Those Were The Days; 13th August 1994

[Les1949]

THOSE WERE THE DAYS
August 13th 1994
Isthmian League (Diadora) Division 2

Tilbury 2 Hampton 3
Newbery, Fenton, Prior

Paul Riley; Michael Swan, Jason Fenton, David Crook, Jim Wigmore, Tim Hollands, Rob French, Steve Cheshire, Richard Newbery, Mark Murphy, David Prior (Bobby Watson).
Unused sub; Steve Bates

Hampton took the field for this opening league game of the season, resplendent in Red Shirts and Orange Shorts due to the referee’s concern about a colour clash (which is somewhat ironic as the league sponsors were a Sportswear company). The home side assisted with the necessary change of kit. Newbery, one of five debutants, opened the scoring in the 12th minute, Dean Henry equalising on the half-hour. Spencer Fletcher converted a free-kick in the 47th minute to give Tilbury the lead, Fenton restored parity, after a great pass from Murphy, just before the hour mark. A looping header from Prior, in the 70th minute, secured Hampton’s first opening day away league win since August 1976.



The Old Historian

[Lord Elpus]

Was this Chick Botley's first competitive game in charge? The line up certainly had a bit of a transitional feel about it with its mix of old guard and new players, some of whom started well but wouldn't survive the season with us. Forwards were Newbery and Prior, the first of whom ended the season with an FA Trophy final winner's medal for Woking, but I always thought Prior was a bit of an unsung hero, often doing a lot of the donkey work up front and rated him equally as highly as Newbery, as did many other supporters.
Oh and who was that callow youth sitting unused on the bench?