Today, 6th April, has been the busiest day so far to date with a whopping 26 matches having taken place on this day over the years and with very much mixed results.

We begin our look back in 1928 with a Middlesex Charity Cup semi-final against Barnet at the Avenue Ground and goals from Oscar Reinke, Vic Rowe, Harry Shearcroft and Billy Neill saw the Bees beaten 4-1 to set up a final clash with Enfield. A year later a visit to Sutton United in the Athenian League saw Shearcroft once again on the scoresheet however the U’s netted twice to secure a 2-1 win and take the points on the day that Andre Previn, American pianist, composer, conductor and stooge for Eric Morecambe was born.

Two years later in 1931 Hampstead met Hayes in the Middlesex Senior Cup Final at Wealdstone in front of more than 4,000 supporters. The Missioners cruised into a 4-0 lead, including a goal from future player Ronnie Rowe, on a muddy pitch at Lower Mead before Bill Morton pulled a goal back late on for Hampstead. Moving forward to 1935 and an Athenian League match against Barking at Claremont Road saw goals from Bert Broadis and Billy Breagan on target in a 2-0 win.

In 1940 a wartime Herts & Middlesex County League match against Barnet saw a seven-goal thriller go the way of the Bees, Roy Stroud was on target along with Mac Cochrane with two goals in the 4-3 defeat. Two years later in the same competition a Claremont Road derby match against Tufnell Park saw Stroud once again on target in a 1-0 win.

The post-World War 2 world began with Bob Avis scoring twice in a 5-2 defeat at Claremont Road in the Athenian League against Leyton then seven-years later the club travelled to Eastbourne to take part in the Eastbourne Charity Cup against Eastbourne United. The Sussex side won a thriller 5-4 with Bill Fisher, Laurie Topp, Pat Austin and Roy Stroud on target for the Greens.

It was back to winning ways in 1957 as Finchley were beaten 2-0 in the Athenian League at Claremont Road with Roy Thomas and Jack Rawlings on target, this on the day that Aristotle Onassis purchased the Hellenic National Airlines and founded Olympic Airlines in Greece. Half a dozen years later and it was Redhill that fell to defeat at Claremont Road, this time 3-0 as Peter Flann scored twice and Miles Spector once.

Newton Ashman scored is one and only Hendon goal in 1971 as Wycombe Wanderers visited Claremont Road and returned to Buckinghamshire with the points courtesy of a 3-1 win, this on the day that Igor Stravinsky passed away from heart failure in New York City aged 88. Three years later, stretching the bounds of London FA, Bishop’s Stortford knocked the Greens out of the London Senior Cup with a 2-0 win at Claremont Road.

Rod Haider was on target in 1976 as the Greens fell to yet another home defeat, this time 2-1 to Enfield back in the Isthmian League before a win at home was finally once again enjoyed by the Hendon faithful in 1985 as Walthamstow Avenue were defeated 5-1. Gary Allen scored twice with other goals coming from Steve Wilkins, George Duck and Fred Barwick.

Three years later in 1988 the Greens nearly repeated the trick, this time against Finchley, but fell a goal short only winning 4-1. Iain Dowie was on target with two with wide-men Dermot Drummy and Neil Wolstenholme also on the scoresheet. The inconsistent nature of results on 6th April can be further amplified in 1991 as Carshalton Athletic won 1-0 at Colston Avenue on the day that Diego Maradona received a 15-month suspension from football following a positive test for cocaine in Italy.

The Robins dished out more pain and punishment in 1993, this time at Claremont Road where Mark Xavier netted for the Greens but to no avail as the Surrey side ran out 2-1 winners. Then, in 1995, on-loan striker Martin Gittings opened his Hendon account in a 1-1 draw at home to St Albans City.

A year later and the Greens’ revival under Neil Price was halted by Yeovil Town at Claremont Road, the Somerset side cruising to a 3-1 win despite Martin Duffield’s goal, this on the day that Greer Garson passed away. Half a dozen years later in 2002 a visit to Aldershot Town in the Isthmian League saw Dale Binns on target in front of more than 1500 fans, however the Shots won 2-1 thanks to strikes from Stafford Browne and Adam Parker.

In 2004 as Rolandas Paskas is peacefully removed from his post as president of Lithuania following impeachment, Eugene Ofori and Ricci Crace saw Dave Anderson’s side to a 2-0 win over Harrow Borough at Claremont Road. Five years later, as a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck near L’Aquila in Italy killing more than 250, Glenn Garner netted a hat-trick to see the Greens through to the London Senior Cup final as they beat Tooting & Mitcham United 4-0 at Imperial Fields, James Bent grabbed the other goal.

A year later in 2010 a Boreham Wood side on their way to promotion and who included Lee Allinson amongst their number won 1-0 at Vale Farm in the Isthmian League, and three years later the Greens defied the odds against Lewes as they were denied victory four minutes from time despite having to play for more than 70-minutes with just 9-men. Sam Flegg saw red in the 9th minute with Casey Maclaren following him just 12 minutes later, Dean Cracknell and Kevin Maclaren gave the Greens an improbably 2-0 lead only for Simon Wormull (45) and then Ben Godfrey to deny Gary McCann’s side what would have been a famous win.

Two years later in 2015 the unbeaten run continued into a 15th match as Wingate & Finchley were beaten 2-1 on Easter Monday on the road, Casey Maclaren and a Sam Murphy penalty enough to pick up the points and keep the Greens in the driving seat with regards to the destination of the league title. We finish two years ago today in 2019 with a stodgy and dour 0-0 draw with Dorchester Town which saw Chris Grace pick up a much needed second consecutive clean sheet in goal and continue the Greens’ inch towards safety.

Of the 26 matches played to date on 6th April there have been 10 wins, three draws and 13 defeats. 48 goals have been scored and 43 conceded.