As part of our occasional feature on the history of the club, we recently received an email from a former Chairman of the club, Les Chegwin – who visited the club at Christmas for a family event.
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Les writes..
I recently had the pleasure of re-visiting Bracknell Town FC 41 years after I left the area to move to the South coast. I had at that time in the 60’s joined the committee and eventually had the honour to become Club Chairman.
Life was no different in those days and like most senior football clubs it was a struggle to survive let alone progress. It remains a happy memory that in 1969-1970 the club achieved its most successful season to date. The team secured the Surrey Senior League championship, winning all but one of league games played. The club also won the Surrey Senior League Cup and the Commerce Cup.
Every organization needs a slice of luck and it only takes a spark to get things moving. Our spark was the signing of three players, Eddie Browning and Geoff and Dave Hammond from the Slough area. Within a short time their arrival somehow attracted other senior players from around the area.
There can be no doubt that an important reason for the successful season can be attributed to the small squad that was used. The popular manager was Wally Beevers and throughout this period there was great camaraderie within the club being ably served by Secretary Alan Norvill, Treasurer Peter Ridgers and a hard working committee
John McGregor without fail manned the entrance gate and Jack Harvey with his labrador “ Sambo” was the unpaid security guard living as he did in the far corner of the ground.
I have happy memories of my time at Bracknell and my son Peter and I continue to take a keen interest in the club.
We sincerely hope that the fortunes of the “Robins” will improve and that local business and the public can get behind the club and provide the support every town football club needs in order to progress
I am proud to be a Life Vice President
Les Chegwin
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We have managed to find a team photo from the era that was taken as part of a feature in the then Reading Evening Post ahead of a friendly tie with West Ham United at Larges Lane. Les is tagged as ‘Vic’ in the caption. The photo was provided to us by current Assistant Manager Bob Langridge who is pictured far right in the front row.
If anyone has any memories of that period in the clubs history then please leave us a comment below. If you would rather contact us privately you can do that on club@bracknelltownfc.com. We’d also like to know more about the players pictured above.
If you have anything you would like to feature in Memory (Larges) Lane then don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’d love to hear from you.
