The penultimate day of January has seen less action than other days in the month with just thirteen competitive matches and a single friendly, with which begin.

In 1915 with the guns blazing on the Western Front, a wartime friendly against Clapton at the Avenue Ground ended with the East Londoners winning by the only goal of the game. The first competitive match occurred 17-years later as RAF Uxbridge, later to play such a key role in the Battle of Britain, were beaten 5-1 in an away Middlesex Senior Cup tie. Freddie Evans led the way with a hat-trick, George Bucci and A Eagles added the other two goals.

Another visit to Uxbridge, this time to meet Uxbridge Town in a 1937 Athenian League match also ended in victory, George Bucci again on target and E Soden also finding the net.

It would be another 17-year hiatus before the club was back in action and John Bartholomew’s goal was nothing more than a consolation as Leyton triumphed 4-1 in the London Senior Cup in 1954. Another trip to East London in 1960 saw honours shared against Grays Athletic in the Athenian League, Arthur Figg and Terry Howard scoring for the Greens in a 2-2 draw, this on the same day that the CIA gave the green light for Lockheed to begin production on the U-2 spy plane.

30th January 1965 saw Winston Churchill laid to rest in what was at that time the world’s largest state funeral, meanwhile Tooting and Mitcham battled their way across London to Claremont Road in an Isthmian League match. In front of 1,165 fans the Greens battled to a win 4-2 thanks to strikes from David Hyde (2), Peter Slade and Danny Lakey.

Six-years later and an Amateur Cup tie against Barking ended with Peter Anderson (2), Rod Haider and Micky Doyle netting in a 4-1 success – Dennis Lillee having started his test career with 5-84 in England’s first innings earlier that day, beginning as he would go on – and then three years later in 1974 the marathon Amateur Cup tie with Harwich & Parkeston was finally settled at the fourth time of asking, Haider again on target along with Roger Connell.

Fast forward to 1985 and a London Senior Cup tie at Hounslow ended 2-1 to the Greens, Bob O’Leary and Steve Forbes scoring the crucial goals and in 1993 a visit to Bognor Regis Town ended 2-0 with Barry Blackman and Robbie Garvey sealing the points in the Isthmian League match.

1999 and Hampton came to Claremont Road and left with the points after winning 2-1, John-Simon White with the Hendon goal and then in 2007 the introduction of Lee O’Leary swung a Middlesex Senior Cup tie in 10-man Hendon’s favour. He netted as did Jamie Busby and Dean Green with two after Marc Leach had seen red.

Two years later Staines Town came to Vale Farm and returned with the points, winning 2-0 in a Ryman League tie. Our final game on this day to date occurred in 2013 with a visit to Croydon in the London Senior Cup. Gary McCann had strengthened his squad with three loan signings each of whom scored the goals in a 3-1 win on their debuts. Lee Angol, Junior Morias and Rouchy Efambe sealing progress for the Greens.

Of 13 competitive matches on this day, 9 have been won with 1 draw and 3 defeats. 32 goals scored and have so far been conceded, a total that sadly won’t be changed either way today.