A tale of two seasons...
JOHN LAWSON compares Hull City’s miserable 1959-60 campaign with Maidenhead United’s magnificent 2016-17 title success
DURING my formative sports years, I lived in Goole,West Riding. Imagine my delight when my 12th birthday present was a season ticket to watch newly promoted Hull City at Boothferry Park, for the 1959-60 season in Division Two.
My parents reasoned that I would be safe to go alone. Train from Goole to Hull Paragon, then the special train to Boothferry Park, which had its own station.
What could go wrong? Well, a lot on the pitch. Off it, I had a good seat opposite the half-way line.
The manager, Bob Brocklebank, bought in some ageing stars. I recall a forward called Roy Shiner, from Sheffield Wednesday.
It was an awful watch as the Tigers dropped straight back to the old Division Three, along with Bristol City. Southampton and Norwich replaced them.
The experience was so poor that I was never tempted to have a “season” again.
Until, until my local team, Maidenhead United, offered one for National League South, for a concessionary £55. (Yes, I’d swapped Gritty Goole for Theresa Town and its leafy delights).
I’d watched the Magpies progress under Alan Devonshire the previous season, so I thought it would be money well-spent. Gradually, over the years, I’d prefer to spend money at needier, but well-run clubs. Peter Griffin, the chairman, seemed to embody a sensible approach, including strong community links.
At Maidenhead, I could be recognised and greeted with a smile as the access gate was opened.
As the Blue Plaque states,York Road, Maidenhead is the longest continually used association football ground in the world.
Then buy a raffle ticket, a programme and sit down in the clubhouse with a tea, a twix and a mate or so.
At the first home match against Gosport Borough, the attendance was 454, including five from Gosport – but not Nancy Johnson of Bellowhead folk fame.
It was a 3-0 win for the Magpies in Vanarama National League South, including one for Dave Tarpey. Then came a gradual change and the season just completed had everything.What a bargain!
By the end of it, Tarpey had scored 44 league goals – and I seem to remember he had a weekend off to attend a wedding!
The team performed well home and away. There was only one home defeat, to chief rivals Ebbsfleet, the only full-time team in the league. This was the penultimate match, in front of a sellout crowd of around 3,300.
Maidenhead won ten out of the last 11 matches to ward off Ebbsfleet, who had an incredible run, winning 17 out of their last 20 matches and drawing the other three. (Ebbsfleet were eventually to be promoted via the play-offs, after a near miss the previous year when they lost a substantial lead.)
Dave Tarpey won every award going and was the highest scorer in National League South by a distance. Ex-West Ham star Devonshire masterminded a superbly effective team effort and won the Manager of the Year award. Maidenhead’s core consisted of Carl Pentney in goal, Alan Massey, an inspiring captain, with Dean Inman his centreback partner. The midfield was combative. Centre-forward, Sean Marks, was the key link with Tarpey.
The champions had a balcony presentation and an open-top bus tour of the cramped town centre.
As gifted winger Harry Pritchard remarked: “There must be some limit to the number of times we can drive up and down the High Street!”
The tour celebrated a club at its highest-ever position and lit up a sleepy commuter town. Gates averaged over 1,000 and facilities had to be expanded.
So, the 56-year embargo on having a season ticket has been smashed by the entertainment provided in a stellar season. Phew! Now how do I get one for the Vanarama National League?