Memory Lane Shower of **** FC… Who did you play for?

[Bluegoose]

Leigh Marshes was Southchurch Rovers home ground and we were due to play the army lads from shoeburyness, their captain took one look at the pitch and got the officer in charge to take us all back to the garrison to play the match. We got to play both games there, it was like playing at Wembley! It was the tailend of national service and they had a team that contained some Scottish amateur internationals and Southend reserve keeper Jim Tennett.

The company I worked for in the 70's did a lot of work with HighTec we played them a Leigh once or twice then moved to Canvey sports centre for better facilities. HighTec in those days had a lot of WetSpam juniors working for them so for the first few games we got done 10-0 - 7-0 but once we worked them out it was by the odd goal. Even hired a real ref for the games, very posh.

 

[GrumpyBlue]

Earls Hall School
Wenham Sports
Homestead
Rochford United
Tesco Southend
Chemico

Then in London:-
Gleeds London
East Fulham Labour ( with Ron Springett as our centre forward)
A n other

Then in Cornwall:-
Threemilestone
Truro Hendra
Penryn Athletic
E Thomas Construction
Old Quay Inn

 

[dodgeblue]

Hi Trevor, hope you are keeping okay because we all miss you, young Steve and the chocolate biscuits in the Green Seats. Anyway I see you mentioned the wonderful Wakering Fleetlines or Fleepits as they were known back in the day when I played for them for a couple of years between 1969 -1971. Ironically many years later when I was the Chairman of Southend United Supporters Club Football Club (that's a bit of a mouthful to say the least) we actually replaced Fleetlines in the Southend Sunday League when they got kicked out which was possibly in the late 80's. I am fairly certain Whispering Bob will remember as he is a lot younger than me.

I was playing for Fleetlines 1st XI when we were kicked out, mostly for the misdemeanours of the 2nds and 3rds. Think it was the end of 1987-88 season.

 

[CaptainSmudger]

Hughlynn Athletic and Lifstan Boys Club.

 

[CanveyCastle]

Played against the great Bill Garner one Sunday morning --- long after he retired professionally -- he hardly moved round the pitch, spraying 30 and 40 yard inch perfect passes to team-mates.
I couldn't get near him, in fact, I was shown up to be a useless marker. End of game we shook hands and he said "Good game" --- I replied "I don't think so Bill" and I left the pitch sobbing.
Never play against your heroes , it will always end in tears.

 

[Supa Shrimpa]

Played against the great Bill Garner one Sunday morning --- long after he retired professionally -- he hardly moved round the pitch, spraying 30 and 40 yard inch perfect passes to team-mates.
I couldn't get near him, in fact, I was shown up to be a useless marker. End of game we shook hands and he said "Good game" --- I replied "I don't think so Bill" and I left the pitch sobbing.
Never play against your heroes , it will always end in tears.

I had a similar experience against him. I'd only just made the 1st team and he was playing for Rochford Utd (I think). He was vicious and I got bullied for 90 mins. He elbowed me going up for a header in the first few mins and I never really recovered.

 

[Billericay Dickie]

My brother played up against Garner whilst playing for Stambridge Vets. His claim to fame is that in one aerial challenge he managed to break Bill's nose! Frankly, I'm amazed he lived to tell that tale!

 

[JWood]

Leigh Rockets
Leigh Ramblers
White Horse Rangers

 

[RHB]

My brother played up against Garner whilst playing for Stambridge Vets. His claim to fame is that in one aerial challenge he managed to break Bill's nose! Frankly, I'm amazed he lived to tell that tale!

Billy used to play for my Customs cricket team in the Southend evening league . He was a bit prone to a little violence once or twice!

 

[CanveyCastle]

Billy used to play for my Customs cricket team in the Southend evening league . He was a bit prone to a little violence once or twice!

I hope he didn't try and head the ball.

 

[the_1978]

I played for Rochford Town but it was a level too far so ended up at Blue Star Rangers with Sensei Phil for 2 seasons. Found my level!!

 

[RHB]

I hope he didn't try and head the ball.

Nah, he used his bat on someone's head!

 

[discord]

Leigh Rangers, yes bad team and as mentioned earlier the owner was not right in the head, this team was continually losing by double figures every match.
Eastwood High not a great side in the Wednesday league, but we won the 5th year schools cup.
Eastwood Gunners, decided not to play for them, because Gunners = Arsenal kit, could not put that on lol
Eastwood Old Boys 1 season
Prittlewell United (Sundays) the best kit ever, SUFC badges too, also got beat every match by 5 goals.
Eastwood Falcons Sunday hit & miss team for a few seasons, we used to lose cup matches so we did not have to play Lodge Aths, that team were so hard to play against, even as Lodge Boys they were quality.
Bellhouse mid seasons just to score against Sunday Falcons and telling the center backs I would and did.
Southend Manor this team won things so does not count
Asked to come back to Falcons on Saturdays, was not a postman so never got a look in for the first team, all though the second team had a good side for the few years I was playing for them, frustration with the first team never taking any of us on, meant we all left.
White Ensign (they were short of players and used to beer at my then local Bellhouse)
Stambridge (Sundays) awful team and so was I, playing Saturdays knackered me out for Sundays lol
then went on to play for a few different Sunday teams, will not reveal as playing in the Sceptre league and Southend Sunday league is like SUFC playing in 7th tier of football.

 

[discord]

Leigh Marshes was Southchurch Rovers home ground and we were due to play the army lads from shoeburyness, their captain took one look at the pitch and got the officer in charge to take us all back to the garrison to play the match. We got to play both games there, it was like playing at Wembley! It was the tailend of national service and they had a team that contained some Scottish amateur internationals and Southend reserve keeper Jim Tennett.

A cold Sunday morning wearing uncomfortable rough shirt in a gale, yep recall those days well

 

[Flinty]

See a mention for Lodge..I forgot I played for them for 2 seasons on a Sunday also ..probably the best I played for a Sunday side

 

[* ORM *]

Leigh Marshes! Ha ha it was sometimes warmer to get changed outside. Then later Waterside Farm before they levelled the pitches and sorted the drainage. I’m struggling to think of worse. Maybe Hackney Marshes or Wanstead Flats. Actually the pitches weren’t too bad on the latter but the cow **** was usually fresh.

Every game out here has 3 match officials. Refereeing, like anywhere is mixed. The good ones are great, the bad ones think it’s a non contact sport! Every venue has decent changing rooms and many are at local sports grounds with at least one big stand and then the occasional stadium venue. The concept of vandalism doesn’t exist out here. 90 percent of pitches are good quality astro. The worst place is actually probably HK FA training centre where you have to walk miles to the pitches and it is also in the arse end of nowhere.

 

[Shrimp and two veg]

Our home pitch at the Wheatsheaf pub in Rettendon, for Hanningfield Ath, was like a fortress. Half the pitch was uphill and tilted, if you didnt score against us kicking downhill we were going to batter you the 2nd half and we knew it.
Pink helicoptor in the beer garden, pink milk float in the car park. It was a special place.

 

[Jassyfa2]

A couple of games for Thorpe Junior School
Chalkwell Utd (if they were short numbered) played one game which we lost 21-0
A couple of friendlys with North Bank Utd.
In all no more than 7 games of football

 

[ozzie]

Eastwood Falcons?? Didnt Ray & John Gosling play for them? They were good players .

 

[Crowstone Crevette]

Eastwood Falcons?? Didnt Ray & John Gosling play for them? They were good players .

@ozzie When I saw Eastwood Falcons mentioned earlier my mind immediately went tumbling back to Ray Gosling (I was at Belfairs High with him).

So I guess you have confirmed my thoughts and I yours!

(Isn't it strange how you remember some stuff???)