Erith & Belvedere   3          O'Brien 3, Gurr 44, Clements 70

Maidstone                1          Russell 4        

Kent Amateur Cup Final, 8 May 1948 (at Bromley)

Continuing the series counting down the 100 most memorable games in our history.  Today, into the top 20 with the win that completed our first double.

1947-48 was a terrific season for the Deres.  They finished a very creditable 3rd in the 14-team Corinthian League, 5 points behind the champions Walton and Hersham and a point behind Hounslow Town in second.  In April they beat Edgware Town 1-0 at Grays in the final of the Corinthian League Memorial Shield.  And now, having beaten the Royal Naval Depot, Aylesford Paper Mills (later known as K Sports) and Bromley on the way to the Final, they were up for an unprecedented second trophy.

KENT AMATEUR CUP FOR DERES – MAIDSTONE BEATEN 3-1

There were thrills in plenty in the Kent Amateur Cup Final between Erith and Belvedere and Maidstone at Bromley on Saturday, when the Deres won 3-1.

Two goals in the first four minutes ensured that the game would be a keen one.  The first came in the third minute when J O’Brien scored for the Deres from a clever pass by Ansell, giving the goalkeeper no chance.  A minute after K Russell equalised for Maidstone with a good shot out of the reach of Nunn.  Both teams tried hard but the football was not exceptionally good, co-ordination being lacking between defence and forwards.  Just before half-time the Deres pulled themselves together, Ansell again crossed to the centre and Erith’s captain, H Gurr, headed in a minute before the half-time whistle.

In the second half there was far better football.  Many shots were saved by both goalkeepers before J Clements received the ball on the wing and took it through to score at a difficult angle – undoubtedly the shot of the game.  Maidstone then played like a beaten team, and the Deres again came near to scoring.

Alderman W N Rule (chairman, KCFA), presenting the shield commented that the football that day had been excellent, and congratulated the winners on their fine show.  He had known Erith for a long time, he said, and had played against them in his younger days.  He then presented the shield to H Gurr, and medals to both sides. 

This is the second time that Erith and Belvedere have won the trophy, the first being in the 1923-24 season.

Erith and Belvedere: Jack Nunn; Ron Bevan, John Smith; Bill Bowers, Arthur Warboys, John McCullough; Vic Ansell, Jim Cullum, Jack O’Brien, Harold Gurr, Johnny Clements.

(Sadly, the medals awarded to Bill Bowers and Jack Nunn were later stolen in a break-in at Park View, and whether they were found is not recorded.)