Previous page 1966/67 Next page End of 1967-68 season 1967/68    THE ORIENT FC - PLAYING IN ALL RED   The start of a new era. Gone was Leyton Orient and their blue shirts. In their place was The Orient and an all red strip with a small circular badge on the left side of their shirt of blue, white and gold. It might have been a new era but the results were the same, after 18 games Orient were 23rd in the table! At the time West Ham were signing John Cushley from Celtic, Orient were signing a Jock to accompany John Sneddon and Mal Slater. Tommy Anderson was signed on a four week trial, he had just re- turned from a couple of years in South Africa. Dick Graham must have had a thing about footballers via South Africa for as well as Werge and Anderson he later made possibly his best signing, that of Terry Mancini. Bob Stokoe, in charge of Charlton, had signed Paul Went for £27,000 during the summer and Orient (director Reg Briggs) had announced the building of a new clubroom. It never happened. Team photo on the wall. Cash crisis: £30,000 ‘save Orient appeal’ was the headline in the local rag. The Boys’ Soccer Star article of June 16 on Eire and Wales. Golden Girl line-up. Team photo and another view of the so-called new club from the East London Advertiser. My first programme of the season is the friendly away at Wimbledon 8 August where the programme team was Willis, Jones, Howe, Sneddon, Wood, Allen, Slater, Whitehouse (though Werge played), Holton, Anderson and Price. Last season they finished fourth in the table behind champions Romford, Nuneaton Borough and Stan Charlton’s Weymouth. The opening game of the season was at Grimsby (19 August), their programme cost 6d and included a copy of the Football League Review which featured a profile of Cliff Holton. At the time Holton was the General Manager of a precision engineering company. The Football League Review also listed the close season transfer deals amongst which were: Keith Weller, Spurs to Millwall, and Ray Clemence, Scunthorpe to Liverpool. The team: Willis, Jones, Howe, Wood, Sneddon, Allen, Slater, Anderson, Holton, Werge, Price. Barry Fry was the substitute and eventually came on for Jones following a kick in the eye. 0-0 was the scoreline. Programme team: Willis, Jones, Howe, Wood, Sneddon, Allen, Slater, Anderson, Holton, Fry (he was sub and Werge played), Price.   The first match of the season at Brisbane Road was in the Football League Cup against Gillingham (22 August). The O's programme was a handy 5" x 4" and white. It in- formed the supporters of the £1500 spent on installing new flood- light pylons and the appointment of Reg Briggs as a director. Frank Harris was vice-chairman and the new apprentices were: Graham Archell, Steve Aylott, Phil Manning, John Still, Tommy Taylor and Alan Willis. Gordon Riddick, the Gillingham skipper, helped his side to a 1-3 win in which Holton converted a penalty. Werge replaced Jones in the line-up and Fry Werge. Terry Ackerman being the sub. Team in the programme: Willis, Jones, Werge, Howe, Sneddon, Wood, Allen, Slater, Anderson, Holton, Price, Werge.   Torquay United (26 August), managed by Frank O'Farrell and in- cluding former Hammers John Bond and Ken Brown beat Orient 0-2 in the first home league match of the season. Tommy Taylor made his début at No.2 and John Still his at No.8. Injuries to Mick Jones, Cliff Holton, Brian Whitehouse, Malcolm Slater and Bert Howe meant we were down to 10 fit players. Doug Eadie was got on loan from West Ham, Vic Halom on loan from Charlton whilst Eddie Thomas was purchased from Derby and Owen Simpson and Roy Massey from Rotherham. Thus the programme line-up at Reading (2 September) of Willis, Howe, Ackerman, Allen, Wood, Sneddon, Price, Werge, Anderson, Fry and Slater now read: Goddard, Howe, Simpson, Allen, Wood, Whitehouse, Halom, Werge, Massey, Thomas, Eadie, sub Price. The signings didn't help as we lost 4-2. Peter Allen got both our goals. The team in the programme: Willis, Howe, Ackerman, Allen, Wood, Sneddon, Price, Werge, Anderson, Fry, Slater. 1 September, Maurice Weedon of the Soccer Star interviewed Dick Graham. Three days later we lost 5-0 at Walsall (5 September). The Graham shuffle was well in evid- ence with Willis replacing Goddard, Whitehouse Howe, Howe Allen, Halom Whitehouse, Holton Halom, Anderson Werge, Allen, Thomas. John Sneddon was the substitute. Programme team: Willis, Whitehouse, Simpson, Howe, Wood, Allen, Werge, Thomas, Massey, Allen, Eadie sub Price.   At home to Swindon Town (9 September) fielding Don Rogers and Dave Harper were held to a goalless draw. Dick Graham later com- plained of the barracking Ackerman received after he had made a bad miss in front of goal. The O's pro- gramme sported an article that advocated the scrap- ping of the four-step rule for goalkeepers introduced at the start of the season. Jones, Slater, and Hower were still on the treatment table. Programme team: Goddard, Whitehouse, Simpson, Sneddon (Howe played), Halom, Allen, Werge(Anderson played), Thomas(Sneddon played), Holton, Price, Massey(Ackerman played), sub Anderson(Werge). Despite leading twice in the match at Shrewsbury (16 September) through Sneddon and Jones O's could only manage a draw. Doug Eadie returned to West Ham and Terry Price joined Colchester for £4,000. If he did so to get away from Dick Graham he was to be out of luck. Programme team: Goddard, Whitehouse(Anderson played), Simpson(Wood played), Howe, Halom, Allen, Anderson(Jones played), Sneddon, Holton(Whitehouse played), Massey, Ackerman(Simpson played), Sub Fry.   19 September. Home to West Ham Under 16½ London FA Cup 1967 final (First leg). We lost 0-3. Team: Bowtell, Bailey, Gooding, Cook, Still, Rofe, Thompson, Nicholds, Fairbrother, Brisley, Hopwood, Sub Parker. Pat Holland played for the Hammers. In front of 4,646 spectators Orient lost at home 1-2 to Brighton (26 September). Roy Massey scored his first goal for the club. Programme team: Goddard, Anderson(Howe played), Wood, Howe(Simpson played), Halom, Allen(Werge played), Jones, Sneddon(Whitehouse played), Whitehouse(Anderson played), Massey, Simpson(Fry played), sub Fry but Sneddon was named. Match reports, Walsall, Shrewsbury, Swindon. 27 September. Home to Romford in the Southern Junior Floodlit Cip. 2-2 Manning, Hopwood. Team: Bowtell, Rofe, Bailey, Still, Dafforn, Taylor, Brisley, Archell, Fairbrother, Dent, Manning, Sub Hopwood. A day later we avenged the 5-0 drubbing at the hands of Walsall (25 September) by beating them 2-0 at home for the first win of the season. After 38 minutes Massey pulled back a pass from the bye- line for Mick Jones to score from 18 yards and a 30 yarder from Whitehouse took a deflection for the second. Walsall's Jim McMorran was sent off and later suspended for 28 days for deliberately kicking an opponent (Bert Howe). He was also fined £10. 'Magnificent Massey' was the headline by Jack Steggles, then writing for the East London Advertiser. This appeared in the programme: INTRODUCING REG BRIGGS Tonight we complete our dossier of Orient directors by introducing one of the youngest and most active members of a young and active board, Mr. Reg Briggs, in his early 40s, is a relative newcomer to Leyton Stadium but is a man with a long standing interest in soccer. The game is clearly in his blood as his father was a director of Crystal Palace. During his term of service as a war-time officer of the Royal Air Force, Mr. Briggs played at inside forward for the R.A.F. in India. Subsequently he developed close ties with amateur football in and around London, Mr. Briggs was introduced to the Orient by our chairman, Mr. Arthur Page, last season and accepted a good deal of responsibility for a number of fund-raising schemes for the club. Then, during the close-season, he agreed to join the board. He is the director in charge of liaison with and work for the supporters and is chairman of the new Orient Club which replaced our former supporters’ club set-up. In this capacity Mr. Briggs is to the forefront of the ambitious plans to build a supporters’ social club on the south terrace of our ground. During the little time not devoted either to soccer or his own shipping business, Mr. Briggs is an enthusiastic golfer. A man who never delivered anything for the supporter. Two defeats followed. Stockport (29 September, away 2-0) Programme team: Goddard, Whitehouse(Simpson played), Howe, Allen(Werge played), Sneddon, Halom(Wood played), Anderson(Whitehouse played), Fry, Simpson(Anderson played), Massey, Jones. Sub Wood(Allen was named). 30 September. Home to Watford in the SE Counteis League. A 3-2 win with scorers Archell and Fairbrother 2. Team: Bowtell, Ford, Bailey, Still, Dafforn, Taylor, Archell, Brisley, Fairbrother, Rofe, Hopwood. Sub White. Northampton Town (3 October, away 2-1). Eddie Thomas scoring his first goal for the club. Programme team: Goddard(Willis played), Simpson, Howe, Werge(Sneddon played), Wood, Halom(Allen played), Whitehouse(Werge played), Fry, Anderson(Thomas played), Massey, Jones. Dick Graham bought Dave Harper from Swindon and made Vic Halom's loan permanent. They turned out at Watford (7 October) where Whitehouse's penalty earned a point. Programme team: Goddard, Simpson(whitehoouse played), Howe, Werge(Halom played), Wood, Snedden(Harper played), Alen, Fry(Massey played), Thomas, Whotehouse(Smpson played), Jones, sub Massey (Fry named). Ron Willis, John Sneddon, Terry Ackerman and Tom Anderson were made available for transfer.  The Colts had scored 27 goals from 7 matches with Barrie Fairbrother getting 2 and John Still the other in a 3-2 win against Watford while Graham Archell, John Hopwood and Dennis Rofe were getting one apiece against Charlton.   9 October. Home to Dagenham in the London Challenge Cup (1st round). We lost 0-1. Team: Willis, Ford, Bailey, Taylor, Ackerman, Still, Werge, Fry, Anderson, Archell, Manning(Slater). Sub Fairbrother(Manning). Goddard, Simpson, Howe, Allen, Wood, Halom, Slater, Thomas, Massey, Harper and Whitehouse lined up and beat Southport 3-0 at home (14 October). Slater was instrumental in the first two goals. First his corner was headed in by Massey and then his free kick was volleyed in by Whitehouse. A right foot drive on the run by Thomas from the edge of the penalty area made it three. Harper went off and was replaced by Fry. Jones was named in the programme with Simpson at 11 but Whitehouse played there. Basildon wanted Orient to switch grounds to their town. Southend United lodged a protest. Match reports on Barrow and Southport plus WE WANT ORIENT report. 19 October. Home to Crystal Palace in the SE Counties League (Div 1 Cup). A 3-1 win with goals from Moss and Fairbrother 2. Team: Bowtell, Holland, Bailey, Coventry, Arber, Cook, Dent, Moss, Fairbrother, Scrimshaw, Manning. Sub Glumart. In division one we were third in the table behind Ipswich and Millwall. In division two we were four from bottom (nine teams).   Vic Halom's first goal for the club earned them a point at Scunthorpe (21 October) where Barnsley Bitter featured on the front of their programme which consisted of one sheet of paper wrapped around the Football League Review with a further two in the middle. They were four from Bottom. We were two places below them. Programme team: Goddard, Howe, Simpson, Allen, Wood, Halom, Slater, Thomas, Massey, Harper(Fry played), Whitehouse(Werge played), sub Fry but Jones was named. Defeats at home to Northampton (24 October 3-1), Peter Allen scoring our goal Programme team: Goddard, Vic (who he hell was he!) Jones(Simpson played), Howe, Allen(Sneddon playd), Wood, Halom, Slater, Thomas, Massey, Harper, Simpson(Allen played), Sub Jones. In a letter, E. R. Pell of Lea Bridge Road wrote “finally I would like to play a tribute to Barry Fairbrother and one or two others whose sportsmanship in not only shaking hands with opponents after the match, but also with the referee could well be taken as an example bymany fully-fledged players”. And Oldham at home(28 October 0-2) followed. Oldham had just paid Wolves £12,000 for Ken Knighton. Programme team: Goddard, Jones(Simpson played), Howe, Allen(, Wood(Halom played), Halom(Whitehouse played), Slater(Jones played), Thomas, Massey, Harper(Werge played), Simpson, Sub Fry.  6 November. Home to Newbury Park in the FA Youth Cup(First round). A 6-1 win with goals from Aylott 2, Fairbrother 1, Arcje;; 2, Manning. Team: Bowtell, Ford, Bailey, Cook, Still, Taylor, Moss, Aylott, Fairbrother, Archell, Manning. Sub Coventry. The next match at Bristol Rovers was postponed. It was after all November 4th and everyone knows it rains near bonfire night. Peter Angell was appointed trainer following the upheaval at Charlton when Bob Stokoe was sacked. Peter was assistant trainer at the Valley. Ron Willis moved to Charlton for personal and domestic reason and Steve Bowtell became the Orient second string keeper. Terry Mancini returned to the UK from South Africa and was offered a trial at Orient and played in the next match at home to Barrow (11 November). Terry Ackerman  joined Corby Town on a months trial. Graham Archell as well as Mancini made his début for Orient against Barrow. Massey scored twice, Wood and Mancini one each to set up a 4-2 win. Programme team: Goddard, Jones, Howe, Allen, Mancini, Wood, Slater, Sneddon, Massey, Thomas(Archell played), Simpson. The Colts recored a 6-1 win at home against Newbruy Park in the FA Cup. Goals from Aylott 2, Fairbrother, Archell 2, 1 pen), Manning. Team: Bowtell,Ford, Bailey Taylor, Still, Cook, Moss, Aylott, Fairbrother, Archell, Manning.   A second successive win followed thanks to an own goal by a Reading (home 13 November) player. Former Orient favourite Stan Charlton was in the crowd against Barrow following the FA Cup first round draw which teamed his Weymouth with the O's. Programme team: Goddard, Jones, Howe, Allen, Mancini, Wood, Slater, Sneddon, Massey, Thomas, Simpson. If there were any changes I did not make a note of who they were. Cutting + one for Bury. Oxford away (18 November) The Oxford programme noted Orients positional changes and commented "Massey is one of six players to wear the No.9 shirt while positional and other changes have led top no less than eight different choices figuring at out- side-right, eight at inside-left, and six at outside-left" Brian Whitehouse had worn seven differently numbered shirts in eleven outings. Fielding Mick Bullock and the Atkinson brothers Ron and Graham they beat Orient 2-0. Programme team: Goddard, Jones, Howe, Allen, Mancini, Wood, Slater, Sneddon, Massey, Thomas(Halom played), Simpson. Sub Werge. The programme featured Tolly Cobbold ales. Cliff Holton was forced into re- tirement at the age of 38. Article from Football Monthly.   Bury (25 November) were beaten in a third successive home win thanks to Brian Wood's goal. Alex Dawson was sent off. Programme team: Goddard, Jones, Howe, Allen, Mancini, Wood, Slater, Sneddon, Massey, Thomas, Simpson. Again if there were any changes I did not make a note of them. The Colts thrashed Fulham 9-0 and then 0-7 with goals from Fairbrother 5, Brisley 3, Still 2 and one each from Manning, Ford, Taylor, Rofe, Moss and Aylott. Match re- port of this game and the Peterborough home match as well as an article entitled All Change At Orient.   27 November. Home to Crystal Palace in the London Youth Challenge Cup. A 1-0 win with a goal from full back Ford. Team: Bowtell, Ford, Cooke, Rofe, Still, Taylor, Aylott, Archell, Fairbrother, Brisley, Manning . Sub Coventry. A goalless draw at Bournemouth (2 December) was followed by a second successive trip the the coast to Weymouth (9 December) where Vic Halom's two goals dumped them out of the FA Cup.    5 December. Home to Arsenal in the FA Youth Challenge Cup. No idea of the score but here is the team: Team: Bowtell, Ford, Bailey, Rofe, Still, Taylor, Aylott, Brisley, Fairbrother, Archell, Manning . Sub Cooke. 15 December. The Daily Express ran a two-day article entitled “What Makes A Soccer Club sick?” Part one. Part two. Grimsby home (16 December) were beaten 1-0 by Owen Simpson's first goal for the club. Programme team: Goddard, Jones, Howe, Allen, Mancini, Wood, Slater(Thomas played), Sneddon(Harper played), Massey, Thomas(Halom played), Simpson. From the programme: THE ORIENT FILE by IAN KERESEY, Express and Independent If Orient ever want a historian to assemble their records they do not have to look far for a man who would gladly do the job for nothing. Man in the know is Alan Ravenhill, whose tiles rival any record book, Most soccer fans confine their souvenirs to the odd rosette and a handful of programmes only read while searching through the attic or clearing out cupboards, Not Mr. Ravenhill, He wrote to me recently about his hobby... the Orient File. Never before have I heard of such a complete account of the clubs history. As each week goes by Mr. Ravenhill buys all the newspapers, magazines and any publication remotely concerned with Orient and sets to work with scissors and pastepot. Systematically he snips out all the match reports, gleans all the background informa- tion and files away the pictures in his current scrapbook. His home in Forest Road, Walthamstow is piled high with data on Orient. Soon after he started following Orient, over 20 years ago, Mr. Ravenhill decided he would try to assemble a complete dossier on the club. As his interest increased so did his collection. Let me give you some indication of the size of his phenomenal collection. Newspaper photographs of Orient in action total about 2,000. Match reports number well over 8,000 and programmes are fast ap- proaching the thousand mark. Just a few snippets from his records include facts about: the Orient-Arsenal cup-tie in 1952; Denis Pacey’s debut hat-trick; Frank Neary’s scoring figures in 1948-49; Tom Johnston’s record season; Orient cup runs in 1951-52 and 1953-54; matches from pro- motion seasons 1955-56 and 1961 and 1962; the day the Kop at Liverpool cheered Orient off the pitch; the memorable face sav- ing goal by Pullen in 1950; the fantastic off-side goal by Coventry in 1952; the day Orient had Manchester United reeling; Orient losing 6-1 at Exeter after leading 1-0 at half-time then beating them 7-0 the next week. Mr. Ravenhill is certainly a true Orient fan. Are there any other Orient supporters, young or old, who could match this remark- able collection? It would be many a year before he used his knowledge to publish a book. Here is Soccer Star’s response to his request for information. Peterborough away (26 December) beat us 3-2 on Boxing Day where Massey and Mancini scored. Programme team: Goddard, Jones, Howe, Allen, Mancini, Wood, Thomas(Slater played), Halom, Massey, Harper, Simpson. Sub Werge. Four days later at home (30 December) the same two players scored against the same club as Orient ran out 3-0 win- ners. Owen Simpson added the third. John Jackson was the 'Man behind the ball' feature in the Football League Review of 30th December. If there were any changes in the programme team then I did not make a note of them: Goddard, Jones, Howe, Allen, Mancini, Wood, Slater, Harper, Massey, Halom, Simpson. The chairman informed us of the decision not to move but remain in Leyton. A two page article by Chris Hobbs on the forming of the West Side ap- peared. I knew Chris. Didn’t he be- come a police inspector? We signed Roger Hugo, ex West Ham and Watford forward but he never made an appear- ance for us. Nor anyone else in league football and returned to South Africa. Brian Whitehouse had the plaster removed from his leg. The players had given up their Christmas bonus to save the club money. Peterborough and Boston away cuttings.                      Away at Boston United (6 January) they held us to a 1-1 draw in the FA Cup. They were top of the West Midlands League. Owen Simpson's hopeful cross slipping through the keepers hands into the net. Biggest punch up I ever saw on the ter- races. Bunch of thugs the Bostonians. The programme con- sisted of a folded sheet of paper. Again if there were any changes in the programme team then I did not make a note of them: Goddard, Jones, Howe, Allen, Mancini, Wood, Slater, Harper, Massey, Halom, Simpson. Sub Werge. In the replay (15 January) goals from Mancini and Halom saw Orient through to the next round against Bury. My programme looked like it had been found on the floor and again no notes of team changes. Goddard, Jones, Howe, Allen, Mancini, Wood, Slater, Harper, Massey, Halom, Simpson. Boston cutting1. Boston cutting 2. And 3.     John Snedden returned from Halifax after a two month loan and played in the next match. Though they were keen to sign him John’s wife was not keen to move north. He later moved to South Africa. The run of five successive home wins came to an end when Shrewsbury (20 January) drew  1-1. Roy Massey scored the goal and Dennis Rofe was the substitute. The Chairman Arthur Page reminded supporters of a meeting to be held at the club the following day. Steve Bowtell signed a professional contract. Programme team: Goddard, Jones, Howe(Snedden played), Allen, Mancini, Wood, Slater, Harper, Massey, Halom, Simpson. Sub Rofe. Rofe was sub when Werge and Howe went down with flu. A meeting was held in the West Stand following one the previous February. Local report.   Returning to the FA Cup Orient beat Bury at home (27 January) with one of the finest headed goals seen at Brisbane Road for many a day. Roy Massey did the damage from Slater's cross. Programme team: Goddard, Jones, Howe, Allen, Mancini, Wood, Slater, Harper, Massey, Halom, Simpson. No notes again.  Draws followed against Brighton away (3 February) 1-1 with a goal from Halom. Programme team: Goddard, Jones, Howe, Allen, Mancini, Wood, Slater, Harper, Massey, Halom, Simpson. No notes again. Available in the the ground we were informed were Taplins Watneys Fine Beers and elsewhere in the programme Brickwoods Best Bitter were advertised. Last two games reports plus the Birmingham cup tie. And Stockport at home (10 February) 2-2 with goals from Massey and Slater. Programme team: Goddard, Jones, Howe, Allen, Mancini, Wood, Slater, Harper, Massey, Halom, Simpson. No notes again. 12 February. Home to Rainham Town in the Finch Shield (Second Round) a 0-2 defeat. Team: Brazil, Salmon, Parker, Dafforn, Eastall, Cook, Keenan, Ford, Moss, Hopwood, Dent. Sub Thompson. With the exception of Moss nobody made the first team. Birmingham (17 February) dumped Orient out of the FA Cup at St Andrews 3-0. Two of the goals coming after Harper had left the field in the 52nd minute with a broken wrist. Programme team: Goddard, Jones, Howe, Allen, Mancini, Wood, Slater, Harper, Massey, Halom, Simpson. Sub Werge. No notes again. When you drink Ansells (The Better Beer) you’re in good company. So we were told. Superstitious lot footballers, Malcolm Slater insisted on wearing the largest shorts, Vic Halom had to be the last onto the pitch.  Meanwhile Mick Jones wore new shoelaces every match.   Orient were now fifth from bottom and a 0-1 home defeat to Watford (24 February) didn't help. Barry Dyson and Tom Walley were Watford players. Programme team: Goddard, Jones, Howe, Allen, Mancini, Wood, Slater, Harper(Archell played), Massey, Halom, Simpson. Sub Taylor. Someone's solution was to drop Archell, move Allen to No.8 and bring in Tommy Taylor at 4 for the match at Southport (1 March). The result 0-0. Someone because on Tuesday 28th February Dick Graham resigned. "The truth is I'm dead inside. They've killed my spirit" he said in the Sun. Matters came to a head when Graham asked for £1,500 for two players to get Orient away from the relegation zone. Having just made £2,400 from the FA Cup match at Birmingham and with Dave Harper out for six weeks his demand did not seem unreasonable. One of the players he was attempting to buy, John Key, signed a week later from Coventry. Programme team: Goddard, Jones, Howe, Allen(Taylor played), Mancini, Wood, Slater, Archell(Allen played), Massey, Halom, Simpson.  Press reports of Dick Graham’s resignation: I’m Not A Coward, Graham Leaves Orient, Graham: Why I Quit, Angry Wife Slams Orient, Graham Goes: My Heart Is Broken. Jimmy Bloomfield was appointed as manager and watched his side chalk up their first away (9 March) win of the season thanks to two own goals by Gillingham's John Arnott. Roy Massey scored a third in the 2-3 win. See Jim play for Birmingham here. Their programme was a sheet of paper fol- ded twice. Not much for your 6d. not even a staple. We were three from bottom with Scunthorpe and Grimsby below us and Oldham and Colchester above us. Programme team: Goddard, Jones, Howe, Taylor, Mancini, Wood, Slater, Allen, Massey, Halom, Simpson. Gordon Riddick appeared in their line-up. Bloomfield was signed from Plymouth. He started his career at Arsenal before moving to Birmingham, West Ham, and being twice with Brentford. It was his job to stop the slide from Division One to Division Four in five seasons.  11 March. Home to West Ham in the JT ClarkMemorial Cup where we ran out 3-1 winners , Brisley, Fairbrother and Manning scored.. Team: Bowtell, Rofe, Bailey, Ford, Dafforn, Cook, Hopwood, Brisley, Fairbrother, Archell, Manning. Sub Coventry. Though he got off to a good start at Gillingham, a 4-0 set back at Swindon (12 March) was in- curred in the match that had been postponed from January 13th. Results didn't really improve, in the last 16 games only four matches were won with seven drawn. A list of all time goalscorers in the Football League Review bidding to beat Arthur Rowley's 434 goals in League matches included George O'Brien (Aldershot) 163, Barry Dyson (Watford) 112, Mark Lazarus (C Palace) 88. In the same issue the Man behind the ball feature was West Ham's Peter Brabrook.   A 2-1 win over Scunthorpe at home (16 March) (two below us in the table) thanks to Vic Halom's goals followed. Cannot find a programme for this game. A 2-2 draw at Oldham (23 March) (three above us) with goals from the ex-Rotherham pair of Massey and Simpson was the next game. Their programme was the huge one again 12” x 9¾” with 12 pages. In their 1967-68 transfer dealings was that of Ken Knighton to PNE 20th December 1967 after 22 league apps scor- ing four goals. Plus another three apps in the FL Cup and one in the FA Cup. Programme team: Goddard, Jones, Howe, Taylor, Mancini, Wood, Slater, Bloomfield, Massey, Halom, Simpson. Sub Allen. A 3-0 de- feat at Tranmere (25 March) who were just above us followed. I managed to get a complimentary ticket. Programme team: Goddard, Jones, Howe, Taylor, Mancini, Wood, Slater, Bloomfield, Massey, Halom, Simpson. Spoilt for choice when it came to beer adverts with Birkenhead Ales on the front and Bents Bitter inside. Included was the Football League Review with an article on Peter Brabrook. Plus two old Birmingham supporters posting up a forthcoming match with us. Vic Halom pulled one back against Bristol Rovers at home (30 March) and Roy Massey put O's into the lead from John Key's centre only for Rovers to equalise. Slater, looked unhappy out on the left-wing having made way for Key. Programme team: Goddard, Jones, Howe, Taylor(Harper played), Mancini, Wood, Slater(Key played), Allen(Bloomfield played), Massey, Halom, Simpson(Slater played). Sub Bloomfield though Allen was named. We were second in the South East Counties Division 2. Against top of the table Torquay (away 1 April), they dropped a point when Malcolm Slater put in a 40 yarder which was helped in by the wind and mist. Orient were four from bottom with 31 points, Colchester, Scunthorpe and Grimsby below them on 28, 27, and 26 points and Mansfield, and Oldham above them also on 31 points. Programme team: Goddard, Jones, Howe, Taylor, Mancini, Wood(Harper played), Slater(Key played), Bloomfield, Massey, Halom, Simpson(Slater played). Sub Bloomfield though Allen was named. Again I got a complimentary ticket. The Football League Review was enclosed in the programme. We were asked to “Find The True Taste of Trumans” (under the bed? top of the ward- robe?) whist on the back page “Top of the “Thirst” Division” was Plymouth Light Ale.   Five days later a trip to Barrow (6 April) resul- ted in a 1-0 defeat, They were  eventually Third Division Champions. Programme team: Goddard, Jones, Howe, Taylor, Mancini, Wood(Taylor played), Key, Bloomfield(Allen played), Massey(Bloomfield played), Holton(Halom played), Slater. Sub Bloomfield though Allen was named. The Football League Review was enclosed in the programme. It was the same as the Torquay one. Two tickets for a transfer?? 1/- and 1/6 for a reason I know not. Advert for Case’s Beer. They stopped brewing in Barrow in 1972. Second in the table Oxford (13 April) came to Brisbane Road and lost 1-0 to a Vic Halom header that passed three defenders on its way into the net. Programme team: Goddard, Jones, Howe, Taylor, Mancini, Harper, Key, Bloomfield, Massey, Halom, Slater. Sub Allen. A 20 year-old Michael Bullock was in their line-up. Match report and an article The Back- Slapping Is Over - Now it’s Shaking Heads. We played Mansfield at home (15-16 April) on consecutive days drawing both matches 0-0. Home programme team: Goddard, Jones, Howe, Taylor, Mancini, Harper, Key, Bloomfield, Massey, Halom, Slater. Sub Allen. This programme and the home Mansfield one seemed to be identical. We also lost the match at Bury (19 April) 1-0. Which meant they were promoted. No programme for this one or the Mansfield one. A vital point was lost to fellow struggler’s at home to Colchester (22 April) in a 1-1 draw that saw Halom scoring his 10th goal of the season. Programme team: Goddard, Jones, Howe, Harper, Mancini, Wood, Bloomfield(Key played), Allen(Bloomfield played), Massey, Halom, Slater. Sub Simpson but Allen was named. Terry Price was in their line-up. Chairman Arthur Page was predicting promotion to Division Two next season despite the fact we were still struggling to stay in the Third.   Bournemouth (27 April) were beaten 1-0 at Leyton Stadium by a Roy Massey goal. Team: Goddard, Jones, Simpson, Allen, Mancini, Taylor, Key, Bloomfield, Massey, Halom, Slater, sub Harper. Programme team: Goddard, Jones, Howe(Simpson played), Allen, Mancini, Wood(Taylor played), Key, Bloomfield, Massey, Halom, Slater. Sub Harper. The last win of the season was at Bristol Rovers (30 April) where Simpson and Rofe were the scorers. Rofe was on for the in- jured Key. Bloomfield had bruised ribs so did not play. Team: Goddard, Jones, Simpson, Allen, Mancini, Taulor, Key, Harper, Massey, Halom, Slater. Sub Rofe. No programme for this one. Previous Page 1966/67. Next page End of the 1967-68 season. Email Keith.