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Post by paphosroger on Jan 16, 2021 17:00:48 GMT 1
With nothing better to do I was thinking about the best ever game I saw the Rocks play and wondered what other fans thought?
Mine was Tiverton away in the FA cup 5-1 with Adie, Mickey et al. We made a weekend of it and were richly rewarded. The Tiverton fans made us very welcome and said we were the best team that had ever visited them! Long time ago now but great memories
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Post by statto on Jan 17, 2021 16:52:30 GMT 1
Tiverton is a highly regarded day out by many. Unfortunately for me, I missed out as I was in bed with the flu that weekend.
I’ve got quite a number of favourites. Godalming play-off, the Welling 6-5 and the Pagham 6-4 (the 90th minute Adie Miles show).... I could go on. Obviously the Swansea cup tie ranks highly too but winning at Enfield the following year was also special. They were the top non league side that season, winning the Conference title (the last year before automatic promotion to the football league was introduced). Although Alistair Sperring’s heroics in goal were rightly applauded, I felt it was a great performance by the whole team. Great memories.
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Post by stuartcoles on Jan 17, 2021 19:32:21 GMT 1
An interesting subject as like rob I have a number of great memories.tiverton,Enfield,Taunton and a 6-6 draw at dulwich all spring to mind.probably the Swansea home game and Tiverton would be my best result wise but funnily enough the 2 best performances in my 45yrs watching both resulted in defeat.the 1-0 defeat at Chippenham in the conference south and also a last minute 1-0 defeat to lowestoft away a few years back.the worst ever game would be the 3-0 defeat at brightlingsea 2 years ago as the two 3-0 defeats to worthing last year dont officially exist,either of which would run brightlingsea close but for different reasons.COYR
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Post by ruralrock on Jan 17, 2021 21:06:22 GMT 1
Many will have mentioned or thought of the infamous Swansea Cup fixture. The first match down there was the best one for me. The crowd was probably the biggest I had been in for a Bognor match, (albeit boosted by a few Brighton and Portsmouth fans who chose this outing as an opportunity to have a bit of a barney amongst themselves given that there teams were away that day), and so little was expected, other than a great day out. Swansea had a couple of ex Liverpool players in their ranks so hadn't bargained on us nicking a draw. I was also able to see my girlfriend at the time who I hadn't seen for 6 months due to her working away, but that's another story !!
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Post by stevebone on Jan 18, 2021 10:14:04 GMT 1
Only been watching since 2007 and it has to be the Godalming play-off semi in 2012 for me. 1-0, 1-1, 1-2, 2-2, 3-2, 3-3, 3-4, 4-4 - then 5-3 on pens. Never to be forgotten.
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Post by Pete Helsby on Jan 18, 2021 13:06:41 GMT 1
Its a strange one for me because l have an fassociation with the club as a referee and obviously and administrator.
As a referee, and both I suppose, it has to be the 6-6 draw at Dulwich on my birthday in the mud and pouring rain. A superb match with 12 goals, a disallowed goal because the free kick was an indirect free kick but was struck superbly into goal without touching anyone, no cautions and was an actual joy to be part of.
As just an admin guy, it would have to be the 4-4 draw with Godalming. What a corker that was.
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Post by Goldy on Jan 18, 2021 15:19:48 GMT 1
Dorchester at home in the Conf South the first time round,they needed a win for a chance to make the play offs and im pretty sure we won 7-2?
What a great side that was we had that season.
People mention Tiverton and rightly so,but that whole Fa cup was superb that year. Pretty sure we beat a Dulwich Hamlet side 4-2 in the 2q where Rocks just come out all guns blazing.
Always enjoyed winning away at Dulwich aswell. The year we lost to Lowestoft in the semi final,we won 2-0 I believe or that I remember a Dan Thompson header putting us 1 or 2 nil up.
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Post by Irish Rock on Jan 18, 2021 19:12:35 GMT 1
Mine involved Pete Helsby!
It was a pre season friendly in 1974 at home to Luton Town, Pete was the Referee and I was one of Linesmen (aged 14).
As a spectator Swansea has to be the best, although it did cause me some difficulties @ home. I was living with a Surrey Police Officer and she was less than impressed when I came back with a South Wales Police hat! Happy Days
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Post by The Gupster on Feb 1, 2021 23:43:35 GMT 1
Thurrock away - pretty sure it was 5-0. Guy Rutherford was like Lionel Messi that night.
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BarryA
Club Stalwart
Sept 18th 2018... Another year gone but the legend lives on
Posts: 1,822
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Post by BarryA on Feb 6, 2021 12:03:17 GMT 1
Does anyone remember our first-ever game in Conference South in August 2004?
We'd scraped-in to the new set-up by finishing 10th in the Isthmian Premier in 2003-4 (a season earlier we'd been in D1 South) and the consensus among Rocks fans pre-season was that Conference South might prove a step too far.
We kicked-off the new season with a trip to The Homelands in Ashford to take-on Margate, who had just been "demoted" from Conference National (despite finishing 16th) for ground-grading reasons associated with the redevelopment of Hartsdown Park. They were strongly fancied to go straight
back up.
The opening stages were evenly-contested but we conceded early and I think were two down at the break. (We certainly went two down.) I'm ashamed to say I can't remember who scored for us (Statto? Andrew?) but I DO remember that we played some great stuff, fighting back to win an entertaining game 3-2.
The Rocks went-on to have an excellent season, finishing 9th - ahead of such sides as Maidenhead United, Sutton United, Newport County & Havant & Waterlooville. (Meanwhile, poor old Margate ran out of money, finished 21st and were relegated.)
As we all know, Rocks first spell in Conference South would last for five seasons before consecutive relegations saw us back in Div 1 South for the start of the 2010-11 season. There were a number of memorable games during those five years but none, for me, quite matched that first-day fightback. Happy days.
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Post by Goldy on Feb 7, 2021 7:21:03 GMT 1
Does anyone remember our first-ever game in Conference South in August 2004? We'd scraped-in to the new set-up by finishing 10th in the Isthmian Premier in 2003-4 (a season earlier we'd been in D1 South) and the consensus among Rocks fans pre-season was that Conference South might prove a step too far. We kicked-off the new season with a trip to The Homelands in Ashford to take-on Margate, who had just been "demoted" from Conference National (despite finishing 16th) for ground-grading reasons associated with the redevelopment of Hartsdown Park. They were strongly fancied to go straight back up. The opening stages were evenly-contested but we conceded early and I think were two down at the break. (We certainly went two down.) I'm ashamed to say I can't remember who scored for us (Statto? Andrew?) but I DO remember that we played some great stuff, fighting back to win an entertaining game 3-2. The Rocks went-on to have an excellent season, finishing 9th - ahead of such sides as Maidenhead United, Sutton United, Newport County & Havant & Waterlooville. (Meanwhile, poor old Margate ran out of money, finished 21st and were relegated.) As we all know, Rocks first spell in Conference South would last for five seasons before consecutive relegations saw us back in Div 1 South for the start of the 2010-11 season. There were a number of memorable games during those five years but none, for me, quite matched that first-day fightback. Happy days. I remember a Luke Nightingale winner I think,curled into the top corner from outside the box. |
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Post by andrewr on Feb 8, 2021 19:55:16 GMT 1
I'm afraid we didn't go 2-0 down at Margate, as we scored first thanks to Kevin Murphy. Margate equalised early in the second half before an own goal gave Margate the lead just before the hour. Luke Nightingale equalised before Matt Russell scored the winner.
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BarryA
Club Stalwart
Sept 18th 2018... Another year gone but the legend lives on
Posts: 1,822
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Post by BarryA on Feb 15, 2021 22:56:50 GMT 1
Thanks Andrew; my memory is obviously playing tricks on me again. I'll have to follow your example and start taking notes. (Or just pay more attention.) It was a great game anyway ... and the start of a really enjoyable season. Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't we win 6-5 at Welling a few weeks later? Then get thumped 6-0 at Grays, who went on to win the league and promotion to the Conference National? Those were the days! I think....
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Post by Rattlesnake on Feb 15, 2021 23:10:42 GMT 1
I'm going to nominate half a match. Maidstone United away (at Sittingbourne), last game of the season, needing to win to cement a place in the play-offs. 2-0 down at half-time having played like donkey shite. A dazzling display with four unanswered goals in the second half, though we got lucky occasionally but also could have got more ourselves, saw us make the playoffs and eventually go up.
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Post by statto on Feb 20, 2021 20:50:31 GMT 1
I'm going to nominate half a match. Maidstone United away (at Sittingbourne), last game of the season, needing to win to cement a place in the play-offs. 2-0 down at half-time having played like donkey shite. A dazzling display with four unanswered goals in the second half, though we got lucky occasionally but also could have got more ourselves, saw us make the playoffs and eventually go up. A place in the play-offs had long been cemented. We started the afternoon in third place but a win, along with defeats for both Whitehawk and Dulwich, would see us crowned champions of Ryman South. Dulwich did indeed lose, at Burgess Hill but a win for the Hawks saw them take the title, with ourselves finishing in second place. |
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Post by andrewr on Feb 26, 2021 22:11:35 GMT 1
We did beat Welling 6-5 about a month later, but it was at home. We lost 6-0 at Grays in mid November, which was the second time we'd lost 6-0 at Grays in 10 months, losing all 4 halves 3-0. Mark Torcaso made his final appearance in goal for us that night.
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BarryA
Club Stalwart
Sept 18th 2018... Another year gone but the legend lives on
Posts: 1,822
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Post by BarryA on Feb 28, 2021 11:54:37 GMT 1
We did beat Welling 6-5 about a month later, but it was at home. We lost 6-0 at Grays in mid November, which was the second time we'd lost 6-0 at Grays in 10 months, losing all 4 halves 3-0. Mark Torcaso made his final appearance in goal for us that night. Every cloud.... 😉 |
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Post by Rattlesnake on Mar 1, 2021 0:55:35 GMT 1
[/quote]
A place in the play-offs had long been cemented. We started the afternoon in third place but a win, along with defeats for both Whitehawk and Dulwich, would see us crowned champions of Ryman South. Dulwich did indeed lose, at Burgess Hill but a win for the Hawks saw them take the title, with ourselves finishing in second place.[/quote]
Sorry! I'm getting on a bit! I guess I meant we needed a win to be at home in the play-off semis if we missed out on automatic promotion. Still a half to remember, mind you!
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Post by Rattlesnake on Mar 1, 2021 0:57:48 GMT 1
We did beat Welling 6-5 about a month later, but it was at home. We lost 6-0 at Grays in mid November, which was the second time we'd lost 6-0 at Grays in 10 months, losing all 4 halves 3-0. Mark Torcaso made his final appearance in goal for us that night. Mark 'Through The Legs' Torcaso. The worst keeper we've had in the 47 years I've seen the team. Even the Pullen lad tried harder deputising between the sticks! |
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Post by Simon Cook (Honorary Secretary on Mar 3, 2021 19:27:51 GMT 1
I see that Mark seems to be doing well in women’s football coaching back home in Australia.
His was probably the most unusual signing of any player we have ever had. We were due to play Yeading in the FA Cup on Saturday and Craig Stoner injured himself in training if I remember correctly on the Thursday evening prior to the match. We had no other goalkeeper and couldn’t find anyone to borrow at short notice, mainly because any possible targets were already cup tied, or their clubs did not want them cup tied. I was talking on the phone late that evening to a cousin who lived in Surrey and happened to mention our problem. He was having a drink in his local pub, and when he heard of our problem, he turned to the barman who he knew was a goalkeeper and asked him if he fancied playing for Bognor on Saturday. He knew that he had played for Crawley Town’s reserves in goal. The barman said yes, we signed him in a hurry on the Friday and his first action on the pitch on the Saturday was to pick the ball out of the net after 90 seconds!
It’s amazing how many people remember his (very short) career with us after so long.
Andrew will probably remember - we had a substitute goalkeeper who came on during the 6-5 win against Welling for his only appearance. Can you remember who he was?
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Post by statto on Mar 4, 2021 12:45:02 GMT 1
I see that Mark seems to be doing well in women’s football coaching back home in Australia. His was probably the most unusual signing of any player we have ever had. We were due to play Yeading in the FA Cup on Saturday and Craig Stoner injured himself in training if I remember correctly on the Thursday evening prior to the match. We had no other goalkeeper and couldn’t find anyone to borrow at short notice, mainly because any possible targets were already cup tied, or their clubs did not want them cup tied. I was talking on the phone late that evening to a cousin who lived in Surrey and happened to mention our problem. He was having a drink in his local pub, and when he heard of our problem, he turned to the barman who he knew was a goalkeeper and asked him if he fancied playing for Bognor on Saturday. He knew that he had played for Crawley Town’s reserves in goal. The barman said yes, we signed him in a hurry on the Friday and his first action on the pitch on the Saturday was to pick the ball out of the net after 90 seconds! It’s amazing how many people remember his (very short) career with us after so long. Andrew will probably remember - we had a substitute goalkeeper who came on during the 6-5 win against Welling for his only appearance. Can you remember who he was? The sub ‘keeper versus Welling was David Leaver. Stoner bust his arm in that match and was out for a few months. In addition to Leaver and Torcaso, other goalkeepers used in this period included Colin Hunwick and Mark Fox. I think Lee Preston and Will Packham also made very brief returns in this period. |
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Post by Simon Cook (Honorary Secretary on Mar 4, 2021 18:35:20 GMT 1
Thanks Statto!
Remember him now - and the others.
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Post by moregeriatricfan on Mar 12, 2021 11:39:10 GMT 1
The cup tie against Swansea in 1984 is still my greatest Rocks memory. Remember sitting in the coach at Wickham for an age on the way there munching prawn sanswiches with Mac who was the program editor at the time. I thought we were unlucky not to win the first match, as Swansea looked a team devoid of ideas. It rained like it was never going to stop on the day of the replay. The match itself was memorable for the quality of the goals we scored. Both Paul Pullen goals were special. Haven't seen as many of that quality in the years at the Lane since. Colin Appleton was the Swansea manager, and I believe he was sacked a couple of weeks later. Then the next evening on the local news Jack and Paul Pullen were interviewed by Fred Dinenage who took the micky out of Trevo Baker the weatherman who came from Swansea. Fantastic memory.
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Post by moregeriatricfan on Mar 12, 2021 11:39:57 GMT 1
The cup tie against Swansea in 1984 is still my greatest Rocks memory. Remember sitting in the coach at Wickham for an age on the way there munching prawn sandwiches with Mac who was the program editor at the time. I thought we were unlucky not to win the first match, as Swansea looked a team devoid of ideas. It rained like it was never going to stop on the day of the replay. The match itself was memorable for the quality of the goals we scored. Both Paul Pullen goals were special. Haven't seen as many of that quality in the years at the Lane since. Colin Appleton was the Swansea manager, and I believe he was sacked a couple of weeks later. Then the next evening on the local news Jack and Paul Pullen were interviewed by Fred Dinenage who took the micky out of Trevor Baker the weatherman who came from Swansea. Fantastic memory.
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Post by Goldy on Mar 12, 2021 13:13:15 GMT 1
I see that Mark seems to be doing well in women’s football coaching back home in Australia. His was probably the most unusual signing of any player we have ever had. We were due to play Yeading in the FA Cup on Saturday and Craig Stoner injured himself in training if I remember correctly on the Thursday evening prior to the match. We had no other goalkeeper and couldn’t find anyone to borrow at short notice, mainly because any possible targets were already cup tied, or their clubs did not want them cup tied. I was talking on the phone late that evening to a cousin who lived in Surrey and happened to mention our problem. He was having a drink in his local pub, and when he heard of our problem, he turned to the barman who he knew was a goalkeeper and asked him if he fancied playing for Bognor on Saturday. He knew that he had played for Crawley Town’s reserves in goal. The barman said yes, we signed him in a hurry on the Friday and his first action on the pitch on the Saturday was to pick the ball out of the net after 90 seconds! It’s amazing how many people remember his (very short) career with us after so long. Andrew will probably remember - we had a substitute goalkeeper who came on during the 6-5 win against Welling for his only appearance. Can you remember who he was? The sub ‘keeper versus Welling was David Leaver. Stoner bust his arm in that match and was out for a few months. In addition to Leaver and Torcaso, other goalkeepers used in this period included Colin Hunwick and Mark Fox. I think Lee Preston and Will Packham also made very brief returns in this period. Was it a different season we had Eddie Broadbent in goal? |
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Post by Rattlesnake on Mar 12, 2021 15:06:17 GMT 1
Eddie the goalkeeping groundsman played between the sticks in the 2002/03 season. With our regular custodian(s) out injured, Eddie stepped up to the mark and was was our emergency keeper in a 2-0 home win in the FA Trophy against Boreham Wood - Eddie was brilliant and deserved man of the match for his antics. I think the only people who didn't think he should have been MOTM were the people making the award! Very soon after, Eddie was in goal when Bognor played my hometown team, Ashford Town (Middlesex), in a league match and won 8-0. In order to make up for his previous lack of award, the MOTM was given to the whole team - which really hacked Ashford's committee off as an act of 'showboating' until I was able to explain the reason!
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markoz
Loyal Supporter
Posts: 2
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Post by markoz on Jan 9, 2022 22:07:26 GMT 1
The sub ‘keeper versus Welling was David Leaver. Stoner bust his arm in that match and was out for a few months. In addition to Leaver and Torcaso, other goalkeepers used in this period included Colin Hunwick and Mark Fox. I think Lee Preston and Will Packham also made very brief returns in this period. Was it a different season we had Eddie Broadbent in goal? |
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markoz
Loyal Supporter
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Post by markoz on Jan 9, 2022 22:12:07 GMT 1
I can confirm this is actually how it happened. Definitely wasn’t ready for both these occasions. I do often think about these games. You don’t realise the impact these things have much later in life. If only we could all turn back time….greetings from oz anyway and thanks Simon cook for the shout out over the work I am Doing here in womens football.
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