Today we feature one a select band of past players who have also represented their country, with diminutive striker Chris Duggan having represented England at Amateur International level.
Duggan joined the club from neighbours Bishop’s Stortford at the beginning of the 1972-73 season and signalled his intentions when he scored in all the club’s five pre-season friendly matches.
Duggan struck a fine partnership up front with Eddie Sedgwick and between them they scored 53 league and cup goals in season 1972-73. This was the club’s first (and only) season in the Athenian League Premier Division.The following season Duggan wrote his name into the club’s history books as he netted the club’s first ever Isthmian League goal, when he scored in a 1-1 draw at Horsham. Duggan had departed before the end of that season after manager Roy Thomas resigned and former Spurs favourite Jack Price had taken over at the helm. Price’s rein was short lived and Duggan returned to the club at the start of the 1974-75 season when former defender Gordon Sedgley was named as the new manager. Duggan had been teammates with Gordon in his first season with the club. It was another successful season as he netted 15 league and cup goals, bringing his total goals to 46 in his two and a half years with the club. At the end of that season Duggan again moved on after Gordon Sedgley was appointed the new manager of Walthamstow Avenue and Len Gamblin was installed as the next Harlow boss
Thursday 30 April 2009
Heroes - Bryn Key
Today we feature Bryn Key who joined the club in the summer of 1971 from Hoddesdon Town when he followed manager Roy Thomas to the club.
Bryn was an instant success and set a post war goal scoring record (which has since been beaten) when he netted 39 goals in 46 games. This impressive total would have surely been higher had Bryn not missed the whole of March through Injury.
Bryn was one of those players that people came to watch. He was Harlow’s version of George Best with his long flowing hair and his ability to glide past players. His goals helped Harlow win the Athenian League Division One Championship.
Towards the end of the 1971-72 season Bryn played a couple of reserve games for Crystal Palace making the move to South London permanent at the end of that season after some impressive displays.
Unfortunately Bryn was never able to fulfil his potential, as a broken leg early in his on put an end to his professional career.
After a couple of seasons out of football Bryn returned to the Non-League game with Barking and later played for Leytonstone Ilford. Despite many rumours Bryn never returned to the club but had done enough in his one season to become a Harlow Hero.
Bryn was an instant success and set a post war goal scoring record (which has since been beaten) when he netted 39 goals in 46 games. This impressive total would have surely been higher had Bryn not missed the whole of March through Injury.
Bryn was one of those players that people came to watch. He was Harlow’s version of George Best with his long flowing hair and his ability to glide past players. His goals helped Harlow win the Athenian League Division One Championship.
Towards the end of the 1971-72 season Bryn played a couple of reserve games for Crystal Palace making the move to South London permanent at the end of that season after some impressive displays.
Unfortunately Bryn was never able to fulfil his potential, as a broken leg early in his on put an end to his professional career.
After a couple of seasons out of football Bryn returned to the Non-League game with Barking and later played for Leytonstone Ilford. Despite many rumours Bryn never returned to the club but had done enough in his one season to become a Harlow Hero.
Heroes - Bobby Harding
Today we feature Bobby Harding who joined the club in September 1980, making his debut against Wycombe Wanderers, in a match played at Epping Town’s Stonard Hill ground as our Sportcentre ground was unavailable.
Harding started his career at Arsenal and was a member of the England Youth squad in season 1970-71. He remained with the Gunners’ until the end of the 1974-75 season, although he never managed to break into the first team. However, he was a non-playing substitute in Arsenal’s European Cup quarter final against Ajax in 1972. Injury cut short his professional career and he went on to play for Ilford and then Enfield, from who he joined the club.
Harding was a tremendously popular player who scored his fair share of goals from the wing, often in a poor Harlow side. After the club’s relegation in 1981-82 he remained with the club and his experience was used to great effect as the young side won promotion at the first attempt. On a personal note I can remember talking with Bobby after our relegation and he made me a promise that he would help get us promoted the next season and it was therefore very fitting that it was Harding’s solitary goal at Hampton that finally clinched our promotion the following April.
Bobby stayed with the club for a further two seasons before moving on to local rivals Bishop’s Stortford in March 1985. He later had a spell with Hendon before going into management with Essex Intermediate League outfit Ongar Town. He has since been assistant manager at Tilbury before taking over as manager of Witham Town.
In total Bobby made 165 appearances for the club, scoring 47 goals.
Harding started his career at Arsenal and was a member of the England Youth squad in season 1970-71. He remained with the Gunners’ until the end of the 1974-75 season, although he never managed to break into the first team. However, he was a non-playing substitute in Arsenal’s European Cup quarter final against Ajax in 1972. Injury cut short his professional career and he went on to play for Ilford and then Enfield, from who he joined the club.
Harding was a tremendously popular player who scored his fair share of goals from the wing, often in a poor Harlow side. After the club’s relegation in 1981-82 he remained with the club and his experience was used to great effect as the young side won promotion at the first attempt. On a personal note I can remember talking with Bobby after our relegation and he made me a promise that he would help get us promoted the next season and it was therefore very fitting that it was Harding’s solitary goal at Hampton that finally clinched our promotion the following April.
Bobby stayed with the club for a further two seasons before moving on to local rivals Bishop’s Stortford in March 1985. He later had a spell with Hendon before going into management with Essex Intermediate League outfit Ongar Town. He has since been assistant manager at Tilbury before taking over as manager of Witham Town.
In total Bobby made 165 appearances for the club, scoring 47 goals.
Sunday 26 April 2009
Heroes - Gwyn Walters
Gwyn in his playing days in a 1977 FA Cup meeting with Cambridge City
Gwyn Walters in 1982Born in Merthyr Tydfil, Gwyn was a remarkable all round sportsman who both played for and managed Harlow Town. His sporting achievements include captaining the Welsh schoolboy and college sides, representing British Students in the World Student Games, full Welsh Amateur International, Welsh rugby schoolboy International, Welsh Pole Vault International and representing Glamorgan schools at cricket. His versatility is further demonstrated by the fact that he once started a game in goal for Harlow despite being a midfield player. Incidentally he kept a clean sheet in a 3-0 victory against St Albans City.
Walters started his career with his home town club Merthyr Tydfil before moving on to play for Barking and Ilford before joining Harlow in the summer of 1977. He was a member of the promotion winning side of 1978-79 and also played in the Essex Senior Cup winning side of the same season, setting Neil Prosser up for the winning goal with a quickly taken free kick in the dying minutes.
The following season Gwyn went to America to study and as a result missed the whole of the 1979-80 season, and subsequently missed out on all the hype that surrounded our FA Cup run that year. However, Gwyn was back in the side the following season and was to become manager Ian Wolstenholme’s coach at the start of the 1981-82 season. In February 1982 Gwyn took over as manager of the club after Ian Wolstenholme resigned but was unable to save the club from relegation. Gwyn’s first full season in charge saw the club win back it’s Premier Division place with a mixture of talented local youngsters and a few old experienced players. The first season back in the Premier Division saw the side finish in a creditable 12th place, however, financial restraints meant that Gwyn was unable to build on this success as many of the clubs top players were lured away to other teams and the club were once again relegated at the end of the 1984-85 season. At the end of that season Gwyn resigned and later went on to mange Hendon in the Premier Division as well as working with youngsters for several Football League sides.
During his time at the club he was a teacher at Stewards Comprehensive School in Harlow. Gwyn made 149 appearances for the club, scoring six goals.
Walters started his career with his home town club Merthyr Tydfil before moving on to play for Barking and Ilford before joining Harlow in the summer of 1977. He was a member of the promotion winning side of 1978-79 and also played in the Essex Senior Cup winning side of the same season, setting Neil Prosser up for the winning goal with a quickly taken free kick in the dying minutes.
The following season Gwyn went to America to study and as a result missed the whole of the 1979-80 season, and subsequently missed out on all the hype that surrounded our FA Cup run that year. However, Gwyn was back in the side the following season and was to become manager Ian Wolstenholme’s coach at the start of the 1981-82 season. In February 1982 Gwyn took over as manager of the club after Ian Wolstenholme resigned but was unable to save the club from relegation. Gwyn’s first full season in charge saw the club win back it’s Premier Division place with a mixture of talented local youngsters and a few old experienced players. The first season back in the Premier Division saw the side finish in a creditable 12th place, however, financial restraints meant that Gwyn was unable to build on this success as many of the clubs top players were lured away to other teams and the club were once again relegated at the end of the 1984-85 season. At the end of that season Gwyn resigned and later went on to mange Hendon in the Premier Division as well as working with youngsters for several Football League sides.
During his time at the club he was a teacher at Stewards Comprehensive School in Harlow. Gwyn made 149 appearances for the club, scoring six goals.
Sunday 5 April 2009
Heroes - Andy Walker
Andy Walker in action
Andy picking up the Player of the Month Award in 1983A skilful winger who came up through the club’s youth and reserve teams, making his first team debut in the home game against Slough Town in April 1982 as a 17 year old. His exciting style and immaculate skills caused havoc in many opponents’ defences and was always amongst the goals.
His first full season in the first team saw Andy become one of the stars of an emerging young side that manager Gwyn Walters had assembled. The club won promotion that season, finishing as runners-up to Worthing in the isthmian League Division One.
Andy studied at San Diego University from 1983-1985 and played for San Diego Sockets in the USA and professionally in Mexico. During this time he returned to the UK each December – April playing for Harlow. His return in December 1983 was particularly important as his displays helped the side move away from the relegation zone to a comfortable mid-table position by the end of the season.
However, in January 1986 he signed fro Grays Athletic together with Marc Das (another player who had come up through the ranks with Andy) in a particularly acrimonious transfer. Harlow claimed that the players were illegally approached, which was upheld by the league, but by the time the decision had been reached most of the season was over. Despite this incident Andy returned to the club in November 1987 from Boreham Wood and played in the final of the Knight Floodlight Cup against Dover at the end of that season. The following campaign he helped the club win the Division Two (North) Championship and also played in the East Anglian Cup winning side the following season. In 1990-91 he was unable to hold down a regular place in the side and went out on loan to Aveley and Boreham Wood before leaving the club at the end of that season.
After leaving the club Andy went on to win First Division Championships with both Stevenage Borough and Bishop’s Stortford before returning to the club for a final time in February 1997. Once again Andy made a big impact, helping the side win back-to-back promotions from Division Three and Two, before hanging up his boots at the end of the 1998-99 season. Andy became the first player in the club’s history to win four promotions whilst with the club and he later had a two short spells as caretaker manager, the first in December 2000 and the second in February 2002.
In total Andy made 269 appearances for the club, scoring 60 goals.
His first full season in the first team saw Andy become one of the stars of an emerging young side that manager Gwyn Walters had assembled. The club won promotion that season, finishing as runners-up to Worthing in the isthmian League Division One.
Andy studied at San Diego University from 1983-1985 and played for San Diego Sockets in the USA and professionally in Mexico. During this time he returned to the UK each December – April playing for Harlow. His return in December 1983 was particularly important as his displays helped the side move away from the relegation zone to a comfortable mid-table position by the end of the season.
However, in January 1986 he signed fro Grays Athletic together with Marc Das (another player who had come up through the ranks with Andy) in a particularly acrimonious transfer. Harlow claimed that the players were illegally approached, which was upheld by the league, but by the time the decision had been reached most of the season was over. Despite this incident Andy returned to the club in November 1987 from Boreham Wood and played in the final of the Knight Floodlight Cup against Dover at the end of that season. The following campaign he helped the club win the Division Two (North) Championship and also played in the East Anglian Cup winning side the following season. In 1990-91 he was unable to hold down a regular place in the side and went out on loan to Aveley and Boreham Wood before leaving the club at the end of that season.
After leaving the club Andy went on to win First Division Championships with both Stevenage Borough and Bishop’s Stortford before returning to the club for a final time in February 1997. Once again Andy made a big impact, helping the side win back-to-back promotions from Division Three and Two, before hanging up his boots at the end of the 1998-99 season. Andy became the first player in the club’s history to win four promotions whilst with the club and he later had a two short spells as caretaker manager, the first in December 2000 and the second in February 2002.
In total Andy made 269 appearances for the club, scoring 60 goals.
Monday 16 March 2009
Heroes - John Mackenzie
John Mackenzie in action against Southend United in the FA Cup 2nd Round Replay in December 1979 Born on the 7th February 1954, Mackenzie started his career with Leyton and also played for Leytonstone, Bishop’s Stortford and Ilford. John joined the club in the summer of 1978, linking up again with his former manager Ian Wolstenholme, who had been in charge at Bishop’s Stortford during John’s time with the Blues.
He formed a deadly partnership with Peter Twigg up front and was renowned for his heading ability. However, John will always be remembered for his goals in our FA Cup run of the 1979-80 season. John hit the winner against Leicester City in the 3rd round replay and then went on to score a further two goals in the epic 4th round clash at Watford. All of these goals were scored with his feet, the second at Watford even being featured on the BBC’s Match of the Day’s Goal of the Month competition.
John finished as top scorer in both season 1980-81 and 1981-82 despite being on the transfer list for much of the latter season. He finally left the club in March 1982, joining Boreham Wood before emigrating to South Africa.
During his time with the club John represented the Isthmian League and scored 58 goals in his 141 appearances, 11 of which were as a substitute.
Sunday 15 March 2009
Heroes - Dave Edwards
Today we feature Dave Edwards who made the transition from a player to manager. As a player he only made just over 120 appearances, scoring 9 goals, but went on to manage the side nearly 500 times.
Dave was born in Willesden, London on 4th September 1947 and represented Willesden Boys before moving to Harlow as a 14 year old. After representing the Harlow Minors League, his uncompromising play at the centre of defence soon came to the attention of Bishop’s Stortford, whom he joined when he was 17.
Dave had two spells as a player, his first came to the club in season 1969-70, however this was short lived as he moved to Hertford Town midway through that season. He later went on to play for Stansted and Saffron Walden Town, where he won an Essex Senior League Championship medal. After a short spell with Hoddesdon Town, Dave returned to the club at the start of the 1975-76 season.
This time Dave spent four years with the club and in that time was a member of the side that walked away with the Isthmian League Division One title in 1978-79 and also lifted the Essex Senior Cup. In 1976-77 Dave was voted Supporters Player of the Year and then the year later picked up the main Player of the Year Trophy.
At the end of the 1978-79 season Dave left the club and had a brief spell with Hoddesdon Town before being offered the managerial job at Stansted. Stansted were traditionally one of the weaker sides in the Senior League but Dave soon got to work in transforming their fortunes. In 1983-84 Stansted had their most successful season ever, winning the FA Vase at Wembley as well as three other trophies. After one more season at Stansted Dave was lured to the club to take over a side that had just been relegated from the Premier Division and was struggling financially.
It was hoped that Dave could inspire the team for another quick return to the Premier Division, however the reality was that the budget was slashed even further and with four teams being relegated we were drawn into the drop zone and found ourselves plying our trade in the Division Two North the following season. It would have been easy for Dave to walk away at this stage but he stayed with the club and set about putting a side together to climb back up the leagues. The re-building soon paid dividends as under Dave’s leadership the club won the Division Two North championship, the East Anglian Cup as well as featuring in the first round of the FA Cup and the final of the Knight Floodlight Cup.
Throughout Dave’s time as manager the finances were tight but somehow we had the knack of luring some quality players to the club. Jeff Wood, who broke the club’s scoring record was just one. Other names that spring to mind are Paul Battram, Martin St.Hilare and of course it was Dave that first brought Marc Salmon to the club as a teenager.
When the club didn’t compete during the 1992-93 season Dave worked tirelessly, along with others, to get the club back up and playing again. Thankfully we did manage to survive and Dave was once again the manager as we started life again, albeit in Division Three. At the start of that season we had only a handful of players good enough for that level, inheriting many players from our new chairman’s former club Woodford Town. Over the coming months Dave attracted better players to the club and we ended up missing promotion by a solitary point. At the end of that season the then chairman Georgio Di Benedetto, who wanted to bring in his friend, former Leicester City player Len Glover, regrettably sacked Dave. History shows what a bad move this was by the chairman. Glover, in all honesty didn’t have a clue at this level and the club went backwards, recruiting the quality of player that Dave had inherited when we first started playing again at the beginning of the previous season.
After leaving the club Dave went on to manage at Saffron Walden, Bishop’s Stortford, Bromley, Ware and Hertford Town. Dave had shown so much passion for the job during his years at Harlow, something that he never quite emulated elsewhere.
Dave still lives in the Town and has no involvement with football, although he is still an occasional visitor to Barrows Farm.
Dave was born in Willesden, London on 4th September 1947 and represented Willesden Boys before moving to Harlow as a 14 year old. After representing the Harlow Minors League, his uncompromising play at the centre of defence soon came to the attention of Bishop’s Stortford, whom he joined when he was 17.
Dave had two spells as a player, his first came to the club in season 1969-70, however this was short lived as he moved to Hertford Town midway through that season. He later went on to play for Stansted and Saffron Walden Town, where he won an Essex Senior League Championship medal. After a short spell with Hoddesdon Town, Dave returned to the club at the start of the 1975-76 season.
This time Dave spent four years with the club and in that time was a member of the side that walked away with the Isthmian League Division One title in 1978-79 and also lifted the Essex Senior Cup. In 1976-77 Dave was voted Supporters Player of the Year and then the year later picked up the main Player of the Year Trophy.
At the end of the 1978-79 season Dave left the club and had a brief spell with Hoddesdon Town before being offered the managerial job at Stansted. Stansted were traditionally one of the weaker sides in the Senior League but Dave soon got to work in transforming their fortunes. In 1983-84 Stansted had their most successful season ever, winning the FA Vase at Wembley as well as three other trophies. After one more season at Stansted Dave was lured to the club to take over a side that had just been relegated from the Premier Division and was struggling financially.
It was hoped that Dave could inspire the team for another quick return to the Premier Division, however the reality was that the budget was slashed even further and with four teams being relegated we were drawn into the drop zone and found ourselves plying our trade in the Division Two North the following season. It would have been easy for Dave to walk away at this stage but he stayed with the club and set about putting a side together to climb back up the leagues. The re-building soon paid dividends as under Dave’s leadership the club won the Division Two North championship, the East Anglian Cup as well as featuring in the first round of the FA Cup and the final of the Knight Floodlight Cup.
Throughout Dave’s time as manager the finances were tight but somehow we had the knack of luring some quality players to the club. Jeff Wood, who broke the club’s scoring record was just one. Other names that spring to mind are Paul Battram, Martin St.Hilare and of course it was Dave that first brought Marc Salmon to the club as a teenager.
When the club didn’t compete during the 1992-93 season Dave worked tirelessly, along with others, to get the club back up and playing again. Thankfully we did manage to survive and Dave was once again the manager as we started life again, albeit in Division Three. At the start of that season we had only a handful of players good enough for that level, inheriting many players from our new chairman’s former club Woodford Town. Over the coming months Dave attracted better players to the club and we ended up missing promotion by a solitary point. At the end of that season the then chairman Georgio Di Benedetto, who wanted to bring in his friend, former Leicester City player Len Glover, regrettably sacked Dave. History shows what a bad move this was by the chairman. Glover, in all honesty didn’t have a clue at this level and the club went backwards, recruiting the quality of player that Dave had inherited when we first started playing again at the beginning of the previous season.
After leaving the club Dave went on to manage at Saffron Walden, Bishop’s Stortford, Bromley, Ware and Hertford Town. Dave had shown so much passion for the job during his years at Harlow, something that he never quite emulated elsewhere.
Dave still lives in the Town and has no involvement with football, although he is still an occasional visitor to Barrows Farm.
Heroes - Ian Wolstenholme
Today we feature Ian Wolstenholme who masterminded Harlow’s famous FA Cup run of the 1979-80 season.
Born on the 12th January 1943 in Bradford. Ian took over as manager of the club in October 1976 after managing local rivals Bishop’s Stortford.
As a goalkeeper he had a successful career, which started, at York City, where he made two Football League appearances as an amateur. He later played for the famous amateur club Sheffield FC, before moving south and joining Enfield. He won two FA Amateurs Cup winner’s medals and three Isthmian League championship medals whilst at Southbury Road. In the 1967 final against Skelmersdale United, he saved a penalty in the last minute of extra time when the score was 0-0. Enfield went on to win the replay 3-0.
In 1971 he moved to Slough Town where he won two Athenian League titles and made another appearance in the Amateur Cup Final, but was unable to complete a hat-trick of winners medals as the Rebels went down 1-0 to Walton & Hersham. In season 1971-72 Ian made two appearances for the England Amateur side. His caps came against Denmark and Iceland.
After going into management with Bishop’s Stortford, he joined Harlow in October 1976 and immediately transformed a very poor Harlow side. Unfortunately this form could not be maintained and the club slipped back down the table. By the start of the following season Ian had recruited many of his former players from Bishop’s Stortford and the team began to buzz. The 1978-79 season saw the team run away with the Isthmian League Division One title as well as winning the Essex Senior Cup for the first (and so far only) time.
The following season saw Wolstenholme guided Harlow from the preliminary round of the FA Cup to the fourth round proper where he demonstrated his tactical awareness to the full. Nobody could be certain of a place in the side as he would bring players in and out to suit his tactics for a particular match. I remember having a long chat with Ian on the Thursday before our trip to Leicester on the Saturday. He told me in detail how he thought the game might develop and what tactics he would use to for certain situations during the game. Well, he was spot on, and that was after just one spying mission on the opposition and well before the days of video or DVD’s.
Ian built his side around a strong base of schoolteachers, which was his own profession. He would never admit to a preference for this sort of player, stating that it was just a coincidence that his team building happened that way.
Inevitably the side began to break up over the next couple of years and despite bringing in new players he was unable to build another successful side and the club slipped towards relegation. In February 1982 he resigned to be replaced by coach Gwyn Walters. It was a sad end to his association with the club. He had built probably the best team the club had ever had and brought it the most publicity and limelight it was ever likely to achieve.
Ian did make one appearance for the club when he wore the goalkeepers jersey in a home match against Walton & Hersham in September 1977. Oddly enough three Harlow managers featured in this line-up. Current manager Wolstenholme, Gwyn Walters, who took over from Wolstenholme, and then Dave Edwards who was to take charge of the team in 1985.
Born on the 12th January 1943 in Bradford. Ian took over as manager of the club in October 1976 after managing local rivals Bishop’s Stortford.
As a goalkeeper he had a successful career, which started, at York City, where he made two Football League appearances as an amateur. He later played for the famous amateur club Sheffield FC, before moving south and joining Enfield. He won two FA Amateurs Cup winner’s medals and three Isthmian League championship medals whilst at Southbury Road. In the 1967 final against Skelmersdale United, he saved a penalty in the last minute of extra time when the score was 0-0. Enfield went on to win the replay 3-0.
In 1971 he moved to Slough Town where he won two Athenian League titles and made another appearance in the Amateur Cup Final, but was unable to complete a hat-trick of winners medals as the Rebels went down 1-0 to Walton & Hersham. In season 1971-72 Ian made two appearances for the England Amateur side. His caps came against Denmark and Iceland.
After going into management with Bishop’s Stortford, he joined Harlow in October 1976 and immediately transformed a very poor Harlow side. Unfortunately this form could not be maintained and the club slipped back down the table. By the start of the following season Ian had recruited many of his former players from Bishop’s Stortford and the team began to buzz. The 1978-79 season saw the team run away with the Isthmian League Division One title as well as winning the Essex Senior Cup for the first (and so far only) time.
The following season saw Wolstenholme guided Harlow from the preliminary round of the FA Cup to the fourth round proper where he demonstrated his tactical awareness to the full. Nobody could be certain of a place in the side as he would bring players in and out to suit his tactics for a particular match. I remember having a long chat with Ian on the Thursday before our trip to Leicester on the Saturday. He told me in detail how he thought the game might develop and what tactics he would use to for certain situations during the game. Well, he was spot on, and that was after just one spying mission on the opposition and well before the days of video or DVD’s.
Ian built his side around a strong base of schoolteachers, which was his own profession. He would never admit to a preference for this sort of player, stating that it was just a coincidence that his team building happened that way.
Inevitably the side began to break up over the next couple of years and despite bringing in new players he was unable to build another successful side and the club slipped towards relegation. In February 1982 he resigned to be replaced by coach Gwyn Walters. It was a sad end to his association with the club. He had built probably the best team the club had ever had and brought it the most publicity and limelight it was ever likely to achieve.
Ian did make one appearance for the club when he wore the goalkeepers jersey in a home match against Walton & Hersham in September 1977. Oddly enough three Harlow managers featured in this line-up. Current manager Wolstenholme, Gwyn Walters, who took over from Wolstenholme, and then Dave Edwards who was to take charge of the team in 1985.
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