The
Football
Association
Southern
Amateur
League
Amateur
Football
Alliance
Surrey
County
FA
Surrey
Youth & U21
League
|
|
The Football Association |
Southern Amateur League |
Amateur Football Alliance |
Surrey County FA |
Surrey Youth & U21 League |
|
SAL Division 1 |
P |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
PTS |
|
|
22 |
8 |
5 |
9 |
41 |
45 |
21 |
7th |
|
President: |
Len Williams |
|
Hon. Secretary: |
Barry Carpenter |
|
Hon. Treasurer: |
Peter Rose |
|
Team Secretary: |
Graham Radford |
|
Match Secretary: |
Jake Jacobs |
|
Magazine Editor: |
Dick Stoker |
|
Bar Manager: |
John Briggs |
|
1st XI Captain: |
Frank Cocker |
|
2nd XI Captain: |
Bernie Traynor |
|
3rd XI Captain: |
Mike Donnelly |
|
4th XI Captain: |
Alan Humberstone |
|
5th XI Captain: |
John Briggs |
|
6th XI Captain: |
Dick Stoker |
|
7th XI Captain: |
Pete Robins |
|
8th XI Captain: |
Tony Cummins |
|
9th XI Captain: |
Sam Livermore |
|
Vets XI Captain: |
Bill Backers |
Concerns about First Division survival were quickly dispelled as Carshalton briefly headed the league at Christmas after a magnificent start – including a stirring 5-0 thrashing of Midland Bank. Once again, they reached the quarter finals of the AFA Senior Cup where they lost to Nat West Bank. Disappointingly the team fell away at the end of the season to finish mid table, but it was a satisfactory season of consolidation.
The 8s acquitted themselves well on entering league football for the first time and the 9s established themselves as a regular side during the season.
The Vets represented the Club in the first season of the AFA Vets Cup and had a great run under the captaincy of Bill Backers beating Temple Bar 4-0, Old Brentwood 2-2 & 2-1, Broomfield 2-1 and Leyton County Old Boys 2-1 to reach the final at Nat West Bank Sports Ground, Norbury where they lost 3-0 to a stronger and younger Old Westminster Citz. side. There was the usual impressive turnout at the annual Old Sweats Day and amongst the attendees were five who were celebrating over 50 years membership of the Club – RE Davies, Horry Walter, Charles Oakey, "Richmond" Johnson and John Bull – quite an achievement.
Probably the most significant aspect of this season was the establishment of relations between Carshalton and Montreuil Bellay. The French visited Carshalton over Easter and Carshalton travelled for the return at the Spring Bank Holiday. Those on the first tour included club members Dave Rowles, Barry Carpenter, Frank & Barbara Cocker, Mollie, Len and Chris Williams, Mr & Mrs Horry Walter, Dennis & Peggy Philpott, Janet & Tony Knott, Mr & Mrs John Pester, Ray Lloyd, Don Mycroft, Mike Burrows, John Briggs, Chris Hithersay, Micky Bowden, Barry Foulcher, Dave Etheredge, Alan Irwin, Gerry Breislin, Barry Farrant, & Paul Day and guests Dave Kotas, Bob Langton, Paul Jenkins, Bob Taylor and John Berry. The first report contains a number of stories which will be familiar to anyone who has been on subsequent Montreuil Bellay tours…
Problems with the coach before leaving England, pub stops before reaching Farnham, an overcrowded ferry, expired passports, lack of sleep, 24 hour drinking sprees, civic receptions, alcoholic lunches, embarrassingly high standard of French hospitality, cultural visits which end up as piss-ups, oh yes, and football in searing temperatures. Generally the players are in no state to play having been doctored throughout the morning with pernod and lager for breakfast. After a run around by technically superior players the tactics usually revert to British up and at ‘em style, which is totally alien to our hosts and therefore highly effective. It’s amazing how different the English and French languages are when sober, but how easily drunken splutterings can be understood in any language.
On the first tour, Carshalton won 1-0 with a goal from Frank Cocker. Montreuil Bellay’s President, Georges Rousseau owned the local vineyard and it was open season as he allowed the party to sample his wares – straight from the vat – a tradition upheld through subsequent tours.