On This Day

Our beloved game was overshadowed on this day by the tragic car accident in which Haringey and Waltham Development FC’s 18 year old defender, Theo Baafi-Mensah lost his life. The League passed on their heartfelt condolences to Theo’s family.

Five so called minnows all came up against formidable opposition without success in the FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round and for our own Southend Manor trying to emulate Canvey Island in 1993, it was an unforgettable excursion to Nene Park in Irthlingborough for their game with Blue Square Premier, Kettering Town in front of 987 where the welcome given to 146 supporters and officials was second to none. In the 7th minute, Leon McKenzie scored for the Poppies and Max Kent equalised in the 43rd minute but two more added in the second half made it 3-1 to the home side, exactly the same as the 1993 score. No one has matched reaching that round to this day!

Enfield 1893 took advantage of Southend Manor’s cup trips and went to the top of the table with a midweek 5-0 win at Eton Manor and weekend 3-0 win at Sporting Bengal United. A Rob Whitnell hat-trick against Stansted saw Witham Town take up second place. In the Reserve Division of 12 clubs, Barking were leading from Tilbury and Wilf Msiska of Southend Manor and John Watson of Witham Town, both with 9 were the leading scorers.

Back on Wednesday 26th October at an EGM, the League announced the unanimous election of Robert & Margaret Errington as Joint League Presidents. The position had been vacant since the passing of Arthur Dimond.

In the Premier League, Swansea City beat Bolton Wanderers 3-1, in League Two, Southend United won 2-0 at Macclesfield Town and in the Scottish League Division Two, Brechin City beat Cowdenbeath
1-0, both now non-league.

Rob Errington