Long-term village resident, Paul Noble recently published an interesting photograph of the successful Milford on Sea FC 2nd Team on the Milford & Keyhaven Real Locals News & Views Facebook page.
The team particularly enjoyed the 1983 season, as they were crowned Division Champions.
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| Milford on Sea FC 2nd Team Division Champions 1983 |
Not only will the photo bring back happy memories for the players, the photo is also interesting for another unusual reason.
If you look closely, you will see that each players' shirt had a different local business sponsor.
Paul Noble, who was player/manager at the time, had come up with the creative concept of giving local businesses the opportunity to support individual players with shirt sponsorship. This seemed a good idea, as it enabled more local businesses to get involved with the team at a much lower price than full team shirt sponsorship. However, what seemed a sensible idea had broken Football Association rules, and Paul felt the wrath of the county football authorities!
Some of the businesses are still around in the village today, such as Milford Motors (Now The Garage), Crown Inn (Now The Smugglers), Milford Social Club, Collins & Butler Estate Agent, and The Red Lion Hotel (Now The Lazy Lion).
No longer trading as far as we can establish; Monks Fishmongers, John Whitlock Builders, Sports & Leisure Milford, L.S.Jury Newsagent, Milford Livestock, L&M Milford, and The White Horse.
Jeff Jury recalled; "Brilliant memories. We got banned from wearing those shirts because apparently you had to have a sole sponsor. I still think it was a great idea to get individual shirt sponsors. I guess the powers that be had never suffered the tremendous difficulties involved in raising funds to keep a club running. I was very disappointed with Ian Wooldridge, Daily Mail’s famous sports writer (born in Bashley) coming out in print criticising this idea."
Milford on Sea FC players identified in the photo include:
Front Row (Left to Right): Jeff Jury, Bob Furnell, Paul Noble (Player/Manager), Donald Read, Binksy Setchell.
Back Row (Left to Right): Far Left: Les Hicks, Centre: Julian Angel, 3rd from Right: Stephen Haines, Far Right: Richard Golledge.
Interesting to see that all three players on the left hand side of the photo, have knee bandages. The others in the front row are all holding their knees, so maybe they just forgot to bring along the knee supports!!!! When my son Scott was playing for the team, individuals or businesses could still sponsor individual players, but sponsors names were printed inside the excellent match day programmes, but still not allowed on individual shirts. The 1st team are not doing so well this season. Dare I suggest they bring Binn'sa out of retirement?
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