With thanks to Richie Greenfield for providing us with his all time eleven.
Over our history this club has had it’s links with the University Of Essex beginning back in the late Sixties and early Seventies when, due to it’s close proximity, we used to play “home” games on the pitches there. Over the years it has at times been something of a mystery to the fans as to why our club has not really tried to bring more of the footballing talent from the University to Broad Lane more often than it has. Okay, so we can understand that availability around the holiday periods and exam time maybe an issue in some cases but, in all honesty, we can remember several regular players who would fail to show at certain times of the season as well !. This set us thinking as to those Essex Uni students who have donned the Dragons shirt over the years that we can recall although, of course, there have been a few more in the past.
Since I have watched the Dragons George Taylor was the first Essex University student to turn out for the club during the early part of the 1986/87 campaign. George was a tidy midfielder who was brought into the First Team by Manager Mick Loughton following a goal and an impressive display in the Reserves. I recall the coach dropping him off at the Valley Road bus stop when returning from away trips as Boundary Road was open to through traffic in those days. In total he made 10 appearances during our debut season in the Isthmian League Division Two (North) and scored one goal.
Looking back to the summer of 1997 and the arrival of defender David Pratt who found himself thrown into an inexperienced “scratch” team by manager Steve Dowman on the opening day of the season at home to Wealdstone. In front of a crowd of 404 he gave an impressive performance at left back as the Dragons pulled off a surprise 2-1 victory which cemented his place in the Wivenhoe defence from that point onwards. The fact that Colin Hill arrived at the club in late November with his “instant team” and David retained his place showed what a talented player he was as he made 50 appearances and scored two goals. His ability, coupled with his positive attitude and commitment, saw him win the Supporters Player Of The Year trophy before he left Broad Lane at the end of October 1998 following a further seven appearances.
(David Pratt slides in to tackle an Ely City opponent)
Aleides Fernandes Mendes De Andrade was someone whose name was certainly longer than his Dragons career !. Known as Nuno he also appeared during the early stages of the 1997/98 campaign. This 24 year old forward had played for Jett Sports back home in Angola and his debut was delayed due to having to await International clearance. Unfortunately he made just four appearances before drifting out of contention and scoring a couple of goals during infrequent games for our Reserves in the Border League 3rd Division. A third University student was to appear towards the end of the same season as Hill brought in young striker James Slack who had started the campaign with Bedford Town, playing up front on occasions with Dragons legend Julian Hazel. Slack scored one goal in 8 appearances and returned briefly towards the end of the following season as “Jules” persuaded him to turn out twice before he suffered an injury at Edgware Town on 27/4/99. A fully fit Slack was unstoppable during the 1999/2000 season as he netted 60 plus goals to help the University First Team win the Colchester & East Essex League Championship.
Our next player to be picked up from the Uni was Ryan Wall. A former Bolton Wanderers Youth teamer, he made his Dragons debut in a 2-1 midweek victory at Hungerford Town on 9/3/99. With the Management describing him as having “one of the sweetest left foots” they had seen, Ryan was an ever present in the midfield for the remainder of the campaign. Operating at left back during the early stages of 1999/2000, he eventually moved away from the Colchester area having impressed everyone in his 25 First Team appearances.
The summer of 2000 saw Wivenhoe forge closer links with the University as their successful Colchester & East Essex side (unfortunately minus the departed James Slack) became our Reserve team. Despite a two Division jump the students won the Essex & Suffolk Border League 2nd Division Title. The First Team benefited from the talents of outstanding midfielder Lewis Baillie who, having scored 17 goals in 18 Reserve appearances, played 27 Ryman games during which time he netted five times as the Dragons went close to Promotion. Tolo Taylor played in an Essex Senior Cup tie while it could be argued that the likes of forward Phil Otum and midfielder Joe Fitzgerald should have been registered to cope with the First Team’s outrageously punishing run-in schedule.
(Lewis Baillie sets another Wivenhoe attack up with Alan Day (left) in support)
With a mass player exodus in the summer of 2001 (Baillie being snapped up by Ryman Premier Division Heybridge Swifts) thus the next batch of students found themselves thrust into what was (apart from Alan Day) an inexperienced line up predominantly made up of Border League players…..and the odd SUPPORTER !!. Phil Otum, who had netted 20 goals in 18 Reserve appearances the previous season, played 20 games and scored three goals, midfielder Paul Hayman scored once in his 17 First Team appearances while defenders Pat Sisupalan and Ki Odetayo played only once as did goalkeeper Simon Parsons, while Reserve Team Captain Tolo Taylor made his second (and last) Senior appearance. The “find” for this season was German Defender Heiko Hesse who was a regular after making his debut in a 3-2 victory over Banstead Athletic on 29/9/01 and retained his place in the side the following year before eventually departing in the summer of 2003 with 67 appearances to his credit and 3 goals (older “SOBS” will remember the coach picking him up at the Tescos roundabout with his shopping on away trips while his bike was a familiar site outside the clubhouse at home games). Joining Heiko in the First Team for 2002/03 was midfielder Erald Kuniqi while the Reserves in the ESBL First Division had been re named “Wivenhoe & University Town” (Yes, the writing was already on the wall).
Kuniqi departed in early September 2003 having appeared in 19 games, however, the next player with University connections to pull on a Dragons shirt that season was a certain Tabani Mabvura who made everyone at the club stand up and take notice (to his credit Assistant Manager Nicky Haydon championed Tabani’s cause when it seemed he would be overlooked) with an outstanding man of the match display in a narrow 1-2 Essex Senior Cup Quarter Final defeat to Southend United at Roots Hall on 3/2/04. Tabani was a class performer and remained with the Dragons for just over four seasons. His studies and unfortunate record with injury (mainly due to being targeted by the opposition) limited him to 107 First Team appearances (scoring four goals) and he was voted Supporters Player Of The Year in 2004/05. The summer of 2004 also saw the club part company with the University as the type of player that was now being signed by the Dragons (David Gregory, Adrian Coote etc) was never going to allow the young students a look in.
(Tabani Mabvura tackles a Haverhill Rovers player.)
As some could have predicted the club crashed again and Senior players of any experience could not be found as the Dragons endured a massive struggle fielding youngsters for the traumatic 2009/10 campaign. Then on 24th February 2010 the Odedoyin twins, Wale and Tola, arrived via the University Reserve Team bringing with them pace, power and a touch of violence (much to the entertainment of the “SOBS” !). When not suspended striker Wale could terrorise defenders and he netted 14 goals in his 40 appearances for Wivenhoe before departing. Left back Tola remained at Broad Lane longer than his brother playing his final game in a 4-1 home victory over Ely City on 21/4/12. One of my favourite memories of his 69 appearances (during which time he scored 2 goals) was when he spanked the ball into the face of the Dereham Town Assistant Manager as he attempted to make a less than accurate pass up the touch line !!. Former Under-18’s centre half Tom Cutts was one player who went in the opposite direction to study at the University while Bulgarian defender Marian Stoykov played mainly in our Reserves, although he did play nine First Team matches in 2011/12.
That brings us to the 2014/15 campaign and Charlie Goodlake who actually ended up joining us from Stanway Rovers. His attacking skill made him a fan’s favourite as he scored seven goals in 20 appearances. Like several of those previously mentioned in this article Charlie, a former Port Vale Youth Teamer, demonstrates just what footballing talent and ability can be found amongst the Essex University students and is a resource that this club should try and continue to tap into.
Below are further details of the successful 2000/01 campaign enjoyed by the students following Wivenhoe Town’s initial link up with the University Of Essex. The title was secured in the very last match of the season with the Reserves winning 8-1 away to Little Oakley Reserves while Hadleigh United Reserves failed to win their final game.
Above. The Rose And Crown pictured in 1986. Note the tables outside that eventually caused a stir nearly three decades later.During our first season in the Isthmian League we travelled to see the ‘Hoe play promotion chasing Haringey Borough on Tuesday 14th April 1987. We were just settling down for a pre match pint when a local approached us and asked “Hey mate, how much did you have to play for the publicity then ?”. When we replied that we had not got a clue what he was on about he showed us a copy of that day’s Daily Mail which included this cartoon;
(Above. The Rose And Crown pictured in 1986. Note the tables outside that eventually caused a stir nearly three decades later)
It features the interior of the Rose And Crown (plus a couple of the locals in cartoon form !) with Wivenhoe v Braintree being advertised on the wall. The bloke was kind enough to give me the paper (actually I tore out the page when he went off to the loo !) enabling us to reproduce it here now. It turned out to be a bad night for “local bloke” as, not only did I rip his newspaper, the Dragons also put a dent in his team’s Promotion hopes as Peter Licence scored a late equalizer to earn a 1-1 draw on the night.
I am led to believe the reason for Wivenhoe featuring in at least three cartoons that I am aware of (one of the railway station and the other being the interior of the Black Buoy with a Wivenhoe v Brightlingsea poster on the wall) is that “Mac” lived around this area at one time. If you wish to seek out these other two plus any other Wivenhoe connected cartoons by Mac that may be available, go to http://www.dailymail.co.uk/coffeebreak/cartoons/mac.html.
On the subject of the Dragons and cartoons can anyone enlighten us as to the origins of the “Wivenhoe Willy” character who featured in the club’s programme on and off for just over a decade.
Over it’s history there are a number of people whose name is associated with this club, Bill Hill being one such person. Also known as “Jock” having been Glasgow born, he first came to this club as a teenager in 1946 when it was known as Wivenhoe Rangers and was competing in the Brightlingsea & District League. He played for the club at both First and Reserve team level for over twenty six years before finally hanging up his boots in the summer of 1972. It is a shame we can not trace his number of appearances as I am sure that he would probably be the all time record holder.
Off the field his enthusiasm and commitment to Wivenhoe saw him immediately become a member of the club’s committee serving from 1946 to 1955. He then became Treasurer and Hon. Assistant Secretary from the summer of 1955 to 1957 before eventually being elevated to the position of Hon. Secretary, a post he held for 23 years until stepping down in 1980. His services were honoured by the Essex County Football Association on a number of occasions and he remained a member of the club’s Committee for a further thirteen years. For several seasons he was a familiar face that every regular Dragons supporter knew as he operated the turnstile at home matches.
Bill saw all manner of highs and lows during his days with Wivenhoe and I know he was proud to be associated with the football club. At the end of the 1995/96 campaign at the club’s Awards Night Bill was presented with a plaque to commemorate the achievement of 50 years unbroken service to the Dragons which he accepted in his usual modest way. Sadly this was to be his last time at Broad Lane as he passed away on 16th July 1996. These days it is rare for someone to remain loyal to a club through thick and thin for such a length of time and it is doubtful that anyone will ever match his 50 year association in the future. Whether you knew him as Bill or Jock, he was certainly “Mister”.
It’s taken me almost a month to figure out my all time dragons eleven, and I’m still not 100% sure!! Having followed the dragons for nearly 20 years I’ve seen some incredible players and so narrowing it down to just eleven was never going to be easy, but here goes;
Daryl Trigg
Tabani Mabvura
Danny Roberts
Gary Hudson
Kevin Hughes
Jimmy Clewley
Liam Coleman
Steve Henson
Sean Caton
Julian Hazel
Alan Day
Subs
Darren Gould
Lee Townrow
Paul Hillier
Stafford Browne
Nicky Haydon
Lee Underwood
Phil Coleman
(Diadora Premier Division) Saturday 4th January 1992
During the summer of 1991 the Dragons saw a mass exodus of players and football management as the club hit financial problems. Wivenhoe had struggled to rebuild a side virtually from scratch but now under the returning Mick Loughton the team was gradually beginning to pick up. The “Saints” had already won 2-1 at Broad Lane and the fact that they had signed five of our summer departures added some spice to this game which encouraged just over 70 fans to make the trip to Hertfordshire despite the fact Wivenhoe had only one win and a draw from their twelve away league games. Although Garry Brooke and (thankfully) 20 goal Steve Clark were missing through injury, Paul Price, John Lacy and Jimmy King were in the “Saints” line up while Loughton sprung a surprise by bringing veteran keeper Gerry Warner out of retirement and gave a debut to new signing Steve Howe.
Despite the Dragons being second to bottom they matched their 11th placed opponents in the opening exchanges and stunned their hosts by taking a 13th minute lead. Shaun Duffett released Mitchell Springett down the right with a defence splitting pass, Springett raced for the by line, cut in and hammered the ball across the face of goal to the arriving Dave McCoy who, totally unmarked, converted at the far post. With Lacy being given the run around by Duffett to the amusement of the travelling fans, Gary Harvey was only inches away from increasing our lead while at the other end striker Danzey missed three good chances and became the target on an increasingly frustrated home support.
(Above. Scott Young who supplied the cross for the winner and was something of an unsung hero throughout the 1991/92 campaign. Indeed, Scott had to double up as sponge man in this game as well !.)
One up at the break we appeared to suffer a massive set back in the 50th minute when Phil Coleman collided with home keeper Hopping and required extensive treatment behind the goal for five minutes or so. With it necessary to administer oxygen and, clearly suffering from a rib injury, it was to everyone’s amazement that Phil was eventually helped to his feet and returned to the fray !.
With Steve Howe getting the better of Jimmy King all afternoon the Dragons were looking solid at the back and a well protected Warner had to make just one decent save in the second half, although he was booked for time wasting at a goal kick having collapsed suffering from cramp. Mark Radford then saw a thunderous 25 yard drive crash against the bar with Hopping well beaten in the 83rd minute as the home fans began to drift towards the exits.
(Above Dave McCoy, two goal hero on the day)
The “Saints” now threw everything into attack and two minutes into injury time Ketteridge supplied the cross for Anderson to head home the equalizer to seemingly break Wivenhoe hearts. However, the Dragons response to this setback was to go back on the offensive and in the 95th minute Springett’s excellent pass set substitute Scott Young away down the right wing. Scotty took on his man before clipping the ball back inside to McCoy who controlled it before squeezing his shot inside the near post to the delight of the travelling support (some of whom wept tears of joy – and I am not talking about the girls either…..you know who you are !). As McCoy celebrated wildly with the fans these goals saw him enter Wivenhoe Town folklore and, not surprisingly, the referee’s notebook !!. This victory really did sum up the players’ terrific team spirit and ability that eventually saw them pull themselves well clear of relegation.
TEAM: Gerry WARNER, Steve HOWE, Joff MARCH, Steve WRIGHT, Phil COLEMAN, Wayne HANNIGAN, Mitchell SPRINGETT, Gary HARVEY, Dave McCOY, Shaun DUFFETT (Sub: Scott YOUNG), Mark RADFORD. Unused Sub; Keith MOORE. Attendance 638
Not surprisingly the Fanzine “Look For Floodlights” took great delight in this victory and celebrated it with the following cartoon and front cover…………….
With thanks to our supporters club penalty king Mr Andy Wilson for his contribution;
GK Daryl Trigg
RB Lee Abrehart
LB David Pratt
CB Lee Townrow
CB Gary Hudson (c)
RW Keith Bain
LW Peter License
CM Tabani Mabvura
CM Phil Coleman
CF Paul Harrison
CF Lee Underwood
Subs
Lee race
Julian Hazel
Michael Gonzague
Mitchel Springett
Lee Neale
STEVE GARNHAM (App. 5 Goals 0)
Played for our Reserves in 1981/82, this midfielder broke into the first team squad and made his Senior debut on 1/11/81. After failing to establish himself as a regular he returned to local football after playing his last game on 5/6/82. Went on to play for Brightlingsea United and later managed Great Bentley.
JOHN GILLAN (App. 1 Goals 0)
Reserve team midfielder who made just one substitute’s appearance for the first team on 7/2/81. After leaving Broad Lane he spent several years with Coggeshall Town.
MARK GOOCH (App. 7 Goals 0)
Full back signed from Coggeshall Town in August 1979 and made his debut on 29/9/79. Struggled to hold down a place in the first team and eventually returned to his previous club after making his last Dragons appearance on 23/3/80.
ANDY GOODING (App. 20 Goals 1)
Former Colchester United Youth Team midfielder signed in November 1983. Scored on his Reserve team debut and made his Senior debut on 3/12/83 in the F.A.Vase against Haverhill Rovers. Remained with the club for one and a half years, playing his last game on 21/1/85.
BOBBY GOUGH (App. 10 Goals 2)
Striker who began his Football League career with Walsall back in 1967. Went on to play for Port Vale, Southport and Colchester United before moving into the non league game with Chelmsford City, Hendon and Tiptree United, where he was player/ manager. One of several former Col.U team mates of then Dragons boss Mick Packer, Bobby made his debut for us on 17/9/83 and ended his brief association with the club on12/11/83. After retirement from Senior Football he went on to run the Layer Fox and Donkey & Buskins pubs.
BARRY GREYGOOSE (App. 17 Goals 0)
Midfielder signed in July 1980 having had a successful career in the Essex & Suffolk Border League with Mersea Island. Made his Dragons debut in a 2-1 victory over Chelmsford City Reserves on 16/8/80 and played his last game in Wivenhoe colours on 24/1/81. Left Broad Lane in February 1981 to link up with Halstead Town.
BOBBY HAMILTON (App. 20 Goals 0)
Scottish born goalkeeper signed from Tiptree United at the start of the 1984/85 campaign. Began his career as an apprentice with Ipswich Town (where he gained two F.A.Youth Cup winners medals) before going on to spend several seasons at Colchester United as understudy to Mike Walker. Having previously played for Chelmsford City and Braintree, Bobby made his Dragons debut on 25/8/84 and, after making his last appearance on 8/12/84, he returned to Scotland and linked up with Stirling Albion.
JOHN HAMMOND (App. 179 Goals 6)
Moved into the area with a job at the Colchester Lathe Company and joined the Dragons in 1974. Made his first team debut in a 2-1 Essex & Suffolk Border League victory over West End United on 1/2/75.Started his Wivenhoe career as a full back but developed into an excellent sweeper during his six year stay, playing his last match on 5/5/80.
BOBBY HANKS (App. 72 Goals 0)
Goalkeeper originally signed in 1971 from Eastern Gas and progressed from the reserves to make his first team debut on 8/1/72 in an Essex Junior Cup tie against Parkeston Railway during which he unfortunately sustained two broken ribs. Left in August 1973 to join Brightlingsea United and went on to play for Harwich & Parkeston during their Isthmian League days. Returned to Wivenhoe in July 1985 following a spell with Clacton Town and made his last appearance on 24/4/86. Went on to have further spells with Brightlingsea and Harwich before eventually retiring from Senior Football in the summer of 1990.
MARK HARRISON (App. 11 Goals 0)
Midfielder who came to the club in July 1979 along with his brother Paul. Previously on the books of Norwich City as a youth, he never really managed to establish himself in the first team and drifted into local football after playing the majority of his games in the reserves. Made his debut on 6/9/80 and his last appearance on 15/1/83.
PAUL HARRISON (App. 350 Goals 258)
A Broad Lane legend signed from Ipswich Town in July 1979 and scored on his debut on 20/8/79. An F.A.Youth Cup winner with Ipswich, he left the Dragons during the summer of 1983 and had spells with Tiptree United and Heybridge Swifts but returned in March 1986. A rift with the management saw him depart again in May 1989 but, following spells at Braintree Town, Brantham Athletic and Burnham Ramblers, he rejoined us again during the 1990/91 campaign. Sadly it was only a brief stay as he made his last appearance on 16/3/91 and linked up with Harlow Town for a short while before retiring from the senior game after a couple of games in the Essex & Suffolk Border League with Dedham Old Boys.
(Above – Paul Harrison)
GEOFF HARROP (App. 74 Goals 0)
Ex Colchester United, Tiptree United and Chelmsford City defender who joined us from Heybridge Swifts in October 1984. Made his debut on 6/10/84 but left to link up with Braintree Town in the summer of 1985. Returned to Broad Lane in August 1986 following a spell with Brightlingsea United and made his last appearance on 4/5/87 prior to going to Australia. Since his return to this country he played for Arena in the Colchester Sunday League and managed Gas Recreation as well working for Colchester United.
KEVIN HARVEY (App. 21 Goals 0)
Left back signed from Haverhill Rovers having previously seen service with Harwich & Parkeston as well as Essex & Suffolk Border League outfit Parkeston Railway. Made his debut on 17/8/86 but left after just four months, his last senior appearance coming on 7/12/86. Played for Brightlingsea United, Tiptree United and ESBL West Bergholt following his departure.
JOHN HAVELL (App. 9 Goals 0)
Defender who made his first team debut on 2/2/85 after being signed from local Junior Football. His brief run in the first team came to an end on 24/4/85 and he left Broad Lane to go and play in the Essex & Suffolk Border League with our near neighbours Alresford Colne Rangers.
GARY HIGGLETON (App. 248 Goals 7)
Former Severalls Athletic and West Bergholt defender who joined the Dragons in 1981. Progressed from the reserves to make his senior debut on 21/8/82 and played in every position for the first team including goalkeeper, making his final appearance on 20/12/88. Left Broad Lane in the summer of 1989 to have two very successful years with Brightlingsea United before going on to play for Gas Recreation and Stanway Rovers.
BOBBY HODGE (App. 1 Goals 0)
A short lived signing who played his only game on 28/8/83. This former Exeter City and Colchester United midfielder was forced to quit the Professional game through injury at just 28 and spent two seasons playing in Norway before returning to this country and linking up with Chelmsford City. Went on to become player/coach at Clacton Town before retiring through injury.
ANDY HUNT (App. 8 Goals 0)
Able to operate at full back or in midfield, he made his Dragons debut on 15/1/83. Found senior opportunities limited and eventually left to join Brightlingsea United after playing his last game in a Wivenhoe shirt on 20/5/83. Played Sunday League Football for Lexden Sun and became a Sports Physio like his father Ronnie.
Over the summer the club had made further improvements to Broad Lane by erecting a 100 seat stand which had been purchased from the Army. Mick Packer was to continue at the helm but was to be joined by Mick Loughton as Assistant Manager following his departure from Chelmsford City earlier in the year having guided them to the brink of the Gola (now Conference Premier) League. Despite losing the services of Gary Taylor, Geoff Harrop and Mark Farthing who all departed for Braintree Town, other main stays of the previous season, Neil Milburn, Mitchell Springett, Gary Higgleton, Nigel Theobald, Chris Dines, and Jan Waters all remained while Mitchell’s brother Gavin was brought in from Halstead Town, full backs Wayne Ward (Tiptree United) and Kevin Harvey (Haverhill Rovers), midfielder Matt Bennett (a former West Ham United Youth), and goalkeeper Bobby Hanks (returning from Clacton Town after 13 years away from the Dragons) were also signed. Pre Season went well with three away victories over Brantham Colts (2-1), Little Oakley (3-1) and Brantham Athletic (3-1) plus a 2-2 draw at Haverhill Rovers.
The season got off to a dream start with a 3-0 victory at Eton Manor thanks to a brace from Mitchell Springett and a debut goal from Matt Bennett. Mitchell netted two more against Witham Town to secure a 2-1 win while further victories over Brentwood (2-1 home), Coggeshall Town (8-1 away) and East Ham United (6-2 home) saw us sitting top of the league. The latter game had seen Freddie Claydon make a surprise (but all too brief two game) return to the club and net a hat trick while Neil Milburn was also getting amongst the goals as he spent the season operating between an emergency centre forward and his usual defensive duties. Our 100 per cent record came to an end on Saturday 7th September as, despite Steve Sharman putting us two goals ahead at the break and Milburn giving us a 3-1 lead, we crashed to a 3-4 defeat at second placed Bowers United.
(Gary Smith (on the ball) whose transfer to the Dragons caused a rift with Clacton Town.)
Off the pitch long serving Eddie Goldsmith stepped down and was replaced as club Secretary by Roger Cordey, who had held a similar post at Basildon United, while Mick Loughton took over sole charge of First Team affairs (Mick Packer continuing as a player only) prior to the home game with Stansted which had been moved forward to Friday September 20th. The Friday night experiment was a success as 458 spectators turned up to see a single strike from Sharman give us the points. It was now that Loughton tried to boost his squad with Terry Price joining from Tiptree and Neil Pickard and Gary Smith being brought in to strengthen the midfield. The latter duo’s arrival caused some upset as Clacton Town put in a protest over the signing of Pickard from them and the registration transfer of Smith from Brightlingsea United (as he also held “duel” registration with the “seasiders”). In the end it came to nothing and Pickard made his debut in a superb 1-0 win at Witham Town, secured by Nigel “Rambo” Theobald who blocked a clearance with his chest, played a one/two with Mitch Springett before rifling home an unstoppable drive from 20 yards, while Smith’s debut came four days later in a 1-2 loss at East Thurrock United.
October began with Milburn on centre forward duty against Sawbridgeworth Town on the 5th and he profited from a constant supply of crosses from Smith to score four times in a 5-1 victory (“Smudger” netting the other himself). Now things can change very quickly in football and this was demonstrated over a 24 hour period as the Dragons crashed to 0-4 at Braintree Town in the Eastern Floodlight League on Tuesday 22nd October then defeated Lexden Wanderers 6-0 at Broad Lane in the Worthington Evans Cup the following evening (scorers M.Springett 2; Higgleton; Smith; Milburn and Dines). We then hit a bad patch as, with Ward and Bennett injured, we won just two of our next nine games with defeats including exits from the Essex Senior Trophy, League Cup and F.A.Vase, although one of our wins came over 3rd placed Chelmsford City Reserves thanks to goals from Mitchell Springett and Chris Dines. With Kevin Harvey departing to Brightlingsea at the start of December and keeper Hanks suffering injury (being replaced by Reserve custodian Russell Milburn) the Dragons continued to stutter. Forward Will Love had been signed in October and finally broke into the 1st team following a 2-4 defeat at Sawbridgeworth and scored his first league goal in a 3-1 win at Halstead Town on 21/12/85 (Waters and M.Springett also on target).
The New Year got off to the worst possible start as we lost 0-1 at Ford United on 4th January and then 2-3 at home to Eton Manor seven days later leaving the top of the table looking as follows;
PL W D L FOR – AG PTS
Wivenhoe Town 21 12 2 7 49 30 38
Maldon Town 16 10 4 2 29 15 34
Witham Town 16 10 3 3 32 15 33
Chelmsford City Res 18 9 4 5 29 21 31
Loughton moved to bring striker Mark Farthing back from Braintree Town which allowed Milburn to return to the back line which was leaking far too many goals. Farthing scored twice in a 2-1 home win over Halstead in the Harry Fisher Memorial Trophy on Saturday 18th January and then netted again 7 days later as, added to goals from Milburn (2) and Smith, we were cruising 4-0 up at Canvey Island only for a total defensive collapse to see us end up with just a point from a 4-4 draw, a result that really summed up our campaign as a whole. Following a narrow 1-0 victory at Stansted on 31/1/86 (scorer Smith) the rains came and Wivenhoe did not manage to play a game for five weeks. Witham recorded two wins during this period and sat 3 points behind the Dragons but with five games in hand. At this point all we could hope for was that we would find some consistency and Witham would slip up in their bid to overhaul us at the top.
(Mitchell Springett (pictured scoring against Wokingham in 1992 – Shaun Duffett is in the background) who, along with Gary Higgleton, played in every game throughout the 1985/86 campaign and finished leading goal scorer.)
March arrived with the news that goal scoring legend Paul Harrison had returned to the club from Heybridge Swifts and he immediately got back into the groove with a brace in a 7-2 win at East Ham United on 8/3/86 where Farthing (2), Ward, Packer and M.Springett also hit the target on a day that saw Witham lose 1-2 at home to Chelmsford Reserves to extend our lead to 6 points. The joy of home victories over Burnham Ramblers 3-0 and Maldon 2-1 was cut short by the news that Witham’s defeat to Chelmsford had been “scratched” from the records as City had fielded an ineligible player and the game would have to be replayed. This, coupled with throwing away a 2 goal lead at home to 10 man Ford United on 29/3/86, probably brought about the end of our faint Championship dreams and we were eventually overhauled by the Spa Road outfit on Saturday 3rd May having led the table since the second week of the season.
The Dragons continued to fight for some silverware as two goals from Harrison and one apiece from Packer and Farthing saw us beat Brightlingsea 4-2 to reach the Final of the Harry Fisher Memorial Trophy. Champions elect Witham Town stood in our way in a tie played at East Ham’s ground. A goal down in 5 minutes, we levelled the scores in the 57th minute when Dave Jarvis headed home Gary Smith’s deep cross from the left. Jarvis then put Paul Harrison through with a defence splitting pass in the 74th minute and he finished with a low shot into the far corner beyond the keeper to secure a 2-1 victory and land the trophy. What made the win even more remarkable was that it was achieved without a recognised goalkeeper as unavailability and injury meant that defender Gary Higgleton had to play the entire 90 minutes between the posts with “Higgy” pulling off a superb point blank save in the dying seconds to preserve our lead and make it four wins and a draw over the Champions during the course of the season. We also got to the Final of the Worthington Evans Cup but fell to a narrow 1-2 defeat (scorer Smith) to Maldon Town on 30th May.
The Reserves under Alan Springett started off as early pace setters but 1st team call ups and injuries eventually resulted in them finishing 8th in the table while they also managed to reach the Quarter Finals of the Tolleshunt D’Arcy Cup before going down 0-1 to Tollesbury.
Off the field under Chairman Dave Whymark Wivenhoe’s ambitions to progress up the Non League pyramid appeared to have been dashed due to a dispute between the Essex Senior League and the Isthmian League. With this in mind the club attempted a “sideways” switch to the Eastern Counties League to open up a route of progression up into the Southern League, however, the Isthmian League blocked the move and eventually accepted the Dragons into their set up after further improvements were made to Broad Lane thanks to the support of club Patron Dave Watts.
GOALSCORERS
25 – Mitchell SPRINGETT, 16 – Neil MILBURN, 9 – Mark FARTHING, 9 – Paul HARRISON, 9 – Gary SMITH, 7 – Chris DINES, 5 – Mick PACKER, 5 – Steve SHARMAN, 5 – Jan WATERS, 4 – Will LOVE, 3 – Freddie CLAYDON, 3 – Dave JARVIS, 3 – Wayne WARD, 2 – Matt BENNETT, 2 – Gary HIGGLETON, 2 – Gavin SPRINGETT, 1 – Nigel THEOBALD, 1 – Clayton WRIGHT, 2 – Opponents OWN GOAL.
Phil most certainly is one player who is fondly remembered by Dragons fans. He arrived at Broad Lane in July 1989 having completed his second spell with Colchester United following a career that had seen him play for Millwall (whom he joined as a 15 year old and had two spells with), Wrexham, Exeter City, Aldershot, Chelmsford City, Dulwich Hamlet and Myllykoski PA47 in Finland where he helped them win the First Division Championship.
(Phil challenges the Kingsbury Town defence on his debut.)
The original plan was for him to play at centre half, the position he started in during the pre season games whilst scoring two headed goals from corners. His First Team competitive debut came in a 1-0 league victory at Kingsbury Town on 19/9/89, however, an unfortunate injury to Jeff Hull saw Phil pushed into midfield after just three matches into the season and he immediately responded with a goal against Harwich & Parkeston in a 2-0 F.A.Cup win on 2/10/89. Seven days later two more goals came in a 4-1 league win over Walton & Hersham, both scored in similar fashion as driven corners by Lil Fuccillo were flicked on at the near post by Paul Price and John Lacy for Phil to charge in and power past the keeper into the net. This became a successful routine throughout our Isthmian League First Division Championship year and Phil’s brave diving headers amidst the flying boots earned him the nickname of “Geronimo” amongst the Dragons fans behind the goal. Thanks to this cavalier approach in the opponent’s box he finished the 1989/90 campaign as second highest scorer with 28 goals to his credit. Off the field he also became coach of the club’s Under-18’s the same season.
(Coleman lets the Harwich keeper know he is there in the opening minutes)
Four goals in a 10-0 pre season thrashing of Takeley showed that his goalscoring feats were to continue during the course of the 1990/91 campaign as he netted 18 times. There is no doubt that part of Phil’s appeal to the section of the Wivenhoe faithful with more dubious moral standards was his uncompromising style of play which brought a spectacular number of cautions in the opening weeks of our first term in the Premier Division and saw him suspended by the end of September !!. This actually worked out quite well for him as he had also picked up the first of a series of injuries which were to unfortunately plague his Dragons career from that point onwards.
Phil was back in the side for the visit of 2nd placed Kingstonian on 31/10/90 and he netted a hat trick in a 6-1 hammering of the “K’s”, only the bar denying him a 4th goal on the night. Along with the injuries he continued to get more bookings than Butlins and by late January had earned himself a second ban. His return to the team in a superb 2-0 F.A.Trophy win at Enfield lasted just 63 minutes before he was sent off for what he later described as “handbags at two paces” with Steve Mosely (although his next dismissal was a smack in the opponent’s mouth from six inches at Bishops Stortford !!). So, yet another three match ban came his way which, because of postponements due to snow, meant he missed our big F.A.Trophy tie at Colchester United. This is something that Phil regrets and we have no doubt that a fully fit Coleman would have improved our chances of pulling off a Cup shock.
(“Geronimo !” Typical Coleman….in amongst the flying boots against Staines Town. This effort hit the bar)
Following the mass departures of May 1991 Phil took over as Player/Manager of the club and had to rebuild a squad virtually from scratch. The time and effort he put into the task deserved much more reward than the eleven straight defeats suffered before he stepped down on 8th October 1991. It spoke volumes for his character that he was willing to remain as a player and he put in many excellent performances as the Dragons eventually pulled clear of danger and clawed their way up the table. Indeed, he also impressed the opposition’s fans as shown by this comment from Enfield’s fanzine Talk Of The Town End …….”Coleman came out on top with a superbly arrogant performance which culminated in the last five minutes with an interception and nonchalant back pass over the head of an Enfield forward while simultaneously waving to the crowd !!”.
By the time the 1992/93 campaign began Phil was less than 100 per cent fit through injury, but this was not the only factor to limit his appearances that season as a “disagreement” with the Manager over footballing opinions saw him out of the team and briefly loaned to Braintree Town. Back in the Broad Lane fold again by late November he scored four goals in three games as he was pushed up front to partner Robbie Reinelt before injury struck again. He eventually returned to full fitness to be a major player in helping avoid relegation by the skin of our teeth on the very last day of the season at Yeading.
(Phil dives to head home a goal in the 4-0 victory at Whyteleafe)
Work commitments and injury limited him to just 23 appearances throughout the 1993/94 campaign, although one particular incident that season cemented his place in Wivenhoe Town folklore. During a 0-1 defeat at Wokingham Town he sustained a cut to the head for the second successive game in a clash with an opponent, played brilliant, ended the match being stretchered off with a suspected broken ankle, spent the entire journey home laid out on the back seat of the coach encased in more ice than a fossilized woolly mammoth, refused to go to casualty, and was last seen hobbling off into the night muttering that he was “bloody well going home to have me tea” !!.
Although he started the 1994/95 campaign he suffered another injury in the second game of the season (plus he didn’t quite see eye to eye with the manager) and that was all but the end of his Dragons career. Phil pulled on a Wivenhoe shirt for the 211th and last time the following season when he made a surprise appearance as a playing substitute to help out an injury ravaged team in a 0-2 home League Cup defeat to Purfleet on Tuesday 9th September 1997. Of course he has been a spectator at Broad Lane countless times since over the years and his son Liam was also a quality player for the Dragons. What more can I say apart from there was never a dull moment with him around. Cut heads, chipped ankles, bruised ribs, 53 goals, playing passion, and a bit of on field aggro thrown in…..cheers Phil, thanks for the memories.
(ABOVE: Wivenhoe Town Under-18’s 1989/90 coached by Phil who finished 4th in the Eastern Junior Alliance League and Runners-up in the EJA Floodlight Invitation Shield.)
(BELOW: The Under-18’s squad who achieved 3rd place in the league, won the EJA Floodlight Invitation Shield, and finished Runners-Up in the Ingilby Paints Cup. Steve Lowe, Kenny Vincent (who was surely cautioned for that shirt !!), Scott McInnes, Scott Ridgers, Paul Rook and Gary Craig (not pictured) all went on to become First Team regulars at one point or another.)
Further to the article on Wivenhoe Town’s legendary scoring machine, we here at “Dragons Den” would like to add a few facts and figures relating to Paul’s amazing goal feats for the ‘Hoe.
Of his 258 goals in 350 appearances, not including friendly fixtures, he scored FIVE times in a game twice, FOUR goals in one game once, netted thirteen HAT TRICKS, and grabbed a brace on 52 other occasions. He was leading goalscorer in ALL of his seven full seasons with the Dragons with his most productive return for one season being 53 goals in 55 appearances during the 1987/88 campaign.
BREAKDOWN OF GOALS
Essex Senior League = 99, Essex Senior League Cup = 4, Isthmian League = 92, A.C.Delco Cup = 2, F.A.Cup = 5, F.A.Trophy = 1, F.A.Vase = 12, Essex Senior Cup = 1, Essex Senior Trophy = 10, Worthington Evans Charity Cup = 15, Harry Fisher Memorial Trophy = 4, Loctite Cup = 1, Floodlight Cup = 6, Coggeshall Brotherhood Cup = 1, Harwich Charity Cup = 4, and Brantham Charity Cup = 1.
HARRISON GOAL GALLERY
1] Putting the Dragons into the lead in a 4-2 victory over Vauxhall Motors.
2] Paul drills home from close range to score the only goal in a pre season win over St.Albans City
3] Clapton’s keeper is grounded as Harrison slips the ball past him to score on his 250th appearance for the club
4] Heading home the first of a brace in a 3-0 victory at Haringey Borough.
5] Down but still dangerous – opening the scoring at home to Finchley.
6] Walking the ball into the net for the winner at Bowers United.
7] Penalty king – smashing home a spot kick at Staines Town.
8] Opening the scoring from close range in a 6-2 F.A.Vase victory over Somersham Town.
(Ridgeons League Premier Division 25/9/2010)
The Dragons had put together a decent eight match unbeaten run which had just been ended four days previously in a highly charged local derby at FC Clacton. With us in 7th place in the table and our visitors in 8th the “SOBS” were a little apprehensive as we went into this game without the services of Max Egbuna and the Odedoyin twins, Wale and Tola who were both keeping the Essex County F.A Disciplinary Committee in full employment !!.
Norwich for their part included former ‘Hoe midfielder Gareth Simpson from the “Carter” Fantasy Football days and looked far more experienced than our own side that included 8 players of 19 or under in the match day squad. The Dragons were quick out of the blocks and their early pressure paid off as TJ Amass swung in a corner from the right which was met by Ryan Brown and his resulting header looped over visiting keeper Nower to put us into a 4th minute lead. The ‘Hoe were playing some good stuff with Markel Greenidge and Jonathan Carr creating real problems for the Norwich defence. Reece Keating was putting himself about in the midfield stopping Simpson from imposing himself on the game. Indeed, it was Keating who set up the second goal in the 20th minute when he won a tackle, advanced forward and put a cross into the area which Carr met with an acrobatic bicycle kick to score in spectacular style. Norwich gradually battled back into the game and Adam Wilding made a couple of decent saves to keep them at bay before United pulled a goal back just before the interval when a corner from the Wivenhoe left was scrambled home from close range.
Left to right; Bryan Turner, TJ Amass, Tom Cutts, Joe Hawkins, Reece Keating, Ben Lampon and (insert) Andy Gibbons all played their part in an impressive victory.
After the break Tom Rogers ventured up field from centre back and saw a header hacked off the line while at the other end he, along with Tom Cutts, Joe Hawkins and Ben Lampon protected Wilding against a period of sustained Norwich pressure. Wivenhoe restored their two goal advantage on 64 minutes when Markel attacked the visitors down the right and delivered the perfect cross to the far post for the arriving Joe Hawkins to score to the delight of the “SOBS”.
In the 80th minute Luke Rogers replaced Carr for his first appearance of the season and sealed an impressive victory 3 minutes from time when he was brought down in the box before picking himself up to convert the resulting penalty.
This game really showed that with confidence being raised and boosted by the addition of a couple of experienced players in the youthful Dragons squad they were a match for Premier Division opponents. The “SOBS” retired to the bar feeling good at the final whistle but, unfortunately, they did not for see that four of the squad would be signed by other clubs while Markel was to suffer a long term back injury and J.C was to go abroad. Indeed, the only minus on this particular day was the attendance of just 77 which, when you consider the three previous home games had attracted 134, 145 and 148 through the turnstiles, was a major disappointment to all concerned.
TEAM: Adam WILDING, Joe HAWKINS (Sub: Andy GIBBONS), Tom ROGERS, Ben LAMPON, Tom CUTTS, Ryan BROWN, TJ AMASS (Sub: Louis RADLEY), Bryan TURNER, Markel GREENIDGE, Jonathon CARR (Sub: Luke ROGERS). Non playing Subs: Jamie LEE SMITH & Liam BRITTON.
An FA Youth Cup Winners medal, a UEFA Cup Winners medal, a Wembley appearance in the FA Charity Shield, Sir Bobby Robson’s ‘bench-warmer’ and 16 appearances for Wivenhoe Town.
Tommy Parkin’s footballing career is not exactly overflowing with stories of success, which kind of matches the description of his short Dragon’s career.
Wivenhoe were embarking on their first season in the Premier Division of the Isthmian League and the management of the time obviously felt that the acquisition of the very experienced Parkin was just the sort of player they needed to strengthen the team. His versatility in being able to operate on the right-hand side of midfield or at right fullback was an additional attraction, as well as his proven track record in the Non- League game at Bury Town. During his two years at Bury he had been a regular target for a number of the region’s top Non- League clubs, all keen to secure his services. So it was in the summer of 1990 that Wivenhoe managed to prise Parkin away from the Ram Meadow side.
Obviously he was then acting out the last years of his playing career, which had started out so promisingly at Portman Road as a young lad. During his early days he was a member of Ipswich Town’s 1973 FA Youth Cup winning side, which was to spawn so many household names in later years. After turning professional in December 1973 he had to wait five years for his first taste of first team action, with only reserve team football and loan outings to Grimsby and Peterborough on his CV. He was cruelly, although accurately, dubbed Mr Reserve Team as he regularly kept Sir Bobby company in the first team dugout. Appearances were few and far between – at 27 years of age he was still waiting to make his 20th appearance. A change of Bobby’s in 1983 made little difference to Parkin, although to be fair Bobby Ferguson did make a little more use of him than his predecessor. By the time he was released by Ipswich in 1987 he had managed to cobble together 82 appearances (no goals) in 13 years. A place on the bench (surprise, surprise !) for the 2nd leg of the UEFA Cup Final against AZ67 Alkmaar earned him a sole medal for his efforts.
Parkin in a rare moment not sitting on the bench.
A switch in towns in the summer of 1987, from Ipswich to Bury, resulted in him leaving the professional game for the delights of the Southern League, where he performed admirably for a couple of seasons before joining Wivenhoe.
Parkin made his first appearance for the club in a pre-season friendly with Harwich & Parkeston, playing at right fullback in a 2-3 defeat on the rolling slopes of The Royal Oak, with Steve Wright and Lil Fuccillo scoring our goals. His debut at Broad Lane came against Colchester United a few days later in front of a bumper crowd of 1,134. The U’s managed to squeeze home 1-0. A 2-0 win at Southern League Baldock Town followed, Keith Bain and Steve Clark getting the goals, before Sudbury Town were defeated by the same score-line a week later at The Priory Stadium. Steve Clark scored both for The Dragons.
The final pre-season friendly that summer saw the Essex Olympian League side Takeley, destroyed 10-0 here at Broad Lane, with the ‘Hoe three goals up in the first 12 minutes as the team confirmed they knew where the back of the opponent’s net was !
Records show that Parkin played a full 90 minutes in all five friendlies that summer – one of only three players to do so – and not unsurprisingly failing to score from his defensive position in the back four.
His full League debut was the opening game of the 1990-91 campaign as Wivenhoe started life in the Premier Division of the Isthmian League against Staines Town at Broad Lane. It was a dream start for the club as a 3-0 win sent the vast majority of the 673 crowd home happy. The team made a competent start result-wise and home games were getting average attendances around the 300 mark. However, Parkin’s contribution to the team’s efforts appeared to be falling short of the required standards. He played his part in the first eleven games, but as I recall – and the memory isn’t quite what it used to be ! – didn’t look too comfortable, being caught out for his lack of pace on a number of occasions and giving the ball away unfortunately regularly. Indeed the football club’s fanzine at the time – Look For Floodlights – ‘honoured’ him with the ‘Most Celebrated Departure Award’ at the end of the season, which goes some way to sum up the general feeling of those on the terraces had toward him.
For whatever reason Parkin left the club after 16 appearances (plus 5 friendlies), heading to Eastern Counties League Harwich & Parkeston for a short period before leaving them for league rivals Braintree Town. Occasional outings were made for Suffolk & Ipswich league side Ransomes, before the trail goes cold and one can only assume that Tommy Parkin decided to hang up his boots.
With thanks to Richie G. for providing us with this article.
We here at “Dragons Den” would like to thank John Stewart who has passed on to us some old notebooks containing a lot of statistics relating to Wivenhoe Rangers between 1956 and 1962. Using these records, along with Club Committee Minute books dating from 1954 to 1971 (which show players picked for games but unfortunately do not record goals scored), we are able to add a lot more appearances from Wivenhoe’s Colchester & East Essex League era.
From what we can put together the following players are also First Team century makers;
Appearances Goals
PERRY 255 6
BULL 193 1
Les GREEN 178 –
Bill HILL (*) 172 6
M.GREEN 169 73
Leon CHAPMAN 163 4
P.OAKLEY 156 17
Peter SAINTY (*) 144 48
Alan FOSTER (*) 133 16
B.GREEN 119 11
Tony HAMMOND 102 Scoring record unknown
Tony DURRELL (*) 102 4
L.SAINTY 101 14
John WOODARD 101 5
We have ARTHUR SAINTY on 81 First Team appearances (5 goals), however, he has certainly played over 100 games as well having been with the club prior to 1954 along with those players marked (*) whose career totals should be higher. We also believe MICK HAMMOND (67 appearances, 31 goals) is very probably a Century Maker as well as he was with Rangers in the years leading up to the records we have along with JEFF SCUTT (74 appearances, 1 goal). In addition we have also been able to update and increase two players’ totals in our original table on this site.
Appearances Goals
Mick HATCH 335 14
Tony WINTER 223 102
Finally, if anyone can help us identify the first names of the players we have mentioned here or can supply any more names for the list please get in touch with us.
The 1991-92 season was quite rightly dubbed ‘The Great Escape’ as the football club struggled to deal with the mass exodus of management and playing staff from the highly successful previous years, which had seen the club rise to the dizzy heights of tenth in the Isthmian Premier Division.
Wholesale changes in playing and coaching staff was a feature of this season, when the club avoided relegation having lost all of their opening 14 games. It took until 26th October to even register the first points of the League campaign.
We eventually went onto finish 4 places above the relegation zone quite amazingly and much was due to the goals of that season’s top scorer Steve Restarick. His 11 goals in 17 appearances helped the Dragons accumulate sufficient points to comfortably avoid the drop. However, Colchester United were owed a huge debt of gratitude for this achievement.
London born Restarick had originally been on the books of both QPR and West Ham United before moving to Colchester early in his apprenticeship in 1988. The striker scored 17 goals in 15 games during his second year as an apprentice, including 4 in 1 game on his eighteenth birthday. Towards the end of his apprenticeship he made his one and only Football League appearance, coming on as a substitute during a defeat to Peterborough United in April 1990, as Colchester slid into non-league football.
Despite The U’s relegation to the Conference Restarick was offered a professional contract and loaned out to Bury Town. He featured in an experimental side in the Bob Lord Trophy against Fisher Athletic – scoring twice in a 3-2 victory. Later that season he joined Fisher on loan, scoring once in 11 games.
A youthful Restarick at Colchester United.
During Colchester’s Conference and FA Trophy double-winning season, he contributed goals in three different cup competitions, but found first team opportunities hard to come by, failing to register a single league goal in 8 appearances.
With Wivenhoe crying out for someone who could possibly score goals, new manager Steve Foley recruited Restarick on loan. His first short spell with us brought little personal success for him goal-wise and he returned to Layer Road, only to sign again for a second loan period under new boss Mick Loughton, in February 1992. Whereas he had struggled for form earlier in the season, Steve thankfully found the back of net on a regular basis. The Dragons had somehow clambered up to third from bottom of the league at this stage, albeit they were only 2 points better off than the basement side Harrow Borough.
His opening goals – three in fact – came in the 4-1 home victory over Basingstoke Town, when he ran the visitor’s defence ragged in helping himself to a hat-trick in front of a crowd of 283. Steve Howe scored the other goal in a fine win.
A week later and with high flying Bromley in opposition at Broad Lane he repeated the feat, with a second consecutive hat-trick in a 3-2 win. It was a highly dramatic game with 5 goals, 5 bookings, 2 sendings off ( both for Wivenhoe – Martin Grainger and Dave McCoy getting their marching orders) and 1 suspected broken leg as 9 man Wivenhoe took all 3 points, as the crowd of 309 was kept on its toes right up until the final whistle, with Restarick scoring the winning goal late in the second half.
The team’s form was improving rapidly and Wivenhoe started to make slow progress up the League, unthought-of given their horrendous start to the season.
Seventh placed Kingstonian were comfortably beaten 2-0 at home, with Steve and Sean Bailey getting the goals to defeat the ‘K’s’. A 2-1 win at Bishops Stortford followed, with 2 more goal for Restarick in what was a successful spell for both club and player. Now up to eleventh place in the table the threat of relegation had gone and Dagenham were crushed 4-0 at Broad Lane in April to move the Dragons up to an unbelievable ninth place. Restarick was amongst the goals again (2 more), along with Gary Harvey and Mitchell Springett, which were his last for the club. Further appearances did follow and he played his final (17th) game in the 3-0 defeat at Bognor Regis Town on the 18th April 1992, bringing the curtain down on his short stay at Wivenhoe, as a shoulder injury brought his season to a premature end. As leading scorer he certainly played an important role in ensuring the club survived for another season in the Premier Division of the Isthmian League.
Restarick returned to Colchester United, who promptly released him that summer and he signed for Chelmsford City, where he went on to make 149 appearances, scoring 59 goals – by far the most successful and prolific period in his career. This earned him a 5 figure fee move to Conference side Dover Athletic.
Player/coach at Maidstone United.
His stay in Kent only produced 4 goals in 26 Conference outings and he moved on to play for a number of non-league clubs in the South-East. Crawley Town, Dulwich Hamlet, Welling United, Gravesend & Northfleet, Dartford, Hastings Town, Folkestone Invicta all benefitted from his services. More recently he was made player-coach at Maidstone United and then turned out for Chatham Town before returning to Maidstone as coach in 2006.
Restarick went on to set up his own Soccer School in Maidstone and was for some time, up until last year, Head of Physical Education at Maidstone Grammar School.
I remember him during his spells at Wivenhoe as an opportunist goal-scorer, who did most of his damage inside the penalty box where he had a happy knack of being in the right place at the right time. He wasn’t a traditional big centre forward, playing more effectively alongside a target man and feeding off the chances created. A confident finisher in one-on-one situations, his ‘busy’ style in the penalty box meant that if the team created chances it would be odds-on that Restarick would be on the end of them.
He will obviously go down in the club’s history as the top goal-scorer for the 1991-92 season, which was a traumatic period for Wivenhoe Town FC both on and off the pitch. It was a pity that the club could not afford to have made his loan move permanent as his goal-scoring prowess would have been more than welcome in the years that were to follow.
With thanks to Richie G. for contributing this piece.
With thanks to Richard Wilson AKA Wandering Dragon for providing us with his all time Dragons eleven.
My Dragons XI may be a little different to the other submissions so far, due to me not living in Essex for a number of years which hampered my Wivenhoe attendance. I’ve tried to put together an XI of players I’ve enjoyed watching even though some were here only for a short period!
Members of Wivenhoe Town’s 1978/79 Essex & Suffolk Border League Premier Division Championship winning side photographed at Broad Lane in February 1999. Pictured above (left to right) are Neil Milburn (who made 386 First Team appearances for the Dragons and scored 30 goals), goalkeeper Russell Milburn (122 appearances), Ian Meadows (105 app, 38 goals), Doug Mac Donald (71 app, 23 goals), Steve Sharman (164 app, 61 goals), and Chris Dines (455 app, 77 goals). All six will be featured in the ongoing A to Z of Essex Senior League Dragons series elsewhere on this site.
Just a single appearance in Wivenhoe Town colours would not normally be sufficient for an individual to warrant being included in this series of articles. However, this name from the world of professional football and more latterly horse racing and radio, is undoubtedly known to millions of people up and down the country (and Scotland!). Whilst he will be fondly remembered by some in these parts for his achievements at Ipswich Town, Alan Brazil’s contribution to The Dragons 1991-92 season failed to reach similar glorious heights !
Indeed on the basis that his only game for the club was away from home, there were very few supporters of Wivenhoe who actually witnessed it.
Brazil’s professional career has been well documented and most people of a ‘certain age’ will probably be quite familiar with the details, but for those of you who are not, here’s a brief review.
He joined Ipswich’s youth set up having been spotted by them playing at Celtic Boys Club. The Glasgow giants missing out on this exciting prospect as he was smuggled south to deepest Suffolk. Great success was to follow at Portman Road as a UEFA Cup winner and runner up in the First Division, as it was back then. Two hundred and eleven First Team appearances yielded eighty goals and thirteen full Scotland International caps, including representing his country at the World Cup Finals in Spain in 1982. Scoring all five goals for Town in a 5-2 League win over Southampton (which I was personally fortunate enough to witness) was probably his finest personal achievement during that time.
Ipswich Town Legend and now a popular radio talk show host.
Moves to Spurs, Manchester United and Coventry City were blighted by back injury, which would eventually end his professional playing career. A very brief spell at QPR was followed by a drop into non-league football with Stambridge, Witham Town, Chelmsford City and Bury Town, with moves to Australia (Wollongong City) and Switzerland (FC Baden) thrown in for good measure. In his latter playing days he also turned out for Felixstowe Town and Achillies in Ipswich, and it was during this particular time that his briefest association with Wivenhoe occurred.
The 1991-92 season was hugely traumatic for all connected with The Dragons. It was a time of financial crisis, wholesale changes in playing personnel and general uncertainty regarding the club’s actual survival. Sounds familiar doesn’t it ?
The summer of 1991 had seen nigh on everyone connected with the coaching and playing staff leave the football club following the previous financial backers being unable to continue to bankroll the team.
Only four players stayed loyal and remained – Lee Hunter, Steve Wright, Phil Coleman (who became player/manager) and ‘keeper Steve Lowe. There was little money to rebuild the team, so local players with no experience of playing at the level the team was competing at (Isthmian League Premier Division), were thrown in at the deep end.
The tone was set for the opening months of the season with a 5-1 defeat at Basingstoke on the opening day. Every League and Cup game was lost up until the end of October 1991 when we broke our duck with a 1-0 win over fellow strugglers Bishops Stortford. Even before this first win Coleman had resigned as manager after a 6-0 hammering at Wokingham Town, but to his credit he remained involved in a playing capacity.
Ex-Dragons player/manager and Colchester United stalwart Steve Foley took charge of coaching duties temporarily and then in the football clubs hour of need another former Wivenhoe manager in the shape of Mick Loughton stepped forward to offer his services in the hot seat. In fact it was in Loughton’s first game in charge that Alan Brazil made his sole appearance. He was one of many surprise faces in the line-up for the visit to Bromley on Tuesday 15th October, having signed for the club on the day in order to lead the forward line.
Records show the Dragons team that day was :- Jon O’Brien, Lee Hunter, James Goodwin, Steve Wright, Danny Schneider, Phil Coleman, Simon Gray, Mark Radford, Steve Restarick, Sean Duffett and Alan Brazil. Substitutes were Julian Lamb and Scott Young. Attendance 422.
Brazil played the entire ninety minutes of a match where The Dragons outplayed their opponents for the majority of the game, but still went down to a narrow 2-1 defeat. Scott Young came off the bench to hit the underside of the bar in the last minute of play as we came within inches of rescuing a point.
At least Alan could glean some small consolation from the evening, as he scored our only goal with a back header that looped over the Bromley ‘keeper. An independent report suggests that he was somewhat short of match fitness, spending a large part of the game within the centre-circle, rarely venturing out of it, but was still deemed to be in a different class despite his lack of mobility as his touch, vision and ability to pass the ball had not deserted him.
Unfortunately that one game was enough for him and he very quickly went off to join Chelmsford City, where he apparently turned out for their Reserve side.
The only other noteworthy connection to Wivenhoe occurred in the summer of 1994, when the club was searching for a new manager following parting company with previous boss Chris Symes. He attended our 4-1 pre-season friendly at Stanway Rovers to consider the possibility of taking the hot-seat at Broad Lane. Despite the teams impressive result that day it clearly wasn’t enough to impressive Brazil sufficiently enough to want to take the job.
With hindsight it is clear that Alan’s future career was to be best suited to talking about the game, rather than being a coach or manager, as he has carved out a very successful role for himself on his TalkSport radio show – memories of his association with Wivenhoe Town FC long since forgotten!
With thanks to Richard Greenfield for contributing this article.
Wivenhoe Rangers Reserves stepped up from the Colchester & East Essex League in the summer of 1973 and, under Manager Peter Boyden, enjoyed a highly successful debut season in the Essex & Suffolk Border League Reserve Section. In addition to the D’Arcy Cup they won the “Double” consisting of the Reserve League Title and the Reserve Division Knock-Out Cup, the latter achieved thanks to a 6-1 victory over Halstead Town Reserves following a 2-2 draw in the initial Final tie. A fourth trophy was also won in the shape of the Walton & District Charity Cup. In total the side played 45 matches in all competitions, winning 39, drawing 3 and losing on just 3 occasions while at the same time scoring 193 goals in the process.
Former Boxted flying winger Dave Keeble only missed four games that season and finished joint leading goalscorer along with Alan Thompson, both of them hitting the net 42 times each. Chris Dines joined the club from Colchester Athletic to begin his almost unbroken 16 year association with Wivenhoe while both Harry Welsh and Ian “Titch” Green went on to serve as club officials in later years.
GOALSCORERS
42 Dave KEEBLE, 42 Alan THOMPSON, 34 Harry WELSH, 28 Mickey SUTTON, 10 Alan BYFORD, 6 Derek FARROW, 5 Don CASTLE, 4 Ian GREEN, 4 Tony PEARMAN, 3 Chris DINES, 3 Leon CHAPMAN, 1 Tony WINTER, 1 Nick HARDY 1 Trevor HOLLINGSWORTH, 1 Johnny HERBERT, 1 Mick TRUBSHOE, 1 Keith GARNHAM, 1 Trevor COCKSEDGE and 5 Opponents Own Goals.
LEADING APPEARANCES
40 + 1 Sub KEEBLE, 37 WELSH, 35 + 2 TRUBSHOE, 33 + 6 GREEN, 32 + 1 CHAPMAN, 32 + 2 THOMPSON, 30 + 1 HARDY, 27 DOBBS, 22 + 1 COCKSEDGE, 21 + 2 SUTTON, 20 + 3 WRIGHT, 19 + 6 FARROW, 15 CASTLE, 14 + 1 HERBERT, 10 + 1 HOLLINGSWORTH, 10 + 1 DICKINSON, 10 + 1 PEARMAN, 8 + 5 DINES.
Rangers Reserves are pictured above with the Tolleshunt D’Arcy Cup after defeating Heybridge Swifts Reserves 1-0 in the Final (see match report and match day programme elsewhere on this site).
Back Row ( L to R) Peter Boyden (Manager), Dave Wright, Dave Keeble, Steve Dobbs, Nick Hardy, Don Castle and Harry Welsh.
Front Row (L to R) Mick Trubshoe, Trevor Cocksedge, Mickey Sutton, Ian Green, Bob Taylor and Alan Thompson.
1968/1969 COLCHESTER & EAST ESSEX LEAGUE DIVISION TWO
Chairman Vic Williamson seemed determined to shake Wivenhoe Rangers out of their Second Division malaise by appointing a new coach in the shape of Gordon Haffenden. With a Committee growing in strength including Dave Poore and player/secretary Bill Hill (who now mainly turned out for the Reserves in the CEEL 4th Division), Lord Ted Hill became Patron of the club while veteran pensioner and former player Herbert Griggs helped out with caretaking and match day duties. With the likes of John Sills, Mick Carroll and John Woodard remaining from the previous season, the First Team was overhauled with a batch of new signings including strikers Harry Welsh (from Paxmans) and Graham Oxley (Walton Town), goalkeeper Adrian Robbins (Long Melford), winger John Colclough (who had just recently moved into the colchester area), Terry Davis and Roger Hall (University), Dave Garrity and Mick Hatch, who was making a welcome return to the club from neighbours Alresford Colne Rangers
Rangers’ new look strike force was quickly into its stride as visiting Barn Hall ‘A’ were defeated 6-0 with Harry Welsh netting a hat trick and Graham Oxley grabbing a brace to add to a Paul Wicks strike. Welsh (2), Oxley and Wicks were on target again the following Saturday along with Paul Skeet (3) and John Colclough in an 8-2 win at Thorpe. A 6-4 home victory over Ardleigh (Welsh 4; Oxley and Owen Nelson) gave some indication that although Wivenhoe’s attacking prowess would be enough to dispatch many teams in the Second Division, they still had a certain amount of defensive vulnerability and this contributed to their first defeat of the season when they gifted Paxmans ‘A’ a three goal lead inside 25 minutes before Paul Skeet and John Sills pulled back a couple of goals after the break.
Two more new signings arrived from Layer United in the shape of midfielder Leon Chapman and forward John MacLeanan giving Wivenhoe a total of six players in their squad with Premier Division experience. Unfortunately this was still not enough to stop the outstanding Colchester Minors from completing the “double” over Rangers 1-3 (home) and 2-3 away. Wivenhoe did gain some revenge in the League Cup as they thrashed visiting Minors 6-1 at the King George V Playing Fields, Welsh (2), MacLeanan (2) and Terry Davis getting on the score sheet, although it was John Woodard who scored the goal of the match with an outstanding 40 yard strike. Minors were less than happy about the Referee who refused to allow them to bring on their substitute at half time for an injured player as their captain had told the ref that their linesman was to be their Sub but had not actually named him therefore, technically, he could not enter the field of play according to the letter of the law !.
In addition to going three rounds in the League Cup Rangers also had a mini run in the Amos Charity Cup. After making heavy weather of dispatching Fifth Division Colchester Hotspurs 4-2 at home (Welsh; Oxley; Wicks and an Own Goal) Rangers pulled off a surprise result by beating the higher ranked Barn Hall First Team 4-3 away (Davis 2; Skeet; Colclough) before crashing out of the competition 0-5 at home to First Division St.Osyth. The Essex Junior Cup also provided Wivenhoe with some “giant killing” glory as they thrashed the previously undefeated Cherry Tree from the First Division 7-0 at home despite fielding centre half John Sills between the posts (scorers Welsh 3; Oxley 2; Davis and MacLeanan) and then followed that up with an excellent 1-0 home win over Essex & Suffolk Border League outfit Aldersgate thanks to a single strike from Colclough with Sills again having to don the goalkeeping jersey for the entire tie after Adrian Robbins was unable to get to the match. Unfortunately the run came to an end when Barn Hall gained revenge for their Amos Cup defeat as Rangers fell to a narrow one goal defeat.
Just to prove that mindless vandals existed back in those days as well, Wivenhoe’s Reserves arrived at the King George Playing Fields to discover a two foot deep hole had been dug into one of the goalmouths and the goal posts had been taken from the dressing rooms and been smashed in the near by woods. A desperate appeal was made to the University Of Essex and Rangers were allowed to use one of the pitches on the Wivenhoe Park campus.
Graham Oxley had been sidelined through injury for a few matches but was now fully fit as proved by the seven goals he netted in a 10-2 home rout of Vaccumatic (Skeet; Wicks and Welsh scoring the others). Rangers’ attack continued to go goal crazy as visitors Mistley were thrashed 7-2 (Welsh 3; MacLeanan 2; Oxley and Colclough), Ardleigh hammered 7-1 away (Oxley 3; Davis 2; Welsh and Wicks) and Nayland destroyed 18-0. On this occasion Welsh scored seven, MacLeanan five, Oxley four, Mick Carroll once and a visiting defender putting one past a shell shocked keeper. Finally Stoke-by-Nayland were smashed 9-0 on their own pitch thanks to a Welsh hat trick, two goals apiece from Oxley and Wicks and one each from MacLeanan and Davis. A 5-0 home victory over Soke-by-Nayland in the return fixture (Davis 3; Welsh and MacLeanan) saw Rangers bring up their 100th League goal of the campaign in only their 16th game to sit joint top of the table with Colchester Minors, although Wivenhoe had played three games more.
With Lawford, Weeley and Tiptree Heath also putting in a promotion challenge, Rangers established a four point lead over Minors (who still held a three game advantage) at the top thanks to a 7-0 thrashing of Mistley (Welsh 2; Davis 2; Dave Lee, Leon Chapman and debut making Terry Cowlishaw all scoring). Another “super seven” followed at home to Thorpe (Oxley 4; Welsh, Davis, Cowlishaw) however, conceding an 87th minute equalizer to draw 1-1 at home to Lawford after Wicks had given Wivenhoe the lead was the slip up that Minors required as they continued their own superb run to eventually clinch the Colchester & East Essex League Second Division Title. Rangers own Promotion hopes were suddenly thrown into the balance by a surprise 2-4 loss at Sudbury Wanderers ‘A’ after throwing away a two goal interval lead established by Oxley and Welsh. Weeley could now deny them, however, as fate would have it, Rangers had to meet them twice in the final days of the season.
After a tense start to the home game, Harry Welsh converted a Graham Oxley cross in the 26th minute and from that point on there was only ever going to be one winner as Wivenhoe turned on the style with further goals from Terry Davis, Peter Boyden and Welsh to record a magnificent 4-0 victory. With a far superior goal average in Rangers’ favour, Weeley’s hopes of promotion were all but over and by the time the two sides met again on the final day of the season Rangers were up and the match was played out like a friendly kick about with Welsh (3), MacLeanan (2) and Oxley on target in an amazing 6-7 defeat !.
Wivenhoe added a little Trophy gloss to their promotion firstly by winning the Harrison-Gibson Cup over two legs against Snaresbrook. 1-4 down from the first game (scorer Welsh), Rangers ran amok in the 2nd leg winning 9-3 with Welsh (3), Wicks (2), Cowlishaw, Davis, Hatch (penalty) and full back Woodard (from a full 50 yards) all finding the net. The Wivenhoe Charity Cup was also won thanks to a 5-2 victory (after extra time) against holders Colnebank F.C. Having won in the previous round 2-0 at Weeley, Rangers crushed Cherry Tree again 8-1 in the Semi-Final of the Lexden Cup thanks to two goals apiece from MacLeanan and Cowlishaw plus efforts from Oxley, Hall, Snowling and Greenwood. Unfortunately a hat trick of Trophies was denied as Wivenhoe lost 1-4 after extra time to West End United ‘A’ in the Final at Bromley Road in a game that saw Rangers use THREE keepers on the night, Roger Greenwood being our scorer. Wivenhoe were forced to play a mixed First/Reserve team side as both this and the Wivenhoe Charity Cup took place on the same evening for some reason best known to the powers that be !!. Afterwards there was a surprise as coach Gordon Haffenden announced he was leaving the club.
GOALSCORERS
54 Harry WELSH, 45 Graham OXLEY, 24 Terry DAVIS, 22 John ManLEANAN, 16 Paul WICKS, 12 John COLCLOUGH, 6 Terry COWLISHAW, 6 Paul SKEET, 4 Owen NELSON, 3 Mick HATCH, 2 Roger GREENWOOD, 2 John SILLS, 2 John WOODARD, 1 Peter BOYDEN, 1 Mick CARROLL, 1 Leon CHAPMAN, 1 Dave GARRITY, 1 Dave LEE, 1 Roger HALL, 1 John SNOWLING, 5 Opponents Own Goals.
