(Not) On This Day: 11th April

Greensnet Editor
Tue 13 Apr 2021, 08:26

We’ve fallen behind slightly on our ‘on this day’ series so whilst this update isn’t strictly ‘on this day’, we’ll temporarily rename it ‘on last Sunday’. The 11th April retrospective begins in 1914 with a 2-0 win over London League rivals Bronze Athletic thanks to goals from Arthur Humphreys and George Garlick.

The next fixture didn’t occur until 1931 when a visit to Cheshunt in the Athenian League saw goals from Freddie Evans and T Bramley secure a 2-1 win and then in 1936 Johnny Browne grabbed the goal in a 1-1 draw at home to Leyton.

Roy Stroud and Les Pulling grabbed the wartime goals in a 2-2 draw with Wealdstone in a 1942 Herts & Middlesex County League match and the club’s unbeaten start on 11th April continued in 1953 as Derek Snaith and Dexter Adams scored in a 2-1 success over Southall.

Two years later in 1955, as Gary Sobers begins a run of 85 Test Cricket appearances without interruption, the Greens warmed up for the Amateur Cup Final in fine style with a 5-0 trouncing of Leyton, John Core and Cliff Nock both netted twice each whilst Jimmy Quail added the other before a 1959 visit to Maidstone United ended in a 1-0 win with Tommy Lawrence grabbing the only goal of the game.

The club’s title hopes took a blow in 1964 as Walthamstow Avenue blew them off course, David Hyde scored for the Greens in a 2-1 defeat. 8-years later, in 1972, Bishop’s Stortford grabbed a 2-0 win at Rhodes Avenue.

Two years later in 1974 and the Greens dropped vital points in pursuit of a second consecutive title win, John Baker was on target twice against Tooting & Mitcham United but the South London side also netted twice to secure a share of the spoils, this on the day that WWII war criminal JP Philippa was arrested. It was back to winning ways in 1978 as Rod Haider and George Brooks scored the goals in a 2-1 win over Woking at Claremont Road.

Anthony Bennet and Kevin Folan were on target in 1981 as the Greens beat Bromley 2-0, this as race riots broke out in Brixton and US president Ronald Reagan returned home from hospital following the assassination attempt on his life. Half a dozen years later in 1987 and Hayes cantered to a 3-0 win in the Middlesex Senior Cup, this on the day that Italian scientist, author and holocaust survivor Primo Levi died.

Martin Duffield scored twice in 1989 as Carshalton Athletic won 4-2 at Claremont Road in an Isthmian League match whilst an own goal three years later secured a share of the spoils at Hayes Lane in a 1-1 draw with Bromley, this on the day that US singer James Brown passed away.

Sutton United beat the Greens 3-1 at Gander Green Lane in 1995, with Phil Gallagher on target for Mick Browne’s men and then three-years later in 1998 goals from Paul Kelly along with two from Paul Whitmarsh secured a comfortable 3-0 win over Aylesbury United at Claremont Road to make it seven wins in a row for Frank Murphy’s side.

They went one better in a home match against Hitchin Town during the disrupted and crazy run-in of 2001, beating the Canaries 4-0 thanks to goals from Ross Pickett (2), Davis Haule and David Adekola, this on the day that former Goonie Harry Secombe died. 8-years later in 2009 and two goals from Jamie Busby secured a 2-0 win over Maidstone United at Earlsmead.

2013 saw a home game against East Thurrock United at Vale Farm end in a 0-0 draw and two years later picked up an impressive 2-2 draw against fellow play-off contenders Dulwich Hamlet at Earlsmead, this despite the Greens losing influential defensive midfielder James Fisher in the first half to a red card – Sam Murphy and Dave Diedhiou scored the goals to secure a well-deserved point.

We finish just a year later in 2016 as a defensive horror-show at Earlsmead kept the Greens right in the thick of the relegation battle. Carl McCluskey looked to have given Gary McCann’s side at least a share of the spoils with his two goals but poor defending saw Leatherhead break to secure the points in a 3-2 win that prolonged the anguish for a little longer for Greens’ fans.

Of 22 matches played on 11th April to date there have been 10 wins, six draws and six defeats. 39 goals have been scored with 28 conceded