John's Anorak Annuals 2001

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As in all of John's pages, to make it easier for people who are returning, I will add new bits at the top and date them too.

23 February 2002

More recent bog time reading featured:

1) Leytonstone-Ilford's last match at Green Pond Road, Walthamstow against Farnborough Town on 6 May 1989. The match ended up 5-3 to us and we won the league…but didn't get promoted. The 40p programme has a fine picture (available for scanning, Steve, on request!) of the very impressive stand at the ground, whilst the team features such names as Warren Barton, Joe Simmonds, Micky Dingwall (one of my all time fav players), Paul Watts and Terry Sullivan There's a lot in the programme about the failed ground share with Orient, a proposed move to Chingford and the actual planned move to Dagenham together with the change of name to Redbridge Forest. Many words look forward to being in the Conference, even a full-page advert wishing us 'best wishes in the GM Vauxhall Conference league'. It was a great day that I know several current Dag and Red supporters can remember very well but all spoiled when we were stopped from entering the topmost echelon of the non-league game, at least temporarly. 2 vivid memories of that day are Suzanne's out stretched scarf and the presentations and celebrations on the pitch afterwards. 2 real anorak points:

1) Rarely that season were we watched by many more than 200 spectators and, secondly Dagenham finished that season 4th from the bottom, only above Harrow, Marlow, Tooting and Croydon.

2) The only Scottish game I've seen was on 3 October 1987 between Celtic and Hibernian. It was a poor 1-1 draw enlivened by the performance of one John Collins for Hibs and made really confusing by the fact that both teams played in green and white (honest!!).

3) 2 Orient games I saw in 1988/9 season included An FA Cup defeat against Enfield (0-1 2nd replay) who had Keith Hayzleden (defender) in the team: "an experienced left-back who moved to Enfield in 1983 after a number of seasons with Leytonstone-Ilford.Since arriving at Southbury Road, Keith, 33, has made about 200 appearances."Did you ever see Dad play, Danny? (small picture available for scanning Steve, to embarrass..). Orient must have improved that season for by June they were in the play-offs against Wrexham.In the season's appearance totals there are a handful of games for the reserves and youth teams for Broom, Bird and Heffer.Are these our men of recent years? Answers please from at least 2 of the horses' mouths!!

4) and finally I have to say that I am heavily involved in my most recent little room reading which is a fine little booklet entitled " Score in a minute", essential stuff to remind ourselves where we were just a year ago and how far we have come in such a short space of time.

9 October 2001

Just under 10 years ago Redbridge Forest met Colchester United in a crucial GM Vauxhall Conference match at Victoria Road. We won 2-1 in front of a crowd of over 2000.Plenty of interesting bits from the match day programme:

Pen picture: "signed from Beazer Homes league side Sudbury Town, where he scored a lot of goals after failing to make the grade at Ipswich.Arrived at Layer Road in April 1990." Who is this current Dagger? Answer below.

The team photo for Colchester that day not only features this man but also a very young (about 12) looking Paul Gothard!! Must get Steve to scan that in!

News that week that "Chesham have released (I think this means sacked!) the fiery George Borg from his position as team manager because of "….a conflict of desired styles and ..resentment among players and officials as the club had agreed a firm policy which included a commitment to playing football with high skill and quality factors." Interesting when one thinks of George's most recent experiences on and (just) off the field of play.

The programme also included a message from the chairman, Dave Andrews, in which he said:

"We started the season with 2 main objectives:
1. to try and establish ourselves in the conference and
2. to get Victoria Road ..up to Conference standards…"

and he also commented.. "What of the future? We are a wealthy club but if you want success in any walk of life it is necessary to be able to finance it."

I sincerely hope the club will continue with that motto over the next 12 months. We must avoid becoming the next Chester, Scarborough or Kingstonian. Amazing ups and downs over the last 10 years!

Answer: Steve McGavin 'super-sub' at Farnborough on Saturday.

Although I didn't publish this until 22 September, John sent it to me on the 4th.

1st February 1992

FA Trophy Second Round Match against Enfield resulted in an easy 2-0 win for Redbridge Forest, both goals scored by Jason Broom. The Enfield squad featured 2 characters of some local interest:

"Another 1990 close season signing from Dartford. Strong in the air, has attracted League scouts attention . Has also played up front and in midfield. Previously with Witham Town."

If you're still guessing it's one of last season's 'keepers, hero Mark Keen.

"Signed from Harlow in August 1991, has been scoring goals ever since. Started career at QPR before moving to Gillingham where he played in the football league. Moved in to the semi-pro game with Barnet before playing for both Wycombe and Kingstonian.An England youth international, he has also represented the Vauxhall League"

This, interestingly enough, is Farnborough supreme Graham Westley!

Leading goalscores in the Conference on that day were:

17 Terry Robbins (Welling)
16 Paul Cavell (Redbridge Forest)
16 Steve Mc Gavin (Colchester United)
15 Gary Bennett (Colchester United)
15 Gary Abbott (Welling United)
15 Roy Mc Donagh (Colchester United)… …. only Robbins and Abbott to sign then!