Blast from the past
A LOOK BACK AT BLUES’ GAMES ON AUGUST 12
In the past the season used to start later than this, through the 50’s and 60’s it was generally the last Saturday in August, even in the 70’s and 80’s the season didn’t usually start before the middle of August. Before the 60’s most clubs, BSFC included didn’t even play pre-season friendlies against other clubs but instead played one or two trial matches between their own players – with names such as Probables v Possibles. For this reason there have only been five competitive games on this date.
Two years ago newly promoted Wealdstone were the visitors to the ProKit UK Stadium, with goals from Mikel Suarez and Anthony Church (left) giving us a share of the spoils in a 2-2 draw.
In 2008 we played our first home game of the season having lost 2-1 at Weston super Mare the previous Saturday. We started the game well and had three penalty appeals in the first half, all turned down, although there were also some let offs from a lively Bromley side. The visitors took the lead just before half time when McDonnells deflected shot was only parried by Eyre and fell kindly to Toppin who gratefully scored. Blues fought back with Okojie proving a handful for the Bromley defence before Edwards scored a late equaliser in the 88th minute. Webster’s free kick was half cleared and Edwards found time to fire home the goal that gave Blues a deserved share of the spoils.
Two years before there was a great season opener at Bognor Regis. Blues dominated the first half and went in 2-0 up, but within six minutes of the second half the Rocks were on level terms through goals by Watson and Budd. Just a few minutes later Nightingale drove just past the post, almost putting Bognor ahead. That was to prove the turning point. On the hour Richard Howell put Blues back in front but the game was very even from then on. It was only in injury time that Jason Mason sealed the result for Stortford.
The only other remotely competitive game on this date was in 1978 when we played a Herts Charity Cup game at Hitchin. Blues had just been relegated and this was a chance to see the team Ron Duke had put together to try to get promotion at the first attempt. It wasn’t promising as we went down tamely 2-0 and although we finished 4th that season we always seemed to be on the fringe of the promotion race.
There have also been some interesting friendlies on this date against the likes of Orient and Arsenal but the trend of the season starting earlier and earlier is shown up by the fact that there were no games at all on August 12th before 1967.
2014 BSFC 2 Wealdstone 2 – Conference South
Baxter, Bryan-Edwards, Herd, Tabiri, Allen, Anderson, Sellears, Church, Suarez, McCall, Melaugh Subs: Osei Not Used: Guy, Fagbohun, Milbourne, Hunt Scorers: Church, Suarez
2008 BSFC 1 Bromley 1 – Conference South
Eyre, Jones, Koko, Champion, Goodacre, King, Wixon, Edwards, Dean, Kyprianou, Webster Subs: Okojie, Harris Not Used: Hopkins, Taylor, Hasler Scorer: Edwards
2006 Bognor Regis Town 2 BSFC 4 – Conference South
Hussey, Collis, Gwillim, Porter, Goodacre, Gillman, Howell, Fowler, Morison, Midson, Fuller Subs: Innocent, Jones, Mason Not Used: Lockett, Young Scorers: Howell, Morison, Midson, Mason
2003 Leyton 3 BSFC 0 – Friendly
2000 BSFC 0 Leyton Orient 3 – Friendly
Brooks, Yeoman, Kimble, Southam, Dennis, Bowen, Langer, Foot, Hayes, Paul, Comerford Subs: John, Fannon, Quinn, Sedgwick, Hudson
1995 BSFC 2 Arsenal 3 – Friendly
Scorers: Braithwaite, Cooper
1989 BSFC 5 Enfield 1 – Friendly
Taylor, Jackman, Harrigan, Hopkins, Bumfrey, Stapleton, Bedford, Ryan, Milbourne, Norton, Dobson, Subs: McCayna, Forey, Cowley, Young, Weddell Scorers: Milbourne, McCayna (2), Weddell (2)
1986 BSFC 2 Woodford Town 1 – Friendly
Coe, Wickenden, Goodchild, Cassidy, Hull, Birtles, Staunton, Fergusson, Weddell, Hardy, Newbury Sub: Nunn Scorers: Newbury, Nunn
1978 Hitchin Town 2 BSFC 0 – Herts Charity Cup 1st Round
Carrick, Coakley, Bradford, Carvill. Clarke, Eason, Robb, Massey, Worrell, Ferry, Neill
Sub: Chattaway
1971 BSFC 0 Southend United 1 – Friendly
Mollison, Cooper, Sedgley, Lawrence, Lillington, Neeves, Sharkey, Mitchell, Chappell, Devaux, Smith, Subs: Gigg, Whyte, Merrifield, Partridge
1967 BSFC 1 St Albans City 1 – Friendly
Scorer: Phillips
Supporters’ Club race night
Blues’ Supporters’ Club are holding a race night in the Mitre Suite on Friday December 9., kick-off 7.30pm Admission costs £10 which includes a sausage & chips support. Further details to follow.
