If you take a look at most non-league clubs’ trophy list you’ll notice a plethora of different long-forgotten competitions. Bracknell Town are no different, and amongst the Fielden Cups and Ascot & District league titles, there’s the Spartan League Cup.
As Spartan League members Bracknell Town have won the cup on three occasions. The second of these was in May 1982 when the Robins, then managed by Steve McClurg, travelled to Surrey to face Malden Vale at Mertsham FC.
Bracknell had already secured second position in the Spartan Premier Division behind leaders Fisher Athletic. Their opponents on Cup Final day were Maden Vale (who later merged with Raynes Park to become Raynes Park Vale). Vale had finished fourth in the league and would prove tough opponents for the Robins.
After a goalless first-half Terry Muskett opened the scoring for Bracknell, eight minutes later Dick Milham added a second. Malden Vale pulled a goal back in the 70th minute, and equalised in the 83rd. Vale had defeated Bracknell in both league games during the season so Bracknell must have felt the game falling away from them, however a last minute goal from Richard Whitty secured the cup for the Robins.
It was a relatively successful period for Town who had won the London Spartan Senior Division in 80/81 before coming second in the Premier Division in 81/82 before finally winning it in 82/83.
