Erith & Belvedere   1          Risby 90

Chatham Town       3          Gibson 50, 70, 75       

Kent League, 26 August 1922

 

Continuing the series counting down the 100 most memorable games in our history.  Today, a match that’s memorable purely for being our first ever.

 

ERITH’S OPENING GAME – Go down to Chatham, but an encouraging display

 

Seen from an elevation, Erith and Belvedere’s enclosure presented quite a gala appearance on Saturday afternoon for the opening match of the season in the Kent League.  After a somewhat indifferent cricket season, the weather appeared to be on the side of those who object to this early start of football.  The crowd, numbering over 1800, perspired in the hot sun, and the players – well, it was just wonderful how they kept up the pace.

 

Chatham, from their past season’s performances, were known to be a stiff hurdle for the “babes” of the county league.  In the first half of a fast game local hopes ran high, for Erith’s defence easily held the Chatham attack.  The forwards, however, disappointed, Individually they were good enough, but as a line they were hopeless, and that fact cost Erith the match.  Several times openings were admirably worked for, only for the final efforts to raise a groan instead of cheers.

 

That is really a short summary of the first half.  In the second Erith’s star gradually faded, and three goals by Gibson, the Chatham centre-forward – a clever young man, this – put paid to the account.

 

Erith, notwithstanding the facts above recorded, put up quite a good display.  Two of the goals were due to slips by Wilson: he had the sun full in his eyes, and a very lively ball was troublesome.  It seemed to me that Chard exhausted his energy in the first half, and just when he was wanted in defence later on he could not raise the necessary pace.

 

The teams lined up under Mr Lewington (Croydon) as follows:

Erith and Belvedere: Eddie Boon; Tom Allack, Tug Wilson; Charlie Fuller, A Chard, Billy Swayne; H Scott, Stan Hillier, A Ramsey, Dick Risby, Harry Makepeace.

Chatham: Bennett; Boreham and Cable; Bull, Baxter and Goodwin; Bradshaw, Denton, Gibson, Smith and Frost.

 

The new president, Sir Alexander Spearman, Bart., was in attendance, and Lady Spearman came to kick-off.  She was presented with a bouquet by Miss Joyce Batchelour, and appeared to quite enjoy the occasion.  Mr G W S Jarrett was there (he is a vice-president) and Mr Batchelour (chairman of the Supporters; Club, and very good friend), Mr Higgins (the smiling and energetic chairman of the committee), Mr R E Baker (an obliging hon. Secretary), and members of the committee.  All these arranged themselves in a group with the players, to the satisfaction of Mr Victor Barton.  Erith Town Military Band played during the afternoon.

 

Erith and Belvedere had the sun at their backs from the start.  First Erith attacked, but Hillier handled, and in reply Chatham caused Boon to clear.  Erith returned, and a pass from Hillier saw Scott centre well, Chard shooting behind.  This was a good start, and the local supporters found their football voices return.  Ramsey had a good shot, but the whistle went for offside as Bennett saved.  Erith was showing much the better form, the Chatham attacks so far being half-hearted against the cool work of the defence.  Hillier, after a good run, shot inches over.  When Chatham did get a move on, Smith shot weakly when a few yards from goal.  Boreham, Chatham’s right-back, distinguished himself by kicking out of play every time he got the ball.  Makepeace, on the home left, once got through, but on being challenged allowed himself to be robbed.  The first corner of the game fell to Erith: Scott placed the ball nicely, and the header by Chard went just over the goal.  A splendid bit of football followed: Swayne threw in on the left, Risby touched the ball to Makepeace, and he centred low to Hillier.  The last-named took the ball on the run, and banged it just outside the goalpost.  For a minute the crowd cheered it for a goal, but disillusionment came when Bennett went round the post for the ball.  

 

Bull and Denton got messed up in a bit of bad feeling towards Swayne, and Mr Lewington administered a caution.  Knocks were becoming frequent owing to the lively ball and hard ground, and several players received attention.  Chard sent Ramsey away, and he passed to Hillier in a good position, but the young inside-right finished badly.  At half-time there was no score, but one felt Erith were quite two goals the better team thus far.

 

When the game restarted I said to a colleague, “Let us hope for some goals this half,” and they came.  Five minutes only had gone when Gibson, fastening on to the ball, got away with it and defeated Boon with a fast rising shot (0-1).

 

Erith persevered, and for twenty minutes more they held their own.  Fuller sent in a long curling shot which struck the bar with Bennett beaten, but the ball rebounded and was cleared.  A fine low centre from Scott was muffed by Ramsey, when the equaliser seemed probable.  The Chatham goal had another narrow escape when Scott sent the ball across.  Risby just managed to get to it, but Bennett threw himself along his line and turned it out.

 

After a spell of such exciting play and hard luck for the home team, an incident came as a bit of comic relief.  The referee had given a foul against Chatham, and Bradshaw, in petty spite, kicked the ball out of touch.  Mr Lewington at once ordered him to fetch it back, which he did, to the great delight of the crowd.

 

For a time Chatham could make no headway, but eventually they wore down the defence.  Frost sent a corner kick curling into goal, and Boon allowed the ball to slip through his hands, Gibson touching it into the net (0-2).  A few minutes later the same player received from Smith, beat Wilson, and scored the third with a splendid cross shot (0-3).  Between those two goals Erith attacked, and a rattling shot by Risby just missed.  In the last minute of the match Swayne sent to Makepeace; he centred, and Hillier hooked the ball over to Risby, who scored easily (1-3).  As soon as the centre-kick was taken, the final whistle brought relief to 23 very hot and very tired men.  [what about the linesmen??]

 

I do not intend to criticise the players for this first match, contenting myself with the remark that the team will need one or two alterations before the excellent midfield play can be turned to proper account.

 

 

 

So Dick Risby became the first player ever to score for the Deres.  As it turned out, on the same day he became the first player to make his last appearance for the club.  Soon afterwards he signed for Sheppey United and two weeks after this game, in our first FA Cup tie, he became the first ex-Dere to play against us!