THOSE WERE THE DAYS
24th December
It’s Christmas Eve and I can only find three occasions when Hampton, as a Senior club, played matches on that date. On only one of those can I find a press report, and for none of them can I find a team list!
24th December 1960; Surrey Senior League Cup 1st Round
Cobham 1 Hampton 4 (A Hill 2, T Carroll, J Cooper )
Cobham’s defence held on for quite a while but after Brian Fossick and Johny Webster had gone close it was Andy Hill who gave Hampton the lead. Soon after Tony Carroll put Hampton 2-1 ahead. Jakie Cooper benefited from Fossick and Webster’s sterling work to grab the third with an easy chance. Hampton’s keeper Brian Stevens fumbled the ball, Hatcher following up to give Cobham a fleeting chance to get back in the game. Hampton, however, put the game beyond Cobham’s reach when Hill scored his second after Cooper and Johhny Mazzone had combined on the wing.
24th December 1966; Spartan League
Hampton 2 (K Merry 2) Tring Town 1
There appears to be no particular reason why Tring Town should have been hauled all the way to Hampton on Christmas Eve for a 2.15pm kick-off. 1st placed Hampton taking on 2nd placed, Tring with both teams halfway through their league programme. Still, there was a Christmas Social advertised to take place that evening, but even so!
24th December 1977; Isthmian (Rothmans)League Division 1
Hampton 1 (T Pommell) Corinthian Casuals 1
A more local engagement for this game. Hampton went behind, before missing a penalty. Tony Pommell equalising with ten minutes to go. Hampton’s next game was a week later (New Year’s Eve!) away to Kingsbury Town.
And, they complain about scheduling of matches nowadays.
Happy Christmas!
The Old Historian
Those Were The Days; 24th December
Great reports Les!
And many thanks for the wonderful Historian posts over the year - interesting, some bring back memories, and a wonderful reminder of the hundreds of players and managers who have made the club what it is.
We are lucky to have a great team management and squad of players at the moment, playing brilliantly.
And many thanks for the wonderful Historian posts over the year - interesting, some bring back memories, and a wonderful reminder of the hundreds of players and managers who have made the club what it is.
We are lucky to have a great team management and squad of players at the moment, playing brilliantly.