On This Day: 23rd March

Greensnet Editor
Tue 23 Mar 2021, 10:33

The 23rd March has seen the club so far play 18 matches over the years beginning in 1912 with a London League match away at Nunhead. George Hyde was on target for Hampstead Town in the 1-0 win against their South London opponents.

Two years later and a rare Monday match in 1914 saw a visit to Barking end in success with Hampstead Town winning comfortably in another London League tie 3-0 and then in 1929 as the 1st telephone was installed in the Oval Office under the Herbert Hoover administration in the White House, goals from A Owens and Freddie Young secured a 2-1 win away at Southall in the Athenian League.

Remaining with the Athenian League, a 1935 fixture with Leyton saw Golders Green romp to a 4-0 win with Tommy Evans, Billy Breagan, T Edwards and Joe Bloxham grabbing the goals and then in a 1940 Herts & Middlesex County League match against Metropolitan Police it was a strike from J MacCauley that helped grab a 1-1 draw.

The unbeaten start to this day continued in 1946 as Hitchin Town were beaten 4-1 in the Athenian League at Claremont Road, Bob Avis netted twice along with goals from Mervyn Griffiths and Jerry Marrable before Enfield were held to a goalless draw in 1951 at Southbury Road.

The club’s first defeat on 23rd March occurred in 1957 as Southall cruised to a 2-0 Athenian League win at Western Road, this on the day that the US Army sold its final remaining homing pigeons and half a dozen years later Hounslow Town won 3-2 against the Greens who had Peter Flann and Tony Know to thank for their goals.

John Baker netted in the 1974 Middlesex Senior Cup semi-final against Ruislip Manor at Grovesnor Vale meaning that a replay would be required to separate the clubs for the right to meet Edgware Town in the two-legged final and two years later in 1976, Enfield won 3-0 in a Middlesex Senior Cup replay to end Hendon’s interest for another year.

A 1985 Isthmian League visit to Tooting & Mitcham United ended all square with the two sides sharing four-goals between them, Andy O’Brien and George Duck netting for the Greens and half a dozen years on in 1991 Laurence Holmes and Colin Tate were on target but couldn’t prevent visitors Wivenhoe Town from leaving Claremont Road with a 3-2 victory.

Two goals apiece from Michael Banton and Mark Dawber helped Neil Price to a 4-0 win over his former side, Walton & Hersham at Claremont Road to help kick-start his side’s survival push in 1996, this as Taiwan held its first direct elections which were won by Lee Teng-hui who was appointed President. Three years later in 1999 a Paul Whitmarsh goal at Chesham United moved the Greens into the semi-final of the Full Members Cup courtesy of a 1-0 win.

Martin Randall helped himself to a hat-trick in 2002 as the Greens came away from Scraley Road, Heybridge with a thumping 6-1 win, Byron Bubb, Eugene Ofori and Ricci Crace were also on target for the rampant Greens and in 2010 goals from Scott Cousins and substitute James Bent were enough to sink Bognor Regis Town at Vale Farm to secure three vital points for Gary McCann’s men.

Finally, we drift back two years when Hartley Wintney left Silver Jubilee Park with a 2-0 win over the 9-man Greens. Skipper Lee Chappell took the gloves following the first half dismissal of goalkeeper Andrew McCorkell before substitute Matty Harriott also saw red late on to complete a miserable afternoon at Silver Jubilee Park.

Of the 18 matches to have so far taken place on 23rd March there have been nine wins, four draws and five defeats with 35 goals scored and 20 conceded.