Our ‘on this day’ series continues unabated with a look back at events that have occurred on the pitch on 9th April, beginning today, 111 years ago in 1910. Caledonian Old Boys provided the opposition in the 2nd division of the Finchley District League Division 2 and suffered an astonishing 12-0 defeat, the Town forwards in rampant and unforgiving mood as they marched on towards a second consecutive league championship and promotion.

11-years later goals from G Perry and Cecil Burrage gave Hampstead Town a rather more sedate but equally impressive 2-0 win over Enfield in the Athenian League and then a friendly in 1927 saw Hampstead overcome Summerstown 3-2 thanks to a couple of goals from Harry Shearcroft and another from left-winger George Howell.
A 1932 visit to Southall in the Athenian League ended in a dour 0-0 draw six-years before Leyton came to Claremont Road and became the first side to inflict defeat on the club as they cruised to a 4-2 win, Dave Walker and Brian Sexton grabbed the goals for Golders Green.

There was another visit to Southall’s Western Road ground in 1949 and Ted Hornsby was to thank to secure a share of the spoils in a 1-1 draw and then in 1955 Bob Avis and Eric Parker were on target in a 2-2 draw against Tooting & Mitcham United at Claremont Road, this match a week before the club’s first Amateur Cup final.

In 1960 a local derby against Finchley saw the Greens come out on top 2-1, Miles Spector and Brian Figg were on target to secure the points on the day that South African Prime Minister Hendrik Verwoerd survived an assassination attempt despite being shot twice in the face. Half a dozen years later and a first visit on this day to Gander Green Lane to take on Sutton United ended 2-2 with Bobby Cantwell and David Swain on the scoresheet.

Roger Connell was the hero in 1974 as his brace was enough to beat Walthamstow Avenue 2-1 and keep the Greens title hopes alive. Three years later in 1977 as the ban on the Communist party in Spain was lifted after 40-years, Croydon held the Greens to a 0-0 draw at the Croydon Arena.

The club’s second visit to Gander Green Lane on 9th April ended in a 4-2 defeat in spite of the best efforts of Andy O’Brien and Barry Henley who netted in the 1983 Isthmian League match. Two years later a visit to the Harlow Arena ended in a 0-0 draw, bringing to an end the club’s prolific little run that had seen them score 11 times in their previous two matches.

A replayed Middlesex Senior Cup tie in 1987 against Harrow Borough that had been ordered after Boro’ had played an ineligible player in their previous 2-1 win saw a goal hungry Hendon side punish their local rivals for that administrative oversight. Colin Tate led the way with two goals and was aided by Iain Dowie, Neil Wolstenholme and Dermot Drummy, who each grabbed one apiece in the thrilling 5-3 win. Just a year later in 1988 Leytonstone-Ilford took the points from Claremont Road in a 1-0 win as the US imposed economic sanctions on Panama.

Ian Rutherford was on target in 1994 as the Greens secured a 1-1 draw against Carshalton Athletic in the Isthmian League and those present at Claremont Road two years later were fortunate enough to witness the entire Hendon career of goalkeeper Massimilano Irrera who was a late substitute for Scott Ashcroft in a 3-0 win over fellow strugglers Worthing. The Triple ‘D’ axis of Mark Dawber, Martin Duffield and Andy Driscoll grabbed the goals on the day that Tottenham midfielder Giovani Lo Celso was born.

The crazy run-in in 2001 continued with a 2-0 defeat to Champions-elect Farnborough Town at Claremont Road and just a year later Ricci Crace continued his purple goalscoring patch with the winner in a 1-0 win over Grays Athletic to help propel Dave Anderson’s side further towards mid-table obscurity, this on the day that the funeral of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother took place at Westminster Abbey.

48-hours after winning 3-1 against Slough Town in 2005 the two sides did it all over again at Claremont Road this time and played out another 0-0 draw. Two years later Gary McCann’s side all but confirmed their safety from relegation with a 2-1 win at Harrow Borough thanks to goals from Marc Leach and Wayne O’Sullivan, this after the Greens had taken just 2 points from their opening 11 league matches.

Another local derby, this time against Wealdstone in 2011 at Vale Farm saw Wes Parker seal the deal for the Stones with the only goal of the game before yet another local derby in 2012 – Wingate & Finchley providing the opposition on this occasion at the Maurice Rebak Stadium – saw the home side unable to deal with Hendon’s prowess from set pieces. Isaiah Rankin, Casey Maclaren and Dave Diedhiou (twice) scored four goals with finishes from corners in the first half to set the base for a 5-0 win that was completed by Carl McCluskey late on to keep their slim play-off chances alive.

We end today’s retrospective with a thrilling 4-4 draw away at Margate in 2015 in a game which maintained the Greens’ unbeaten record against Terry Brown’s expensively assembled squad but took the destination of the Isthmian League out of their hands. Sam Murphy gave the Greens the lead that was equalised by regular thorn in the Hendon side, Ryan Moss. Elliott Brathwaite restored the advantage before half-time only for Ryan James to equalise again four-minutes after the break. An own goal on the hour mark put the Greens ahead for a 3rd time only for James to equalise again with 20 minutes remaining. Moss scored with 8 minutes to go to make it 4-3 to the home side only for Andre Da Costa to pull another rabbit out of his magic hat three minutes later to secure a well-deserved point for Gary McCann’s side.

Of 23 competitive matches to have taken place to date on 9th April there have been nine wins, nine draws and five defeats. 48 goals have been scored and 30 conceded.