Looking back – Blues v Slough

As Blues prepare for Saturday’s home game against Slough Town, Stortford fan Andrew Bubien has looked back at the programme from our fine win at Wexham Park in the second round of the F A Cup on the 11th December 1982.

Blues had been exempt to the fourth qualifying round where they beat Harlow Town after a replay and then went onto claim their first ever Football League scalp by  beating Reading 2-1 at their Elm Park ground.

Slough had also caused a sensation in the first round with a 1-0 home win against Millwall. The Rebels were having a good season unbeaten at home and third in the Isthmian League. They had already beaten Blues 2-0 in a league match at Slough earlier in the season and with Stortford sitting in 13th position the home side looked favourites to win the tie.

A crowd of 2,634 witnessed a Lyndon Lynch hat-trick and a goal from Joe Simmonds to give Blues an excellent 4-1 win and send them into the third round for the first time. The game was shown on Match of the Day that evening, and with shirt advertising banned on TV (I know, hard to believe) Blues had to borrow a kit from Herts FA.

The third round draw was made as Blues fans travelled home on their coaches (one of which was missing a window) and saw us rewarded with a meeting against Malcolm Allinson’s Middlesbrough which led to more nationwide fame.

Personally I like the hand written welcome on the front cover of the programme.