Those Were The Days; 21st January 1992

[Les1949]

THOSE WERE THE DAYS
21st January 1992

Isthmian (Diadora) League; Division 3

Eastbourne United 0 Hampton 6 (Amissah 26’, Ewing 30’ 70’, Terry 37’, Fenton 90’, Fewings 90’)

Eastbourne United;-
Danny Luxford (Graham Thomas Jnr., 49’); Danny Wild, Liam Thompson, Robert Baker, Mark Roye, Aston Campbell, Prinks, Sherrif Anjorin, Graham Thomas Snr., Bob Langton (Martin Ellis, 46’), Scott Geddes.

Hampton;-
David Hook; Gary Cope, Martin Heath, Malcolm Dickenson, Steve Cheshire, Tim Hollands, Fred Amissah, Steve Bates, Roland Terry, Gary Ewing, Matt Downs.
Subs Used; Jason Fenton, Mark Fewings.

The main memory of this game is the cold – it was bitterly cold at The Oval in Eastbourne. Fortunately, for the relatively few Hampton supporters there, the six goals kept their hands warm, if nothing else. The match also saw both managers in action, though neither were on the pitch at the same time. The home side were having a nightmare of a season and were so short of players that Bob Langton (manager) and Graham Thomas Snr, were in the starting line-up’ with a combined age of around 80 years! After 26 minutes, Ewing caused chaos in the Eastbourne defence and Amissah swooped to score. Minutes later Ewing made it 2-0. In the 37th minute Roland Terry, playing up front, made it 3-0. At half-time Langton came off and was replaced by Martin Ellis. Four minutes later Eastbourne’s keeper Danny Luxford went off with a groin strain. Left back Danny Wild took the gloves, whilst Thomas’s son, Graham Thomas Jnr., came on to join his father in midfield. Hampton’s fourth goal from Ewing in the 70th minute. Eastbourne nearly profited from an own goal by Cheshire due to a wayward back pass. The final two goals were scored by the two Hampton substitutes both in the 90th minute, Fenton, deflection, and Fewings (manager!), with a curling left foot shot. Eastbourne United joined the Sussex County League (now Southern Combination League) at the end of the season.
The Old Historian