not up to standard so purchased new ones but kept the pylons.

Finally and on this day in 1997 back to their 30 run without defeat, the best ever was Basildon United which stands to this day, On November 18th 1978 they lost to Eton Manor at Walthamstow Avenues ground then never tasted defeat again until 16th January 1980, again 0-1 at Eton Manor, that is 34 without defeat. GWR did their best to beat it but on Tuesday 25th February at Burroughs Park, Don Watters led Stansted were party poopers when Dave Macciochi scored in 48 mins and Gary Hart made it 2-0 with three minutes left, so GWR went 33 without defeat, just the one short of Basildon’s all time record. Centre Spot were quoted as saying that Gary Hart was “one of the most promising Senior League players seen in many a year “ !

In the Premier League, Sheffield Wednesday drew 1-1 with Coventry City and AFC Wimbledon drew 1 1 with Middlesbrough whilst in Division Two, York City were beaten 0 2 by Bury and one Division 3 of note was Mansfield 1-1 Brighton. The Scottish Premier Division threw up one result of the past, Hibernian 1 1 with Raith Rovers.