Clapton                     3          Barnard 1, Potter 44, 88

Erith & Belvedere   0                       

FA Amateur Cup Final, 5 April 1924 (at The Den)

 

Continuing the series counting down the 100 most memorable games in our history.  Today, the day we played in the Match of the Day – our first Amateur Cup Final.

 

In only our second season the Deres reached a peak: the final of the FA Amateur Cup.  In pre-war days the final was played at a major club ground such as The Den (or Roker Park for a pair of North-East clubs) – from 1949 to the last Amateur Cup Final in 1974 it moved to Wembley. 

 

Deres’ route to the final began with a 5-3 home win v Slough in the first round; in the second we drew 2-2 away to the Royal Marines and beat them 4-1 in the replay; the third round saw a 1-0 home win against the miners of Esh Winning; in the fourth round we won 3-0 away to Botwell Mission, the club later known as Hayes.  The semi-final, which featured earlier in the series, was a three game epic against London Caledonians (1-1, 0-0, 3-1).  Clapton had won the Amateur Cup in 1907, 1909 and 1915, and would retain the trophy in 1925.

 

The Amateur Cup Final was a big deal.  There was a full First Division programme on 5 April 1924.  The attendance figures (rounded up or down) indicate Arsenal v Burnley, Everton v Cardiff, Sunderland v Middlesbrough and Spurs v Liverpool all drew 30,000.  The biggest English football crowd of the day – and at the time a record for an Amateur Cup tie – was at The Den for Erith & Belvedere v Clapton.

 

 

ECLIPSED! – How Erith Lost the Amateur Cup – A Record Final

 

Erith and Belvedere lost, but they put up a game fight against a clever team and against a set of adverse circumstances, and Clapton won the Football Association Amateur Cup for the fourth time.  The final at Millwall on Saturday was played on a dry pitch, before 32,000 spectators, who paid £1,900 – figures which constitute records.

 

Erith and Belvedere had reached the final for the first time.  Last season the club reached the fourth round, and those who have followed the team in their progress this year fully expected them to at least extend Clapton to the utmost.

 

What happened on Saturday was that the occasion proved too much for the Erith players.  The huge crowd, the reaction of the long struggle with the Caledonians, and other factors served to put them off their usual game.  Clapton took the initiative at the start, and practically had the game in hand after the first few minutes.

 

Bob Evans, who in previous matches had proved a class back, had the misfortune to lose his father last Friday, and his play always suffered.  F Wilson, the other back, was under medical treatment on Friday and was far from well on Saturday.  The lively ball was another factor in the defeat.

 

Having stated the facts on that side, I must give Clapton every credit for their victory, the completeness of which was hardly represented by three goals – it could easily have been five or six.  Clapton were without a doubt the fastest and cleverest side Erith has ever met, a team which played the straight-for-goal game very well indeed.  Although their forward line was so good, the outstanding man was Bryant, the centre-half, an ideal player for that position.  His control of the lively ball was good to see, and his tackling was altogether too deadly for the Erith inside-forwards.

 

Erith won the toss, but preferred to play against the wind at the start.  Here was a big mistake, as it proved, but doubtless Wilson had consulted his team, and carried out the general wish.

 

Thousands of supporters went from Erith, Belvedere and other parts of North Kent, and even in defeat their celebration was something to wonder at.

 

After the match crowds ran on to the pitch to watch the presentation of the cup and medals by Mr J C Clegg, and cheers for the losers were led by the winners.  “Taffy” Evans, Erith’s goalkeeper, who had played a remarkable game, was carried across the field on the shoulders of admirers, and Earle and Gibbins, of Clapton, had the same ordeal.

 

At Erith on Saturday evening members of the Town Band, conducted by Mr Smith, played selections through the streets as the players made their way to the Cross Keys, where Billy Swayne is host.  From the balcony “Tug” Wilson made a brief speech, and the team had a great ovation.

 

Later in the evening players, officials of the club and some supporters adjourned to the GFS Hut, where a further celebration took place, with dancing and singing – quite like a big family party.  “Rubber” and “Taffy” failed to get away in time for the last train, and I believe Billy Swayne’s better half came to the rescue.

 

Bill Mawbey, the team’s trainer, came in for many congratulations for his work in looking after the players through this strenuous season.

 

The 32,000 people (Saturday’s biggest football crowd) filled all the seats and most of the standing room of The Den, and when the Erith team came out a huge cheer went up.  Clapton soon followed: another cheer, and then Mr Todman, of Croydon, the referee, soon called up the captains.  Wilson beat Earle in the toss, and the Clapton captain must have been surprised when Wilson decided against the wind.

 

Clapton started off in winning style, and before the Erith defence had much chance to stem the attack, Barnard, the outside-left, had scored!  Earle and Gibbins had taken the ball down the right; Gibbins fired in a great shot; the ball hit the angle of the bar and post and rebounded to Barnard; and the outside-left, with a clear opening, made no mistake – and Clapton were one up.

 

For some time all the play was in Clapton’s favour, Bryant getting through some fine work.  Potter almost scored when he tackled R Evans and screwed the ball in, but C Evans was alert and pushed the ball out.  Another shot from Gibbins was well saved by “Taffy”, who tipped a hot drive over.  The corner kick was nicely placed, and Dudley, in trying to clear, diverted the ball into the goal, for C Evans to again save.

 

Erith gradually fought back and Dudley initiated a fine movement.  He passed to Hillier, who sent Beckford clear away, but the winger centred behind.  In another Erith attack Gooch beat Blake and was fouled, and with Clapton pressing again a forward pass fund Erith’s backs too wide; Gibbins ran through, but C Evans ran out and just got to the ball in time to kick clear.

 

Clapton, showing fine control and splendid combination, continued the pressure.  A centre from Earle: Bob Evans failed to get to the ball, and Potter ran in and looked a certain scorer, when Dudley covered him and diverted his shot for a corner.  When this was cleared Erith went down on the left, and good passing by Hillier and Beckford enabled Yates to shoot.  Moore dropped the ball, but quickly recovered and cleared.

 

Erith made another attack, but then Clapton again took up the running, and following smart work by Earle, C Evans made a wonderful save from him.  A free kick to Erith was wasted by Marks shooting very wide.  Gooch, who was being closely watched, electrified the crowd with a brilliant run, in which he beat four men, and then passed to Beckford, but the defence recovered and won through.

 

The only display of bad feeling in the game was given by Marks and Barnard, and both were spoken to by the referee.

 

Just before the interval, hesitation by Marks and R Evans gave Potter an opening.  He followed through a weak kick by the back and from a few yards out easily scored, the ball striking under the bar and giving C Evans no chance.  Thus at half-time Erith were two goals down.

 

With the wind in their favour it was hoped that Erith would play well enough to equalise.  Clapton, while not having so much of the play this half, actually had more scoring chances, in every case the result of quick runs from midfield.

 

Erith had their chances too, but always something went wrong.  Frequently the whole forward line would combine nicely, but when the crucial moment came the man in possession failed.  The Clapton defence often had to kick away anywhere, but they achieved their object, and very carefully refrained from giving corners!

 

Gooch once took up an ideal pass, from Hillier, beat his man and shot.  Moore was out of position, but Penstone, from the goalline, headed the ball which just cleared the bar.  Yates was often prominent with some real hard work, but when he gave Beckford an opening the winger shot yards wide.

 

Clapton made some dangerous raids, in which Gibbins and Earle figured, and “Taffy” Evans had some hot shots to stop.  Twice Gibbins was pulled up for offside, but the third time R Evans worked this trick the referee allowed the Clapton man to go on, but he hesitated and the defence got back.

 

In the last ten minutes, Clapton were hard pressed, but Erith lacked that finishing power which had got them to the final.  Two minutes before the finish, Potter, lying well up, secured.  He ran on, Wilson made a poor attempt to tackle, and with C Evans coming out the Clapton man easily scored.

 

Even then Erith were not finished with, and following a punt by R Evans the Clapton goalkeeper punched the ball out, and McKee was wide with a good attempt.

 

At the finish it was generally felt that Clapton were worthy winners, but that Erith had certainly put up a game fight.

 

Clapton: A Moore; E Penstone and F Blake; C Williams, W Bryant and C Cable; A Riley, S Earle, V Gibbins, R Potter and W Barnard.

 

Erith: Cyril “Taffy” Evans; Bob Evans and Fred “Tug” Wilson; Albert Marks, Billy Dudley and Billy Swayne; Ernie Gooch, Reg McKee, Harry Yates, Stan Hillier and Billy Beckford.

 

 

Two of Clapton’s biggest names, Stanley Earle and Vivian Gibbins, were in the full England team that beat France 3-1 in Paris a month later (Gibbins scored twice).  They both played for West Ham United for the next eight years: Earle turned pro and made over 250 appearances; Gibbins remained amateur and played 129 times.

 

 

In the close season Dudley (who had already guested for Charlton) and Hillier left E&B to join Bradford City, while Yates signed for Arsenal.  Hillier was the most successful, with 2 goals in 11 games for Bradford City then 4 in 26 for Gillingham.  Hillier was also among those ex-Deres who went to France in the late 20s: he won the Coupe de France with Cannes in 1932 and the Double with Sête in 1934.